The Emperor and My Husband

"One point two million."

"Struck gold."

Ye Chuan walked home with Lan Xiaoke, his eyes nearly squinting from laughter as he gazed at his bank balance exceeding a million.

Wang Yanran really was a little rich girl—seemed like he’d need to engage with her more often in the future. Sweet talker and a gold mine rolled into one.

Now that he had money, Ye Chuan began pondering how to handle it. Using it to make more money was unrealistic—after all his past hustles, he knew most businesses these days ended up bankrupting their owners.

Anyone with a bit of ambition usually wrecked their credit.

Real wealth these days came from shady dealings, but Ye Chuan had no interest in that. With his abilities, he just wanted a leisurely life, free from headaches.

Money and power flowed in effortlessly, and his lifespan kept climbing.

Lifespan decreased, strength increased. Strength grew, lifespan lengthened.

Losing lifespan equaled gaining it.

Ye Chuan glanced at his phone and noticed a message from Luo Xi.

Luo Xi: "Chuan Chuan, want some barbecue?"

Luo Xi: barbecue.jpg

The girl had sent a photo of skewered meat, her delicate fingers gripping the sticks as if tempting him over.

Checking the time—past nine at night—Ye Chuan hadn’t eaten yet. Though not hungry, he was craving.

"Might as well drop by." He headed toward the location of Luo Xi’s family’s barbecue stall.

---

The food street was still lively at this hour. When Ye Chuan arrived with Lan Xiaoke, he found Luo Xi bustling around in a small apron.

Her white T-shirt was damp with sweat. Wiping her cheek with the back of her hand, she flashed a sweet smile at him. "It’s a bit busy right now—come help Dad."

"Your father shall assist." Ye Chuan looked around, noticing Luo’s father wasn’t there. "Where’s your dad?"

"Ugh, aren’t you right here?"

"I mean your actual dad."

"Oh… Business is good today, so he went to restock. He’ll be back soon." Luo Xi blushed, realizing she’d misunderstood—their habit of jokingly calling each other "Dad" had thrown her off.

Ye Chuan nodded, then extended his arms. "The emperor is ready for court. Bring forth the royal robe."

"As you wish!" Giggling, Luo Xi untied her apron and draped it over him, tying a neat bow at his back.

"Address me properly."

Rising on her tiptoes, Luo Xi whispered in his ear, "Hubby~"

"Cough… That works too." Ye Chuan’s face reddened.

Ye Chuan expertly grilled skewers while Luo Xi handled orders, payments, and cleaning. Their teamwork was seamless. During lulls, she’d wipe the grease from his face with a chilled towel and massage his shoulders.

"Running a stall is tough. Ever thought about opening a proper shop?" Ye Chuan asked.

"A shop?" Luo Xi shook her head. "It’d be more convenient, but costs would skyrocket. We might end up losing money."

True—most shops ended up just paying the landlord’s mortgage.

Some landlords even hiked rents when they saw a business thriving, forcing tenants out to take over the profitable spot themselves.

"Once I’ve saved up, I’ll get you a shop for your barbecue," Ye Chuan teased.

"No need! You should focus on your own future with that money." Luo Xi disagreed, wanting him to invest in himself.

She believed Ye Chuan deserved a grander stage for his talents.

"Alright." He smiled at her thoughtfulness.

Soon, Luo’s father returned with a tricycle loaded with supplies.

"Dad, you’re back."

"Yeah." Spotting Ye Chuan, Luo’s father greeted him. "Good to see you, Ye Chuan."

Ye Chuan helped unload the frozen goods. When he effortlessly lifted a heavy crate packed with ice and skewers, Luo’s father raised an eyebrow.

Since when did this kid have such strength?

With Luo’s father back, Ye Chuan’s help wasn’t needed. He joined Luo Xi and Lan Xiaoke at a table, treating the barbecue as dinner.

Lan Xiaoke, as usual, could only sniff the aroma in frustration.

"Old Guan." A well-dressed middle-aged man approached the stall during the busy hour.

The man, in his forties, addressed Luo’s father by his surname.

"Boss?" Luo’s father looked surprised. "What brings you here?"

"Lost touch for a while. Saw your barbecue posts on social media." The man chuckled.

"Gotta make a living," Luo’s father sighed.

"And these are—?" The man’s gaze shifted to Luo Xi and Ye Chuan.

"My daughter, Luo Xi, and her boyfriend, Ye Chuan."

"Luo…?" Noticing the different surname, the man seemed to piece things together.

After wiping his hands, Luo’s father sat with the man and introduced him. "This is my former boss."

"Hello, Boss!" Luo Xi waved enthusiastically.

"Nice to meet you," Ye Chuan said.

"Your daughter’s lively." The man smiled at Luo Xi before turning back. "I’m now a regional VP at a Fortune 500 company. Need a director—interested in joining me?"

Luo’s father froze. "You mean…?"

"Yes. Fifty grand a month, plus bonuses."

"That’s…"

"If it’s too low, we can negotiate."

"N-no, it’s more than enough. Just didn’t expect you’d reach out."

"After the company collapsed, I was down for a while. But I need you now, Old Guan." The man patted his shoulder.

"I’m in."

"That’s what I wanted to hear."

---

"What did your dad used to do?" Ye Chuan asked Luo Xi after their conversation. In his memory, Luo’s father had always been in the barbecue business.

"Not sure. Mom mentioned he was in management somewhere." Luo Xi shrugged. Her father rarely spoke of the past—only her mother knew details.

Ye Chuan crossed his arms. "Fifty grand a month? No more barbecues?"

"If he can work nine-to-six for that much, it’d be perfect." Luo Xi grinned.

With her mother’s health improving, life seemed to be looking up.

"Once your dad’s loaded, won’t he spoil you?"

"He’s not a billionaire." Luo Xi laughed. "Besides, I’m almost at marrying age."

"In such a hurry to marry me?" Ye Chuan smirked.