Chapter 129: The Eldest Young Master is Jealous, His Face is Extremely Dark
Lian Li smiled, “The principal plus interest, with plenty of interest.”
Lu Hansheng’s features were resolute, his lines distinct, as if carved by a knife. With a smile, his phoenix eyes narrowed slightly, “Sister, you’re not giving your brother any face at all.”
“I did.”
“Where?”
Lian Li’s fingertips casually tapped the phone screen, smiling, her tone even, “Rounded down the decimal, two hundred yuan.”
The young masters beside them burst into laughter.
In all of Shanghai, Lu Hansheng was incredibly influential. Who could provoke him, and who dared to provoke him? Now, he was being chased by a girl demanding repayment, and it wasn’t a debt of affection, but a debt of money.
Lu Hansheng stretched out his leg and kicked the young master who was laughing the loudest. He picked up a wine glass, added three ice cubes, and poured in some rum.
“Sister, don’t you find it tiring to demand money from me all day long?”
Lian Li took the wine he offered. Her palm felt slightly cool from the chill. Her bright, watery eyes were tinged with a shallow smile, gentle and composed.
“It is quite tiring.”
She extended a slender, fair finger and tapped the phone screen a few times, “Then add some hard work fees.”
Lu Hansheng looked at the ever-increasing amount and felt he had dug his own grave.
Speaking of Young Master Lu, anyone who knew him knew he was extremely generous. Any woman who had been with him had nothing but excellent reviews, and he would lend money and support without batting an eye. If women profited from him, he would laugh and tell them to take more.
He was only special towards Eldest Young Master Jin’s sister. He had repeatedly sent someone for his sister to personally come and collect a debt. Could it be that he wanted to be a brother-in-law?
Lu Hansheng as Jin Yan Ting’s brother-in-law? That was acceptable.
But as Jin Shi Yue’s brother-in-law…
Damn it, he wouldn’t do it even if a knife was held to his throat.
He would rather die than be Jin Shi Yue’s brother-in-law.
Lu Hansheng worried that Lian Li’s interest would pile up higher and higher, and he should take what he could get. As he lowered his head to sign a check for Lian Li, he overheard a scion from a collateral branch of the Pei family in Shanghai say:
“Second Young Master Jin has been back in Beijing for five or six months. Haven’t you two met yet?”
Mentioning his nemesis, Lu Hansheng frowned, “Met a silly dog.”
After signing the check, he handed it back to Lian Li, a smile returning to his face. “Sister, can’t you give me a discount?”
“Sure.”
Lian Li took out a coin and placed it on the crystal table in front of Lu Hansheng.
Lu Hansheng picked up the coin and tossed it in his palm. “A discount of only one yuan?”
“It’s blessed by Buddha at Yonghe Temple, priceless.” Lian Li said, “I was going to throw it into the wishing well, but now I’ll give it to you.”
Her clear voice was leisurely, as plain as boiled water, yet it conveyed sincerity.
“Young Master Lu, accept it with utmost gratitude! It’s a great honor that our money-grubbing sister is willing to give money!”
Someone reached out to take the coin, but Lu Hansheng immediately closed his fingers, making the person grasp at empty air.
“What are you snatching from me? Don’t you have sisters? Go back and ask your own sisters.”
“Don’t you have a sister yourself? Oh, your sister likes Jin Shi Yue and you’ve fallen out with her.” True brothers would stab each other in the heart.
Lian Li lowered her eyes to check if the check was filled out correctly. Hearing the familiar nickname, she looked up.
“Back then, to get Jin Shi Yue to agree to be with your sister, you got into a huge fight with Jin Shi Yue. As a result, both of you were confined by your respective old masters and had to copy scriptures.”
Lu Hansheng took a sip of wine. “Don’t mention him, it’s annoying.”
It was common knowledge in their circle that Lu Hansheng doted on his sister. However, Lian Li had never heard about this old incident between the Lu siblings and Jin Shi Yue before.
After a few rounds of drinks, the young masters who brought female companions in the private room, feeling spirited, made excuses and left with their companions. The remaining single individuals drank, played cards, and played billiards.
Lian Li wanted to try playing billiards, but she didn’t know how.
The young masters eagerly volunteered to teach Sister how to play billiards, promising she’d learn in no time.
Seeing this, Jin Yan Ting told Lu Hansheng to call a female coach to teach her.
Jin Yan Ting crossed his long legs and leaned back on the sofa, watching the lively billiard table. His gaze followed Lian Li, his eyes growing deeper.
The complexity of the social circles was immense. Having a pleasant appearance and a soft, protectable exterior was far from enough. He had never intentionally cultivated Lian Li before, not wanting her to be tainted by any vulgarity.
Later, he discovered that the young girl was actually very adept at managing interpersonal relationships, being in the midst of it all yet detached from it.
The incense master checked the incense in various parts of the private room to ensure the scent was consistent, then withdrew from the room.
