My monster cards can evolve infinitely.

Xiu Qi's step, which he was about to take, was instantly frozen in place.

He slowly turned around, the languid expression on his face gone, replaced by a seemingly calm but actually burning gaze.

Although I really wanted to shout back, "I don't lack money at all!"

But when his gaze briefly met Jasley's deep blue eyes that seemed to see right through people, he couldn't bring himself to say a word.

Xiu Qi took a deep breath and did not answer immediately, but forced himself to calm down.

"Miss Jasmine..."

He carefully chose his words and tried to make his voice sound calmer;

"At the Royal Academy of Solmar, apart from those heirs from prominent families, probably no student would dare to say that they are not short of money at all."

"Especially for impoverished apprentices like me who have had their family cut off their financial support."

Instead of directly answering the Marquis's daughter's question, Xiuqi sincerely explained his own situation—this was the answer he gave.

The image that surfaced in Xiuqi's mind at this moment was the miraculous healing potion that cost 12 gold and 10 silver per bottle when his mother was bedridden two years ago. It couldn't cure her illness, but it could relieve her pain.

If we had been wealthy enough back then, my mother might not have suffered so much...

It's even possible that they'd survived to this day...

After all, those advanced healing spells and potions that can bring the dead back to life are real.

The prerequisite is that you can afford the exorbitant gold coin bill.

"25 gold coins per month, 300 gold coins per year."

"I want you to be my boyfriend for two years, will you?"

Without any concealment, just as straightforward as Xiu Qi,

From the cold lips of the beautiful marquis's daughter came a series of fiery numbers.

Her bright eyes held no impurities, only a glimmer of hope.

"ah--"

This is no small sum.

300 gold coins a year, 600 gold coins in two years.

300 gold coins are equivalent to the salary of his father, a level three combat master, and a former Shire County Guard Knight for five years.

It would take a lumberjack twenty years to earn that much.

A tavern waiter needs to work for at least thirty years.

You could buy 12 pounds of wheat, 1200 goats, or 80 knight's longswords.

"Why...me?"

Despite not understanding why this ambitious woman would ask for such a high price, Xiuqi was still greatly shocked.

He keenly discerned the agreed-upon timeframe from the other person's words—two years.

Jasley is a sophomore at the Noble Academy this year, and this month will be the last month of the school year;

She has two more years until graduation.

Perhaps they didn't want to leave any regrets about their youth in college, or perhaps they wanted to use it as a shield to stop those idiots with cerebellum-controlled brains from pursuing their dreams recklessly!

Of course, there's another possibility...

My handsome appearance is actually a burden!

Xiu Qi sighed inwardly.

"Your presence here today, and my annulment of my engagement with Finn, may be a coincidence."

"But among everyone present, you are the most suitable candidate; this is the inevitable result of the turning of the gears of fate."

"Do you understand, Xiuqi? It wasn't me who chose you, but fate that made me choose you!"

There seemed to be a faint smile on Cassie's face, and her full, cherry-red lips spoke of destiny.

As a mage apprentice with an intelligence of 8, Xiu Qi's logic and reasoning abilities are more than 1.7 times that of an ordinary person, yet he couldn't understand a single sentence.

(P.S. A value of 5 is the normal value for all basic attributes.)

For the sake of 300 gold coins, he smiled warmly and nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice.

For Xiu Qi, nothing could distort his steely, indomitable will.

But gold coins are different; that's called attraction.

"Of course, beautiful Miss Garcia!"

"Excuse me, what do I need to do?"

Under the pull of the gold coins, Xiu Qi managed to hold onto the clear pool of his heart, because signing a contract without understanding it was a mistake—

But it could lead to someone's death.

Earning twice the salary of an average person, by selling their own sweat.

The pay is five times higher than that of ordinary people, but requires selling one's body.

To earn ten times more than the average person requires betraying one's own soul.

300 gold coins is thirty times the reward of an ordinary person. Who am I supposed to kill for that?

"Of course, it's not that simple!"

"I need you to do three things!"

Sure enough, here comes the important part.

I've always known that women's money is hard to earn, and beautiful women's money is something you have to be alive to spend!

Xiu Qi felt a jolt in his heart.

"First, you must always present yourself as my boyfriend in any situation."

"Secondly, you will occasionally need to accompany me to certain occasions."

"Third, as my boyfriend, you have to protect me."

Her burgundy, waist-length hair danced lightly in the air, and a faint smile played in her deep blue eyes.

The slight upturn of her lips on her delicate face was as beautiful as the moon in the sky last night.

This caused Xiu Qi to feel momentarily disoriented.

That's it?

Xiuqi was silent for a moment, his gaze sweeping over Jia Sili's delicate face, and then looking at the "princess" who was idly poking the ground with a big stick at his feet.

Perhaps some truths are hidden, but as things stand, there is absolutely no reason to refuse.

Opportunities often arise before storms.

Accepting the agreement with Jasley means he will be drawn even deeper into this vortex.

At the same time, the start-up capital he desperately needed and a certain degree of protection came into his possession.

"I can do these three things."

"One last question..."

Xiu Qi raised his head and looked directly into the eyes of the red-haired marquis.

"Is the Marquis, or rather your family, aware of this matter?"

A hint of admiration flashed in Jasley's bright eyes.

She spoke calmly:

"Please rest assured, my family will be happy to see me settled down in the next two years."

"This is just my personal matter. As for why it was you..."

"Perhaps it's because...at least I don't dislike you!"

The warm morning sun shone on the red-haired woman's fair and delicate neck, creating a small, irregular patch of crimson.

"So..."

Xiu Qi took a deep breath and stretched out his hand:

"It's a pleasure doing business with you, my 'girlfriend'."

Jasley extended her right hand, which was gloved with white silk, and gently shook his hand.

"It's a pleasure working with you, my 'mage' boyfriend."

The moment their hands clasped together, they could clearly feel the gazes cast from the shadows around them become even more intense.

Xiuqi could almost hear countless heartbreaks and grinding teeth.

After the alliance was reached, the red-haired Marquis handed Xiu Qi a black crystal magic card and then left the playground.

"This is an Obsidian-level Magic Crystal Card from the Royal Bank of Silver City. There are currently 25 gold coins in the card, and a remittance of 25 gold coins will be made on the first day of each month."

Is this considered being kept by a sugar daddy?

After Hou left, bored out of his mind, he casually picked up the "princess" from the ground.

The little guy seemed a little uncomfortable and shifted his body slightly, but eventually stayed quietly in his arms;

However, it still coldly surveyed its surroundings, as if inspecting its own territory.

Just as Xiu Qi was about to leave, a slightly mocking voice rang out from the side:

"snort--"

"You only rely on women and dirty tricks to win; you've completely disgraced the Arcane Academy."

"Xiuqi, you are completely unworthy to be a student of the Arcane Academy!"

Xiuqi turned his head and saw a young man dressed in a magnificent arcane robe with an arrogant expression walking over, surrounded by two students.

The other person stared at him with hostility, especially lingering on the obsidian magic crystal card in his hand for a moment.

"It seems trouble came very quickly indeed."

Xiu Qi sighed inwardly, but remained outwardly calm.