"Holy shit, a million? Qin Ci, even if you've got money, you can't just throw it around like that! What can he possibly do to earn a million a month?"
Jiang Yueming was stunned. Neither he nor Qin Ci was short on money, but paying a mechanic a million was still a bit much.
But Jiang Yueming soon caught on.
He looked Hua Jian up and down. The stunning young man had drawn the eyes of men and women alike the moment he appeared.
Jiang Yueming understood what Qin Ci was after.
So he had his eye on Hua Jian?
That made sense. Even to a straight guy like Jiang Yueming, Shu Yao's looks weren't remotely in the same league as Hua Jian's.
Shu Yao was certainly pretty, but he was far too effeminate.
Hua Jian's beauty, on the other hand, looked perfectly natural on a man, without a hint of femininity.
Qin Ci was an ordinary man, after all. It was only natural for Hua Jian's looks to turn his head.
With that in mind, Jiang Yueming thought a million a month was a little low.
He leaned toward Qin Ci with a wicked grin. "Young Master Qin, Hua Jian's face alone is worth more than that. Don't be so stingy."
"Piss off. What the hell are you babbling about?"
Qin Ci shoved Jiang Yueming away irritably. "Hua Jian, I'm asking you a question!"
"Young Master Qin, thank you for thinking so highly of me, but my abilities are limited. I couldn't possibly create enough value to justify that salary. Besides, it'd be hard to explain to President Lu."
Hua Jian would have to be out of his mind to spend all day trailing after this volatile lunatic.
Qin Ci stared at him. "You're afraid Lu Zexi will take it out on you?"
Hua Jian said helplessly, "A bartender at the club quit a few days ago because of me, and President Lu was already very unhappy with me."
"And President Lu's friend, Mr. Bo, really likes the cocktails I make. So, you see..."
Qin Ci raised an eyebrow. "You're saying Bo Lin likes your cocktails? Tch. He doesn't like drinking, and he's even less interested in men. So many men and women want to get into his bed. You think he'd be interested in you?"
"Of course not. If you don't believe me, Qin Ci, you can call President Lu and ask."
Hua Jian grumbled inwardly, This bastard's losing his mind again. If I told you Bo Lin just treated me to dinner and politely asked me to paint for him, would your head fall off in shock?
Come to think of it, big boss Bo really is generous. A million just for one painting.
This brat Qin Ci is offering a million a month, and who knows what he'd make me do.
A stingy pain in the ass!
"Hua Jian!" Qin Ci growled.
How dare he call him stingy?! Qin Ci might not have much else, but he had plenty of money!
He felt insulted!
Hua Jian looked innocent. "Young Master Qin, everything I said is true."
Qin Ci gritted his teeth. "Shut up! Two million!"
Jiang Yueming looked between them, enjoying the show. "Well, well, two million is plenty. The executives at my company don't even make two million a year. All you have to do is sell your ass... Ow! Young Master Qin, what was that for this time?"
Qin Ci kicked him hard. "What the fuck are you talking about? You think I'd be interested in him?"
Hua Jian lowered his eyelids, the smile disappearing from his face.
Just then, Hua Jian's phone suddenly rang.
He was slightly surprised when he saw who was calling. Glancing up at the two men still bickering, he shifted his gaze and said, "Young Master Qin, I really wasn't lying. Look, Mr. Bo is calling me."
Qin Ci pushed Jiang Yueming aside and looked at the phone, frowning. "Answer it. Put it on speaker."
Hua Jian raised an eyebrow and accepted the call.
"Hello, Hua Jian."
"It's me. Bo Lin, did you need something?"
It really was Bo Lin's voice. Qin Ci gave Hua Jian a strange look.
"Why didn't you come to UP tonight? Didn't you say you'd treat me to a drink?"
Hearing that, Hua Jian felt Bo Lin was truly his lucky star. He smiled and said, "Sorry, I took the day off."
Bo Lin immediately guessed, "Working another part-time job again?"
Hua Jian chuckled. "Yeah. I'll be at UP tomorrow. If you're free, I'll have a cocktail ready for you."
On the other end, Bo Lin paused at the hollow echo coming through the phone.
Hua Jian was working outdoors at this hour, and there was the muffled sound of car engines in the background.
He had a rough idea of what Hua Jian was doing.
"All right. Don't work too late. If you're really short on money, I can transfer your payment for the mural in advance."
Hua Jian was surprised and quickly said, "No need, no need. Thank you, though."
After a few more words, Bo Lin hung up first. The beeping sounded especially jarring out in the open.
Once his initial surprise passed, Qin Ci sneered. "You really are something. You've even managed to hook up with Bo Lin."
Hua Jian's expression was cool. "Young Master Qin, please don't misunderstand. Bo Lin and I are just ordinary friends."
"Tch." Qin Ci abandoned the idea. Bo Lin was someone who had long stood on equal footing with his father, and he didn't want to provoke him.
Forget it. If he really wanted to hear Hua Jian's thoughts, he could just put in a little effort and visit UP more often.
Having sorted that out in an instant, Qin Ci said, "What are you standing around for? Hurry up and tune my car. I want to do a couple of laps."
Jiang Yueming followed him, asking impatiently, "What's going on? You're not keeping Hua Jian anymore? Wait, what's his relationship with Bo Lin? I've never heard that Bo Lin liked men."
Qin Ci snapped irritably, "You should've been a woman, the way you fuss and gossip."
"Hey, why are you making personal attacks again? I'm as straight as they come. But Hua Jian..."
"Piss off!"
With Qin Ci dealt with, Hua Jian let out a breath of relief.
Plenty of men and women around them had been watching the show, all followers who hung around Qin Ci and Jiang Yueming.
Hua Jian singled out a target in the scattered crowd.
"Hey, Zhao, look. Isn't that guy looking at you?"
Zhao Kai didn't even lift his eyelids. "Piss off. I'm not interested in pretty boys like that."
"Zhao."
A figure soon entered Zhao Kai's field of vision: long, straight legs and a slender waist, very different from the sturdy, rugged mechanics who made up most of the crowd here.
It was the pretty boy Qin Ci had just brought in.
Zhao Kai had nothing but contempt for people like him, who had no real skills and relied entirely on their delicate skin and looks.
"No need to be so familiar, Mr. Hua. Did you need something?"
Zhao Kai put away his phone. His tone was fairly respectful, but his gaze was thoroughly insolent.
Hua Jian didn't mind. He smiled and said, "I heard you're from the Northwest, Zhao. I'm very interested in that famous winding mountain road in Qing Province. Would you mind if I asked you a few questions?"
Zhao Kai's fingers abruptly tightened. He looked at Hua Jian warily, but the voice of the lackey behind him made him immediately regain his composure.
"Zhao, you're from Qing Province? You've never mentioned it. With your accent, I thought you were from the Imperial Capital."
Fortunately, the lackey merely wanted to join the conversation and make himself familiar to Hua Jian.
Zhao Kai stared fixedly at Hua Jian. "Let's talk somewhere else."
"Sure!"
The lackeys' eyes nearly popped out of their heads.
Zhao Kai was utterly ordinary. They had no idea how he'd managed to catch the attention of such a little beauty.
Once they were away from the streetlights and the crowd, Zhao Kai abruptly turned, his eyes fierce.
"Tell me. Who are you? What do you want with me?"
"Zhao Kai, you went by Wei Qianlin back in Qing Province, didn't you? You secretly tampered with Qin Ci's car and nearly killed him. Does he know?"
Zhao Kai's pupils contracted as he stared in disbelief at the smiling man before him, who looked like a devil.
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