Bo Lin's lapse in composure lasted only an instant. He ignored Lu Zexi's incessant chatter.
They sat in a private room. Even after Manager Liu had the server bring up their drinks, Lu Zexi was still talking.
Bo Lin lifted his eyes to him, and Lu Zexi immediately fell silent.
Fine, his good friend was getting impatient again.
Lu Zexi lazily took a cigarette from his pack and lit it, muttering, "What fun do you even have all day? You don't smoke, don't drink, and don't fool around with men. Tsk, tsk. What a monk."
Something flickered in Bo Lin's eyes. Seemingly offhand, he asked, "Why is your bar so noisy today?"
Manager Liu, who had yet to leave, smiled and answered, "Is the noise bothering you, Mr. Bo? We have a new bartender downstairs. The customers all like him. Just before I came up, I heard Young Master Peng from Qihui had bought a bottle for him."
Buying bottles was one of the services their bar offered, similar to sending tips and gifts to a favorite streamer.
Usually, it was the resident performers and servers selling drinks who received them. But as soon as Xiao Jian arrived, those young masters all started buying bottles for him of their own accord.
Lu Zexi narrowed his eyes. "This Xiao Jian really has something. Usually, when the servers act all delicate and call those young masters 'big brother,' they get pretty impatient. Turns out they like masculine guys like Xiao Jian."
There were plenty of men in their circle who liked men. Especially since the law allowing same-sex marriage had passed a few years ago, some young masters from wealthy, prestigious families had quietly come out too.
Businesses catering to them had grown more varied as well.
It was hardly unusual for male eye candy to dominate UP Bar. In fact, because Lu Zexi still had some standards, his place was free of the seediness found in other bars and nightclubs.
Manager Liu opened their bottle and said with a smile, "Please enjoy your drinks. I'll go check downstairs. Just call if you need anything."
"Go on. Tell the staff downstairs to stay sharp. Anyone causing trouble like yesterday gets thrown straight out, and their membership cards get blocked. Fuck, those bastards broke two of my ornaments yesterday. Have you sent the bills to their families? Make them pay thirty percent above market price!"
"Yes, rest assured. Everything's been done as you instructed."
Bo Lin took a small sip. Bitterness and a sour burn rushed down his throat.
Knowing Bo Lin had no interest in bar business, Lu Zexi promptly switched to work.
"Xie Zhiwei called me again today. What do you think of that project? If it really won't work, I'll turn him down."
"That much investment for so little return? Have you developed a taste for handing out money?"
Lu Zexi laughed in exasperation. "When the fuck have I ever handed out money? Besides, I'm only making the introduction. You're the one who makes the decisions."
Over the years, he had handed all the dividends he received from Lu Corporation over to Bo Lin.
The Lu Family was different from the Bo Family. Although Lu Zexi was the eldest son and eldest grandson, the person running Lu Corporation was still his grandfather, who remained vigorous in his old age.
Just last month, his grandfather had gone on a beach vacation with a young model to show off his muscles.
Lu Zexi, the eldest grandson, would probably have a long wait before inheriting the family business.
Besides, the company was full of the old man's uncles, brothers, nephews, and other relatives.
Lu Zexi really had no desire to join that crowd.
But he was, after all, Old Master Lu's favorite younger relative. At birth, he had received a five-percent founding stake in the Lu Family business, and the annual dividends were more than he knew what to do with.
After Bo Lin had reinvested those dividends several times, they had grown into a substantial sum.
Having heard him out, Bo Lin settled the matter. "If you don't want to give money away, don't take this project. I don't do business at a loss."
Lu Zexi pursed his lips. A twelve-percent return somehow counted as a loss to Bo Lin.
"Fine, I'll tell Xie Zhiwei. He doesn't have it easy either. His dad spends all day traveling and having fun with his stepmother, neither of his two bratty younger brothers gives him a moment's peace, and then there's his little lover to support..."
Clang!
The sharp sound startled Lu Zexi.
He had forgotten to take a drag on the cigarette between his lips. It burned quickly, and the smoke suddenly stung his eyes.
"Cough, cough! Bo Lin, what the hell's gotten into you today? You scared me to death!"
Bo Lin rose and said coldly, "We're discussing business somewhere else from now on. This place is a cesspit!"
"Hey! Bo Lin, explain yourself. What's a cesspit? Huh?"
Manager Liu pushed the door open and nearly collided with Bo Lin at the doorway. Startled, he hurriedly asked, "Mr. Bo? Leaving so soon?"
"Mm." Bo Lin answered without slowing down.
Annoyed with him, Lu Zexi said, "Ignore him, Liu. What did you come up for?"
Manager Liu stepped aside for Bo Lin. Only after he had left did he turn to Lu Zexi. "Well, Mr. Lu, didn't you want Xiao Jian to come up and mix you a drink? Things got too chaotic yesterday. There was another rush downstairs just now, but Xiao Jian's free at the moment. Shall I send him up?"
