Out in Society, She's Definitely Going to Meet the Wrong Guy!

"Selling them?"

Shen Lang was even more surprised, wondering what era this country girl was from.

He'd thought Li Liusi picked them up to make some kind of art or for gardening, but it turned out she just wanted to sell them?

One bottle was barely worth a dime at most. How many bottles would she need to collect to get back one unopened can of soda?

Perhaps sensing that her unconscious action had startled Shen Lang, Li Liusi stood there, clutching the bottle in her hand, looking lost, like a child who had done something wrong.

[1: Ask in surprise: "Holy crap, you're a girl picking things out of a trash can, doesn't that gross you out?"]

[2: Boast proudly: "Silly girl, how much is this bottle worth? Clean yourself up, dress nicely, and I'll treat you to steak tonight!"]

[3: Go back to your room, collect all the empty bottles, give them to her, and say gently: "From now on, all the bottles are yours."]

"Wait for me."

Shen Lang decisively chose option three.

This option not only saved Li Liusi's face but also provided a reason to get closer to her in the future by giving her bottles.

Shen Lang went back to his room, gathered all the bottles he usually left in the corner, and put them into a trash bag.

Upon returning to Li Liusi's room, Shen Lang handed her the full trash bag.

"I'm usually pretty lazy, too lazy to collect these bottles and sell them. So I'll just leave them to you now."

Shen Lang teased with a smile, "But remember, after you sell them, just give me a bottle of soda to drink."

Li Liusi blankly took the trash bag filled with empty bottles and just stared for a long time, her eyes unknowingly starting to redden.

She bent slightly and bowed to Shen Lang, her voice trembling with a hint of a sob, "Th-thank you!"

[Ding! Li Liusi's Favorability towards the Host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 10 points. Please continue your efforts!]

"N-no need to thank me!"

In a way, Shen Lang was truly shaken.

It was 2024, how could there still be people so poor?

To be so incredibly grateful and bow to him just for a few empty bottles!?

After saying goodbye to Li Liusi, Shen Lang went to Building Three and rang Xia Shuyi's doorbell.

"Mengmeng, go open the door, Mommy's busy."

"Okay!"

A childish voice gradually approached.

As the security door slowly opened, the little girl poked her head out and looked up, staring at Shen Lang with a cute, bewildered expression, then broke into a joyful, adorable smile.

"Mommy, it's Big Brother Shen, Big Brother Shen is here!"

Xia Shuyi was doing yoga on a mat on the balcony.

Upon hearing that Shen Lang had arrived, a joyful smile immediately bloomed on her face. She quickly paused her yoga class and stood up to greet him.

It was clear that both mother and daughter were very fond of this tall, big boy.

Shen Lang stood at the doorway, watching the mother and daughter approach, and inexplicably felt like a new dad.

It was as if the mother and daughter were living alone, and their husband, who had been away on a long business trip, suddenly came home, giving them a big surprise.

"Big Brother Shen, what have you been doing lately? You haven't come to play with Mengmeng in ages!"

The little girl hugged Shen Lang's leg, her eager little face tilted up, wanting Shen Lang to pick her up.

"Oh, Big Brother Shen had things to do."

Shen Lang bent down and picked up the little girl, dotingly rubbing her small nose, "Hehe, has Mengmeng gotten fatter again? Hmm?"

"Hehehe, no way!"

The little girl shook her head, smiling brightly, revealing her pearly white baby teeth.

Xia Shuyi happily watched the affectionate pair, a relieved, aunt-like smile on her face. "Xiao Shen, why don't you have lunch here? I just got back from grocery shopping."

"Then thank you, Sister Xia."

After Shen Lang nodded in agreement, his gaze inadvertently fell on Xia Shuyi, who was only wearing yoga clothes.

Xia Shuyi stood barefoot on the carpet in the middle of the living room, her dark hair tied back. She wore a light yellow tank top and white yoga pants.

Her fair, flat waist below her chest and her graceful, alluring figure were fully showcased by the tight yoga wear.

Due to the exercise, Xia Shuyi's cheeks were slightly flushed, and a thin layer of sweat beaded on her forehead, giving her an inexplicable charm and allure.

Decades of time seemed to have left no mark on Xia Shuyi; the skin exposed by her yoga attire was still as smooth and firm as a young girl's.

Xia Shuyi felt a little embarrassed under Shen Lang's direct gaze, yet a strange sense of pride swelled within her.

At her age, after having a child, to still be able to captivate a young man in his prime so much meant her figure was still very well-maintained.

"You little rascal."

Xia Shuyi gave Shen Lang an arrogant glare, then smugly went back to her bedroom to put on a windbreaker.

Mengmeng was still at home, and Xia Shuyi was afraid Shen Lang wouldn't be able to control himself, worried he might act like he did last time.

She returned to the living room in her windbreaker. Mengmeng was sitting in Shen Lang's lap, smiling as she watched a cartoon playing on the LCD TV with him.

Xia Shuyi sat next to Shen Lang, pinching her daughter's soft cheek. She asked curiously, "How come you're here so early today? Don't you have to write your novel?"

"Well, it's like this."

Shen Lang recounted his encounter with Li Liusi earlier, then sighed, "Other than when I was little and stayed with my grandma in the countryside, I haven't seen such a frugal girl in a long time."

Xia Shuyi said helplessly, "Ah, that girl has it tough too."

"Her parents passed away when she was a few years old, and she and her grandma lived off government relief money since she was little."

"She finally got into university, and then her grandma had a stroke and was hospitalized. Now there are considerable daily expenses."

"She's working part-time at a restaurant while taking care of her grandma, and she still has to attend classes. Her life is incredibly hard."

"Is that so?"

Shen Lang finally understood why Li Liusi was so frugal.

Going to university involved significant expenses, and her grandma's hospitalization and medication probably left her with a pile of debt. Plus, she lost her parents when she was young.

What else could she do but desperately save money, especially with university ahead of her?

"Hey, wait, Sister Xia, how do you know all this?"

Shen Lang asked in surprise, "Didn't she just move in today?"

"She told me herself yesterday when she was looking at the apartment."

Xia Shuyi gave a wry smile. "You don't believe it, do you? I haven't seen such a genuinely simple girl in a long time either. She answers whatever you ask, incredibly innocent."

"Big Brother Shen, you live across from her. When you have time, please look out for her a bit."

Xia Shuyi said earnestly, "If possible, try to guide her out of that kind of personality. Otherwise, once she enters society, she'll definitely encounter bad people."