Wang Zhuge suddenly stammered, completely thrown off by Chen Qi. A bag worth over 120,000 yuan—had it really become something you saw everywhere now?
He had always considered himself wealthy. Had he stayed home too long? Had the outside world somehow turned into a place where everyone was absurdly rich?
Wang Zhuge didn’t know the exact prices of the four bags in Chen Qi’s hands, but he had visited Louis Vuitton a few times before and had a rough sense. He estimated they were worth around 500,000 to 600,000 yuan.
“Damn, this kind of price inflation… with 500,000 or 600,000 yuan, how many young models could I get at a club? How many figurines could I buy?”
Unlike the typical shut-in, Wang Zhuge was a rich shut-in. When he had physical needs, he simply went to a club to take care of them. But as for finding a girlfriend, that was out of the question—his father would never allow it.
“Alright then, handsome, I’ll treat you to a late-night snack tonight,” Xu Lu said, playing along with Chen Qi.
Watching the two of them acting so affectionate, Wang Zhuge felt a sharp sense of humiliation.
“So what if you’ve got a bit of money? And you—you gold digger.”
For a moment, he even forgot that he himself was considered wealthy. He had simply run into someone even richer.
Chen Qi didn’t care at all. In fact, he even felt like Wang Zhuge was praising him. He smirked and said, “Yeah, having money is pretty great.”
Xu Lu, however, tensed slightly as she glanced at Chen Qi, though her expression quickly returned to normal.
That damn fat guy, calling me a gold digger. If Chen Qi really thinks that way, I won’t let you off.
“Dad, I’m done playing. I’m going to find a 2D wife,” Wang Zhuge muttered angrily as he left Louis Vuitton, likely never to return again.
“Brother, you bought so much again. There was no need to spend this much just to deal with him. I could’ve just rejected him a couple more times,” Xu Lu said softly.
“That won’t do. I want him to back off completely. He shouldn’t think that buying a bag is enough to take our Lulu out.”
“But there was no need to buy four bags. That’s already 600,000 yuan.”
He must be insanely rich… coming here every day just to throw money around.
Chen Qi thought to himself, 600,000 yuan is a lot? If you treat me to a 100 yuan meal later, I’ll still make a profit.
“As long as Lulu is happy. Oh right, I asked Sister Zhang to count this order under your performance.”
“Brother, you’re amazing.”
“Of course. Why let the benefits go to outsiders?”
Out of the 600,000 yuan, Xu Lu could earn a 30,000 yuan commission. If it went to Sister Zhang, Chen Qi wouldn’t get anything. But if Xu Lu got it, maybe she’d become more perceptive and buy him something valuable in return.
“So, does that mean I’m one of your own?” Xu Lu teased.
“You are… someone close to my heart.”
“You smooth talker~”
Even so, her heart bloomed with joy. Favorability really could speak for itself.
[Xu Lu favorability +2, current 43]
“Brother, don’t buy me any more bags next time. I can’t even carry them all.”
Chen Qi had already bought her five bags, worth over 700,000 yuan. Combined with the two she had bought herself for around 10,000 each, she felt like her apartment wasn’t even worthy of displaying them.
Chen Qi also realized that doing the same thing repeatedly dulled its novelty. It was clear from the favorability gains—buying four bags tonight only increased it by 3 points. The effect was noticeably weakening.
At that moment, Sister Zhang walked over and handed Chen Qi a VIP card.
“Young Master Chen, you’ve already spent over 1.3 million yuan in our store. That qualifies you as a Louis Vuitton VIP customer.”
“Give the card to Lulu.”
Sister Zhang didn’t hesitate and passed it directly to Xu Lu.
[Xu Lu favorability +2, current 45]
“Oh right, Sister Zhang, that fat guy earlier—he’s not one of your major customers, right?”
“No. He’s only spent a little over 500,000 yuan in the past six months, not even as much as you spent tonight, Young Master Chen.”
“That’s good. I was worried I might scare away one of your big customers.”
“You are the big customer, Young Master Chen.”
Even though she didn’t get the commission, Chen Qi’s spending boosted the store’s performance. If he kept coming, the store bonuses would rise as well.
Chen Qi stayed in the store until 10 p.m., waiting for Xu Lu to get off work. Then the two of them headed to the underground parking lot together.
“Mr. Chen, back to the hotel?” the driver asked.
Xu Lu pouted slightly, “No hotel. We’re going to Tianhao Barbecue.”
Chen Qi immediately agreed in his mind. Of course, who wants a hotel? Let’s hurry up and get some late-night food.
Tianhao Barbecue was a well-known spot near Yida Plaza, though the prices were a bit steep. It was July—the peak season for barbecue—and every place was packed.
They found a small table outdoors and sat down.
“Brother, you don’t mind a roadside stall, do you?” Xu Lu asked.
“Lulu, even rich people only have one mouth. We all eat the same grains. Even Principal Wang eats street food.”
Xu Lu smiled. “That’s good. What would you like to eat, Brother?”
Chen Qi glanced at the menu. This place was indeed expensive—about one-third pricier than other barbecue spots.
“Imported French Gillardeau oysters, 200 yuan each… damn, will eating these let me go seven times in one night?”
“At this price, five would already be 1,000 yuan… that’s 10 million in cashback.”
Xu Lu still has some money. Spending 2,000 or 3,000 yuan shouldn’t be too much.
Just as Chen Qi was dreaming about earning tens of millions in cashback, the system shattered his fantasy.
[Do you think I don’t exist? You want to exploit loopholes like this? Return the menu. You’re not qualified to order.]
“Lulu, you should order. I like whatever you choose.”
At that moment, Chen Qi desperately wished Xu Lu could read his eyes—order the expensive stuff, more of it!
Xu Lu took the menu and asked while browsing, “This place is famous for its imported oysters. Do you like oysters, Brother?”
“I do, I do!”
Lulu, you understand me too well. Get more!
“Then let’s start with four oysters. It’s not good to eat too many.”
“Why not?” Chen Qi asked.
Xu Lu shot him a shy glare. “Are you planning something naughty?”
“Not at all. Heaven can testify—just look at my clear and honest eyes.”
People said oysters nourished the kidneys, but Chen Qi hadn’t even thought in that direction. He just wanted Xu Lu to order more—and make it expensive—for higher cashback later.
Oysters, eggplant, grilled fish, chicken wings, beef skewers, lamb skewers, grilled shrimp, grilled chives…
Whatever Xu Lu suggested, Chen Qi nodded and said he liked it.
Xu Lu herself rarely ate late-night snacks to maintain her figure. She was only here to spend more time with Chen Qi. At the same time, she worried that eating too much barbecue would upset his stomach, so she kept the portions small—two lamb skewers, two beef skewers, and so on.
Aside from the four Gillardeau oysters costing 800 yuan, everything else, including beer, came to just 263 yuan.
“Brother, let me pour you a drink.”
Even though the beer cost only a little over 10 yuan, nowhere near the 22,000 yuan wine, in this kind of setting, beer was what created the atmosphere.
“Brother, you’re so rich. What does your family do?”
“I used to be poor too. Recently, I met a benefactor, and my life changed.”
She must think I’m the illegitimate son of a wealthy family. There are so many rich families surnamed Chen in Donghai City… which one could he be from?
“She really thinks I’m a rich family’s illegitimate son.”
Chen Qi didn’t bother explaining. Honestly, that identity wasn’t bad at all.
As they chatted and ate, Xu Lu did most of the talking. Chen Qi no longer needed to actively search for topics.
“Brother, what do you usually like to do?”
“I just stroll around and spend money.”