She's a Passerby, But Can See the Protagonist's Halo-Chapter 79

On the 22nd day of the twelfth lunar month, Yan was woken up early in the morning by a courier call—the fruits from Yi Zhi had arrived.

Two large boxes of fruits had been air-shipped overnight, and Yan and Jue Jue immediately began rearranging the fridge to make space. Leaving the fruits on the balcony risked freezing them, so storing them in the fridge was the safer option.

Back in the dorm, where there was no refrigerator, every time Yi Zhi’s fruits arrived, the entire dorm would go into a frenzy of eating them as meals—because if they didn’t finish them quickly, they’d spoil!

Yan counted the days—it had been ten days since she’d returned home for winter break, and she’d missed Yi Zhi’s fruits dearly.

That morning, they simply washed a few fruits to accompany breakfast, shared with Da Bao and Xiao Bao.

“These strawberries are seriously delicious,” Xiao Bao exclaimed.

“They’re way better than the imported ones we bought before.”

At the table, Tan Xiaobao had already put down her chopsticks and was devouring the strawberries at full speed.

“They’re too cold—don’t eat too many. We have a long day of shopping ahead, so eat more rice. You can have as much fruit as you want when we get back tonight,” Yan said.

Only then did the two slow down. Yan and Zhu Jue only took small bites, leaving most of the plate for the younger ones.

“Are these from some organic eco-farm? There are so many varieties—I wonder where in the south they’re grown,” Da Bao mused.

“Back in senior year, we ordered from an eco-farm that grew pesticide-free fruits and vegetables. At the time, we thought the quality was way better than store-bought, but compared to these? There’s no contest,” Xiao Bao added.

“Sis, how much does your roommate charge for a box like this? Let’s order more,” Xiao Bao suggested.

“If they can keep up the supply, we should just eat these all break. They’re so good, they make you feel energized.”

As for the price of Yi Zhi’s fruits, Yan honestly had no idea.

After all, Yi Zhi had always claimed they came from a relative’s farm, and the fruits sent to the dorm were free because Yan had helped “promote” them—leading to such high demand that they never charged.

“I really don’t know. We’ve always gotten them for free. I’ll ask later,” Yan said.

“They must be expensive. Sis, did she send them to all of you? Even one box per person would add up—your roommate is so generous,” Xiao Bao remarked.

Yan thought for a moment, counting on her fingers. “Jue Jue and I each got a box, but since our dorms are pretty close, I’m guessing everyone got one. That’d be ten boxes total.”

Tan Dabao’s face immediately fell. “Oh.”

“Guess they don’t need investors, then.”

“I wonder what kind of farming techniques they use—must be some high-end cultivation,” he muttered.

Yan was momentarily stunned before realizing—Dabao had been thinking about investing in the farm the whole time he was eating!

Yan: “…”

All she could think while eating was how delicious the fruits were.

She figured Yi Zhi’s fruits tasted so good because of her supernatural abilities—but of course, she couldn’t tell Dabao that.

Besides, Yi Zhi definitely wasn’t short on money.

Yan could still vividly recall the time at the antique market when Yi Zhi casually sold a piece of jade for a hundred million.

“She doesn’t need money, and she doesn’t take investors,” Yan said bluntly, crushing Dabao’s hopes.

“My roommate studies agriculture—she’s got… let’s say, a very specialized background.” Yan chose her words carefully.

“Sis, I actually saw a news article a while ago about a Bin University agriculture student who bred a new type of chrysanthemum that outperformed even the experts’ work. It even made headlines—one variety was called ‘Tomato and Egg.’ Super funny,” Xiao Bao chimed in.

“I remember every national chrysanthemum exhibition—the top prize always went to either Ning City or Jinmen. But this time, Bin City took it by surprise.”

Then, Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao watched as their older sister and Zhu Jue exchanged knowing smiles.

“That’s my roommate,” Yan said.

Xiao Bao, who was drinking yogurt, nearly choked.

“No way, what are the odds?”

Zhu Jue nodded. Exactly.

“So Dabao can stop scheming. If she could breed a new flower variety as a freshman, your sister’s roommate must come from a long line of experts—definitely not short on cash,” Xiao Bao concluded.

