After a casual dinner, Lin Chu pocketed another rebate of over ten thousand yuan.

But with over ten million dangling in front of him, a mere ten thousand yuan didn’t even make a ripple in his heart. In fact, he almost wanted to laugh.

And yet, this was almost what he used to make in a whole month of thankless, back-breaking work.

After dinner, it was already past nine o’clock, and the group headed for a bar.

Lin Chu still hadn’t heard from Wang Zhefei, so he took the initiative and gave him a call.

He had to call three times before the line finally connected.

"Working overtime. A serious bug just popped up. I can’t make it tonight."

His voice on the phone was grim and exhausted.

"Is your company run by humans? Look at the time! You’re still not off work? Come on, quit that crappy job. I’ll support you."

Lin Chu ranted for a moment before teasing him with a grin.

Wang Zhefei was silent for a few seconds. "I wrote the bug. This is a battle for my honor. Piss off."

Uh.

Hearing that, Lin Chu couldn’t help but laugh.

"Then you can go clean up your own damn mess, you idiot."

BEEP BEEP BEEP.

The line went dead.

Lin Chu just shook his head and smiled.

’A battle for his honor?’

’This was a huge part of why he respected Wang Zhefei so deeply. The man was a programmer with ideals, ambition, and principles. If he wrote a bug, he’d fix it even if it killed him.’

’Now that’s the fucking spirit of a true artisan.’

...

The atmosphere inside Bar 404 was already buzzing. The prime spot in the center had been reserved, so Lin Chu picked the next best available.

Compared to his last visit, he felt much calmer and more composed this time. He wasn’t in such a rush to flash his cash. First, he had them bring out the bottle he’d left here last time.

’Money is a man’s courage.’

’It’s also the source of his composure, ease, elegance, and the vast majority of his dignity.’

"Looks like Brother Chu is a regular here..."

Xiaolu remarked with a sudden smile.

Lin Chu glanced at her.

But Lu Ming had already spoken up, saying with a smile, "Why don’t you go back to the library and study?"

Xiaolu froze for a second and pursed her lips, looking a little hurt, but she obediently sat back down.

’Why is he being so harsh?’

’I was just making a casual comment.’

Her family was also well-off, only a step below Lu Ming’s. To the average person, she was the classic "rich, pretty girl." She was the darling of her family, spoiled rotten, and used to getting her way. So right now, she was feeling more than a little disgruntled.

"I’m going to the restroom."

"Manman, want to come with?"

Du Xiaoman would never refuse such a request. She stood up with a smile, and the two walked to the restroom hand in hand.

Watching the two of them leave, the four men exchanged a look. Lu Ming scratched his head. "That was close. I almost blew my cover. Bringing your girlfriend to a bar, especially one you frequent... it’s a suicide mission."

Lin Chu chuckled. "It’ll be even more thrilling if you run into that girl you took home last time."

Lu Ming was instantly horrified. "Bro, please stop! Don’t jinx me! I’m serious! The last thing I need is a Chaotic Scene."

Lu Ming was a guy whose heart hadn’t yet been "sealed with cement." He still showed his girlfriend a surface-level respect and definitely still had some beautiful fantasies about love and marriage. He probably hadn’t been hurt that badly. With his family background, he had never wanted for money. He was also clever and handsome, so he’d likely had smooth sailing in the dating world his whole life.

As for Liu Junfeng...

’Lin Chu figured that the old lecher had probably lost a lot more at the hands of women than he’d ever gained.’

At this, they all burst out laughing.

They poured drinks, ready for a toast.

But Zhang Peng smiled and said, "Bro, I’m not drinking tonight. I’ll be your driver. I’ve got the keys right here."

Lin Chu glanced at him and chuckled. "No need to be in such a hurry to show off your career ambitions. Drink up. We can talk business tomorrow."

"Hahaha, you got it."

With a slightly forced laugh, Zhang Peng raised his glass.

After the four men had two rounds of drinks, Xiaolu and Du Xiaoman returned. They each found a seat and ordered a couple of soft drinks. Their attention was mostly on the stage, as they weren’t quite in the party spirit yet, just enjoying the music and the atmosphere.

But this kind of atmosphere was starting to bore Liu Junfeng.

