7:30.
Awakened by his biological clock, Zhao Yicheng got up from bed, took a shower in the en-suite bathroom to wash away the remnants of sleep, then changed into a set of grey loungewear.
He picked up his clothes to be washed, opened the door, and headed to the laundry room on the third floor.
He’d do the laundry first, then cook; there was no rush. After all, as long as he didn’t have to go to work, given Xu Yinsheng’s night-owl tendencies, she could easily sleep until 8:30.
He glanced in the direction where the sound was coming from.
A little token of friendship, delivered unintentionally.
Wait, why is there a crunching sound in the living room? Zhao Yicheng suddenly stopped in his tracks, narrowing his eyes.
In the living room, there was usually a Brocade Table used for dining, originally acquired when one of Zhao Yicheng’s friends—a manufacturing industry executive—closed a major deal.
It was made from century-old Kuer Si Nanmu, crafted purely by hand in Italy, with thumb-sized Blue Diamonds inlaid on the table legs and a gold and silver coated surface.
Under the lights, its overall appearance was a soft yellow, the texture smooth and lustrous, understated yet luxurious.
Even when he moved, Zhao Yicheng had paid extra to have the moving company transport it whole, not disassembled and reassembled.
But now, that exquisite Brocade Table, the Blue Diamonds inlaid on all four legs, had disappeared without a trace, and the table surface looked as though it had been gnawed by a dog—utterly tragic!
Had a thief broken in?
Zhao Yicheng surveyed the room with heightened vigilance.
Suddenly, the crunching sound echoed in his ears again, occasionally mixed with a satisfied little hum.
Following the noise, Zhao Yicheng arrived at the bathroom, pushed open the door, and saw a Gem Dragon Girl sitting atop the sink. When she saw someone coming, she wasn’t the least bit alarmed. Instead, she looked up at him with her big, sparkling gemstone eyes, as if she’d expected him.
“You’re here. Sorry for chewing up your table. But I was just so hungry, I couldn’t help myself.” As she spoke, Xu Yinsheng hugged the Mirror she’d just taken down and took a big bite out of it.
Crunch—crunch—the crisp sound echoed in the bathroom. She spat out the glass shards, but swallowed the Carnelian that had been inlaid as a decorative ornament on the mirror’s frame.
Entering the password, the Safe’s internal gears turned with a faint click. With a “ka-da,” the ten-centimeter-thick safe door opened automatically, revealing its contents.
Rows of Gold Bars lay inside, their dazzling shine almost impossible to look away from.
As the boss of a Financial Company, Zhao Yicheng was no stranger to social customs. Gold, as a precious metal, and a hard currency comparable to Paper Currency in this day and age, was often a far more impressive gift than a stack of cash.
He pulled out fifteen Gold Bars, placed them one by one on a plate, closed the Safe, and carried the plate out to the living room.
He set it down on the now battered tabletop.
“Eat.”
The Gem Dragon Girl, sitting obediently on a chair, was already impatient. She grabbed a Gold Bar and tossed it into her mouth.
“Mmm… delicious!” Xu Yinsheng smacked her lips with satisfaction.
These were modern, industrially refined Gold Bars, each weighing three to four catties and boasting a purity of up to 98%.
Watching the Dragon Girl devour Gold Bars with both hands—left, right, one after another—Zhao Yicheng’s mouth twitched twice. Xiao Yin really could eat.
This one meal cost him at least eight million.
Not that he was distressed—money was just money. If it was never spent, it was nothing but a pile of waste paper.
Even Gold, precious as it was, a product of stellar nuclear fusion, was just a metal rod if not used in the workings of society—good for little more than clubbing someone over the head.
In no time at all, Xu Yinsheng had finished off all fifteen Gold Bars. She patted her belly with her tiny hand and let out a satisfied belch.
Lying back in the chair in utter comfort, her short legs swayed a little as she closed her eyes, humming lazily. “Ah, finally full… I was starving to death…”
Last night, after preparing the gender-bending potion for the Yanqing Big Onee-sama—no, she should now be called the Yanqing Big Onee-sama—she used a pen to extract some information from her Future Self, learning a bit about her current form, before going to sleep.
As a Gem Dragon Girl in her juvenile stage, her diet: Diamonds, Carnelian, Jade, Gold, Silver, Bronze, Brass, precious metals, or mineral products.
As for her abilities: a Human-shaped Treasure Detector, able to taste the Taste of Time.
The first part Xu Yinsheng understood, but the second left her puzzled.
What did it mean to “taste the Taste of Time”? It sounded as cryptic as “a steadfast will can change everything.”
Seeing the little one so satisfied, Zhao Yicheng couldn’t resist reaching out to rub her head.
“Are you full? If not, I’ll get you more.”
“Burp! Seventy percent full.” After eating, Xu Yinsheng was like a well-fed kitten, letting the man rub her head as she lounged lazily in the chair, squinting comfortably.
Hearing her burp, Zhao Yicheng couldn’t help but chuckle.
He poked her round, bulging tummy.
“I didn’t realize it, but my Xiao Yin can really eat. This meal alone cost me at least eight million.” “Burp! Not bad, just a bit greasy. Got anything else? Diamonds, Silver, Bronze, Brass, Carnelian, Glass, Jade—I don’t mind any of them.”
Xu Yinsheng smacked her lips. Fifteen Gold Bars were like fifteen slabs of roast pork: tasty, yes, but after eating so much, a bit greasy.
Naturally, she needed something else to balance the flavors.
“There are a few Jewelry Sets in the Bedside Cabinet. I’ll bring them to help you cleanse your palate.” Saying that, Zhao Yicheng let go and turned toward the bedroom.
Xu Yinsheng immediately followed.
The bedroom was about 80 square meters, complete with a Bookshelf, Desk, Wardrobe, its own Bathroom, and a double Bedding by the window. At the Bedside Cabinet, a Photo Frame held a group photo—more precisely, a photo of two men together.
Bright smiles, arms over each other’s shoulders, a picture of close friends.
Xu Yinsheng stared at the photo, dazed for a long moment.
By then, Zhao Yicheng had pulled an Iron Tin Box out from the Bedside Cabinet drawer.
“I remember when I was little, back at that Daoist Temple, the Old Taoist Master once read my fortune and said I was destined to meet a Fated Noble… After returning home, my mother had this Jewelry Set made for me as a gift for my future beloved.”
As he spoke, he opened the box. Inside was a Jewelry Set: a Jade bangle, Feng Pattern Silver Earrings, a uniquely designed Handcrafted Gold Necklace, and a set of Wrist Guards and Anklets.
The pieces were all of high quality, clearly top-grade materials. But the most eye-catching were the Feng Pattern Silver Earrings, whose base was carved with two lifelike Phoenixes. Each Phoenix, in its beak, held a bright red fruit.
A closer look revealed that the fruit was not a fruit at all, but a piece of Red Jade, carved in perfect detail.
“Here, try them.” With anticipation in his eyes, he offered the Iron Tin Box to the Gem Dragon Girl before him.
Xu Yinsheng: …
She shot him a look of disdain.
“Have you ever heard the saying, ‘Sima Zhao’s intentions—everyone knows them’?” “Also, your flirting skills are so bad they could make even lifelong bachelors cry.
And I can smell Diamond on you.” Xu Yinsheng pinched her nose in disgust.
“Stuff like this belongs in my stomach, not on my fingers.” With that, she turned and strode out of the bedroom without another word.
Watching her receding figure, Zhao Yicheng pulled a small box from his breast pocket. He opened it to reveal a silvery Diamond Dragon Ring.
A deep sigh escaped his lips~~~~