Chapter 106
**Chapter 135: The Scope is Too Small!**
**Yu Xunge:** Hmm, you saw me on the forum? Seriously, my only worry right now is that I'm too popular.
**Zhao Shuying:** …I just got back to S City. Want me to treat you to a meal?
**Yu Xunge:** Is this meal on the house, or do I have to pay?
**Zhao Shuying:** What kind of image do you have of me in your heart?
**Yu Xunge:** I’m afraid if we meet and shake hands, you’ll ask me to buy a handshake ticket.
**Zhao Shuying:** That’s a brilliant idea! When I make it to the top of the charts one day, I’ll do just that.
**Yu Xunge:** ?
**Yu Xunge:** Alright, so you’re treating me to a meal for free, right? Then let me treat you instead.
**Zhao Shuying:** ??????
**Yu Xunge:** No way, no way! Is there really someone who wants to dine with a dragon without spending a dime?!
**Zhao Shuying:** How about you come work as a special envoy at the Special Affairs Bureau? You wouldn’t have to do anything else, just think of ways to make money.
**Yu Xunge:** I’m already making money without joining the Special Affairs Bureau; I’m doing it right now!
After a moment of silence from Zhao Shuying, I wondered if she was too exasperated to respond.
Just as I closed the chat with Zhao Shuying, I received a message from Yu Xunhuan.
**Yu Xunhuan:** Sis~ Did you get the contract?
**Yu Xunge:** Not that fast! It’ll take a few days just to get through customs, and it’s even slower for the ball customs.
She still needed to find that dragon first! Why the rush?!
Half an hour later, Yu Xunge took the staff passage to the warehouse and picked up the hundreds of boxes of goods she had ordered, leaving the mall through the back door.
That day, Yu Xunge had no other plans but to spend time playing with Tu Lan, treating it as a day off for herself.
She hadn’t really turned down Zhao Shuying. Their relationship was good, and they both understood each other’s temper and sense of humor. A refusal was just a refusal; if they could joke, it meant there was something to discuss. Following the address Zhao Shuying provided, she arrived at a restaurant and quickly took the VIP passage with the dragon to a private room.
Inside, only Zhao Shuying was present. Upon seeing the dragon enter, she immediately stood up, her face lighting up with a warm smile as she extended her hand toward the little dragon. “Hello, hello, Ice Dragon Lord! I’m Zhao Shuying.”
**Yu Xunge:** …Your dog-like enthusiasm is overwhelming.
Tu Lan sniffed Zhao Shuying’s scent and didn’t seem to mind, so she lifted her chin and extended her wing tip to shake Zhao Shuying’s hand, letting out a roar, “I’m Tu Lan.”
Zhao Shuying, of course, had no shortage of translators. She pulled out a chair. “Tu Lan, please sit.”
Before Yu Xunge could even cough to remind them she was still there, Zhao Shuying had already pulled out a chair for her as well. “Please sit, Miss Yu.”
After that, she pulled out three more chairs for the three cats that had followed them in, gently saying, “Mao Mao, Mi Mi, Tuo Tuo, sit down.”
**Yu Xunge:** Sis, please don’t do this. I’m scared…
Yu Xunge sat down next to Tu Lan, her heart racing. Just as she poured herself a cup of hot tea, Zhao Shuying got straight to the point.
**Zhao Shuying:** Are you interested in having Tu Lan become the representative dragon of Huaxia?
**Yu Xunge:** …Is there no small talk at all?
Zhao Shuying smirked, her tone dripping with sarcasm. “I didn’t want you to charge me, you know.”
**Yu Xunge:** …Should I leave then?
Zhao Shuying immediately raised her hand. “Wait!! The endorsement fee is quite high! Listen to me before you refuse!”
Just then, there was a knock at the private room door. It was the staff bringing in the dishes—eighteen meat dishes in total, twelve of which were various meats: chicken, duck, fish, beef, lamb, and even sashimi, clearly prepared for Tu Lan.
Regardless of whether it was meat or vegetables, every dish was generously spiced, obviously tailored to Yu Xunge’s preferences. She had eaten in the training camp cafeteria a few times, and each time she had requested extra spice.
One had to admit that Zhao Shuying knew how to please. Even though she was aware that Yu Xunge and the dragon had an equal contract, and even though she greeted the dragon first upon entering, her actual negotiating partner was Yu Xunge from start to finish. She implicitly acknowledged that Yu Xunge held the dominant position between her and Tu Lan.
Zhao Shuying poured Yu Xunge a drink, slyly undermining her. “Even though there’s a new pet on the pet ranking these days, what is that stinky fish and rotten shrimp? What’s an alligator turtle? It can’t compare to Tu Lan! There’s only one dragon like her in the whole world.”
Yu Xunge glanced at the little ice dragon, which was about the same height as a can of ice cola. “But she’s a Western dragon, right?”
Eastern dragons are long and serpentine, while this one is chubby with wings, a round belly, and short limbs—definitely a Western breed…
Yu Xunge added with a strange expression, “And she comes from Zelan Star…”
A Western dragon from Zelan Star becoming a representative of Huaxia? Which clever little rascal thought of this idea?
