One million is a fortune for ordinary people; many couldn't earn it even if they didn't eat or drink for twenty years. However, for the young lady of the Zhuang family, it was just a small sum.
However, one million wasn't a huge amount in Lu Chen's eyes either. He was now a multi-millionaire, with over twelve million in his pocket.
He waved his hand: "No need, I'm not very interested in betting on football. I'll just watch."
Just as he finished speaking, a sharp, grating voice suddenly rang out:
"Not very interested? Heh heh, I bet you're too scared to gamble, afraid of losing, huh? Heh heh, after all, one million is a lot of money for a director like you. You're just an employee! A million a year, right? Haha!"
The voice was extremely unpleasant to hear.
Lu Chen turned his head and saw a face still bruised and swollen—it was Shangguan Mingbo. Behind him were two slovenly young men, decked out in designer brands, their faces arrogant; they were clearly rich kids.
Zhuang Keluo coldly said, "Shangguan Mingbo, what are you doing here? Haven't you suffered enough already? Get lost!"
Shangguan Mingbo's face twitched, bringing with it a piercing pain.
That fall that morning, which looked like a dog stomping into the mud, was enough to leave an indelible mark on him.
He stared at Zhuang Keluo, gritting his teeth, and said, "Lolo, I just don't understand. This guy is so indifferent to you, he insults you and pushes you, and you still want to fawn over him. Is it meaningful? Don't forget, you're a rich heiress too. What's so great about this working-class guy that he's worth all that?"
The other two rich kids were also chattering away, clearly there to support her, advising Zhuang Keluo not to fall for someone unworthy of her love. Mingbo was the one worthy of her love; they were a perfect match, a match made in heaven.
Zhuang Kelu scoffed, "What a load of rubbish! Shangguan Mingbo, if you're so capable, stop spending your family's money and go earn some real money. Earn a million a year, and I might consider it!"
This made Shangguan Mingbo's face even uglier.
Lu Chen, however, continued to rub salt in the wound, "Lolo, don't be so demanding. I think earning 100,000 a year is about right. Young Master Mingbo, if you want to compete with me for Lolo, you'd better show some ability, right? Working for someone else is still an ability, better than doing nothing and just spending your family's money, right? Try earning 100,000 a year!"
His tone was full of mockery.
"You son of a bitch!" Shangguan Mingbo took a step forward, pointing fiercely at Lu Chen.
However, he suddenly remembered something and didn't dare to make a move.
Lu Chen scratched his head and chuckled, "Didn't you fall enough this morning? Come on, let me trip you again!"
As he spoke, he lifted one foot off the coffee table and swung it around triumphantly a few times.
Shangguan Mingbo was furious, his face contorted with rage, his ears practically steaming. He recognized it—it was that foot that had tripped him so badly this morning! If he had a big knife, he would have chopped it down!
Just then, a blur of white appeared before his eyes, and he saw a jade-like leg, white as milk, resting on Lu Chen's foot, swaying back and forth. It was Zhuang Keluo's foot, and she said smugly, "Mine's too!"
Then, Lu Chen and Zhuang Keluo, oblivious to everyone else, started swaying their four legs back and forth on the coffee table, one leg on top of the other, the other on top of the other, having a great time.
Shangguan Mingbo's face was as dark as a storm cloud; he really wanted to pounce on Lu Chen and beat him to a pulp. Damn it, flirting with the woman I like right under my nose! I'll kill you!
He took a deep breath, barely managing to suppress his anger, and coldly said, "Lu Chen, if you dare, don't think I can't earn a million a year, I can earn a million in a day! I'm just afraid you won't cooperate!"
"Oh?" Lu Chen scratched his head. "How do I cooperate?"
"Simple!" A young man next to Shangguan Mingbo held up a finger to Lu Chen, saying contemptuously, "I wonder if you have the guts. If you do, let's bet a million on this game!"
Shangguan Mingbo crossed his arms, arrogantly saying, "That's right, how about a million? If you win, a million in cash, I, Shangguan Mingbo, will immediately hand it over. A million, that's at least a year's worth of earnings, right? Just nod, and you've got your year's salary in a day."
Lu Chen sneered inwardly. It seemed this kid really was short-sighted, looking down on him so much.
He then said ominously, "Of course, if you lose, you'll have to pay a million. But Luo Luo will cover it for you, right? So don't worry, you won't lose money! Tsk tsk, having a rich and beautiful woman pay your gambling debts sounds great, much better than being a gigolo, right?"
He laughed loudly, but his laughter was laced with intense jealousy.
Before Lu Chen could speak, Zhuang Keluo raised her voice, "Fine, Brother Chen will gamble with you, a million it is! Shangguan Mingbo, you wait and see, you'll have to come up with a million in cash! Humph!"
She then snapped her fingers cheerfully.
