"What kind of company did you start? What industry is it in?"

The time was a little after eight in the evening. The place, a bedroom. 𝘧𝓇ℯ𝑒𝓌𝑒𝑏𝓃𝘰𝘷𝘦𝘭.𝒸ℴ𝓂

Chen Jinyu had just showered and changed into her sleepwear. Full of allure, she watched Lin Chu as he sat on the edge of the bed, smoking.

A woman, fulfilled, is like a flower after the rain—relaxed in body and mind, overflowing with affection.

Lin Chu exhaled a long plume of smoke. "Don’t ask. Knowing too much won’t do you any good."

She faltered for a moment, then sat down on the edge of the bed and stroked Lin Chu’s face. "Feeling the pressure?"

"Pressure, my ass. It’s no big deal."

Lin Chu said casually, stubbing out his cigarette. "Gotta go. I’ve got another gathering tonight."

Chen Jinyu hesitated, then said softly, "If... if you need money, just tell me. I have a little. It’s not much, but I’ve got several hundred thousand."

Her hesitation wasn’t because she was reluctant to part with the money, but because she was worried Lin Chu would feel like he was losing face, that his pride would be hurt.

Lin Chu chuckled dismissively. "Don’t be ridiculous... Conning you for sex is fine, but conning you for money? That’s just ridiculous."

He got out of bed and started getting dressed.

’Con?’

Chen Jinyu didn’t know whether to laugh or cry as she watched him, letting out a soft sigh.

She suddenly felt that, at his core, Lin Chu was a decent person, but he insisted on expressing himself with such roguish words.

"Going drinking again tonight?"

"What else?"

"Just drink a little less..."

"I know, I know. You worry too much..."

Lin Chu flicked her nose. He was already dressed. "You got the membership, so you better use it," he said with a grin. "Work out more. Make it a little perkier."

Chen Jinyu’s face flushed red again, but this time with a hint of inexplicable nervousness, her eyelashes trembling slightly.

’I’m not perky enough?’

’It’s plenty perky, okay?’

But Lin Chu had already turned and left.

She suddenly remembered something and chased after him. "I bought you a suit! Want to try it on?"

Lin Chu’s steps faltered for a second, but he didn’t turn back. He just waved his hand as he bounded down the stairs.

"I’m a rogue, what do I need a suit for!"

"We’ll talk after I get an eight-pack!"

She was speechless.

Watching his retreating figure, however, she couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

Back when she was studying abroad, Chen Jinyu had read *Playboy*. Its core concept was the "sophisticated rogue," but over the years, she’d never actually met one. Those who were too "sophisticated" weren’t rakish enough; they were just too serious. And those who were too "roguish" were just greasy and frivolous, lacking any real courage. At their core, they were just cowards looking to take advantage of people.

But, in that fleeting moment, looking at Lin Chu, she felt as if... she’d finally seen it.

...

"You there? Book a room for me."

After leaving the building and getting into his car, Lin Chu sent a message to Fan Wanjun.

’He’d said he’d have someone book the room, after all.’

’After all, he was freeloading.’

Fan Wanjun replied instantly: "Okay, how many people?"

Lin Chu: "Probably more than a dozen. Get the biggest room."

During lunch, Liu Junfeng had messaged him, saying he was bringing a few buddies over in the afternoon to sign up for memberships. Lin Chu had been too busy to greet them personally, so he just told him to go on ahead, as there would be staff at the gym.

Xiaodan had also reported that five people came. Besides Liu Junfeng, who already had a membership, the other four had all signed up.

Lin Chu had then told Liu Junfeng he’d arrange for everyone to go for karaoke tonight.

Fan Wanjun: "Got it. Thank you, Young Master Chu. Will you be needing me?"

She had changed how she addressed him and added an extra question.

Having spent enough time in the nightlife scene, she understood how men’s minds worked. They definitely liked novelty. By offering her presence proactively, she could avoid any potential awkwardness later.

Lin Chu casually replied: "There’s a spot for you. Help me take a few drinks."

’Everyone has their use. New faces bring novelty; old faces bring familiarity.’

’Who you pick doesn’t really matter, does it?’

’Besides, who made the rule you can only pick one?’

’She can hold her liquor, so she’s perfect for taking drinks for me.’

Fan Wanjun sent back a sticker of someone kowtowing. "Thank you, boss!"

Soon, Fan Wanjun sent the room number over: 666.

