I'll scan your code and send you twenty yuan

Lu Jiaoyue had successfully made contact with Gu Sipei over there. Things were progressing smoothly, which was reassuring.

Meanwhile, at the very same place, the system fell into contemplation as it watched Lu Xiaoxiao skulking behind a trash can.

"...Host, what are you doing?"

Lu Xiaoxiao clicked her tongue impatiently and replied, "Spying, obviously. Do you have a brain?"

The system said, "No."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "..."

Lu Xiaoxiao: "Impressive."

Sincerity really was the ultimate weapon.

The system continued in confusion, "But didn't you already exchange points for invisibility time? Why are you still hiding?"

Lu Xiaoxiao said, "Mind your own business. It's all about the atmosphere."

With that, she ignored the system and continued watching the pair.

They actually bumped into each other by accident... What a clichéd way to meet.

But credit where it's due, this guy really is handsome. Look at those long legs! Those broad shoulders and that narrow waist! Not bad, not bad. He's barely one ten-thousandth as good as my Jiaoyue!

While Lu Xiaoxiao scrutinized Gu Sipei like a mother-in-law sizing up her son-in-law, Lu Jiaoyue suddenly heard that familiar inner voice, and her expression softened with a hint of surprise.

She glanced around out of the corner of her eye but saw no sign of Lu Xiaoxiao.

Lu Jiaoyue realized that her sister must be hiding nearby, watching her every word and move.

Her earlier panic instantly subsided, replaced by the reassuring sense that someone had her back.

Maybe this is a test from my sister! I have to handle this unexpected situation properly and show her I won't embarrass the Lu Family!

With that thought, Lu Jiaoyue lifted her face, full of determination, and looked at Gu Sipei with a solemn, earnest expression. "Sir, please don't be angry with me. To make up for spoiling your mood, I can buy you a coffee!"

Gu Sipei: ...?

Lu Xiaoxiao: ?

Lu Xiaoxiao nearly blacked out at Lu Jiaoyue's response. She covered her eyes helplessly, unable to bear watching.

Well, we're screwed. Spending money on a man the first time you meet him? Girl, what are you thinking!

You only bumped into him. Does that really warrant such a formal apology? It's not like you could have broken something! And even if we take a huge step back, isn't he partly at fault too? He saw someone coming and just stood there instead of moving!

Gu Sipei narrowed his eyes as he studied the girl, whose head barely reached his chin, and didn't answer immediately.

He rarely visited shopping malls himself. With a personal assistant handling his daily needs, there was hardly anything he had to buy in person.

He was here today because Elder Gu's seventieth birthday was coming up, and he needed to prepare a gift.

Gu Sipei had always been distant from his family, with Elder Gu the only one he was close to. Naturally, he had no intention of being careless about the birthday gift, so he had come to select a Jade Buddha ornament of exceptional quality.

But just as he stepped out of the shop, Lu Jiaoyue unexpectedly crashed into his arms.

The girl held a large pile of luxury-brand shopping bags, yet the clothes she wore looked as though they cost less than a hundred yuan. Her face was completely free of makeup, and she had a fresh, unspoiled air about her. At first glance, she seemed less like a wealthy family's daughter than a girl from an ordinary household.

But Gu Sipei recognized her face.

The Gu family was well informed. As soon as the Lu Family confirmed Lu Jiaoyue's identity, someone had delivered her information, complete with a photograph, to him.

Gu Sipei generally kept his distance from women, but plenty of women in his social circle wanted to latch onto him. He had seen seductive women, cute women, aloof women, and spoiled women. Someone as simple and unassuming as Lu Jiaoyue, however, was a type he had never encountered, so that one glance had left an impression.

He hadn't expected to run into her by chance today.

Not far away, Special Assistant Lin from the Gu Group had finished paying for the Jade Buddha on his boss's behalf. He was about to approach Gu Sipei and report back when a single look from him stopped him.

Taking a closer look, Special Assistant Lin noticed an unfamiliar young woman standing before his boss. Without a word, he quietly turned and walked away.

The Gu Group paid him such a high salary, after all. He needed to know how to read the room.

Lu Jiaoyue had regretted her offer the moment she heard Lu Xiaoxiao's internal complaints.

Oh no, I'm so stupid. I wanted to impress my sister, but I only made things worse.

When Gu Sipei still didn't respond, she grew even more embarrassed and stammered, trying to give herself a way out. "I-it's fine if you don't want to. Anyway, I'm really sorry..."

"I didn't say I didn't want to." Before Lu Jiaoyue could finish, Gu Sipei suddenly spoke. "Lead the way."

His voice was deep, resonant, and very pleasant. He wasted no words, his tone clipped and firm, making it immediately clear that he was accustomed to giving orders.

Lu Jiaoyue was dumbfounded. She let out a blank "Huh?" and her expression became conflicted.

Now he's agreed, but I don't want to treat him anymore...

My sister already called me foolish. I really want to cut my losses!

Still, she had made the promise herself, and Lu Jiaoyue wasn't someone who liked breaking her word. After a long hesitation, she steeled herself and decided to follow through.

"All right, but, but... I never said I'd take you to a café." Lu Jiaoyue set her shopping bags aside for the moment, then fumbled for her phone and opened the code scanner. "I'll scan your code and send you the money!"

Gu Sipei froze, clearly unable to follow her train of thought. "Scan what?"

Lu Jiaoyue frowned. "Your payment code, obviously! I'll transfer you twenty yuan."

Her expression was utterly matter-of-fact, and her eyes even held a hint of skepticism. She might as well have had "Do you have any common sense?" written across her face.

An odd silence settled over them.

Lu Xiaoxiao was the first to lose it. She covered her mouth in time to keep from making a sound, but inside, she was howling with laughter.

Hahahahahahaha, I can't take it! Is this an apology or an insult? Sweetie, that was brilliant! Gu Sipei probably never dreamed he'd go shopping and have someone hand him twenty yuan in charity! Hahahahahahaha!

Hearing Lu Xiaoxiao laugh so happily, Lu Jiaoyue decided her sister must approve of how she had handled things. Her spirits rose, and she even urged him, "Hurry up."

Gu Sipei's expression grew increasingly indescribable. After a long silence, he finally brought up a QR code.

But it wasn't a payment code. It was his WeChat friend code.

"Let's exchange contact details," he said.

Lu Jiaoyue considered it, decided that worked too, and obediently added him.

Lu Xiaoxiao nearly laughed herself faint at this turn of events, but halfway through, she suddenly realized she didn't even have Lu Jiaoyue on WeChat. Her amusement vanished instantly.

That bastard beat me to it! I want to add my little sister on WeChat too!!!

Lu Jiaoyue couldn't help smiling and decided that the moment she met up with Lu Xiaoxiao, she would add her contact details.

In the original novel, Gu Sipei had taken Lu Jiaoyue back to the Lu Family home at this point.

But when the real Gu Sipei asked Lu Jiaoyue whether she was alone, she firmly shook her head.

"I came with my sister. She's probably waiting for me in the car, so I need to go find her now."

"I've transferred you twenty yuan! Remember to accept it! Bye~"

Watching the girl walk away without hesitation, then studying the transfer screen on his phone for a while, Gu Sipei let out a cryptic chuckle.

He was starting to get curious.

If this girl knew that the money passing through his accounts every minute exceeded two hundred thousand yuan, he wondered what amusing expression she would make.