America: I came here to study, not to show mercy.

Chapter 181 An Unexpected Trip to Seattle, Extra Money Required?
The next day.

In the master bedroom on the second floor of a two-story mansion in the Ridgeview Estates community, a suburban area of ​​New Jersey.

At eight o'clock in the morning, Li Xiaoen woke up according to his biological clock. He silently looked at the large, beautifully decorated room for a while, and then he couldn't help but close his eyes and stretch.

When I was little, I dreamed of waking up in a 200-square-meter room every day. Although I'm still far from that, a 200-square-meter room is ultimately unrealistic. So, I guess I've already achieved half of that dream.

After taking a few deep breaths, Li Xiaoen got up and went to the bedroom's private balcony. A large bird was already standing quietly on the railing, preening its beak with its feathers.

Upon noticing his appearance, the golden eagle let out a clear cry.

"Did those people really intend to start a fire?"

Li Xiaoen raised an eyebrow, and after receiving confirmation from the golden eagle's movements, he led it downstairs and fed it some aged beef jerky he had bought the day before.

While having breakfast together, Li Xiaoen stared into thought as he looked at the system screen displayed in front of him.

[Work task has been initiated]

[Current Employer: Apple Inc., New York Office]

[Work Task Triggered: Due to company business needs, the host is required to travel to Seattle, Washington, on the West Coast of the United States for a business trip and clock in.]

[Task completion reward: Apple Inc. stock incentive: 0.00001%]

[Note: This business trip will last for one month. During this period, the host only needs to clock in online.]

【…】

Apple's current market capitalization is $3.07 trillion. If such a small percentage were cashed out, it would amount to approximately three million US dollars.

While searching for Apple's stock information online, Li Xiaoen quickly made calculations in his mind. He set the business trip to last for a month, which would allow him to go home, but he still couldn't help feeling a little strange.

According to the information provided earlier, his virtual job at Apple was as a software engineer. Do software engineers need to travel for work?

He probably didn't think of this when he played house as a child.

Thinking to himself, Li Xiaoen picked up his phone, but he still had to change his plane ticket again.

After booking my afternoon flight, I quickly packed my things and drove to New York, heading straight into a Rolex flagship store.

"Hello sir, how can I help you?"

He stood at the cashier's counter until a young woman in a tight-fitting uniform skirt saw him walk in with a clear intention and quickly went to greet him.

"This is the official flagship store for Rolex luxury watches. Would you like me to introduce some of our brand's latest new products?"

Smiling, she gestured to the several watches neatly arranged in the counter, reflecting a silvery-white light under the incandescent bulbs. Her gaze swept over Li Xiaoen's figure and appearance, filled with astonishment.

"Do you have any Submariner series M126610ln-0001 in stock? Just pack one up for me."

Noticing the woman's gaze, Li Xiaoen ignored it and gestured with his chin toward the counter inside.

Upon hearing this, the woman was taken aback for a moment, then quickly nodded, bent slightly, turned around, and walked briskly toward the counter.

Let's just call ourselves super-rich for now.

After the woman left, Li Xiaoen looked around at the dazzling array of exquisite watches in the luxuriously decorated store and found it somewhat amusing.

He doesn't usually wear a watch, and he only came here to buy one for his father. He's also going to buy a bag for his mother later, so he's financially well-off. Since he's going back, he might as well bring some gifts for his parents back home.

He had seen the watch I mentioned earlier; it was something his father had always wanted to buy.

Should we buy Uncle a new car?

Suddenly remembering the old Toyota Camry from before, Li Xiaoen stroked his chin and couldn't help but ponder. His uncle had been very good to him and had helped him a lot before and after he went abroad to study. Repaying him was something he had planned before he came to study abroad.

After thinking for a while, Li Xiaoen finally shook his head and sighed. It was highly unlikely that his uncle would accept the gift now, so he decided to let his parents tell him that he had indeed made it big.

After picking up the goods and paying nearly $13000, Sean Lee turned and left.

