Jiang Cheng did not take Xiao Xia to any high-end restaurant.
Instead, he took her directly to a Sichuan-style snack stall near a school.
Xiao Xia's confidence level remained around 88 points after completing the task.
Taking such an internally sensitive girl to an unsuitable setting would only increase her inner discomfort.
However, this sort of thing depends on personality.
If Xiao Xia were the type of woman who was particularly utilitarian and materialistic, taking her to high-end venues would surely complete the system's confidence boosting mission quickly.
But for someone timid and self-conscious like Xiao Xia, taking her to such places would only make her feel awkward and unable to adjust.
It was better to find an environment that didn't burden her as much.
Jiang Cheng skillfully ordered a few snacks and some main dishes, then handed the menu to Xiao Xia.
Xiao Xia looked at the menu and found that the prices were all very cheap.
After thinking for a moment, she ordered an extra serving of hot and sour noodles and a bottle of soda.
Sure enough, whether it was due to the pleasant atmosphere between them or because Jiang Cheng mentioned helping her with school, Xiao Xia's confidence level immediately rose to 90 points.
After ordering, Xiao Xia looked around again and noticed that the environment here wasn't very clean, and it was crowded and a bit noisy.
She had eaten with Jiang Cheng twice before: once at KFC, and once at a high-end Japanese restaurant.
But this time, Jiang Cheng brought her here. Although Xiao Xia didn't think there was anything wrong with it, she was still a bit surprised.
"Someone as rich as you is also this down-to-earth??"
Seeing the envy and disbelief in Xiao Xia's tone, Jiang Cheng immediately laughed.
"What you said reminds me of a saying: when rich people eat at street stalls, they're down-to-earth; when poor people eat at street stalls, they're just poor."
"That's not what I meant, but what you said is true. If you don't have money, you can only eat at street stalls; we don't have a choice. Even now that I'm earning money, I still subconsciously feel that restaurant food is too expensive." Xiao Xia finished speaking with an awkward smile.
"Are you always this pessimistic?"
Xiao Xia frowned and thought for a moment upon hearing the question, only realizing what Jiang Cheng meant by 'pessimistic' a few seconds later.
She smiled and explained, "I was quite pessimistic when I first met you. But then you gave me 350,000 yuan, and I was so excited I couldn't sleep every night. I wanted to use the money to start a business, but after thinking for ages, I realized I had no special skills or talents, and I didn't even know what I truly liked, so I gave up."
Noticing Jiang Cheng staring at her, Xiao Xia took a bite of a beef skewer before continuing, "Do you think I'm avoiding the question? My ability to express myself is a bit poor. Since childhood, I've always been slow-witted and someone who just quietly focuses on work. When I first came out here to look for a job, I was even too shy to introduce myself. Now, I feel like I'm a little better."
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Much better than the first time. The first time, I held back for a long time from calling you out directly. It really is much better now."
Xiao Xia didn't quite catch the hidden meaning in Jiang Cheng's words and continued, "Every day, I look at the balance in my card. Sometimes I feel very lucky, but sometimes I feel very insecure. I'm afraid it's all fake. I've never seen so much money in my life. People are greedy, and I'm afraid this money won't belong to me anymore, and I'm afraid I'll never get this much money again in the future. But fortunately, I ran into you again last time, and then you asked me to live in the apartment you bought. Although I was scared, I was actually happier inside."
"Happy?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng's puzzled expression, Xiao Xia spoke directly again: "Yes, I am happy. Being noticed by you often feels unbelievable. When I came to the big city, I only expected to be like most people in my village—find a job and save money for my family. I never thought I would... be noticed by a rich person like you. I had never heard of such things before, but now that it's actually happening to me, I feel very lucky."
"I'm curious, if you hadn't met me at that time, would you have made the same choice?"
Xiao Xia stared at Jiang Cheng, and after a few seconds, slowly nodded.
"I don't want to lie to you. I think I probably would have accepted it too. I'm different from you; you have everything, but I... have nothing. Growing up, our family's highest annual income was only a little over 30,000 yuan. When you suddenly gave me 350,000 yuan, I don't think anyone in my hometown could resist that amount of money, including me."
Hard work and perseverance could not bring her great wealth in this society.
Xiao Xia knew that her own power was too weak to change her life.
Only by relying on the strength of others could she possibly obtain what she wanted.
She didn't want to struggle in the mud her entire life, desperately sacrificing her dignity for tens or even hundreds of yuan.
Xiao Xia honestly spoke her mind, and Jiang Cheng smiled and nodded, "I can understand."
He didn't mind Xiao Xia's words at all; after all, it was human nature.
If another rich person could give her a good life, why shouldn't she go?
"Then will you really stay with me forever??"
Seeing Xiao Xia ask this question again, Jiang Cheng nodded decisively. "Of course. I already said it just now. My word is my bond."
"Then what kind of relationship are we now??"
Regarding this question, Jiang Cheng answered with practiced ease: "Whatever relationship you think it is, that's what it is. But let's be clear first: I can give you anything else, except exclusivity."
When he finished speaking, Xiao Xia couldn't help but frown. "Except for exclusivity, does that mean you don't like me??"
"Who said I don't like you?? Why would I be with you if I didn't like you??"
Xiao Xia had actually considered this possibility, but she hadn't expected Jiang Cheng to state it so frankly.
This left her momentarily speechless.
This scumbag behavior was too obvious... Although she wasn't angry, and felt she had no right to be angry.
But girls all have this conflicted nature.
They want both the man's money and to be his only one.
Yet now, Jiang Cheng directly stated that he wouldn't only like her, and furthermore required her to share the same man with others.
Although Xiao Xia didn't deny that she wanted to follow Jiang Cheng because of financial reasons.
But when a wealthy, tall, and handsome man is placed in front of you, especially for someone who has never been in a relationship.
It's truly hard not to be moved; she also had feelings for Jiang.