Chapter 082: A Million for You

It can only be blamed on the fact that you are not handsome enough. For a man handsome enough to reach my level, money is actually no longer important.

Li Huan had been tempted to say that his face could be used as a credit card, but he felt that saying so would only make people mistake him for a pretty boy. He had always believed that he conquered women through personal charm, though up to now not a single woman had yet understood that charm of his.

The muscles at the corner of Gu Zexi’s mouth twitched. He truly did not know how to answer. He had originally been on the verge of blowing up, but after Li Huan said that, he suddenly felt that there seemed to be a deeper meaning hidden in his words. He frowned, thought for a moment, put away the jade necklace in his hand, and said, “Fine. Since that’s how it is, I’ll be leaving first. But I’ll make you accept it.”

After saying this, Gu Zexi turned and glanced at Li Huan as if he wanted to say something, but with so many people around it was inconvenient. He merely snorted coldly and turned to leave, though he did not return to his original seat. Instead, he headed toward the lounge area on the other side.

“A man given over to drink and women is not worth entrusting your life to.” The woman beside them spoke up at once, idly flicking the rim of her glass with a finger, producing a clear ringing sound.

Su Ci turned her head and looked at her with a somewhat blank expression, but as if she had soon understood something, she nodded and said, “Thank you.”

“And what about him?” Li Ruotong still pointed at Li Huan, again using her middle finger, as though to express her contempt for his earlier act of selling out his own boss lady as a shield.

“...”

Li Huan was filled with black lines. This woman was far too petty, wasn’t she? Besides, the bar belonged to her, not to him. Someone had badmouthed her to her face, and as the big boss she would not step forward herself—was she expecting him, a waiter, to do it?

The woman called Cangming did not care about the little exchange between the two of them. But hearing Li Ruotong’s question, she thought about it very seriously, then lifted the corner of her mouth and said, “He doesn’t count as one of those. He doesn’t have that much money. However, I can be certain of one thing: this person is very shameless.”

Neither Cangming nor Sun Feifei knew what had happened the last time Cangming went out with Li Huan. In retaliation for her reckless speeding without regard for his feelings, Li Huan drove the car back to Dancing with Wolves at the pace of a crawling turtle, nearly sending the woman who loved high-speed racing into a rage on the spot.

Sun Feifei was all right; she knew Li Huan better and merely smiled without speaking. Su Ci, on the other hand, did not think Li Huan was shameless at all. Instead, she felt that he was full of a righteous spirit. After all, girls her age still had a yearning for tales of heroes saving beauties. Li Ruotong, however, immediately hit it off with Cangming. These two women had both experienced Li Huan’s shamelessness before, and in an instant they became conspirators.

Li Huan decisively shut his mouth. In a scene like this, he thought it best not to speak. Although he believed his eloquence was good, if he were to argue with two female tigers at once, he would have little chance of winning.

When Li Huan turned his attention back to the auctioneer, the second piece of jewelry had already been won by the bald businessman from before. Looking at the tiny, birdlike beauty nestled in his arms, pressing her proud chest against his body with all her might, Li Huan sighed inwardly. That middle-aged old man was probably going to have a hard time tonight.

The third piece of jewelry was a diamond bracelet. Even from the cut, one could tell it came from a master’s hand: the facets were smooth and even, and when magnified, they reflected a clear image. Under the lights, in particular, it radiated dazzling brilliance, splendid beyond measure. The bracelet consisted of nine diamonds in all, with a total weight of seven carats. Both in color and clarity they were of top quality. The largest of them, by eye, was about three carats. With such quality and craftsmanship, the price was naturally outrageous; even the diamonds alone, after cutting and polishing, were worth over two million.

Cangming was interested only in jade and jadeite jewelry and never wore diamonds, feeling that such things had no spirit. Li Ruotong, however, brightened at once, though she merely expressed admiration for the bracelet’s workmanship and had no intention of buying it.

Sun Feifei, too, had little enthusiasm. It was not that she could not afford it; rather, she was practical. She would not spend several times the price just to save face in such a setting and buy something that was already a luxury among luxuries. As for Li Huan, he truly could not afford it.

Compared with jadeite, more people favored diamonds. It seemed that only the larger stones could better highlight a woman’s taste and wealth. Of course, diamonds and similar luxuries could indeed enhance a woman’s bearing and were symbols of status, but truly substantive women never relied on such external things to set themselves off.

Adornment was, after all, only adornment. If an ornament obscured one’s own radiance, then it could only mean there was not much on that person worth praising. It was all mere outward show.

Li Huan merely glanced at the wealthy bidder who ultimately won the piece. It was a woman past fifty, and she looked familiar. He seemed to have seen her often on Zhonghai Television; she was one of that small group at the top of the local industrial chain, the sort who could rise into high society and contend with the many fierce and ambitious players for a place. That alone showed her skill and ability. Yet looking at her, her air of nobility was entirely brought out by various luxury goods; she had the appearance of refinement, but not its true substance.

