The dishes came out one by one, each one a tiny portion, practically gone in a single bite.
Lin Chu ate with relish.
Zhang Peng's heart ached so much he felt like he could cough up blood.
But after two glasses of wine, he gradually started to relax.
He had never had wine worth 50,000 a bottle and couldn't really taste the difference. But with the price tag adding to the experience, he could only feel one thing: high-class...
When the meal was over,
A beautiful waitress brought the bill: 124,088.
A six-figure meal.
Lin Chu took out his phone and casually paid. The six-figure sum vanished in an instant, but his heart couldn't help but beat a little faster.
'Fucking extravagant.'
But...
Before his eyes, the system panel appeared again.
[Spent 124,088 yuan with an ordinary friend. You have received a 2x rebate: 248,176].
His phone vibrated. He had received a text message confirming the deposit to his bank account.
A lighthearted smile involuntarily appeared on Lin Chu's lips.
He also snapped a picture of the bill, paired it with the beautiful photos of the grand meal from earlier, and casually posted it to his Moments.
Caption: Life is all about two things: eating and drinking.
Post.
"Sir, since your bill today exceeded six figures, our head chef would like to gift you a specialty dish..."
Just then, the beautiful waitress said with a beaming smile, revealing two cute dimples.
"No need."
"I'm in a hurry."
"Maybe next time. Please thank your head chef for his kind offer."
It was already 8:30, and he had plans to be at the bar by 9:00. Lin Chu was pressed for time, so he politely declined with a smile.
Her dimples instantly froze on her face.
Even after being open for so long, customers who spent over six figures were as rare as a phoenix feather. But one who refused the head chef's special gift? That had never happened before.
This customer... was truly one of a kind.
...
"Yaoyao, did your boyfriend strike it rich?"
In a four-person group chat named "Marry If You Don't Work Hard to Make Money," An Qingning posted a picture—two screenshots of Lin Chu's Moments.
One was him calling for people to go to the bar that night.
The other was the 120,000-yuan meal from just now.
She was Li Yaoyao's best friend and former colleague.
When Li Yaoyao and Lin Chu were together, they often went out to eat and sing with her, so she also had Lin Chu's WeChat.
She had just been scrolling through her Moments and was completely stunned.
Was this really Li Yaoyao's boyfriend, the one she described as "great stamina, really big 'down there,' but super stingy and wouldn't even buy her a gift for 520"?
It had been two months at most since she last saw him. How did he get so rich?
"I saw it too, but they've already broken up."
A message from another best friend popped up in the group.
Seeing this message, An Qingning froze for a second, then frantically tried to retract her message, but it was too late.
A moment later.
Li Yaoyao: "We broke up. So what if he's rich? What's that got to do with me? (smiling emoji)"
"He probably maxed out his credit cards, took out some online loans, or maybe even Photoshopped the pictures, right?"
"We broke up, so he wants to show off and get our mutual friends to show me. Isn't that totally expected?"
"What a loser. Let's not talk about him."
"Last weekend, I saw a 300-yuan dress when we were shopping, and he wouldn't even buy it for me."
"So we broke up just like that."
Seeing her messages, the other three in the group immediately started comforting her.
What a pitiful girl.
What did she do wrong?
All she wanted was a 300-yuan dress, and her boyfriend wouldn't even buy it for her!
With a guy like that, if you don't break up, what are you waiting for? The New Year?
At a time like this, among best friends, there is no right or wrong, only loyalty.
A good sister is always right!
...
Lin Chu and Zhang Peng took a taxi to 404 Bar.
"Bro, I just posted your picture to my Moments, and all the small-time streamers I know are begging for an introduction."
Zhang Peng said with a sudden laugh.
"Hmm?"
Lin Chu glanced at him and chuckled. "Cut the crap. Right now, all I want to do is go to a spa."
Zhang Peng slapped his thigh. "Hey, what's the difference between them and a spa! Why are you trying to be a good guy?"
Lin Chu: ...
"Damn, a bunch of dirty girls. I'm afraid of catching something."
Zhang Peng laughed out loud. "It's not that bad. Think of them as high-quality used cars, maybe the exhaust pipe is a little dark."