“And she grows fruits this good, plus breeds flowers… Maybe she’s just born to farm,” Dabao mumbled.

“What a waste of talent.”

Yan and Zhu Jue watched as Tan Dabao shook his head, looking genuinely regretful that he couldn’t recruit her.

Yan and Jue Jue: “…” Yeah, not happening.

After breakfast, the four freshened up and changed. Since the mall didn’t open until ten, there was no rush. Yan just applied a light base and some colorless lip balm.

If she tried on clothes later, she didn’t want foundation or lipstick staining them—even though she had a mask ready.

They called a spacious business car with massage seats for the ride.

Tan Xiaobao listed off her shopping list: “Outerwear, tops, pants, shoes, hair clips, a new bag…”

Tan Dabao looked resigned. His role today was clear: carry bags and pay.

Meanwhile, Yan glanced at her phone.

She’d been checking for news about the Xie Family all morning, but there was nothing.

Now, a message from Chu Bingbing popped up:

**[Chu Bingbing]:** Yan~ I’m back in Ning City! Just arrived this morning, but I’ve got some things to handle first. I’ll message you later to hang out!

**[Yan]:** Sure thing!

Yan quickly replied and put her phone away—reading in the car made her queasy.

She turned to Zhu Jue in the seat beside her. “Jue Jue, Bingbing’s in Ning City.”

Before Zhu Jue could respond, Tan Xiaobao leaned forward from behind.

“Who is it, sis? Another friend asking you out?”

“My other roommate—the one who bought the Extreme Path car. She’s in Ning City, but she’s busy for now. She’ll probably reach out after she’s done. Definitely not today,” Yan explained, seeing Xiao Bao’s worried look about their shopping plans.

“Xiao Bao, you two would probably get along,” Yan added.

“Bingbing loves MIU’s clothes and hair accessories too.”

Now both Tan Dabao and Tan Xiaobao perked up.

“The one who bought the Dominator at our Bin City auto show? The legendary Ms. Chu?”

“How long is she staying? She’s a VIP client and your roommate—we’ve got to show her around properly,” Tan Dabao said.

“Perfect chance to get some customer feedback too.”

Yan nodded, though she had no idea why Chu Bingbing was in Ning City.

Was there another auction? Was she donating more antiques? Or was it related to Sui Sui’s show, which had featured the *Zhou Dynasty Imperial Scroll* she’d donated before?

She scratched her head. Since Chu Bingbing hadn’t mentioned anything, Yan didn’t pry, figuring she’d just wait for Bingbing to reach out after finishing her business. Maybe she was coming to the capital to invest in some property again.

When the luxury business car arrived at the mall’s parking lot, Yan didn’t forget to snag the Fiji water from the vehicle. Though the car had been booked by Da Bao, every little bit of money saved counted.

Xiao Bao had contacted the store’s SA in advance to schedule an appointment and pick out clothes she’d seen online. Accompanied by Yan and the others, Xiao Bao entered the store to find the outfits she wanted to try already prepared on a separate rack in the fitting room.

Tan Dabao silently found a seat and settled in, while Yan and Jue Jue glanced at the bags on display. But after just a few looks, Yan was called away by Xiao Bao.

“Sis, come help me out!”

Yes, even the prodigious genius Tan Xiaobao struggled with shopping decisions and needed others to weigh in.

“This crystal-embellished down jacket is so pretty!”

Yan could see Xiao Bao’s eyes sparkling with excitement—she had zero resistance to these dazzling, delicate, and adorable clothes.

“This down jacket is so interesting too! A knitted outer layer with goose down inside—such a unique and warm design. Ugh, all these colors are gorgeous!”

Xiao Bao tried on outfit after outfit, switching between inner layers, outerwear, and coordinated sets while the SA brought out several pairs of leather shoes in her size to match.

Every time Xiao Bao stepped out in a new look, Yan was responsible for taking photos and giving her opinion.

“The knitted down jacket has a preppy vibe, while the crystal one is more princessy. They both suit you.”

In the car, Xiao Bao had confidently declared she’d only buy one set, but now she was completely swept up, loving every piece she tried on. Yan sent each outfit combination to their group chat.

