Ye Chen looked at Xia Yingluo, his heart aching.
"Why are you pushing yourself so hard? Don't you know you're in Senior Year of High School? You have to take care of your body."
"I… I was just afraid you'd lose money."
Yesterday, Xia Yingluo had talked with the Director for a long time, and she'd thought about many things.
Ye Chen might be great at making money, but he spent it just as recklessly.
Especially on her—Xia Yingluo felt Ye Chen's money flowed away like water.
Watching it, even she felt her heart ache.
This time, Xia Yingluo was determined to help Ye Chen—at the very least, she couldn't let him lose money.
She even thought that if she worked harder, she could help Ye Chen earn more.
Some girls believe it's only natural for boys to spend money on girls.
But Xia Yingluo wasn't that kind of girl.
In her eyes, loving someone meant giving to each other mutually.
She couldn't let Ye Chen keep giving one-sidedly.
All this time, Ye Chen had been helping her.
Buying her clothes, helping her invest, giving the Orphanage a library and a Basketball court.
Now he was even planning to invest in a Hot Pot Restaurant for the Orphanage.
Yet she'd never had a chance to repay him.
Xia Yingluo felt anxious, constantly wondering what she could do for Ye Chen.
Now, she sensed the opportunity to repay him had arrived.
Although there wasn't much she could do, and she wasn't as wealthy as Li Sitong's family.
She could still use her wits to help Ye Chen earn money.
At this moment, the eighteen-year-old Xia Yingluo had already set a life goal… If Ye Chen knew her thoughts, he'd surely feel depressed.
Because all Ye Chen wanted was to lose money!
He flipped through the Hot Pot Restaurant business plan Xia Yingluo had written.
Reading it, Ye Chen was stunned.
Though the plan was a bit green, for a Senior Year of High School student to produce such a document was already remarkable.
The more Ye Chen read, the more he realized Xia Yingluo had an innate business mind.
This plan might actually help him make money.
It contained many bright spots, even some remarkably forward-looking ideas.
First was the choice of location.
Xia Yingluo believed a Hot Pot Restaurant's success hinged heavily on its site.
Since the customer base was mostly young people, the restaurant should be near the University area.
Second, she felt the restaurant needed excellent seasoning—at the very least, a great chef.
Only with great flavor could they earn money.
Therefore, she proposed buying a top recipe and hiring an outstanding chef to take charge.
As for the Orphanage kids working as Waitresses… All these suggestions struck Ye Chen as mature.
Frankly, for a High School student, the plan was stunning.
Ye Chen secretly marveled—no wonder she'd become a future Business Prodigy, walking straight into a Fortune 500 after University and climbing to Female CEO through sheer ability.
Even now, Xia Yingluo's business talent was showing.
But… that wasn't what Ye Chen wanted.
If the Hot Pot Restaurant turned a profit, how could he earn the system's tenfold rebate?
Ye Chen's whole scheme in opening a Hot Pot Restaurant wasn't to make money—it was to lose money!
Under his plan, he'd invest, the restaurant would lose money, he'd pump in more funds, get the rebate, lose again, and repeat—harvesting the system indefinitely.
That cycle was the perfect plan in Ye Chen's mind.
It was the road to riches he truly desired.
Yet judging by Xia Yingluo's current ideas, the place might actually turn a profit.
No—he had to stop this.
Ye Chen frowned, racking his brain for ways to sway Xia Yingluo… Xia Yingluo watched him nervously, unsure whether her plan would win his approval.
Seeing Ye Chen frown in deep thought, Xia Yingluo lost all confidence.
"Is there something wrong with my plan?" she asked cautiously.
Ye Chen set the plan down. "It's very well written, but…"
Hearing that "but," Xia Yingluo tensed again.
Ye Chen chose his words. "Yingluo, have you considered that this Hot Pot Restaurant might be the starting point of our dreams—our first step toward future success? So I think your plan should aim even higher."
As he spoke, he tapped the document, looking fired up and ready to go big.
"Aim even higher?"
"Yes, your proposal is excellent, but it lacks a unique edge; we'd end up with an ordinary Hot Pot Restaurant. That's not what I want. Mine must be one of a kind."
Xia Yingluo gazed at Ye Chen.
Framed by the morning sun outside the window, she felt Ye Chen was glowing.
"A one-of-a-kind Hot Pot Restaurant?"
Xia Yingluo felt her blood ignite; so Ye Chen's expectations for her were sky-high."
"With Ye Chen trusting me this much, how can I let him down?"
Xia Yingluo was deeply moved once again.
Seeing the mood was set, Ye Chen prepared the next phase of persuasion.
After all, under the system's rules, the rebate required Xia Yingluo's consent.
Once she agreed to invest, everything would be simple.
Ye Chen could throw money in like crazy.
Yet Xia Yingluo wasn't that sort of person, and Ye Chen felt a faint sorrow over her kindness… Blinking her big eyes, she asked, "Ye Chen, what do you think we should do?"
By now, Xia Yingluo was completely infected by Ye Chen's fighting spirit.
Still, she felt a bit indignant at being told her vision was too small.
She'd worked all night, poring over countless materials to craft that plan.
She couldn't believe Ye Chen had a better idea after merely flipping through it.
Ye Chen gave her a mysterious smile. "No reward, no talk."
Xia Yingluo tugged his arm, voice sweet and coaxing: "Come on, just tell me. When no one's around later, I'll give you a kiss."
Ahem!
Ye Chen coughed.
He had to admit, Xia Yingluo had become even better at flirting.
He almost couldn't hold himself back.
Yet he also felt a sense of accomplishment.
It showed his… guidance—no, reshaping—of Xia Yingluo was working.
Ye Chen knew Xia Yingluo was smart; she wouldn't be easily fooled.
So his suggestions had to be solid and convincing.
"We could actually open a Hot-Pot Buffet."
"A Hot-Pot Buffet?"
Xia Yingluo was stunned.
She hadn't expected Ye Chen to have such a bold idea!