Chapter 3
After Friday, the original host’s group of cronies eagerly invited him out. Lu Ze considered it and felt that he couldn’t keep avoiding them forever, so he agreed.
At eight o’clock in the evening, nightlife was just beginning. In the center of Club Zero’s main hall, men and women danced closely on the dance floor. The music was long and soft, accompanied by the surging passions in the surrounding dim corners, creating an atmosphere thick with endless ambiguity.
Lu Ze didn’t linger his gaze, letting the waiter lead him to a private room.
The moment the door was pushed open, a wave of clamor washed over him. The young masters inside caught sight of him and immediately cried out, “Yo, yo, yo, Young Master Lu is here! Quick, quick, take the seat of honor!”
As he spoke, the man in the middle quickly stood up, playfully patting the seat twice, and winked. “We’ve been waiting for you, Young Master Lu. It’s really not easy to get you out these days.”
Lu Ze had been at school all week. They had tried to invite him out twice before but failed to get him to come.
Lu Ze let out a soft laugh, strode over nonchalantly, and casually sat down, saying with an air of indifference, “As if I’m like you guys, with nothing to do all day.”
“Of course, Young Master Lu is busy with important matters,” Sun Hui, who had just given up his seat, plopped down next to Lu Ze and winked at him. “So, how’s it going, Young Master Lu? How’s the pursuit?”
Someone else chimed in, “Looking at Young Master Lu, it must be going well!”
“Young Master Lu, how far have you gotten?” another person pouted, his face full of suggestive meaning. “Have you kissed him yet?”
Lu Ze kicked out at him, laughing and cursing, “Get lost.”
“You think everyone’s like you, wanting to drag someone into bed the second you lay eyes on them?”
That person chuckled slyly. “We’re men, aren’t we? If not to bed, are we supposed to play some innocent game of love?”
The group burst into laughter. Lu Ze snorted, “He’s not like those lovers of yours.”
“Not the same, not the same. How could our people compare to the one you’ve set your sights on?” a person turned his head and said. “In that case, Brother Qi, I’m afraid you’re going to lose that sports car of yours.”
On the sofa on the other side of the room, a man was dressed in a loose shirt with the top two buttons undone, a roguish look on his face.
This was the person who had made the bet with the original host, Young Master Qi Kuo of the Qi family.
He held a cigarette in one hand and had his other arm wrapped around a young boy’s waist. He blew a cloud of smoke right into the boy’s face. Hearing the comment, he looked up and sneered, “If I lose it, I lose it. It’s just a car. You think I can’t afford to lose?”
He looked at Lu Ze askance, a half-smile on his face. “Young Master Lu, once you’ve won him over, you have to bring him here for us to see.”
Lu Ze glanced at him and said lightly, “Young Master Qi has a beauty in his arms, yet he’s still thinking about someone else.”
As soon as these words were spoken, the atmosphere in the room turned a bit strange.
The young boy’s eyes flickered. He reached out, took the cigarette from Qi Kuo’s mouth, and placed it in his own. With a coquettish pout, he whined, “I’m still here, doesn’t Young Master Qi dote on me anymore?”
“Look at you.” Qi Kuo reached out and scratched his chin, his movements practiced and his expression ambiguous. The boy’s body went soft, and just as he was about to nestle into his embrace, he heard him say slowly:
“How can you compare to him?”
The boy’s face stiffened, and the smile on his face became somewhat forced.
The room was no longer noisy, becoming exceptionally quiet. Seeing this, Sun Hui’s eyes darted around, and he raised his voice to call out, “Drink, drink, drink! Young Master Lu arrived so late, shouldn’t he start with a penalty shot?”
“He must, he must! It’s not easy to get Young Master Lu out these days. We have to drink to our heart’s content tonight!”
The group clamored, gathering around Lu Ze. The young boy also glanced over. Qi Kuo narrowed his eyes and patted his bottom. “Go, pour a drink for our Young Master Lu.”
The young boy’s body stiffened. He turned to look at him, drawing out his voice, “Young Master Qi…”
Qi Kuo smiled lazily. The young boy’s heart tightened, and he quickly complied, “Yes…”
Everyone was more or less paying attention to the situation here, and looks of anticipation for a good show appeared on their faces.
The young boy picked up a bottle of liquor, slowly sat down beside Lu Ze, and said in a soft and melodious voice, “Young Master Lu, let me pour you a drink.”
The bottle tilted slightly, but Lu Ze reached out and blocked its mouth. You Qing looked up in confusion. “Young Master Lu?”
Lu Ze asked, “What kind of liquor is this?”
You Qing named a brand. It wasn’t cheap, several tens of thousands for a bottle.
Lu Ze smiled and looked back at Qi Kuo. “It’s a rare get-together. Why is Young Master Qi being so stingy? You can actually bring out this kind of liquor?”
