I'm Rich, I'll Pay You to Smile

[Boss lady and innocent male college student, nine-year age gap]

As the owner of a publicly traded company, Lin Zhen has met far too many men with ulterior motives.

They all want to take advantage of her vast fortune.

So she doesn't need to get emotionally invested or talk about love.

One day, she was chatting with her close friend at a bar.

Ordinary men came and went, but none of them caught her interest.

Then she spotted a group of college students walking in, led by the tallest one, who looked terribly reluctant.

His handsome face was as cold as ice, his expression proud and stubborn. When his frosty gaze swept over her, she could almost hear his embarrassed thoughts: They brought me here for my birthday? I have no money!

A little tipsy, Lin Zhen crooked her finger at him. "Hey, kid. Give me a smile and it's on me."

The handsome young man's face immediately turned red, but he refused with a firm voice. "Thanks, I have money."

As if he had any. Even his phone case was worn and faded.

Lin Zhen didn't call him out. She summoned the bar owner and whispered something to him.

Suddenly, the bar was celebrating a nonexistent anniversary, and anyone with a birthday that day could drink for free.

Lin Zhen did a good deed without taking credit and left with a flourish.

Unexpectedly, the young man chased after her just outside. "What's your WeChat? My national scholarship will come through soon. I'll pay you back."

Lin Zhen didn't need his money, but she liked his handsome face and the muscles beneath his shirt, so she added him.

Those tacky men would always hit on her as soon as they saw her glamorous social media posts.

But this kid never made a move. Lin Zhen checked his posts and saw that all he shared every day were study check-ins and step counts, without fail, rain or shine.

What a refreshing, unpretentious college student. Lin Zhen's appetite was thoroughly whetted.

On the day he paid her back, Lin Zhen delayed accepting the transfer and instead sent him 99,999 yuan.

"Hey, kid. Give me a smile and the money's yours."

To her surprise, he replied without hesitation, "No need, thanks."

He seemed to dislike her money-soaked ways, and Lin Zhen regretted it for a few days.

But she didn't push it and went on making waves in the business world.

On the day she successfully acquired her competitor, heavy rain was falling. After her meeting, Lin Zhen decided to go out for a change of scenery.

She'd just driven out of the underground garage when she spotted a tall, soaking-wet young man standing at the entrance.

She couldn't tell if the water on his face was rain or tears. Lin Zhen lowered her window and slowly pulled up beside him.

The young man handed her an ID card and showed her a photo of a bell tied around his ankle.

With red-rimmed eyes, he asked, "Sis, my name is Pei Puppy. Do you still want to see me smile?"

Theme: Money can't buy everything, unless you have a whole lot of it.