Tang Ya: If you have money, why won't you spend it on me?

"System, from now on, just give me the simplest, most direct, most straightforward tasks. No need to make me choose between two options. Pick one for me yourself."

[Understood. Your request has been implemented.]

[Thunderbolt Bei Bei wishes to win Tang Ya's heart. Help him clear away all obstacles and win over Zhang Lexuan. Reward: 500 High-Tier Escort Points.]

"What the hell?"

Lin Chen choked on a mouthful of fish. "System, bring up the other option. There's no way this is the normal one."

[Sorry, host. In accordance with your request, I selected the simplest, most direct, most straightforward task. The other option has been deleted and cannot be recovered. Do you accept?]

"I'm going to Shrek as an undercover agent, not to chase girls."

Lin Chen cursed the System, then shot Bei Bei a vicious glare.

The kid was only in his teens, yet all he could think about from morning till night was chasing girls.

Still, Lin Chen might as well accept. There was no penalty if he failed.

That was the one good thing about a Fate Escort: everything was left to fate. He could finish it whenever he wanted, or not at all.

"That smells amazing! Brother, those grilled fish smell incredible. Could you spare us two?

"We've been traveling all day, and we're starving."

Bei Bei approached with a gentle smile.

Tang Ya stood beside him, her huge eyes fixed on the grilled fish. She was almost drooling, though she tried to maintain the dignity of a Tang Sect Master.

The way she kept swallowing gave her away.

Huo Yuhao glanced at the two of them, his gaze lingering on Tang Ya for a moment. She was the prettiest woman he had ever seen, with a slender waist and long legs.

But he quickly looked away and turned to Lin Chen.

Lin Chen nodded, then addressed the pair.

"Sit down. There's plenty of fish."

He pointed to an open patch of ground nearby.

Huo Yuhao took the hint and put several more fish on the fire.

"Thanks, brother. I'm Bei Bei, and she's Tang Ya.

"We came to the Star Dou Great Forest to hunt a Soul Beast and obtain a Soul Ring."

Bei Bei plopped down and introduced them.

"What a coincidence. So did we.

"What else would anyone come to the Star Dou Great Forest for?"

Lin Chen never beat around the bush. Bei Bei fell silent, looking thoroughly embarrassed.

"May I ask your names?"

"I'm Lin Chen, and he's Huo Yuhao."

As Lin Chen spoke, he handed over a fish Huo Yuhao had just grilled. "I'm not very hungry. Go ahead and eat. There's more where that came from."

"It smells so good!" Tang Ya was nearly dizzy from the aroma as she took the fish from Lin Chen.

But the next instant, she cried out inwardly, He's so handsome!

The grilled fish had caught Tang Ya's attention first, but once she saw Lin Chen's face, she couldn't take her eyes off him.

Earlier, he had been sitting sideways, so she hadn't gotten a good look.

Now that they sat facing each other, she could see him clearly.

She had thought Bei Bei was handsome, but Lin Chen was far better-looking—ten times more handsome, even.

Even Bei Bei felt a little inadequate. How could someone this handsome exist? His looks were practically unfair.

Huo Yuhao couldn't help smiling at their astonishment.

When he had first seen Lin Chen, he'd reacted the same way—perhaps even more dramatically.

"Thanks for the compliment." Lin Chen merely smiled faintly. "There's plenty of fish. Eat as much as you like. It's all on me anyway."

"Right, it's all on Brother Chen."

Huo Yuhao would have been delighted to grill a few more. Brother Chen couldn't eat that many by himself, after all.

"What do you mean, it's on you?

"Have you already paid?"

Bei Bei ate his fish. It truly was delicious. The heat had been controlled to perfection, making every bite a pleasure.

"That's right. I've already paid for more than a hundred fish, so I can eat as many as I want."

Lin Chen spoke casually.

"Really?"

Tang Ya's eyes lit up at the thought of unlimited fish.

Lin Chen was not only handsome but generous, too.

Then again, how much could fish cost?

She thought nothing more of it.

Bei Bei, however, asked,

"How much is one grilled fish?"

"One Gold Soul Coin each, I'd say."

"Pfft!" Tang Ya spat out a mouthful of fish, stunned by the price. "That's daylight robbery!

"One Gold Soul Coin for a fish? Is it made of gold?"

"This fish is absolutely worth every coin! Besides, I said I'd treat you. You don't have to pay, so what are you getting worked up about?"

"As long as I don't have to pay. You scared me half to death."

Perhaps free food tasted better, especially when it cost a Gold Soul Coin apiece. Tang Ya dug in with renewed enthusiasm.

Bei Bei smiled.

"I'll pay."

He didn't want to owe a stranger a favor over this.

He wouldn't have minded if Huo Yuhao were treating them, but he couldn't get a read on Lin Chen. Better to be cautious.

"Here are ten Gold Soul Coins, young man. Your grilled fish is so good that we've eaten this much without noticing. Could we have a few more?"

Huo Yuhao froze. These were the most ordinary fish from the stream. He would have dared charge only a few copper coins, yet Brother Lin Chen had raised the price to one Gold Soul Coin each.

He didn't even dare take the money.

"No, no, there's no need. My fish aren't worth much. Please, let me treat you."

"Not worth much?"

Lin Chen's expression changed at once. "Huo Yuhao, I'll give you one chance to rephrase that."

He had accepted payment worth just over a hundred fish for the escort. If the fish were worthless, wouldn't that make him cheap?

Huo Yuhao caught on. He was quick to read the room, and he hurriedly pocketed the Gold Soul Coins.

"They're worth it, they're worth it!" He had gotten a bargain and was still playing coy.

With these Gold Soul Coins, he should be able to afford tuition at an academy once he obtained his First Soul Ring.

When Tang Ya saw Bei Bei casually produce ten Gold Soul Coins, though, she grew angry.

"Bei Bei, you're always saying you have no money, but now you can pull out ten Gold Soul Coins for grilled fish? You'll splash out on a few fish, but you won't give me money to build a Tang Sect branch in Shrek City."

Even the grilled fish couldn't cheer Tang Ya up now.

Lin Chen watched the drama unfold, growing more amused with every bite.

"What does his money have to do with you?

"If you don't have any, build it yourself."

Lin Chen's retort left Tang Ya speechless. All she could do was sulk.

Bei Bei could only give an awkward smile. Things really had become uncomfortable.

"Sorry.

"Lin Chen, Tang Ya is just like that. I hope you'll forgive her."

"Why are you apologizing for me? What did I do wrong?"

Seeing Bei Bei try to smooth things over only annoyed Tang Ya more.

Lin Chen was at a loss. He had only made an offhand remark, but Tang Ya's blow had landed hard.

"Let's drop it. I was just speaking off the cuff, so take it as such. We've only just met; there's no need to fall out over something so small."

"Then let's drop it."

Bei Bei cast Lin Chen a grateful look, but the atmosphere had already become painfully awkward.

Once they finished eating, Lin Chen said goodbye and left with Huo Yuhao.

He could work on Tang Ya's task whenever he liked, and Bei Bei's was optional. But there was something important he needed to do right away, and he couldn't miss it.

Huo Yuhao was beside himself with joy. He had earned ten Gold Soul Coins from a single meal.

"Brother Lin Chen, thank you. I've never seen this much money in my life."

"Well, now you have, haven't you?

"Come on. Let's get you a Soul Ring."