Soon the fourth piece of jewelry was brought out. But at that very moment, a man who looked like a waiter approached Li Huan and lowered his voice to say in his ear, “Hello. A gentleman would like to see you. It’s in Room 1706 of the lounge area.”

“Oh?” Li Huan lifted his head slightly and looked toward the lounge area, somewhat puzzled. Apart from the women in front of him, there should not be anyone here he knew. Why would someone specifically ask for him?

“What is it?” Sun Feifei also found it strange. Seeing Li Huan’s puzzled expression, she could not help asking with concern.

Li Huan repeated what the waiter had said. Sun Feifei’s expression turned a little odd. She had the same thought as he did. After frowning in thought for a moment, she said, “I’ll go with you.”

Li Ruotong opened her mouth beside them. She had also wanted to join the excitement, not to mention that she and Li Huan were currently playing the part of a couple. But seeing the concerned look on Sun Feifei’s face, she held back and said nothing. After all, her and Li Huan’s relationship was only an act, but she could tell that Sun Feifei’s concern for this so-called junior of hers seemed to have already gone beyond the bounds of ordinary friendship.

“It’s fine. I can go by myself.” Li Huan nodded, a reassuring smile appearing at the corners of his mouth to show that he could handle it.

He got to his feet and saw that the waiter was waiting in the lounge area. He walked straight over, followed behind him, and arrived at the door of Room 1706. The waiter knocked twice, and the door opened from inside, revealing a handsome, striking face.

The waiter bowed and left, leaving Li Huan standing alone at the doorway. He looked inside, his gaze falling on the man’s face. He was slightly taken aback, but then he seemed to think of something, and an evil, cold smile rose unconsciously at the corner of his mouth.

Gu Zexi showed no trace of embarrassment. His gaze held a hint of disdain, but remembering that he was asking a favor of someone, he still lowered his posture a little and stepped aside, making an inviting gesture. “Mr. Li, please come in.”

“If you’ve got something to say, say it here. I’m rather busy.” Li Huan was completely unconcerned, his expression like that of a wealthy man growing impatient with a beggar’s pleading.

Since the other party was the one asking him for something, Li Huan had the absolute advantage. In a moment like this, of course he had to maintain his bearing to the fullest. When there was a chance to put on airs, not even a little slack could be allowed. In any case, he had never believed himself inferior to anyone.

Gu Zexi forcefully suppressed the anger in his heart. He knew this was not the time to lose control, but Li Huan’s attitude still made him deeply unhappy. Ever since he had been old enough to remember, no one had ever dared to be so dismissive in front of him.

Thinking of this, Gu Zexi’s expression turned cold, though he still retained a shred of reason. Yet his tone was filled with strong arrogance as he said, “Why don’t we make a deal? You help me with one thing, and I’ll give you one million. You should know that even if you worked at Dancing with Wolves for a lifetime, you probably wouldn’t earn that much.”

Hearing this, Li Huan’s expression changed slightly. One million was indeed no small sum. If it had been in the past, he really might have been tempted. But now he was, after all, a millionaire himself; he would not throw his dignity on the ground just so others could trample it for the sake of one million.

Seeing the look on Li Huan’s face, Gu Zexi felt there was a chance. There was no one in this world who did not love money. Those who liked to proclaim that they regarded wealth as filth, if a stack of banknotes were really slammed down before them, would be enough to make them lose their nature.

“All right.” Li Huan nodded. He was not moved by the million itself; he simply wanted to know what sort of unspeakable transaction this fellow wanted from him.

Entering the room, Li Huan gave it a quick survey and could not help brightening. The room was at least three to four hundred square meters, a suite of no less luxury than a presidential suite in a five-star hotel.

Gu Zexi walked to a large wine cabinet and deliberately selected a bottle of very expensive red wine. He poured a glass for both himself and Li Huan, then sat on the sofa and took a small sip, wearing a look of enjoyment.

Li Huan was equally unceremonious. He raised the glass and took a hard gulp. Yes, the taste was quite good. It seemed this fellow had spent a fair bit. Just that one glass probably cost one to two thousand yuan.

The rich really did not treat money as money.

“If you’re willing, you can enjoy this kind of life too in the future. One million is only a drop in the bucket. What you can get will be far more than what you have now.” Seeing the look of pleasure on Li Huan’s face, Gu Zexi felt immensely satisfied. He did not believe a poor wretch like Li Huan could maintain any moral bottom line when confronted with the temptation of money, so he did not mind tossing out a few more olive branches. After all, empty words meant nothing; no one would take them seriously.