Traveling through the second dimension, the joy system encourages me to laugh heartily!

Even though Hua Qianhui has made a decision, her best friend is in a low mood, so she still needs to comfort her.

So she walked over gently, knelt down, and gave Wang Manman a warm hug, her voice soft yet firm:

“Manman, don’t be sad,” she paused, her tone sharp and clear-headed. “That man, the first thing he did when he met you was to expose that you didn’t belong in that cabin class, and he even pointed out that you had glue on the soles of your high heels. It was obvious that he wanted to use this method to hurt you, to make you feel ashamed, so that it would be easier for him to control you next—this is a typical PUA tactic!”

Feeling her best friend stiffen slightly in her arms, Hua Qianhui hugged her even tighter, her voice carrying an encouraging strength:

"But why would he go to the trouble of using PUA on you? Doesn't that just show that he's lusting after your beauty and wants to use such a despicable method to lower your defenses so he can take advantage of you?"

"This just proves that your looks and charm are absolutely top-notch in his eyes! So, don't underestimate yourself because of what others say; you deserve better!"

These words were like the sun breaking through the clouds, dispelling the gloom in Wang Manman's heart.

She took a deep breath, hugged Hua Qianhui back, and finally showed a relieved smile on her face: "Thank you, Qianhui! If you hadn't woken me up from my dream, I would have been so discouraged that I would never dare to look up at the scenery again."

Wang Manman's eyes lit up again, filled with longing. "But honestly, the night view and sea we saw from that restaurant up there were completely different from what we see from our cabin window down here! The lights were so bright, the water was so sparkling, even the sea breeze seemed gentler... And actually, the prices at those upscale restaurants aren't as outrageously expensive as I thought. Qianhui, will you come up with me tomorrow for a nice meal?"

Although Wang Manman regained her confidence, she had already failed once, so she wanted to persuade her best friend, who had a higher success rate, to give it a try.

If her best friend can successfully hook up with a rich second-generation heir, then she, as the "guide," will always benefit a little, making the trip worthwhile.

Hua Qianhui smiled and shook her head upon hearing this.

"I'm not going."

Her tone was frank, revealing her pragmatic considerations: "I can certainly afford a meal at a fancy restaurant, but that's an extra expense... You know I hesitated and struggled for a long time before finally gritting my teeth and buying this cruise ticket. My financial situation simply doesn't allow me to pay extra for any 'experiences.' It's more worthwhile to just eat the free buffet included in the ticket and try to 'get my money's worth..."

What Hua Qianhui said was her initial idea, which is why she went to the buffet restaurant alone just now.

Of course, she had another consideration in mind at this moment.

Manman suggested going to a high-end restaurant, but the sea view and delicious food were just an excuse; her real purpose was to bump into a rich second-generation.

But now that she has met Chen Ming, who has proactively offered her an "eight million olive branch," and they are in the process of getting to know each other, going to a high-end restaurant to search for a needle in a haystack would not only be a waste of money, but might also result in losing more than she gains...

Wang Manman was not discouraged after hearing Hua Qianhui's rational, almost "stingy" remarks. Barefoot on the soft carpet, she walked straight to the window and flung it open with a "whoosh." The salty sea breeze rushed in, ruffling her hair.

She gazed at the sea, shimmering with tiny silver lights under the moonlight, and said in a soft but firm voice:

"Chie, what you said makes a lot of sense! But... I don't want to live an ordinary, meticulously planned life. Since I've seen the advantages of being at the top, then I want to stay there..."

The word "upper class" in Wang Manman's words has a double meaning: it refers not only to the upper deck of the cruise ship in a physical sense, but also to the heavily guarded upper class society in her mind.

For her, a woman has two chances to be reborn—the first is her family of origin, which she has already missed; the second is marriage.

She knew full well that while her looks and figure weren't as stunning as Hua Qianhui's, they were enough to serve as a stepping stone into that world. This was her only asset, and one that was rapidly losing value. She had to find a place at the highest point of value that would allow her to "remain at the top"...

Hua Qianhui looked at her best friend's stubborn and reckless back in the moonlight and sighed silently.

She no longer tried to extinguish this burning ambition with the cold water of reason.

After all, everyone has their own path to walk.

Hua Qianhui simply took off her comfortable but inexpensive flat shoes, revealing her fair, delicate little feet with round, pearl-like toes.

She carried her flat shoes in her hand and walked barefoot gracefully to the window, standing side by side with Wang Manman.

The moonlight, like water, flowed quietly over the two of them.

They gazed silently at the distant, deep blue horizon where the sea met the sky.

One was burning with the ambition to rise through the social ladder, while the other was calculating how to safely seize the unexpected windfall of eight million...

