Lin Chu laughed, got up, and headed for the door. "I’m outta here, Brother Kai. See you around."

’Damn, I’m good.’

’I’m *so* good.’

’It’s true what they say: shameless people get shit done.’

’As long as I don’t care about my image, it’s actually a fucking blast.’

’Besides, my judgment was spot on.’

’With a woman like her, you have to come on strong. Being a gentleman, being polite, all those pleasantries—they’re useless. The "bad boy" approach is what works.’

—"I’m not afraid of offending you, I’m not afraid of losing you, and I’m definitely not afraid of making you mad." That’s when a man’s masculine charm is at its peak.

’If it doesn’t work out, just move on to the next one.’

That’s what Lin Chu thought, and that’s what he did.

And so... mission accomplished.

’Even if she’s not won over yet, I’ve at least forced my way into the picture.’

’Of course, the prerequisite for playing this game is that you have to be rich.’

Lin Xiwan stood up, glanced at Li Kai, and shrugged, looking torn between laughter and exasperation. "He’s really something else... I... I’m going for a ride with him. We’ll be taking off now..."

Li Kai: ...

Slumping back into his chair in defeat, he waved a dismissive hand. ’Go on, go on... Just get lost!’

’I’m beat.’

’I’m well and truly beaten.’

’Besides, Lin Chu had already drawn a line in the sand. Was I supposed to get up and start a fight with him?’

’That would be so pathetic.’

’The key thing is, even if I did start a fight, what good would it do?’

’The girl doesn’t even like me!’

Lin Xiwan gave Li Kai a deep look, then also hurried toward the door.

When she got to the main entrance, she saw Lin Chu leaning against the door, smoking.

Lin Chu let out a long plume of smoke and said with a smile, "Get in. Ride with me."

’The guy might be reckless, but he’s also seriously rich,’ Lin Xiwan thought, glancing at the Lamborghini and no longer hesitating. ’That’s a kind of security in itself. He won’t hurt you; the worst he wants is to sleep with you.’

’Sigh...’

She let out a small internal sigh, and her racing heart began to slow considerably.

She walked to the passenger side, pulled open the door, and got in.

Lin Chu started the car, slammed on the gas, and shot off with a ROAR.

"Brother Chu, is this... how you usually hit on girls?"

Lin Xiwan teased him with a smile, instinctively trying to regain some psychological balance. It was a defense mechanism.

Lin Chu responded just as directly, "Not for all of them. I give money to the ones who love money. You don’t need money, right? That leaves the direct approach. What can I say? My DNA kicked in."

"Oh."

She couldn’t help but let out a soft laugh.

’He’s so... transparent.’

"I’m guessing Li Kai must be mad at you. I mean, you’re supposed to be good friends, and you pull a stunt like this."

She found another topic, continuing to tease him.

Lin Chu snorted and looked at her with a grin. "Did I not give him a chance? I did, but you’re just not into him... Shit, if you were actually his girl, you think I could’ve just dragged you away? Don’t worry. You two have been friends for over ten years. If he’s going to be mad at anyone, he’ll be mad at you. It won’t fall on me."

As he said this, Lin Chu even let out a couple of dry laughs.

Lin Xiwan: ???

Her eyes widened as she took in his roguishness.

’This guy is unbelievable.’

"You’re unbelievable! You really are a ’great friend’!"

she said, torn between laughter and exasperation, while secretly grinding her teeth.

Lin Chu: "Thanks for the compliment. But don’t say I’m ’unbelievable’ just yet. Wait until after we’ve slept together, then we’ll talk."

She: ...

She let out a long sigh.

’This level of trash talk is actually nothing special, well within my tolerance for shamelessness. But combined with Lin Chu’s earlier actions, it’s making my heart race. The key is, he’s not just all talk; he actually follows through!’

’To be honest, this is the first time I’ve ever met this type of man.’

’Like some kind of damn American tough guy.’

"Did you study abroad, Brother Chu?"

she asked suddenly, thinking that Lin Chu might have been heavily influenced by that kind of culture.

