"That's not like you to say."
Liu Chen ate his steak, glancing out the window at the rain that had started sometime before. The heavy downpour struck the restaurant's floor-to-ceiling windows, turning into streams of water that flowed downwards.
Attacked by the streams of water, the floor-to-ceiling windows could no longer reveal the cars and pedestrians flowing like a river below.
Liu Chen turned back, put down his fork, and placed his hands on the dining table, neatly folded like a student in class, his back straight. His eyes calmly scrutinized Ren Yu, who was sitting opposite him.
Ren Yu smiled, also placing his knife and fork on either side of his steak. He clasped his hands together, resting his elbows on the tabletop.
"It's not a matter of whether it's like you or not. When doing things, the first thing you should consider is how to maximize your profit. Like this matter, we haven't actually given out any prize money.
In other words, even if we report it to the police, they most likely won't take this case seriously. What would make them take it seriously is if the amount reaches a certain level. According to legal regulations, defrauding over fifty thousand yuan is considered a significant amount, punishable by three to ten years of imprisonment."
After Ren Yu finished speaking, seeing that Liu Chen seemed to have no objections, he continued.
"I'll keep an eye on them. To be safe, when they claim prizes totaling sixty thousand yuan, I'll immediately announce the fraudulent lucky cards online and then report it offline, applying some public pressure on the police.
Liu Chen sat in his chair, listening intently to Ren Yu, but felt a pang of unease in his heart.
Because, in that instant, Liu Chen suddenly understood that everything he had been doing was from the perspective of a salesperson. Ren Yu's approach, however, seemed to be the consideration of a mature businessman.
"I understand. Then, we'll proceed with this matter as you suggested. I'll have Yu Bing handle the prize claims one by one."
Fearing he might forget, Liu Chen unlocked his phone then and there and sent a message to Yu Bing on QQ:
"As long as they can produce the lucky card, you will verify and transfer the payment. But after the transfer, make sure to keep a record of the payment voucher and the recipient's name."
Yu Bing replied almost instantly: "Understood, boss."
After Liu Chen finished doing all this and saw Ren Yu sitting quietly opposite him, waiting, a faint sense of guilt welled up in his heart.
"I'm sorry. Our first date has turned into me consulting you over lunch."
After speaking, to express his apology, Liu Chen took the initiative to suggest:
"I'm too full. I saw a fresh food supermarket downstairs when I took the elevator. Why don't we go pick up some things?"
"Okay, but we can make a list first to see what we need."
Ren Yu, at this moment, seemed like a different person from the one who had calmly discussed maximizing profits earlier. With a smile, he discussed household needs with Liu Chen.
-
At this very moment, a thousand miles away in C City, Mi Zhuzhu woke up. She stretched her arm out from under the covers, fumbling around until she found her phone under her pillow. With her other hand, she rubbed her eyes, clearing away the dried eye discharge caused by the overly warm underfloor heating.
Opening her phone, Mi Zhuzhu habitually tapped on Weibo to refresh her homepage and check her feed.
The moment she looked, her eyes snapped open.
"These people really have mouths just to gossip about others! And hands just to spread rumors!"
Seeing the rumors on Weibo that the most beautiful scholar, Liu Chen, and her boyfriend had disappeared for a few days, and were rumored to be pale, thin, and possibly having a miscarriage, Mi Zhuzhu exploded.
"So, you people know more about what's going on between a couple than their friends do?"
"Do you have any evidence? You just open your mouths and talk nonsense. Then I can say you're blind!"
Mi Zhuzhu immediately unleashed a barrage of comments, scolding the people who had first posted the rumors on Weibo.
Most people, even if they didn't follow her, had heard of Weibo celebrities like Mi Zhuzhu. Now, seeing Liu Chen's friend directly attacking, the public's curiosity was ignited.
'Is it true or false then? You say others are spreading rumors, but then you provide proof, or let the main characters speak for themselves?'
Soon, bored netizens started @-ing Liu Chen. Some, under newly registered Weibo accounts, taunted Mi Zhuzhu in the comments:
'The main character isn't even worried, why are you, a follower, barking so much?'
Even more people, eager for drama, started @-ing Hu Qian, urging her to inquire.
Mi Zhuzhu's Weibo account had always been managed smoothly. This was the first time she was being chased and cursed by a mob of Liu Chen's haters, and some even sent private messages with indecent photos.
Mi Zhuzhu remained undeterred. She fought back ferociously the entire afternoon, engaging in a heated exchange with the haters.
-
Beijing,
Inside a high-end fresh food supermarket.
Ren Yu pushed the shopping cart to the checkout area, placing items from the cart onto the counter one by one. The items on the counter included fruits, meat, vegetables, snacks, and – several health supplements.
As it was a high-end fresh food supermarket, the health supplements were of exceptional quality, perfectly aligning with Ren Yu's intention to have Liu Chen take more supplements.
And so…
"Sir, the total is nineteen thousand nine hundred and ninety-five. We currently have a New Year's member ten times points promotion. For every hundred thousand points, you can redeem a one-thousand-yuan voucher with no threshold. We recommend you add a box of Durex's new condoms, which comes to five yuan."
The cashier, with a professional smile, leaned forward and picked up a small box of Durex condoms from a small rack next to the counter.
The box had a large print of two words: "Ultra-thin."
Even Ren Yu was taken aback by this item and was about to refuse.
"Then take this one."
Liu Chen's voice came from behind him. The cashier nodded and placed the box of new Durex condoms into a plastic bag. Well, a free promotional item worth ten cents was secured.
Ren Yu took out his bank card to pay. Then, with feigned composure, he placed the several plastic bags of purchases into the shopping cart and pushed it towards the escalator leading to the underground parking lot.
If one ignored his reddened earlobes, Liu Chen would have actually believed him. Thinking about how he had been lectured by Ren Yu for the past few days, a rebellious thought took hold.
Pursing his lips, Liu Chen, with a gleeful smile, patted Ren Yu's shoulder. Then, he tiptoed and leaned close to Ren Yu's ear, teasingly saying:
"What's wrong, Brother Ren Yu? Are you embarrassed to buy condoms?"