"Eh……"

They had originally intended to offer free gifts and inquire about the young man's membership information, but seeing his decisive departure, the saleswomen were stunned and exchanged speechless glances.

They knew that men were quick and decisive when buying things, but this was the first time they had seen a young, handsome man act so efficiently.

They had originally planned to add some personal contact information.

……

Li Xiaoen didn't know much about women's handbags, but based on the style of handbags his mother had always carried, he picked out an elegant solid-color design. Then, he bought some miscellaneous health products and snacks that his uncle had brought back from China when he was a child, before driving to a customs clearance company.

To avoid smuggling, in accordance with laws and regulations, he would need to pay a certain percentage of customs duties to bring so many high-value items back to China. Having a customs clearance company handle the process would simplify his procedures.

Admittedly, his current void storage space is large enough to hold so much stuff, but it's really unnecessary—since he doesn't lack these few odds and ends, he doesn't need to make himself uncomfortable.

After completing a series of procedures, it was already 1 p.m. when he returned to the villa. After repeated attempts to persuade the golden eagle that was staying at home to come back, Li Xiaoen simply let it go to the forest not far from the school where the orientation activities were held and stay there for a while.

After quickly packing, Li Xiaoen immediately called an Uber and headed to the nearby Newark Liberty International Airport with his backpack. There was storage space available. He hadn't originally intended to bring a backpack, but considering potential surveillance and investigation, he had no choice but to carry only the necessary items and travel light.

Why am I so busy even on vacation?

Feeling frustrated, Li Xiaoen experienced first class and, after about six hours of flight, finally arrived in Seattle, a city on the American West Coast known for its openness and inclusiveness.

After checking the system to confirm the check-in, I went out into the lobby and immediately saw Daniel and his companion waiting outside, waving to me.

"Sean, how many days are you planning to stay in Seattle?"

Daniel excitedly raised his hand and waved, "We have everything here, from tech cities to natural scenery. Whatever you want to do, we'll take you there."

"I came here because I have something to do. I also booked a flight for tomorrow to go back to China."

Sean Lee smiled regretfully and shook his head. "Since you're all in Seattle, I just wanted to say hello and have a meal together. Maybe we can go sightseeing together sometime in the future."

"That's it..."

Daniel and Michael exchanged a glance and shook their heads regretfully.

They were just here to check in, and Li Xiaoen patted them on the shoulders reassuringly.

"Come on, let's go. What are some good and unique restaurants around here? Take me to see them. As the hosts, it's your treat."

"Ha ha……"

No longer dwelling on their previous regrets, Daniel and his companion nodded and burst into laughter.

"Sean, I recommend a unique restaurant to you!"

As they walked, Michael raised an eyebrow knowingly and looked over, saying, "You can watch the ladies' striptease while you eat."

"There are restaurants like this?"

Before Li Xiaoen could speak, Daniel interrupted in surprise, raising his hand to punch her, "You son of a bitch, why didn't you tell me before?"

"That restaurant is so expensive, even if I told you, you'd still be too embarrassed to go..."

Michael glanced at it sarcastically and threw a punch back, "I haven't been there either. It's just that Sean came, so I'm showing him the proper hospitality."

Finally, Michael turned back to Sean Lee and emphasized, "Sean, don't worry, it's legal for us to be this age in Washington State."

Seattle is the largest city in Washington state.

"Thank you, but please skip this one."

Li Xiaoen quickly raised her hand, both amused and exasperated, "Let's just have a proper meal."

"By the way, you guys have seen those scenes near the school before. Do you really feel like eating? Doesn't it affect your appetite?"

"Actually... it's alright..."

Michael gave an ambiguous answer, glanced at Daniel's reaction, and then felt more confident, his expression returning to normal.

"I'm sorry, I can't accept that."

With a dark expression, Sean Lee solemnly declared that he had absolutely no opinion on the tastes and tolerance levels of his two American friends.

The three of them had dinner at a simply decorated traditional restaurant, and then Li Xiaoen rested for a night at a hotel.

Daniel and his companion visited again at 10 a.m. the next morning.

