Straightforward and Clueless About Social Etiquette—Is That a Bad Thing?

"Don't have time!"

Huang Chong heard the firmness in Zhou Ming's tone, but he couldn't be bothered to indulge some rich kid. He gave a crisp reply.

Zhou Ming's expression immediately darkened at the response.

In everyday life, very few people dared to reject him so decisively.

Seeing that Zhou Ming's invitation had failed and that the atmosphere in the shop had suddenly turned chilly, Du Wei hurriedly winked frantically at Huang Chong, signaling him with his eyes.

Good kid—

Well done!

But that really was a little too disrespectful to the rich kid.

Huang Chong understood what Du Wei meant. After thinking it over, he could only smile and explain, "I really don't have time tomorrow, Captain Zhou. I have to go to Suzhou for my team's internal training. Next week, our team is competing in an amateur round-Taihu Lake cycling race in Suzhou. If you don't believe me, ask Old Du!"

Zhou Ming was actually furious, but he forcibly held back his anger and turned to look at the middleman.

Du Wei chuckled. Knowing it was time for him to step in and smooth things over, he immediately eased the atmosphere. "It's true, Brother Zhou. You know my brother's situation too. Doesn't he want to become a professional rider? That's why he joined an amateur cycling team in Hangzhou.

"His team is pretty strict. Their captain is a retired former professional rider from the provincial team!

"Last week, he already took leave once to attend your cycling event. He can't keep taking leave, can he?

"Brother Zhou, how about you pick another time? Once his race in Suzhou is over, I'll definitely have my brother race you again!"

There was nothing wrong with that. It wasn't that Huang Chong truly didn't want to show Zhou Ming any respect; he just disliked the other man's overbearing, unnegotiable attitude from the moment he opened his mouth.

He wasn't the protagonist of some romance novel, dreaming absurdly of being favored by an overbearing CEO.

But someone in Zhou Ming's position was used to having others accommodate his schedule. He had no way of accommodating anyone else.

After pondering briefly, he said something even more outrageous to Huang Chong. "If you want to become a professional rider, you at least need to join an official team and register as a rider.

"How about this? Don't go to Suzhou for training. As long as you ride against me tomorrow, whether you win or lose, I can arrange for you to join Hangzhou's municipal road cycling team.

"As for whether you can join a Continental team and register with the UCI in the future, that will depend on your own ability.

"Also, since it's a race, there should naturally be stakes.

"If you can beat me, you can pick any bike from a Tour de France team. I'll pay for it, and you can choose whatever components you want. There's no price limit!

"And if you lose, you won't need to pay any price or compensation at all!"

To be honest, Zhou Ming's offer left Huang Chong stunned, delighted, and even a little excited.

Those terms—

As expected of an overbearing CEO. Just to win back a little face, he treated money like it was nothing.

A loser like him could hardly refuse!

Still, Huang Chong had some doubts about whether the other man could really get him directly into the municipal team.

No matter how little official attention professional road cycling received, that only affected resource allocation. Any provincial or municipal-level team would definitely have strict requirements.

No. With Young Master Zhou's wealth, getting someone onto a team wouldn't be difficult at all!

Huang Chong immediately realized he had underestimated the power of money. But whether I can become a core rider on the team, or even receive focused training, is another matter.

What if the team leadership only accepts me on the surface because of Zhou Ming's money, then makes me warm the bench forever afterward? I'd be better off not going at all.

Besides, he only promised to help me get into the municipal team. He never said he'd help me secure a core position on it—

Given their shallow relationship, once this rich kid fulfilled his promise, he definitely wouldn't interfere any further. So Huang Chong's attempt to join through funding would most likely end badly.

Besides, giving up his principles the moment there was some short-term gain wasn't in Huang Chong's nature.

He had a cheat system, and reaching the professional level was only one final step away. Since he could make it in steadily and openly through his own efforts, why risk joining through money, inviting others' disdain and perhaps even isolation for no reason?

Having thought it through, Huang Chong immediately made his decision. He couldn't accept the other man's proposal just for immediate benefits.

