NOVEL NEXT Chapter 7:
Chapter 7: Ready to Invest!:
“Poor!” Lin Li muttered to himself as he sat in his room, feeling frustrated.
He knew he needed a place for Qiu Shui to stay, but after draining his meager savings, he could only afford a shady hotel that didn’t require an ID. He rented it for three days.
Qiu Shui had a point—his situation was indeed dire. His classmates, fresh out of the college entrance exams, were spending their time indulging in carefree fun, using their savings to enjoy their youth. But Lin Li felt like he was barely scraping by, ready to beg for his next meal.
“If I hadn’t spent all my money on Jiang Xueer, I wouldn’t be so worried now,” he thought, his teeth clenching in regret. He wished he could go back and scold his past self for being such a fool. Life had been good—why did he choose to be a “dog licker”?
Shaking his head, Lin Li tried to brush off the thought.
Dwelling on the past wouldn’t help. Now that he had returned from a 300-year journey in the immortal world, he knew he had to make something of himself. He wasn’t one of those lucky protagonists who came back with everything handed to them, but after surviving countless battles in the immortal world, he had the experience to succeed.
In the immortal world, he had risen to the Immortal Emperor Realm, not just through strength but by using his brains. Yet here, no matter how much cunning or willpower he had, it was useless without money. His most urgent task now was securing his first source of income.
A knock at the door broke his thoughts. A concerned voice came through: “Xiao Li, don’t be upset. At least eat something. You fainted today… Your dad and I understand you’re heartbroken over Jiang Xueer rejecting you, and you want to start a business. But you need to think it through. Don’t act impulsively.”
Lin Li opened the door to see his mother, Cui Donglian, standing there with an apron on, her face full of worry.
“Mom, I’m not upset,” Lin Li replied, feeling a bit helpless.
After spending 300 years in the immortal world and returning, he wanted to have a deep conversation with his parents, but every time he spoke, they brought up Jiang Xueer, convinced he was just putting on a brave face.
But he couldn’t really blame them.
For three years in high school, every time he went out with Jiang Xueer, he would come home and tell his parents about it.
Over a thousand days of this routine, it was no wonder they thought he was still hung up on her.
Now that he had fainted after his failed confession, they were even more concerned.
Looking at his mother’s worried face, Lin Li felt both touched and guilty.
“Mom, you don’t need to worry about me. I’ve thought it through. If Jiang Xueer doesn’t accept my confession, that’s fine. I’m not going to waste any more time on her.”
“Do you really mean that?” Cui Donglian asked with doubt. She found it hard to believe Lin Li had suddenly become enlightened.
“Xiao Li,” a deep voice interrupted from behind the door. Lin Li turned to see his father, Lin Xiaotian, stepping into the room with a serious look.
“Dad?”
Lin Li was a bit confused. It was clear his father had been eavesdropping.
“Old Lin, why are you here?” Cui Donglian glared at her husband.
“I just wanted to see if Xiao Li is really okay,” Lin Xiaotian replied, focusing on his son. After a moment, he took out a bank card from his pocket and handed it to Lin Li.
“There’s 10,000 yuan on this card. The password is six sixes. Take it and use it to start your business.”
“Dad?” Lin Li stared at the card, surprised.
“Just take it,” Lin Xiaotian said, brushing off his son’s hesitation. “Your mother and I will discuss something else.”
As soon as Lin Xiaotian turned around, Lin Li heard his mother’s sharp voice: “Old Lin, where did you get that 10,000 yuan?”
“My private savings,” Lin Xiaotian replied, though his calm facade quickly cracked. “Come on, don’t yell—Xiao Li’s still inside!”
“You’ve been hiding private money all this time!” Cui Donglian scolded, pinching him. “But honestly, you really think that’s enough to make Xiao Li happy?”
“He wants to invest. Let him try,” Lin Xiaotian said, lighting a cigarette. “It doesn’t matter if he loses the money. The important thing is to keep him busy. Being occupied will lift his spirits.”
“That’s true…” Cui Donglian’s voice softened.
As their voices quieted down, Lin Li looked at the card in his hand, feeling a lump in his throat.
Memories of high school flooded back.
He recalled how he often spent his living expenses on gifts for Jiang Xueer, leaving himself with nothing to eat. His parents had always been there to help him out, never complaining.
Licking a dog—it truly led to a miserable end.
Not only had he harmed himself, but he had caused pain to the people who cared about him the most. Now that he had a second chance, he swore he wouldn’t let them down again.
Determined, Lin Li wrote a note for his parents—”Call me if you need anything”—and then quietly climbed out of his window.
With money in hand, he already had a plan to double his funds.
But first, he had to find Qiu Shui at the hotel.
It was getting late, and the hotel he had booked wasn’t exactly safe. He wasn’t worried about Qiushui, but he wasn’t so sure about the people around her.
Running quickly through the night, Lin Li soon arrived at the Sanwu Hotel. As soon as he stepped inside, he saw a crowd gathered around, with Qiu Shui standing in the middle and a man groaning on the ground.
“Wang Daozi, the tough guy, knocked down by a woman? What happened?”
“I was drinking with Wang Daozi when he saw a pretty woman and asked for her number. Next thing I know, he’s on the floor!”
“This woman looks dangerous. She won’t answer any questions, and her eyes… they’re like a wolf’s. Gives me the creeps.”
Lin Li’s heart sank. Sensing trouble, he rushed forward.
“Lin Li!” Qiu Shui’s icy gaze softened when she saw him. She quickly moved to his side, relieved.
“What happened?” Lin Li asked.
“They tried to kill me,” Qiu Shui replied, her eyes scanning the crowd, making everyone uncomfortable.
“Lady, I didn’t try to kill you—you nearly killed me!” Wang Daozi, still on the ground, whimpered in pain.