The rest of the people, upon hearing the mall manager say that, instantly perked up and became extremely alert.
After all, this concerned their annual bonuses—there was no room for carelessness.
Everyone immediately put on friendly, welcoming expressions the moment they saw Bai Ningbing, all grinning at the two of them. Even Lin Guanqi felt these shopkeepers were especially hospitable.
“The backer running this mall must be someone incredibly capable and strong. Otherwise, how could they get everyone to behave so obediently?”
Bai Ningbing was secretly delighted inside. Wasn’t this just an indirect form of recognition for her?
To cover up her happiness, she deliberately coughed a few times. This startled everyone around her; they all thought they’d done something wrong.
“Bai—”
“Are you out of your mind! She’s just an ordinary customer right now! What ‘President Bai’! Hurry up and shut your mouth, I don’t want to get dragged into this!”
“Yeah, if you don’t want your bonus, I sure want mine!”
The shopkeepers all tacitly covered his mouth.
“No, no problem, please continue, you two.”
The pair walked into a jewelry store. Lin Guanqi apparently wasn’t familiar with luxury brands, as she walked right in. Everything in the shop started at 30,000 or more.
“Did you come here to buy jewelry?” Bai Ningbing asked.
“Mm, you’ve done so much for me, I wanted to repay you a little. So, I thought I’d get you a pair of earrings.”
Although Bai Ningbing’s expression didn’t change much when she heard this, inside she was overjoyed, almost to the point of exploding with happiness.
She had just bragged a moment ago, but now she regretted it—she hadn’t paid attention to the prices. If she ended up gifting one of these, all her efforts would be wasted.
[Ding! Host’s financial difficulties detected. The system now offers a loan-for-popularity-points mode, available for exchange!]
[Right now, only one point interest per loan! A conscience-loan for popularity points!]
“System, do I look like an idiot? If you say take a loan, I’ll take a loan? So if you told me to die, I’d die too?”
“And besides, I’m already a million in debt. Others make millions and leave, but I’m stuck with a million in debt—is that right?”
[It’s not my fault, Host! Others can earn twice the popularity points, but with you, I only ever get the guaranteed minimum, not even a commission.]
[All my colleagues are about to surpass me!]
So, it’s Lin Guanqi who’s been dragging things down?
After what the system said, Lin Guanqi really did feel a little guilty. It was true—she was now as fragile as a glass university student; a touch from a beast would shatter her.
“Fine, you, okay! What you said is right, but there’s no way I’m taking out another loan. I don’t want to carry even more debt.”
[Host, we take out loans for a better life. The reason we earn money is also for a better life. So if you take out a loan now, you’re already living better—so we’re not losing out at all!]
“You’ve got a sharp tongue. If all systems were like you, you’d all be top sales.”
“I won’t take a loan! I still have over thirty thousand on me. I refuse to believe I can’t afford a pair of earrings. Worst case, I’ll do some cosplay gigs, and if that’s not enough, I’ll livestream!”
[No matter what you do, Host, if you don’t complete the tasks and pay back the popularity points, the bond can’t be lifted, and you’ll never die, ever~]
Great! So there really is no free lunch!
Can’t even die if I wanted to!
[The money you earn can’t be converted to popularity points, Host. Please earn popularity points as soon as possible!]
Thank goodness I don’t have a heart condition, or I’d be dead from anger by now!
Bai Ningbing saw Lin Guanqi hesitating in front of a pair of earrings without buying them and immediately knew the price was too high. She’d run a background check, but found nothing useful; the report showed Lin Guanqi was a blank slate, with absolutely nothing.
But one thing was certain: Lin Guanqi was poor!
For her to buy a gift now, Bai Ningbing was certainly moved. After all, when life is hard and someone is still willing to spend money on a gift for you, that’s someone you truly can’t afford to lose as a friend!
While Lin Guanqi was distracted, Bai Ningbing gave the shop assistant a look, which was immediately understood.
“Oh, congratulations, miss! You’re our store’s lucky customer! You’ve won the right to buy one item for just 50 yuan!”
Lin Guanqi was just about to pay when she heard this. She froze for a moment—could she really be this lucky?
Fifty yuan for earrings worth thirty thousand.
“Huh? Really? I’m that lucky?”
“But I didn’t see any sign about a lucky customer on your storefront?”
The assistant couldn’t possibly say it was because the boss was here and the promotion was a last-minute add-on, right?
These were limited edition earrings! How could they possibly go for just 50 yuan?
“This—this is an in-store event. Every purchase is recorded and counted, and the 200th customer is our lucky customer!”
Lin Guanqi didn’t doubt it too much—after all, she was the one benefiting. It was a good way to save a lot of money.
“Alright! Then I’ll take this one!”
The assistant packaged the earrings and handed them to Lin Guanqi.
“Please keep them safe!”
[Payment received: 50 yuan~]
That wasn’t the sound of earning money—it was the sound of losing it!
“Bai Ningbing, I’m giving you these earrings! Even though I got them at a discount, if you mind, I can save up and buy you something else next time!”
Before Lin Guanqi finished speaking, Bai Ningbing had already taken the earrings from her hand, because—it wasn’t about the money.
Bai Ningbing was wealthy. Could Lin Guanqi really find something she couldn’t buy with money?
That was clearly unrealistic.
“No, I don’t mind at all. I really like this gift—because it’s one of a kind.”
Shop assistant: “So the pair I just put out is already a rare treasure? The design fee alone is over two hundred thousand! How will I ever make that back?”
Bai Ningbing told Lin Guanqi to go ahead and wait outside, while she stayed behind in the store.
“You go wait for me outside. There’s something I want to ask this clerk.”
Lin Guanqi didn’t suspect anything and left right away.
“Alright.”
“What I just said—you have to do it. How much was the design fee for these earrings? I’ll pay you double and buy the copyright!”
The assistant’s eyes suddenly lit up.
“Ah! President Bai, you really are my goddess! As for the copyright and fee…well, it might be a bit high…”
Without another word, Bai Ningbing pulled out a blank check.
“One million. Is that enough? And I’ll waive your rent for a year.”
The assistant slapped herself in disbelief. Was this a dream? Could this really be happening?
“Thank you, President Bai! I hope you and that lady end up together!”
“You can tell?”
“Oh, come on, no one does that just for a friend! I get it! That miss is so cute—if it were me, I’d like her too!”
A slight smile curled at the corner of Bai Ningbing’s lips.
“You’re not allowed to like her. She’s mine.”
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