After they left the apartment, Shen Yiran quickly took charge, having already booked a taxi by the time they reached the ground floor. Lin Wei watched in silence, impressed by how efficient she was. It made him reflect on how effective it was to have someone like her—like a personal secretary—handling things so smoothly.
Without much thought, he opened his payment app, paid for the ride, and then asked, "Do you have a payment account?"
When she nodded, he transferred 500,000 credits directly to her account. The sheer amount nearly made her tremble as her phone almost slipped from her grasp.
"Sir, this amount…" she stammered, clearly startled by the large sum.
"Hmm. Well, getting taxis and handling other things will require funds. I'll transfer it to you periodically so you can keep it for the work you do. Consider it a sign of trust from me," Lin Wei said calmly, his tone more relaxed than usual.
"Thank you, Sir… I'll work hard." Shen Yiran smiled, and the expression felt completely natural to her, which made Lin Wei realize something—he'd been overly cautious about trusting her up until now. Perhaps it was time to let go of that wariness.
'I'll put my trust in her. Please, don't let me down,' he mused internally.
On the other hand, Shen Yiran couldn't help but smile to herself.
'He trusts me... I guess, just like Master said. I'll make sure to work hard from now on.' The excitement was evident in her expression as she thought about how long she had trained for this moment. It was the first time she was truly serving him, and she intended to make it count.
The taxi moved in silence, the cityscape sliding past the windows. Lin Wei sat quietly, his thoughts wandering back to Shen Yiran. So far, she had proven herself diligent and capable.
The cold, distant demeanor she had when they first met seemed to be softening. Maybe she had just been nervous before, and now her real personality was beginning to emerge.
After a pause, he turned to her and asked casually, "Miss Shen, are you in a relationship with someone right now?"
The question caught her completely off guard. Shen Yiran blinked, stunned, her eyes widening as she turned to look at him with a slightly confused expression.
Even the driver raised an eyebrow, sneaking a glance at them through the rearview mirror, sensing the sudden shift in atmosphere.
A faint blush crept up Shen Yiran's cheeks. "Um… I am. It's a long-distance relationship. My boyfriend is doing his master's abroad," she explained, trying to maintain her composure despite the awkwardness.
Lin Wei's lips curled into a subtle grin, though he suppressed it quickly, leaning back in his seat as if satisfied with the answer.
'Wait... that's not what I meant to think about…' He shook his head inwardly, catching himself as his thoughts began to wander in a direction he hadn't fully intended. 'Focus, Lin Wei. You're getting distracted.'
"That's kind of amazing, actually. I'm sure he must be a great guy," Lin Wei said, genuinely impressed. The idea of maintaining a long-distance relationship, especially with someone studying abroad, seemed admirable to him. And Shen Yiran, for her part, seemed equally committed. It spoke volumes about both of them.
"It's not that amazing…" she replied with a gentle smile, a trace of fondness in her voice as she thought about her boyfriend.
Lin Wei scratched the back of his head, feeling a little awkward for asking in the first place. He shook off the lingering thoughts and shifted the focus back to something more practical—something she had brought with her.
Shen Yiran opened a folder and took out the land deed he had received. "This area is already quite populated and very safe. It's one of the best locations for a villa. Thanks to that, we've rented out a few portions of the property and are already generating a solid stream of income from it," she explained.
She handed him a few printed images—photos she had personally taken of the surroundings. Lin Wei looked through them, quiet and a bit overwhelmed. The land wasn't just valuable; it was a goldmine.
'So that's why those stepmothers were trying to get their hands on it…' he thought, narrowing his eyes slightly.
Even though Lin Wei didn't know much about real estate, he could see the potential. With the government actively developing the city and new companies popping up around the area, the population was bound to rise quickly. If trends continued, this land could easily multiply in value—maybe even twenty times its current price.
This wasn't just a gift. It was a future. An investment. And a potential source of power and security.
"I might need to thank Father for this..." Lin Wei said with a soft smile as he closed the tablet and handed it back to Shen Yiran.
She returned the gesture with a faint smile of her own and a nod. From the very beginning, she'd been aware of Lin Wei's strained relationship with his father. So hearing him express even a small hint of gratitude felt refreshing. Having worked under his father for the past two years—part of her preparation to serve Lin Wei—she had come to deeply respect the man. It was reassuring to see even the slightest bridge being mended between them.
"We're here," she said, glancing ahead.
As the taxi came to a stop, Lin Wei looked out the window and silently noted that, with a secretary now by his side, continuing to travel around in taxis felt a bit... unfitting. Perhaps it was time to consider getting a car. Not just for appearances—but also practicality.
And if he gifted the car to Shen Yiran under his [Rebate Option] skill, he'd benefit without actually losing anything. It seemed like a win-win.
They stepped out in front of the L&A store—a luxury boutique that exuded elegance. The entire storefront was constructed with glass and polished marble, gleaming under the light. Inside, rows of meticulously crafted watches sat on display, each one more refined than the last, their price tags hinting at their exclusivity. Every piece looked less like an accessory and more like a symbol of status.
All the watches inside the L&A boutique were neatly divided into two sections. On one side were the pieces aimed at the general public—affordable yet refined, showcasing the brand's craftsmanship and accessibility. On the other were the handcrafted, high-end timepieces. These weren't just watches—they were symbols of status and precision artistry. Sales were rare on that side, but their mere presence elevated the shop's prestige.
"Hello, sir," a saleslady greeted them the moment they stepped in.
She took one quick glance at Lin Wei—modest clothes, understated demeanor—but seeing the calm elegance of the woman beside him, clearly secretary-like, she held back any premature judgment. In her mind, he might just be one of those second-generation elites playing it low-key. And that meant a potential big sale.
"Hello," Lin Wei replied politely. "I'm looking for a women's watch. It's for a gift. If possible, I'd like it wrapped nicely—for tomorrow night."
He spoke simply, saying what was on his mind. He didn't bother mentioning price ranges. With his [Rebate Option] skill in effect, he knew there was no need to worry. As long as it was a gift for a girl, no matter how much he spent, he'd come out ahead in the end.
The saleslady's eyes lit up just a little—polite and professional. "Of course, sir. Do you already have a preferred brand or style in mind, or would you like me to guide you through some of our recommendations?"
Lin Wei glanced at Shen Yiran, who stood quietly by his side, before turning back to the saleslady. "Something elegant, but not too flashy. Refined. Suitable for someone in her early twenties."
"Okay!" The saleslady's smile deepened as she gracefully led them toward the display section.
Lin Wei followed without hesitation, while Shen Yiran trailed behind, her expression subtly shifting. Since meeting her new employer, she had never seen him hesitate when it came to spending money.
From casually talking about gifting expensive sweets to neighbors that morning to transferring 500,000 credits for simple taxi fare and other miscellaneous expenses—he was completely unfazed.
And now, here he was, browsing luxury watches at L&A, where even the cheapest pieces started in the millions. Not something ordinary people would dare to spend on so lightly.
"Is he really that rich? He doesn't seem to think twice about spending like this…" she thought, a faint crease forming between her brows.
For the first time, a tinge of doubt crept into her mind. She couldn't help but form a slightly negative opinion: perhaps he was too carefree—reckless, even—with money.
Lin Wei, noticing her expression, smirked inwardly. He could tell she was silently judging him, probably questioning his decisions. But he didn't care. Not at all.
This, he thought to himself, will be my future source of wealth anyway. Let her misunderstand for now.
With [Rebate Option] in play, these weren't expenses—they were investments.