Chapter 147: The Young Girl Tycoon

"Woe is me, I can never show my face again!"

Lin Yu knocked lightly and, finding the door unlocked, walked inside. He saw her long, fair legs kicking in the air; it was clear she was truly mortified. Fortunately, she wasn't standing on the ground, or else another villa might have had to be built inside the villa.

Not knowing how to offer comfort, Lin Yu stepped forward and gently tickled the soles of her feet. He heard her squeals of "Aiya, aiya" as her legs flailed about in a chaotic attempt to escape his mischief. When she realized she couldn't break free, she let out a whimpering protest, and Lin Yu couldn't help but laugh at how adorable she looked.

Playfully, he teased, "Boss, you’re going to have to take responsibility for me."

Realizing she might have done something truly scandalous, her face shifted through a spectrum of purple, black, and red in an instant.

*This, this, this... what should I do?*

*Will I have to hide from him every time I see him now? This is so embarrassing!! To have pounced on him just because I was drunk... ahhh! How shameful!*

Watching the woman dive under the table, Lin Yu couldn't hold back a laugh.

"Pfft."

Ji Ya felt even more embarrassed. Abandoning her porridge, she scrambled to her feet, dashed upstairs, locked herself in her room, and dove under the covers, burying her head completely.

Ji Ya was utterly stunned. *Huh? Take responsibility?!*

*Does this mean I actually did something I shouldn't have while I was holding him down, and now I have to take responsibility? No way, that can't be true, right?!!*

*Wait! What’s an appropriate amount for a man’s bride price? Do men still need to work after getting married? If he becomes a househusband, how much should I give him for a monthly allowance?!*

*What does he usually like to buy? How much is his monthly living expense?*

*The real question is... does this count as a marriage without an emotional foundation? Neither of us has ever been in a relationship before, right? Should we go through the process of dating first before we talk about marriage?!*

*Oh, right! Yu’s parents have both passed away, so who would I even meet? Would it be his distant aunts and uncles? Ahhh! I’ve heard those relatives are so annoying!!*

*I don't have the time to deal with all this! My work is so busy!!*

Ruffling her hair until she felt like her head might explode, she finally settled on the most logical solution.

"You... resign today."

Lin Yu: "???"

*It was just a joke, there’s no need for that, really!*

"You don't want to?" Ji Ya scratched her head, the blanket draped over her shoulders. She pulled it closer and continued, "I’ll discuss your living expenses with you. Don't worry, it won't be lower than what you make at your job."

Lin Yu understood. After a moment of stunned realization, he was overcome by shock and confusion.

*Huh? What on earth?! Is the boss trying to keep me as a sugar baby?*

Ji Ya was also looking at him with a blank expression. "Do you not accept this arrangement? But office romances aren't allowed—I’m the one who made that rule."

"If you want me to take responsibility, then you can just give yourself to me. Forget resigning; I’ll support you. You can work or not work, whatever you want. I’ll buy you anything you ask for."

"Don't worry, I won't let you go hungry. There's plenty of money at home."

Ji Ya’s analysis was so methodical and logical that Lin Yu almost started to believe they were actually getting married. *Good grief, if you’re that serious, I’m going to start taking it for real!*

"It would be very strange to get married without dating first, right? After all... there are too many people getting flash-married and divorced these days, and I really don't want to be widowed."

Lin Yu: "?? What the hell is being widowed?"

"The main thing is, my family has no history of divorce. Unless one of us is widowed."

*So, marrying a wealthy heiress carries the risk of losing my life?? No wonder I wouldn't have to work—it would be too much trouble if people knew about it when the time came to do the deed!*

Lin Yu stood frozen. His earlier suspicions were just a momentary doubt—of course, murderous intent didn't exist—but the key was seeing Ji Ya so seriously calculating his living expenses; he was truly baffled.

*No... I am a proud, seven-foot man; how do I look like a 'soft rice' gigolo? What is she thinking? She actually wants to keep me? A man has gold beneath his knees; I cannot kneel for a few measly coins!*

*But... this is a proposal from the president of the largest talent agency in the country!! Only twenty-three, a young girl, the life of a wealthy woman!!*

*What about my dignity? What about the gold beneath my knees? Can I cash that in?*

*A wealthy woman who is also young—hesitating for even a second is an insult to money! People live for nothing more than a few coins; what did he do wrong?*

Lin Yu leaned in until they were face-to-face. A single push from a "head-pressing squad" would have had their lips locked. The distance was so close that Ji Ya’s expression shifted from shock to alarm, and finally to a deep crimson in just a few seconds.

The man’s gentle breath washed over her, his lips curled in a teasing smirk. "Does the boss also think my technique is good? You can't seem to get enough of it, right?"

"There are plenty of people who want to keep me. There was a wealthy woman who approached me not long ago, but... you’re younger and richer than her."

*What the hell? He has many wealthy women at the same time... is he a public bus driver? I couldn't tell at all!*

As Ji Ya imagined certain scenarios, the blush on her cheeks instantly spread to the tips of her ears. At first, she was just shy; now, she was both shy and furious!

*This kid actually knows how to play! Does that mean I drove a nine-owner second-hand car yesterday? Was the allowance I offered too low? After all... he might look down on me!!*

Thinking about it again, something felt off. *Wait... he just graduated from college. If he really knew that many wealthy women, he wouldn't have been dumped by that trashy girl at the graduation party, and he wouldn't have written such a sad love song because of it.*

Her clenched fists relaxed. Ji Ya hooked a finger under his chin, meeting his eyes. If he wanted to mess around, she could do that too! She hadn't experienced it herself, but she’d watched plenty of dramas; she just had to follow the script!

"Tell me, how much money is enough to support you?"

Lin Yu’s hand rested on her shoulder, his smile traveling downward. When his hand reached near her waist, he suddenly paused and looked at her expression. Yes, her cheeks were even redder now, almost steaming.

*A moment ago, I thought she knew everything, but now it looks like she’s just faking it!*

Seeing she was about to boil over, Lin Yu stopped teasing her.

"Alright, I’m just messing with you. Nothing happened between us. Let’s go down and have some porridge."

If he kept going, the boss might just burn to a crisp, and he couldn't afford the compensation!

*Eh?? It was all just a joke to tease her?? She had spent so much time and effort thinking through the entire process, even planning for the future, and this kid says it was just a joke?!*

Disappointment! Anger!

She gave his chest a frustrated punch with her little pink fist. *He’s so unreasonable!!*

Fearing she might grab his ears, Lin Yu turned and scrambled downstairs. The two of them chased each other around the living room—he ran, she chased, and his dignity went flying out the window!

*It was just a joke, there’s no need to chase me like this! I’m not some kind of desperate prize!*