Watching Tiger Girl drag the Young Master out through the doorway, everyone stood stunned for a moment. Then many people cried out at once, because when they had ordered to their hearts' content just now, they had already gone far beyond what they could afford. One meal here would eat them into poverty.
Some were fortunate that they had not had time to order yet, so they immediately got up and hurried away. In an instant, the crowd surged toward the exit. Just as they had come in a rush, they now left in a rush—coming in haste and going in haste indeed.
As for those who had already ordered, seeing the hurried crowd gave them an idea: they could simply leave. After all, the dishes had not been served yet.
Once one person left, others followed. Before long, the previously packed Xiao Ya Xuan had become utterly empty. Some people who had originally been eating there did not even pay their bills, taking advantage of the crowd to run away.
With all these people dining and dashing, plus the orders that had not been served but were already being prepared in the kitchen, no one knew how great the losses would be.
Xiao Ya Xuan's owner collapsed over it. He regretted being greedy for such a petty gain, only to lose a watermelon for the sake of a sesame seed.
As for all this, Thirteenth Young Master Ye—the Thirteenth Young Master himself—knew nothing about it. He was currently wandering around with Tiger Girl, looking for things he could buy and squander money on. Of course, before that, he had casually found a roadside stall and eaten the fish ball thick noodles he had wanted.
Though he was an utterly extravagant Prodigal Son, he did not possess the slightest noble's airs. Eating at roadside stalls was something he did from time to time.
Perhaps it was because he simply did not know what airs were, nor did he understand what difference lay between himself and ordinary people. The people around him had also always protected him, never allowing him to suffer any harm.
Like Tiger Girl beside him now—Tiger Girl, as he called her. Whenever they went out, she not only had to keep him from being tricked, but also protect his personal safety, never leaving his side for even a single step. It had been this way from childhood to adulthood, making up for some of Thirteenth Young Master Ye's shortcomings, whether in intelligence or martial ability. For the past five years, Tiger Girl had remained by the Thirteenth Young Master's side, playing the role of maidservant while also serving as his bodyguard, and sometimes even acting as family.
Perhaps more often, she existed as his childhood sweetheart, the innocent companion who had grown up with him.
On the street, the Thirteenth Young Master strolled forward slowly, looking over the rows of shops on either side and considering which one to enter for fun. At that moment, a signboard above his head suddenly came loose and fell, plunging straight toward his forehead.
"Smack!" Tiger Girl leaped up and sent the signboard flying with a whirlwind kick. Then, as though nothing had happened, she continued talking with the Thirteenth Young Master.
Likewise, the Thirteenth Young Master had no idea anything had happened. He continued on, full of enthusiasm to squander his money.
No one knew how many times similar incidents had occurred. Of course, this was not to say someone had deliberately arranged them; they were merely accidents. Yet every accident like this was resolved by Tiger Girl without the Thirteenth Young Master ever knowing. Tiger Girl never shouted warnings like "Watch out," either, because she felt there was no need.
"Young Master, we need to head home early today. We still have to go to the Imperial Palace tonight," Tiger Girl reminded him.
"I know. This year, we're going to my wife's place to celebrate our birthday," the Thirteenth Young Master said. He seemed to be speaking much better now, unlike before, when he needed to think for ages before he could put together a sentence.
"As long as you remember. We can wander for one more hour, then we'll go back." Tiger Girl gave the Thirteenth Young Master a time limit, and it was the longest extension she could offer.
Wife...
That form of address felt somewhat strange to Tiger Girl, because she understood the Thirteenth Young Master best and knew that he did not actually know what a wife specifically meant.
As for this wife of his, she was the Imperial Princess to whom he was betrothed. Oh, no, she was no longer the Little Princess, because she was no longer the youngest. She had younger sisters now, and more than one at that.
Now, she was called the Seventh Princess. More simply, the Seventh Princess.
The Thirteenth Young Master apparently did not know the Seventh Princess's name. He only knew she was his future wife—of course, that was what others had told him.
Since the Seventh Princess shared his birthday, their birthday celebrations had always been held together. The two families took turns hosting them: if it was at the Ye Clan this year, then next year it would be at the Imperial Palace, and vice versa.
Today happened to be his birthday, and he had used it as an excuse to come out and squander money to his heart's content. Yet so far, he seemed not to have found anywhere to squander it.
"Right. Since it's my wife's birthday, I should buy her a birthday gift. Let's go to the auction house." The Thirteenth Young Master suddenly remembered this. Tiger Girl and Long Anqi had both told him that girls had to be given gifts on their birthdays.
He only knew that he had to give a gift, but he had absolutely no idea what kind of gift to give, or what kind of gift girls would like. That was why, instead of going to jewelry shops or clothing stores, he ran to the auction house. He wanted to buy the most expensive thing.
For him, he only bought the expensive, never chose the suitable. The auction house was also a place he knew extremely well, naturally because he came here often.
"Thirteenth Young Master, you're here! Someone, hurry and take the Thirteenth Young Master to the private room." The moment the Thirteenth Young Master entered the auction house, the person in charge immediately appeared before him and greeted him warmly.
"Who is that young noble? Why does our manager look as if he's seen his own father?" a newcomer, clearly fresh on the job, asked.
"That's right, you could say he is his father. This young master is practically our biggest source of food and clothing. He's the Thirteenth Young Master of the Ye Clan. Every time he comes to our auction house, he gets into bidding wars with people, and he has never lost once," an old hand replied.
"Never lost once? How is that possible? Does no one dare compete with him?" the newcomer asked again.
"It's not that they don't dare. It's that no one can outbid him. Whenever this young master wants something, he never gives up. No matter how high you bid, he can always bid higher."
"Then if someone keeps raising the price against him, wouldn't we make a fortune?"
"You're thinking too naively. Who is he? The Thirteenth Young Master of the Ye Clan. If someone deliberately drives up his price, they will certainly offend the Ye Clan. The Ye Clan may have no way to deal with this young master, but that does not mean they have no way to deal with others. Of course, people can 'compete' with him a little, as long as they don't go too far."
"Oh, that's true."
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