Maxing Out the Boss's Card—So Satisfying!

Huo Group Building, elevator lobby.

Watching the red numbers steadily descend, Jian Ning held the black-and-gold card, still warm from its owner's hand, as if it were his newborn son. After checking both sides and confirming he was in a blind spot for the elevator cameras, he planted a fierce kiss on the card.

[Ah! The fragrance of money! The taste of freedom!]

[That old bastard Huo Si might be kind of a dog, but he's seriously generous! A supplementary card! An unlimited supplementary card! If I bought this entire building, would he get so mad he'd have a brain hemorrhage on the spot?]

[Hehehe, buying the building is out. Too easy to get arrested. But since he told me to buy coffee, adding just a little something extra wouldn't be excessive, right?]

With a ding, the elevator doors opened.

Jian Ning instantly put away his besotted grin and replaced it with the expression of a wronged little wife who had just been severely reprimanded by the CEO. Lowering his head, he walked out into the lobby.

Cloudtop Coffee beneath the Huo Group building was a favorite check-in spot for the capital's socialites and influencers. Even a cup of plain water could be sold for the outrageous price of eighty-eight yuan.

The moment Jian Ning pushed the door open, he ran into a heavy cloud of men's cologne.

The scent was somewhat familiar—flashy, with a trace of cheap powdery fragrance.

"Well, if it isn't Jian Ning?"

A sarcastic male voice sounded above his head.

Jian Ning looked up and saw a young man in a floral shirt and sunglasses blocking his way. A glittering gold watch peeked out from his wrist. Two little assistants carrying cameras stood behind him, apparently filming some sort of vlog.

Jian Ning searched through the original owner's memories for a second.

Oh, right.

Lin Zixuan, one of the original owner's fellow trainees and now a hugely popular young idol.

He was also the original owner's sworn enemy. Back during the talent show, this guy had stolen the original owner's debut spot by playing the victim and cozying up to powerful people. Afterward, he had repeatedly put the original owner down in public to establish his own "young master" persona.

"Why do you look like a stray dog?" Lin Zixuan took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of upturned eyes brimming with mockery as he looked Jian Ning over. "I heard you barged into President Huo's office and got thrown out just now? Oh dear, I told you before—some people are born lowly, yet insist on squeezing into wealthy families. Well, look at you now. You've embarrassed yourself completely, haven't you?"

The customers drinking coffee around them immediately turned their gossip-hungry gazes toward the scene.

Lin Zixuan thoroughly enjoyed being the center of attention. He deliberately raised his wrist to show off the blinding gold watch, then sighed hypocritically. "Jian Ning, people need to keep their feet on the ground. Look at me. My schedule is busy enough to kill me, but everything I have was earned through my own hard work. This limited-edition Patek Philippe was just a reward I bought myself. It only cost a little over two million. Unlike you, who only knows how to hold out your hand for money."

Jian Ning watched him strut like a peacock and felt absolutely nothing. If anything, he wanted to laugh.

Because the moment Lin Zixuan lifted his hand, the system's familiar mechanical voice came online again.

[Ding! A "watermelon with added water" has been detected within a three-meter radius!]

[Target: Lin Zixuan.]

[Detection result: The "limited-edition" Patek Philippe on his wrist is a high-quality counterfeit, purchased from a WeChat reseller for 1,888 yuan with free shipping.]

[Additional gossip: Lin Zixuan has recently become addicted to online gambling and owes three million yuan in loan shark debt. He was filming this vlog to trick his fans into crowdfunding his repayment.]

Jian Ning looked at the enormous bubble above Lin Zixuan's head: [Fake luxury watch + gambling addict + scamming fans for money].

[Pfft... Over two million? More like 1,888 with free shipping, bro!]

[That second hand is moving so fast it's practically an electric fan. And you still have the nerve to show it off? Aren't you afraid it'll fly off and stab someone to death?]

[You earned it through your own hard work? By working hard to scam your fans out of their living allowance? Tsk, tsk, this melon is definitely ripe. Too bad Huo Si isn't here, or I'd make him listen to this juicy gossip.]

Even though Huo Si was not there, Jian Ning had no intention of indulging him.

Since Lin Zixuan wanted to show off, then Daddy would let him see what real money power looked like.

Jian Ning blinked and suddenly revealed a smile even more "green tea" than Lin Zixuan's.

"Brother Zixuan, you're right. I also think people should be a little more generous."

With that, Jian Ning walked straight to the counter and slapped the black-and-gold card in his hand onto the marble surface.

The crisp smack was delightful to hear.

The server froze for a moment. The instant she saw the black card, her eyes widened. "S-sir, what would you like to order?"

Jian Ning pointed at Lin Zixuan. His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for everyone present to hear. "Mr. Lin just said he was treating everyone, but it looks like he forgot to bring his wallet. As an old classmate, I'll pay for him."

