Chapter 7 - Have fun and make the most of it!

After dinner, Lu Liang called Tan Tao and found out that the hotel offered a car rental service. He picked a Bentley Mulsanne at 8,000 yuan a day. For a two-day rental, including insurance, deposit and service fees, the total cost came to 26,000 yuan. "Brother Liang, you're like a stranger to me now." Liu Mingxuan sat in the passenger seat, overcome with a strong sense of unreality. He'd stayed in a 18,000-yuan hotel room without a second thought, rented an 8,000-yuan car just like that, and only found out after dinner that the meal had cost over 5,000 yuan. That single dinner had eaten up nearly half his monthly salary. How much money must Lu Liang have made to splash out like this? "Strange? I'll help you relive the fun old days of our adventures together in a bit." A smile tugged at Lu Liang's lips. He slammed his foot on the accelerator, feeling the surging power of the V8 engine. The intense push-back against his seat made him realize that luxury cars weren't just for showing off—they actually offered an incredible driving experience. "Wasn't it the two of us who went for our first foot massage in sophomore year?" Liu Mingxuan recalled the past. The two eighteen or nineteen-year-old boys had hesitated nervously for a whole evening, pacing back and forth outside the foot massage parlor for over two hours. In the end, it was the parlor's greeting manager who noticed their awkwardness and took the initiative to ask if they wanted a foot massage or a sauna. "Just thinking about how innocent I was back then—and you corrupted me." "Cut it out. Who was it that first suggested extending the session later?" "Can you honestly say you didn't extend yours too?" "I was just trying to ask about her brother's studies." "Same here—I wanted to check if her mom's illness had gotten better and if she needed any help." The two exchanged a grin, as if a sense of time displacement had washed over them, transporting them back to those carefree younger days. Suddenly, Lu Liang's phone rang. He answered it: "You two, we'll be there in a minute." "Who is it?" Liu Mingxuan asked curiously. "Don't ask—you'll find out when we get there." Lu Liang drove across the Wusong River and pulled up at the Wanli Palace Club on Qufu Road. A building covered in shimmering screens, flashing with dazzling neon lights, came into view. Luxury cars and sports cars streamed in and out, and the streets were filled with fashionably dressed young men and women. It was as if the glitzy, prosperous "Paris of the East" of bygone days had been reborn, even more vibrant than before. Liu Mingxuan gaped in astonishment: "Boss Lu, are you planning to spend a fortune tonight?" He'd long heard of Wanli Palace—it was one of the top five nightclubs in Shanghai. A regular booth cost 1,888 yuan, and with hostesses, drinks and beverages, the bill easily topped 10,000 yuan. "Tonight's not about money—it's about having a good time. We're here to let loose, plain and simple. Think of it as celebrating my return to single life, buddy." At the entrance, Lu Liang spotted a stunning mature woman in a figure-hugging purple skirt, paired with horse oil stockings and black fishmouth high heels with red soles. She had a slender, curvy figure that oozed sex appeal. He waved and called out: "Sister Qian, over here!" Zhang Qian was a former client of Lu Liang's. Before she turned thirty, she'd bought a three-bedroom apartment worth 3.2 million yuan within Shanghai's Third Ring Road in full cash. She hadn't gotten rich by being someone's mistress—she'd earned it all as a marketing manager at Wanli Palace. She was an extremely hardworking beauty, constantly posting ads on her WeChat Moments without worrying about annoying people. Whenever someone asked her a question, she answered it in detail, never pestering others unnecessarily. Lu Liang had a very good impression of her, so when he'd decided to go out for some fun with Liu Mingxuan, the first place that came to mind was her club to show his support. "Brother Liang, long time no see! Please, just call me Qianqian—'Sister Qian' makes me feel embarrassed." When Zhang Qian saw the blue Mulsanne, her smile widened even more. She was also a master of polite conversation. Back when Lu Liang was a real estate agent and she was a buyer, his addressing her as "Sister" had been a sign of respect. But now that Lu Liang was her customer, it would be inappropriate for her to let him keep calling her that. She quickly summoned a valet from the entrance to park Lu Liang's car, then beamed with a warm smile and ushered the two men inside. Entering the club, they walked down a narrow corridor bathed in swirling neon lights, the thumping bass of the music growing louder with every step. "Brother Liang, if you want a lively atmosphere, we can stay in the main hall. If you prefer something quieter, we can head upstairs to the second floor." Zhang Qian leaned