The middle-aged man chuckled and said, "A hundred and fifty grand left, that's already quite good. I originally thought you'd lose the whole two million. But now with this much left, if you think about it, it's like you've earned three hundred and fifty grand on this trip!"

Yu Yao: "???"

How does that calculation work? Why can't I figure it out?

"It's simple. I've already considered the two million gone, so having a hundred and fifty grand left feels like three hundred and fifty. My daughter is still amazing; she managed to earn three hundred and fifty grand back like this. Impressive!"

The middle-aged man teased.

Yu Yao was stunned for a moment, then looked at the middle-aged man before her with teary eyes and said:

"Dad, I was wrong. I should have listened to you then. This Yuchi is stronger than I thought. As Bu Tingyue's brother, he truly has the qualities. Not only is his entire strength formidable, but his methods of doing things are much better than mine. I've completely lost to him."

That's what Yu Yao thought now. On her way back, she kept replaying the whole situation in her mind. After several reviews, she felt full of shame, realizing how foolish she had been. At the time, she didn't even see what was wrong with her actions and believed she was doing the right thing.

It's like seeing the love letters you wrote as a kid.

Like "I love you forever," "You're my forever baby," "Seeing you, you're the brightest star in my sky." That sort of feeling.

Wanted to die of embarrassment.

"Haha, that's how these things go. The reason he could beat you wasn't because he's stronger than you. It's because he's seen even stronger people. So when he makes a move, he aims for absolute victory. He's very cautious by nature."

"That kind of personality is what big shots in the Celestial Craft Workshop have, right? Don't tell me how many times you've fought back from desperate situations; that just means you've put your companions in danger those many times. It's more about how many times you've avoided such situations. That's what a leader should do."

"This requires strong foresight capabilities and being formidable yourself. Overall, this foresight is what you're lacking now. And it's just fifty thousand silver. The lesson he's taught you with this is worth far more than the money."

"Otherwise, if you hadn't lost this fifty grand today, encountering similar issues in the future wouldn't be solved with fifty grand. You might be directly expelled from our family, and even that won't fix your mistakes!"

Her father was speaking the truth. Despite losing money, he was quite delighted because his daughter would be more cautious in the future. After a setback, she would realize the world isn't as simple as imagined, and there are many capable people to face, requiring constant composure.

He paused.

The middle-aged man smiled and said:

"Tomorrow, find some time to visit the Celestial Craft Workshop and pay a visit to this young man. He showed mercy this time. Don't mistake his kindness for your luck. He didn't hurt you, not because you're great, but simply because he didn't want to. That's all."

"Go visit the family residential quarters at the Celestial Craft Workshop. You younger folks don't need a rigid relationship like this. Having a conversation is quicker than pondering alone, and you get to see different attitudes. You'll see how stubborn you tend to be."

Yu Yao thought about it... she didn't want to...

If she went to the Celestial Craft Workshop and saw Bu Tingyue, she'd definitely be laughed at thoroughly, like having a turtle drawn on her face... But as she was about to refuse, she saw the anticipation in her father's eyes, making her feel helpless.

"Alright."

"I'll go tomorrow..."

The middle-aged man burst into laughter:

"That's my good daughter. Bring some good tea from home with you. Sit down and chat. I doubt you'll regret it."

Yu Yao: "..."

Bitter.

Fine.

...

Inside the Celestial Craft Workshop, after parting with Bu Tingyue, Yuchi wanted to slip away. Having secured fifty grand, Yuchi's identity was no longer a problem. He could just leave and switch over to Song Bei's identity to trick his way in, rather than staying on as Yuchi.

"If nothing else arises, I'll talk with Bu Huoran tonight and leave tomorrow, then come back as Song Bei."

But as Yuchi was pondering this plan, Bu Huoran came over with a charming smile. Her full figure entered the small courtyard where Yuchi was, leaving him musing about her broad-minded nature while also curious about the purpose of her visit.