"Sean, have you heard of Aurora Avenue?"

Michael glanced at Daniel's excited face and cut to the chase, raising an eyebrow at Sean Lee, "Want to give your study abroad experience this semester a perfect ending?"

"If it's still the same kind of thing, then forget it."

Anticipating this, Li Xiaoen shook his head and replied, "My flight is this afternoon, so I won't waste my time with you guys."

"As expected."

Shrugging, Michael looked at Daniel with a regretful gaze. "I told you, Sean isn't going to help you with this kind of thing. You'd better get over your emotional trauma on your own. Do you need me to recommend a few movies?"

"what is this?"

These two clowns always surprised him. Li Xiaon asked, half-laughing, half-crying, "Aurora Avenue, what kind of place is that?"

"It's like this..."

Michael thought for a moment, then took out his phone, woke it up, and handed it over.

Oh……

Seattle, what a great little tune...

Li Xiaoen suddenly realized that he had seen similar videos online before studying abroad. He couldn't help but glance at Daniel and gave him a strange smile. "You fucking, this is how you get over emotional trauma, huh?"

This made Michael burst into laughter. "If you're not going, fine, I'll handle it myself."

Faced with the sneer of his two friends, Daniel's face darkened slightly, and he rolled his eyes as he offered an explanation.

"You said you'd handle it yourself, but I bet you'll actually go by yourself, right?"

He gave her a mischievous look, then smiled and nodded, "I'll go with you guys and see for myself."

"Sean, you've finally figured it out?!"

Daniel and Michael were taken aback by what they heard, then raised their hands in surprise and patted Sean Lee's shoulder repeatedly.

"What do you mean by 'enlightenment'?"

Li Xiaoen rolled her eyes. "I only saw it online before. I'm just going to see for myself. I'm not going to do anything. You can do whatever you want."

"Oh alright."

Despite their reluctance, Daniel and his companion exchanged a glance and then laughed excitedly.

This kind of thing is undoubtedly more exciting if you can go with good friends.

……

"I see, dead eyes on the verge of suicide..."

"I realize it's not alright..."

"I'll find my way to idolize it..."

"In my eyes, I'll reach the sky..."

Driving on Aurora Avenue, which leads north from downtown Seattle, upbeat music filled the car. Sean Lee drove slowly, smiling and joining in the song.

"Sean, wasn't Dead Eyes supposed to be like this originally?"

Sitting in the back, Daniel asked in surprise. At first, the song sounded familiar, but it took him a while to recall it. However, he didn't remember it having such an upbeat rhythm.

"This was adapted by people from our Chinese side."

Li Xiaoen explained, glancing at the several scantily clad women he had seen standing on the street along the way, "Besides, don't you think they match the current atmosphere and the free scenery quite well?"

"Hmm...it seems so."

Daniel's expression turned strange, and he and Michael exchanged a glance before bursting into laughter.

"Hey, don't you think they're cold standing outside dressed so scantily in this weather?"

Driving slowly, feeling the unique freedom and laid-back atmosphere of the West Coast, Li Xiaoen casually asked.

He has seen these sights of Seattle with his own eyes, and some of the people there are actually quite well-built.

"If you dress all warmly, business might suffer, right?"

Michael answered casually, exchanged a glance with Daniel, and the two of them simultaneously let out a lewd smile.

“Hey...Sean.”

Just then, Daniel suddenly sat forward, patted his shoulder, and pointed to the side of the road in front of the car, where a young woman wearing high heels, a pencil skirt, and a denim jacket stood. "Pull over there, I want to ask her something."

Nodding in agreement, Li Xiaoen drove over.

As the car pulled up beside her, the woman turned to look at him and saw his eyes widen in surprise.

"Good morning, handsome."

The woman greeted him with a smile, "I'll give you a discount, $150 for 30 minutes."

"No, you misunderstood."

Li Xiaoen awkwardly raised his hand, regretting that he had curiously opened the car window.

Just as the woman was in a daze, Daniel's voice came from the back seat of the car.