in, standing on tiptoe, her sexy, tempting red lips almost brushing Lu Liang's earlobe. "Let's book a private room on the second floor first. We can come down to join the fun later if we feel like it." The pounding music assaulted his eardrums, warm air whispered in his ears, carrying a faint, elegant scent of perfume. Lu Liang's heart, which had calmed down from his workout, began to stir restlessly. "Of course, right this way, please. Watch your step..." Zhang Qian took Lu Liang's hand and placed it gently on her waist. Lu Liang smiled, not bothering to be polite. His hand resting on her waist slid slowly downward, finally settling on her firm, perky buttocks. "Brother Liang, what do you think of this private room?" Zhang Qian shot him a playful pout, then led the two men to a room on the second floor. It could comfortably seat seven or eight people. Even though it was the smallest private room available, the minimum spending requirement for the night was still 6,500 yuan. "It's too small—there isn't even a bathroom in here. Let's get a bigger one. Don't try to save me money." At Lu Liang's words, Zhang Qian's face lit up like a flower. She raised an eyebrow and glanced at him: "What do you need a bathroom for?" "To wash my hands, of course." Lu Liang laughed loudly, then chose a medium-sized private room that could seat fifteen people. The soundproofing in the private room was excellent. Once the door was closed, they didn't have to shout to hear each other. "Brother Liang, Brother Xuan, how about I call some young ladies over to keep you company?" Zhang Qian snuggled up close to Lu Liang, clinging tightly to his arm and refusing to let go. "Can those young ladies be as fun as you?" Lu Liang asked with a smile. Liu Mingxuan grinned, a playful glint in his eyes. Neither of them was a rookie when it came to nightlife. It was one thing to act proper in public—but acting proper at a nightclub was just putting on a show. If you were going out to have fun, you had to let loose to really enjoy yourself. "The young ladies aren't as fun as me, but they are younger." Zhang Qian laughed so hard that she trembled, her ample chest bouncing with every giggle. She took a tablet from a waiter and handed it to Lu Liang: "Brother Liang, why don't you two take a look at what you'd like to order first? I'll go get the girls to come over, okay?" "Go ahead." Lu Liang patted Zhang Qian's buttocks, earning himself another playful eye-roll. He passed the menu to Liu Mingxuan, worried that he might feel too embarrassed to order anything, and added: "Order whatever you want. The minimum spend for this private room is 12,000 yuan—we won't get a refund even if we don't use it all up." "You rented a fancy Bentley to come out and play—do you really think I'm going to hold back?" Liu Mingxuan said the words, but he was actually quite restrained with his order, only asking for a few crates of beer and some snacks. The prices at Wanli Palace were shockingly expensive—a crate of beer cost over a thousand yuan, and a plate of snacks was several hundred yuan. Outside, the same things would cost less than 300 yuan total. "You take over." After ordering just a few items, Liu Mingxuan's bill was already over 5,000 yuan. When it wasn't his own money, he really couldn't bring himself to splurge recklessly. Lu Liang flipped through the menu, muttering to himself: "I don't think I've ever ordered this before. Why not give it a try?" "What is it?" Liu Mingxuan craned his neck to look. When he saw the item name and price, he couldn't help but chuckle: "Whatever floats your boat." The moment Lu Liang submitted the order, a dry ice machine outside the door suddenly hissed, releasing a cloud of mist. Confetti cannons popped loudly, exploding into a shower of colorful sparks in the air, and the lights throughout the nightclub began to flash rapidly. Even with the top-notch soundproofing, they could hear the DJ downstairs yelling into the microphone: "A big thank you to our honored guest in Private Room 207 for your generous support of Wanli Palace... Please wait just a moment, our lovely and beautiful Miss Spade will be personally coming over to express her gratitude." "Once again, thank you... Let's hear those screams, everyone~~~" A single bottle of Armand de Brignac Brut Gold costing 8,800 yuan instantly made Private Room 207 the center of attention for the entire club. Watching the scene unfold, Liu Mingxuan's heart raced with excitement: "Such a perfect chance to show off—aren't you going out there to take a bow?" "You go instead—I'm giving you the chance." Lu Liang smiled. He'd only wanted to experience the thrill of rocking the whole venue. "Acting shy at your age." Liu Mingxuan scoffed, then strode out of the private room confidently, waving his hand to soak up the cheers of the crowd. He stood on a raised platform, gyrating his hips to the thumping music, as the spotlights danced along with his movements.