Xiao Feng and Liu Qing had little to pack, so they left the hospital quickly.

Outside, it was still early morning—around seven or eight. The sun had just peeked over the horizon, and the air carried a faint, dewy freshness that lifted the spirit.

Though the weather was lovely, Xiao Feng had zero energy to enjoy it. All he wanted was to hurry home, collapse into bed, and sleep. Right now, even walking felt as drowsy as sitting through a high school chemistry class.

Liu Qing had hoped to stroll with him awhile, but Xiao Feng showed no interest—he walked briskly the whole way.

Though she didn’t want to return so soon, she knew he was exhausted, so she stayed quiet.

At their apartment doors, Liu Qing smiled at him.

“Xiao Feng, remember to check the message I send you tonight, okay?”

She shot him a playful wink before turning and slipping inside.

Watching her revert to her usual carefree self, Xiao Feng shook his head with a silent thought: *Once you’re in, that messy room of yours is gonna keep you busy.*

He dashed straight to his bed the moment he entered. All he craved was sleep. Meeting Miss Situ Changxi that afternoon? Just thinking about it was tiring.

He slept until past one p.m.—only hunger finally dragged him awake.

After a quick wash and a light snack, he headed out in casual shorts and a T-shirt. To Xiao Feng, dressing up was pointless unless the occasion demanded it.

Simplicity was his style.

Seconds after stepping outside, his phone vibrated in his pocket.

*Could it be Changxi?*

He checked. Sure enough—Situ Changxi.

Ever since adding her on WeChat, her messages had outnumbered all his friends’ and family’s combined.

Her text read: “Xiao Feng, I’m here. Are you on your way?”

“Already? I was gonna grab beef noodles first!” he muttered half-heartedly, but quickened his pace. Keeping a girl waiting wasn’t cool.

Tianjing Water Park wasn’t far. In just over ten minutes, he arrived, sweating heavily.

No surprise—he’d walked straight under the blazing sun.

Inside the stretched Lincoln, Situ Changxi sat primly, her eyes occasionally glancing out the window.

Spotting the figure waiting at the crosswalk, a soft, heart-melting smile touched her lips—enough to soothe anyone who saw it.

Xiao Feng spotted the Lincoln too.

As the light turned green, he hurried over. Before he could speak, the driver’s door opened. A bodyguard stepped out.

The man glared fiercely, making Xiao Feng instinctively tense up.

Just as Xiao Feng braced for trouble, the guard pulled the rear door open and intoned flatly,

“Mr. Xiao Feng, my young mistress requests your presence.”

Xiao Feng gave a quick nod and slid inside, half-expecting the worst.

Cool air washed over him the moment he entered—like stepping into heaven. His heat-frayed nerves instantly calmed.

“Xiao Feng, would you like a drink?”

Situ Changxi’s voice was soft, gentle.

He glanced at her. Today, her silver hair fell to her shoulders, tied into two slender ponytails. A light-gold dress draped her frame; her bare, fair feet were strikingly delicate.

He looked away and replied, “Anything’s fine. Mineral water works.”

She smiled, gave a tiny nod, and pulled two chilled bottles from a mini-fridge. The design resembled chess royalty—queen and king. She handed him one.

He took a sip. “Miss Situ, this…”

Before he finished, she stomped a little foot, pouting. “Don’t call me that!”

He blinked, then corrected himself fast: “Right—Changxi. This bottle’s really pretty. Must be expensive?”

Her face lit up again with that healing smile. She shook her head.

“Not at all. Very cheap.”

Xiao Feng nodded. “Good. Tastes about the same as Nongfu Spring. Probably just the bottle’s fancy.”

From the front seat, the bodyguard chuckled. “Sir, it’s not expensive—only two hundred dollars or so.”

Pfft!

Xiao Feng nearly spat the water out.

“Two hundred bucks?!”

“Yep. Fillico. Made in Osaka, Japan. Looks elegant, billed as the world’s most luxurious water. Only five thousand bottles monthly. For the young mistress? Truly cheap.”

Xiao Feng suddenly found the water exquisitely fragrant—way better than “Nongfu Three Fists.”

*So this… is the power of money?*