Just as they were finishing up dinner, Lu Ming called.

"Brother Chu, I took her home. Where are you guys? What’s the plan for tonight?"

Now that he had dropped off his girlfriend, his voice carried a newfound confidence, tinged with a palpable sense of relief.

’To be fair,’ Lin Chu thought, ’it’s not like Lu Ming is a total simp. He’s probably just well-mannered and respects Xiaolu a lot. But for a guy, that state of mind means he’s constantly on edge.’

"Have you eaten?"

Lin Chu didn’t answer his question right away, asking casually instead.

Lu Ming joked, "We’ve eaten. Without you, we have to settle for Haidilao."

Lin Chu laughed. "Cut the crap. Come on over. We’re at the Wanhao Hotel near Che Kung Temple."

Lu Ming was stunned when he heard the address.

"Holy shit, you’re already at the hotel at this hour? No way, did you really set up one of *those* kinds of parties?"

Lin Chu gave a wicked grin. "Yep. When you get here, just tell the front desk you’re a guest of Mr. Lin in the presidential suite."

Lu Ming: "On my way! Right now! I’m flooring it so hard I’m seeing sparks!"

And with that, he hung up.

「Less than twenty minutes later.」

Lu Ming arrived. When the doorbell to the presidential suite rang, Zhang Peng went to get the door.

The two of them had finished dinner long ago and were just admiring the night view from the sofa.

Zhang Peng was speechless at Brother Chu’s twisted sense of humor.

Lu Ming walked in, his eyes scanning the room, but he only saw Lin Chu.

"Where is everyone?"

"Am I not a person? Is Brother Peng not a person?"

Lu Ming: ...

He was at a loss for words, but he couldn’t help but laugh. "Damn, so it was a false alarm, huh?"

Lin Chu suppressed a smile and clapped his hands. "Ladies, stop hiding! Come on out!"

A spark of hope flared in Lu Ming’s heart once more.

Holy shit!

’They’re really here!’

Seeing the look of pure anticipation in his eyes, Lin Chu burst out squealing with laughter.

Lu Ming: ?

"Dammit!"

"You bastard!"

"You just had to keep it going, didn’t you!"

It finally dawned on him. He’d been had—twice! Swearing under his breath with a laugh, he stormed over to the sofa and stared at Lin Chu, utterly exasperated.

Lin Chu finally placated him. "Hey, if we want company, it’s just a phone call away. Besides, I’ve already rented this presidential suite for the whole year. From now on, this is our home base."

Lu Ming was stunned by this revelation.

A presidential suite?

Paid for by the year?

’Is he really going this hard?’

He immediately latched onto Lin Chu’s arm like a damsel in distress. "Bro, how many rooms are there? I’ve been homeless for so long, forced to wander the streets every night..."

Lin Chu replied, "There are six rooms. I’ve saved one for you, but on one condition: no bringing your girlfriend here."

"Understood. Hehe, understood. Crystal clear."

Lu Ming let out a goofy laugh.

For a guy, a place like this was the ultimate secret base for playing the field, a place where you could do whatever you wanted. Bringing a girlfriend here would ruin the entire vibe.

The three of them horsed around for a bit, checking out the suite and fantasizing about all the ways they could use it.

Mostly, this involved shooting the shit.

"So, what’s the plan for tonight?"

"It’s not even nine o’clock."

Lu Ming commented idly.

Lin Chu thought for a moment. "Doesn’t this place have an executive lounge? Let’s go. Tonight, we’ll set a rule: it’s a pickup game. Every man for himself. Let’s do something that’ll get our hearts racing."

Lu Ming: ...

He was suddenly a bit dumbfounded.

"Wait, hold on... I’m a bit nervous about that. I mean, I can start a conversation, but sealing the deal is tough. A place like that isn’t exactly a wild club."

Lin Chu chuckled. "The high difficulty is what makes it fun. It’s all about personal charm."

Zhang Peng sighed. ’Brother Chu really got worked up,’ he thought. ’Looks like that white swimsuit truly awakened his desire to conquer.’

