This is terrible! My future prime minister keeps trying to kiss me forcibly.

Ye Xiaoxiao walked lightly, unable to contain her joy, and took the lead.

He Jing felt the weight in his hand and saw the jubilant girl beaming with joy, her eyes sparkling as if a pool of stars had been shattered in them.

His brows relaxed as well.

Just then, a sound came from the other end of the alley.

To be precise, it was the voice of a young man.

"Xiao Xiao! What brings you here?"

Ye Xiaoxiao looked down the alley and saw a man walking out from the innermost part of it. He was wearing a faded long gown, had a scholarly air about him, looked frail and weak, and exuded a pedantic air.

Is this the same Lin Xiucai that the original owner liked?

Their taste is exceptionally poor.

She still prefers someone like He Jing—a walking embodiment of masculinity!

Just then, Ye Xiaoxiao turned around and looked at He Jing walking behind her. He was simply her perfect ideal type!

He Jing also heard the shout, and a cold glint appeared in his dark eyes.

He knew this Scholar Lin; Ye Xiaoxiao in her previous life had been very fond of him.

Was that glance she gave me just now because she was afraid I'd notice her? Was she feeling guilty?

Ye Xiaoxiao: I feel guilty? What do I have to feel guilty about?

As Lin Xiucai approached, Ye Xiaoxiao initially didn't intend to pay him any attention. Her first impression of him was that he was extremely hypocritical and sanctimonious.

Unexpectedly, the man moved extremely quickly, and before she could react, he grabbed her sleeve and dragged her into the alley.

He Jing stood still, his eyes seemingly filled with condensed ice, and his whole body exuded a chilling aura.

[Beep beep beep—Holy crap! Host, the villain's corruption level is about to explode!]

Ye Xiaoxiao: How come you've started swearing too?

[Host, that's not the point!]

Ye Xiaoxiao: That's right. Now we need to think about how to deal with the person in front of us, and also how to appease the person outside the alley.

"Xiao Xiao, why are you here again? Didn't I tell you not to send me those vulgar things again? Scholars have always regarded money as dirt."

Ye Xiaoxiao scoffed, "I came to town just to give you money? Who gave you the nerve?"

She didn't want to expose him directly; she wanted to see just how shameless this hypocritical, pretentious, and selfish scholar could be.

Lin Xiucai outwardly appeared troubled, but inwardly he thought: This woman is so easy to fool; I've completely manipulated her with just a few words. Ha—what a laughable, ignorant village woman! This time, I'm determined to get as much money as possible from her.

Ye Xiaoxiao gave a sarcastic smile. The scholar Lin in front of her was wearing a hypocritical mask, and his words carried an air of deep sorrow.

In my memory, Lin Xiucai always used the same excuse, and in the end, he always pocketed the money.

He talks a lot about benevolence and morality, but in reality he's just a pretentious hypocrite.

Finally, Ye Xiaoxiao stated bluntly, "I don't have any money on me."

Even if I had it, I wouldn't give it to you. The money is all in the pocket of that villain behind me, whose dark side is currently at its peak.

Upon hearing that Ye Xiaoxiao had no money, Lin Xiucai's eyes widened, and he raised his voice, adopting a matter-of-fact expression.

"What? You have no money? Then why did you come to me?"

Ye Xiaoxiao looked up at him. Was he finally going to reveal his true colors?

"You've come to ask for your money back? Give me back everything I gave you before."

"What! Xiao Xiao, how could you do this!?"

Lin Xiucai realized he had been somewhat out of line and, fearing the person before him might misunderstand him, quickly reverted to his upright scholarly demeanor and explained:

"Xiao Xiao, please don't misunderstand! What I mean is, you did a great job! Mencius once said: 'When Heaven is about to place a great responsibility on a person, it will first test his mind, strain his muscles and bones, starve his body, and empty his soul...' Oh right, I forgot, Xiao Xiao, you can't read."

Ye Xiaoxiao coldly glanced at the hypocritical person in front of her, pretending not to understand, and scoffed, "Indeed, I haven't been to school, so I don't quite understand..."

With a pitiful expression, Lin Xiucai explained, "Heaven is about to bestow a heavy responsibility upon me, which will surely leave me struggling financially and starving... but..."

As he spoke, he observed the woman's expression, noticing that she remained calm and unmoved.

A hint of doubt flashed through Lin Xiucai's mind.

In the past, Ye Xiaoxiao would have felt reluctant and obediently given him the money. What's wrong with him today?

Ye Xiaoxiao: What kind of filthy scum is this? He has hands and feet, yet he still relies on women? He's such a hypocrite, it's disgusting.