He casually accepted the bank card and warned Sister Hong that he was only doing this out of respect for Xia Shuyi. There had better not be a next time.
He explained apologetically, "Sorry, Sister Hong. This was my fault too. If it was a misunderstanding, I should've explained it sooner instead of making things so awkward for everyone. I'm really sorry."
He fawned, "Sister Hong, add another three hundred thousand and I'm yours tonight. Add another three hundred thousand on top of that, and you can bring as many people as you want tonight!"
"It's fine, it's fine."
Since it was a misunderstanding, Shen Lang smiled and waved his hand, politely declining the bank card Sister Hong had pushed toward him.
"Sorry, Sister Hong. This was my fault too. If it was a misunderstanding, I should've explained it sooner instead of making things so awkward for everyone. I'm really sorry."
Not only did Shen Lang apologize to Sister Hong with those words, he also conveniently took all the blame for the misunderstanding upon himself.
The rich women gave Shen Lang mildly surprised looks. They had not expected this young man, who looked barely over twenty, to be so smooth with his words.
"It's fine, it's fine. I'm not mad at you. Take the card. Shuyi's little brother is my little brother too. This is a gift from your big sister."
Sister Hong had been coaxed into a beaming smile and once again placed the bank card in front of Shen Lang.
"If there's anything you want in the future, just tell your sister. I don't have much, but I do have plenty of money."
"This... this doesn't seem right."
Shen Lang still felt a little troubled. Who gave out a bank card loaded with three hundred thousand as a first-meeting gift?
"Oh, just take it! If you don't, I'm going to get mad!"
Sister Hong forcibly stuffed the card into Shen Lang's pants pocket, pouting as she looked at him with feigned resentment.
Xia Shuyi patted Shen Lang's thigh and gave him a slight nod. "Take it. It's just a small token from Sister Hong."
"Alright!"
Shen Lang readily said, "Then I'll make sure to play more good cards for you, Sister Hong."
In front of rich women, he absolutely could not lower his stance. He also had to do his best to keep the conversation and atmosphere lively.
At the same time, he had to remain reserved while maintaining a sincere, honest personality, because that was exactly what rich women liked.
Some guys simply could not keep their composure when they encountered rich women.
The moment a rich woman teased them a little, they would rush to fawn over her as if they had no worth at all.
That was a sign of impatience. Rich women would never like men who clearly had ulterior motives toward them.
"Hey, hey, hey, isn't that a little too much?"
"Exactly. Who cheats so openly?"
Sister Li and Fang Li, the two rich women, laughed as they egged him on.
The card game was only for entertainment. Winning and losing did not really matter. What they enjoyed most was the lively atmosphere.
"Haha, it's fine, Little Shen."
After her misunderstanding with Shen Lang, Sister Hong had stolen all the attention in the room. She smiled radiantly.
"Don't be afraid of them. Play whatever you want for me. Your sister will protect you."
"Shuyi, Sister Hong keeps calling him Little Shen. She sounds even closer to him than you do."
Fang Li asked with a smile, "Aren't you afraid she'll steal your little brother away?"
Xia Shuyi proudly wrapped her arms around Shen Lang's arm, a satisfied smile appearing on her face.
"If she can steal him away, then that just means Sister Hong is capable. What can I do about it?"
Xia Shuyi knew that she and Shen Lang could never get married, much less have a future together.
But he was still a man she liked. Naturally, Xia Shuyi hoped Shen Lang could get along well with her close friends.
When Shen Lang came over, Xia Shuyi had originally worried that he might be intimidated.
She had not expected Shen Lang to blend in with these proud, high-minded friends of hers after only a few words. That left Xia Shuyi extremely satisfied.
The group began playing cards amid boisterous chatter.
With the system's help, Shen Lang kept praising these fresh-faced college girls.
"Sister Hong, your skin is so well cared for—fair with a rosy glow. You look just like a college student."
"Sister Li, you have great features. If you slim down, you'll definitely be beautiful."
"Sister Fang, you actually don't need such heavy makeup. You already have a great foundation. You look best when you're confident and generous."
Ding! Xia Shuyi's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 95. Keep up the good work! Ding! Fang Li's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 20. Keep up the good work! Ding! Hong Yan's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 30. Keep up the good work! Ding! Li Gulan's Favorability toward the host has increased by 5 points. Current Favorability: 25. Keep up the good work!
With the system's help, these rich women, who usually had impossibly high standards, were delighted by Shen Lang's compliments. Their Favorability shot up rapidly as well.
It was not as though men had never complimented them before. On the contrary, there were always plenty of men scrambling to flatter them.
But Shen Lang was different from those fawning men.
He was young, sincere in both speech and action, and most importantly, he had self-respect and backbone. Even when he complimented them, he did not use that groveling, bootlicking tone.
Naturally, the rich women loved hearing sweet words from a young man like him. They all hurried to claim Shen Lang as their godbrother.
Shen Lang did not object. These sisters were wealthy and influential in Jianghai City. Knowing them could only benefit him.
"Oh my, Shuyi, your godbrother is so adorable. Why didn't you introduce him to us sooner?"
Sister Hong complained to Xia Shuyi enviously.
"If I'd introduced him to you sooner, you probably would've eaten him up without even leaving the bones."
Xia Shuyi grumbled irritably.
"It's fine. If it's a few big sisters, I'm more than willing!"
Shen Lang added with a smile.
"Hahaha!"
The rich women covered their mouths and laughed. Xia Shuyi huffily punched Shen Lang once, and the atmosphere immediately became even more harmonious.
Around six o'clock, Xia Shuyi picked up her Chanel bag and linked arms with Shen Lang. "Alright, I need to go pick up Mengmeng. Let's get together another time."
"Don't go, Shuyi. Play a few more rounds."
"Yeah, Mengmeng isn't without anyone to take care of her. Let Little Shen play a few more rounds with us."
The rich women were all reluctant to let their newly acquainted little brother leave so soon.
"Oh, another day. We'll make plans in a couple of days."
Her friends were practically looking at Shen Lang with smoldering eyes. Xia Shuyi did not dare let Shen Lang continue playing cards with them.
She was worried that if they kept playing, Shen Lang might really get eaten clean by this bunch.
"Then, big sisters, we'll chat again when there's time."
Shen Lang smiled and said goodbye to the rich women, then walked toward the door with Xia Shuyi, chatting and laughing.
"Sister Xia, are we really going to pick up Mengmeng? Didn't you say on WeChat that Mengmeng was sleeping over at Teacher Li's tonight?"
"Oh, stop it. You know perfectly well..."
"So are we going to a hotel later, or your place?"
"Oh, keep your voice down... Mm, a hotel!"
The three women watched the flirtatious backs of the pair and sighed softly.
They could not help but marvel at how lucky their good friend was to have hooked such a humorous, charming young man.
Before you continue