Meanwhile, on the other side,

After leaving the buffet restaurant, Chen Ming took Qing Zijin for a walk to the cruise ship's grand theater to watch a performance and digest their food...

The grand theater was brightly lit in the evening and had already gathered a large crowd. Although many beauties with an overall appearance score exceeding 80 appeared, Chen Ming checked using the system's appraisal function and found no one with a power bank count of 0. This showed just how rare it was to find a beautiful and pure young woman...

On the enormous stage, dazzling dances, fantastic magic tricks, and thrilling acrobatics are performed, culminating in a deeply emotional stage play…

Amidst the applause that marked the end of the performance, the two left the venue hand in hand, weaving through the bustling crowd, and returned to their luxurious suite on the top floor.

Qing Zijin casually tossed the shopping bag full of new clothes and jewelry onto the table, then slumped into the large, soft sofa like a lazy cat, letting out a satisfied yet tired sigh: "Ah...so tired! I need to rest for a bit..."

Chen Ming followed her with a smile and sat down next to her. His gaze naturally fell on the girl—the hem of her expensive long dress, which she had bought that afternoon, had slipped slightly, revealing a section of her calves that were as delicate as white jade, with smooth and beautiful lines that stretched upwards.

He reached out his hand, his fingertips warm with appreciation, his deep voice filled with undisguised admiration:

"Wow, these are great! These are perfectly toned, white thighs. I could admire them for a year. They're really amazing."

His words were straightforward, yet they didn't seem frivolous because of his open and honest affection.

As he spoke, he gently pulled Qing Zijin's soft body into his arms. Feeling the quality of the long dress, the expensive silk fabric was cool and smooth to the touch, which pleased him.

Overwhelmed by emotion, Chen Ming lowered his head and naturally kissed her.

Qing Zijin first stared wide-eyed in surprise, her long eyelashes trembling like butterfly wings. Then, she slowly closed them.

For a long time, the lips are divided.

Qing Zijin gently pushed Chen Ming away, shook her head at him, and blushed so much that even the roots of her ears turned pink...

Looking at her like this, Chen Ming's smile deepened: "You look quite cute when you're shy."

Upon hearing this, Qing Zijin glared at him, feigning anger.

However, that shy and timid glare had no intimidating power at all; instead, it added a touch of coquettishness.

The girl spoke slowly.

"I...I want to take a shower first." She paused, her eyes darting around, her voice almost inaudible, "We'll continue when I get back..."

"Oh?" Chen Ming raised an eyebrow, deliberately drawing out his words, a mischievous grin spreading across his face as he pressed, "What are we going to do when we get back?"

Qing Zijin felt even more embarrassed by his gaze. She stretched out her slender fingers and, with a hint of venting her anger, pinched his waist lightly.

Faced with her man's teasing yet expectant gaze, the girl finally gave in, lowered her eyes, and softly uttered a single word: "Mmm..."

That single "hmm" seemed to carry an electric current, instantly striking Chen Ming.

His heart skipped a beat, and a surge of heat rushed through his limbs and bones.

Who would have thought that this seemingly aloof girl would also be using internet memes with him? This unexpected charm is even more captivating than a direct invitation...

In high spirits, he released his arm and waved with a doting smile, "Go, go, come back quickly." His tone was full of unspoken expectation.

Qing Zijin felt as if she had been granted a pardon and practically fled into the bathroom. Soon, a hazy mist rose from behind the frosted glass door, outlining a slender, indistinct figure.

Chen Ming withdrew his gaze, got up, and walked to the elegant bar in the deluxe room. The menu for tomorrow's breakfast was displayed there. He simply had to select his favorite dishes, hang the menu on the doorknob before going to bed, and a sumptuous breakfast would be delivered to his room on time the next morning.

He picked up a pen, checked off a few items on the menu, then walked to the door, hung the list securely on the hook outside the door, and gently closed the door.

Just as he turned around, the screen of his phone on the bar lit up with a soft "ding".

He walked over, picked up his phone, unlocked the screen, and saw a green bubble message from Hua Qianhui.

[Chika-chan: Mr. Chen, the cruise ship will be docking in Kobe tomorrow, our first stop. Have you decided which attractions you want to visit?]

Hua Qianhui's profile picture is a small white flower in full bloom.

Chen Ming lightly tapped the screen with his fingertip.

[Unlimited quantitative easing: I don't know which attractions we'll visit; a tour guide will lead the way tomorrow.]

On the other end of the screen, Hua Qianhui, nervously gripping her phone, saw the reply and silently thought to herself, "No wonder they're rich; even when the cruise ship docks for sightseeing, they bring their own private guide... What a show!"

Despite her complaints, her fingers moved swiftly across the screen.

