Era: Rise from the Wilderness

Lü Ruoxi followed his gaze and immediately understood.

She walked over, took a small key from the drawer, and opened the wooden box.

There was nothing else inside, just a stack of cash.

One-yuan, five-yuan, ten-yuan, fifty-yuan, and even one-hundred-yuan bills were all neatly collected in the box.

"Here, all my possessions."

"The total is 3317.50 yuan."

She took out the cash, counted it carefully, and handed it to Li Yunjing.

This is the "huge sum" she has accumulated over the years.

"Three thousand is exact, you can use it first."

Lu Ruoxi said in a very soft but exceptionally clear voice, "I'll keep the rest as pocket money."

"it is good."

He said it was just one word, but it carried the weight of a promise.

Li Yunjing took the stack of cash that had been carefully bound.

The mix of new and slightly worn banknotes exuded a complex aroma unique to ink and paper, blended with the scent of camphor from a wooden box.

Three thousand yuan, a thick stack, heavy in my hand.

He didn't immediately put it in his pocket, but instead looked up at Lü Ruoxi, who was standing in the center of the pink room with a solemn expression on her face, as if she had just completed a major task.

The sunlight outside the window was perfect, casting a soft glow on her through the white lace curtains. The plush toys and cartoon stickers in the room created a subtle contrast with her serious expression.

"I'll take the money."

Li Yunjing spoke, his voice not loud, but exceptionally clear, "However, Ruoxi, there are a few things I need to make clear to you."

Seeing his serious expression, Lü Ruoxi couldn't help but suppress her smile and nodded earnestly: "Go on."

Li Yunjing walked to the window, glanced at the quiet street below, and then turned back to the safe and cozy little world inside the room, so different from the outside world.

"First,"

He turned around and looked directly into Lü Ruoxi's eyes. "From today onwards, don't show off to anyone outside, and don't even mention that you have so much money."

Lu Ruoxi was slightly taken aback, but then she understood his concerns.

She understood the principle of not flaunting one's wealth, but Li Yunjing's earnest mention of it still sent a chill down her spine.

"I see."

She replied softly, "My parents don't know how much money I have. You're the only person I've told."

Hearing this, Li Yunjing felt a warmth in his heart.

After all, being trusted is a wonderful feeling, especially for a girl like Lü Ruoxi.

"second,"

After a pause, Li Yunjing's tone became more serious. His gaze swept over the clean and tidy room, which was full of his personal touch. "You should not bring people into this room easily, especially classmates you are not very familiar with, or people you know from outside."

Why?

A hint of confusion and slight unease flashed across Lü Ruoxi's face: "My family... what happened?"

"What's wrong with your family?"

Li Yunjing interrupted her, trying to make his tone less harsh, but the meaning behind his words was undeniable: "It's too 'good.' So good it's blinding."

How big is our town?

"How many households are like yours?"

"What if someone comes in and sees something when no one is home, and then gets the wrong idea?"

He pointed to the color TV and air conditioner in the room, and then to the obviously expensive stationery and decorations on her desk.

Lu Ruoxi's face paled.

She had been overprotected since childhood, and her parents had never talked to her about these things. Now that Li Yunjing had bluntly exposed the potential risks beneath this comfortable facade, she felt a sense of unease for the first time.

"I...I didn't think that much about it."

She nervously pinched the hem of her skirt.

"I didn't have to think about it before, but now I do."

Li Yunjing's tone softened a bit, but he remained serious, "We now have 'liquid cash,' and we may have even more in the future."

"Safety is the top priority."

"It's not just about the safety of money, but also the safety of people."

"Your personal safety and that of your parents are the most important thing!"

"Got it?"

Lü Ruoxi took a deep breath and nodded vigorously: "I've got it."

"third,"

Li Yunjing paused, lowered his voice, and said in an almost admonitory tone, "If you really make money in the future, try to be discreet when spending it."

"Don't buy anything too flashy all at once, or you'll attract attention."

"In this world, you can't see into someone's heart. We're young, and we're doing something... a bit unconventional, so it's always better to be cautious."

"You know, every year during the Lunar New Year, you'll hear about families who have passed away peacefully in another world."

"Don't let bad guys target you!"

He spoke subtly, but Lü Ruoxi understood.

This is not just about "keeping a low profile," but also a form of self-protection, a way to avoid becoming a target of criminals before one is strong enough.

The room fell silent.

Lü Ruoxi looked at Li Yunjing.

The boy stood by the window, backlit, his figure somewhat blurred, but the solemnity and unquestionable concern in his eyes clearly pierced through the light and reached her heart.

The slight unease and confusion caused by being "taught a lesson" was gradually replaced by a warmer and more grounded emotion.

From childhood to adulthood, her parents doted on her, but rarely talked to her about the darkness and risks of the "outside world".

The teachers instructed her to study hard and be kind to others, without touching on these harsh realities.

Li Yunjing, a partner she had known for many years but seemed to be just beginning to truly understand, took over all her "belongings" and, in the most direct and even somewhat abrupt way, gently pulled her out of that carefully constructed pink bubble, letting her see the shadow of the real world outside the bubble and the rules that had to be followed.

This feeling is a little uncomfortable, a little... scary.

But more than anything, it's a sense of reassurance that I'm being taken seriously and included in the same camp.

He wasn't showing off his knowledge; he was delivering a weighty responsibility and a reminder.

"I see."

She spoke again, her voice more steady and firm than before.

She took a few steps forward, stood in front of Li Yunjing, looked up into his eyes, and said, word by word, "I will not bring anyone home except you."

"My parents have reminded me before, but... I didn't take it too seriously."

"I will be more careful in the future."

She paused, a faint, bitter smile, tinged with dependence and lingering fear, appeared on her face: "Actually... what you said scared me a little."

"But I know you're doing this for my own good."

Li Yunjing looked into her eyes, which were still clear, but now held a clarity and determination he hadn't shown before.

The tension in his heart eased slightly.

If you can listen and take it to heart, that's enough.

"Knowing fear is a good thing."

His tone finally softened completely. He moved closer to Lü Ruoxi, stroked her soft hair, and said with a smile, "Fear makes you careful."

"Be careful, and you'll go far."