"Hey, how much for the service?"

Upon hearing this, the woman turned her head and glanced at the back seat, where she saw two figures. Her expression suddenly froze.

"You...the three of you, how can I possibly stand this?"

She frowned and quickly shook her head, "No, you have to pay more."

What the f**k……

He saw the same thing happening in America, across the ocean.

Li Xiaoen was both amused and exasperated, and raised her hand to touch her forehead.

"No, it's not three people."

Daniel explained with a smile, "It's just me."

"Just you?"

The woman paused for a moment, then shook her head. "Then it will cost more: two hundred dollars for twenty minutes."

Upon hearing this, the three people in the car were suddenly stunned.

"Do you charge different prices for different people?"

Daniel's face darkened.

"Of course it's different. There are some people I can enjoy too."

Ignoring Daniel's gaze, the woman smiled, shrugged, and turned to raise an eyebrow at Sean Lee.

Li Xiaoen's face also darkened. Without saying a word, he rolled up the driver's side window.

Feeling a little regretful, the woman didn't pay it any mind. She moved to the back seat of the car, raised her hand to hold the roof, and spoke meaningfully again.

"It's understandable that you're angry because the price has gone up, but if you agree to this, then you can do whatever you want to me later, can't you?"

Upon hearing this, Daniel paused for a moment, his eyes quickly filled with fervor and ruthlessness, all traces of heartache vanished, and he nodded heavily.

At Daniel's insistence, Sean Lee put him down on the spot and restarted the car, driving towards a nearby side road.

"Are there any houses or rooms for them around here?"

Li Xiaoen couldn't help but ask.

"Who knows? Maybe Daniel was so angry he couldn't stand it anymore and decided to punish that woman on the spot."

Michael chuckled and shrugged. "With that kind of intelligence, that woman could definitely be a great salesperson if she changed her profession."

"..."

Here we go again, here we go again...

Should I persuade him to reform?

All crows are black, and this is no exception in America. Li Xiaoen rested his arm on the car window and raised his hand to rub his forehead.

"Let's not talk about this anymore. You can choose one, and I'll let you off right here."

"Hey... Sean, I'm not like Daniel who's indiscriminate in his hunger. At least take me to a nearby hotel, right?"

Upon hearing this, Michael quickly spoke up, and ultimately, under Sean Lee's indifferent gaze, he chose a petite woman with a youthful face and an anime-like appearance with a bow in her hair.

Afterwards, he drove around the area alone for a while. Then, he received a message on his phone that Daniel was going to increase the punishment for the woman. Michael didn't say anything, he just shook his head and left a message telling them to come back on their own. Then he quietly drove back to his hotel.

The next day.

With Daniel and Michael seeing him off as he arrived at the hotel in the early hours of the morning, Sean Lee arrived at the Seattle airport.

As he was about to enter the waiting area, Li Xiaoen turned around and looked at the two of them meaningfully.

"If I'm not mistaken, you'll go looking for those two women again in three days at most."

The two were taken aback by what they heard, then exchanged a strange smile.

“I’m not Daniel. I don’t need three days. I’ll be there this afternoon.”

Michael waved his hand with a smile, which earned him a heavy punch from Daniel.

"No more."

Li Xiaoen shook his head helplessly, smiled and waved goodbye, "Enjoy your winter vacation, I'm leaving."

"Okay, see you in a month."

The two were entangled together, not forgetting to raise their hands in farewell.

To Li Xiaoen's dismay, there were no direct flights from Seattle to Yuecheng. He had to transfer in Shanghai before he could reach Yuecheng, a journey that took almost twenty hours.

Upon exiting the hall, Li Xiaoen saw two familiar figures who had been waiting for a long time and quickly walked over.

"Dad, Mom, did I disturb your time together?"

As he approached, Li Xiaoen opened his hands and greeted him with a smile.

Upon hearing this, the two men's expressions of surprise faltered for a moment, then they gritted their teeth and shouted a rebuke.

"You brat, what are you saying?"

(End of this chapter)