Zhao Shuying elongated her voice, “Eh—!” and lightly patted Yu Xunge’s hand, playfully scolding, “What’s with this Western dragon, Eastern dragon, Zelan dragon talk? That’s too small-minded! A dragon that comes to Blue Star is a Blue Star dragon; a dragon that comes to Huaxia is a Huaxia dragon.”
**Yu Xunge:** …With that kind of talk, I’ll never dare to take Tu Lan to the Special Affairs Bureau headquarters.
I’m afraid that as soon as we walk in, someone will claim the dragon, saying it’s a dragon of the Special Affairs Bureau.
**Zhao Shuying:** I won’t sugarcoat it. The endorsement fee includes three opportunities each month for you to enjoy a divine gift that increases an attribute point, plus we’ll cover Tu Lan’s food and nutrition expenses. You don’t have to worry about any traps; the Special Affairs Bureau will pay you directly, and you can buy whatever you need with 50 gold coins each month.
Yu Xunge frowned slightly. “What does Tu Lan need to do?”
Zhao Shuying first asked, “How big is she in her true form?”
**Yu Xunge:** “I’ve never measured, but she’s about seven or eight meters tall.”
Zhao Shuying relaxed. “Just take a few photos at iconic buildings across Huaxia, and once a month, fly around a provincial capital.”
**Yu Xunge:** “No need to do any dungeons for you?”
**Zhao Shuying:** “Nope. If there’s a need for that, we’ll negotiate a separate price.”
Yu Xunge fell silent. This didn’t sound like a good deal. It seemed glamorous, and there was no apparent cost, but if the dragon flew over Huaxia, people would eventually come to see it as the dragon protecting Huaxia.
If anything happened in the future, as long as Tu Lan and Yu Xunge didn’t intervene, they would easily be blamed.
People’s affection and admiration are pure only in the beginning; as time goes on, they start to expect and make demands. By then, even “I’ve liked you for so long” could become a bargaining chip.
If Huaxia really faced an insurmountable crisis, Yu Xunge would have to step in if she could help. But willingly doing something and being forced to do it are two different things… and in the end, if she did help, others would see it as a given.
She couldn’t help but wonder if Zhao Shuying’s remark about “coming to Huaxia means being a Huaxia dragon” was a subtle reminder.
**Yu Xunge:** “Do you want to be a star dragon?”
Tu Lan, sitting at the table, was busy devouring a chicken leg that was half her height. “What’s a star dragon?”
**Yu Xunge:** “They’ll admire you and eventually start making demands. If you can’t meet them, they might end up disliking and scolding you.”
Zhao Shuying didn’t interrupt Yu Xunge or try to explain anything; she quietly sipped her tea.
The likes and dislikes of the weak meant nothing to Tu Lan. Since Yu Xunge wasn’t commanding her but asking for her opinion, Tu Lan answered honestly, “No, it sounds annoying…”
After refusing, she wanted to explain to Yu Xunge that it was okay to turn this down. Once she became stronger, she could find ways to help Yu Xunge increase her attribute points.
But before she could speak, Yu Xunge smiled and shrugged at Zhao Shuying. “If she’s not interested, then forget it. I’m not too keen on having her do that either.”
Tu Lan felt happy. Although she couldn’t quite explain why, she just felt happy. She knew Yu Xunge was speaking from the heart. She flapped her wings and explained, “I just don’t want those people bothering me.”
**Yu Xunge:** “It’s fine. If you don’t like it, we won’t go.”
Zhao Shuying immediately proposed another plan. “What if it’s just for photos? You won’t have to meet anyone; we’ll clear the area in advance. You just need to stand there, and no one will disturb you.”
As she spoke, Zhao Shuying took out her phone and snapped a picture of the three cats happily munching on their special cat food, demonstrating how taking photos worked to Tu Lan.
Zhao Shuying added, “But if it’s like this, the endorsement fee will be a bit lower—only 50 gold coins for food and nutrition expenses.”
That’s not just a little less! That’s like going from a Maserati to a piece of candy!
Food and nutrition expenses? Ha, that’s hardly worth mentioning.
These people had no idea how sought after Tu Lan’s dragon droppings were at the Zelan auction house!
One pound could sell for seven silver coins! If Tu Lan transformed back and let loose, she could easily produce seven gold coins a day.
Tu Lan looked at Yu Xunge, who without hesitation replied, “We don’t lack money at home. I’m not interested in money.”
**Zhao Shuying:** “What a humorous way to put it in Chinese.”
Yu Xunge had no retort.
Fine, a smile would suffice, but just as she turned her head, she found Tu Lan staring at her with wide dragon eyes.
Oh no…
I forgot this dragon could sense not only emotions but also the truth behind words…
Yu Xunge fell silent for a moment and corrected herself. “...I’m not interested in small change.”
Tu Lan continued to gaze at Yu Xunge, holding a chicken wing.
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