If Manager Liu hadn't mentioned it, Lu Zexi would have almost forgotten the strange thing he had heard from Hua Jian in the restroom yesterday.
He gave a low chuckle, his eyes full of interest. "Sure. A bartender that enticing deserves a proper introduction. Send him up."
"Right away."
Manager Liu headed out with a smile, only to nearly collide with a tall figure.
"Oh! President Bo, you're... I'm terribly sorry. I nearly bumped into you. I didn't step on your foot, did I?"
"Mm, it's fine." Bo Lin seemed to pause. "I left something in the room. I'm going back to get it."
Though Manager Liu found that odd, he still smiled. "Of course, of course. Please go in."
Lu Zexi's mood had only just improved when he looked up at the noise and saw Bo Lin returning.
"What's this? Why are you back, Mr. Bo? Don't let my cesspit sully you!"
Bo Lin sat down again with an impassive expression. "My driver isn't here yet."
Lu Zexi didn't suspect a thing, and even quickly forgave him. Suddenly sitting upright, he said, "An absolute dreamboat just started working here. We're obviously both tops, but I can still look and enjoy the view."
Bo Lin paused and lifted his eyes to him. "Both tops? You're the one on top?"
What a strange question. Lu Zexi had never considered being on the bottom.
He rolled his eyes at Bo Lin and said smugly, "Of course. Do you even need to ask? Would a man as masculine as me be on the bottom? Though it's understandable that a virgin like you wouldn't get it."
He and Bo Lin had grown up together. Given Bo Lin's height, looks, and personality, ever since learning that Bo Lin liked men, Lu Zexi had never imagined he would be a bottom.
On Hua Jian's second day working part-time at UP Bar, three men each bought a bottle for him, as though competing.
With commission calculated according to the price of the drinks, those three bottles would earn him 6,000.
Tsk, tsk. For the sake of the money, Hua Jian gave the three men a polite smile.
That single smile immediately left all three men weak at the knees.
This Young Bartender was really something. His figure was slender, but he didn't look like the type to be pinned down.
Hmm, a high nose bridge and thick knuckles. If it was him, they wouldn't mind being on the bottom.
Hua Jian frowned. What was wrong with these three now? Why were they smiling so lewdly?
"Xiao Jian, come with me."
Brother Shen interrupted the strange moment. Hua Jian narrowed his eyes and gave those three men another glance before stepping out from behind the bar.
Noticing his look, Brother Shen gently advised him, "Listen, Xiao Jian, you need to keep up good relationships with the young masters who buy bottles for you. If a few customers bought bottles for you every day, one day's commission would be more than a whole month of your part-time wages."
"I will, Brother Shen."
If they dared look at him like that again, Hua Jian would make sure to give them a proper little "relationship-building" session.
"The boss is on the second floor. Once you get there, mix him a couple of drinks. The private room has everything you need."
"Got it, Brother Shen."
The second floor was quiet. Brother Shen led him upstairs, where they happened to meet Manager Liu at the top of the stairs.
Manager Liu wasn't tall and didn't even take a close look at Hua Jian. Naturally, he failed to notice that the new bartender wasn't a friend recommended by Young Master Hua, but Young Master Hua himself.
"This is the room. Along with Mr. Lu, one of his friends is here today. Keep the talking to a minimum and stay sharp."
The two of them stood at the door. It was the same private room Hua Jian had visited that day. When they opened the door, it was very quiet inside, with a faint smell of smoke that wasn't particularly unpleasant.
Hua Jian braced himself. He had already learned from Manager Liu that this Mr. Lu was Lu Zexi, one of the potential male love interests readers could root for in the original novel.
Smiling broadly, Manager Liu looked at the two men on the sofa. "Mr. Lu, Mr. Bo, Xiao Jian is here. Xiao Jian, hurry and say hello."
Hua Jian stood straight, his hands folded in front of him, and greeted them politely. "Hello, Mr. Lu. Hello, Mr. Bo."
He was tall, so even with his gaze lowered, he could see the two long-legged men seated on the sofa.
One wore black suit trousers and black leather shoes; the other wore black casual trousers and brown casual shoes.
Two completely different styles.
"Bo Lin, see? My new bartender's good-looking, isn't he?"
A slightly flippant voice rang out. This had to be Lu Zexi.
As for the other one, Hua Jian's gaze shifted slightly upward toward the man sitting straight in his suit.
[This is the second time I've met Bo Lin, right? I still haven't returned the suit I wore last time.]
Lu Zexi: ...? What's going on? This guy wore Bo Lin's suit?
Bo Lin: ...? What's going on? He doesn't remember that night at the hotel?
Before you continue