Chapter 24: Isn’t That Quite the Coincidence?

After leaving the bar, since he had been drinking, Chu Lin couldn’t drive and had to call for a chauffeur. There were chauffeurs stationed right next to the bar, so one arrived in no time. Within ten seconds, a young man in the chauffeur’s uniform appeared, “Hello, I’m Han Dong, your chauffeur.”

Chu Lin handed him his car keys directly and instructed, “To the Imperial Hotel!”

Han Dong glanced at Chu Lin and Shen Lu, noting there was nothing unusual about two people heading to a hotel. A beauty, a Panamera, coming out of a bar—he’d seen it all in his line of work. He could easily fill in the details in his mind; after all, the nickname “shell transporter” wasn’t earned for nothing.

After getting in, Han Dong started the car and drove towards the Imperial Hotel. After all, the shell had to be delivered where it was meant to be loaded.

The Imperial Hotel was one of the most famous five-star hotels in Min City. Everything about it was excellent, except it was expensive—ordinary rooms started at three thousand a night. Chu Lin had been to hotels plenty of times, but such pricey ones were never his choice. It could be said that tonight, he was giving Shen Lu his first time here.

This girl hadn’t even let him properly experience her “bonus points,” yet already seemed somewhat ungrateful.

When they arrived, the car stopped and the chauffeur got out, returning the keys to Chu Lin.

“Let’s go look for the LV boutique!” Shen Lu was eagerly anticipating the LV Moon Goddess bag. As soon as she got out, she affectionately wrapped her arms around Chu Lin’s, giving him a taste of those “bonus points.”

Inside the Imperial, Chu Lin was surprised to find that this floor actually had quite a few luxury boutiques. Armani greeted them as they entered, Prada to the left, Dior to the right. Cartier and Chanel were also there.

The most striking thing was that these stores were open even in the dead of night—apparently operating twenty-four hours a day.

Chu Lin couldn’t help but think, isn’t this a loss? Who would come shopping for luxury goods at this hour?

But as soon as he entered the LV boutique, he realized how shallow he’d been. Aside from the two of them, there were actually several couples inside.

Apart from him and Shen Lu, who were about the same age, the other couples all seemed to have significant age differences. Tall, beautiful young women were hanging onto middle-aged men whose heads gleamed under the lights.

Chu Lin understood at last the genius behind opening luxury shops inside hotels. Indeed, what you think impossible is only a gap in your own experience.

Shen Lu entered and quickly found the LV Moon Goddess from the runway collection, her eyes sparkling as she looked at him, obviously waiting for him to pay.

Chu Lin smiled as he looked at the bag. He couldn’t see what was so attractive about it, yet it could fascinate a college-aged girl so deeply. Money truly was the root of all evil.

He called a store assistant and handed her the bag, “Wrap it up.”

“Sir, please follow me,” the assistant said respectfully.

Luxury brand bags came with identity cards, warranty cards, receipts, and special gift boxes. Everything was formal, with a sense of prestige—perhaps one reason these brands captured the hearts of girls.

When Chu Lin paid, Shen Lu couldn’t get enough of the bag, snapping photos with her phone and rushing to post them on her social feed.

Chu Lin glanced over and caught a glimpse. It was something along the lines of, “Girls should treat themselves well. Through my own hard work, I got the LV Moon Goddess from the runway collection!”

Chu Lin smiled—this must be what people mean by crafting their social persona online.

After all, who in her social feed would know how she really “worked hard”?

“Chu Lin.” An annoyed voice sounded nearby.

“Yiyi!” Chu Lin turned and saw a girl in a pink dress, looking stunning and furious.

What a coincidence. She’d previously asked him for a twenty-thousand-yuan watch, and he had deleted and blocked her. Who would’ve thought they’d run into each other again?

Yiyi clearly noticed the bag in Shen Lu’s hand and became even more upset, “Chu Lin, you scumbag! You wouldn’t buy me a twenty-thousand-yuan watch, but you bought her a thirty-five-thousand-yuan bag.”

She was fuming, feeling she’d been taken advantage of for nothing. What a loss!

Shen Lu, on the other hand, seemed to enjoy the emotional value of the moment, holding her bag with a touch of pride.

Chu Lin felt a bit embarrassed—it wasn’t as if he’d had the means before.

Looking at Yiyi, an odd idea struck him, “How about I buy you a bag too, and we spend the night together?”

“???” Shen Lu.

“???” Yiyi.

“???” The saleswoman.

For a moment, the atmosphere was distinctly awkward.

“Yiyi, I’ve paid for this bag—it’s two months’ worth of my salary. See how much I love you.” A bespectacled young man hurried over, holding a wrapped bag.

It was the exact same Moon Goddess bag. What a coincidence.

The bespectacled man shot Chu Lin a hostile glare, making things even more awkward.

Yiyi delightedly accepted the bag, kissed the man on the cheek, “Honey, you’re the best!”

She gave Chu Lin a smug look, then left with the bespectacled man.

Chu Lin found it amusing—someone else had stepped in so quickly.

But to spend two months’ salary on a bag for a girl, he was clearly someone who still believed in love—a straightforward, honest man.

“Let’s go,” Chu Lin said with a smile, wrapping his arm around Shen Lu’s waist. He booked a room at the hotel front desk, took the room card, and headed up to the elevator.

Once inside the room, Shen Lu began to blush, “Um, who showers first?”

“Let’s save time,” Chu Lin suggested earnestly.

...

Soon, Chu Lin was left astonished, discovering an unbelievable phenomenon.

The fuel tank in the body had its limits—when the fuel was depleted, the engine stopped.

Hence, the need for a smoke break.

He hadn’t expected, though, that after eating the Atlantis oysters, the fuel could be replenished while being consumed.

It was simply marvelous.

A gas station, in every sense of the word.

...

Early the next morning, Chu Lin woke up, still feeling a sense of awe.

After his exertions, he’d recovered so quickly—full of energy, bright and alert.

He could truly feel the benefits of the oysters.

The Atlantis oysters deserved their price—anything less was a disgrace.

With that in mind, he got up, glanced at the still sleeping Shen Lu, and slipped quietly out.

Each got what they wanted; there was no need for sentimentality.

He found his Panamera in the parking lot and drove back to the farm.

Much later, Shen Lu woke groggily. Seeing the empty room, with only herself left, she couldn’t help but complain, “Really, so heartless—even left without saying goodbye.”

A sense of defeat, and a bit of regret.

After all, last night had felt like a small boat tossed by giant waves, with no rest allowed.

Chu Lin was certainly fierce!

Still, seeing the LV Moon Goddess bag on the table beside her, she finally found some comfort in her heart.