Chapter 160 - 128: Autism and Claustrophobia! Something Was Found

That’s because she was someone who could actually listen to reason.

People who won’t listen to reason only get angrier the more you try to reason with them.

That kind of person doesn’t want to hear logic; they just want the other person to back down. Who’s right and who’s wrong is irrelevant to them.

Chu Xi wasn’t that kind of person. One of the "benefits" of her autism was that she wasn’t so abstract; her thinking was more straightforward.

"Heh, that’s more like it."

"We won’t be able to go back anytime soon."

"We originally said we’d head back in half a month, but it’s been almost two months now. We should be used to it. Besides, it’s pretty comfortable living here, so staying a few more months won’t be a problem."

Xu Huo said as he put away his clothes.

"Mm, I still have a little money. How about you open a cake shop?"

"Your desserts are delicious. It would be a shame not to open a shop in a tourist spot like this. And once you’re rich, you can carry out some ’targeted poverty alleviation’ on me."

Chu Xi froze, then tilted her head.

She pointed a finger at herself.

"Me?"

"Yep."

"But I don’t have the money to open one," Chu Xi sighed.

"I have money. A million in the bank in ’03!"

A smile spread across Xu Huo’s face. Seven cases had earned him his first million.

That was the real benefit of not officially joining up.

Money!

If he’d joined, it was doubtful he’d have even made fifty thousand from the bonuses and salary of seven cases combined.

Promotions were nice, sure, but they depended on seniority, and that was something you could only get by putting in the time...

Unless you got fast-tracked into the Special Fifth Bureau. But the Special Fifth Bureau was a lot of trouble, and Xu Huo couldn’t be bothered.

"No, that’s not my money."

Without the slightest hesitation, Chu Xi shook her head.

"That’s your money."

"I have money too."

She thought for a moment before adding, "I have seventeen thousand yuan. I’ve saved up all my allowance and salary from the past few months."

"If I save for another year, I’ll be able to open the shop!"

She was tempted. She’d never considered opening a cake shop before, but Xu Huo had just given her a goal.

She carefully calculated her salary and savings.

"What’s with all this ’yours’ and ’mine’? We can just use it together," Xu Huo said.

"No."

Chu Xi’s refusal was sharp and clear.

Xu Huo looked over at Chao Zi. Chao Zi, who had been dozing off, instantly jolted awake.

The gears in his head started turning like an electric motor.

"Sis, it’s called an investment! Or it could be a loan!"

Wang Chao began, his voice very serious.

"As an investment, it means you and Brother Huo open the shop together. He puts up the money, you provide the skills."

"As a loan, it means he puts up the money for now, and you start earning. Once you’ve made enough, you pay him back with interest!"

"This is just business! Think about it, if you wait to open the cake shop, how much profit will you miss out on in half a year? The interest is nothing compared to that!"

Chu Xi mulled it over, still a bit hesitant.

Seeing his opening, Wang Chao changed his tack.

"Opening six months later means earning six months less. By then, Brother Huo will have no money, you’ll have no money, and he’ll end up living on the streets!"

"There are so many rapists out there these days, and with Brother Huo’s smooth, delicate skin, if someone were to target him..."

Xu Huo: ?

Xu Huo shot him a "benevolent" glare, which Wang Chao pretended not to see.

Wang Chao got the message. He decided he needed to find himself a protector.

"If you don’t want Brother Huo’s money, I’ve got money!"

"I’ll put in money, Sis, you put in money and your skills, and Brother Huo can handle the management. It’s a win-win-win!"

Wang Chao’s "brilliant" brain had produced a "brilliant" idea.

If he wanted to avoid the inevitable reckoning, he’d have to rely on Chu Xi.

"You chip in the cream, he’ll chip in the cookies."

"We’ll make it big, make it strong, and make it glorious!"

"Then... okay?"

Chu Xi was swayed.

"Of course it is!"

Wang Chao nodded, then turned to Xu Huo.

"What about you, Brother Huo?"

Xu Huo: ...

"Of course I’m fine."

Xu Huo grinned, his smile fixed on Wang Chao.

"Alright, I’ll put in ten thousand."

"Add that to the fifteen thousand you have, Sis, and Brother Huo can just chip in ten thousand—that makes thirty-five thousand, which should be enough to rent a shop and get started."

Wang Chao felt like he’d finally found his protector.

Xu Huo couldn’t help but laugh.

Ten thousand yuan was a lot of money, but not compared to what he had.

And Wang Chao was actually willing to cough up ten thousand... For an ordinary person, that was a whole year’s savings, assuming they didn’t eat or drink!

Honestly, if Xu Huo wanted to, he wouldn’t have to spend a single cent. In fact, a whole crowd of people would be fighting for the chance to give him money.

But then again...

He liked to do things by the book.

Wang Chao was the same. He was familiar with Li Jianye, Xu Huo, Wang Hu, and Qian Hua, but he had never asked them for a single favor.

If money was owed, it was paid.

He never took what wasn’t his, and even for what was, he’d think twice before accepting!

"I have a business plan!"

Wang Chao said to Chu Xi, his voice growing with excitement.

"Get lost!" Xu Huo cut in.

He looked at Chu Xi. "Let’s figure it out ourselves. None of his plans have ever been reliable."

Chu Xi nodded. She thought so, too.

"Brother Huo, it breaks my heart to hear you say that!"

Wang Chao lamented dramatically.

He still felt that Xu Huo was snuffing out an entrepreneurial genius in the cradle, preventing the rise of a future business empire.

Xu Huo was about to say something else.

But just then, his phone rang.

He froze, offered a quick, apologetic gesture, and stepped outside.

He answered the call.

"Hello?"

"It’s me, Li Jianye."

"I found something. That thing you asked me to keep an eye on before. You have time now?"

"Want to come take a look?"

Li Jianye’s middle-aged voice came through the phone, sounding the same as ever.

However...

’He found something?’

’A new development in the case!?’

’Or something I asked him to look into?’

’When did I ask him to look into anything?’

’But he sounds so certain...’

Xu Huo paused. After a moment’s thought, he said:

"Wait for me."

"I’m on my way!"