Chapter 9: Si Ning, Are You Still Looking for a Live-in Son-in-Law?

"Wait! Brother Orange, I want to gamble on stones too! Could you help me pick out two?" Shen Sining emerged slowly from the corner.

Jiang Cheng stared at her, his expression growing increasingly bizarre.

This was Shen Sining? The penny-pincher? The cute girl who was always looking for a free meal? A stingy girl who was so serious about every cent actually wanted to bet on stones with him? Was this a joke?

The surrounding crowd finally took notice of Shen Sining, who had been standing silently in the back, acting like an invisible wallflower.

"Damn, this girl is gorgeous!"
"Tsk, tsk! And that skin—she’s a real looker!"

Qin Xiaoshu looked at Shen Sining as she stepped out of the crowd, completely bewildered. He hurriedly said, "Sining, I mean, Orange is only gambling on stones because he’s strapped for cash. Why are you joining in the mess?"

"Can't I want to get rich too?" Shen Sining replied with a deadpan expression.

Qin Xiaoshu was speechless. Get rich? Who didn't want to get rich? But one had to have the luck for it! The world of stone gambling was bottomless. It was purely about luck; skills and experience were all nonsense. Unless someone had x-ray vision, who could guarantee that a single cut would yield a fortune?

"Gambling on stones isn't a game for a young girl like you. It’s too dangerous. If you dive in blindly, you could end up losing everything!"

"Hmph! Can't I do what I want?" Shen Sining rolled her eyes at him.

Qin Xiaoshu felt a vein throb in his forehead. It was truly a case of casting pearls before swine. "I'm trying to be kind here. Besides, Sining, do you even have the money?"

"I do!" Shen Sining blinked.

Qin Xiaoshu: Forget I said anything.

Jiang Cheng had been quietly observing Shen Sining, deep in thought. Shen Sining reached out and grabbed his arm. Jiang Cheng paused, looking at her as she stared at him with burning eyes, feeling completely baffled.

"Sining, what is this?"

"Brother Orange, I want to gamble on stones! Help me pick two!" she said, looking perfectly serious.

"Sining, are you for real?" Jiang Cheng frowned.

"Of course I'm for real! I want to get rich too!" she nodded.

Shen Sining had a feeling that Jiang Cheng was too confident—confident to the point of being unscientific. Who would be foolish enough to borrow money just to gamble on stones? Unless, of course, he was one hundred percent sure the stones he picked contained something valuable. She had read plenty of web novels; the protagonists always had cheat codes like x-ray vision, portable dimensions, or systems.

Jiang Cheng might just have some kind of superpower! Why not ride his coattails to wealth? If she won, she’d soar! If she lost, it was just a little pocket change. It wouldn’t hurt, so why not?

Jiang Cheng’s lips curved, his eyes crinkling into crescents. He found this penny-pinching girl’s serious, money-loving demeanor quite cute. Seeing that she really wanted to buy raw stones, he didn't mind helping her get rich. Despite her stinginess, she was simple and kind. She had lent him money for Gu Zhixia’s mother without a second thought. Someone who treated a stranger that way couldn't be a bad person. Her way of thinking was a bit unconventional and childish, but he found her frankness endearing. He certainly couldn't let her get scammed.

"Sining, why don't you wait until I open my first stone to see how it goes before you follow suit?" Jiang Cheng suggested. He hadn't opened any stones yet, and he wasn't entirely sure how well his ability worked on raw ore.

To his surprise, she waved him off. "No need, Brother Orange. Just pick them now. Let’s cut them together; that’ll be more exciting!"

Jiang Cheng laughed even harder. This girl had nerves of steel! She was even more confident than he, the one with the superpower.

"Hahaha, Sining, you trust me that much?"

Unexpectedly, she blinked her large eyes and asked a peculiar question: "Brother Orange? Can I ask you something? Who do you have left in your family?"

Jiang Cheng was taken aback for a moment, not understanding why she would ask that. "It’s just me and my younger sister. My parents have passed away."

Shen Sining’s eyes lit up. Parents deceased—the hallmark of a protagonist! It was definitely the protagonist's script!

"Cough, cough! Alright, Brother Orange, no problem! Pick away!"

Jiang Cheng stood there for three or four seconds before offering a sheepish smile. He had no idea what was going on in the little girl's head. "Well, Sining, how much do you want to buy? What’s your budget? The quality here isn't top-tier, but the prices aren't low either."

"Let's start with a million!" she blinked.

"A... a million? Damn, Sining, are you that rich?" Jiang Cheng was stunned. He could never have linked the penny-pinching Shen Sining to a millionaire.

"When I got into university, my relatives gave me red envelopes. You know, I have several hundred relatives!"

Shen Sining’s eyes darted away. It was the truth, but not the whole truth; each relative had given at least fifty thousand, and some had given as much as ten million. She had intentionally understated the amount, fearing she might scare him. What she didn't know was that the amount she claimed was already a distant dream for the current Jiang Cheng.

After a long pause, Jiang Cheng asked cheekily, "So, Sining, does your family need a live-in son-in-law?"

"Huh?" She was clearly startled. Her already rosy cheeks flushed to the tips of her ears, looking as if they might start smoking. Brother Orange was a protagonist; he would definitely be successful in the future. Being his wife wouldn't be a bad deal at all!

"Cough, cough, I’m just joking, Sining. Don't take it seriously! I'll pick a few for you now!" Jiang Cheng quickly shifted his gaze, not daring to look her in the eyes.

Since she wasn't short on cash, he wouldn't hold back on the valuable stones in Zheng Wanfu’s yard. He turned to the shop owner and smiled. "Boss Zheng, my friend wants to gamble on stones too. I’ll pick a few for her."

Zheng Wanfu’s grin stretched from ear to ear. His luck tonight was incredible! Not only had he swindled Jiang Cheng out of fifty thousand, but now a beautiful girl was here to hand him money as well! Could his luck finally be turning?

"Done! I’m in the business of selling stones. If a customer wants to buy, how could I refuse?"

Jiang Cheng stopped talking and began to browse. Though it looked like he was choosing, it was just for show; he already knew exactly which stones were valuable. Shen Sining followed behind him, head bowed, occasionally glancing at him with burning eyes, her mind drifting far away.

*Brother Orange... does he really like me? What do I do? I’ve never been in a relationship; this is my first time. Should I say yes? I’m so nervous! No, no, he hasn't confessed yet. What if he doesn't like me? If I confess first and get rejected, that would be so embarrassing! But he’s the protagonist! Shouldn't the girl be the one to throw herself at him? Ahhh, my heart is a mess!*

Qin Xiaoshu watched them from afar. They looked like a perfect match. He couldn't help but wear the satisfied smile of a doting father.

As Jiang Cheng wandered through the stone yard, Shen Sining followed quietly, her small hands clenched tightly, not knowing where to put them. Every now and then, she would peek at him. The scene looked exactly like a shy, newlywed bride trailing behind her husband. The smile on Qin Xiaoshu’s face became even more benevolent.