Chapter 120: Chapter 119: I Don’t Lack Friends

At that moment, Lin Chu suddenly felt a little conflicted.

He could tell this girl was a genuine romantic. Her looks and personality were great, she was capable, and her family background was undeniable.

She was probably the most outstanding woman he’d met in all respects.

’To be honest, while I’m not eager to give up my title as the ultimate playboy, I’m still quite tempted to get with her.’

’But a part of me knew that if I actually went for it, there’d be trouble. Getting entangled with her would be unavoidable.’

’Just like with Chen Jinyu.’

’Because when someone like that gets with you, they’re looking to build a life together.’

’And she’s rich, so she’d definitely be controlling. The thought alone is exhausting. Can’t we just have fun? Nope.’

Rich girls need love, too.

Love is such a grand and noble emotion, the pinnacle of human experience. And rich people, especially rich women, are all the more desperate to experience it.

Of course, they only want to experience it with men who are just as wealthy, if not wealthier.

"Heh, you’re trying to corrupt me."

"To be honest, I’m not looking to get married either. This whole blind date thing tonight was a complete accident, I never saw it coming. All I wanted was to buy a piece of land. Who knew your father, Old Yang, would insist on introducing me to his daughter, right?"

Lin Chu teased with a wide grin.

His relaxed attitude was infectious. She looked at Lin Chu and couldn’t help but laugh.

"So you’re blaming me now?"

"But it’s fine not to want to get married. I get it. When a man has money, he can have a different woman every night. What kind of girl couldn’t he find? Why would he bother getting married? He probably wouldn’t even consider having kids."

Hm?

’She’s testing me again.’

Lin Chu sensed it instinctively, sharply.

’What she’s saying right now definitely isn’t what she truly thinks. She’s trying to bait me. Her goal is to figure out what kind of man I really am.’

This, however, excited Lin Chu all over again. "You can’t really look at it that way. ’A couple married young becomes companions in old age,’ as they say. You’ll be old one day, too. Or worse, what if your luck runs out and you go bankrupt? What do you think those women who were only attracted to your money would treat you like then?"

She gave Lin Chu a long look and nodded. "Yes, exactly. A kindred spirit. That’s what I think, too."

"You’re very perceptive. You have an insight worthy of your wealth."

This time, her words sounded somewhat sincere.

Lin Chu rolled his eyes at her, lowering the car window to light a cigarette. "Like I need your praise. ’Kindred spirit’... Hah, what a vintage term. What’s next, are you going to start quoting *Reader’s Digest* at me?"

Yang Huixian: ...

Her lips moved, but she didn’t offer a rebuttal.

’Hmph. Such an arrogant man.’

’But he’s also kind of interesting.’

...

Following Yang Huixian’s directions, the two arrived at a small tavern near Overseas Chinese Town Swan Castle.

There were open-air tents and string lights. A bartender was mixing drinks on the spot with flashy, impressive moves. He used a lot of roasting techniques, even torching slices of sea-salted lemon, filling the air with a complex bouquet of aromas.

The air was thick with the scent of raging hormones.

A single shot wasn’t cheap—fifty bucks for a small glass.

But there were still plenty of customers, mostly couples.

’Lin Chu suddenly realized he hadn’t really been on a proper "date" in a long time. He usually cut straight to the chase—meeting up meant getting a room, and everything happened there.’

’An experience like this actually felt a little rare.’

’Of course, maybe it was just because she was someone new.’

’There was still that sense of novelty.’

"This one’s called ’Peng City.’ It’s the taste of Peng City itself. The first sip is bitter, then a sweet note comes through, and the finish is slightly salty and sour. With the burn from the alcohol, you get all the flavors of life—sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy—all in one glass."

Yang Huixian explained softly as the two drinks were served. She had clearly been here before and had the drink; it had left a deep impression on her.

Lin Chu picked up his glass and downed it in one go.

He did taste the flavors she described—it was complex, and not bad at all. He gave her a thoughtful glance, then just shook his head and smiled.

"Couldn’t you just mix sugar, salt, vinegar, and chili peppers with alcohol and get the same ’sour, sweet, bitter, and spicy’ flavors? I’ll mix one for you next time. No need to thank me. Just remember to chug it."

Hearing this, she burst out laughing. She looked at Lin Chu, a mix of surprise and wonder in her eyes, and felt a stir deep in her soul.

’His mind works in such a strange way.’

