ATLT Chapter 9

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(25)

At the vehicle administration office, two buyers were already waiting in the hall. Zhang Linghao stepped forward to greet them, clearly acquaintances. Chu Yi sat down in the waiting area, letting them handle the paperwork.

When they were done, Zhang Linghao glanced back at the waiting area from a distance. Chu Yi suddenly felt that he needed him by his side, so he stood up and walked over. "All set?"

Zhang Linghao smiled and nodded, showing him the bank deposit notification on his phone. Then he turned back to the two buyers. "Thanks. The car's parked by the roadside—take it."

One of the buyers was about the same height as Zhang Linghao, while the other was slightly shorter. Both were impeccably dressed, their eyebrows neatly groomed, and the shorter one even wore light makeup.

The shorter man had been smiling, but upon seeing Chu Yi walk up to Zhang Linghao—who seemed quite affectionate with him—his expression darkened. With a sarcastic tone, he remarked, "Young Master Zhang, you have quite the taste."

Zhang Linghao deliberately misunderstood. "Of course! This car is one of a kind in the whole city. Take good care of it."

The taller man pulled the shorter one into an embrace, cast a chilly glance at Zhang Linghao, and said to his companion, "Come on, the car is yours now."

Their sarcasm was so obvious that even someone as slow as Chu Yi could tell the shorter guy had some history with Zhang Linghao. Watching them walk away, he asked directly, "That guy—he wouldn’t happen to be your ex, would he?"

Zhang Linghao: "Which one?"

Chu Yi: "The shorter one."

Zhang Linghao raised an eyebrow and smirked. "Both of them."

Chu Yi was stunned. The amount of information was overwhelming, and he couldn't quite wrap his head around it. Zhang Linghao pulled out his phone and ordered a ride, saying cheerfully, "Just got rich—let’s go spend some money and have some fun."

Chu Yi thought for a moment but couldn't resist asking, "But… aren’t they a couple? How did both of them… still…?"

Zhang Linghao slung an arm around Chu Yi’s shoulders, swaying slightly as they walked to the roadside. "Some people are just willing to be the bottom for love. What’s so strange about that?"

Chu Yi paused, sensing some hidden meaning in those words but unsure if he was overthinking.

Still, he couldn't help but press on. "So, between you and them… who was the bottom?"

Zhang Linghao burst out laughing at Chu Yi’s awkward yet serious expression. Bringing him along today had been totally worth it. He answered smugly, "I was always the top!"

(26)

Chu Yi didn’t press further. But when Zhang Linghao suggested he take the night off from work to enjoy a luxurious evening together, he readily agreed.

Zhang Linghao booked a presidential suite at a five-star hotel and ordered room service. The two indulged in a high-end essential oil spa, dined on steak and red wine on the scenic balcony, and even shared a cigar.

Finally, as night fell, they moved from the bathtub to the shower, then to the sofa, and finally to the bed—leaving no space untouched.

Zhang Linghao wanted to tell Chu Yi: Now that I have money again, you don’t need to work so hard. Let’s open a shop together, move in together. In a year, when Ling Rui goes to college, I’ll rent a place near his school and have Aunt Fang take care of him. Then it’ll just be the two of us. Let’s live like this, okay?

For Zhang Linghao, this might have been a new beginning. But for Chu Yi, it was an ending—a farewell.

He thought, Zhang Linghao has money again. He’s going back to being that rich young master of the Zhang family. Maybe not as extravagant, not as flashy, not as arrogant, but in the end, he still belongs to that old-money district in the city center. He has a future of wealth and comfort ahead of him. And I… I have to work hard just to afford a one-bedroom near the bar street.

When he was down and out, I stayed by his side. Maybe he mistook that for love, enough to surrender himself to me. But, Young Master Zhang… people change. In these past few months, we’ve both become unrecognizable, haven’t we?

Two people—one wanting to express, the other wanting to vent—yet in the end, neither said a word. Everything was conveyed through the kiss marks covering their bodies.

(27)

Dai Yanyan came to repay Chu Yi.

He insisted on paying an extra 5,000 yuan in interest, transferring 55,000 yuan into Chu Yi's bank account, and then said, "Do you remember Xiao A? I thought he was just joking, but he actually went and became an influencer."

Xiao A wasn’t exactly a top-tier handsome guy, but with the right styling, he had an attractive vibe. He was also outgoing and good at creating a fun atmosphere. Back then, Dai Yanyan thought Xiao A had simply found himself a sugar daddy who owned an MCN agency, but it turned out he was actually pursuing a career. His company had positioned him as a beauty influencer, and after a few months of effort, he had already gained some popularity—enough to start receiving sponsorships and advertising deals.

Chu Yi was also surprised. He had always assumed the influencer industry had a high barrier to entry, but seeing someone from their own circle make it changed his perspective. Before he could say anything, Dai Yanyan continued, "I’m planning to join him. Their company is in Shanghai, and they provide food and accommodation. The base salary isn’t high, but as long as I can grow my follower count and land sponsorships, the commission will be substantial—way better than the measly money we make at the club."

Chu Yi asked, "Does your sugar daddy agree with this?"

Dai Yanyan scoffed, "Don’t even mention that old bastard. He’s practically draining me dry and still isn’t satisfied. He’s got a whole collection of godsons and goddaughters to keep him busy. I barely managed to squeeze 200,000 yuan out of him, and I doubt I’ll get another cent. I need to escape while I’m still young."

Chu Yi nodded, showing his approval of the decision.

Dai Yanyan then asked, "What about you? Want to come with me? With your looks, their company would definitely be willing to invest in you."

Chu Yi fiddled with the straw in his drink, lowering his gaze. "I’ll think about it. You go ahead first. If I decide to join, I’ll contact you."

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