Free Web NovelChapter 240: Chapter 199: Madman Hu Ping’an
"Brother Chu, our MBA program is starting soon. I was thinking, should we cook something up after classes begin?"
"After all, these people are at least at the executive level. A lot of them are rich, so they’re a perfect match for the club’s clientele."
Life was good for Lu Ming these days.
At home, after telling his dad he had a real job, a sense of peace settled over the whole family. At least he was no longer seen as a prime example of someone just drifting aimlessly, and his parents had finally stopped nagging him.
The older generation still believed that a child’s willingness to work meant they had finally settled down, developed career ambitions, and were ready to get down to business.
He drove his Porsche sports car to work every day, chatted with clients, shot the breeze with colleagues, and flirted with the beautiful girls in the caddie department. It was relaxing and enjoyable. At least he no longer had those moments of emptiness he used to feel.
Of course, this might also be because the novelty of having a job hadn’t worn off for him yet.
"Yeah, we definitely have to cook something up."
"Give it some thought first."
Lin Chu said casually.
’This was also part of my plan.’
The simplest, most straightforward method would be to hand out free club cards, get double the rebate, and just farm the cash.
But Lin Chu was afraid of being seen as a dumbass.
Besides, handing out too many free cards could easily damage the club’s brand. If the existing paying members found out, the club’s entire reputation would be ruined.
So he could only be selective and leave it to fate, seeing if he’d meet any guys he clicked with.
Then again, if they really clicked, those guys probably wouldn’t freeload anyway.
They were all respectable people, after all.
With all this in mind, Lin Chu was still filled with anticipation for the upcoming MBA program.
"I don’t have any ideas for now either. We’ll see when we get there. I heard there will be a few celebrities this time. I tried to subtly ask the instructors, but every one of them is tight-lipped; they didn’t reveal a thing."
"Also, a heads-up: these kinds of classes are crawling with gold diggers."
"All those big bosses’ mistresses—their second, third, and fourth—once they reach a certain age and want an amicable breakup, they go get an MBA to add a veneer of respectability. If they can hook a rich sucker, it’s a smooth transition. The old flame lets them go, and a new one picks them up."
Lu Ming said with a cautious smile.
He’d heard plenty of stories like this before.
But it still happened a lot.
’So what if she had a "boyfriend" before? It just so happens that ex was pretty rich, that’s all.’
’Besides, all that daily contact with the rich elevates their bearing, taste, and class. To a lot of men, that’s actually a bonus.’
Lin Chu sucked in a breath. He knew about this stuff, but hearing the reminder still left him a bit speechless.
For some reason, he thought of Zhao Rong again.
She was the matriarch of gold diggers.
Which naturally led him to think of Hou Chengjin.
’I wonder how his short-form drama is coming along?’
"Alright, I know. You just worry about yourself. You’re a pretty boy, and a rich kid—the type the older ladies love most. Watch out you don’t get ridden into oblivion."
Lin Chu teased with a smile.
Lu Ming: ...
"No way!"
"Ever since I broke up with Xiaolu, my heart has been sealed with cement."
He said, trying to sound tough.
Lin Chu just smiled and didn’t say anything more.
After some more idle chatter, Lu Ming decided not to take up any more of Lin Chu’s time and left with a smile.
...
After all the expected visitors had come and gone, Liang Jieyu announced that Hu Ping’an was here.
He’d been staying at the club for two days, playing golf with Huang Yuan.
He’d actually come looking for Lin Chu every day, but Lin Chu hadn’t had much time to talk with him.
Today, however, he was free.
Hu Ping’an entered, looking much better and not so haggard. He had a genuine smile on his face, and his eyes were much more peaceful.
"President Lin, got a minute? Hahaha, I saw you weren’t busy with anyone, so I was hoping to bother you for a moment and have a quick chat."
He said, beaming.
His forehead was gleaming.
"Have a seat. What’s on your mind?"
Lin Chu smiled and handed him a cigarette.
Lin Chu had a special sort of "affection" for this man. It wasn’t quite brotherhood—they weren’t that close—but it was a cut above a normal friendship.
