Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

Although Su Ran had just completed a Forbidden Painting and unlocked the "Water from Below the Mountain" Divine Skill.

It was a painting Skill that used ’Forbidden Painting’ as its core, supplemented by ’Water from Below the Mountain’.

’Mmm, I guess you could call it the ’Forbidden Painting 2.0’ version.’

It also came with a mission: paint one, and he would unlock a Divine Skill.

But as it turned out, before he could even think about how to have the three girls pose as models, he heard they were in trouble and had to rush over in a panic.

’Paint an identical one?’

But Su Ran had learned the art of arousing Forbidden Paintings, which were only meant to be used for paintings of women—a kind of romantic enhancement between lovers.

Even if he did start painting, would that old fox really let them off the hook? ’No one in this day and age is that naive, right?’

But now...

Su Ran had used ’Tongue Combat Power’ to learn that this painting was the work of a woman named ’Shan Weizi’.

And ’Tongue Combat Power’ was frighteningly detailed.

Su Ran exchanged a few words with President Li and found out who Shan Weizi was.

"Oh... Wang Changyue, you’re really something. Forging paintings was one thing, but now you’re using your own master’s daughter’s work to pull a scam. Are you trying to screw over your master’s entire family?"

"You’re spouting nonsense!"

"Spouting nonsense? Heh. I’m sure someone here has Master Shan Zhentian’s phone number. How about we have them give him a call? We’ll know if this painting is real or fake in a heartbeat. Do you dare?"

Su Ran wasn’t about to go easy on a con man.

If he hadn’t been there tonight, the three innocent girls would have been lambs to the slaughter. Aina would have been saddled with a massive four-million-yuan debt, which would have been a devastating blow for a college student. To pay it off, she might have even been forced down the wrong path, perhaps even becoming a guest on a show like ’Xiaobao Talks’—it wasn’t out of the question.

"Do you dare, or not?"

Su Ran took a step forward, pressing him. A guilty Wang Changyue stammered and retreated a step. "I... I..."

Seeing his reaction, President Li realized he really had sold a fake. He had spent nearly ten million on paintings from Wang Changyue over the years!

His blood pressure shot up in an instant. He raised his foot and delivered a swift kick. "Fuck! I treated you like a brother, and you took me for an idiot! Goddammit, give me my money back!"

"It’s true, it’s true! I didn’t sell you all fakes. Some of them are real."

"How many are real?"

"One."

"Son of a bitch."

President Li grabbed Wang Changyue and started beating him senseless. Su Ran wasn’t concerned anymore. Someone else would deal with him now.

Su Ran picked up Shan Weizi’s *Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix* from the floor. ’It’s a real shame this got damaged,’ he thought. ’Maybe it can still be salvaged.’

When President Li got tired of hitting him, he handed Su Ran his business card. "Bro, thanks for helping me expose this fraud. If you’re ever in Chengdu, look me up. I’m Li Tai!"

Su Ran glanced at the card: Li Tai, Chairman of Sichuan Shengshi Real Estate.

"Alright, President Li. I’ll give you a call if I get a chance to visit Chengdu. You should be more careful when you’re looking at paintings from now on. Don’t let your eyes deceive you."

"Hah, I just trusted this son of a bitch too much... If you like this painting by Shan Zhentian’s daughter, take it. This bastard owes me tens of millions. What’s he going to say about it?"

He punctuated the sentence with another kick.

Su Ran glanced at the bruised and swollen Wang Changyue on the floor. ’You reap what you sow,’ he thought.

"Alright then, President Li, I’m going to take my friends and go. We can get in touch by phone later."

"Alright, take care. I’m going to keep beating him, so I won’t see you out."

"Let’s go."

Su Ran held out his hands, and the Four Young Actresses willingly placed their own fair hands in his.

He held two hands in each of his, leading them away. They walked through the envious crowd, talking and laughing as they headed back to the villa.

The crowd was filled with envy and jealousy, but not hatred. The reason was simple: the man hadn’t lost his temper once, nor had he ever brought up money. From the moment he arrived to resolve the crisis, his reasoning was clear and his logic was impeccable. He had exposed Wang Changyue’s scheme in just a few sentences.

A man like that was no ordinary person. The four stunningly beautiful women were willing to follow him, and no one in the crowd dared to be salty about it—because just a moment ago, not a single one of them had dared to step forward to defend the poor, unfortunate girl.

Only he, Su Ran, had dared to.

On the way back, they peppered Su Ran with questions...

"Su Ran, when you said ’I’ll handle this’ earlier, I thought you were going to charge in like a novel protagonist, paint an identical copy to show off and totally humiliate him, or maybe spend a few million to buy the painting and burn it right then and there!"

A voice like silver bells chimed in his ear, a sign that their relationship with Su Ran had grown closer.

’Su Ran, why were you willing to stand up for us?’

’Su Ran, didn’t you ever think about what would happen if it turned out to be a real painting and we couldn’t afford it?’

’Su Ran, would you really face any hardship for our sake?’

On the quiet path at dusk, the questions, each beginning with ’Su Ran,’ flowed from the bottom of the four girls’ hearts.

Each time they said ’Su Ran,’ it was with great intimacy.

Their gazes were like shimmering water, reflecting only Su Ran.

There were many questions, but Su Ran had only one answer: You four are women, and I am a man.

The answer was simple.

In their group of five, he was the only man.

