Chapter 106: Chapter 105: I’ve Been Putting Up With You for a Long Time

With a Richard Mille now on his wrist, Lin Chu still felt a little out of place.

’I’ve never been one for accessories.’ When he first started working, he’d bought a Tissot for over two thousand yuan, partly for the novelty and partly because of his line of work. The novelty wore off after a few days, and he later sold it on a second-hand app when he couldn’t make rent.

Lin Chu never paid much mind to sayings like "the poor play with cars, the rich play with watches." In fact, he found them rather contemptible.

Xiangjiang’s richest man, Li Bancheng, always wore a Casio to public events, openly proclaiming his simple lifestyle. The reality was... he was the world’s biggest Patek Philippe collector.

The convictions of the poor serve the interests of the rich.

And both were incredibly difficult to change.

’But today... isn’t it all for show?’

...

The villas at Kowloon Platform were newer than those at Swan Castle, and the feng shui was supposedly excellent—or so Lin Chu had heard.

Hou Chengjin’s place was a standalone villa. A blond-haired, blue-eyed man in his fifties, impeccably dressed in a suit and looking every bit the butler, stood at the entrance to greet guests.

Lin Chu: ’Holy shit.’

’A British butler?’

’Looks like he’s one-upped me again.’

"Mr. Lin, good day. I am the butler here. Welcome. As the Patriarch’s most honored guest, you are free to tour the home and make use of its facilities. Please do not hesitate to ask if you have any questions. We hope you feel right at home."

His Mandarin was surprisingly fluent. ’He must specialize in serving China’s nouveau riche,’ Lin Chu thought.

’Globalization, I guess.’

Lin Chu gave a casual nod and, at the butler’s invitation, led the two men and two women inside.

A young, rather slender housekeeper stood by the door. She had Asian features, but her demeanor suggested otherwise. Lin Chu figured she was probably a Filipina maid.

Yet, in a Japanese style of service, she was kneeling on the floor, preparing brand-new, freshly unwrapped slippers for the four of them.

Lin Chu: ...

’Dammit!’

’Such a show-off!’

Filipina maids were common over in Xiangjiang and not too expensive—around 6,000 yuan on average. But on the mainland, the paperwork was a hassle, so they hadn’t been brought over in large numbers.

It wasn’t just Lin Chu; Gu Jiayan, Lu Ming, and the others were also somewhat stunned.

You wouldn’t get this level of service even at the most high-end spa.

"Sigh..."

Gu Jiayan let out a small sigh. Witnessing scenes like this always made her feel more patriotic. The idea of equality and putting people first wasn’t a given; it was the result of a long, arduous struggle to change old ways.

"I can do it myself."

She firmly refused the service and changed into the slippers herself.

Lin Chu, on the other hand, didn’t mind. He pursed his lips and let the maid help him, but he didn’t say anything to Gu Jiayan about it.

At that moment, Lin Chu’s gaze was drawn to an altar table in the center of the living room.

A massive, gleaming golden statue of Guan Gong stood there, practically life-sized. ’I wonder if it’s solid gold,’ he mused.

The ceilings were certainly high enough to accommodate it.

Various offerings were laid out on the altar, and incense smoke curled up from a censer, filling the air with a pleasant aroma.

The statue was impressive, but also a little strange. ’Who puts something like this in their home? A person with weak fortune probably couldn’t handle its presence.’

’Well, it’s his house. He can decorate it however he wants.’ Lin Chu just observed and complained internally.

’Guan Gong is fine. If it were a Buddha Amulet, I’d be out of here.’

’Too creepy.’

...

The reception area was on the second floor. As they ascended the main staircase, they found a decorative screen at the top.

As the screen was pulled aside, a rich, fragrant aroma billowed out, tickling their nostrils and instantly whetting everyone’s appetite.

’Buddha Jumps Over the Wall... well, it’s fragrant enough to make a Buddha jump a wall, so this aroma is to be expected.’

In the center of the second floor was a long wooden table that could seat more than a dozen people. It looked like mahogany.

There were even place cards at each seat.

Lin Chu’s patience for this guy’s pretentiousness was wearing thin.

’You punk, I’ve had just about enough of you!’

’Is this really necessary?’

’Seriously?!’

’Place cards for a home-cooked meal!’

’And on pink paper, no less!’

