The Price of Renovation

It was all that woman’s fault.

At this moment, Mu Yaochen, feeling not herself, projected all her own mistakes onto Su Mengqi.

Simultaneously, a trace of resentment festered within her.

‘He was clearly my plushie!’

She even suspected Luo Yao had actively seduced Su Mengqi, despite no such movement from her.

‘Was it simply because she was wealthy?’

Compared to Su Mengqi, Mu Yaochen was undeniably more mature and exuded a greater sense of femininity.

This deep-seated hatred was a remarkably rare emotion for Mu Yaochen.

Meanwhile, Luo Yao lay sprawled languidly on the living room sofa.

His fingers ceaselessly swiped across the screen of his phone.

Though he had done nothing, an overwhelming weariness settled over him.

Luo Yao’s immediate task was to pinpoint a suitable interior design style and a cost-effective renovation company.

“That… Frost?” Luo Yao suddenly recalled that Frost, who was always nearby, could perhaps be dispatched to assist him.

‘She could be at my beck and call, couldn’t she?’

“Is something amiss?” Frost, who had been standing silently in the corner, stepped forward gracefully upon hearing Luo Yao call her name.

“Could… could you print these for me?” Luo Yao extended his phone to Frost, its screen displaying various architectural blueprints for home renovation.

“Certainly. What are these for?” Frost was obligated to meticulously record Luo Yao’s every action; while it sounded intrusive, it was simply her job.

“Oh, just renovation plans.” Luo Yao, meeting Frost’s scrutinizing gaze, knew he had no hope of concealing anything from her.

“The shop you rented this morning, then. Very well, I’ll see to it.” Frost simply replied, instructing Luo Yao to send the design plans to her WeChat.

“Um, Frost, do you happen to know of any suitable renovation companies?” Seeing Frost prepare to leave after receiving the files, Luo Yao suddenly remembered that she might have access to renovation companies under the Bluebird Group.

‘If I went through them, it would probably be… a bit cheaper, right?’

“Renovation companies? What do you intend to do?” Frost, who had been about to depart, halted her steps and turned her head.

“Nothing, really…” Truthfully, Luo Yao had no knowledge of renovation companies in Fanhai City.

He had never before dealt with house renovations, though he was certainly familiar with renting properties.

“We do. You wish to renovate that property?” Seeing Luo Yao’s hesitant demeanor, Frost had largely surmised his intentions.

“Mhm, mhm.” Luo Yao felt a flicker of surprise, having not expected Frost to be so understanding at times.

“This is feasible, however, I must report it to the Young Miss.”

The Bluebird Group indeed owned several sizable renovation companies, but for them to commence work, Mu Yaochen’s explicit approval would be required.

“Then… forget it.” Upon hearing that Mu Yaochen’s involvement was necessary, Luo Yao immediately lost all hope for the endeavor.

Yet, he also recoiled at the thought of spending tens of thousands to renovate the property, especially with his current financial constraints.

Should he lack funds, he could, of course, approach Su Mengqi.

However, Luo Yao knew better.

If he were truly desperate enough to seek out Su Mengqi, he would undoubtedly incur a debt of gratitude to her.

And Su Mengqi, as a person, was someone Luo Yao knew all too well.

‘If I were to owe her a favor, it might as well be more convenient to simply marry her.’

‘Doesn’t she like me a lot?’

‘No, Su Mengqi’s kind of affection was indistinguishable from possessiveness, merely less overtly coercive.’

‘Whether Mu Yaochen truly liked him, he couldn’t say.’

‘However, Luo Yao was acutely aware that Mu Yaochen’s possessiveness had reached its zenith, an irredeemable level.’

‘Luo Yao almost wished she didn’t like him, for then he might find a modicum of peace.’

Regarding affection, regarding love—

Luo Yao much preferred a love founded on mutual understanding and consideration.

‘Beautiful exteriors are a dime a dozen; interesting souls are one in a million.’