Su Ran did things methodically. He wasn’t interested in flashy displays and humiliating others; he preferred to use reason and evidence. This had nothing to do with him being a Divine Rich—modern society is, after all, a society governed by law.

The more rational he acted, the more secure the four girls felt.

Thinking back on that dream, it didn’t seem so strange anymore.

’Mmm, as for what their future holds...’

Who knew? It was best to live in the moment and let the future take care of itself.

...

Hot spring villa. Back garden. Hot spring pool. One man, four women.

"...Su Ran was so amazing just now. I can’t believe that painting was actually by Wang Changyue’s junior..."

Aina chattered on, excitedly recounting how Su Ran had stood up for them.

Whether you called it an abrupt incident or a brief interlude, it had certainly deepened the bond within their small group of five.

Aina was the most moved of all. She was absolutely crazy about Su Ran right now.

She nudged Xie Yiren with her hip, cleared a spot in the middle, and waved to the person opposite her.

"Su Ran, come over here."

"Why?"

"Just come over here~"

Ew~

Her coquettish tone gave the other three girls goosebumps.

"Okay, okay, I’m coming."

Su Ran stood up, slicked back his wet hair, and walked toward them.

Su Ran was 183cm tall. Though not a bulky, muscle-bound type, his body was lean and defined. He had an eight-pack, and his V-cut abs were prominent.

Even if Su Ran wasn’t brawny, from this night forward, he was the one who made them feel the most secure.

As the four girls watched this walking personification of hormones approach, their faces, already flushed from the steam, took on a different shade of bashful red.

Their eyes were involuntarily drawn to Su Ran’s abs and the top of his Calvin Klein waistband.

HUFF...

They all tried to regulate their breathing, forcing themselves not to look, yet unable to resist sneaking glances.

Queen Xiao was the first to snap out of the trance. She turned to see the other three girls’ completely captivated expressions.

’Go on, fall for him,’ Queen Xiao thought. At this point, she felt it would be illogical *not* to fall into the ’abyss named Su Ran.’

"Stop!"

Queen Xiao propped her hands on the floor of the pool, lifted a long, fair, slender leg from the water, and pressed her foot against Su Ran’s abs.

"Why aren’t you wearing anything?"

"Huh?"

"I asked, why are you in a hot spring with four girls and not wearing anything? Are you showing off your physique, or are you trying to seduce us?"

Queen Xiao was as direct as ever, though with a hint of playfulness.

Su Ran didn’t know whether to laugh or cry.

"Come on, what guy wears clothes in a hot spring?"

"But we’re wearing bikinis."

"You mean these two little scraps of fabric?"

Xiao Wanqing glanced down at the pitiful amount of fabric, then raised her head to correct Su Ran. "A bikini is still clothing!"

"Fine."

’Clothes just reduce your attack speed.’

’Bikinis, on the other hand, increase it.’

Su Ran glanced down at the long leg pressed against his abs. Xiao Wanqing suddenly felt a strange sensation in her thigh. Blushing, she quickly pulled her leg back and fell silent.

"Come on, sit here."

Su Ran sat down between Aina and Liu Jinyu, accepting the piece of mango Liu Jinyu offered him.

"Su Ran, your legs are so long."

To his left, Aina moved her leg over to press it against Su Ran’s.

To his right, Liu Jinyu did the same.

They were comparing lengths.

Su Ran looked at the collection of long legs under the shimmering water. "I’m taller than you guys, so it’s normal for my legs to be a little longer."

Aina said, "No, some guys have a 50/50 body split, with really short legs. Your proportions are great."

Xiao Wanqing said, "He’s just being humble. Are you really taking him at his word?"

’Su Ran’s body proportions were great, basically the golden ratio. Nothing worth bragging about.’

Su Ran believed that whether someone had a 50/50 split or a model’s nine-head-body ratio, confidence was more important than anything else.

Xie Yiren didn’t join the comparison. She was petite and her legs weren’t particularly long, so she wouldn’t delude herself.

"Hehe, ooh, Su Ran and Jinyu, you two are so naughty."

Aina had spotted the Forbidden Painting on the edge of the pool.

The other two girls crowded around to look. Liu Jinyu blushed, but Su Ran sat there openly, telling himself it was art.

However...

The three of them looked at the painting. It was sensual but not vulgar, risqué but not pornographic, revealing but not completely exposed. It possessed a certain spirit, like a woman deeply in love emerging from the water, glancing back at her lover. This, perhaps, was the unique charm of traditional painting.

The three girls were actually quite envious.

Su Ran said, "How about I paint the four of you? Just as you are now, in your bikinis. We can commemorate this beautiful moment from our trip."

The four girls thought about it. As long as they didn’t have to take anything off, there was no harm. They readily agreed.

"Okay! But you have to make us more beautiful than Imperial Consort Yang."

"Alright, Daji."

"Su Ran, are you calling me a vixen? Hmph~"

Laughter and playful banter filled the air—an intimate moment belonging only to the five of them.

The evening breeze was intoxicating. By the small pond in the villa’s backyard, the wind blew peach blossoms, which landed on the *Four Little Actresses Bathing Painting*.

"Su Ran, you painted my chest too small! Hmph~"

"Aina, why are you so fussy? This is the fifth draft already. Just make do. You can always use a photo editor to ’fix’ it later."

"No! I want the one you painted! Hmph, you’re playing favorites..."