Three Filipina housekeepers were preparing the food, serving the main course, Buddha Jumps Over the Wall, from white clay pots.

Near the floor-to-ceiling windows was an American-style bar.

Hou Chengjin was chatting with four people—two handsome men and two beautiful women—who were presumably streamers signed to his company.

When he heard the screen move, he stood up and walked over, clapping his hands with a broad smile. "President Lin, welcome, welcome! Everyone, please, make yourselves at home."

Lin Chu glanced at him. "This place is really something. If you hadn’t told me, I would’ve thought it was some exclusive private club. It’s incredibly lavish."

Lin Chu’s tone was teasing, not overtly harsh.

Hou Chengjin chuckled. "You flatter me. I bought it back when I made my first fortune. I was a bit flashier then, and my tastes reflected that. But it’s a house; you get used to it after a while and don’t feel like changing things."

His attitude was surprisingly humble now. The sheer ostentation of the place had said more than enough; he didn’t need to add to it.

"Have a seat. We can eat and talk."

Everyone took their respective seats.

Lin Chu was seated next to Hou Chengjin. The people he brought with him were seated to his right, while Hou Chengjin’s streamers were on the left.

"President Lin," Hou Chengjin began, "we were just talking about how popular short-form web series are getting. We’re thinking of getting in on it, riding the trend."

’We haven’t even started eating, and he’s already talking business.’

Lin Chu glanced at him, nodding with a smile. "They do seem to be quite popular, but it’s not my area of expertise, nor is it my lane."

To be fair, Lin Chu did feel a grudging admiration for him at that moment.

The pretentiousness was annoying, but the man clearly knew what was important: making money, no matter what.

"Oh, I see. Well, let’s eat, let’s eat."

"Let’s eat first. What should we drink? Red or white wine?"

Lin Chu: "Either is fine."

The butler immediately approached, bowing slightly with an ear cocked, ready for instructions.

"Red wine, then. I have work later tonight, so I can’t overdo it... Hmm?"

As he was speaking, his gaze suddenly fell on Lin Chu’s wrist. He spotted a watch that hadn’t been there when they were playing earlier.

If he wasn’t mistaken, it was a Richard Mille. ’Looks like the RM 50-03?’

Hmm?

His interest was suddenly piqued.

Lin Chu saw the look in his eyes, guessed what he was thinking, and smiled. "What is it?"

Hou Chengjin: "Nothing, I was just lost in thought for a moment. Go get the wine."

He gave Lin Chu a thoughtful look and couldn’t help but chuckle.

’President Lin... he’s really something else,’ he thought to himself.

’Then again, it might just be the watch Lin Chu always wears.’

’That watch is in the ten-million-yuan range.’

’So extravagant.’

...

The butler returned with the wine and let it breathe for a moment.

"Come, a toast. Let’s consider today our official introduction. Fate works in mysterious ways. I feel like we’re on the same wavelength. We should talk more. If any opportunities or projects come up, perhaps we can collaborate in the future."

Hou Chengjin said with a casual smile as he poured the wine.

Lin Chu nodded with a smile. "Sure, no problem. I agree, we should get together more often. I live in Swan Castle. You can come over to my place next time."

Hou Chengjin smiled and nodded, his eyes flickering slightly as he remarked nonchalantly, "Sure. Swan Castle, huh? Old money."

Overseas Chinese Town was a traditional luxury residential area.

Lin Chu clinked his glass against Hou Chengjin’s. "What’s this ’old money’ business? Is there a new and old version of cash? That’s ridiculous."

Hou Chengjin burst out laughing. "You’re not wrong there. So humble, and so perceptive."

Lin Chu just waved a hand with a smile and drank his wine without responding.

The atmosphere gradually warmed up.

Lin Chu had a feeling that Hou Chengjin definitely had something he wanted to discuss, but he wasn’t in a hurry, still laying the groundwork.

Dragged out, but dignified.

But Lin Chu wasn’t in a rush either. He just ate his meal. ’There’s plenty of time.’

Interacting with someone like this was a novel experience for Lin Chu. Both the lifestyle and the aesthetic felt like they were broadening his horizons.

Overall, Lin Chu’s impression of him was actually pretty decent.

Of course, admiration was one thing, but it didn’t change the fact that—’Today, I’m going to elegantly out-flex him!’

...

...