Lin Chu shot him a look, momentarily speechless.
...
They arrived at 404 Bar.
A bar promoter with a sizzling hot body immediately latched onto them.
Lin Chu waved his hand casually. "The middle, core area. For about ten people."
"You got it, boss. How about Area A8? The minimum spend is ten thousand."
"Fine."
The two of them quickly sat down and lit up cigarettes. Through the curling smoke, Lin Chu leaned back on the sofa, gazing at the world of flashing lights and debauchery.
'This is what it feels like to be rich.'
'Enough to make you forget all your troubles.'
You had to pay for the drinks upfront.
His friends hadn't arrived yet, but Lin Chu went ahead and ordered a Divine Dragon Set.
Who cared about value for money?
The main point was just to burn money.
The bar promoter smiled so hard it looked like her hyaluronic acid fillers were about to pop out. A Divine Dragon Set was 88,000. This guy was the real deal.
"Boss, can I add you on WeChat?"
"How are you looking to party tonight?"
"Let me know if you need anything at all."
Lin Chu glanced at the 170,000 rebate on his virtual panel, took out his phone, and added her on WeChat. "Tonight is an Arhat Array for the first half. We'll see about the second."
He had been to bars many times before.
Lin Chu knew that these promoters had the contact info for a lot of "goddesses." When they met a big-spending whale, they could have girls parachute in at a moment's notice with just one message.
Commonly known as: "serving the dishes."
Hearing this, the promoter understood the situation. The big boss wanted to talk business first. But since his guests hadn't arrived yet, she sat down. "Boss, come on, let me first toast the two of you."
Lin Chu casually clinked glasses with her.
He downed it in one gulp.
The Divine Dragon Set, Armand de Brignac, was actually pretty good.
It was his first time drinking it too.
...
Not a few minutes later, Liu Yang arrived. Seeing the scene, he strode over and sat down on Lin Chu's other side.
"Holy shit, Brother Chu, you're going all out!"
Lin Chu winked at him. "You're late. Three penalty shots for you."
"Penalties it is."
"Heh, isn't this more like a reward for me?"
Liu Yang said with a grin, while silently cursing in his heart, 'Fucking idiot. What a show-off. Just because you have a little money.'
...
Not long after, two more buddies arrived.
Li Jian.
Guo Haodong.
They were university classmates and currently roommates. Before, Lin Chu had rented a three-bedroom apartment with them. But after he got a girlfriend and his salary went up, he moved out to live alone.
But the two of them still lived in an urban village.
"Lin Chu, wow, you guys in finance make this much money? A Divine Dragon Set?"
Li Jian said with a restrained smile, tinged with a hint of sourness.
"Don't worry about all that. Come on, sit."
Lin Chu patted the seat next to him, and the two of them sat down.
They sat and chatted for a while longer, and then the last two finally arrived.
...
Wang Zhefei arrived wearing a backpack, a T-shirt, shorts, and flip-flops. He had a carefree air about him, but after walking over, he seemed a bit stunned and frowned slightly.
'This idiot is wasting money again.'
There were a lot of people, so he sighed but didn't say much, just sat down in a corner.
...
The other was named Lu Ming, a classic second-generation heir from Peng City. He drove a 718 sports car and his family owned six buildings they collected rent from.
He was dressed in a flashy, sparkling nightclub outfit, his hair meticulously styled. He looked very flamboyant.
Lin Chu had met him playing Werewolf right after graduating from university.
They had known each other for over two years and would occasionally meet up for a late-night snack.
For some reason, he had insisted on joining the gathering tonight.
Lin Chu, of course, didn't refuse.
"Damn, it really is an Arhat Array!"
"And exactly seven of us..."
"What's the deal, big shot? Are we the Calabash Brothers?"
Lu Ming teased as he walked over, tossing two packs of HETIANXIA cigarettes and two packs of betel nuts onto the table.
After greeting everyone and passing out cigarettes, he raised his glass. "A party hosted by Brother Chu! Although, uh, an Arhat Array is a bit strange, let's all have a drink first to warm up. We're in a bar, how can we be short on girls?"
...
...