Lin Zixuan was stunned. "Who said I was treating everyone? And who forgot their wallet?"

Jian Ning ignored him and continued speaking to the server. "To celebrate Mr. Lin Zixuan acquiring his 'over-two-million-yuan' luxury watch, every expense in the café today will be covered by this Young Master Lin... oh, no, by me! Everyone, order whatever you like. The most expensive coffee, the best desserts—take one of everything to go!"

The entire café erupted.

"Holy shit? He's paying for everyone?"

"Who's this handsome guy? He's so hot and so loaded!"

"Thank you, Young Master Lin! Thank you, handsome guy!"

Lin Zixuan's face turned green. "Jian Ning! Are you crazy?! Where did you get that kind of money? Do you know how expensive this place is? You stole that card, didn't you?!"

Jian Ning blinked innocently, lightly rubbing the exquisite pattern along the edge of the black-and-gold card with his fingertips. "Stole it? President Huo personally gave it to me just now and told me... to spend however I wanted."

He deliberately emphasized the words "however I wanted."

Then, before Lin Zixuan's horrified, distorted expression, he said to the server, "Run the card. No password."

"Beep—"

The payment-success notification sounded like heavenly music.

Jian Ning turned around, looked at Lin Zixuan, who was shaking with rage, and leaned close to his ear. In a smiling voice only the two of them could hear, he said, "Brother Zixuan, your watch is ticking a little loudly. It's bothering me. Next time you buy a fake, remember to find a WeChat reseller with better craftsmanship. It should only cost 1,888 yuan—and make sure shipping's free."

Lin Zixuan's pupils contracted sharply. He stared at Jian Ning as though he had seen a ghost. "Y-you... how did you know...?"

Jian Ning did not answer. He merely waved the takeaway bag in his hand, containing Huo Si's black coffee, and turned away with a flourish. "Bye-bye, then! Remember to pay back your debts soon. Loan sharks don't wait around for people, you know~"

Lin Zixuan was left standing there alone, cold sweat streaming down his back. Around him, passersby who had gotten free food and drinks cheered happily, while his "over-two-million-yuan" watch suddenly seemed exceptionally hot on his wrist.

Meanwhile, in the president's office on the top floor.

Huo Si was holding an international video conference.

On the other end of the screen, several foreign executives were reporting on next quarter's Europe market strategy. The atmosphere was grave and tense.

Suddenly, the private phone on the edge of his desk vibrated.

Huo Si's brows furrowed slightly. Very few people knew his private number, and they usually only contacted him in emergencies.

He picked up the phone and glanced at it.

It was a bank notification.

[Your supplementary card ending in 8888 made a purchase of RMB 58,600.00 at [Cloudtop Coffee] at 14:30.]

Huo Si raised an eyebrow.

Fifty-eight thousand?

Was one cup of coffee worth fifty-eight thousand? Had Jian Ning bought the coffee beans' golden statue or something?

Before he could figure it out, his phone vibrated again.

[Your supplementary card ending in 8888 made a purchase of RMB 2,500.00 at [Kenda Chicken] at 14:32.]

Then came the third message.

[Your supplementary card ending in 8888 made a purchase of RMB 88,888.00 at [Zhou Dafu Gold Shop] at 14:35.]

Huo Si raised a hand, signaling for the executives on the video call to pause the meeting.

He stared at the phone screen. At last, a crack appeared in his normally expressionless face.

Fine, coffee was one thing. It would not have been a big deal even if Jian Ning had treated the entire company.

But 2,500 yuan at Kenda Chicken? Had he gone there to stock up?

And that gold shop... eighty-eight thousand?

An image of Jian Ning's sweet, harmless-looking face involuntarily surfaced in Huo Si's mind.

What exactly was that little thing doing with his card right now?

A chicken in his left hand, a duck in his right, and a gold chain around his neck?

[Huo Si: ...I suddenly feel that keeping him here was a mistake.]

[Huo Si: Did he take what I said as complete nonsense? I told him to buy a trash can, and he bought himself a gold chain?]

At that moment, the office door was gently pushed open a crack.

A small head cautiously poked inside.

Jian Ning was back.

He held a lone cup of black coffee in one hand. There was no thick gold chain around his neck, but in his arms... he was holding a golden, gleaming, light-reflecting—solid gold trash can?

Huo Si: "..."

Through the camera, the executives on the other end of the video call vaguely saw the "golden light" entering through the door. Confused expressions appeared on their faces.

"Boss? Is that... gold?"

Seeing that Huo Si was in a meeting, Jian Ning immediately made a gesture that said, "I'm being good, I won't disturb you," then tiptoed inside.

But the comments in his mind exploded like a string of firecrackers.

[Hahahaha! This feels amazing! So damn amazing! Using someone else's card to show off as if I'm rich—this is the happy planet, isn't it?!]