"Let’s go."

"I’ll follow you into the jaws of death!"

Lu Ming gritted his teeth and agreed.

"And anyone who scores a ten gets called ’Dad’ tomorrow morning," Lin Chu added.

And so, the three of them, chests puffed out and full of bravado, marched toward the executive lounge.

...

Before he entered the Wanhao’s executive lounge, Lin Chu had imagined it would be a high-end, magnificent place. It was his first time, after all, and his expectations were high.

However, after waltzing in for free using the privileges that came with his presidential suite, Lin Chu was a little stunned.

’There are way too many people here, aren’t there?’

Perhaps because it was free, the place was completely packed. Lin Chu’s brow furrowed slightly.

It was like a crowded market, the cacophony of voices making his head buzz.

"Damn, why are there so many people?"

"Wanhao has been giving out memberships like crazy, and with all the co-branded credit cards, being a member is basically meaningless now."

Lu Ming couldn’t help but complain.

Lin Chu scanned the room. "There isn’t even a sofa left to sit on..."

Zhang Peng chuckled softly. "But there are a lot of beautiful women."

The three of them exchanged a look, and each broke into a grin.

Charge!

...

「Roughly half an hour later.」

「At the entrance of the executive lounge.」

It was Lu Ming who had gathered them, calling the other two over.

He spoke bluntly. "Bros, I give up. No, my two Daddies, I surrender. I was wrong, so wrong. This is not my kind of battlefield. It’s too damn loud, and I feel like a complete idiot."

Zhang Peng scratched his head. "I want to tap out too. What the hell are we even doing? We’d have a better time at Starbucks."

For a moment, Lin Chu was also at a loss for words.

’Okay, my experience was pretty terrible too.’

’Maybe it’s because it’s the weekend?’

’There were just too many people.’

’And a lot of them brought their kids.’

’I couldn’t even get close enough to the bar to grab a cocktail.’

’Pick up girls?’

’Pick up girls my ass!’

In that moment, any mystique the so-called executive lounge held for Lin Chu was utterly shattered.

’Although, at least I can say I’ve experienced it now.’

"Let’s bail!"

The three of them left without hesitation. Once outside, they caught each other’s eye and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.

Lin Chu was suddenly reminded of his "broke loser" days.

’You know, it was actually kind of fun.’

...

Just then, a virtual panel quietly materialized in front of Lin Chu.

[Lu Ming’s Favorability toward you has exceeded 90.]

[Third friend slot unlocked.]

[Friend: Lu Ming]

[Closeness: 90]

Huh?

The sudden appearance of the system panel caught Lin Chu by surprise. It was a pleasant one.

’It was so strange.’

’I took him to eat at Ensue, partied at 404, bought a Lamborghini... I did all that showing off and flaunting my wealth, but his Closeness never went up, and the friend slot never unlocked.’

’And now, the three of us go and do something completely idiotic together, and *that’s* what makes our friendship grow?’

A peculiar realization dawned on Lin Chu.

’After a moment’s thought, though, it made sense.’

’It’s easy to share wealth, but much harder to share hardship.’

’The friendships from childhood and school, the reason they’re so deep and wonderful, is because you go through a lot of tough times together.’

’Just like with Wang Zhefei—that was a friendship forged over instant noodles when we were broke.’

’How could that not run deep?’

’Interesting.’

At that moment, Lin Chu felt his understanding of friendship had reached a new level.

His mood soaring, Lin Chu waved his hand grandly. "Let’s go! To Sky City! To hell with picking up girls here."

Hearing this, Lu Ming’s eyes instantly lit up.

"Let’s go!"

He’d been to Sky City—one of Peng City’s top Business KTVs—a few times, and it had left a deep impression. It was high-class, absolutely top-tier.

The three of them made their way down to the parking garage and hopped into the Yangwang U8.

Lin Chu pulled out his phone. "I’ll call two more people. Let’s get Brother Feng and Li Kai to come."

Brother Feng was the best at livening up the mood.

And as for Li Kai, a Business KTV was a pretty suitable place for a first meeting.

...

...