Jin Yan Ting beckoned, and a waiter beside him came over to serve wine.
The club’s waiters had to be knowledgeable about various wines and their optimal serving methods. The waiter, following professional procedures, carefully poured wine for Jin Yan Ting.
Jin Yan Ting drank, watching Lian Li play billiards. Every time she potted a ball, her eyebrows would lift slightly.
A very lively little habit.
Regardless of the circle, be it Shanghai or Beijing, these scions of prominent families gathered together. On the surface, it was for leisure, but in reality, it was still about resource exchange.
By playing billiards with a group of young masters, Lian Li learned quite a bit.
Old Madam Jin and Old Madam Lu were former political allies; Second Master Duan was being transferred to Shanghai and would officially take office after the new year, and Zhong Yang’s aunt would most likely accompany him to Shanghai; the Jin family’s uncles had been promoted again…
Physical activity was not suitable for Lian Li.
In five-ball billiards, she had only won once, and that was because Lu Hansheng let her win.
Lu Hansheng rested the billiard cue across his shoulders, his hands lazily draped over it. He nudged his chin towards Lian Li, “Sister, stop playing. Your brother is drunk, hurry and take him back.”
Lian Li turned her head to look in the direction he indicated.
The wine bottle on the table was empty. Jin Yan Ting leaned back on the sofa, his head slightly tilted, his eyes closed.
Lu Hansheng lowered his voice and asked, “Does your brother have something on his mind?”
“I don’t know,” Lian Li replied truthfully.
Lu Hansheng rubbed his chin and analyzed, “This is the first time I’ve seen him drunk. Could it be because of your sister-in-law?”
Because of Duan Shiqing? The obstacles to their feelings had disappeared. Duan Shiqing still had feelings for him, and with mutual affection, they shouldn’t have any worries, right?
Lian Li knew little about romance and couldn’t give Lu Hansheng an answer.
She handed the billiard cue to the ball boy and walked over to Jin Yan Ting. Bending down, she spoke softly, “Brother, are you okay?”
Hearing her voice, Jin Yan Ting slowly opened his eyes. Due to being drunk, his eyes were a little red. When their gazes met unexpectedly, Lian Li was slightly taken aback.
In all these years, this was the first time she had seen Jin Yan Ting drunk. He didn’t look decadent; his usual dignified and steady demeanor was somewhat diminished, replaced by a hint of indulgence.
It wasn’t much better than when he was sick.
Lian Li called He Shu to come and pick up Jin Yan Ting. He Shu was waiting in the lobby outside and hadn’t gone far, but the club was large, and it still took a few minutes to walk in.
Whether Jin Yan Ting was seriously drunk or not was unclear. If it was serious, he could walk himself; if it wasn’t serious, Lian Li felt as if he didn’t recognize her.
Jin Yan Ting and He Shu walked ahead. As Lian Li picked up her bag, preparing to follow, Lu Hansheng suddenly called out to her.
“Sister, your brother left his pen.”
“Thank you.” Lian Li took a closer look and realized it was the pen she had given to Jin Yan Ting.
The driver had been waiting at the club entrance for a long time. Jin Yan Ting got into the back seat and tugged at his tie. The usually neat and beautiful Windsor knot was instantly undone.
Lian Li asked the club manager for some honey water to sober up. She got into the car a moment later, sat in the back seat, unscrewed the cap, and handed it to Jin Yan Ting.
“Brother, honey water, to sober up.”
Jin Yan Ting reached out, but his hand grasped Lian Li’s.
Lian Li instinctively pulled her hand away, and the glass bottle slipped. The honey water almost spilled, but thankfully, she reacted quickly and caught it with her other hand.
Lian Li’s mood wasn’t one of lingering shock, but rather a conditioned reflex. She calmly looked up at Jin Yan Ting. The light and shadow from outside the window glided over his profile, his eyes slightly red and misty.
Drunk, disoriented.
“Brother, I’m Lian Li.”
After stating her full name, Lian Li repeated, “Honey water.”
Only then did Jin Yan Ting take it. After a couple of sips, he leaned back against the seat, furrowed his brow, and closed his eyes.
Lian Li screwed the cap back onto the remaining honey water and placed it in the storage box beside her.
Under the neon night sky, the Cullinan drove along Nanjing West Road and arrived at Yun Qi Hotel.
He Shu got out of the car and opened the rear door, calling out “President Jin,” “Mr. Jin” several times, but Jin Yan Ting remained with his eyes closed.
He was just an assistant. Even with the title of Assistant, he didn’t dare to lay hands on his superior.
He Shu had no choice but to seek help: “Miss Lian.”
Lian Li walked around the front of the car to the other side. “What is it?”
He Shu said, “President Jin.”
Lian Li understood. She stepped forward, leaned in, and gently patted Jin Yan Ting’s shoulder, “Brother, we’re at the hotel.”
Not far away, Jin Shi Yue saw this scene. His pupils darkened, and his face turned extremely grim.
