Chapter 1791: Face Belongs to the Family, Life Belongs to Yourself
Xu Huo laughed. "You're pretty smart. Using interest to exchange for a medal?"
The Painting Woman hesitated for a moment. "I'll give you all my money, just give me the medal, okay?"
As she spoke, she pitifully tugged at his sleeve, trying her best to open her watery eyes wide.
"How about this," Xu Huo said. "You don't charge me interest on the loan, and I won't charge you interest on the medal. Deal?"
The Painting Woman tilted her head and thought for a moment, then happily agreed to the deal, pulling Xiao Yuan to the stern of the boat to watch the glowing fish.
Tan Qi didn't leave. He shot a glance at Xu Huo. "Doesn't your conscience hurt? The money and items that should have been split with Sister Li Chun were all given to you, right?"
The Painting Woman wanted the medal, so she offered to exchange everything the Special Defense Department had given her for it. But Xu Huo hadn't relented. Logically speaking, the Painting Woman's things were only being kept in his care; they didn't belong to him.
Xu Huo glanced at him. "You want to lend me money too?"
Tan Qi turned and walked away.
Xu Huo leaned back in his chair, letting the night breeze blow over him, and closed his eyes in contentment.
Quite a few people were enjoying themselves at the resort. Over the past two days, not only Xiao Yuan and Tan Qi, but even the Painting Woman had sensed a certain level of differential treatment from different social circles. High-ranking nobles had priority over ordinary minor nobles, and minor nobles had priority over the simply wealthy. Whether it was choosing a boat or using other entertainment facilities, everyone else tacitly accepted this rule, sometimes even voluntarily giving way. As for those who were unwilling to yield, the resort naturally wouldn't force them, but it all depended on the temperament of the person being refused. To live in District 011, one couldn't afford to ignore the attitudes of the nobility.
For example, on the third day, the manager came hesitantly to Xu Huo's room and asked if he would be willing to give up his reserved underwater tour package. Someone was willing to pay one hundred thousand White Notes for it.
"Can it be postponed?" Xu Huo asked.
The manager looked troubled. "It's just that the next few days are all booked up..."
"Alright then," Xu Huo said. "Go ahead and decline for me."
The manager left with another troubled expression.
No one came to cause trouble afterward, but when it was time to board the boat, they ran into another group. The people who had wanted to buy the package seemed to have found another way to get into the water.
Most of them were unfamiliar faces Xu Huo had never seen before, except for two he had encountered at the charity gala.
The two groups weren't far apart, and the other party didn't bother to lower their voices.
"Isn't that the 'Money Scatterer'?" one of them said with a hint of envy. "I was wondering who was throwing their money around like that."
"'Money Scatterer'? What kind of nickname is that?" another person, who had seen Xu Huo before but hadn't paid him any attention, asked.
"Ever since he inherited Rose Castle, he's attended every charity gala and donation event he could get his hands on," the first speaker said, his expression turning haughty, as if he looked down on such behavior. Then he deliberately added, "I heard he's on good terms with Lady Lily."
Of course, neither they nor the noble scions accompanying them thought much of Xu Huo's attempts to ingratiate himself into the upper echelons of noble society, especially with a hint of scandalous gossip attached. The group walked past him without a second glance.
The Painting Woman was oblivious, only thinking those people were a bit strange. The precocious Xiao Yuan and Tan Qi, however, instinctively looked at Xu Huo.
Xu Huo had already prepared the diving gear and was ready to go into the water with them.
"Aren't you not going?" Tan Qi stared at him. "You want to deal with them?"
"Or should I send you back to do your homework?" Xu Huo patted his head and said with a smile.
Tan Qi dodged out of the way, pursed his lips, and said, "Whatever you're going to do, just don't drag me into it."
"Alright, if a fight breaks out, I'll make sure you two run first," Xu Huo said casually.
Tan Qi put on a stern face and stepped into the bubble barrier that the diving gear had opened.
The rest of the tour went without incident. Xu Huo and the others visited some underwater scenery and even took part in a fish-catching activity specially arranged for the children. All in all, the Painting Woman and Xiao Yuan had a great time.
It wasn't until they got back on shore that Tan Qi relaxed a little. He ran over to Xiao Yuan, exchanged a few words, and the two went back to their rooms first.
The Painting Woman carried the fish she had caught and enthusiastically declared she would show Xu Huo a new skill she had learned.
The fish-grilling activity was by the lake. In the evening, after Xiao Yuan had set up the grill, the people they had encountered during the day sent a staff member to invite Xu Huo over for a drink.
"Just tell them I have an injury and thank them for their kindness," Xu Huo declined again.
After the staff member left, Tan Qi couldn't help but say, "Those people are just treating you as a joke. If you brush them off, they definitely won't let it go easily. If it really comes to a fight, Xiao Yuan and I might end up as hostages."
Xu Huo flipped the fish without looking up. "Just focus on grilling your fish."
Tan Qi had no choice but to stand to the side.
Sure enough, not long after, the two noble scions came over and said arrogantly, "Young Master Vilna wants you to come over."
"Vilna? Ashis Vilna?" Xu Huo raised an eyebrow.
The two were taken aback for a moment, then said, "How could Young Master Ashis possibly have anything to do with someone like you?"
"I thought so. The new-generation leader of the Vilna family wouldn't stoop to that," Xu Huo said, gesturing to the spot beside him. "Please, have a seat."
"You dare to refuse when Young Master Vilna summons you?" The two were stunned and incredulous, not seeing the reaction they had expected on Xu Huo's face. "If you offend the Vilna family's honor, do you still want to stay in District 011?"
"Face belongs to the family, but life belongs to yourself," Xu Huo said, looking up at them. "Please, sit."
The two were initially angry, but that one look felt like a bucket of cold water being poured over them. They then realized they could no longer control their bodies and could only obediently walk over and sit down as he instructed. A chill ran down their spines. The one who had called Xu Huo the "Money Scatterer" blustered, "Don't do anything rash! This is District 011—you won't get away!"
Xu Huo didn't bother with them anymore. He continued flipping the fish on the grill. When a staff member came looking for them, he spoke on their behalf: "These two are my friends. They've decided to stay and eat here."
The two young nobles, meeting the staff member's gaze, didn't dare ask for help. If they angered Xu Huo and got killed, what good would it do if their families avenged them later? They wouldn't come back to life!
"Tell Young Master Vilna... that I can't come over right now. Please ask for his understanding," the other one said, carefully watching Xu Huo's expression.
Even the staff member, no matter how dense, could tell something was wrong and hurriedly left.
"Will the others come looking for them?" Tan Qi asked curiously after a moment, speaking for the two.
"Probably not," Xu Huo said meaningfully. "Honor belongs to the nobles, face belongs to the family, but life belongs to yourself."
Smart people knew how to choose.
For a trivial matter, risking danger for two unrelated errand boys wasn't worth it.
(End of Chapter)