**[Xiao Bao]:** Which one looks best? I can’t decide, ahhh!

Yan received the entirely predictable reply.

**[Da Bao]:** ALL IN. Just buy them all. Sis, why haven’t you tried anything?

When ​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​‌‌‌​‌‌​​‌​​​​‌‌​‌‌​​​‌‌‌​​‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​​​‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​‌​​‌‌‌​​‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌‌​​‌‌​​‌​​​‌‌​​​‌‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​​‌‌​​‌​‌​​‌‌​‌​​​​‌‌​‌​​‍it came to spending on family, Tan Dabao was always extravagantly generous.

Xiao Bao asked Yan to help find a matching bag. As Yan walked out of the fitting room toward the display shelves near the entrance, she noticed the store had already put up a velvet rope.

Glancing back, she realized why—every SA in the store was busy assisting customers, leaving no one available to handle new arrivals.

“Yan?”

Suddenly, she heard a familiar voice.

Yan turned sharply, pausing in surprise. “Bingbing?”

What was Chu Bingbing doing here? Right now, she was standing just beyond the velvet rope, looking slightly anxious.

Hadn’t Bingbing said she had something to do?

Wait—

It clicked instantly. The *halo*?

The **[Spend or Die]** halo was shining bright. Seeing Chu Bingbing’s restless expression, she must be in urgent need of spending money!

Remembering Bingbing’s earlier message, Yan immediately understood—whatever “business” she had was likely an emergency shopping spree.

“Bingbing, hold on. I’ll get an SA to let you in,” Yan said outright.

Xiao Bao was almost done trying on clothes, and since Bingbing was with them, it made sense for the same SA to assist. Luckily, no other customers were waiting at the rope.

Hearing Yan’s words, Chu Bingbing nearly teared up with relief.

Damn this system! She’d been perfectly content staying in Bin City, avoiding certain tourist spots out of fear of triggering a forced-spending mission.

But then, last night, a new mandatory task appeared.

**[Mandatory Mission: Have You Spent Properly Today?]**

**[Mission Description: The host has been lazing around on vacation without spending properly for a week. A true tycoon shouldn’t be confined to one place—venture out and consume elsewhere.]**

**[Mission Details: Spend, spend, and spend some more!]**

**[Location Restriction: Ning City, Xia Country (No transfers; physical purchases only.)]**

**[Spending Goal: 5 million.]**

A forced mission wasn’t unusual—Bingbing was used to them by now. She’d planned to head straight to a high-end mall she’d scouted for quick spending.

But upon closer inspection, she realized—this time, the mission had a *location restriction*!

Last time, it was limited to an antique street. Now, she was being sent to the capital, Ning City.

The silver lining? She had 24 hours. The mission appeared at midnight, so she booked the earliest flight and rushed to Ning City’s most expensive mall.

Five million wasn’t an impossible sum, but Bingbing quickly realized clothes shopping was too slow. Auctions weren’t always available, and many luxury items required pre-orders.

So, she headed straight to a furniture store. Instead of painstakingly accumulating purchases piece by piece, dropping hundreds of thousands on furniture would hit the quota faster.

The night before, she’d contacted several high-end furniture dealers to check for in-stock items—she couldn’t wait for pre-orders.

Miraculously, she found what she needed.

After landing, she went straight to the furniture store and started signing receipts.

A million-yuan mattress, a million-yuan sofa, a 400,000-yuan coffee table, and a rosewood sofa set imported from a neighboring country.

Bingbing didn’t even think about where she’d put it all—she just needed to hit 4.97 million.

The remaining 30,000 was easy. Any luxury mall would do, and she’d have all day to spend it.

So, after arranging for the furniture to stay in storage, she headed to Ning City’s most upscale mall to casually burn through the leftover amount.

Five million was the highest forced-spending quota she’d ever faced.

Was the system punishing her for holing up in her Bin City mansion during her vacation?

Bingbing had no idea, but she wasn’t about to test the consequences of failing a mission.

For the remaining 30,000, she chose a brand she was familiar with—one catering to young, wealthy women. Unlike the usual long lines at L, H, or D, this store usually had no wait.

