Chapter 115 - The World Is Your Oyster (4)
Even though Li Yang didn't want to imagine his future as there were too many variables that he had to take into account, he understood that even his time as a CEO would come to an end. Unless there was a change in the way humanity lived, then he would have to go off to hiding like her and fake his death, possibly.
If he were to experience the same path that other cultivators did in the novels he read—he might even have to leave this world behind and head into another one. Those were things and issues that he wished to consider once he was actually there.
Right now, he hadn't even had one member in his harem—so immortality and the troubles associated with it were placed on his future to-do-list. His gaze focused back on the Mermaid, who had a hand over her hip.
She was almost treating this like an interview, possibly an interrogation?
"What else do you do besides working and going around asking women to be part of your harem?" Bai Minghua asked.
Li Yang thought he heard a sound of laughter emanate from somewhere in this room. A reminder that despite his 'private' conversation with the woman in front of him—there was a number of Observers that were taking in this scene with their own perspectives and judgement.
.He asked back, "What else do you do besides being an idol, Miss Bai?"
"Hey—I asked a question first." She frowned at him, but then flipped her hair. "Besides being an Idol and performing on stage, I am also personally managing my social media accounts and post pictures. I even sometimes interact with your people who are so desperate in actually just looking at their direction. I was supposed to have a fan meeting but got tired tonight. But why, I can actually suck it up and do it for those fans of mine."
"That still sounds work related."
"Hmph, well, I also swim and spend a lot of my time relaxing in my jacuzzi. Why, I could have triumphed in your so-called swimming Olympics competition if I wanted to, but I've decided to leave those events to your people and simply enjoy the waters."
"And that's also related to your nature and need for water?"
"So what? That's how I have decided to live my life—" The Mermaid trailed off and then narrowed her eyes at him. "Of course you'll make a point to say, 'do not question my choice of lifestyle as I won't question yours.' I should have seen this one coming, but I do hate this kind of lectures."
The CEO cleared his throat, "While my personality and lifestyle does seem boring to you, your own life can seem tiring and simply a mechanism for chasing short-lived success for others and not a good way of spending your life. Some people do enjoy simpler lives. However, I am also willing to change my attitude and welcome some healthy changes to my current lifestyle if that would make you reconsider your position in my harem."
"Even the way you said it makes it boring," she said and slapped a hand over her face.
Li Yang sighed. "My apologies then? Would you like me to copy you and sound energetic despite not actually being genuinely happy—"
"Hold it right there, kelp face. People in the customer service industry also have to keep a smile on their face when dealing with people, so don't make it sound like a terrible thing." She pointed a finger in his face.
"Your… terms of referring to things sound somewhat cute. Is that a natural way of speaking with your people?"
Her face reddened once more. "Do not change the subject, but that was an insult, so do not take it as cute. What a terrible attention and fickle attention span, I do not understand how you managed to become a CEO—"
"Because I had to become one… well, I still agreed to it." The memory of Li Yang asking him to be the face of the company was fresh in his mind. He had accepted it back then, because a respected son was better on paper than one disowned. "However, it is a joint effort, if I am to be honest."
"You know what, I'm done talking with you. This has taken far much more time than I imagined, and I still need to do a mud mask for my face." She gestured for him to leave. "I am sure that you can possibly find some other woman to help you out with this curse of yours—consider the woman you brought with you in the concert. Wasn't she pretty and had good skin?"
"I've already missed the chance for her."
"... your explanations are confusing. Is this a time-bound event or something? You have to kiss a girl in three days or you then disintegrate into bubbles?"
His brow raised at her example, but he nodded. "More or less around those kinds of punishments—and it has to be you this time. I do not think that I'll be able to survive the next set of consequences if I do not add you to my harem."
"... What kind of messed up situation is that?" She rubbed her face. "Either way, do not think of me as some kind of soft-hearted woman who'd agree to it simply because you'd die. Your life has no weight to mine, so farewell in advance."
He sighed. "I will not bother you—all I need is you saying yes, and then you can pretend we never had this conversation."
She pursed her lips at him. "Are you sure? You just want me to appear as some harem member 'in paper' and then you'll leave me alone after that?"
The CEO shrugged, but nodded. "You do not seem interested in anything that I am trying to offer you, Miss Bai. Thus, even if it does seem a little pathetic, I would still like you to consider it. I didn't realize how difficult it is to form an agreement with women at times."
She sniffed and raised her chin. "Well, it is simply because you are talking with me and I have everything accounted for—but I suppose if I were to accept your bargain, then I'll accept and whatever it is that you have intended to give me. It is not fair that I simply accept to be part of your harem without receiving anything."
"I agree with that."
"Well?"
"I'll give it to you when we can converse at a better time and place?"
Her forehead creased. "You came here empty-handed?"
"That was why I asked you what you wanted first so I could deliver it at a later date."
She sighed and waved a hand at him. "Alright, alright—impress me with a gift tomorrow and I'll accept. Meet me here tomorrow."
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Author Note: (Edit: April 12, 2021... Earlier chapters have been edited, so some content have been explicitly changed to demand! All hail money xD though I doubt they're reading) ... It has left the author rather quite anxious instead of excited over comments and reviews, thus my lack of response of late. I won't drop this because I'm writing full-time and this is contracted, but I'm just disheartened that's all. ^^; So thank you to those who stuck with the story regardless of the slow and terrible start. See you guys tomorrow.