It was like the saying goes—someone who has helped you once is very likely to help you again.
As the one who had given him the rose, Lin Chu sincerely hoped for his well-being.
"I wanted to ask... do you have any requirements for me? Or expectations? Or any plans? Anything works. I do have some skills, you know. Of course, if you have no such intentions, then just pretend I’m thinking out loud."
"I’m not trying to push you, but the financial pressure on me right now is pretty significant."
"The Old Friends Gold Tournament is one opportunity, but if I don’t place, I’ll still have to think about what comes next."
"Here’s what I’m thinking. To put it bluntly, even if you wanted me to be your designated debt-holder, I’d do it. After all, this life of mine, Old Hu’s, is one I got back from the brink anyway."
"The reason I’m saying this is because Huang Yuan, President Huang, wants me to go work for him. But with him... he’s fine to eat and drink with, but I don’t think he’s reliable to actually work for. He reached financial freedom ages ago, but I still want to hustle."
Hu Ping’an spoke with complete candor, his eyes, full of sincerity, fixed on Lin Chu’s.
At that moment, information quietly appeared on the virtual panel before Lin Chu’s eyes.
New friend slot unlocked.
Hu Ping’an.
Intimacy: 100.
Oho?
’This has to be the fastest a friend slot has ever unlocked.’
And what he said had also deeply moved Lin Chu.
’He even offered to be a professional debt-holder.’
’People really are different after a brush with death.’
"What did you do before?"
An idea sparked in Lin Chu’s mind, and he asked with a smile.
"I’ve done a bit of everything. I’ve opened a restaurant, managed outsourced food delivery riders, ran a Cainiao Post franchise, did renovations, and even had an education and training company. The two years I struck it rich, I was doing Amazon brushing—faking sales volume with virtual credit cards."
Hu Ping’an said, holding nothing back.
All sorts of hustles, as long as they made money—whether legit or shady—he’d done them.
After hearing all this, Lin Chu couldn’t help but think that the man had lived a very colorful life.
"As for President Huang, don’t worry about him for now."
"First, focus on the Old Friends Gold Tournament. If you place and win prize money, and you still want to work with me, we’ll talk then. If you want to go solo, you can consider the prize money as start-up capital from me. Or rather, no—it’d be money you earned through your own skill."
"If you don’t place but still want to stick with me, then we’ll make a proper plan. I have something in the works, but it hasn’t launched yet. It’ll probably be two or three months, which is right around when the Old Friends tournament will be over."
Lin Chu said with an easy smile, as if it were nothing.
’What is class?’
’Now *this* is class.’
Even though their intimacy level was already at 100, it was for this very reason that Lin Chu felt a genuine desire to look out for him.
’Damn. To have someone in this world genuinely pledge their "loyalty" to you, even offering to be your professional debt-holder... what more could be said?’
’In modern society, a relationship like this might seem a little... twisted.’
’But it was also damn touching.’
Hearing these words, Hu Ping’an’s prominent Adam’s apple bobbed as he swallowed. The smile vanished from his face, and he felt goosebumps break out on his arms again.
Even though Lin Chu was younger than him—much younger—at this very moment, he truly felt as if he had met his "Foster Father".
"Okay!"
"I have nothing more to say!"
"In my whole life, this is the first time I, Old Hu, have met someone who I truly, deeply respect. President Lin, you’re it."
He gave a thumbs-up.
Lin Chu laughed. "Alright, cut the crap. Just focus on getting yourself in top form. The Old Friends tournament will probably start in about a week."
Hu Ping’an nodded.
"Right."
"Then I’ll head out. If you need anything, just send me a message."
As he spoke, Lin Chu saw a flicker of ruthlessness in his eyes.
’Not directed at me, of course.’
Lin Chu suspected that right now, if he told the man to drive a dump truck into someone, he’d do it.
Tsk.
’He’s pretty unhinged, too.’
’Holy shit. In this day and age, have I basically taken on a "Death Warrior?"’
’Unbelievable.’
Watching his retreating figure, Lin Chu shook his head with a smile, unsure whether to laugh or cry.
’But, he had to admit, the feeling was pretty damn good.’
...
...
