Seeing Tang Wan'er spit blood and Ye Shishi feigning innocence, Shen Lang felt a headache coming on. Neither woman was easy to deal with, and he needed to get rid of them quickly before they stirred up trouble here.
"Miss Tang, are you alright?"
After a helpless sigh towards Ye Shishi, Shen Lang asked Tang Wan'er.
"I'm... fine... just a minor injury... not life-threatening."
Tang Wan'er vigorously wiped the blood from her lips, forcing the words out.
Losing a hundred billion to Ye Shishi and being verbally mocked by her, Tang Wan'er was naturally not fine. However, being proud by nature, she didn't want to show her injured side in front of others, especially Shen Lang.
After speaking with Shen Lang, Tang Wan'er produced a small bottle, opened it, and swallowed a white pill. Soon, her pain subsided, and her expression returned to normal. However, after this ordeal, Tang Wan'er had no appetite for more food. She told Shen Lang, "I have something to attend to, I'm leaving now. We'll be in touch later."
"Alright—"
Shen Lang was eager for Tang Wan'er to leave and readily agreed without a second thought.
"Hmph—"
Seeing that Shen Lang didn't even attempt to keep her, Tang Wan'er huffed angrily and left.
After Tang Wan'er's departure, Ye Shishi's cheerful laughter rang out again. "Finally, that annoying person is gone, it's great. Let's eat, let's eat." With that, Ye Shishi picked up a bowl of white rice and, using her chopsticks to pick up a piece of sweet and sour fish, began to devour it.
"Ye Shishi, you not only gambled with my medicine, but you also wanted to use my money to pay your debt when you lost. Don't you feel any guilt?"
Watching Ye Shishi eat heartily, Shen Lang sighed and said.
"Guilt? What is there to feel guilty about? I'm a capitalist; every pore of my being exudes blood and schemes. Doing these things is just my nature; there's nothing to feel guilty about," Ye Shishi laughed. "When I start doing charitable deeds without expecting anything in return, then people will truly feel uneasy, because everyone will think I'm brewing some grand conspiracy."
"Wow, this sweet and sour fish is good, this braised pork is also good, and this stir-fried tripe is delicious too. I can't believe you, Shen Lang, with your stern-looking face, are such a good cook. I need to eat two more bowls of rice."
Ye Shishi genuinely enjoyed Shen Lang's cooking. Normally eating only half a bowl of rice, she was now consuming two large bowls, having already finished half of the dishes on the table.
"Shen Lang, can I discuss something with you?"
After finishing her meal, Ye Shishi's eyes darted around, a glint of calculation in them, as she whispered to Shen Lang.
"What do you want to say?"
Shen Lang knew that whenever Ye Shishi's eyes darted like that, she was hatching a plan. Out of curiosity, but also caution, he took a step back.
"Why are you backing away? It's as if I'm going to scheme against you." Ye Shishi was displeased with Shen Lang's action and said, "What I want to discuss is very simple. I want to move in here from now on and will pay three thousand yuan in rent each month. Of course, you'll have to cook for me."
"So you want to find a landlord and a chef all at once."
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Shen Lang rolled his eyes at her. "This villa is for rent. Forget three thousand yuan a month; people would rent it for five thousand, let alone have me cook for them. So, not a chance."
"Don't be so quick to refuse. The price is negotiable, and there's room for adjustment."
Seeing Shen Lang about to turn away, Ye Shishi quickly stepped forward and grabbed his arm, afraid he would slip away. "You're not satisfied with the price I offered, we can discuss it further." She then put on a pitiful expression, her eyes widening. "Lang Lang, you don't know, I'm already twenty-five years old and still living with my parents. I live in the professor's dormitory building at Nanling University. Those who know understand, but those who don't might think I'm a freeloader at home. I can be thick-skinned and not care, but my parents are respectable university professors, and they do care."
"I've wanted to move out for a long time, but I could never find a suitable place. I think this villa is very nice, so I'll be living here from now on."
"Two thousand yuan rent isn't enough? Then let's multiply it by five, ten thousand yuan a month."
Ye Shishi had won a hundred billion from Tang Wan'er. Even after giving Shen Lang forty percent, she still had six billion in her pocket, so paying ten thousand yuan a month didn't sting at all.
"No—"
The moment Ye Shishi finished speaking, Shen Lang rejected her outright. This villa was originally just for Yu Xiao and Yu Fei. Later, Wang Yuyan arrived, making it lively. If Ye Shishi were to join, it would be a complete free-for-all. Shen Lang didn't want to witness Ye Shishi and Wang Yuyan fighting every day.
"Just because you say no doesn't mean it's no. Are you the owner of the house?"
Seeing Shen Lang's refusal, Ye Shishi huffed. "Yang Ce told me that the owner of this villa is Yu Xiao. This means I don't need your permission; I only need Xiao Xiao's agreement." With that, Ye Shishi looked at Yu Xiao, her eyes wide and her expression pleading. "Xiao Xiao, what do you think?"
"I..."
Hearing Ye Shishi's words, Yu Xiao was momentarily stunned, seemingly not expecting Ye Shishi to ask for her opinion.
"Brother Shen, since Sister Shishi wants to move in, let her. It'll be more lively with more people."
Seeing Ye Shishi's pitiful gaze, Yu Xiao felt sympathy for her and couldn't bear to refuse any of her requests. She said to Shen Lang.
"Sigh... such an innocent girl."
Hearing Yu Xiao's words, Shen Lang slapped his forehead. Ye Shishi was an old fox, full of schemes, while Yu Xiao was a little white rabbit, no match for her. However, since Yu Xiao agreed, Shen Lang had no reason to stop Ye Shishi anymore. He then said to Ye Shishi, "Since Xiao Xiao agrees, you can move in. However, the rent is ten thousand yuan per month, you'll pay for utilities, and also for cooking ingredients like oil, salt, soy sauce, and vinegar."
"No problem, totally okay."
Ye Shishi agreed without hesitation. Those things were insignificant. The reasons she wanted to live here were twofold: she wanted to eat Shen Lang's cooking every day, and she wanted to be close to him to win him over as quickly as possible. After settling this matter, Ye Shishi was in an excellent mood, her face beaming with a smile, a stark contrast to her earlier pitiful appearance.
Seeing the brilliant smile on Ye Shishi's face, Shen Lang's expression was complex. However, thinking about the broken knife in the kitchen, Shen Lang couldn't be bothered with Ye Shishi anymore. He needed to get some answers and find out why a newly bought cleaver broke in half while chopping a fish head.