Chen Xingjian’s efficiency was remarkably high; true to his word about getting Lian Jue a new phone, it was delivered right to his doorstep bright and early.
It was the absolute newest smartphone model, retailing for nearly ten thousand yuan.
Lian Jue had genuinely never used anything so nice before. Its processing speed was faster than his old phone by more than just a notch or two, and the screen was buttery smooth, never lagging or stuttering in his hand.
“Thank you, sir. I’ve never used anything this nice in my life.” Lian Jue sidled up close to Chen Xingjian, his eyes shining brightly, filled with a mixture of joy and nervousness. “You’re so good to me, I don’t even know how to repay you.”
Men, after all, always harbored a bit of a savior complex.
Gift them a little something, provide plenty of emotional value, and that way there would be a next time.
As soon as he saved up ten million, he would immediately flee abroad, stash the money in a bank to live off the interest, and incidentally keep a few pleasing male models on the side.
“Repay me, huh?”
Lian Jue had just tossed it out casually, but Chen Xingjian took it completely seriously, his gaze sweeping down over Lian Jue’s waist. “If you really want to repay me, go to the gym and work on that waist of yours.”
Just last night, they hadn’t even gotten that far before he was acting all delicate and crying out for them to stop.
Lian Jue was stung by the slightly mocking undertone in Chen Xingjian’s gaze and instinctively covered his lower back.
It’s fine, it’s fine. Money is hard to earn, but suffering humiliation is just part of the job.
It’s all for the best.
For the sake of his wealth, for the sake of his wealth.
As if operating on a precise schedule, right as Lian Jue finished psyching himself up, he was dragged along to continue working.
Chen Xingjian’s chauffeur had driven a Cadillac with genuine leather seats. He and Chen Xingjian sat on opposite sides, enjoying a super-sized private space.
It left Lian Jue’s heart fluttering with excitement, making him feel as though his own net worth was rising right along with it.
Of course, if Chen Xingjian were suddenly to be possessed and gift him this vehicle outright, his heart would flutter even more wildly.
The two of them got out of the car and entered a private club.
He was basically acting as Chen Xingjian’s accessory, serving to set the mood and regulate the atmosphere.
The interior of the private room was exquisitely decorated. Lian Jue instinctively glanced up at the chandelier overhead: hundreds of uniquely shaped little lightbulbs were clustered together into a cube, finely linked together by delicate wires.
High production cost, difficult assembly very expensive.
In the four corners of the room sat ornaments made of various materials, and there was even a water feature landscape, likely designed under the specific guidance of a feng shui master.
Several executives in Western suits sat gathered around a square table, accompanied by their own companions, both men and women.
When everyone caught sight of Lian Jue trailing behind Chen Xingjian, they visibly froze for a moment before standing up a short while later to invite the two of them to take a seat.
“President Chen, I really didn’t expect you to be into this type. I even specially prepared some fresh novelties today, but looks like they won’t be needed after all.”
A square-faced man stood up to pour a drink, his gaze landing on Lian Jue and revealing a look of stunned admiration.
Beauties were a dime a dozen, but a beauty with Lian Jue’s specific vibe was rare indeed.
A fraction more would seem contrived, a fraction less would appear foolish—Lian Jue hit the absolute sweet spot, wearing a look of pure, harmless innocence like a piece of uncarved jade.
Chen Xingjian didn’t pick up the thread, merely nodding casually.
Lian Jue’s heart sank heavily as he quietly weighed the situation.
That square-faced man had compared him to the little escorts in the club, and Chen Xingjian hadn’t refuted it—was that supposed to be tacit agreement?
To exploit him so ruthlessly, yet refuse to even give him a proper title he really was heartless.
After that, the people gathered around the square table began talking business, topics Lian Jue had no intention of probing into.
Before long, however, the expressions of everyone present grew ice-cold.
Lian Jue picked up a piece of mung bean cake nearby, meticulously cut it into a small piece with a dessert fork, and brought it on a napkin to Chen Xingjian’s lips.
Just as Chen Xingjian parted his lips to take a bite, a slightly malicious voice rang out from across the table.
“President Chen, your little lover is truly stunning. If you’re willing to cede him to us, our boss might just be willing to give another percentage point on the deal.”
