As the party in the private room grew more and more wild, the three men forgot their troubles and immersed themselves in the dazzling world of extravagance.
The girls Meiting brought over really knew how to let loose. Behind closed doors, no one was judging anyone.
Whether drinking or playing games, the three men didn't need to take the initiative at all. They just had to go along for the ride and enjoy themselves.
...
Just after midnight, Meiting came back to their private room.
The room had grown much quieter. Qin Yichuan and Zheng Zhi each had an arm around a girl, whispering intimately, while Gao Yuan lay contentedly on the sofa.
His head rested on a warm, soft thigh—just the right size, almost like one of those ancient pillows. The girl was gently massaging his temples.
The other girls were playing a drinking game where the loser had to not only take a drink but also perform a talent.
The whole spectacle was infinitely more captivating than watching those borderline-racy female streamers on TikTok.
Suddenly, Gao Yuan felt the leg beneath his head grow a little thicker and the hand massaging his temples become even softer. He opened his eyes to find that it was Meiting who had taken the girl's place.
"Brother Yuan, did you have fun tonight?"
"Whether I had fun or not depends on those two big chumps over there, doesn't it?"
Gao Yuan's voice was a little loud. The two men, busy whispering intimately with the girls, whipped their heads around to glare at him.
"So, not only do we have to foot the bill tonight, but we also have to be the chumps?"
Gao Yuan burst out laughing. "Shouldn't we be moving on to the next stage?"
The so-called "next stage," naturally, was going to rest. After drinking so much, partying for so long, and especially after the other two had poured their hearts out to the girls, it was time to take their "relationships" to the next level.
The three men gathered again, and Gao Yuan told them he had already booked presidential suites for them at the Intercontinental Hotel in Hang City's Big Golden Ball.
Meanwhile, Meiting pulled aside the two girls who had been with them and was whispering something to them.
This was the beauty of a high-end KTV. Meiting had arranged everything perfectly. All they had to do was have fun; silver would take care of the rest.
The six of them stumbled out of IN11, where a dedicated driver had already brought their two cars around to the entrance.
Before his two friends got into their cars, Gao Yuan advised his good buddies, "Remember to get each other's names."
With that, he patted his friends on the shoulder and watched as they each got into a car with a girl.
After they left, Gao Yuan and Meiting walked toward the curb.
"Brother Yuan, what did you say to Young Master Qin and President Zheng just now?" Meiting asked, her curiosity piqued.
"Oh, nothing."
"It's just… once there were two people in love who couldn't say each other's names, so they ended up breaking the law."
Meiting mulled over his words for a long time, but she couldn't figure out why two people in love wouldn't know each other's names, nor could she understand how that would be against the law.
Gao Yuan's group had brought her three hundred thousand in sales for the night. Having met her quota for the day, she could now clock out early.
In the taxi, Gao Yuan gave the address for No.1 Courtyard, and only then did Meiting realize he had moved.
She knew just how expensive the rent at No.1 Courtyard was. Paired with the news she'd heard tonight about him being fired, her brow furrowed slightly.
It wasn't the time or place to ask questions, so she resolved to have a serious talk with him later.
Arriving at the main gate of No.1 Courtyard, the two were greeted politely by the imposing security guard on duty and entered the complex.
This was Meiting's first time inside No.1 Courtyard. In the past, she could only ever gaze up at it as she passed by. She never thought she'd one day set foot in this legendary complex.
The roads inside were exceptionally wide, and under the glow of the nighttime lighting, the landscaping was breathtakingly beautiful.
Gao Yuan, already tipsy, didn't have the mind to appreciate the view. But Meiting, supporting him, took it all in with eyes full of envy. 'Living in No.1 Courtyard is probably the dream of most people in Hang City,' she thought.
Inside the apartment Gao Yuan was renting, Meiting was immediately struck by the spacious and bright open-plan living and dining room. After helping Gao Yuan to the sofa, she first poured him a glass of warm water, then hurried to the bathroom to run a hot bath for him.
