Rich People Always Have a Screw Loose

"Mayuna, what's wrong?"

Ruben had finally finished shopping and come over. Seeing Mayuna confronting a stranger, he couldn't help asking.

"This brat!"

Mayuna angrily recounted what had happened.

"Is that so? My apologies, Lady Eve. May I take these?"

After listening, Ruben offered no comment. To Mayuna's surprise, he walked up to Eve and sincerely apologized, then pointed at the gold coins on the ground.

"Huh? Mm, mm..."

Eve apparently hadn't expected Ruben to be the one apologizing. She had thrown money at people before; those she encountered either immediately caved in and took the money, or were proud men who turned and left. This was the first time someone beside the target had apologized for them, so she could only nod blankly.

"Lady Eve, do you have any more? If I call you that a few more times, can I get some more?"

Satisfied, Ruben had Dragon collect the gold coins from the ground. Then, as though he still wanted more, he turned to Eve and asked.

"I-I didn't bring much money this time. I only have a few hundred thousand left. If you want it... Mmph!"

With a flushed face, Eve was about to give all the money on her to Ruben, but Sairan quickly covered her mouth.

"Hehe, while throwing money around is this foolish young lady's hobby, treating our household like a fat sheep is another matter."

Sairan had clearly taken Ruben for a money-grubbing scoundrel. People like that were everywhere, though she was somewhat curious how he had managed to have such beautiful female companions.

"You, get over here! We're going home!"

Mayuna's face had gone purple with rage. Somehow finding the strength, she grabbed Ruben by his clothes and furiously dragged him away.

"Sairan, why did you stop me?!"

"My lady, although our family isn't short on money, we can't let petty people take advantage of us. How could anyone get money for doing nothing? There's no such good deal."

"No, that's not it! This is the first time I've met someone so interesting! He's so unpretentious, so unlike all those gaudy bitches out there! The first thing he did was ask for my money!"

Eve was genuinely interested in someone like Ruben. Because of her special status, she was the center of attention among nobles wherever she went. Money was secondary; winning over this young lady and obtaining the secret of the spatial teleportation array was what truly mattered. That was why everyone, male or female, desperately tried to get close to her.

Everyone understood how to deal with rich people: they absolutely could not reveal their true intentions. So the people around Eve constantly acted as though, "I don't need money at all," or "I hate your money most of all." But humans were inherently rebellious, and Eve had more money than she could ever spend. Over time, she desperately wanted to meet someone who would befriend her solely for money, to see whether he could spend all of it. Now that she had finally met one, how could she not be excited?

"My lady, perhaps you should replace your brain after all."

"Mayuna, are you angry?"

Ruben had followed Mayuna home without sensing anything amiss. But when he saw the mage god girl sit heavily on the sofa without saying a word, he realized something was wrong.

"I never realized you would bend for a few gold coins. Have you even thrown away your dignity for money?!"

Mayuna was practically dizzy with anger. Ruben was her person... someone she cared about. She was the only mage god on the continent! What Ruben had done had utterly disgraced her.

"I see. You find what I did unacceptable?"

"Hmph!"

"Mayuna, have you ever seen dozens of people risk their lives fighting over a bag of biscuits?"

Ruben sat beside Mayuna and asked in a calm tone that sent a chill through her heart.

"?"

"During Earth's apocalypse, food became the thing people lacked most. People killed for a little bread; even exchanging children to eat them truly happened. Under such circumstances, dignity was nothing more than a laughable word."

"Maybe I still haven't recovered from those days. I didn't think there was anything wrong with calling someone 'my lady' to get enough money for school."

"I'm sorry. I didn't realize you had been through so much..."

Mayuna opened her mouth. Ruben's words were brief, yet they showed her a real and cruel world. She had forgotten about Ruben's past again. Dragon had clearly said that Ruben's experiences were heavy, yet she always selfishly ignored them.

"It's nothing. If you don't like it, I won't do it again."

"No, I'm still angry! Since you already got the tuition money, why did you ask her for more? You wanted to get enough money to pay me back and then cut ties with me, didn't you?!"

Smack.

Ruben's finger flicked heavily against Mayuna's forehead, giving the mage god girl an artificial red swelling buff.

"What are you... Ah! You dared to hit me... Ah! Even my father never... Ah!"

Mayuna tried to fight back, but how could she compare to Ruben in strength? Unable to resist, she was flicked three more times, the pain bringing tears to her eyes.

"Mayuna, do you really think that once I pay back the money, I'll have nothing to do with you? Have you ignored all the time we've spent together?"

"W-what do you mean by that?"

Mayuna could feel her heart racing as she stammered the question.

"People are emotional creatures. Our relationship stopped being tied to money long ago. Besides, would you willingly leave once I paid it all back? I can't beat you. When that time comes, won't it still be up to you what happens?"

Ruben reached out and tapped Mayuna's reddened forehead, showing her a fleeting smile.

"Y-you smiled?"

Mayuna stared at Ruben as though she had seen a ghost. He had actually smiled. After being with him for so long, this was the first time the mage god girl had ever seen him smile. It felt like a dream.

"Did I?"

Ruben touched the corner of his mouth but found nothing unusual, then asked in confusion.

"Then why did you still ask her for money?"

"For your tuition."

"Oh... huh!?"

PS: Please bookmark and recommend.

PS: I like pink hair the most. Yeah.

PS: Thanks to reader Che Le Dan Teng for the 10,000 reward. Here's the bonus chapter—take it. (coughs blood)

Thanks to readers AN232323, Ye Shen Tianming, Chi Ye Weiwu, Wan Wu Sangzhi De Ba, Mr. Mantou, and Hongmo Kid for their 100 rewards.