Chapter Twenty-Five: The Elusive Fortune (Heartfelt thanks to everyone who cast their votes of recommendation)

“A little knowledge! I suspect you’re doing this on purpose! You just want to see me make a fool of myself, isn’t that right…” Bai Zhijun looked at him with a wounded expression, like a wronged wife.

“Haha… Honestly, I’m not,” Yang Qing couldn’t hold back his laughter. “How could I dare challenge your expertise, big brother?”

“Get lost, you rascal!” Bai Zhijun retorted.

They walked back toward the first building supplies store, Bai Zhijun aggrieved and Yang Qing laughing heartily. They hadn’t gone far when someone called out to them. Turning, they saw the young man from before, with the fully-armed woman following behind.

“What is it?” Yang Qing asked, puzzled.

“There is!” The young man was a bit excited. “Brother, I heard you critique that blueprint so professionally just now. You must be a great designer, right?”

Yang Qing chuckled. “No, I sell pancakes.”

The young man was dumbfounded—pancake seller? Was this a joke?

Even the woman was taken aback by his answer, lifting her cap slightly to look at him.

“Come on, brother, don’t mess around. A pancake seller, really… how could that be?” The young man didn’t believe him for a moment. How could someone who sells pancakes speak so professionally, leaving the shop owner almost faint with anger?

“Why not!” Bai Zhijun jumped in, “For normal people, it’s impossible. But if he’s… not normal?”

Yang Qing: … Brother Bai, is it necessary for us to insult each other like this?

The young man opened his mouth, hesitated, and looked at the woman beside him.

“Sis…”

She nodded gently and turned to Yang Qing. “Hello, sir. My brother means no offense. He just wants to ask if you could design something for our house.”

“Design something?” Yang Qing was taken aback, then smiled apologetically. “I really do sell pancakes. As for design, I…”

“Thirty thousand!” Her voice was melodious and ethereal, cutting off his refusal. “If you can produce a design that satisfies us, I’ll pay you thirty thousand.”

“Ah, well… that’s not impossible, but…”

Yang Qing hesitated. He was tempted, but his own shop’s renovation was urgent. If he missed the timing, the loss would be significant.

“Fifty thousand!” she increased the offer.

“Qing!” Bai Zhijun, seeing Yang Qing still hesitating, grabbed his arm anxiously. “Say yes! Fifty thousand! Are you out of your mind?”

“But our shop…” Yang Qing protested.

“That’s not a problem!” Bai Zhijun waved it off. “We just need to finish the renovation within a week. Let me make a call!”

And then—

“Hey! Old Bai? Which Bai is this, I’m Old Bai!”

“You idiot! Which Old Bai are you talking about? Whose Old Bai are you? Little Bai’s dad!”

“Which Little Bai? I swear, Bai Zhijun! I’m Bai Zhijun!”

Yang Qing: …

The young man: (・●・)

The woman: (ﾟ∀ﾟ)

They struggled to hold back their laughter.

A few minutes later, Bai Zhijun hung up. Seeing Yang Qing’s odd expression, he snapped, “What are you looking at? It’s settled! Some of our guys from Baijia Village will come tomorrow to help with the renovation. It’ll be done within a week!”

Yang Qing grinned and nodded. “Alright, I’ll leave it to you. Pay them well and make sure the quality’s good. I’ll come by after I finish this design.”

“Got it! Don’t worry about a thing,” Bai Zhijun promised, pounding his chest.

With everything settled, the woman left the negotiation to the young man.

“Hello, brother, my name’s Wang Ming. This is my sister. So, shall we go take a look at the house now?”

“I’m Yang Qing, and this is my big brother, Bai Zhijun,” Yang Qing replied with a smile, unfazed that the young man only introduced himself and not his sister. “Let’s just settle on the materials in the store first, then we’ll go.”

“Okay, sure.”

Since they’d already made their selections earlier, they quickly placed their order. Bai Zhijun stayed behind to arrange the delivery, while Yang Qing got into the car with Wang Ming and his sister, heading straight to the most upscale neighborhood in Yang City—Splendid Court.

“Brother Yang, our house is a duplex, total area four hundred square meters. Have a look first.”

“Alright.”

Yang Qing followed Wang Ming around the whole place, inspecting it carefully. After a short reflection, he asked, “How do you want it decorated? Tell me your requirements and ideas.”

“Okay.” Wang Ming nodded. “My sister and I discussed it. We want the first floor to feel cozy—mainly for our parents. Two bedrooms is enough, a master and a guest room. The master should have its own bathroom. The rest will be kitchen and living room…”

“Upstairs, two bedrooms, each with their own bathroom, for my sister and me. Plus a music room and a dance studio. What do you think?”

“Sounds good!” Yang Qing nodded in approval. “I’ll start designing right now.”

“What! Now? So fast?” Wang Ming was stunned, eyeing Yang Qing suspiciously.

You’re not going to look around more? Not going to consider or plan carefully? You’re just starting right away?

He was starting to think he’d fallen for a scam—too hasty…

Yang Qing caught his doubt and smiled lightly. “Actually, with your requirements, the design is quite straightforward. But if you don’t trust me, I can leave now. It’s fine.”

“No need! Go ahead and design!” his sister spoke up decisively.

Yang Qing looked at her with some curiosity, then leaned toward Wang Ming and whispered, “Does your sister always wrap up so tightly at home? Isn’t it hot? Or does she…”

He trailed off, but seeing Wang Ming’s strange expression, he sighed and turned to the woman. “Looks are fated. None of us can choose whether we’re beautiful or not, but we can choose how to live fully. Those who live in the mirror will never see how wonderful the world outside is.”

He looked at her with sincere earnestness. “Your body is a gift from your parents. You have parents who love you, a brother who loves you, a complete and happy family.”

With a touch of melancholy, he continued, “That’s a blessing some people can only wish for. So… be brave, and live as yourself!”

After speaking, he gave her an encouraging look, then, under Wang Ming’s bewildered gaze, took the paper, pen, and ruler, and began working on the unfinished balcony.

The sound of his pen swept across the paper—line after line, as the “Master Decorator” skill granted by the system activated in his mind. Yang Qing’s expression was serious and focused, his hand constantly adding to the page.

Suddenly, a bottle of water was set beside him.

“Have some water.”

“Thank you.”

The clear, pleasant voice reached his ears. Yang Qing instinctively turned his head slightly.

“Ah!”

He was stunned.