Lin Chu then went to his "Gym Group Chat" and @’d everyone: "Sky City, Room 666. It’s booked. First ones there can get the party started."

Amidst a flood of "Got it" replies, Lin Chu stepped on the gas and sped off.

’Tonight, I’ve got to earn back the rent for the office space, right?’

’An opportunity this big doesn’t come around every day.’

When he arrived, there were already people in the private room.

Liu Junfeng’s group had arrived first. Lu Ming and Zhang Peng were also there.

However, among the four people Liu Junfeng had brought, Lin Chu spotted a familiar figure.

Dressed to the nines in a suit and leather shoes, with slicked-back hair and a watch on his wrist, looking deceptively respectable.

Sun Yu.

Tangtang’s boyfriend.

’This...’

Lin Chu licked his lips. His heart began to beat a little faster, but the corners of his mouth also curved up slightly.

He suddenly understood. Sun Yu worked in finance—at a bank—and had his WeChat. He must have seen Lin Chu’s posts and, getting ideas, proactively sought to cozy up to him.

According to Tangtang’s description, this guy was clearly an opportunist who wouldn’t lift a finger without a reason, and he was extremely good at schmoozing his way up.

TSK.

’If these two were to run into each other at the gym, things would get interesting.’

"Brother Chu, you’re here."

The moment Liu Junfeng saw Lin Chu walk in, he subconsciously stood up to greet him. The rest of the group on the sofa all shot to their feet as well.

’Quite the reception.’

Lin Chu was speechless. "What’s all this? You make it look like a triad meeting. Sit, sit. You guys got here first, why haven’t you ordered any girls yet?"

Liu Junfeng laughed. "Ha, we were waiting for you... We were just chatting. A girl came in, probably your manager, but we sent her out."

Lin Chu nodded, casually taking a seat in the middle and tossing a few packs of cigarettes onto the table.

"What were you all talking about?"

Liu Junfeng smiled. "That’s a bit of a story. Sun Yu here was talking about an investment opportunity. A publicly traded company is about to restructure—majorly good news. He said if we get in early, we could see a five-fold return in six months, max. A few of us were just discussing it..."

Hearing Liu Junfeng mention his name, Sun Yu walked over from the other side of the couch and sat down to Lin Chu’s left. "Brother Chu, you interested?" he asked with a smile.

Lin Chu glanced at him and said nonchalantly, "Let’s talk about it tomorrow. This isn’t the place to discuss that kind of thing."

Lin Chu wasn’t sure.

’Is it a real money-making opportunity?’

’Or is it a trap? A pig-butchering scam?’

’Liu Junfeng couldn’t vouch for Sun Yu, even though he was also in the finance world.’

’I used to be in financial sales myself.’

’But this world is full of tricks, schemes, and counter-schemes. There are just too many of them.’

’It all comes down to one thing—if you’re not the one running the game, you’re probably the lamb being led to the slaughter.’

’Not very interested.’

"Alright, haha, we’ll talk tomorrow then."

Sun Yu didn’t seem to be in a hurry either, just smiling as he spoke.

Lin Chu passed him the tablet. "Here, you order first. You find a money-making opportunity and don’t forget your brothers. Not bad, not bad..."

Sun Yu hastily tried to be modest, but he couldn’t refuse Lin Chu and ended up picking one.

Lin Chu waved his hand grandly. "Hey, one isn’t enough. Pick another one..."

As the group laughed and joked around, Sun Yu felt like he was being put on the spot, but he was naturally enjoying the attention.

’Someone else is paying, so what’s not to like?’

Lin Chu also wanted to laugh. ’Fuck, what is this? I messed around with his girlfriend, and now I’m compensating him for it? But then again, who am I to judge? Just a scumbag and a tramp.’

...

「Before long.」

Li Kai arrived, and with him were the five from lunch.

The private room was huge, though. It could fit another dozen people easily, but they’d be a bit far apart, with sofas lining three walls.

Lin Chu leaned close to Fan Wanjun’s ear. "Looking at the crowd tonight, we’ll need ten bottles of Yamazaki 25. You take care of ordering them—that exact number. You handle the pacing. I’m leaving it to you."

Fan Wanjun licked her red lips, her beautiful eyes widening in disbelief as she stared at Lin Chu.

’She had assumed that with so many people, regular liquor would be fine.’

’She never expected Lin Chu wouldn’t lower his standards one bit.’

’Ten bottles!’

’3.6 million!’

...

...