Ye Shi gazed at the Three-flowered Chicken in the cage with sparkling eyes.
He had always loved eating chicken. When his mother was alive, Ye Shi could almost gnaw on a tender and juicy chicken leg every day. Those were the happiest times for Ye Shi, and he couldn't help but smile whenever he reminisced about those days.
"Do you like this Three-flowered Chicken? I'll buy it for you." Mu Chen stood next to Ye Shi, offering eagerly.
Caught in his memories, Ye Shi was startled by Mu Chen's presence. Mu Chen smiled at Ye Shi, "Do you like it? I'll give it to you."
Hearing Mu Chen's words, Ye Shi's face instantly turned angry.
"Keep your tricks for your beloved. I'm not buying what you're selling," Ye Shi fiercely told Mu Chen.
Mu Chen looked innocently at Ye Shi, who glared fiercely at Mu Chen before turning away.
Mu Chen, who had never been in love in his previous life, was doused with such a cold splash upon trying to make a simple friendly gesture in this new world.
Mu Chen looked at the chicken in the cage, rubbing his forehead, realizing that romance was indeed a high hurdle.
Wang Lun asked Ye Shi, "Shi, what did Young Master Mu Chen say to you?"
Puffing his cheeks, Ye Shi replied, "Nothing much."
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To think that Mu Chen, a scoundrel, would try to buy him over with just one yuan stone for a chicken. In Mu Chen's world, throwing thousands of yuan stones for others was common, but when it came to him, Ye Shi, Mu Chen only wanted to spend one yuan stone. Dream on!
Ren San, observing Ye Shi's departure, inquired, "Young Master, what happened?"
Mu Chen tilted his head, saying, "That shuang'er isn't bad, just a bit fierce. I just wanted to give him a chicken since he seemed to like it, but he refused. He clearly looked interested."
Ren San helplessly looked at Mu Chen, "Young Master, I've never heard of anyone giving a shuang'er a chicken as a gift."
Mu Chen: "…Lack of experience, it seems."
Ren San looked at Mu Chen, muttering under his breath about Mu Chen's unexpected taste.
…
"Chen, you're back!" Mu Hong greeted Mu Chen.
Mu Chen nodded, "Yes."
"Chen, I'm a bit short on cash lately. Can you lend me some?" Mu Hong asked.
Mu Chen responded indifferently, "Big brother, you must be joking. Where would I have spare cash?"
Mu Hong dismissively said, "Chen, don't be like that. Without spare cash, how could you buy so much beast blood for two hundred yuan stones?"
"How did you know I spent two hundred yuan stones on this beast blood?" Mu Chen feigned innocence.
Mu Hong smiled, "I just guessed."
Admiringly, Mu Chen looked up to Mu Hong, "Big brother, you're truly foresighted."
Mu Hong's face faltered, saying, "Just lend your brother some. I'll pay you back once I've turned things around."
Mu Chen pragmatically advised, "Big brother, gambling's a lost cause. Better to be careful."
Mu Hong's gambling habits often involved dragging Mu Chen along, causing Mu Chen to lose quite a bit. Eventually, Mu Chen grew disinterested in gambling.
Mu Hong's expression darkened, "Chen, how can you say that? Are you cursing your big brother?"
"Chen!" Mu Yuan Feng called out.
Seeing Mu Yuan Feng, Mu Hong quickly excused himself and left.
Mu Yuan Feng, watching Mu Hong's retreating figure, had a shadow cross his face. Mu Yuan Hang was becoming increasingly reckless. Fortunately, his son Chen had come to his senses.