Chapter 25: Cheaper Than Grass

Lu Yao’s little tea-serving performance stirred up a fierce sense of protectiveness in Jian Xiaojie, so she had no choice but to express her feelings through the common, vulgar medium of money.

If it weren't for Sister Wang holding her back, she would have been more than happy to "protect" Lu Yao with her own body.

Of course, the effectiveness of tea-serving isn't about the skill itself; it’s about who is performing it. The same technique can have vastly different results depending on the person. Jian Xiaojie proved herself to be exactly the kind of wealthy socialite Sister Wang knew to be "wild." She hadn't even finished much of her drink before claiming she felt dizzy and faint, with her heart beating rapidly. She grabbed Lu Yao’s hand, intent on placing it against her chest to "check" her heart rate.

Lu Yao found it amusing. How am I supposed to measure anything through all that padding?

Sister Wang, standing nearby, felt a massive headache coming on and intervened firmly, but the ensuing tug-of-war only seemed to put Jian Xiaojie in an even more ecstatic mood. Before long, she was using her feigned dizziness as an excuse to lean against Lu Yao.

Caught between two wealthy socialites, Lu Yao was surrounded by such a cacophony of chirping and twittering that he felt like his ears were about to ring. He had no choice but to use a trip to the restroom as an excuse to slip away.

Watching Lu Yao escape in such a hurry, Jian Xiaojie let out a bright, delighted laugh. Although she hadn't managed to "consume" this piece of fresh meat yet, the process of marinating him before the main course was already incredibly satisfying. Compared to the trash found in high-end social clubs, Lu Yao was truly a different flavor altogether! She was very pleased. No wonder Sister Wang knew how to have a good time.

Sister Wang, however, glared at Jian Xiaojie in exasperation, with only one thought in her mind: "I really chose my friends poorly! Poorly indeed!"

Compared to the lively atmosphere surrounding Lu Yao and Sister Wang, Zhao Rongrong and Xu Ziqiao were far more reserved and stiff. Zhao Rongrong knew her place; this wasn't her gathering, and it wouldn't be appropriate for her to steal the spotlight. After all, she was here to expand her network, not to indulge in pleasure. As for Xu Ziqiao, he was completely stunned, watching the whole scene with his mouth agape. He had never seen such beautiful women act so aggressively, yet Lu Yao seemed genuinely annoyed by it. Damn it! He would have been more than happy to shoulder that burden for him!

Once Lu Yao left, Jian Xiaojie finally settled down. Zhao Rongrong took the opportunity to raise her glass and toast Sister Wang and Jian Xiaojie, hoping to leave a good impression on the two wealthy women.

***

At a nearby booth, Fan Shushu was dealing with the wealthy second-generation heir in a distracted manner. Her gaze kept drifting toward Lu Yao’s booth. When she saw him surrounded by two mature, wealthy women who were plying him with drinks, a strange, unpleasant feeling stirred in her heart.

It felt like... having her favorite lollipop snatched away and then enjoyed right in front of her.

Actually, it wasn't that she hadn't had designs on Lu Yao before. It was just that, aside from his outstanding looks, she hadn't seen any other advantages in him. For men, physical appearance only holds significant weight before entering the real world. Once they step into society, looks account for only a small fraction of a man’s comprehensive strength.

But things were different now. Tonight, on stage, Fan Shushu had seen the immense potential Lu Yao possessed beyond his looks! He might well become the next superstar!

At that moment, a thought occurred to Fan Shushu: if you want to be a general's wife, you must first marry the soldier and walk with him through the hail of bullets and the biting frost.

With that, Fan Shushu made up her mind. She smiled at the wealthy heir, who was still rambling on, and said, "Excuse me, I need to use the restroom." She stood up eagerly before he could even respond. The heir looked stunned. Is she in that much of a hurry? She must have been holding it for a long time. How thoughtful of her! The heir felt moved.

***

Dressed in an exquisite little skirt, Fan Shushu waited in the hallway leading to the restrooms. Fortunately, NFA was high-end enough that even their restrooms were lavish and grand, rivaling those at Deji Plaza.

Soon, she saw Lu Yao walking out of the men's restroom. Lu Yao was quite surprised to see her there. "You're here, too?"

Fan Shushu: "..." So he hadn't noticed me at all this whole time? That stung.

Fan Shushu took a deep breath and smiled faintly. "I was waiting for you here." She wanted to convey how much she valued him.

But Lu Yao looked back at the restroom and asked, puzzled, "Why are you waiting for me in front of the toilet?"

Fan Shushu: "..." No, really? Big brother, can you please clear your head?! Is the location the point?! The point is that I am waiting for you!

Fan Shushu took another deep breath. "I have something I want to talk to you about. It’s too loud outside."

That was true. The long, brightly lit hallway leading to the NFA restrooms was elegantly decorated and even featured chairs specifically for customers who had drunk too much or wanted to escape the noise.

Lu Yao found a seat, pulled out a cigarette, lit it, and said, "Make it quick. I have friends waiting outside."

Fan Shushu said earnestly, "Lu Yao, don't you think you're wasting your talent and your life? You have such great qualities and could clearly achieve so much. Why... why must you choose to be a kept man?"

Lu Yao tilted his head, wondering what was wrong with her today.

Fan Shushu continued, "I know I might be part of the reason, so I apologize for how I treated you in the past. If you're willing to turn over a new leaf and focus on your career, I would be willing to consider being with you." She looked at him with eyes full of expectation and pity, hoping he would see the light.

But what Lu Yao was thinking was—is she sick? I’m having the time of my life right now.

Lu Yao stubbed out his cigarette in the ashtray without even looking at her. "So, you’d only consider being with me if I were successful in my career? But if I were already successful, why would I want to be with you?"

"Huh?" Fan Shushu was stunned.

Lu Yao pressed on, "Do you think only a man with a successful career is worthy of you, or capable of supporting you?"

Fan Shushu felt a sting. Even though that was exactly what she thought, why did it sound so harsh coming from Lu Yao?

"Shouldn't a man be successful?" she argued.

Lu Yao laughed. "That's hilarious. The ones without money are the ones who need me to support them; the ones with money are the ones who support me, don't you get it? A man's shelf life is short enough as it is. If I don't enjoy the spoils of life while I'm young and full of energy, am I supposed to wait until I'm old and need supplements just to get by?"

How ridiculous!

Fan Shushu was completely blindsided by Lu Yao’s bold declaration. It didn't feel right, yet it sounded so logical.

Flustered and blushing, Fan Shushu insisted, "But... don't you feel ashamed?"

Ashamed? Lu Yao smiled. "Men only act tough and talk about 'when I make it big' when they lack external assets, because they can only use money to compensate for their lack of looks and their own insecurities. I don't need to."

Those who whispered that he was a kept man were merely masking their own jealousy—it was just a shackle society tried to place on men. Wasn't Tang Monk popular enough? Didn't he settle down and build a life the moment he met a wealthy woman?

Lu Yao stood up. "Are you done?"

Before she could answer, he turned to leave, but Fan Shushu grabbed his arm. Looking at him with earnest, emotional eyes, she said, "Everything I said to you is sincere!"

Lu Yao gently pulled her hand away, revealing a warm, gentle smile, as soft as the spring sun. "Have you ever heard a saying?"

"A sincerity that arrives late—"

"Is cheaper than grass."