Chapter 156: She’s Already Starting to Change into Her Shape
Being in love... really costs a lot of money!
But this time it was different from when she used to buy gifts for Gu Xiaoxue. Even though Lin Yibai couldn’t really afford to give a return gift this time, her mood was still light and even a bit happy.
Still, she knew she couldn’t keep going like this. After they parted, Lin Yibai tapped away on her phone’s calculator for a while, then muttered.
“Liking someone is one thing, but having no money is also real… If I don’t find a way to earn more soon, all the money I earned from that annoying love rival will be spent. That Xia Changyu, such a sneaky businessman! So annoying!”
But there’s no quick way to make money. All the fast ways are written in the law as illegal!
So, the only option is to get a part-time job!
She chose to stay in Fucheng City. Not only was she slowly becoming more like a “normal” girl, but this city also had a lot more work opportunities. Not like her hometown, where the only jobs were tightening screws in factories.
Meanwhile, Xia Changyu was also left confused by what she said. He kept thinking over Lin Yibai’s words, trying to understand what she meant. He tossed and turned all night and couldn’t sleep.
“I spent money on her, but she feels troubled by it? But Baiyi should know the kind of person I am! I’d never expect anything in return!”
He really couldn’t figure it out! Were there really women in the world who didn’t like money?
To Xia Changyu, spending money on a girl he liked didn’t seem wrong at all. He simply wanted to give her everything he had, and one of the most direct ways was to spend money on her.
Sure, his thinking was a bit “typical guy,” but there was nothing truly wrong with it. The only problem was he had fallen for a very different kind of girl.
So he went online to ask for help. He shared his experience with people on the internet, but all he got in return were sarcastic comments and jokes.
[A girl who doesn’t spend your money? Bro, are you still dreaming?]
[These days, what girl doesn’t want your money? Maybe you’re just too rich, so she wants even more?]
[She gave you a gift back and didn’t want your money? Even fairy tales don’t go that far. If you didn’t make this up, stop posting nonsense.]
[A girl like that? Did you wish for her on a shooting star?]
[You’re clearly lying.]
“……”
But no! That kind of girl really exists!
The sad thing was, their relationships were so complicated that not even other guys believed it.
Even the girls in the comments are calling him a "shrimp-head man" and saying there's no such girl, who would do charity like that?
Just some words: “You don’t deserve her.”
Xia Changyu scratched his head, feeling frustrated.
Still, at least he came to one important conclusion. He took a deep breath and said seriously.
“Holy crap… can I say that Baiyi is actually a treasure?”
Other guys didn’t believe a girl like that existed. Even girls said he was dreaming. That only made him more sure of how rare and valuable Baiyi really was.
And right now, only he knows how amazing she is. Suddenly, Xia Changyu felt a sense of danger.
What if someone else discovered what a great girl Lin Baiyi was? Until he officially won her heart, he’d be nervous every day.
In the end, he figured out part of the problem. He went to ask his mom, hoping to confirm it.
“Do you think… maybe some of my actions were a bit too sudden or aggressive, and I did bother her a bit?”
His mom, Xia Zhilan, was someone with life experience. She thought for a moment and said,
“Even though you’re my son… I have to say, yes, you probably made her feel uncomfortable. Of course, for some girls, the amount you spent is nothing. Like your ex-girlfriend, I always wanted to complain about her. She was useless at everything but number one at spending your money.!”
Xia Changyu laughed, “So even you, Mom, think that Baiyi is really a good girl, right?”
Xia Zhilan’s face changed quickly. She stopped him at once.
“Hey! Even if you’re my son, don’t try to make trouble between me and my daughter-in-law! When did I ever say she wasn’t a good girl? If you dare speak badly about me in front of her, just wait till New Year, I’ll beat your butt!”
Xia Changyu: “!!”
After the joke, Xia Zhilan let out a deep sigh and added seriously.
“And Baiyi isn’t wrong. She’s not like your ex, Gu Xiaoxue. Not every girl wants a rich guy who throws money around. A simple, normal life can also create a great love story.”