Luo Yao also knew that both Mu Yaochen and Su Mengqi’s affection for him stemmed purely from their physical desire.

“Are you certain? Even so, I will report this truthfully to the Young Miss. Do you still wish to proceed?” Frost eyed Luo Yao with a hint of doubt, for if Luo Yao intended to pursue this, Mu Yaochen would inevitably discover it.

In Mu Yaochen’s eyes, Luo Yao was completely transparent.

“Could you possibly…” Luo Yao knew well that Frost would report his every action to Mu Yaochen.

Mid-sentence, Luo Yao simply gave up.

“Never mind. If it’s possible, then let’s try.” Pondering his meager funds, Luo Yao could only hope Mu Yaochen wouldn’t take issue with this matter.

After all, the electric shocks from the collar were far from pleasant, sometimes even accompanied by a suffocating sensation.

“Very well then. Since you promised the Young Miss you would stay home this afternoon, please remain here obediently.” Having delivered her words, Frost prepared to turn and leave.

She was no mere idler; besides tending to Luo Yao and fulfilling his minor requests, she had numerous company affairs to manage.

Moreover, through her interactions with Luo Yao today, Frost understood that, barring any unforeseen circumstances, Luo Yao had intended to go out that afternoon.

Yet, due to Mu Yaochen’s interrogation, Luo Yao had uttered an answer contrary to his true wishes.

Watching Frost depart, Luo Yao flopped back onto the sofa.

His slippers lay haphazardly scattered on the floor, while his pale, tender feet dangled and swayed in the air.

Luo Yao merely wished that Mu Yaochen wouldn’t be so fixated on him.

However, these were nothing more than his own futile delusions.

After all, he had been purchased by Mu Yaochen with a hefty sum.

****

“Mengqi, you seem to be in much better spirits.”

At school, Su Mengqi’s sudden leave of absence, coupled with the previous day’s headline news, fueled a flurry of gossip among the students.

Su Mengqi walked towards her classroom with a renewed sense of vigor.

Since her last encounter with Luo Yao at Longda Mall, she had been downcast for a while, but had quickly regained her composure.

Especially when Luo Yao had looked back at her, his eyes filled with an unspoken plea for help.

From Su Mengqi’s perspective, this was unequivocally proof that Luo Yao cared for her.

‘As long as I’m in your heart, Luo Yao, that’s all that matters.’

With this thought, she had dispatched every available resource to investigate Luo Yao’s whereabouts, including numerous private detectives across Fanhai City.

Although her spirits had lifted considerably, in the eyes of others, she still maintained the image of a distant, aloof goddess.

“I’m fine, just rested for a bit.” Su Mengqi replied to the classmate beside her.

Su Mengqi was perpetually the center of attention at school.

While many students were unaware of her true family background, they all knew she was exceedingly wealthy.

This alone was sufficient; it was enough to attract a multitude of gold-digging suitors.

Furthermore, that ‘little imp’ Luo Yao had also dropped out of school.

Consequently, her desk was now inundated with love letters.

However, all these letters ultimately met their demise in the school’s trash cans, for Su Mengqi’s heart held no room for anyone else.

“Alright, everyone, settle down!” Just as the students around Su Mengqi prepared to inquire about her absence the previous day, the homeroom teacher entered through the doorway, surveying the disorderly classroom, and promptly restored a semblance of order.

“Everyone quiet down. Come in, please.” The homeroom teacher gestured towards the door.

“This is our new classmate, Sun Qingwan. Come up and say hello to everyone.” As the teacher spoke, a figure moved gracefully towards the front of the classroom.

Gazing at the person on the podium, Su Mengqi betrayed no particular emotion.

After all, Qingwan’s presence was, in a way, a means for her mother to keep an eye on her.

But none of it mattered now, for in Su Mengqi’s heart, a new pursuit for life had ignited, all thanks to Luo Yao.