Qi Kuo’s fingers, which were tapping on the table, paused. His eyes darkened slightly, but he smiled. “Young Master Lu is right. How could this kind of liquor be worthy of Young Master Lu’s eyes? Feel free to order whatever you want to drink, Young Master Lu. Just put it on my tab.”
“Young Master Qi is so generous. In that case, I won’t be polite.” Lu Ze turned back to look at You Qing. “I don’t want anything else. Just bring two bottles of your most expensive liquor.”
You Qing’s mouth opened, his expression a mixture of difficulty, hesitation, and a faint hint of pleasant surprise. He subconsciously looked at Qi Kuo.
The best liquor here cost hundreds of thousands per bottle.
Qi Kuo’s lips twitched. His hand resting on the table tightened, and he said with a smile that didn’t reach his eyes, “Didn’t you hear what Young Master Lu said? What are you waiting for?”
You Qing numbly agreed.
Since he was the one to order the liquor, the commission would naturally be credited to him. He was happy to make money for free, but Qi Kuo’s attitude couldn’t help but make him worry.
Perhaps because they were big spenders, the liquor arrived in no time. The manager even came over personally, respectfully introduced it to them, and instructed You Qing to serve the distinguished guests well.
“Young Master Lu.” You Qing sat nestled beside Lu Ze, opened the bottle, and poured him a glass. “Please, have a taste.”
Lu Ze didn’t refuse. He picked up the glass and took a slow sip. Qi Kuo, on the side, twitched his lips. “This is the best liquor here. There are only about a dozen bottles in total. What do you think, Young Master Lu?”
Lu Ze slowly put down the glass. After savoring it, he shook his head and sighed, “The taste is still a bit lacking.”
The smile on Qi Kuo’s face slowly faded.
Lu Ze turned to look at him, swirling the glass. “But it’s understandable. This is for sale, so of course it can’t compare to a private collection. When I get the chance, I’ll steal a bottle from my old man’s collection and invite Young Master Qi to have a taste.”
The bottom of the glass touched the table with a soft clink. Lu Ze shook his head. “This… is still a bit off.”
Qi Kuo could no longer maintain the smile on his face.
He hated this side of Lu Ze the most. He was clearly an uneducated, profligate son, yet he acted so wantonly and without scruples. If he dared to have ideas about his old man’s liquor, he’d probably have a leg broken on the spot.
But Lu Ze was different. He said the word “steal” so openly, which showed how much the Lu family doted on him.
Sun Hui tutted inwardly, looked around, and smiled to smooth things over. “Young Master Lu, you’re being too critical. Chairman Lu is famous for his love of liquor. How can anything from the outside compare to his private collection? We’re just drinking for fun here, so please make do. Come, come, I’ll drink first. Everyone, as you please, as you please!”
The group quickly livened up the atmosphere again. Lu Ze didn’t press the issue either. He half-sat up and said lazily, “Young Master Sun is right. It’s still hundreds of thousands a bottle. It’d be a shame to waste it.”
As he spoke, he raised his glass towards Qi Kuo, raised an eyebrow, and said, “Young Master Qi, please.”
With that, he tilted his head back and drained the glass in one go.
Qi Kuo’s expression was truly ugly, but he couldn’t just tear face with him in public. He could only swallow his anger and down the glass in front of him.
The atmosphere in the room instantly relaxed.
After that episode, the group laughed and joked around, accompanied by the caterwauling from the karaoke machine in the room, but no one dared to make Lu Ze drink anymore. After a while, Lu Ze found it too noisy and utterly boring, so he got up to leave. The others tried to make him stay a little longer, but Lu Ze just smiled. “I still have to go chase someone. Where would I find the time to drink with you all?”
The group burst into laughter. “Young Master Lu is really serious this time. That’s a rare sight!”
Lu Ze gave a casual wave and walked out.
It was almost eleven o’clock, and the night wind was cool. He had drunk a little, after all, so he found a designated driver and settled into the back seat to rest with his eyes closed.
777 asked him: 【Host, you clearly don’t like them. Why did you still come?】
Lu Ze rubbed his head and said: 【I don’t like them, but it’s a fact that the original host used to hang out with them. They all know about the bet, which is a ticking time bomb. It’s better for me to hold it in my own hands than to let them carry it around, not knowing when it might explode.】
He paused. 【Besides, that Qi Kuo isn’t an honest person. I had to meet him at least once.】
777 hummed in a half-understanding way and just said: 【Host, you’re so smart.】
The car drove at a steady pace on the wide road. The neon lights on both sides cast a different kind of light and shadow inside the car, illuminating Lu Ze’s profile as he looked out the window, perfectly outlining his features.
He glanced outside casually, but his gaze paused on one spot.
“Stop the car,” he said.
The designated driver didn’t know why, but he obediently pulled over to the side of the road.
A person was walking alone on the sidewalk. Hearing the noise, he seemed puzzled and subconsciously looked back. Lu Ze rolled down the window, stuck his head out, and looked up at him, his eyes curving into a smile:
“Hello, Senior.”