’Six people, and both girls are taken. It makes me look like a damn loser, just sitting here by myself.’

"This is getting a little dull."

"Brothers, you guys keep drinking. I’m gonna go find some fun."

He casually smoothed his hair and waded into the sea of people. His eyes swept the room and landed on two girls sitting by themselves. They were quite attractive, and he immediately sauntered over with a grin.

To be wild was a way of life!

And perhaps it was also Liu Junfeng’s personal creed.

Lin Chu watched the scene unfold with a smile, finding it highly entertaining.

Old Liu’s pick-up game was top-notch. Of course, he wasn’t bad-looking either, and he had that mature, "charming older guy" vibe. In no time at all, he was chatting away with the two girls.

Lin Chu thought for a moment, then waved a waiter over. He told him to send a bottle of Louis XIII to their table. The "Divine Dragon" set would be too ostentatious; they’d never be able to finish it, and it probably wouldn’t even fit on the table. Besides, it would make him look like a nouveau riche trying too hard. The girls were already drinking brandy, so a top-shelf bottle of it would be perfect. The price: 39,888 yuan.

After he paid, he saw the others staring at him in shock once again and simply raised his glass with a casual air.

Lu Ming was already used to it.

Bai Lu was getting a little used to it.

Du Xiaoman, on the other hand, was floored all over again.

’Wow, Brother Chu... he’s way too good to his friends, isn’t he? The guy goes to hit on some girls and you send over a bottle?’

「A short while later.」

The bottle was delivered to their table.

Liu Junfeng was practically dying of pleasant surprise. He glanced back at their table. ’Brother Chu, you magnificent wingman! You’ve given me social proof while also pulling off a subtle flex.’

’Of course, he could have bought it himself. But to walk over to hit on some girls and immediately order a bottle of Louis XIII would seem a bit presumptuous. Having a friend send it over, though? That was perfect.’

’It gave him face.’

’It gave him class.’

The two girls he was hitting on glanced over toward Lin Chu’s table. They exchanged a few more words with Liu Junfeng, who then quickly walked back over. "Brother Chu, they want to join our table. What do you think?"

Lin Chu shot him a look. "It’s up to you. Sure, the more the merrier."

So the three of them had the waiter bring the bottle and came over to join them.

"This is my main man, Brother Chu... you guys can just call him Brother Chu, too. Come on, let’s all have a drink! We’ll start with three rounds and go from there."

Liu Junfeng was getting hyped up, a wide grin on his face. He was finally getting into the zone. ’What’s the point of drinking without girls?’ he thought. ’Now things are getting interesting.’

The whole table laughed and clinked their glasses together.

At that moment, as Lin Chu sat in the center of the sofa, he saw a boy who was passably handsome striding down the aisle toward them. The boy was holding a phone, and his somewhat immature face was a mask of disbelief.

"Senior Sister Du, what are you doing here?"

His tone was subservient, yet simmering with restrained anger.

The words had barely left his mouth when two security guards materialized in front of him, forming a solid human wall.

"Sir, please calm down."

Faced with two tall, burly security guards, the boy immediately lost his nerve. He hesitated, then forced a smile. "I’m not here to cause trouble. That’s my friend. I just want to talk to her for a second."

Lin Chu looked at Du Xiaoman with a smirk. "Go on. He’s your friend, right?"

Du Xiaoman clutched Lin Chu’s arm tightly and said in a very serious tone, "He’s not my friend! He’s just a classmate! I have nothing to do with him, I swear. He tried to give me flowers once, and I refused them. Xiaolu can vouch for me."

She then stood up and snapped at the boy, "Can you please not disturb us? What business is it of yours?"

The boy froze.

He scratched his head, looking completely flustered, and stammered, "Sorry, I’m so sorry. I’m disturbing you."

Then he turned and walked away quickly. After a few steps, he glanced back one more time before quickening his pace and disappearing.

As Lin Chu watched the kid’s retreating back, the smile on his face gradually faded. He didn’t feel any sense of triumph. Instead, he vaguely saw a shadow of his former self.

’That stinging feeling of having your dignity crushed... it’s definitely not a good one.’

’So what can you do about it?’

’Never underestimate a young man for being poor.’

...

...