Chapter 10: My Affection Gilded Him in Gold

Mi Ke was so exasperated by his confidence that she actually laughed out loud.

She braced her hands on her knees and stood up from the folding stool, unhurried. "Jiang Muye, I'll admit I used to like

you. But I realized something later-the halo around you back then was nothing more than my own affection gilding you in

gold. And you yourself-"

"-are utterly worthless."

Jiang Muye's pupils contracted. The taut, powerful muscles of his arms tensed visibly with anger.

It had never occurred to him that one day Mi Ke would dismiss him so completely.

But Mi Ke's gaze dropped to his clenched fists, and she continued without the slightest hesitation.

"I think you need to understand something. Being with me can indeed increase your chances of getting close to Song

Jingyi. But that only benefits you. It does nothing for me. I have no obligation to help you."

Jiang Muye scoffed inwardly at her words.

So she'd finally said what she really meant-she didn't want him and Song Jingyi together at all! All that talk about

helping him get close to Song Jingyi was just an excuse to get close to him!

Jiang Muye gave a derisive snort. "What, can't bear to let me go? Having second thoughts?"

"Whether I change my mind depends on your attitude." Mi Ke ignored his blind confidence, her fingertips brushing the

Smile necklace resting against her collarbone. She spoke with unhurried ease. "You're the one who needs something from

me. You'll have to offer something in exchange."

More money. Was this woman obsessed?

Thinking of Song Jingyi's pure, beautiful smile, Jiang Muye gritted his teeth and asked, "How much?"

Mi Ke smiled and held up two fingers.

"Two thousand."

Jiang Muye actually exhaled with relief. Two thousand wasn't much for him.

He looked down and initiated the transfer, his tongue pressing against the back of his teeth in irritation. "You'd

better deliver. Two thousand to help me pursue Jingyi-or else we're not even friends anymore."
Jiang Muye was utterly convinced that no matter how much Mi Ke carried on, she liked him at heart and was only acting up

to get his attention. Threaten to cut off the friendship, and she'd fall right back in line.

"Hold on." Mi Ke suddenly pressed her hand over his phone, stopping the transfer.

"What, scared I'll really stop talking to you?" Jiang Muye raised an eyebrow and grinned. "Then be a good girl and

cooperate with-"

"Let's get one thing straight first." Mi Ke's lips curved. Her fair, cool-featured face carried a trace of casual pity.

"Helping you get close to Song Jingyi-two thousand per session."

"Are you out of your damn mind?" Jiang Muye's brows snapped together.

Two thousand wasn't a lot, but he had no idea how many encounters it would take to truly win Song Jingyi over. At Mi

Ke's rate, wasn't this a bottomless pit?

Spending money on Song Jingyi-he'd do that gladly. But handing it over to Mi Ke? That stuck in his craw.

"If you don't want to, then forget it." Mi Ke waved him off and gave him a light shove aside. "Stop blocking my

practical work."

She pulled out a fresh sheet of A4 paper and went back to writing the characters for [Free Sports Rehabilitation] in

careful, deliberate strokes.

Jiang Muye stood there grinding his teeth for a while. When it became clear that Mi Ke truly had no intention of

acknowledging him further, he finally looked down and transferred her the two thousand.

[Received transfer from sucker (Jiang Muye): 2,000.00 yuan. Current system balance: 5,186.00 yuan.]

Hearing the system's flat notification, Mi Ke kept her head down over her writing-but her eyes curved with undisguised

pleasure.

Five thousand saved up. Another star upgrade within reach.

Jiang Muye glanced behind him. His teammates from earlier had already started drifting toward Mi Ke with curious

expressions, clearly wanting to strike up a conversation.

Gripping his phone, he urged impatiently, "Money's transferred. When are you setting this up?"

"No rush." Mi Ke placed the finished sign in front of her, her fair right hand propping up her chin lazily. "This Saturday's supposed to be sunny. How about a hike up Qingming Mountain together?"