Lin Chu: "Nope, never even been out of the country. A total country bumpkin. Everything I’ve done tonight has been for one reason: I want to get with you. I’m hooked, really hooked. You can just say I’m in heat. Of course, if you’re not into it, you can leave. Get out of the car anytime. I don’t do anything criminal."

Lin Chu was throwing nothing but fastballs.

’Don’t waste time.’

’If it works, it works.’

’If not, forget it.’

’I’ll just go find a female fitness coach with a peach-perfect butt instead. Same difference.’

"I’m... completely floored!"

Lin Xiwan said with a smile, putting her hands together in a gesture of surrender. She was genuinely convinced. He just laid his naked desire right out in front of her, and it was up to her to accept it or not.

’It’s like a blind date.’

’But what the hell are blind dates, anyway?’

’Those guys don’t have an ounce of his machismo.’

"So, tell me about yourself. I should get to know you a little..."

she said with a sigh.

Lin Chu thought for a moment. While waiting at a red light, he opened his mobile banking app and showed her his account balance directly. "Here. I’ve got about this much in cash, around ten million. Also own a company, a gym, and a few cars. That’s it. Don’t ask about anything else, because I won’t tell you."

Looking at the number on the bank balance, she took a deep breath, but then couldn’t help but laugh out loud.

"Your fastballs are *too* straight... Are you... looking to date, or just hook up? I’ll be direct too. Let’s not waste each other’s time."

Lin Chu: "Right now, I desperately want to sleep with you. As for love, I don’t know about the future..."

She laughed out loud again.

’Unbelievable!’

’But, I approve.’

’The guy doesn’t lie. He only tells you the cold, hard truth.’

’The willing will take the bait.’

’It’s just that the hook is a little too straight.’

Just then, Lin Chu’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it; the call was from Wang Zhefei.

Lin Chu answered nonchalantly. 𝚏𝗿𝗲𝐞𝐰𝚎𝕓𝐧𝚘𝘃𝗲𝐥.𝐜𝚘𝕞

"Hey, what’re you up to? Come grab some skewers, same old place. We’ll have a few drinks. I just finished my project, I’m in a great mood, so it’s my treat tonight."

"Alright, wait for me. I’m on the North Ring Road now, be there in fifteen minutes, tops."

With that, Lin Chu hung up the phone.

’My buddy’s call came at the perfect time.’

’Shit!’

Tilting his head to look at Lin Xiwan, Lin Chu grinned. "So, uh, looks like we won’t be seeing the stars and the Moon. My buddy just called me. If you want to come, we can go together—you can see the stars and Moon from a barbecue stall too. If not, I’ll find an intersection and drop you off. Can’t be helped. This buddy of mine has been going crazy working on his project. It’s rare for him to ask me out, so I have to be there for him."

Lin Xiwan: ?

She almost laughed—not out of anger, but because she found the situation absurd and interesting.

’He went to all this trouble to get me to come out with him, came on so strong, and now he’s just going to ditch me for his buddy after one phone call?’

"Are you kidding me?! Are you messing with me!"

she retorted, completely speechless.

"Hey, what kind of talk is that? It can’t be helped. I can’t just ditch my bro for a woman, can I?"

"You can always talk things over with a woman, but missing out on your bro’s drama? That’d be a major loss."

"Come on, let’s go together. If not, you can wait until after I’ve dealt with him, then we can deal with each other."

Lin Chu said with unshakable confidence.

He couldn’t help but laugh himself.

’This is nuts.’

’So damn exciting!’

Lin Xiwan: ...

She felt like she’d just finished ten sets of anaerobic squats, "tortured" to the point of complete exhaustion. ’Really, this guy is just so anti-cliché, so interesting. I’ve never met a man like him in my life. But, on second thought, his logic is sound and internally consistent.’

On the contrary, it had a very peculiar charm.

’Like a wandering martial arts hero from a novel.’

"Oh my god, fine, fine, fine, don’t say anymore. I’ll go with you. I’ll just consider today an eye-opening experience."

she said with a laugh, too drained to even retort.

Lin Chu also smiled and nodded. "Alright then. You look like you’ve got some strength. If I drink too much later, you can carry me home."

...

...