Chapter 48: A Grand Surprise for You

Cheng Yao felt that he had truly mastered the essence of putting on airs. Earning money off Lu Mengyao and then flaunting it in front of her—this was the pinnacle of showing off; it was like selling her, and having her count the money for him. After buying the piano, Lisa had already left her phone number and would arrange delivery in the afternoon. Since it was still early, the two of them sat downstairs at Simba Coffee for a while.

Cheng Yao said, “In a couple of days, I’ll take half an hour to pass the first driving test. What about you?”

“The first test is pretty simple, I’ve got the hang of the questions already.”

“Alright, so you’re not going back to the dorm tonight, right?” Cheng Yao made himself clear. As a man in the prime of youth, having just unlocked new pleasures, he was determined to seize the moment. It was like how he looked at beautiful women every day—not for anything else, but simply for the joy it brought.

What is human nature, after all? Greed for money, lust, and the love of showing off.

Like buying pianos, violins, or anything else, everyone has their own tricks for putting on airs: world champions pretending to be novices, dominating amateurs on the street; white-collar workers drowning in debt donning fake luxury brands to pass for rich heirs... It's everywhere. Setting a target of a hundred million is just a small goal; whether one’s wife is beautiful or not, who knows; money doesn’t interest me, I’ve never touched it; we’re just an ordinary family, our house is just a little bigger...

Because flaunting gives people an advantage in choosing a mate—like breathing, it's a basic instinct.

Cheng Yao found pleasure in this consumption, and it was exhilarating.

As for lust, well, he only committed the mistakes all men inevitably do.

“Mm, then you book a hotel,” Lu Mengyao no longer resisted. In fact, after last time, she found it very enjoyable. She hadn’t expected that easing loneliness and exchanging knowledge could feel so good—mainly because Cheng Yao was skilled; anyone who’s tried knows.

Unlike some men—lackluster looks, empty pockets, a feeble presence—pitiful, really.

Cheng Yao’s girlfriend must feel comfortable with him as well.

Lu Mengyao thought quietly: wealthy, comfortable, handsome, occasionally a little domineering, talented in singing and playing guitar—he was practically the ideal partner.

So, she chose to follow her heart.

Cheng Yao thought for a moment and said, “Now that we’ve bought the piano, let’s go to my place tonight. That’ll save us from booking a hotel, and I can teach you some piano basics for Orange. Later, we can have a deeper exchange—isn’t that exciting?”

“Ah…” Lu Mengyao hadn’t expected Cheng Yao to be so bold, bringing her directly home for a secret rendezvous. She stammered, “What about your parents...?”

“They’re both away.”

“Oh, really? Is it okay? If you take me home, won’t your girlfriend be angry? If I teach piano lessons, won’t she be upset…”

“Shut up!” Cheng Yao took a sip of his drink and pinched her leg. “Your driving skills aren’t great, so tonight I’ll teach you personally.”

“Are you teaching me to drive, or teaching me...?”

“Is there a difference?”

Without him, Lu Mengyao might have become public property. This kind of green tea girl just happened to hit all the right buttons for guys.

Cheng Yao mused that his presence was like a combination lock—he’d locked the car, and no one but him could drive it.

He worried about dirty exhaust pipes, oil leaks, odd noises, smoked headlights, or others having the keys and taking it for a spin while he still had to pay for maintenance.

Who isn’t afraid of darkness? No one wants to pay a hefty price for a so-called “new car” that’s actually second-hand—or worse, passed through countless hands.

Lu Mengyao felt bitter inside: “...”

There were many fake white-collars in Simba Coffee, especially on weekends. They’d drag their laptops there early in the morning and sit down, looking very impressive, though no one knew what they actually did.

Some occasionally glanced at Lu Mengyao. With her striking eighty-five point beauty, she stood out in any crowd.

Some people are simply born to be protagonists.

After a while, chatting idly, time slipped by bit by bit.

The green tea girl finally finished her dessert and asked with a smile, “What should we have for lunch?”

“Stewed beef with foot noodles, I heard it’s a specialty from Sichuan. I’ve already booked it, we should be right on time.”

“Great, let’s go then.”

Leaving Simba Coffee, Cheng Yao walked ahead while Lu Mengyao followed quietly behind, unable to resist asking, “Do you always dress so casually?”

“What’s wrong with that? Is there a problem?”

“It’s just a bit odd. You’re so rich, yet you dress so plainly. I get it—low profile?”

Low profile, my foot—I just haven’t gone shopping.

Cheng Yao kept his hands in his pockets and replied without turning his head, “Clothes worth tens of thousands or just a few hundred—they all feel the same. Your expensive bag isn’t any better than a paper shopping bag; people might even think it’s a knockoff. I feel comfortable in what I wear—it just depends on the person.”

In truth, he wasn’t used to switching to top brands overnight.

Passing by Holiland, Lu Mengyao bought some half-baked cheese, which was very popular at the moment and supposedly delicious.

When they arrived at the stewed beef noodle place, a long line had already formed. It wasn’t some celebrity hotspot—just a genuinely thriving business. Cheng Yao waited for half an hour, with about ten tables ahead.

Such a place, where the average per person is less than a hundred, was packed at lunch and dinner alike.

There were many pretty girls at the entrance, all dressed lightly for the summer.

Cheng Yao glanced over—tank tops, skirts, sheer black stockings, and long white legs everywhere. He couldn’t help but sigh—summer truly was wonderful.

Yet he didn’t linger. Even if his mind wandered, he maintained a gentlemanly composure around others. Only when alone with Lu Mengyao would he shed his innocent façade and turn into a predatory wolf.

Cheng Yao’s looks attracted plenty of female attention, but he paid no mind. He found a stool at the entrance and sat down.

Lu Mengyao sat beside him, keeping things platonic, chatting about daily life and school. She’d recently been reading “The Qualities of a Third Party” and had picked up some useful insights.

For instance, the man in front of her would never want others to know about their relationship.

So, private lessons served as a layer of protection.

Ten tables only took about ten minutes to clear; there were plenty of seats, though a bit cramped. The menu was cheap, much more affordable than celebrity or trendy restaurants.

“Boiled chicken is quite famous. For two people, let’s get a medium pot. What’s Emei Snow?”

“It’s a lychee-flavored drink. I’ll have a bottle.”

They ordered a pot and four or five dishes, totaling around two hundred yuan.

Just then, Cheng Yao’s phone vibrated. He glanced at the caller ID: “Hello, what’s up?”

“Bro, where are you now?”

“I’m eating at Xinjiekou.”

“I’m here too, send me your location. I’ll find you, and I promise a huge surprise!”

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