Huff... huff... huff...

I can't do it anymore, I really can't...

Su Jianren was dragged along by the two, his face flushed red as he begged for mercy, having had his fill of the spicy burgers.

Chen Cheng, you're quite something, not even out of breath, Miao Che said, looking at Chen Cheng, who appeared completely normal without even breaking a sweat, a look of admiration on his face.

Chen Cheng was lost in thought; it was only on the road that he had realized that Company Name was currently lacking in auditing staff, so why wait for Tao Wuji to grow?

Wasn't Miao Che a much better choice? He was experienced, seasoned in his work, and they even had the shared bond of being fellow disciples.

The only trouble was, simply throwing money at Miao Che probably wouldn't work.

This guy had given up a million-dollar annual salary to return from Wall Street.

He had a bit of a 'money is dirt' attitude and intended to be a 'sword wielder' who would sweep away the corrupt in the financial system.

Chen Cheng frowned; this matter couldn't be rushed. It required the right opportunity.

Turning his head to look at Su Jianren's flushed face, he joked with a smile, Senior brother, we can't just work without exercising; our health is the capital of our revolution!

Go, go, go, get lost, Su Jianren panted, waving his hand and pretending to hit Chen Cheng.

This kind of work wasn't just ordinary physical labor; it was mentally and physically draining. If one didn't exercise, sooner or later, they'd end up wearing a green hat.

Having his sore spot poked, Su Jianren felt a bit embarrassed, but his look toward Chen Cheng grew much closer.

Not many people would joke with him like this.

Those who could joke like this were all true buddies.

The cycling naturally couldn't continue, so the group drove back to the city from Dianshan Lake.

Chen Cheng originally intended to treat the two to a meal, but Miao Che refused.

Once they arrived in the city, Miao Che left on his own.

Chen Cheng went to eat with Su Jianren and took the opportunity to go to a club to wash off the sweat.

Miao Che had taboos about private invitations to eat and drink, but Su Jianren didn't take it to heart.

A full spa treatment was arranged perfectly for Su Jianren, and when they came out of the club, he was arm-in-arm with Chen Cheng.

The two had already had a few drinks while eating and were slightly tipsy; with the bath and massage arranged, they couldn't have been more comfortable.

Chen Cheng was still savoring the experience as he walked out of the club's main entrance.

That technician number 98, wearing a water-blue qipao with a landscape pattern, her 1.7-meter-long legs appearing and disappearing amidst the landscape, plus the silk scarf on her face like a half-hidden lute, was truly soul-stirring and intriguing.

Her technique was good, and her pretty hands were very smooth.

Unfortunately, the time together was always short...

Sigh... in this situation, one should recite a poem.

Love rises with the clock, but when the clock stops, the feeling remains restless.

Even with the intention to part, adding more time soothes the melancholy.

That hits the spot!

Hey, Cheng.

Su Jianren called out so affectionately that if Chen Cheng didn't know he liked women, he would have gotten goosebumps.

It's not even ten yet, shall we go drink some more? It just so happens a new place is opening today, Su Jianren said to Chen Cheng after checking his watch.

Chen Cheng's mouth twitched. Su Jianren really had a playful heart; he was almost fifty and still so energetic.

He had accompanied him for the first two rounds, so he wouldn't mind the second half. Chen Cheng laughed, Then let's have some more, we won't return until we're drunk.

Hahaha, won't return until drunk! Su Jianren laughed heartily.

In a little while, the designated driver had taken them to the place.

He didn't let the designated driver leave. Aside from the platform order, Chen Cheng gave an extra 300 yuan, telling the driver to wait in the car until Su Jianren had finished having fun and then drive him back.

Waiter!

As soon as they sat in the booth, Su Jianren shouted at the waiter like a regular.

The place Su Jianren brought him to was a nightclub for dancing; as soon as he entered, the music made Chen Cheng's brain ache.