After a flurry of activity, she finally had a moment to take in Gao Yuan's new home.
'An apartment over a hundred square meters with only two bedrooms… how extravagant!'
She sat back down beside the dazed Gao Yuan. She slowly helped him out of his clothes, then stripped down to her own underwear before helping him toward the bathroom.
Half an hour later, the two of them emerged from the bathroom.
Gao Yuan was no longer dazed in the slightest. If not for the strong smell of alcohol on his breath, he would have seemed completely sober.
Meiting was no longer wearing her underwear, and a blush lingered on her cheeks.
Back in the bedroom, they didn't go to sleep right away. Gao Yuan leaned against the headboard with Meiting nestled in his arms, looking for all the world like a married couple.
"Brother Yuan, did you really quit your job?"
Meiting asked in a low voice, tracing circles on his chest.
"Yeah. I'm unemployed now."
Gao Yuan said nonchalantly, stroking her hair.
"And you still rented such an expensive place? I won't be calling you out to party anymore. If you want to unwind, just take Young Master Qin and President Zheng with you and fleece them instead."
"Or, you can just call me. I'm on call for you 24/7."
Gao Yuan understood what she was getting at.
'She thinks that since I'm unemployed, money must be tight, so she's trying to help me save!'
He gave her a playful squeeze and looked at her slightly weary, makeup-free face with a teasing smile. "How about you support me instead?"
To his surprise, Meiting instantly sat up, her almond-shaped eyes staring right at him.
With a faint, alluring smile, she lay back down on his chest. "As long as you wouldn't mind, I'd be happy to support you."
"But, I can't afford to keep you in No.1 Courtyard."
Gao Yuan laughed and gave her smooth, round bottom a playful slap. "Don't worry. I've got things under control."
The rest of the night passed peacefully. They didn't "exercise" again, simply holding each other as they drifted off to sleep.
...
「The next day」
Gao Yuan woke up at his usual 5:30 a.m., waking Meiting in the process.
To Meiting's confusion, Gao Yuan explained he was going downstairs to work out, then changed into his gym clothes and left.
When he got to the gym, there were already other people working out.
'Judging by the aura they exuded, they were most likely successful people too.'
'As expected, success doesn't come by chance. The real work is done where no one is looking.'
Gao Yuan also saw Wang Lin in the gym; she was already warming up.
'This personal trainer is pretty dedicated,' he thought.
As Gao Yuan started on the treadmill, Wang Lin came over with a fitness plan she had prepared and began to explain it to him.
That morning, his run was divided into two parts. The first stage was a one-kilometer warm-up, after which Wang Lin would lead him through some exercises on the machines.
The second stage was a three-kilometer run, followed by a cooldown, and then half an hour on the stair climber.
The entire workout would last three hours.
All told, his morning workout would cover four kilometers of running in addition to the machine exercises.
Drenched in sweat, Gao Yuan finished his morning workout and dragged his aching body back to the apartment, where he found Meiting was already awake.
Not only had she tidied up the entire apartment, but a wonderful aroma was also wafting from the kitchen.
After freshening up, he went to the dining room. The first rays of the morning sun were falling across the table. 'This must be what makes this apartment worth the price,' he mused.
Seeing the rice porridge and stir-fried vegetables on the table, Gao Yuan felt his appetite surge.
The two enjoyed a leisurely breakfast, the warm food comforting their stomachs and their hearts.
After the meal, Meiting helped Gao Yuan clean the kitchen, then took the trash out as she left.
She had her own life to live. Gao Yuan was just a ray of light that occasionally brightened her world; once she had basked in it, it was time to return to her reality.
After Meiting left, Gao Yuan did another sweep of the apartment, making sure to get rid of any stray hairs or feminine products.
Because Lin Wanyu would be arriving soon.
Although they had no plans to define their relationship, no woman is immune to jealousy. 'Less trouble and more fun is always better.'