Qiao Xin Buys Medicine

Ye Chuan really had no choice when it came to his ex-girlfriends. Back then, he was dirt poor—so poor that he frequently mooched off the merchants in the neighborhood and even borrowed money from Luo Xi.

To make ends meet, Ye Chuan had tried every method imaginable.

He even cross-dressed to please a top-tier patron on a livestream, only for his voice changer to malfunction at the worst moment, ruining his chance to earn some cash.

["I'm a beauty streamer. I'll only show my face after reaching 1,000 subscribers."]

What was supposed to be a sweet, feminine voice turned into his natural male tone, causing the patron to lose it and rally a dozen people to mass-report his debut stream.

Just thinking about that experience made Ye Chuan sigh.

Poverty—he was truly terrified of it.

So terrified that he was willing to trade his dignity for money, planning to buy it back later once he had cash. But clearly, he wasn’t some internet sensation. Even his attempts at viral short videos flopped miserably.

Ye Chuan even considered selling his house. But who would want to buy a rundown place in this remote urban village? Even if he did sell it, the price would be pitiful.

And if he really sold it, he’d have nowhere to stay in the city.

Could he really become Luo Xi’s live-in son-in-law?

Well, it wasn’t impossible, but Ye Chuan didn’t want to resort to that. Who knew what the future held?

What if Luo Xi ended up looking down on him?

As for his ex-girlfriends, it was always them who confessed first. Ye Chuan only agreed so he could freeload meals. Still, he did his part—helping with homework, buying breakfast, and running errands.

He provided emotional support and manual labor in exchange for food.

Fair and square, completely wholesome and harmless.

Of course, things never went further than holding hands. If things escalated, Ye Chuan would pull the "We’re young, our priority is dedicating our youth to the motherland" card.

He knew he wasn’t entirely blameless in these situations, but he never denied his actions. At least most of his exes gave him decent reviews.

["Ye Chuan is the perfect guy to fake-date."]

"You’re different," Ye Chuan said earnestly, meeting Luo Xi’s skeptical gaze. "We’ve known each other for years. Would I lie to you?"

Luo Xi muttered, "Chuan Chuan, haven’t you lied to me plenty?"

"Your father never lies."

"Shut up!" Luo Xi smacked his arm playfully.

Just as Ye Chuan and Luo Xi were fooling around, Luo's father suddenly received a call.

Seeing an unknown number, he almost hung up, but noticing it was a local caller, he answered. "Who is this?"

"Are you a family member of Ms. Luo?"

Hearing the woman’s voice, Luo's father frowned but replied, "What do you want?"

He had few relatives or friends—his world revolved around Luo's mother and a handful of others. Since his contacts were all saved, his tone instinctively turned wary, assuming it was a scam call.

"Hello, has Ms. Luo recently sought treatment at the hospital?"

"..."

"My name is Qiao Xin, CEO of Tianhai Group. My grandfather suffers from the same condition as Ms. Luo. The doctor mentioned you have a family remedy… Ms. Luo’s condition has improved, so I was wondering if we could discuss this. I’m willing to pay for it."

After listening, Luo's father understood the request.

The medicine was indeed remarkable, but it seemed the doctor had leaked the information. Then again, nothing stayed confidential in this world.

Money made information easy to obtain.

Luo's father frowned. Tianhai Group was a massive local corporation. If this woman was telling the truth, he—a middle-aged man running a barbecue stall—stood no chance against her.

Surviving each day was already a struggle. Antagonizing someone like her would only bring trouble, possibly even daily inspections of his stall.

"That remedy belongs to my neighbor. I’ll have to ask them first," Luo's father said, not wanting to provoke her.

"Of course. Could I get their contact? I’ll pay you 100,000 just for the introduction."

Hearing that even a referral was worth six figures, Luo's father took a deep breath. "No need. I’ll contact you later."

"Oh… alright."

After hanging up, Luo's father’s expression darkened. He regretted ever mentioning the remedy to the doctor.

Being entangled with someone like this was unpredictable. Worse, Ye Chuan seemed dragged into it too.

If the medicine worked, fine. But if it harmed the CEO’s grandfather, the backlash would be endless—lawsuits, retaliation, the works.

The thought alone gave him a headache.

"Dad, who was that?" Luo Xi and the others noticed his troubled expression and pressed for answers.

Luo's father glanced at Luo's mother, then at Ye Chuan.

"Ye Chuan, this is about…"

He explained the situation without holding back.

"So, a corporate CEO found out and wants to try your family’s medicine?" Ye Chuan clarified.

Luo's father nodded.

"No problem. Let them try," Ye Chuan said, stroking his chin. He had full confidence in the remedy.

It replenished vitality better than ginseng.

Still, Luo's father’s concerns weren’t unfounded. Ye Chuan hadn’t planned to sell the medicine, but now that they were being targeted either way, why not go all in?

As a Foundation Establishment cultivator, what could a big corporation really do to him?

Worst case, he’d send Lan Xiaoke to give them a taste of 3D horror.

But that was only if the medicine backfired or killed someone—scenarios Ye Chuan considered nearly impossible.

The system might overcharge, but it delivered quality goods.

"Don’t worry, Uncle. Just clarify that you don’t guarantee the effects, and there won’t be issues," Ye Chuan reassured.

"But what if something goes wrong…"

"We won’t charge them upfront," Ye Chuan said casually. "This isn’t a one-dose cure. If they want more, then we’ll set a price."

First dose free, payment only if it works.

Fair and logical.

Luo's father nodded, relieved. They weren’t technically selling medicine—just gifting it.

"Young people really think ahead," Luo's father praised. "Should I call her back?"