Xia Changyu quietly said, “Even a simple life can build a great love? Does that mean… if I just lower my pride a bit, then maybe I can…”
Before he could finish, Xia Zhilan quickly cut him off.
“Stop, stop, stop! What are you talking about? ‘If you lower your pride’? What pride do you even have to begin with? Do you think you're above other people in some way? Is chasing after Baiyi such a big sacrifice for you?”
Xia Changyu tried to explain, “Mom, that’s not what I meant.”
But Xia Zhilan continued, “Then what do you mean? You’ve been chasing her for so long and still haven’t gotten a clear answer. In any case, you should take some time to really think about this. If you can’t figure it out, then don’t waste the time of such a good girl.”
She sighed, life wasn’t easy!
She was really worried about this silly son of hers. To her, this kind of problem wasn’t even a real problem.
In her view, love is simple. Either someone becomes more like you, or you become more like them. Was that really so hard?
Xia Changyu thought hard about it. And then, he understood something.
When it comes to “changing for someone,” there needs to be an order, right?
First, you become more like them. Then, you slowly bring them closer to your way.
Perfect. Now that he understood the order, Xia Changyu also began adjusting his mindset about dating, or rather about how to chase after a girl.
………………………………………
Late at night, outside a hotel.
Xia Changyu had been waiting here for quite a while.
Recently, Lin Yibai had taken a part-time job with a wedding company.
She helped with basic tasks, set up decorations, and sometimes even sang at events or acted as a host. That kind of work brought in extra money.
And the pay wasn’t bad either. The only downside was the hours were tough.
It was already past midnight, and just now a van carrying wedding props slowly drove out of the hotel’s parking lot, followed by a few staff members.
“Baiyi, do you want us to drive you home later?” The team leader asked. But then, seeing a certain car nearby. He shrugged and said, “Ah, looks like we don’t need to. Your boyfriend’s here to pick you up again, huh?”
Lin Yibai replied, “He’s not my boyfriend.”
The team leader teased, “Right, right, he’s not your boyfriend, but he's even more like a boyfriend than an actual boyfriend?”
Lin Yibai: “……”
Before getting into his car, the team leader asked again, “There’s a wedding job tomorrow in the next county. You coming?”
Lin Yibai said, “Of course! Why not? They’ll drive us there and back anyway.”
Team leader: “Alright, see you tomorrow.”
Lin Yibai: “See you.”
With her canvas bag slung over her shoulder, Lin Yibai jogged over to Xia Changyu’s car.
She didn’t seem to mind that this annoying “love rival” came to pick her up. At least he didn’t act like those annoying men in dramas. The kind who, when they see the girl working too hard, rush in to stop her from doing the job like some kind of idiot.
In short, after some adjustment, their relationship was getting closer and closer.
As soon as Lin Yibai got in the car, she grabbed a handful of wedding candies from her bag and offered them to her annoying admirer.
“Try them! I took a bunch of the chocolates from the wedding candy area, Ferrero Rocher!”
Xia Changyu gave a wry smile, “My table at home is full of the candy you gave me. It’s almost overflowing.”
Lin Yibai replied, “Eat it or don’t, up to you.”
Xia Changyu chuckled and said, “Don’t eat too much candy. Want to go to the Moonlight Food Stand and get some beef bone noodles later?”
But Lin Yibai had a different idea, “Let’s go to Zhongting Street instead! The takoyaki there is really good.”
So… she didn’t need fancy Western restaurants or expensive five-star hotels to be happy?
Just like this was already nice.
Lin Yibai was earning her own money through part-time work now. Even if it was just a few yuan, she wasn’t afraid to spend it freely.
And from this, Xia Changyu learned something important.
The more he spent on her, the less likely she was to come out with him.
If he spent hundreds or thousands of yuan at once, she’d feel stressed for half a year.
But for cheap dates that only cost a few yuan, not only would she go, she’d probably want to go again. And maybe even message him late at night asking, “Are you hungry? Let’s grab something. My treat!”
So... the more money he spent, the less they went out together?
But the less he spent, the more often they met?
In any case, Xia Changyu felt like he was finally figuring out the secret. Their relationship… was finally starting to feel more normal.
After all, they were going on more and more dates now. right?