The waiter handed over the wine list, and Su Jianren pointed at Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng readily took the menu, scanned it, and ordered a set of red wine, foreign liquor, beer, and fruit snacks.

He whispered in the waiter's ear, Call a few girls over.

The waiter nodded after looking at the black card Chen Cheng handed over.

These kinds of bars always have an atmosphere team.

Besides dancing hotly on the center stage, after they finished, they could also accompany guests for drinks if they were willing.

Many guests would invite the dancing girls for a drink, and they generally wouldn't refuse, but you had to pay.

Some bars even have professional hostesses; either way, it's just to liven up the atmosphere.

Before long, the drinks arrived.

Looking at the girls sitting in the booth, Su Jianren didn't ask; it seemed he was very familiar with this routine.

Not long after, a few graceful young ladies got Su Jianren high on drinks. With a cigarette in his mouth, he held two girls, one on each side, twisting and turning.

Chen Cheng chatted idly with the two hostesses.

He had been drinking for nearly an hour and felt a bit listless.

He waved the waiter over and asked him to fetch 20,000 in cash.

He took one stack, split it in two, stuffed it into the chests of the two girls on his left and right, and said, Alright, go home and rest.

The two pretty young ladies' breathing hitched for a moment. Uh, this?

Scum smiled and waved at them, Go!

The two ladies looked at each other and nodded. The girl with shoulder-length hair said, Sir, you are a good man!

Scum shrugged. Of course.

After all, he was a man who wanted to give a home to all the fair-skinned and beautiful ladies.

Chen Cheng waved his hand, and the two ladies didn't say anything more; they bowed and left.

If not for the sake of survival, who would go to be a hostess or even sell their body?

They were just unfortunate people who lost at the starting line.

The two ladies walked to the back of the bar and tacitly started counting the money.

After counting the money, the short-haired girl pulled out her extra six bills and handed them to her busty sister.

The busty sister took the cash and asked, Are you going back?

The short-haired girl's eyes turned red. She exhaled to suppress her emotions and shook her head, It's still early. I'll wait a while longer and try my luck to see if I can make another deal.

Sigh, the busty sister sighed.

A gambling father, a sick mother, a younger brother in school, a broken home.

Then I'll go first.

Including the tip from Chen Cheng, the busty sister had cleared 7k today, fulfilling her own KPI, and didn't intend to keep grinding.

Yeah, see you tomorrow. The short-haired girl squeezed out a smile and nodded.

Sending the two hostesses away, Chen Cheng held his glass and observed Su Jianren, who was dancing with his arms flailing.

No wonder he was the first to fall; he really didn't have any taboos at all.

It's true that having connections in high places makes one feel secure and fearless.

His old man was the first Vice President of the Bank, and his connections in the financial circle could be said to reach the very top.

Chen Cheng took a sip from his glass, scanned the surroundings, and made a sound of surprise.

Huh? Why is she here?

Chen Cheng saw someone familiar. Fan Shengmei was sitting in a nearby booth playing on her phone, looking somewhat out of place with the surrounding environment.

People around were chatting among themselves, and no one was paying attention to her. She looked somewhat awkward, playing on her phone to seek psychological comfort.

Chen Cheng thought about it; she must be out fishing for the best.

Chen Cheng scanned the room and also saw Qu Xiaoxiao.

Wearing a yellow hip-hugging dress, she was standing in the center of the dance floor, hugging a shirtless muscular man, twisting and turning happily.

Just then, Yao Bin walked over and dragged Qu Xiaoxiao away.

Qu Xiaoxiao was reluctantly dragged to the booth, took a sip of wine, caught her breath, and asked.

How is it? Did you find out?

Being humiliated like that yesterday, just letting it go wasn't her style.

Of course I found out, here, see for yourself. Yao Bin handed the phone to Qu Xiaoxiao.

Qu Xiaoxiao looked at the phone, frowning, looking incredulous. Stanford?