But today, even *M* had a queue. The luxury boutiques in this mall were packed.

Luckily, she ran into Yan here!

Seeing Yan in this store was both surprising and not.

Given Yan’s background, affording luxury goods was no big deal.

What *was* surprising was that Bingbing had noticed Yan rarely wore anything with obvious logos. Her clothes were high-quality, often tailored, with occasional online or mall purchases for trendy pieces. But she’d never seen Yan in *M*’s logo-heavy designs.

While Chu Bingbing was lost in thought, she saw Yan approaching with a friendly SA (sales associate) who warmly invited her inside.

"Miss Chu, a friend of Miss Yan, please come in quickly."

As Chu Bingbing entered the store, she noticed Zhu Jue was also there—unsurprising, given how inseparable the couple always was.

Not only was Zhu Jue present, but there was also another strikingly handsome young man standing close by.

"Hello, Sister Chu. I’ve heard so much about you," Tan Dabao greeted the VIP client proactively, though he wasn’t entirely sure what kind of wealthy background his sister’s roommate came from.

"This is our younger brother, Da Bao, and our little sister, Xiao Bao, is inside trying on clothes," Yan explained to Chu Bingbing.

"We’re all here today to accompany Xiao Bao while she shops."

Hearing Yan’s words, Chu Bingbing suddenly understood—they were here for their sister.

"Wait, Da Bao and Xiao Bao are…?" She quickly pieced it together.

Both Yan and Zhu Jue were only children in their families, so the siblings they referred to could only be those two from the Jidao group.

"Yes, Sister Chu. I’ve heard about you from my sister, my brother, as well as Manager Li and President Qin. It’s a pleasure to finally meet you." Tan Dabao shook her hand politely.

However, someone else’s boutique was hardly the place for lengthy introductions. After a brief exchange, Chu Bingbing turned her attention to browsing the season’s latest clothing, bags, and accessories, contemplating how to spend the remaining 30,000 quota she had.

Just then, Tan Xiaobao finally made her selections.

A rack of clothes she had tried on stood nearby, with an elegant SA assisting her. Chu Bingbing stood beside Yan, watching as Xiao Bao pointed at several items.

"This one, this one, and that one—they don’t fit well. I don’t want these. Pack up the rest."

Xiao Bao’s casual finger-pointing, as if ordering off a menu, left Chu Bingbing momentarily stunned.

Though she herself had done the same during mandatory shopping tasks, witnessing someone else treat high-end fashion like a wholesale purchase—rather than carefully selecting individual pieces—was still a shock.

The SA, clearly familiar with Xiao Bao, responded smoothly, "Of course, Miss Tan. As usual, no home delivery—just packed for you to take directly, correct?"

"And for the new season’s preview event after the New Year, will you and Miss Yan be visiting the store again, or would you prefer our team to come to you?"

Yan shook her head. "Same as before. Our place isn’t convenient."

The residential compound was crowded, and the old building, despite the fame and wealth of the Tan siblings, made excessive luxury displays too conspicuous.

More importantly… their apartment was small. A luxury brand’s dedicated delivery team and vehicle would never fit inside—now *that* would be awkward.

Listening to the effortless back-and-forth between the SA, Yan, and the young Xiao Bao, Chu Bingbing’s eyes narrowed slightly.

She knew that for top-tier clients of luxury brands—VICs (Very Important Clients) or SVIPs—there were exorbitant annual spending thresholds.

For most people, luxury shopping meant buying a bag or two. But for another class, seasonal collections were presented in-home by models, with personal stylists, buyers, and even designers flying in to tailor every detail.

Yet, judging from the conversation, Yan and her family clearly had access to these services—preview events, private showings—but chose to decline home visits and even doorstep deliveries.

What struck Chu Bingbing wasn’t the luxury service itself. Given their wealth and ties to Jidao, such spending was trivial.

What truly resonated was their refusal of home delivery.

For Chu Bingbing, a self-proclaimed lazybones, having brands proactively deliver seasonal collections without lifting a finger sounded like a dream.

