Chapter 8 - Reuniting with Li Manli

"Brother Liang, how come you popped the Ace of Spades without waiting for me?" Zhang Qian hurried over as soon as she got the message, her face blooming with a smile, exuding alluring charm. Trailing behind her were seven or eight stunning girls, each with a distinct style. The high-end standard of Wanli Palace was on full display at this moment—hardly any of them had tattoos. Anyone who frequented nightlife spots knew that pretty faces and great figures were no measure of a club's quality. A crucial yardstick for judging a nightclub's caliber was whether the hostesses in the vibe crew had large tattoos. If the place was filled with girls sporting full-sleeve or back tattoos, it could never be a top-tier venue, no matter how it tried to pass itself off. Because such girls only drew in rowdy, low-class guys, who were usually strapped for cash. Wealthier patrons always preferred clean-cut girls—even if it was just a superficial cleanliness, it was still a feast for the eyes. "Does opening a bottle of Ace of Spades come with a special performance as a bonus?" Lu Liang lifted his eyes to scan the group of girls, picking two with average looks but pleasant personalities. Both were around twenty years old, greeting him with sweet smiles—obviously hardworking young women. Guys went out for fun to have a good time, yet there were always some girls who acted snobbish just because they thought they were pretty. Lu Liang wouldn't spare those girls a second glance, not even if they looked like celestial beauties. "Brother Liang, then what kind of special show would you like to see?" Zhang Qian beamed, clinging tightly to his arm, her chest pressing so hard against it that it deformed slightly. Shanghai was a city for the young and wealthy. She was no longer in her prime; to make a place for herself here, she had to go the extra mile. If Lu Liang was willing to order another bottle of Ace of Spades to help her hit her sales target for the night, she wouldn't mind going a little further. "I bet you're an amazing dancer." Without a second thought, Lu Liang ordered another bottle. "Then let me dance for you, Brother Liang. Please don't laugh if I'm not any good." Zhang Qian's smile widened, and she waved to dismiss the girls who hadn't been chosen. "Qingqing, could you play me a song, please?" She slipped off her heavy outerwear, revealing a camisole underneath. She swayed her entire body to the rhythm of the music, then suddenly reached out and pulled Lu Liang up from his seat. The two danced closely, their cheeks brushing against each other... When the song ended, Zhang Qian noticed the obvious reaction Lu Liang was having. She giggled, tugging him back to his seat, then crossed her legs to cover him up discreetly. She snuggled up to his arm, pressing her cheek against his, her red lips looking tempting as she breathed in a soft, fragrant whisper: "How was my dance, Brother Liang?" "Absolutely fantastic." Lu Liang ran the back of his hand gently over her silk stockings, savoring the soft, smooth texture. "Of course—I've had proper training." Zhang Qian let out a soft hum, her body trembling slightly in a playful response. The two chosen girls helped pour drinks and feed them snacks. Lu Liang, surrounded by the company of beautiful women, was having the time of his life. Suddenly, the private room door swung open. Liu Mingxuan had already chatted up two girls outside. He was smooth-talking and charming; ever since his school days, he'd always been popular with the ladies. "Brother Liang, Xuanxuan and the others want to come in and take some photos." Liu Mingxuan swayed his head and body, stretching his arms out and wiggling his hips slightly, just like when they played the train game as kids. Nightclub games were often childish, but fueled by alcohol and music, they quickly broke the ice between strangers. Two girls followed behind Liu Mingxuan, one hooking her arm over the other's shoulder. He acted as the locomotive, and the trio chugged into the private room. "The more, the merrier." Lu Liang gently pushed Zhang Qian's legs aside, because he spotted a familiar face behind Liu Mingxuan. It wasn't either of the two girls he'd just picked up, but the so-called "Ace Girl" who was wheeling in a champagne tower cart behind him. Li Manli pushed the champagne tower cart into the private room, but froze abruptly, her smile fading into a stiff expression. She'd never expected the man she'd written off as a loser would be spending money at Wanli Palace—not just that, but popping two bottles of the 8,800-yuan Ace of Spades in one go. She couldn't help but glance at Liu Mingxuan, then at Zhang Qian. As a marketing manager, Zhang Qian would only stick close to the