Lai Caiyun wasn't trying to curry favor with Qin Hanchu. She simply didn't want to be indebted to him.
Since they had agreed that she would treat him to a meal as compensation, she intended to keep her word.
Seeing Lai Caiyun's sincerity, Qin Hanchu nodded. "Alright, you decide where we eat."
"Wait a moment, I need to change my clothes," Lai Caiyun said, hurrying back to her room.
In just a few minutes, Lai Caiyun emerged dressed in casual attire.
They walked out of the apartment building side-by-side and headed towards the restaurant.
"Alchemist Ye, is your master also a Glory Alchemist?" Lai Caiyun asked curiously as they walked.
Qin Hanchu replied, "No."
Seeing that Qin Hanchu wasn't elaborating, Lai Caiyun understood he didn't wish to reveal too much, so she didn't press further on the matter.
As they walked, Qin Hanchu glanced at a nearby combat preparedness store. "Wait a moment, I need to go in and buy something."
Seeing Qin Hanchu enter the store, Lai Caiyun followed him in.
The combat preparedness store stocked all sorts of combat gear, including battle suits, melee weapons, and some advanced firearms.
"Sir, what can I help you with?" a sales associate asked politely as Qin Hanchu walked in.
Qin Hanchu looked around before asking, "How much for the best full set of combat gear?"
"Three hundred and sixty million!" the sales associate replied.
Qin Hanchu hadn't expected the full combat gear to be so expensive. He had only four hundred million left from the money he had acquired elsewhere.
Even though he didn't have much money left, he still needed to buy the equipment.
"Is there no discount?" Qin Hanchu inquired.
"There are certain discounts if you have a Black Tower duty medal."
Upon receiving the sales associate's answer, Qin Hanchu placed his Glory Medal and Steward Card on the counter. "How much of a discount do these two offer?"
Seeing the Glory Medal and Steward Card, the sales associate's eyes widened in surprise.
She hadn't expected the young man before her to hold such a high position. The Glory Alchemist medal, in particular, was proof of an elder-level status.
Not only was the sales associate shocked, but Lai Caiyun was also taken aback by Qin Hanchu once again.
She hadn't realized that Qin Hanchu was not only a Glory Alchemist but also an honorary steward.
Anyone who could become a steward was a Grandmaster-level martial arts expert.
Lai Caiyun was around Qin Hanchu's age. She had only recently become a Master, while Qin Hanchu had already reached Grandmaster.
"You are a Glory Alchemist?" the sales associate asked in shock.
Qin Hanchu nodded. "Yes."
"One moment." The sales associate quickly opened the Alchemist Association's official website and searched for the list of alchemists.
As a Glory Alchemist, Qin Hanchu's name was at the very top, so the sales associate saw his information at a glance.
After confirming Qin Hanchu's identity, the sales associate respectfully returned the medal and card to him. "Glory Alchemists receive a greater discount, which can reduce your bill by sixty million!"
Qin Hanchu was quite pleased with the discount. He handed his bank card to the sales associate. "One set, please."
The sales associate processed the payment and then asked, "Would you like to take it now, or shall we deliver it to your home?"
Qin Hanchu wrote down his address. "Please deliver it to my home tomorrow morning."
"Certainly, we will ensure it arrives on time."
After purchasing the combat gear, Qin Hanchu then led Lai Caiyun out of the store.
"I had no idea you were also a Grandmaster-level martial arts expert," Lai Caiyun said with admiration in her voice.
Qin Hanchu smiled. "You can be too."
"With my current abilities, it will take at least ten years, perhaps even decades, to reach Grandmaster," Lai Caiyun sighed.
Qin Hanchu replied, "You must have confidence."
"I will work hard," Lai Caiyun said with a smile.
Chatting along the way, they arrived at a restaurant. The restaurant's decor was very upscale, clearly a high-class establishment.
Qin Hanchu asked, "You're treating me to a meal here?"
Lai Caiyun, mistaking Qin Hanchu's words for him finding the place too humble, said somewhat awkwardly, "My money has all been spent on medicinal herbs, so..."
"Don't misunderstand, I'm not saying this place isn't good." Seeing Lai Caiyun's misunderstanding, Qin Hanchu continued, "I don't particularly care for such fancy places. I prefer to eat food with more local character."
Hearing Qin Hanchu's explanation, Lai Caiyun quickly smiled. "I know a specialty restaurant that's very delicious."
"Then let's go," Qin Hanchu said.
As Lai Caiyun was about to lead Qin Hanchu away, she suddenly heard someone call her name. "Lai Caiyun!"
"Is that you?" Lai Caiyun frowned unhappily.
"Don't always wear that expression when you see me. Aren't we like siblings?"
Lai Caiyun's background was similar to Ye Changqing's. Her original family had fallen apart, and her mother had remarried.
Unlike Ye Changqing, who was essentially kicked out of his home, Lai Caiyun didn't want to rely on her stepfather's family.
The young man before her was her stepfather's son, named He Shuo.
He Shuo harbored significant hostility towards Lai Caiyun, and a large part of her reason for leaving her stepfather's home was because of him.
Although He Shuo's father was only at the peak of the Master realm, he owned several significant businesses in the underground city and was considered a person of some standing.
"I don't have the honor of being your sister," Lai Caiyun said sternly. "I have other matters to attend to, so I must be going."
"Don't rush. Is this your boyfriend? He looks rather ordinary."
"Our He family is considered a prominent clan in this underground city. While you're not of the He family bloodline, you are still considered part of our He family."
"As such, your marriage must also serve the interests of our He family. You cannot simply marry any Tom, Dick, or Harry."
He Shuo's words were sharp. Not only did he not treat Lai Caiyun as a sister, but he also viewed her as a tool for beneficial exchange.
Lai Caiyun angrily retorted, "Get lost."
He Shuo let out a cold snort. "You dare speak to me like that? Do you want a beating?"
"She's a Master. Are you, a ninth-rank, really going to fight her?" Qin Hanchu mocked.
He Shuo looked at Lai Caiyun in shock. "You've reached Master?"
"That's right, so stop bothering me," Lai Caiyun huffed.
He Shuo suppressed his shock. "So what if you're a Master? You should know how many Masters my family employs."
"No matter how large your family's business is, it can't withstand your squandering as a prodigal son," Qin Hanchu continued dismissively. "Now, get lost immediately. Don't disturb our meal."
"How dare you speak to me like that? You're looking for..."
Before the last word could leave his lips, Qin Hanchu delivered a swift slap across He Shuo's face.
Despite being ninth-rank, He Shuo had no chance to defend himself.
With a thud, He Shuo was sent sprawling to the ground.
"Do you only feel happy after getting beaten?" Qin Hanchu chuckled nonchalantly.
"You dare hit me..."
Seeing He Shuo still trying to curse, Lai Caiyun interjected, "He Shuo, shut your mouth. Your arrogance will bring great disaster to your family!"
"You two just wait! I won't let this matter go," He Shuo cursed, then turned and left.