Financial freedom starts from graduation

Chapter 228: Only when you have money can you save money
At the entrance of the Ambré Ciel restaurant, which was decorated in dark colors, Chen He kept looking around, feeling a little impatient.

Several minutes have passed since the agreed time, why hasn’t Zhou Wang arrived yet?
Behind him, Ji Xiaoxi, who was wearing a white shirt and a JK skirt, had skin as smooth as a baby's and was as delicate as a porcelain doll, attracting the attention of passers-by from time to time. At this time, she also lowered her head slightly with mixed feelings.

Is Chen He crazy?
How could he ask Zhou Wang to come and eat together...

When Ji Xiaoxi heard Chen He say this in the car, she wondered if she had heard it wrong.

Her first reaction was to refuse, but she didn't know how to say it.

After all, from Chen He's perspective, he didn't know what happened between him and Zhou Wang.

Ji Xiaoxi was a little shaken about Zhou Wang, until her good sister Hua Suisui terminated her contract with the company and shared her concerns, then Ji Xiaoxi realized that there was no possibility for her and Zhou Wang.

How can a girl who still yearns for beautiful love and a happy marriage accept that her boyfriend has another woman?
After realizing Zhou Wang's true nature as a "scumbag", Ji Xiaoxi has been trying to adjust her mood in recent days. She even followed her father in praying a few times to purify her soul.

She hadn't paid much attention to Chen He these past few days. Today, she was in a better mood, so she thought about coming to the company and meeting her boyfriend Chen He to make up for the neglect she had felt these days.

Who knew such an accident would happen...

Why didn’t Zhou Wang refuse?

Did he still want to...

Ji Xiaoxi's breathing became a little faster, and her fingers unconsciously grasped the hem of her skirt. After a few days of praying, the scene that she thought had faded suddenly emerged again at this moment.

“Put aside all filthiness and excess of wickedness, and receive with humility the implanted word, which is able to save your souls…”

Ji Xiaoxi silently recited chapters from the scriptures and gradually calmed down.

It's just a meal, nothing serious, and I was drunk last time, if I hadn't drunk, nothing would have happened...

Thinking of this, Ji Xiaoxi gradually calmed down.

"Boss Zhou, this way!"

At this moment, Chen He's enthusiastic greeting rang in her ears. Ji Xiaoxi subconsciously raised her head and saw Zhou Wang walking towards her at a leisurely pace.

In the summer evening breeze, the boy, wearing simple casual clothes, looks a little lazy, but does not give people any frivolous feeling. On the contrary, he is more like a lion strolling in his own territory. His invisible aura is like that of a comic book protagonist with his own special effects.

Ji Xiaoxi was actually very puzzled. It was obvious that when comparing the two, Chen He, who was a model, was much better than Zhou Wang in terms of appearance and height. But when the two were compared at this moment, Chen He pales in comparison.

Ji Xiaoxi believed that more than 90% of the girls would only choose Zhou Wang when faced with two people...

Or perhaps it was that Chen He's somewhat humble appearance at this moment destroyed his supposedly aloof temperament, making the contrast even more obvious.

Ji Xiaoxi really wanted to remind Chen He that he didn't need to treat Zhou Wang like this, but she couldn't say it.

After all, in Ji Xiaoxi's opinion, Chen He was so polite to Zhou Wang only because Zhou Wang was a shareholder of Wuyou Media. He was thinking about her...

While Ji Xiaoxi was daydreaming, Zhou Wang had already approached.

"Sorry to keep you waiting."

"No, no, we just arrived too...Xiaoxi?"

Chen He said this with a smile, and when he found that Ji Xiaoxi didn't react, he called out in confusion.

"Hello, Mr. Zhou."

Ji Xiaoxi came back to her senses, forced a smile, and greeted Zhou Wang.

Well, it’s Mr. Zhou again…

Zhou Wang didn't care. He nodded at her and then smiled at Chen He, "Then let's go in?"

"Okay, Mr. Zhou, this way please!"

Chen He quickly and enthusiastically led the way into the restaurant, where a waiter had already come to greet them.

"Welcome to Perl's Restaurant, do you have a reservation?"