Yeah, heard from a buddy, he's quite rich and a top student too. Yao Bin nodded heavily.

Qu Xiaoxiao pondered for a moment. Then... what about my neighbor?

Yao Bin swiped the phone screen and pursed his lips. Also related to Tan Zongming.

...

Qu Xiaoxiao was speechless. Is there nothing else, no information I don't know about this Chen Cheng?

Apparently, she hated Chen Cheng more at the moment.

Uh... his information is all relatively old.

He went to college in the Magic City five years ago.

I asked people from his cohort. Heard his family runs a small business, nothing special besides good grades, and he was the type of 'transparent' person that people around him couldn't really remember.

Qu Xiaoxiao frowned. Good grades, and he's this arrogant?

Xiaoxiao, if he's involved with Tan Zongming, we can't afford to provoke him. Yao Bin advised.

He didn't want to cause trouble for Chen Cheng anymore.

He had been probing this person for two days and couldn't find his background at all. The more he probed, the less confident he felt; he felt even more mysterious than Tan Zongming.

Qu Xiaoxiao was clearly unhappy, pursing her lips, angry. It's so hard to swallow this!

So hard to investigate? Didn't he have any social life abroad?

Yes! Yao Bin flipped through the phone and showed it to Qu Xiaoxiao.

It was a video screenshot of Chen Cheng watching a game in a basketball arena, in the front row, with a fashionable girl with long legs sitting next to him.

The live camera shot was very clear.

Yao Bin continued, This game was this year's finals, front row seats were hyped up to 100,000 USD.

100,000 USD?

Qu Xiaoxiao was immediately shocked. So rich?

Yao Bin nodded. Yeah, looking at this, our family wealth might not be enough in his eyes.

Qu Xiaoxiao was suddenly going crazy. Ugh, so annoying!

Having been humiliated and having to swallow it, she had never had this feeling before.

Chen Cheng didn't know that Qu Xiaoxiao was talking about him; he put down his glass and walked towards Fan Shengmei.

As for Fan Shengmei, he couldn't say he hated her, but he didn't like her much either.

With Zhu Zhe as a comparison, Fan Shengmei's way of dealing with her vampire family was worlds apart.

This indecisive principle of dealing with family was also reflected in her work.

The two were about the same age; Zhu Zhe was already middle management and about to be promoted to director, while Fan Shengmei was still a small HR.

Oh, no, a senior HR.

In an era where every radish has its hole, when there aren't many positions, people give a senior title to those who are older and still scraping by in that position.

No wonder she was anxious.

She was even fishing for the best in nightclubs.

If she didn't catch a rich husband soon, the mid-life crisis would catch up with her.

Chen Cheng walked up, and Fan Shengmei didn't notice. Chen Cheng tapped Fan Shengmei's arm, and she finally noticed him.

It really is Big Beauty Fan, Chen Cheng joked with a smile.

Chen Cheng! Fan Shengmei exclaimed, clearly somewhat surprised to see Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng nodded and asked with a smile, Unhuh! Why is Big Beauty Fan sitting alone?

Fan Shengmei was a bit embarrassed and explained, I just came with friends, they all went to dance.

It wasn't with any friends; a boss had called Fan Shengmei to come and play.

Fan Shengmei thought her chance had come, but she didn't expect the boss to call a bunch of girls.

And look, the boss was currently hugging a hot girl and dancing in the center of the stage.

Chen Cheng smiled and didn't expose her. Mind sitting at my place for a while?

Fan Shengmei looked at the man dancing intimately on the center stage and quickly said, Of course not.

She didn't want to miss the opportunity to make connections with the powerful.

Being able to make Qu Xiaoxiao suffer meant he was either rich or powerful; Fan Shengmei still had that much discernment.

That's good. Chen Cheng smiled.

He led Fan Shengmei to his booth, Sit wherever, looked at the drinks on the table, Have some wine?

Fan Shengmei smiled somewhat nervously, I can't hold my liquor.