C11 Gold Made

What kind of person could be so generous?

"What do we do then? Should we kill him? Heaven values all life, and as cultivators, it's uncivilized to resort to violence so readily. It's just not right."

Lee Xuan spoke with gentle persuasion.

Loong Ling listened intently, her gaze eventually dropping to the 'corpses' on the ground.

The fate of those bodyguards hardly matched your words.

Loong Ling didn't dare to speak, instead communicating through her eyes with Lee Xuan, who remained oblivious.

"Don't worry, he won't be bothering us. And with me around, what trouble have I ever feared?"

Lee Xuan stated nonchalantly.

Truth be told, he was actually concerned that Nangong Kun wouldn't come looking for him.

If Nangong Kun didn't come after him, how would he be able to expand his influence?

But Nangong Kun seemed so timid; not only was he unlikely to seek trouble, but he might even end up clinging to them for support.

Lee Xuan saw right through it, but Loong Ling, not yet seasoned by society, still had a touch of innocence.

Since Lee Xuan was so assured, Loong Ling refrained from further comment.

"Have you finished all your shopping? If so, let's head out."

Lee Xuan addressed Loong Ling, and as they departed, the onlookers showed their disappointment.

"Ah... they're leaving already? We didn't even find out which TV series it was."

Driven by curiosity, these individuals uploaded the video and inquired about the TV series it depicted.

Some fans recognized Loong Ling's face.

"Is that... Loong Ling?"

"Isn't Loong Ling a singer? Since when did she start acting in TV series?"

Industry insiders, particularly those from Loong Ling's company, took notice of the video.

Loong Ling's stunning appearance in the video quickly made waves online.

She soared to the top of the trending searches, sparking envy among some of her colleagues.

"Loong Ling? Hah, she's in a TV series now? For all we know, she could be dead or alive, or maybe she's been compromised."

Naturally, such comments incited her fans, who rallied to her defense.

After a barrage of criticism from her supporters, the detractor grew even more infuriated.

Xu Yuanyuan worked at the same company as Loong Ling.

She spoke nothing but the truth, a fact lost on the uninformed netizens.

Upon spotting Loong Ling, Xu Yuanyuan hurried over to gather information.

"Feeling hungry? Let's grab a bite to eat."

Lee Xuan never felt hunger, but Loong Ling, having just completed her Foundation Establishment, hadn't yet mastered the art of fasting.

Loong Ling's stomach growled, prompting her to cover it as her cheeks flushed with embarrassment.

"Sorry... I... I'm not really hungry..."

"This restaurant looks good."

Lee Xuan chose a restaurant at random and walked in.

It was just a meal, not a financial burden.

He could easily recoup the cost by selling something trivial he owned.

Loong Ling was a celebrity, and taking her to a street food stall could cause a commotion.

Lee Xuan was willing to splurge, but Loong Ling felt awkward.

"How can I let you pay? It's not necessary, I'm fine with something simple..."

Truth be told, Loong Ling wasn't in a great financial position herself. When she first left the mountains, she considered instant noodles the best food on earth.

Despite her delicate appearance, Loong Ling was no stranger to hardship.

Material comforts didn't concern her.

"Is that Loong Ling?"

While they were deciding where to eat, Xu Yuanyuan arrived, swaying gracefully as she drew near.

She eyed Loong Ling with envy.

Intending to mock Loong Ling, Xu Yuanyuan instead noticed that her skin and looks had improved.

Forgetting her original taunt, she blurted out, "Loong Ling, have you had plastic surgery?"

"…"

Loong Ling's expression remained unimpressed in the face of her rival.

"No."

"…I don't believe it. How else could you have become so much more beautiful so suddenly?"

Xu Yuanyuan's skepticism grew as she inspected Loong Ling more closely, her jealousy intensifying.

Loong Ling's skin was impeccable, without a single flaw.

Xu Yuanyuan touched her own face, which, despite being attractive, had cost her a fortune in cosmetic treatments. She was very protective of her appearance.

How could cosmetic enhancements ever measure up to natural beauty?

Xu Yuanyuan, green with envy, whirled around to glare at Lee Xuan, which seemed to restore some of her equilibrium.

"Loong Ling, you have such poor taste. Is this your idea of a catch? Your boyfriend brought you here to dine? How utterly destitute. Do you even realize where you are? You can't afford this place."

"…"

How expensive could a restaurant possibly be?

Only a fool would seek a sense of superiority from such a thing.

"Let's go inside and eat."

Loong Ling, eager to escape the encounter, pleaded with Lee Xuan.

Lee Xuan, uninterested in the pettiness, was ready to head inside when Xu Yuanyuan refused to let him off the hook.

She seized Lee Xuan's hand, and he instinctively assessed her Spirit Root, immediately showing a look of revulsion.

A Spirit Root riddled with impurities!

Absolutely worthless!

"Who said you could leave? Did you not hear me? I'm looking out for you. A meal here can cost five to six thousand yuan. Don't blow your entire semester's living expenses in one go."

Xu Yuanyuan's words dripped with venom as she looked down on Lee Xuan's financial capacity.

Lee Xuan was indifferent to where they ate, but Xu Yuanyuan's comments ignited his stubborn streak.

"Come on, let's not waste words on someone like her." Lee Xuan said, pulling Loong Ling inside. He then signaled to the waiter, "Waiter! There's someone causing a disturbance and it's disrupting our meal."

Why stand at the entrance and put on a show for others like a performing monkey?

Xu Yuanyuan felt the weight of stares from every direction, her lips pressed tightly in a grimace of frustration.

Beside her stood a man, clearly her fallback option.

He looked rather well-off.

"Let's also go in for a meal. I'm curious to see how they'll manage to pay the bill later!"

Xu Yuanyuan declared, choosing a seat close to the couple.

Lee Xuan, upon opening the menu, was taken aback. What were these prices? Made of gold? Absurdly expensive!

"Maybe we should find somewhere else?" Loong Ling suggested, still shaken from the experience.

They exchanged glances, each recognizing the shared sentiment reflected in the other's eyes.