A System notification rang in Ye Chen's mind.
"Ding! Congratulations, Host, for helping Xia Yingluo complete her first successful investment. You've earned a Ten-Fold Rebate of 45,000 yuan and the System reward: Combat Master."
Li Sitong was thrilled when she saw the money hit her account.
"Ye Chen, we've just made our very first pot of gold—let's celebrate properly!"
"Mm-hmm, of course we should celebrate," Yu Weiwei chimed in.
Ye Chen nodded. "Sounds good."
He glanced at Xia Yingluo beside him.
"Yingluo, are you free?"
Xia Yingluo looked troubled.
"I've got something on tonight…"
Ye Chen smiled. "No worries, another time."
After school, Ye Chen, Li Sitong, and Yu Weiwei cycled to the nearby Wanda Plaza.
Li Sitong felt on top of the world riding alongside the boy she liked.
The only fly in the ointment was the human light-bulb pedaling beside her—Yu Weiwei.
They parked their bikes and walked into the mall.
"I need the restroom," Ye Chen said, heading off.
Yu Weiwei immediately whispered to Li Sitong, "So, when are you going to confess?"
"I—I haven't figured it out yet."
"So many times I almost blurted it out, but the second I face him the words just stick in my throat," Li Sitong groaned.
"That won't do. Love takes courage. Tonight I'll create the perfect chance for you—blow it and I'll never let you live it down."
"What hare-brained scheme have you cooked up now?" Li Sitong asked.
Yu Weiwei said, "After dinner, just get Ye Chen to take you home. You'll have the whole ride alone together—plenty of time, right?"
"Actually, I don't think we need to rush the confession."
Li Sitong's cheeks flushed pink and her nerve failed again.
"Still not urgent? Everyone in class can see Ye Chen's into Xia Yingluo. Hesitate any longer and your future Boyfriend gets snatched—so we nail him tonight."
"I…" Li Sitong wavered.
Seeing her best friend so spineless, Yu Weiwei brought out the heavy artillery.
"So you don't dare confess?"
"Fine, I'll do it for you."
Li Sitong shook her head frantically. "Confessions can't be delegated!"
"Then I'll give you one last chance: by tomorrow morning I want news of a successful confession—otherwise I'm stepping in."
Weiwei patted Li Sitong's shoulder.
"Honestly, don't you feel even a shred of crisis?"
Didn't you see how Ye Chen and Xia Yingluo acted in class today? Something's definitely brewing."
"If someone else confesses first, where does that leave you?"
"Silly girl, grab your chance."
Li Sitong's head ached from listening.
"All right, all right, I get it."
Yu Weiwei's pep-talk had set Li Sitong's heart racing.
She resolved then and there: today she would confess.
If she lost Ye Chen through dithering, she'd regret it for life.
Suddenly Li Sitong remembered something and stared at Yu Weiwei.
"Weiwei, you seem even more anxious about this confession than I am."
For the past two days Yu Weiwei had been pushing her to declare her feelings.
"Of course I'm anxious—I'm your best friend."
"This is your life's big event; how could I not care?"
"Ye Chen's handsome, top of the class, and already making money—premium Boyfriend material."
"A catch like that—if you don't move fast, someone else will."
Yu Weiwei spoke with utter conviction.
Of course, she had her own little agenda.
Once Ye Chen and Li Sitong were together, she'd have first-hand intel on any future money-making ventures.
Help her best friend land happiness and line her own pockets—why not?
Provided, of course, that Ye Chen proved to be a decent guy.
If he turned out to be a scumbag, Yu Weiwei would never let Li Sitong near him.
Li Sitong rolled her eyes at Yu Weiwei.
"I swear you're hatching some plot."
She sensed Weiwei was hiding something, but she knew her best friend would never stab her in the back, so she let it slide.
Yu Weiwei snapped her fingers. "Right, hand over your bike key."
Li Sitong blinked. "What do you want my key for?"
Even as she asked, she passed the key to Yu Weiwei.
Yu Weiwei grinned wickedly. "Didn't I say I'd create an opportunity for you?"
"Here it is: after dinner, tell him you lost your bike key."
"Then I'll get Ye Chen to take you home—how's that for a plan? All those Romance Novels weren't wasted on me."
Yu Weiwei looked immensely proud.
Li Sitong shook her head in panic at the awful idea. "No way, no way."
She reached out to snatch the key back.
Yu Weiwei swiftly stuffed it into her pocket.
"Oh, by the way, Ye Chen's bike doesn't have a rear rack—so you'll have to sit on the crossbar. Tsk, how romantic is that?"
Li Sitong pictured herself perched on Ye Chen's crossbar and flushed crimson.
It would basically mean Ye Chen holding her the whole way.
"Yu Weiwei, give my key back!"
"Nope."
Confessing tonight was nerve-racking enough; add sitting on Ye Chen's crossbar and being held by him the entire ride and she felt she might faint.
Just then Ye Chen walked back over.
"What are you two up to?"
"We—we're…"
Li Sitong's face went scarlet and she couldn't speak.
Yu Weiwei shot her a sly look.
"We were talking about Li Sitong and you—"
Li Sitong moved like lightning, clapping a hand over Yu Weiwei's mouth.
"We were deciding what to eat later."
"Oh…"
Ye Chen studied the two girls, suspicious.
He could tell something was off.
Judging by their expressions, the topic definitely involved him.
And, if he had to guess, it was probably something not suitable for children.
"All right, let's eat. We've got tons of homework tonight," Li Sitong said, cheeks blazing.
For some reason she felt Ye Chen had already figured it out.
"Sure." Ye Chen smiled, and the trio walked into the Hot Pot Restaurant.
"My treat today—no one fights me for the bill," Li Sitong declared.
Ye Chen had just earned her over three hundred thousand.
Though the sum meant little to her, it was her first self-made pot of gold and she was over the moon.
They ordered a Spicy Broth, beef, lamb, seafood, and veggies—enough to cover the whole table.
They ate and chatted for an hour before finally calling it a meal.
After dinner they stepped out of the restaurant.
Yu Weiwei suddenly smacked her forehead. "Oh right, I've got something at home—gotta run. You two take your time."
Before Li Sitong could react, Yu Weiwei winked and dashed off.
Ye Chen and Li Sitong were left staring in bewilderment.
Li Sitong's heart sank—the bike key was still in Weiwei's pocket; it looked like she really would have to sit on Ye Chen's crossbar tonight.