[Chika-chan: Oh, I see... Well then, how about we go together tomorrow? It'll be more fun with more people, and... it'll be easier for us to get to know each other better?]

The girl carefully chose her words, cautiously extending an olive branch in a way that expressed her willingness without seeming too deliberate.

Chen Ming naturally wouldn't refuse the beautiful woman's offer to travel together in order to advance their relationship.

[Unlimited quantitative easing: Okay!]

Hua Qianhui stared blankly at the lone character "行" on the screen, her fingertip hovering above it.

This feeling... why does it feel so familiar? It's like I've seen it somewhere before.

In a flash, she suddenly remembered!

Isn't this exactly how she replies to messages from male classmates on campus?!

It was just as brief and distant, carrying a condescending, even indifferent, coldness. At that time, she only felt extremely annoyed and wished she could get rid of it with the fewest words possible.

Now, fortunes have changed.

Seeing Chen Ming's concise and nonchalant "Okay," Hua Qianhui's lips twitched, and an indescribable feeling welled up in her heart—she finally understood how those boys she had brushed off had felt back then...

This feeling was unbearable, and Hua Qianhui almost had the thought of giving up.

No!

She shook her head sharply, forcibly suppressing the slight frustration. For that dream villa in Wu County, for that comfortable life within reach, for a bright future! What was this slight cold reception?

Despite encountering such an embarrassing situation, Manman was able to pick herself up and continue to move closer to the upper class.

She can do it too!

Thinking this, Hua Qianhui perked up and her fingertips flew across the screen. She tried to emulate the perseverance of her male classmates by actively seeking out topics to talk about.

[Qianhua-chan: Thank you for the invitation, Mr. Chen. See you tomorrow! (Cute little fox waving emoji)]

Hua Qianhui tried adding a cute emoji in an attempt to soften the atmosphere.

She paused, then typed another line of text, a mix of tentative and playful:

[Chika-chan: By the way, I hope my message won't disturb your intimate moment with that beautiful lady?]

The message was sent, and the girl waited anxiously, holding her breath.

[Unlimited quantitative easing: No disturbance.]

The reply remains concise.

Hua Qianhui's heart sank slightly, but the next message popped up immediately:

She's taking a shower in the bathroom right now. Come to think of it, the reason I boarded this Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship was because of her…

"Because of her?"

Hua Qianhui's eyes lit up instantly, her gossip-loving and inquisitive spirit burning brightly.

She replied almost instantly, making a bold guess:

[Chika-chan: Oh? She wanted to come, right? (Clever little fox emoji) You didn't invest in her dream too, did you?]

On the other end of the screen, Chen Ming watched Hua Qianhui's accurate guess and sighed to himself: Hua Qianhui is really smart. No wonder she smiles like a little fox.

[Unlimited quantitative easing: You're such a clever little devil... That's right, her dream is to become a travel content creator, and this Spectrum of the Seas cruise ship is the starting point for her dream...]

This message was like a ray of light, instantly illuminating Hua Qianhui's understanding!

Holding her phone, her eyes widened with excitement, her fingers flying across the screen, her voice filled with undisguised amazement and longing:

[Chika-chan: So you're planning to travel everywhere with her to help her fulfill her dream? Wow! That's so romantic!]

[Ding! Hua Qianhui's favorability +10, current favorability 15!]

Chapter 223: Qing Zijin's Moonlight Sonata

A system notification sounded in Chen Ming's mind. Seeing the message that Hua Qianhui's favorability had increased, Chen Ming was slightly taken aback, but then he understood.

At this moment, Hua Qianhui was filled with a romantic imagination:

This handsome and wealthy man spent lavishly on the woman he loved, accompanying her across mountains and rivers, to the ends of the earth, weaving every day into the most beautiful memories! Living a carefree and unrestrained life, galloping through the world and sharing its splendor, singing and drinking to express his joy, he seized the fleeting years of youth with fervor…

This is something you only see in idol dramas!

Hua Qianhui automatically adorned Chen Ming with an aura of "gentleness, affection, and reliability," believing that following such a good man would surely bring her great happiness in the future...

That's why her favorability rating increased significantly.

Having figured out Hua Qianhui's current state of mind, Chen Ming chuckled and replied honestly.

[Unlimited quantitative easing: I don't have that much time... All I can do is occasionally take her on trips, provide financial support, and ensure her personal safety...]

When Hua Qianhui saw this reply, she was not disappointed at all. Instead, she became even more convinced of her judgment—look! This is the vision of a successful man!

Although she prioritizes her career, she also supports her loved one's dreams within her means, making her both practical and reliable!

She nodded in deep agreement, her fingers flying across the keyboard, her reply full of understanding and consideration.