Chapter 161 - Beauty Is the Original Sin


    One could argue that without Ye Hao''s extraordinary memory, recalling the answer to this riddle would be impossible. With this in mind, Ye Hao approached Xiao Luori.


    ”This riddle doesn''t make sense,” Ye Hao remarked, looking at Xiao Luori.


    Xiao Luori''s expression soured as he responded, “Watch yournguage.”


    “This riddle has been around for thousands of years. To this day, no one has figured out the answer,” Ming Yue interjected softly.


    Ye Hao gently shook his head and countered, “The riddle has been solved long ago. It''s just that the solution isn''t widely known.”


    Ming Yue, taken aback, inquired, “What''s the answer?”


    Ye Hao quietly revealed the solution. Xiao Luori''s face showed surprise as he eximed, “How could that be?”


    Xiao Luori had not anticipated that Ye Hao would actually solve the riddle.


    “I can''t see why that''s the answer,” Ming Yue admitted, still perplexed.


    Ye Hao quickly rified, and Ming Yue had her moment of rity.


    “I recall Mr. Xiao mentioning he would grant a wish to anyone who could solve this riddle,” Ming Yue suddenly remembered.


    “What is your wish?” Xiao Luori asked Ye Hao, his toneced with displeasure.


    Ye Hao''s earlierment about the riddle being unreasonable was a slight against Xiao Luori''s ancestor, who had crafted the riddle.


    “I wish to end all killing in the world,” Ye Hao stated after a pause.


    Xiao Luori''s expression turned grim. “Choose another wish.”


    The Xiao family were no deities; they couldn''t fulfill such a wish.


    “I wish for my country to be free from poverty,” Ye Hao continued, his voice tinged with sadness. “It breaks my heart every time I hear that our nation still has three hundred million people living in poverty.”


    “Are you mocking me?” Xiao Luori snapped.


    Even the Xiao family, with all their wealth, couldn''t possibly lift three hundred million people out of poverty. The task was too great even for a nation.


    Ye Hao looked at him, bewildered, and said, “Mr. Xiao, what do you mean? You promised you''d grant my wish.”


    “Your wish needs to be more practical,” Xiao Luori retorted, his anger evident.


    “I want to have a lot of money.”


    Xiao Luori pulled a check from his pocket and offered, “You can write any number on this check.”


    Ye Hao promptly took a pen and wrote a number on it.


    “Now, stamp your seal on it!”


    Without Xiao Luori''s seal, the cashier''s check would be worthless.


    As Xiao Luori was about to stamp it, he caught sight of the number written. His expression darkened, and under Ming Yue''s puzzled gaze, he tore the check to shreds.


    “Now your wish is gone.”


    Ye Hao just smiled, unfazed.


    “Why?” Ming Yue inquired.


    “Because he''s greedy and shameless,” Xiao Luori snapped. “No matter the amount—be it one million, ten million, or even a billion—I would have agreed. But he had the audacity to write ten billion!”


    The Xiao family possessed ten billion yuan, but there was no way they could simply hand it over to Ye Hao.


    After all, earning ten billion yuan is no small feat.


    “Let''s go,” Ye Hao said calmly.


    Ming Yue nodded, and they departed.


    A middle-aged man beside Xiao Luori suggested, “Master, shall I take him out?”


    Xiao Luori shook his head, his voice grave, “The Martial Arts Bureau is keeping a close eye on us. If we go too far, they might step in.”


    Once Ye Hao and Ming Yue were a distance away, Ming Yue asked with a smile, “Did you do that on purpose?”


    “Yes.”


    “Why?”


    “I don''t appreciate Xiao Luori''s constant air of superiority.”


    “He is the school''s director, after all.”


    “You seem to dislike him too!”


    “Not really.”


    “Okay then.”


    In a softer tone, Ming Yue mused, “People often be cold and arrogant after attaining high status. Are you still the same as before?”


    “Xiao Luori has poured so much into building the school and donated three billion yuan; he''s earned his right to be proud.”


    “You''re very astute,” Ye Hao said with a smile. “Have you ever considered striving to be above others?”


    “It''s challenging,” Ming Yue replied gently, shaking her head. “Sometimes, being too attractive is a curse in itself.”


    “So, many wealthy heirs have taken a liking to you?” Ye Hao remarked, a glint in his eyes.


    “I used to think that getting into the University of Finance and Economics would make me a cut above the rest,” Ming Yue mused. “But once I got there, I realized I was mistaken. Ultimately, this world is a man''s world. For a woman to survive, she often has to depend on men.”


    “Instead of depending on those rich kids you''ve been with, why not rely on me?” Ye Hao said thoughtfully.


    Ming Yue stared at Ye Hao, taken aback.


    She couldn''t fathom why she had opened up to Ye Hao.


    Yet, when he spoke those words, she found them incredible.


    She remembered Ye Hao was still a student.


    “Don''t you trust me?”


    “Do you realize how many wealthy heirs will target you if you''re with me?”


    “Honestly, I don''t.”


    “Then why say such a thing?” Ming Yue whispered. “But, thank you, regardless.”


    Ye Hao remained nomittal. “If you ever need anything, you can reach out to me. Honestly, I''m not intimidated by those wealthy heirs.”


    Ming Yue regarded Ye Hao with astonishment.


    She couldn''t grasp why he would make such a bold statement, but she still thanked him politely.


    “Are you aware that two girls from your school have died?”


    “Yes, I''m aware.”


    “If you know that, why are you still out sote?”


    “They bothmitted suicide.”


    “Who told you theymitted suicide?” Ye Hao asked. At that moment, he spotted a figure draped in a ck robe.


    Before Ming Yue could inquire further, Ye Hao stepped forward to block the figure''s path.


    “Stop right there.”


    As Ming Yue moved to approach, Ye Haomanded sternly, “Quickly, leave this ce.”


    “What?”


    “Leave, now.”


    After a brief hesitation, Ming Yue turned and hurried away.


    Ye Hao faced the robed figure and ordered, “Lift your head.”


    “Are you sure?” came a raspy voice.


    “I''ve faced ghosts, so a person doesn''t scare me,” Ye Hao said with a coldugh.


    The figure slowly lifted its head to reveal a face of profound ugliness.


    At least, Ye Hao had never encountered such a hideous visage before.


    “Do you have any idea what fate has befallen those who haveid eyes on my face over the years?” the individual inquired, their voice raspy with intensity.