Shangguan Mingbo's face twisted in rage: "Luo Luo, are you really going to spend a million on this Lu Chen? Do you think it's worth it? He's just a high-level employee, does he deserve your status?"
Zhuang Keluo said calmly, "Why not? I think we're a match made in heaven. Brother Chen is better than you in every way. At least he never relies on his family; he earns his own money, and a lot of it! Much better than you parasites!"
As she spoke, she wrapped her arms around Lu Chen's waist, her two towering breasts pressing against his chest.
Hearing her say that, Lu Chen was the first to feel ashamed.
Back in the day, I was also a lazy rich kid!
Shangguan Mingbo laughed in anger, "Fine, fine, well said! Then I'll see how your 'Brother Chen' manages to lose a million!"
He waved his hand and said, "Bring up the contract!"
A young man pulled out several sheets of paper and a pen, slamming them on the table.
Shangguan Mingbo pointed steadily at the sheets of paper, staring coldly at Lu Chen: "We'll sign this contract, that's placing the bet! No need for cash, one million, I believe neither of us will cheat the other!"
Lu Chen, meanwhile, held up one finger and shook it at Shangguan Mingbo, uttering two words: "No bet!"
"No bet?" Shangguan Mingbo chuckled coldly: "Kid, looks like you're scared after all. Can't afford to gamble? Afraid of losing? You really are just a wage earner, huh? One million is all you care about? You don't even have to put in any money, what's there to be afraid of?"
The two guys he brought along chimed in:
"Yeah, this kid looks pretty energetic, how come he's such a coward? Haha, I bet his parents only gave him energy, not guts, a million and he's scared the crap out of him!"
"It's just one million, I heard he's some kind of director? Pah!"
Zhuang Keluo erupted, slamming her hand on the table: "Anyone who can't speak properly, get out! This isn't a place for dogs to bark and scream!" Then, she looked at Lu Chen: "Brother Chen, it's okay, just bet a million with them, we'll win!"
"Yeah, yeah, you'll win!" Shangguan Mingbo winked: "Lu Chen, just sign your name, you don't even have to pay, and you can earn a million a day, how awesome is that! Of course, if you don't have the guts, there's nothing we can do, we'll leave now!"
This kind of provocation is too low.
Lu Chen said calmly: "I won't bet, not because I'm afraid to, but because I disdain to! A million? Kid, are you playing house? Go to kindergarten, okay? Don't bother the adults here."
As he spoke, he stretched comfortably, turned to look at Zhuang Keluo, touched her still-present hickey on her fair neck, and kissed her.
The kiss was so intense that Zhuang Keluo's eyes sparkled, incredibly beautiful, like pools of spring water.
She was filled with surprise and pride. So, Brother Chen wasn't gambled because he couldn't afford a million, but because he thought a million was beneath him! That was so generous, instantly overshadowing the other person's arrogance.
Zhuang Keluo felt even more fond of her Brother Chen.
She gently tilted her head slightly and whispered, "Yes, a million is too little. We don't play house!"
Shangguan Mingbo was nearly driven mad again!
This was a double blow. First, Lu Chen actually said a million was child's play! Second, damn it, who left all those hickeys on Zhuang Keluo's neck?
His eyes were practically spitting fire. Looking at Lu Chen's lazy yet domineering demeanor, he couldn't stand it no matter what, and he desperately wanted to throw him out and kill him!
He gritted his teeth, "Fine, Lu Chen, you've got guts! I'll add another million, two million!"
He held up two fingers, straight and firm, but they trembled slightly.
"I'll bet you two million!"
His voice trembled; he couldn't help it. Even though he was a rich second-generation heir driving luxury cars, coming up with one million at a time was still a difficult task. He'd already bet three million, and this one million with Lu Chen was almost at his limit. Adding another million would mean borrowing another three or five hundred thousand.
Fortunately, borrowing that money wasn't hard.
Lu Chen sighed, waved at Shangguan Mingbo as if shooing away dust, and said, "Little kid playing house, go home! Your parents are calling you for dinner! Be good."
Instantly, Shangguan Mingbo's eyes widened. Two million wasn't enough?
He laughed angrily, "Lu Chen, I think you're just trying to eat more than you can chew, huh? Be careful you don't choke! Two million? I doubt you can even come up with that much!"
Zhuang Keluo chimed in, "Shangguan Mingbo, what are you worried about? It's just two million, I'll put up three million, let Brother Chen gamble with you!"
Saying this, she hugged Lu Chen's neck, kissed him on the cheek, and said sweetly, "How about three million?"
Lu Chen shook his head, "Three million is still too little, no interest. Let's watch the game instead. What's the point of betting on a bunch of penniless guys? People will say we're bullying the weak!"
Three million is too little? No interest?
This shocked not only Shangguan Mingbo and the others, but even Zhuang Keluo was startled.
Shangguan Mingbo pointed at Lu Chen's nose, "Kid, don't be so arrogant! Tell me, how much do you want to bet?"