Lu Chen stared strangely at the laughing Venti.
That smile of his seemed to be hiding some grand conspiracy, and Lu Chen couldn't help but feel a little uneasy...
"You..."
Lu Chen asked tentatively, "What exactly is your wish? Let's get this straight first! Don't go asking for something impossible. I may be capable, but I'm not omnipotent..."
Seeing Lu Chen's cautious expression, Venti suddenly stopped smiling.
"What is it?" Lu Chen urged eagerly.
"It's..."
Venti blinked. "It's a secret!"
"Tch!" Lu Chen huffed, annoyed. "You won't say? Fine, then I won't take you guys on a road trip! Hmph! No good deed goes unpunished!"
"No, no, wait!" Venti immediately relented. "I really want to go out! I've been all over this city—nothing new anymore!"
Lu Chen glanced at him again. Under his gaze, Venti grinned sheepishly.
"Hehe, it's really nothing difficult. I was just teasing you~"
"Actually..." He scratched his head awkwardly. "I just want you to open a bar."
"A bar?" Lu Chen frowned.
"Yeah!" Venti shrugged. "That's all. I love drinking, but I don't really like the bars here. They don't have the same vibe as the ones in Mondstadt. I was thinking, if we could open our own bar, one that truly carries the spirit of Mondstadt, wouldn't that be wonderful?"
"Don't make it sound so noble." Lu Chen crossed his arms, giving him a knowing look.
"You just want to find another excuse to drink your way through every fine liquor in the world. Once that bar opens, I bet you'll drink most of the stock yourself!"
"No way!" Venti scratched his head. "It'd be boring if it were just me. You need customers to set the mood..."
Lu Chen began seriously considering the idea. Compared to other businesses, opening a bar was definitely a gray area.
If it were a nightclub, he'd have to deal with local tough guys. But from what Venti described, it sounded more like a quiet, artsy kind of place. Still, no matter the type, a bar was a money pit.
On the other hand, if managed well, it could also be a great investment—a way to make money from money.
With more mouths to feed at home, Lu Chen was already starting to feel the financial strain.
Supporting a household of five wasn't cheap...
Especially Zhongli!
The number one culprit behind his empty wallet!
Lu Chen gave the Emperor a resentful look. Receiving his gaze, the Emperor calmly picked up a piece of greens.
During the meal, Lu Chen agreed to Venti's request to open a bar and began contemplating the family's finances.
At the moment, aside from the system, he also had income from writing novels. His book, Liyue Floating World Among a Thousand Rocks, had just hit the bestseller list, earning him over 200,000 in e-book sales. If he could extend the story, future income would likely grow exponentially.
But that was still a small piece. If an investor with a good eye bought the rights for adaptation, the returns could be much higher.
Of course, he could also hold onto the rights himself and collect royalties.
There were also dividends from Venti's album and profits from Zhongli's jade trading—both significant sources of income.
If he could pool those assets and invest wisely—or even start a business himself—that would be the best way to grow his wealth.
Far better than sitting around waiting for the system to toss him a few crumbs.
At the end of dinner, Lu Chen—dreaming of great wealth—turned to look at Yae Miko.
Venti had already stated his wish, but Miko hadn't said anything yet.
"What wish should I make..."
She rested her chin on her hand, eyes drifting to the ceiling as if deep in thought.
"Huh? Didn't you want light novels?" Lu Chen asked, confused. Maybe he had underestimated both of them.
"My study is already overflowing with novels."
"Then what do you want?"
Lu Chen followed her gaze to the ceiling—there was nothing there.
"Can you not be so materialistic?" Yae Miko gave him a disdainful glance. "Since you said it's a wish, that covers many things. If I just asked for something anyone could buy, wouldn't that cheapen it?"
Lu Chen nodded silently. That did make sense.
Granting a wish was a promise—it could encompass many things.
Looking at Miko's thoughtful expression, Lu Chen began to wonder if he'd been too careless with his words.
At the time, he had only been thinking about driving, fishing, and having a barbecue...
and probably got a little carried away.
But it was too late now—what's said is said. And honestly, he didn't mind doing something for everyone.
They trusted each other, and he didn't think anyone would give him an unreasonable request.
"A wish..." Yae Miko touched her smooth chin.
Her captivating eyes lingered on Lu Chen, making it impossible to guess what she was thinking.
"I can't think of any wishes right now. I'm quite satisfied with life as it is~" she said.
"Then..." Lu Chen looked at her. "Shall we just forget about it?"
"No way!" Yae Miko continued, "I still want to get my driver's license—and I want that wish, too."
"Then what should we do?" Lu Chen shrugged, a little helpless.
Yae Miko kept her gaze on him, her tone turning a bit more ambiguous.
"Just write it down for now. When the day comes that I want to use it, you can help me fulfill it. How about that?"
"Alright." Lu Chen nodded.
"It's a deal." Miko nodded back.
"But one condition..." Lu Chen held up a finger. "There are things in this world that simply can't be done. You're smart—you should understand what I mean."
"Of course."
Miko replied softly and stopped looking at him.
Their conversation left the atmosphere a little quiet.
Ei, who had remained silent, looked up at Miko.
Miko picked up a piece of fried tofu from her plate, her expression unchanged.
...
The car was purchased the next day.
First, Lu Chen asked his homeroom teacher for a day off. This time, the reason wasn't something ridiculous like "saving the world." He simply said he was going to buy a car, and the teacher approved.
Before he left, the teacher even asked suspiciously if he had won the lottery.
Lu Chen told him he had won five lottery tickets.
No need to go into the details of buying the car. When a sleek silver A8 was delivered to the villa, everyone came out to take a look.
Venti and Miko, eager to learn to drive, curiously examined the new car. But Lu Chen didn't let them sit in the driver's seat.
You could buy a car without a license—but driving was a different story. He planned to have them sign up for driving school first.
Venti had only agreed to learn driving so he could help Lu Chen run the bar. Surprisingly, it was Miko who seemed more genuinely interested in cars.
"Who was it that said driving isn't as fun as reading novels..." Lu Chen thought to himself.
He got into the driver's seat and, with Miko in the passenger seat, revved the engine for her. The sound instantly captivated her.
"If... I took you all for a ride and floored the gas pedal, watching your terrified faces... that could be pretty fun too..."
"Huh?"
...