[Lin Zixuan's constipated expression just now could make me eat three bowls of rice! Serves him right! That's what he gets for bullying the original owner before!]

[Why is that old bastard Huo Si staring at me the whole time? Has he been dazzled by this artistic trash can in my hands?]

[Hmph, you said to buy a sturdy trash can, so I bought you a solid gold one! Eighty-eight thousand! It's pure gold! If this company goes bankrupt someday, you can still run away carrying this trash can! I'm so considerate! Praise me already!]

Listening to the joyous voice in his head that seemed ready to soar into the heavens, and looking at the solid gold trash can that was practically blinding, Huo Si's mouth twitched hard twice.

The company going bankrupt?

Running away with a trash can?

How exactly had this little bastard's brain developed?

Huo Si took a deep breath and said to the people on the video call, "Meeting paused for ten minutes," before turning off the microphone and camera.

He turned toward Jian Ning and tapped the consumption notifications on the desk with his long fingers.

"Jian Ning."

"Explain."

Jian Ning placed the coffee on the desk, then carefully set the Golden Trash Can beside Huo Si's feet. Blinking his big, innocent eyes, he said, "Mr. Huo, what's wrong? The coffee is hot, the trash can is the most expensive one available, and I even bought fried chicken for the cleaning ladies and security guards downstairs. I thought I'd build up some good karma for you... no, popularity."

[How about that? Nothing to say now, right? I spent over fifty thousand on coffee for random passersby. Everyone downstairs is praising President Huo for being generous now! I might have been the one showing off, but the reputation is yours!]

Hearing his inner thoughts, half of Huo Si's anger mysteriously dissipated.

Building up good karma?

This little liar was pretty good at finding excuses for himself.

Huo Si glanced at the gaudy yet somehow amusing gold trash can at his feet and snorted. "This is the trash can you bought?"

"Yes!" Jian Ning looked utterly sincere. "Look at this color and this hardness. As the saying goes, real gold fears no fire. It represents my heartfelt loyalty to you! Forever shining! Forever sturdy!"

[Actually, it's because gold holds its value. If you kick me out one day, I can take this trash can with me and melt it down into two huge gold bracelets. Clever me!]

Huo Si was so angry that he laughed.

He reached out and pinched Jian Ning's chin, forcing him to look up.

The skin beneath his fingertips was smooth and warm, and the touch was unexpectedly pleasant.

"You want to take it away someday?" Huo Si leaned closer, his voice low and carrying a dangerous edge. "Jian Ning, once you enter my door, both you and the trash can belong to me. You want to take it away, melt it down, and make bracelets? Dream on."

Jian Ning's pupils shook.

[Holy shit?! How did he know I wanted to melt it down into big bracelets? Does he understand investment and financial management too? Or can that old bastard read minds... No, no, no. People aren't allowed to become spirits after the founding of the nation. I must have acted too greedy. Restrain yourself! Jian Ning, you need to restrain yourself!]

Jian Ning immediately put on a panicked expression. "Mr. Huo, what are you talking about? How could I want to leave? I wish I could grow right onto your leg!"

Huo Si released him and wiped his fingertips in distaste, though the amusement in his eyes had deepened.

"Enough. Take this ugly thing farther away. It's blinding me."

Huo Si turned his computer screen back on. "Also, there's a family dinner tonight. Since you like acting so much, come home with me tonight and put on a big performance."

Jian Ning froze. "A family dinner?"

[A family dinner? Does that mean I'll have to see that group of awful wealthy-family relatives again? Wait... does that mean there'll be more juicy gossip to eat?!]

The system appeared at precisely the right moment. [Ding! Main quest triggered: The Secrets of the Huo Family Dinner. Three "S-rank juicy secrets" will erupt simultaneously at the Huo Family Old Residence tonight. Please prepare yourself for gossip consumption.]

Jian Ning's eyes instantly became even brighter than the Golden Trash Can.

[S-rank juicy secrets?! I'm going! I have to go! For President Huo's family harmony—no, for the entertainment—I, Jian Ning, will not shrink from my duty!]

Huo Si looked at the greedy, excited expression that had appeared on Jian Ning's face in an instant and shook his head helplessly.

Taking this little thing home... the old residence would probably be turned upside down tonight.

But why was he actually looking forward to it?

It's Chapter Three already! Is there really anyone who still hasn't added this book to their shelf?!

Tap [Urge Updates] and [Add to Bookshelf] to unlock more wealthy-family gossip techniques!

If you don't want to miss the S-rank juicy secrets, hurry up and [Add to Bookshelf]!

Even if it's only for that solid gold trash can, you have to keep reading! Let's go, let's go!

It gets super sweet later!!! Watch how our Ning Ning wraps President Huo around his finger! (✪ω✪)