I Turned Filthy Rich Just By Sleeping With Women?!
Chapter 48: King Without A Crown

Chapter 48: King Without A Crown

Madam Ruan raised an eyebrow. "And what is it you want?"

Zhao Yiming didn’t flinch. "Help me with Lianwu Street. I don’t care if it means going head-to-head with that damned group." He paused, his blue irises darkening with intensity.

"I want every tenant to live peacefully—with their stores, their homes, and their dignity intact."

Madam Ruan blinked, momentarily caught off guard. She didn’t know him well, but what she had seen was usually that annoying, defensive pervert who flirted more than he fought.

But this side of him... this fire in his voice, this raw determination—

It was hot.

"How much money do you have, Mr. Zhao?" she asked, eyes glinting.

Zhao Yiming answered without a moment’s hesitation. "As much as you want."

She smirked. "Good. Then tell me what really happened."

He nodded and began recounting everything—how Mr. Wu had been forced to sell his antique store to pay for medical bills, how Madam He now lay in critical condition at the hospital, how the tenants were terrified, unsure if they’d be attacked next if they resisted.

Madam Ruan listened in silence. When he finished, she leaned back in her chair and sighed. "If you have unlimited money... just buy the whole damn district."

"Huh?!"

Luo Yanyu and Zhao Yiming exclaimed at the same time—though clearly for different reasons.

"That’s insane, Madam Ruan!" Yanyu slammed her hands on the table. "Zhao just paid back the money he owed us! You want him to borrow again and fall deeper into debt?!"

"Calm down, Yanyu." Madam Ruan gave a casual shrug. "He said he has money, so why overthink it?"

She gave Zhao Yiming a sly look. "But if you do want to borrow from me, I already have a thirty-year repayment plan in mind." She smiled like a shark.

"Don’t do it, Zhao! That’s a trap!" Yanyu warned, grabbing his sleeve.

But Zhao Yiming nodded instead. "How much would it cost to buy the entire shopping district?"

"You really want to buy it?" the two women blurted out in unison, stunned.

"Yeah." He scratched his chin.

"But I don’t want to be too kind to them to just give their land and properties back just like that. So... what do I do? I’m not exactly interested in managing a bunch of retail shops too."

His nonchalant tone somehow made the whole situation more absurd. Buying an entire shopping district in the heart of the city—even if it was an aging one and not exactly a big city—was a colossal undertaking.

And he said it like he was ordering takeout.

"Are you serious about this?" Madam Ruan asked, setting her pipe down slowly.

"Do I look like I’m joking?" Zhao Yiming replied, eyes narrowed. "We need to move fast—if we don’t, that Golden Earth bastard will beat us to it!"

"Well," she leaned back thoughtfully, "when it comes to the cost, it depends."

"How so?"

"As far as I know, the land isn’t owned by a corporation or the government. It’s split among individual owners."

She crossed her legs, fingers tapping against the table. "So, to make any progress, you’ll need to negotiate with each owner—find out whether they lease or outright own their properties. That affects the process."

"But if you’re asking for just the land value..." She smirked. "Around here, 100 square meters goes for about $276,000."

Zhao Yiming fell silent. In his vision, the system screen flickered into view:

---

[Wallet: $218,000]

[AP: 168,968]

(1 AP = $1,000)

→ Total Assets: Approx. $169 Million

---

More than enough. He could easily buy the entire district if he wanted to.

Madam Ruan continued, "If you want to let the tenants stay, just lease the properties back to them. Buy the land, offer them a fair monthly rent, or even an eventual buyback plan—with or without interest. Your call."

"So they can’t be pushed around anymore..." Zhao Yiming muttered.

Madam Ruan’s grin widened. "Exactly."

Then she leaned forward, her tone turning coy. "Which brings me to my next proposal, Mr. Zhao."

She stood up and walked over to him, her movements deliberate. Then, with a smooth motion, she sat on the edge of the table and tilted his chin up with the tip of her pipe.

"In my line of work," she purred, "I deal in all sorts of services—protection included. You can’t expect to protect yourself, your lovers, and your tenants all by yourself. That’s suicide."

She tilted her head. "So... why don’t we go into business together?"

Her voice turned serious. "We create a small company—take over Golden Earth’s targets before they do. You promise the tenants fair prices or safe leases... and I’ll handle the muscle. We protect them our way."

"Tempting, isn’t it?"

---

Suddenly, a wave of static danced through the air. Zhao Yiming flinched slightly as the system’s voice echoed in his ear:

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[A new possible route for the host has been unlocked!]

[Your answer will determine the type of route you will pursue. Choose carefully!]

[Message from the God of Richness & Love:]

"Now your path of life is in your hands! Choose carefully, my perverted disciple! Your hands are in your own—try not to mess it up!"

---

Zhao Yiming’s eyes widened.

A route?

His own route?!

He never imagined his random efforts would lead to a defining moment in his life. This decision... it could change everything.

But Madam Ruan’s offer made sense. With her protection, he could create a safe space for the tenants. He could drive Golden Earth into a corner—and maybe, just maybe, save even more people than he expected.

He looked up, his eyes fierce with resolve.

Zhao Yiming stood and shook her hand firmly. "Let’s do it. Let’s crush those bastards and protect everyone we can."

Madam Ruan laughed, amused by his fire. "Of course, Mr. Zhao. Let’s do this—for your noble cause... and my bank account."

---

[DING!]

[You have officially unlocked the new Route: "King Without A Crown"]

[This route will help you achieve your dream to protect people—and create the wealthiest corporation in the city!]