"some……"

After verification, the waiter pressed the pillar next to it and opened the door for the three people. Then another waiter came over and led the three people in.

This restaurant is really different from traditional Western restaurants. There is a high-tech moon projection at the porch, and maybe some metaverse elements. Zhou Wang doesn’t quite understand it.

After passing the porch with various honors hanging on it and entering the hall, Zhou Wang's first feeling was... this restaurant was too dark.

It's the kind of pitch black visually... The dark tones are used to the extreme, and only the tabletop of each dining table is illuminated by the chandelier above, and it's difficult to even see people's figures in other places.

"This design is to allow customers to have a stronger sense of privacy when dining..."

The waiter who led the way explained seriously.

"This bottle of wine must be very expensive, right? Is it placed here on purpose?"

Arriving at a place where a bottle of XO foreign liquor was displayed on a special booth, Chen He asked curiously, and seemed to want to reach out and touch it.

"This 6-liter bottle of XO is a collection of masterpieces created by the famous architectural designer Frank Gehry at the invitation of Hennessy and in collaboration with Baccarat crystal. The price is 180 million RMB..."

As the waiter introduced with a smile, Chen He withdrew his hand as if he had been electrocuted, quite incredulous.

"This wine is 180 million?"

"Yes, limited to 30 bottles worldwide."

The waiter was not surprised by Chen He's reaction, he just smiled and nodded.

Ji Xiaoxi was also a little stunned. Everyone had heard of wine worth hundreds of thousands, but for wine worth millions, let alone seeing it with one's own eyes, normal people had no way to even hear about it.

Zhou Wang didn't care too much, he just looked at it a few more times out of curiosity. The reason he didn't care was, first, because he was not interested in foreign liquor, and second, what's wrong with 1.8 million?
It’s not like he can’t afford to drink now…

After Chen He was stunned for a moment, he took out his cell phone and took a few photos. Then they continued to move forward under the guidance of the waiter.

Perhaps seeing Chen He's strong interest, when passing by the other two places, the waiter introduced a sculpture worth more than 200 million yuan bought from an auction, and a dinner plate cover worth more than 500 million yuan that was said to have been used by Louis Philippe, the last king of France...

(From left to right in the picture below are 180 million bottles of wine, 500 million plates, and 200 million sculptures... The place where the sculptures are placed is too dark, so it is difficult to see clearly)
"Is this a western restaurant or a museum?"

Chen He was shocked and couldn't help but complain.

"These are the boss's personal collection. Just when the western restaurant opened, he moved them here as decoration."

The waiter responded with a smile.

After taking the three people around for a tour of the interior, they returned to where the XO wine was placed. The dining table was behind the XO wine booth.

After the waiter brought the menu, Chen He first glanced through it and then asked Zhou Wang for his opinion:
"Um... Mr. Zhou, I don't eat Western food very often. I was planning to order this 1688 set meal for one person. Would you like to take a look?"

"No, a set meal is fine too."

Zhou Wang waved his hand, and then he was slightly surprised, "It seems that his prices are not that expensive..."

More than a thousand per person isn’t expensive?
Chen He complained in his heart, but he was secretly relieved. In fact, even if Zhou Wang really placed an order, it would not be a big deal, and the prices of the dishes would not be exaggerated.

But the main thing is that the price of alcohol will become uncontrollable...

Before booking this restaurant, Chen He checked the travel guide. What the Perl restaurant is most famous for is actually its "million-dollar wine list", which lists wines ranging from thousands to hundreds of thousands. Even a rich man like Zhou Wang would not pay too much attention to the prices. It would be embarrassing if Zhou Wang casually ordered a bottle of six-digit wine.

The advantage of the set meal is that it comes with three types of wine to choose from.

Chen He did not ask Ji Xiaoxi's opinion, but after asking Zhou Wang, he chose one of the white wines called "Riesling".

"I don't feel like drinking today..."

Ji Xiaoxi frowned and shook her head.

"It's okay, Xiaoxi. We're happy today, so let's just drink a little. This wine is only 10% alcohol, not intoxicating, and it has a peach flavor. You'll like it..."

Chen He smiled and said, "It comes with the set meal anyway, why don't you try it!"