real big spender of the group. Lost in her thoughts, Li Manli accidentally knocked over the champagne tower with a clatter, sending over a dozen glasses shattering across the floor. All eyes in the room instantly darted to her. Li Manli's eyes welled up with tears in panic, and she kept bowing repeatedly to apologize: "I'm so sorry..." Zhang Qian, Liu Mingxuan, and the others all turned to look at Lu Liang. He was the one footing the bill—no one else in the room had the right to accept the apology on his behalf. Even if Zhang Qian wanted to intercede for Li Manli, she had to gauge Lu Liang's reaction first. If she stuck her neck out and ended up annoying Lu Liang, it would be a case of outsmarting herself. "It's alright—breaking things means good luck, right? Don't bother cleaning it up, you might cut your hands." Lu Liang grabbed Li Manli's hand in one swift motion, stopping her from apologizing further, and kicked all the broken glass to the side. Li Manli was dressed in a navy blue sailor suit with white stripes, a white beret perched on her head, and white knee-high stockings. Especially with her eyes glistening with tears from her mistake, she looked so delicate and pitiful that it stirred a strong urge to protect her in anyone's heart. Liu Mingxuan raised an eyebrow, then suddenly barked angrily: "How do you do your job? Go get your manager over here! Just like that, a whole bottle of Ace of Spades is wasted? Do you think our money grows on trees?" He and Lu Liang had been best friends for over a decade—they'd studied together, shared a bed, even smoked the same cigarette. He knew Lu Liang's personality inside out. Lu Liang might be easygoing, but he wasn't a pushover. His sudden magnanimity definitely meant he had an ulterior motive. And it just so happened that Li Manli was drop-dead gorgeous—the exact type Lu Liang liked. As his best friend, it was only natural for him to give his buddy a little push. Besides, for an 8,800-yuan champagne tower, it couldn't just end with a clatter, could it? "Calm down, buddy. We're here to have a good time—everyone makes mistakes." Lu Liang shot Liu Mingxuan a look. The two exchanged glances, their lips curving upward as they instantly understood each other's intentions. Needless to say, Lu Liang had no objections to this little scheme. Ever since that day when he'd seemingly heard about Li Manli's divorce, he'd run into her a few times in the hallway or elevator afterward. She'd always put on such a condescending, icy front, acting as if she was terrified of getting stuck with him. Lu Liang hadn't really cared, but it had still rubbed him the wrong way. As if she was some kind of hot commodity that everyone was after. If they hadn't crossed paths again, he would've just let it go. But now that they'd met again, and he was her big-spending customer, he wasn't about to let her off the hook so easily. "Brother Xuan, please don't be mad. Let me buy you a drink to apologize." Zhang Qian quickly filled a glass of wine and offered it to him. At the same time, she poured another glass and handed it to Li Manli: "Hurry up and thank Brother Liang properly. It's only Brother Liang who'd let this slide—anyone else would've made you pay for it." "Thank you, Brother Liang." Li Manli's eyes were brimming with gratitude. If Lu Liang had insisted on making a big deal out of it, she would've lost her bonus for the month without a doubt. Something similar had happened before—the customer had refused to let it go, and in the end, even the general manager had to apologize in person and comp the entire bill. After all, customers who ordered Ace of Spades were usually not short on cash; they just wanted to have a good time and be in a good mood when they went out. As nightclub staff, making a mistake wasn't something that could be fixed with a simple monetary compensation. "We ordered two bottles, didn't we? Just open the other one directly—forget about this broken one." Lu Liang glanced at Li Manli, but didn't spare her another look. He turned back to drinking and singing with the other girls, as if the incident had been nothing more than a trivial, insignificant little episode that wasn't worth dwelling on. Li Manli let out a sigh of relief, but at the same time, she felt a faint twinge of disappointment. They were neighbors, after all. Even though they hadn't interacted much lately, there was no need for him to be this cold, was there? She was also dying of curiosity—Lu Liang had gotten divorced and been out of work for months, so how could he afford to spend money at a fancy place like Wanli Palace? And it wasn't a small amount either—a medium private room plus two bottles of Ace of Spades meant his tab for the night was at least 30,000 yuan, easy.