Besides, going back on his word with Zhang Yi and even quitting the Headwind Cycling Team would be far too petty.

Zhang Yi had treated him well, not to mention Wang Qiang and the other two who had introduced him to the team.

If not for their initial guidance and joint training, he couldn't have triggered so many system missions in such a short time, allowing his physical talent to be optimized into the world's top tier first.

After considering it for a moment, Huang Chong still smiled and shook his head. "Young Master Zhou, I admit that the conditions you've offered are indeed very tempting.

"But if I remember correctly, you previously said that professional riders ultimately rely on their own legs.

"If I accept your terms, then given your character, you'll definitely keep your promise and get me into the municipal team.

"But at that point, you'll inevitably think I'm just someone who chases wealth and influence, someone looking for shortcuts, and you'll look down on me from the bottom of your heart.

"As for the Tour de France bike you mentioned, hehe, I really can't afford one myself. But you'd better ask Old Du what position I hold in his shop.

"Besides, even if I don't have the money for it right now, does Old Du lack that little bit of money?

"To be honest, he's offered more than once to give me a good bike from a UCI WorldTour team so I could train more effectively.

"It's just that I feel that, since I haven't become a professional rider yet, I'm not qualified to accept such a generous gift from a friend!"

Having said all he needed to say, Huang Chong said nothing more and went straight home.

He had to take the high-speed rail to Suzhou that evening. After all, he needed to get up early for team training the next day, or he'd be roasted alive by the sun.

After Huang Chong left, Zhou Ming stood there for a long time without coming back to his senses.

He truly couldn't find any reason to get angry at Huang Chong's tactful refusal.

First, the other man had been very candid.

Second, Huang Chong hadn't only considered the matter from his own perspective; he had also considered Zhou Ming's perspective.

Indeed, the conditions Zhou Ming had offered just now had been almost instinctive. He hadn't given them much careful thought.

But if Huang Chong had truly accepted his proposal, then upon looking back on it afterward, Zhou Ming might very well have looked down on him from the bottom of his heart, just as Huang Chong had said.

You could freely pursue your dream of becoming a professional rider and accomplish things I could never accomplish—but so what?

Wouldn't you still have to bow your head easily before wealthy people like me?

Zhou Ming might not have had such a crude thought at that moment.

But this was indeed the most common sacrifice of dignity that ordinary people had to make when trying to fit into the circles of high-income people like them.

At the very least, there were far too many people like that around him.

Seeing Zhou Ming standing there in a daze, Du Wei assumed that the rich kid had been angered senseless by his brother's repeated refusals. He hurriedly patted Zhou Ming's shoulder and comforted him with a smile. "Brother Zhou, don't be angry. My brother is straightforward, and he hasn't seen much of the world. He doesn't really understand social etiquette. You're a big man with a big heart, so don't lower yourself to his level.

"Isn't it just a race? Once he gets back from Suzhou, I'll definitely have him race you again. It's only a matter of a few days earlier or later.

"How about this? As his brother, I'll apologize to you on his behalf. You haven't had dinner yet, right? Pick any place you like, and I'll treat you. How about it?"

But when Zhou Ming heard this, he turned and gave Du Wei a serious look before asking, "Old Du, do you really think it's a bad thing for a rider to be straightforward and not understand social etiquette?"

Du Wei was instantly left dumbfounded.

What kind of question was that—

Before he could think of an answer, Zhou Ming added with a sigh, "Forget dinner. Just get my Cervelo S5 assembled soon.

"As for the race, forget it. I'm planning to lead my own team to Suzhou to compete."

With that, Zhou Ming waved his hand and prepared to leave the shop. But before walking out, he turned back and involuntarily added to Du Wei, "Also, I'm not angry with your brother. On the contrary, I admire him.

"I hope he can really make it to the Grand Tours and the five Monuments.

"No matter what, when we watch race broadcasts in the future, having someone we know speeding along those courses will give true cycling enthusiasts like us something to talk about after dinner.

"After all, ever since Ji Cheng, no road cyclist from our country has set foot on those courses for a very long time!"