Lian Jue’s hand trembled, and that piece of mung bean cake crumbled right at his fingertips.
The square-faced man feigned anger, immediately reprimanding, “What nonsense are you spouting?! That is President Chen’s person, how could he possibly bear to part with him?”
The young escort started acting spoiled in a pitiful display, his voice as cloying as if it were dipped in honey.
“I didn’t say anything wrong anyway—we’re all just little lovers like the rest of them, what’s wrong with swapping around for fun?”
The people around them didn’t even dare breathe too loudly. That square-faced man was an out-of-towner; stepping foot in the capital for the first time, he probably hadn’t even heard of Chen Xingjian’s reputation.
Let alone someone Chen Xingjian still kept by his side, even someone he had already grown tired of—without his express permission, who would dare stretch out a hand?
“Hahaha, President Jin really knows how to joke. This is the modern era, there’s no such logic anymore.”
“Exactly, exactly. Let’s discuss the revenue split again. What’s the point of bringing some little lover into this?”
Chen Xingjian didn’t seem to have any intention of letting the matter drop. He reached out to take Lian Jue’s fingers, turning them over in his palm to toy with them, letting the atmosphere grow colder and colder until finally, no one dared to utter a sound.
He traced his fingers patiently, one by one, over the jade-like knuckles, pressing and kneading them, the deliberate wandering sending tiny ripples of shudders through Lian Jue.
Lian Jue stiffened his fingers, his thoughts spinning in chaos.
He had spent plenty of time hanging around lounge bars in the past; he could usually read a man’s intentions at a single glance, but Chen Xingjian was entirely unreadable.
He genuinely couldn’t tell whether Chen Xingjian harbored the thought of selling him off.
If Chen Xingjian decided to sell him out at this gathering today, he would be completely powerless to fight back, left with no choice but to be toyed with at will.
“It seems President Jin wants a taste of the mung bean cake by my side as well.” Chen Xingjian spoke in a flat tone.
The prolonged silence finally came to an end, but instead of bringing any relief, it only heightened the pressure, making the very movement of the air palpable.
President Jin still hadn’t grasped the reality of the situation, daring to speak with brazen arrogance at a time like this: “That’s right mung bean cakes, pea flour cakes, water chestnut cakes… there are so many kinds of pastries, I’d love to try them all.”
Chen Xingjian let out a light chuckle, his thumb tapping against the jade bracelet on his wrist to make it swing.
The jade bangle rotated around his wrist bone, dangling against the side of his forearm with a dull, heavy impact.
“President Jin is getting up there in age—he should be careful not to bite off more than he can chew.”
Two burly men suddenly rushed out from the doorway. Without waiting for further instructions from Chen Xingjian, they pinned President Jin’s arms back behind him like they were handling a slaughtered pig and slammed him flat against the table.
“Chen Xingjian, have you lost your mind?! Do you think the capital is your personal backyard? Where is the rule of law?!”
The sudden turn of events left President Jin’s eyes bulging in horror, his face pressed hard against the wooden table as he panted heavily in ragged gasps.
Chen Xingjian how could Chen Xingjian dare?!
This was the capital; how dared he resort to violence just like that?
“The rule of law?”
The two words lingered briefly on Chen Xingjian’s lips. Propping his chin in his hand, he looked with keen interest at the man bound like a stray beast at the edge of the table.
In recent years, the number of people daring to jump around right in front of his face had truly dwindled to almost none.
“Since President Jin came all this way, it seems he doesn’t quite understand the rules of the capital.”
Chen Xingjian stood up, his index finger hooking the purple-gold teapot from the center of the table.
Boiling tea came cascading down, the scalding white steam mingling with the sickening hiss of sizzling flesh as a slaughterhouse-level scream ripped through the entire private room.
President Jin’s face was scorched bright red, struggling and twisting uncontrollably—he looked ready to peel the skin right off his own face as he begged for mercy over and over again.
Amidst the endless pleas for mercy, Chen Xingjian’s gaze turned chillingly cold, sweeping slowly in a complete circle over everyone seated around the square table.
“I think it’s necessary to remind all of you: nowadays, the capital is run by me.”