The Monarch Bar.
This was a high-end bar with discerning taste, located in the city center of Jiangbei.
On nights when the city lights shimmered, it resembled a noblewoman draped in sheer gauze—only those with wealth could glimpse the allure beneath.
An Yi sighed deeply. With money in his bank account, everything felt different.
In the past, he would never have set foot in such an upscale place.
Of course, it was purely because of his righteous and principled heart that he had scorned such morally corrupt establishments—it had nothing to do with money!
Stepping inside, he glanced around and nodded in approval. The standard here was truly on another level.
Warm-toned lighting made the dimly lit environment feel even more intimate.
Soft, soothing music played in the background, elegant and melodious.
The waitstaff, dressed in dashing tailcoats, moved gracefully through the space—refined and handsome.
Which was why An Yi, who had sauntered in wearing slippers, stood out just a little.
Even his prized 250-yuan slippers suddenly seemed far less impressive.
Still, thanks to his striking good looks, An Yi drew frequent glances from many of the women present.
An Yi rubbed his temples in frustration. He was here to unwind with his bro, not to pick up girls.
Could they stop eyeing his devastatingly handsome face with such lustful gazes?
"A-An Yi, isn’t this place… expensive?"
Wang Yuan surveyed the Monarch Bar’s lavish interior, gulping nervously.
An Yi waved a hand dismissively. "Think bigger. A place like this? Pocket change."
Though young, An Yi exuded an unmistakable air of arrogance, instantly drawing more attention.
But once people got a good look at him, they scoffed.
A guy barely in his twenties, probably still in college—who was he trying to fool?
"One bottle of Blazing Vickers!"
An Yi skimmed the menu and immediately ordered an exorbitantly priced bottle of wine.
The bartender froze.
Honestly, while there were customers who splurged on 10,000-yuan bottles, they were rare—especially in a third-tier city like Jiangbei.
The average monthly income here was around three to four thousand. Anyone willing to drop ten grand on a drink was undeniably loaded.
"Right away, sir!"
The bartender ushered An Yi and Wang Yuan to a booth, serving them with enthusiasm.
Wang Yuan whispered nervously, "This is way too expensive. Maybe we should just leave?"
An Yi replied coolly, "It’s just a bottle of wine. Broaden your horizons."
With a net worth in the hundreds of millions and ownership of two companies, An Yi was practically ready to buy luxury cars and villas.
Frankly, 10,000 yuan didn’t even register on his radar.
(Well, maybe it lingered in the back of his mind.)
In an instant, An Yi’s swagger drew the attention of countless women.
Sure, he looked like a slacker in shorts and slippers, but anyone who could casually order such an expensive drink was clearly no ordinary guy.
To the women present, An Yi’s already handsome face now seemed to glow with an irresistible aura.
The bartender approached with the bottle in hand.
Just then, a stunning woman in a red dress caught the bartender’s eye and smoothly took over the tray.
"Your Blazing Vickers," she purred, swaying toward An Yi. "Might I ask which family’s young master you are?"
She set the bottle down, her alluring figure leaning close as she spoke in a silken voice.
Then, with a practiced motion, she uncorked the wine.
A faint aroma filled the air.
An Yi’s eyes nearly bulged out of his skull.
He was planning to return the bottle after flexing!
What had she just done?!
Beside him, Wang Yuan stared at the red-dressed woman, utterly transfixed.
Some women were breathtaking at first glance—and only grew more mesmerizing the longer you looked. Every movement exuded an intoxicating charm.
Ding!
This target meets the [Love Expert] criteria!
An Yi raised an eyebrow at the notification.
"Meets the criteria? A 9/10 beauty?"
But this woman was… older, wasn’t she?
She had to be in her thirties!
Lin Mei’er was impeccably maintained—her skin flawless, her figure curvaceous yet elegant, her every gesture dripping with allure.
Though undeniably beautiful, An Yi could tell her real age was higher than appearances suggested.
Women like her—experienced, mature—weren’t really his type.
It felt like facing an elder, leaving him unsure how to proceed.
But Wang Yuan? The guy was practically salivating, face flushed.
"Wait, he’s into older women?"
An Yi smirked, then yanked Wang Yuan forward. "Me? Rich? Nah, the wine was his idea."
"N-No—"
Wang Yuan stiffened, but as his eyes locked onto Lin Mei’er’s mesmerizing presence, he swallowed hard.
An Yi nudged him and coughed meaningfully.
Opportunities for a man to show off were rare!
Dummy!
With a beauty like this in front of you, why hesitate?
Gazing at Lin Mei’er’s voluptuous curves, Wang Yuan’s face burned crimson. "Y-Yeah! I ordered it!"
Screw it!
It was just 10,000 yuan!
Max out a few credit cards!
Take out some loans!
Hell, if he had to, he’d even consider a shady payday lender!
There was no way he couldn’t scrape together the cash!
In that moment, Wang Yuan—a self-proclaimed loser—finally understood the ancient saying:
Spend a fortune, just to make a beauty smile.
Wang Yuan’s Destiny Value: -5!
An Yi could clearly see Wang Yuan’s Destiny Value had dropped to 27.
What the hell? I gave him a chance to show off—why’s his luck getting worse?
An Yi stroked his chin, baffled.
"Oh?"
Lin Mei’er smiled sweetly. "This humble woman is Lin Mei’er. Meeting Young Master Wang is truly my fortune."
"N-No, no! The honor’s mine! L-Let me toast first!"
Wang Yuan stammered, grabbing the bottle and taking a desperate swig to steady his nerves.
The taste hit him like a truck—cheap industrial alcohol diluted with water.
An Yi frowned, picking up the cork from the table.
He wasn’t a wine connoisseur, but he’d attended Qin Yao’s birthday banquet before.
High-end wines usually required a proper corkscrew—yet this woman had twisted it open bare-handed.
Thinking fast, An Yi started, "Aun—"
Lin Mei’er’s sharp gaze cut him off.
An Yi swallowed the word and forced a grin. "This wine seems…"
"Seems what, handsome?" Lin Mei’er teased, lifting An Yi’s chin with a slender finger.
"Seems… really fragrant! Must be top-shelf!"
An Yi lied through his teeth.
For some reason, his spine tingled with unease.
This woman… is dangerous.
On this planet, few could instill such dread in him—and she was one of them.
"Giggle~ Of course it’s fragrant. My bar only serves authentic, premium drinks—no fakes here!"
Lin Mei’er covered her mouth, laughing delightedly. "By the way, I don’t believe I caught your name, young master."
An Yi straightened. "I am who I am—Lin Chen!"
"Lin Chen?"
Lin Mei’er paused, her expression shifting slightly.
Noticing her reaction, An Yi tensed. "You’ve… heard of me?"
"No, my nephew shares the same name. But he’s nowhere near as adorable as you."
Lin Mei’er pinched An Yi’s cheek affectionately, licking her lips.
Wang Yuan watched on, eyes wide with envy.
That move, coming from a beauty, is absolutely lethal!
That's my booze you're spilling!
Hey, how about giving me a squeeze too!
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