But Yan’s rejection signaled something far more significant:

Where they lived wasn’t just any place.

"Inconvenient" wasn’t an excuse.

If they resided in a typical upscale villa district, spacious and open to luxury services, there’d be no issue.

Instead, they must live in a tightly secured, highly restricted area—completely off-limits to outsiders.

Chu Bingbing’s gaze darkened thoughtfully as she watched the SAs begin packing Xiao Bao’s purchases. She turned to Yan.

"Yan, aren’t you getting anything?"

Yan shook her head without hesitation. "Too expensive. I’m not buying."

*Too expensive?* A down jacket for 27,000? That was daylight robbery! Even if it was goose down, were these birds descended from celestial geese?

For Da Bao and Xiao Bao, luxury brands were everyday wear, barely requiring a second thought.

But for Yan and Zhu Jue, wearing such items felt like tending to a fragile relic. They *could* afford it if they gritted their teeth, but as the saying goes: *It’s easy to go from frugality to luxury, but hard to return.* There was simply no need.

Ning City wasn’t as cold as the northeast. A regular duck-down jacket sufficed outdoors, and the domestic goose-down coat her mother had bought years ago—costing a few thousand—still sat in her closet, warm as a furnace.

Hearing Yan bluntly call it "too expensive," Chu Bingbing felt a surge of admiration. *This is why I respect Yan.*

Most people in such stores might make excuses to save face, but Yan unapologetically stated the truth.

Of *course* it was expensive.

But after years of being conditioned by luxury brands, people internalized that the problem wasn’t the price—it was their inability to afford it.

As directors of Jidao Motors and holders of undisclosed assets, Yan’s family could easily buy the entire store.

To Chu Bingbing, Yan seemed utterly disinterested in using lavish displays to flaunt status.

Moreover, with their background, flashy logos were impractical—discretion was clearly the couple’s guiding principle.

This trip to Ning City was no exception. She wouldn’t impose on their private lives.

Chu Bingbing swiftly picked out a wallet, some accessories, and a bag to meet her remaining quota.

A discreet glance at her system confirmed the target was reached. She exhaled silently in relief.

She carried just one shopping bag, while Xiao Bao’s haul required multiple luxe-branded packages. Chu Bingbing wondered how they’d manage.

Then, she saw the SAs carry the bags to the entrance, where three ordinary-looking men took them under Da Bao’s direction.

"Are those…?" Chu Bingbing blinked.

Yan replied casually, "Security."

To be more precise, apart from the bodyguards hired by Da Bao and Xiao Bao themselves, there were two others assigned by a special department for these two extraordinary geniuses.

When they attended school and stayed indoors, the security detail was often canceled—the confidentiality measures at the Academy were sufficient. But during holidays, the security level was raised to maximum again.

Their professionalism was far beyond what ordinary people might expect from celebrity bodyguards. They blended seamlessly into the crowd, staying close to those they protected yet appearing like ordinary passersby.

Chu Bingbing was momentarily stunned. The three people carrying shopping bags—two men and a woman, all wearing stylish outfits and carrying backpacks—looked just like regular mall-goers.

Were these really bodyguards? She had seen wealthy shoppers escorted by multiple guards dressed in black suits before!

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Instantly, she recalled a headline she’d once read: the world’s richest individuals traveled with security just like this. Their annual protection costs reached nine figures, yet their presence was completely undetectable, ensuring safety without disrupting daily life.

And now, the sudden appearance of this security detail clearly matched that description!

Chu Bingbing maintained her composure as she followed Yan and the others out of the store. Her eyes discreetly scanned the surroundings, and the more she looked, the more suspicious every passerby seemed.

She had no idea how many more hidden guards might be lurking nearby, tasked with protecting Yan and the others—like the secret imperial bodyguards from ancient dramas!

Hiss! It seemed she had stumbled upon another one of Yan’s big secrets!

Meanwhile, Yan remained oblivious to Chu Bingbing’s thoughts as she checked a notification on her phone.

!!!

It was news from Bin City—more specifically, a photo of police cars spotted outside the Xie Family’s villa at night. Someone had leaked details about the Xie Family’s affairs.

Time to dig into the gossip!