Lin Chu rested his chin on his hand, his gaze leisurely fixed on her.

"What is it? Why are you staring at me?"

she asked.

Lin Chu said, "I’m thinking about something."

"Hm?"

"Lean closer."

Yang Huixian hesitated for a moment but leaned in anyway, cupping her ear with a long, slender hand.

Lin Chu leaned close to her ear and whispered with a hint of a smile, "I’m thinking about how to lure you back to my place later... to see which is more beautiful: you, or my Imperial Jadeite Green and Mutton Fat Jade."

Yang Huixian: ???

She felt as if she’d been struck by lightning. Her whole body went numb, and she instinctively recoiled so hard that she tumbled backward, landing flat on her bottom. Sitting there on the ground, she stared at Lin Chu in utter disbelief, her mind a complete blank.

Lin Chu’s words painted such a vivid picture that she could almost see it, and for a moment, she felt a thrill, a flutter of excitement...

But...

For a man she had just met, no matter how much she might like him, to say something like that... it still struck her as roguish.

Taking a deep breath, she returned to her seat, a new coolness in her eyes.

"Don’t you think you went a little too far?"

But Lin Chu looked completely unfazed. "Yeah, I probably did," he said. "But I’m not planning on apologizing. I’ll go pay the bill."

He stood up and walked over to the stall owner.

He scanned the QR code, paid, and came back to stand in front of her. "I’ll have my driver take you home," Lin Chu said with a smile. "Or you can find your own way, of course. Well then, bye."

Then he turned and walked away.

As he walked, he casually pulled out his phone and deleted her from his contacts.

’Anyone who disturbs my peace of mind cannot be allowed to stay.’

’And someone who disturbs my peace and isn’t willing to feed the tiger? They *definitely* can’t stay.’

The moment he hit delete, he had already made his decision: Was it more important to be himself, or to get into a relationship?

Lin Chu chose the former.

No regrets. No second thoughts. No mixed feelings.

Watching Lin Chu’s retreating figure, Yang Huixian sat there, dazed. After a long moment, she pulled out her phone, glanced at their chat, and sent a "?".

But she was met with a red exclamation mark. Sure enough, Lin Chu had already deleted her.

She shook her head unconsciously, her expression bewildered.

’Wait, is this really how things are now?’

’This fast?’

’I feel like my brain is short-circuiting.’

’I even feel a little pathetic.’

In that moment, she had a crisis of confidence, questioning her own appeal. She even had the urge to run after him, but ultimately, she restrained herself.

"Wait, aren’t you afraid I’ll tell my dad?"

She sent another friend request, this time with a message attached.

「A moment later.」

She received a reply from Lin Chu—he hadn’t accepted her request. "You said it yourself. We’re not a good match. And we really aren’t."

She thought for a moment, then sent another message: "Can’t we just be friends?"

Lin Chu: "I’m not short on friends. Thanks."

She: ...

’That’s true,’ she thought. ’A man who can casually drop 62 million on a piece of Imperial Green Jadeite... how could he possibly be short on friends?’

’But why do I feel so miserable?’

’It feels like I’ve lost a priceless treasure, a loss I regret even more than selling that Imperial Green Jadeite.’

Yang Huixian sat there in a daze for a long while before she felt her strength start to return. She glanced at the Mercedes-Benz parked by the road, hesitated several times, but finally walked over and knocked on the car window.

"Hi. Take me to your boss’s house."

’Whoever can’t let go first is the one who loses.’

Gao Haitao glanced at her and smiled. "Of course. Please, get in. It’s just nearby."

...

As he walked past the little tavern, Lin Chu’s mind was perfectly calm. He casually dialed Wang Zhefei’s number.

"What are you up to? Come over to my place for tea."

Wang Zhefei replied, "You got it. Hang tight, I’ll be right over on my little electric scooter."

Lin Chu suddenly remembered something. "Holy shit, you bastard, you had a housewarming party and didn’t even invite me? You’re a real piece of work! Trying to save money on one lousy meal!"

Wang Zhefei burst out laughing, snorting like a pig.

"Bro, chill, chill. I was mostly just worried you’d go after my sister, you animal."

"Damn, is there no trust between us brothers? Am I really that kind of guy?"

Wang Zhefei laughed. "Yep. You are. I’ve never met a bigger womanizer. If a female dog in heat walked by, she’d have to cross the street to avoid you."

Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh as well.

"Oh, fuck off! Just get over here!"

...

...