Listening to her boyfriend's strong persuasion, Ji Xiaoxi could only remain silent.

The three of them were seated in a triangle shape, with Zhou Wang and Ji Xiaoxi sitting opposite each other, and Chen He sitting between them.

What Zhou Wang found quite interesting was that, except for the first time they met, Ji Xiaoxi had never looked him in the eye since entering the restaurant, as if she wanted to pretend he didn't exist.

Zhou Wang glanced at the countdown which showed only 10 minutes left before the "round starts" and was quite looking forward to it.

It's not that he had to be timid, but he felt that this was like a change in his simple life. In a deeper sense, it was like he had gained something for the first time...

"Growing crooked" is also a kind of growth.

Zhou Wang had no mood to chat with Chen He who was always looking for topics to talk about. He responded with “hmm and oh” while casually taking out a cigarette from his pocket and preparing to light one.

"Mr. Zhou, is this cigarette the Fuchun Mountain Residence brand from Liqun?"

"Well, have you ever smoked?" Zhou Wang didn't expect that Chen He could find a topic here, so he could only shake his head and smile and asked casually.

"I've seen him at a friend's house... I've already quit smoking because Xiaoxi doesn't like the smell of cigarettes."

Facing his girlfriend's surprised look, Chen He quickly explained.

"You are such a good man. You always consider your girlfriend."

Zhou Wang smiled meaningfully.

Ji Xiaoxi seemed to recall something at this time. The look in her eyes when she looked at Chen He became much softer. She also took the initiative to help Chen He pull his collar, which made Chen He chuckle.

"Boss Zhou, this cigarette costs tens of thousands of dollars a pack, right?"

"I think so. Actually, I don't know. Someone gave it to me."

Hearing Zhou Wang's answer, feelings of envy and desire rose in Chen He's heart again.

It’s not because of the price of the cigarettes. The 180 million yuan for the liquor is too outrageous, but the cigarettes that cost tens of thousands are relatively okay, at least they are still within Chen He’s affordability.

Mainly because of what the smoke symbolizes.

First of all, this is not something that can be bought with money, and secondly, this was actually given to Zhou Wang by someone else...

what is this?
This is the "status" that Chen He has always dreamed of!
While the two were talking, Zhou Wang was about to take out his lighter to light a cigarette, but the waiter walked over quickly: "Sir, I'm sorry, you can't smoke here. If you want to smoke, please move to the smoking area over at the wine cellar..."

Zhou Wang was startled, then turned around and looked, "I just saw that you have a private room. Can I smoke if I sit in a private room?"

"A private room is fine..."

"Then give us another private room."

"Sir, I'm sorry, there is a long dining table in the private room, and we usually order a minimum of eight people."

"Then can I buy a meal for eight people?"

"what?"

Listening to Zhou Wang's serious words, the waiter, who had obviously never encountered such a situation, was stunned for a moment.

"If the private room is not booked, it shouldn't have any impact, right?"

Zhou Wang just smiled and said, "It makes no difference to you. You still earned the money you deserved. I just wanted to buy some convenience."

The waiter glanced at the Rolex Meteorite on Zhou Wang's wrist, and then said, "Please wait a moment, sir. I will ask the manager for instructions."

It was not until the waiter left in a hurry that Chen He and Ji Xiaoxi came back to their senses. Chen He was stunned and said in surprise: "Boss Zhou, this... is just for a cigarette, there is no need for this, right?"

"For people who are addicted to smoking, you can't just describe it as 'just'. I'm not just smoking one cigarette tonight. It's too much trouble to go back and forth."

Zhou Wang shook his head and smiled, "I'll pay for the meal today. After all, I asked you to accommodate me, and it's not right to ask you to pay again."

"Mr. Zhou, I'm not worried about this..."

Chen He gave an awkward laugh but couldn't say anything to refuse.

The waiter came back quickly, and with him came the manager of Per's Restaurant.

"What's your surname, sir?"

As soon as the manager came up, he smiled and shook hands with Zhou Wang, and then looked at Zhou Wang carefully.

"Excuse me, my last name is Zhou."

"Mr. Zhou, I already know your needs. How about this... You can move to a private room, but you don't need to order extra food. You just need to add an additional 10% service fee on top of the original 10%. Do you agree?"

