Chapter Three: Luxurious Ideals

Owing money and not paying it back? What a thought—do I really look like the sort of relentless debt collector who hounds people for their lives? Only someone as obsessed with money as he is would go around with such a grim face just for that.

Still, all the boys went out of their way to praise Elijie’s beauty, but no matter how charming their words might be, too many compliments quickly became cloying and insincere. Luo Chen, however, was the first to openly critique himself in front of her. It made this otherwise unremarkable young man seem rather special, and Elijie found his honesty quite refreshing.

“Perhaps I’m not very good with words,” Luo Chen chuckled. “But to be honest, Elijie, I think it would be even better if you smiled a bit more. My mother always said, ‘A smile makes you ten years younger.’ Smiling makes others feel more kindly toward you and brightens your own mood as well. It’s the best beauty secret for a girl—girls who go too long without smiling age easily!”

“You really are an interesting person,” Elijie was amused by Luo Chen, and her smile blossomed like a hundred flowers, dazzling enough that Luo Chen found himself staring. But Elijie soon sighed. “It’s a pity that I can’t just smile at people as I please.”

“Why not?”

“I’m afraid people would misunderstand.”

It sounded more like an excuse than a real reason, but for Elijie, it was true. Her allure was so overwhelming that countless admirers had already lost their senses over her. If she smiled casually at any boy, he might start imagining things, convinced that the beauty had feelings for him. It would lead to endless trouble, and Elijie had no intention of engaging in romance during her studies; all her focus was devoted to cultivation, and outside distractions would only hinder her progress.

“I understand, I understand…” Luo Chen donned a look of mock sympathy. “Compared to you, I suddenly feel very lucky. At least I have the right to smile whenever I want—even if I grin until my face cramps, not a single girl will overthink it. Ahahaha…” With that, Luo Chen burst into unrestrained laughter, startling flocks of birds and sending ground mice scurrying. He almost laughed himself into a jaw cramp before stopping.

For some reason, Elijie couldn’t quite stand his smugness—perhaps she was even a little envious—so she retorted, “You never know. Maybe I might overthink things because of you.”

As soon as the words left her lips, Elijie regretted them. How could she have said something so absurd? Even as a joke, she truly worried Luo Chen might take it the wrong way. If he tried to get closer, things would become awkward between them.

But Luo Chen only laughed heartily. “Elijie, don’t scare me. That’s impossible—unless pigs learn to climb trees.”

His response made Elijie breathe a small sigh of relief, but the nonchalance in his tone left her feeling oddly dissatisfied. After all, beautiful women have their pride—and perhaps a peculiar stubbornness. Too many admirers became tiresome, but being ignored by a boy irked her just as much. With an edge to her voice, she asked, “What do you mean, scare you? Are you saying the idea of me overthinking things about you is frightening?”

“Yes,” Luo Chen replied without hesitation. “Absolutely terrifying!”

Hearing this, Elijie felt, for the first time, a little wounded. Luckily, Luo Chen quickly added, “Don’t get me wrong, Elijie. It’s not that there’s anything wrong with you—on the contrary, you’re too outstanding. If—and I mean if, in the rarest, most impossible circumstances, like pigs climbing trees and bulls flying through the sky—you ever took an interest in me, I’d be under immense pressure. If the other suitors ever found out, it’d be a disaster. My frail body and delicate soul couldn’t withstand their wrath. So yes, I’m scared, Elijie. I sincerely beg you, never let that joke you just made get out, or you might find my corpse cut into seventeen or eighteen pieces, tossed in every trash bin around the academy!”

Luo Chen’s exaggeration made Elijie laugh again, this time so hard she nearly shook with mirth before she managed to compose herself. “Oh, Luo Chen, you really are amusing.”

None of her admirers would go to such extremes, of course.

Luo Chen, animated, continued, “By the way, Elijie, your Frost Strike just now was amazing. That battle technique is so difficult, and you’ve mastered it. Damn—oh, sorry, I didn’t mean to swear. It’s just that when boys get excited, we like to let off steam that way. I’ll try to control myself around you.”

Elijie was both annoyed and amused. Her other admirers always behaved with perfect manners and acted the gentleman, but only Luo Chen blurted out things like ‘pigs’ and ‘damn.’ Yet she couldn’t really get angry with him; crude as he might be, he had a certain innocence.

“If that’s what boys normally do, you don’t need to force yourself,” she said coolly.

“Really? That’s great! You know, holding in a curse word is like holding in… well, you know, it gets uncomfortable after a while!” Luo Chen beamed.

Elijie felt a little dizzy. This Luo Chen truly had no sense of propriety. Although his crude words weren’t directed at her and she didn’t mind, she still preferred not to hear them. He really was clueless—he’d even brought up the subject of… well, that.

Good heavens, was there something wrong with this boy’s nerves?

“Let’s talk about you, Luo Chen. Although we’ve attended the same school for nearly three years, I actually know very little about you.” For the first time, Elijie found herself curious, and took the initiative to ask about someone else.

“Me?” Luo Chen grinned. “Just as everyone knows, I’m just a poor kid, the kind who wishes he could split a copper coin in half to make it go further. Heh, heh…”

Elijie asked, “Do you have any ambitions?”

“Ambitions? That sounds pretty extravagant to me. If I’m fed and clothed with no worries, I’m content. Of course, if I could, I’d love to sleep on a pile of gold coins, roll around in them, open my eyes to nothing but glittering gold and the sweet sound of clinking coins. That must be a wonderful feeling!” Luo Chen closed his eyes, lost in the fantasy of grabbing handfuls of coins at will.

Elijie was left speechless. “Is money really the only goal you have in life?”

“Well, not exactly. It’s just that with money, a lot of my goals can be achieved—clothes, bread, a house. So you could say it’s an all-encompassing ideal.” Seeing Elijie’s disapproving look, Luo Chen smiled slightly. “You might think I lack ambition, but I’d rather be content with what I have. Desire, once it grows too big, is endless.”

“Contentment brings happiness… contentment…” Elijie repeated softly. “You really do understand a lot, Luo Chen. If everyone thought as you do, life would be a lot easier for them.”

Luo Chen shrugged. “Well, that’s not necessarily a good thing. From another angle, I’m just a lazy, unmotivated good-for-nothing. Someone as outstanding as you should have higher aspirations. Anyway, we’ve rested enough—let’s go back to camp and turn in our assignment.”

The internship lasted a week, and scores were based on the level and number of magical beasts hunted. With Elijie’s strength, they’d already met the highest A-level standard in just three days—no need to stay any longer in the Forest of Dread. The remaining four days would be a rare holiday.

Elijie was a little surprised. All the other boys wished for more time with her, but Luo Chen seemed in a hurry to submit the assignment, as if he couldn’t wait. Of course, she didn’t feel comfortable asking why.

In truth, Luo Chen’s reason was simple: money. With four days left, he could find work and earn a nice sum. Elijie was beautiful, no doubt—but beauty couldn’t fill an empty stomach.

That was why Luo Chen valued money above even the campus queen. If she ever found out, she’d probably be furious.

Just as they were about to set out on the return journey, a furious roar echoed from the depths of the forest. Both stopped in their tracks. Elijie said, “A more powerful beast has been drawn out!”