What Luo Haiyi had asked was whether he hadn't brought enough, not whether it wasn't enough — a subtle distinction that showed considerable tact, and it greatly eased Yang Kai's embarrassment.
He nodded slightly and was about to set the Qiankun Map back down, intending to return another day to make the purchase, when he heard Luo Haiyi ask, "How much is Your Excellency short?"
"Not much — ten or twenty thousand!" Yang Kai scratched his cheek.
Luo Haiyi paused briefly in thought before speaking. "If Your Excellency doesn't mind, I could cover the difference for you. You can pay me back later."
Yang Kai turned to look at her, genuinely surprised by her boldness. At most, they had known each other for two days, and their relationship was purely professional — no family ties, no old friendship. Moreover, Luo Haiyi was hardly a wealthy woman; ten or twenty thousand Open Heaven Pills represented what might be years of accumulated savings.
To offer such a loan at the drop of a hat required real courage — after all, to this day she had no idea who Yang Kai actually was. If he took the goods and disappeared, she'd never find him.
Seeing Yang Kai looking at her, Luo Haiyi said softly, "I trust Your Excellency."
With her putting it so plainly, Yang Kai had no grounds to refuse. He nodded. "Very well. Consider it a loan — I'll make sure to pay you back."
"I'll go settle the bill," Luo Haiyi said.
Yang Kai handed her a Space Ring and watched as she and the maid headed toward the counter, marveling inwardly at how perceptive she was. Though it was a simple gesture — just paying on his behalf — it went a long way toward diffusing his embarrassment. This way, he wouldn't have to take the Open Heaven Pills from her hand and let everyone know he hadn't brought enough.
Instead, she could quietly transfer the shortfall into the Space Ring, completely unnoticed.
Before long, Luo Haiyi returned. "Your Excellency, it's done."
Yang Kai nodded, stuffed the Qiankun Map into his Space Ring, and walked out of the Four Seas Market with her.
"Does Your Excellency want to buy anything else?" Luo Haiyi asked.
Yang Kai laughed ruefully. "I'm broke — what else would I buy?"
Luo Haiyi caught on and looked a bit sheepish, feeling she'd spoken without thinking. Changing the subject, she asked, "Then will Your Excellency be heading back to rest?"
Yang Kai shook his head. Thinking back to yesterday's experience, there was no way he was going back there, not even if it killed him. He'd planned to find some random inn to rest for a bit, but that was out of the question now — he didn't even have money for a room, so what was the point?
Luo Haiyi had probably realized the same thing. "Would Your Excellency like to come to my place for a visit?"
"Would that be convenient?" Yang Kai hesitated.
Luo Haiyi pressed her lips together and smiled. "There's nothing inconvenient about it. There's no one else at home, just me—" She suddenly realized how ambiguous her words sounded, as though she were trying to seduce him, and her cheeks flushed red.
Fortunately, Yang Kai seemed to take it in stride, gesturing forward. "Then let's go." He couldn't very well wander around outside all night — that would be unbearably boring. Besides, he'd just borrowed money from her; hurrying to part ways would look like he was dodging a debt. Better to be casual about it.
"Follow me," Luo Haiyi said, taking the lead.
They walked on, gradually leaving the bustling trade district behind and entering a more disorderly area. This appeared to be the outermost edge of the Star Market, quite a distance from its center, where buildings stood haphazardly with no proper roads between them.
People came and went from time to time, but none of them possessed particularly high cultivation — most were at Luo Haiyi's level, and some were even below it.
Yang Kai understood immediately. This was probably where the lowest-ranking Star Envoys lived. The area was a bit dirty and chaotic, but it was still within the Star Market's boundaries, so no one dared cause trouble here.
Many people clearly knew Luo Haiyi — as they walked, people kept greeting her. A few women glanced at Yang Kai trailing behind her with knowing looks, which made Luo Haiyi somewhat self-conscious.
Before long, they arrived at a small house. Luo Haiyi stepped forward, deactivated the restriction array, opened the door, and stepped aside. "Please, Your Excellency."
Yang Kai stepped inside and looked around. The house was small but very tidy — no courtyard, just a main room and a side room. A faint, pleasant fragrance hung in the air, giving the place a warm, cozy feel.
Luo Haiyi invited him to sit and brewed a pot of tea, offering an apologetic smile. "The place is a bit small — please don't mind, Your Excellency."
Yang Kai chuckled. "I come from a small place myself. I'm used to hard times."
Luo Haiyi looked at him, surprised. "You don't look like it."
"What do I look like, then?"
Luo Haiyi thought for a moment. "Your Excellency looks like someone who has held a high position for many years — wealthy, if not noble!"