The manager said with a smile.

"Oh?"

Zhou Wang was slightly surprised. In addition to Ji Xiaoxi who was still a little hesitant, Chen He was also stunned.

Can this be done?
Compared to paying for meals for five other people, the 10% service charge is undoubtedly a much better deal.

Chen He still didn't quite understand. Is this manager mentally ill? He is leaving at least tens of thousands of dollars unearned and just giving away warmth for free?
If I had known earlier, he would have rushed to say "I'll pay for it myself"...

It was not until the three of them were led to the private room by the manager and the manager personally brought them an ashtray that looked like a pipe that he smiled and asked Zhou Wang:
"Mr. Zhou, excuse me, is the Rolls-Royce Phantom that was parked in the square your car?"

"It's my car..."

Zhou Wang was stunned for a moment and then nodded.

"No wonder you look familiar to me, Mr. Zhou. I just happened to be out for a walk and saw you getting off the bus..."

The manager laughed, shook hands with Zhou Wang again, took out a business card and handed it to Zhou Wang with both hands:
"My last name is Shan, and this is my business card. Mr. Zhou, if you want to dine here in the future, just give me a call. I will also try my best to coordinate for you during peak hours..."

"I'm sorry, I don't have my business card with me."

Zhou Wang touched his pocket and responded apologetically.

...He didn't have a business card at all, but the restaurant manager's action reminded him that it was time to prepare a decent business card for himself. Given the social habits of Chinese people, "WeChat scan" could not replace communication in all occasions.

"I understand. Mr. Zhou, I won't bother you anymore. The dishes will be served soon. Please wait."

Manager Shan smiled warmly again, then turned and left the private room.

After Chen He paused for a moment, he realized that his previous thoughts were just a clown...

Damn it, he thought they were doing charity, but it turned out it was because Zhou Wang was driving a Rolls-Royce.

It comes down to money.

Are rich people more frugal because they are rich?

In fact, this is not the first time he has seen such a thing, but Chen He still finds it ridiculous.

Ji Xiaoxi's mood finally began to improve.

She knew earlier than anyone else around her that Zhou Wang's car was a Rolls-Royce. When she got in the car that day, she just thought the interior of the car was very luxurious, but the old BMW at home was also good, so there was no need to pursue better.

But at this moment, she had a clearer understanding of what the car meant...

Zhou Wang had no idea how complicated the two people's moods were. He just lit a cigarette for himself and leaned back leisurely.

It's good to save a lot of money, and Zhou Wang's original plan was that if he really needed to order more meals, he would let Miao Ying send the extra food to the construction site or the hospital, or at least to the nursing home. In short, give it to those in need and don't waste it.

This is his simple idea.

But it’s fine like this now, no need to bother with it anymore.

After changing the private room, the time was finally up and the system prompt came as expected.

Ding!
[The host has been detected to have arrived at the designated location, and the hidden round has been opened]

[Host obtains temporary item: Ahri's Conch (Seal)]

……

Wow, there are temporary props again?
Zhou Wang was not too surprised. After all, he was given a temporary prop once in the "Prologue" to help him complete the round better.

That time, it helped him to infinitely reduce his presence, which was almost equivalent to the invisibility of [Jie's Windbreaker]. I wonder what the function of this conch is?
Zhou Wang moved his mind to the item flashing black and white in the warehouse interface, and the corresponding information popped up:

[Ahri's Conch (Seal): When the host carries this conch, he will be able to listen to the inner voices of others when they are in a strong emotional state.]

We are in tune with each other, aren't we?

[This item has been sealed and is only available during the round.]

……

Listen to your heart?

Zhou Wang raised his eyebrows. He didn't read much, but wasn't this a plot from a movie he had seen before...

Although now, this plot has been overused in many online novels.

Zhou Wang suddenly remembered something and opened the system's mysterious shop. After a moment, he found the unsealed [Ahri's Conch] in the shop.

The price of this item is about 20 million reputation points...

Well, I don’t know whether I can count on it in this life.

Zhou Wang shook his head and turned his mind back to reality, intending to experiment with the use of this prop.

(End of this chapter)