Chapter 8: The Weight of Two Hundred Thousand

Jiang Yu strode out of the villa’s main gate, hurried over to his electric scooter, swung a leg over, and twisted the throttle. He sped away from the upscale neighborhood without a backward glance.

Only after he turned out of the community entrance and merged into traffic did he slow down, taking a few deep breaths.

His hands were still trembling.

Not from fear, but from anger, and that humiliating feeling of being haggled over like an object.

“Disgusting!”

The words slipped out almost involuntarily.

He regretted it immediately—not for telling the truth, but for provoking Li Xiao.

That man was clearly no pushover.

But he really couldn’t take it anymore.

Once was already beyond his limit.

Jiang Yu clenched his jaw and continued accepting delivery orders.

****

Meanwhile, inside the villa.

Li Xiao stood in place, staring at the closed door, his gaze slowly sinking into icy cold.

Disgusting?

He had slept with so many people—men and women—and every single one had smiled at him afterward, even hoping to maintain a long-term relationship.

This was the first time someone had used that word to describe sleeping with him.

And it was Jiang Yu who said it.

That Jiang Yu who had grabbed his wrist in the alley, begging for help to pay off a debt; who had trembled and cried in pain in bed; who had been feverish and dazed in the middle of the night, leaning into his arms to take medicine.

A surge of dark fire rose in Li Xiao’s chest, burning until it felt stifling.

He didn’t know where this anger came from, nor why he cared so much about those words.

But one thing was clear—he was furious.

Extremely furious.

He walked back to the kitchen island, looking at the almost untouched Japanese meal for two on the table. Suddenly, he raised his hand and swept all the food containers to the floor!

The delicate porcelain plates shattered, sushi and sashimi scattered everywhere, and sauce splattered all around.

A complete mess.

Without even a glance, Li Xiao turned and walked to the living room, picked up his phone, and dialed a number.

The call connected quickly.

“Mr. Li, what are your orders?” The voice on the other end was respectful.

“Find someone for me.”

Li Xiao’s voice was cold.

“Jiang Yu. He works as a bartender at the ‘Lost’ bar and delivers food during the day. He lives in the Songyuan Road area of the old city. I want to know everything about him—his parents, family, debts, work, places he frequents—everything.”

“Understood, Mr. Li. When do you need it?”

“As soon as possible.”

“Alright.”

After hanging up, Li Xiao tossed his phone onto the sofa and walked over to the floor-to-ceiling window.

Through the window, the sun was setting, dyeing the sky orange-red.

He lit a cigarette, holding it between his fingers, but didn’t smoke, letting the smoke curl upward.

In his mind, Jiang Yu’s words “disgusting” echoed repeatedly, along with his resolute back as he left.

Li Xiao took a deep drag and exhaled.

Fine.

You say disgusting, do you?

Then I’ll show you what real “disgusting” means.

****

At the “Lost” bar, the music was as deafening as ever.

Jiang Yu changed into his work uniform, walked to the bar counter, and began preparing the base liquors and ingredients needed for the night.

“Yo, you’re here?” The manager rarely came out of his office, but now he walked over to the bar with a smile plastered on his face.

Jiang Yu was momentarily stunned.

The manager usually wasn’t this enthusiastic with their bartenders.

“Manager.” He nodded and continued his work.

“Jiang Yu, have you sorted out your family matters?” The manager leaned in a little closer, lowering his voice, but his fawning tone was unmistakable.

“Yes, it’s sorted. Thanks for asking, Manager.” Jiang Yu found it strange.

“That’s good, that’s good.” The manager rubbed his hands together, glanced around, and lowered his voice even more: “Say, last night, a guest came looking for you. Did you know?”

Jiang Yu paused his movements. “Which guest?”

“Surname Li, Mr. Li Xiao.”

So that man’s name was Li Xiao.

When delivering food, the order only showed “Mr. Li“—he hadn’t known the full name.

The manager’s eyes lit up. “You don’t know this: Mr. Li directly applied for our top-tier Diamond VIP just to get your address, and he topped up two hundred thousand!”

Jiang Yu’s breath caught.

He slowly put down the bottle in his hand, turned around, and faced the manager.

“How much?”

“Two hundred thousand!” The manager held up two fingers, repeating himself, his voice brimming with excitement. “Didn’t even blink! Just to find out where you live! Jiang Yu, you’re something else—when did you latch onto a sugar daddy at that level?”

Jiang Yu’s face gradually darkened.

Two hundred thousand.

Just for an address.

“Manager, he and I…” Jiang Yu wanted to explain, but the words died in his throat.

Explain what? That it was an unwilling transaction?

“Ah, no need to explain to me.” The manager patted his shoulder, grinning knowingly. “I get it. Guests at Mr. Li’s level—we can’t afford to offend them. When he comes, be sharp, serve him well, got it?”

Jiang Yu said nothing.

“Did you hear me?” The manager’s tone grew heavier. “Whatever you do, don’t offend him! He’s a big client for this bar. The friends he brings in the future will spend a lot too. If you treat him right, I’ll give you a bonus.”

Serve.

The word grated on Jiang Yu’s ears.

“I understand.” He finally just nodded, turned around, and continued arranging the glasses on the counter.

The manager walked away satisfied.

Jiang Yu stared at the spotless glass in his hand, his blurred reflection visible on its surface.

Two hundred thousand.

How many deliveries would he have to make, how many drinks would he have to mix, to earn two hundred thousand?

And Li Xiao had tossed it out casually, just to know where he lived.

He took a deep breath, forcing himself to concentrate.

At nine in the evening, the bar got more and more crowded.

Jiang Yu was busy—taking orders, mixing drinks, pushing glasses of various colors to customers.

He tried not to think about Li Xiao, not to think about the two hundred thousand.

But scenes kept flashing uncontrollably through his mind—

Li Xiao leaning against his sports car, Li Xiao forcing him to eat in the villa, Li Xiao saying “I want you.”

And that word, “disgusting.”

Jiang Yu shook his head violently, trying to shake off those images.

“Jiang Yu, two Long Island Iced Teas, booth A7.” A coworker handed him the order slip.

“Okay.” Jiang Yu took the slip and started mixing.

****

For the next few days, Li Xiao didn’t show up.

Jiang Yu’s life returned to its previous rhythm: delivering food during the day, working at the bar at night.

The loan sharks were quiet for now, but he knew the next month’s interest would come due soon.

The balance in his bank account, after covering living expenses, was almost nothing.

Pressure weighed down on him like a boulder.

Occasionally, during a delivery break or when his mind wandered while mixing drinks, he would think of Li Xiao.

He thought of those predatory eyes, the faint scent of his cologne, the pain and shame of that night, and how Li Xiao had fed him medicine in the middle of the night—not gentle, but still something.

And those words: “The matter between us isn’t over yet.”

Jiang Yu shook his head, forcing himself not to think about it.

Right now, he only hoped that Li Xiao was simply acting on a whim, had gotten bored, or was so angered by his “disgusting” that he would just let him go.

But that wishful thinking was shattered on the fourth night.

At ten in the evening, the bar was at peak traffic.

Jiang Yu had just finished mixing a “Zombie” cocktail and handed it to a customer when he looked up and saw Li Xiao walking in through the main entrance.

He was wearing a black shirt, sleeves casually rolled up, his tall figure still conspicuous in the crowded, noisy crowd.

The sharp-eyed manager immediately walked over with a full-face smile.

“Mr. Li! You’re here! Right this way, your private booth has been kept ready!”

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