"Mom, I really messed up." Lin Chuan said helplessly, "I shouldn't have lost my temper at that girl."

"I've been alone for so many years, do you think it's been easy for me?" Mrs. Lin sobbed, "All I hope for is for my son to settle down and start a family early, to give me a grandson sooner. But why can't you be more promising?"

The crying of his mother struck deep into his heart. However, Lin Chuan absolutely did not think his behavior that afternoon was wrong. It's just that in front of his mother, he had to admit his mistake. If he could turn back time and relive the afternoon events, Lin Chuan would still not hesitate to splash the coffee on that woman's body, it was too bullying.

"Yes, yes, I am wrong." Lin Chuan hurriedly responded, "But don't you worry, mom, I will definitely find you a beautiful daughter-in-law."

"Relying on you?" Mrs. Lin helplessly shook her head. She sat down on the worn sofa beside her, saying, "By the time I retire, I don't know if you will be able to find a wife."

"Mom, don't say that." Lin Chuan said anxiously, "Don't you believe that in a few days I can bring a beautiful girl home for you?"

"Alright, I'll wait for that." Mrs. Lin nodded.

"Mom, I'm hungry." Lin Chuan started to use his effective little tricks.

"I'll go cook for you." The moment Mrs. Lin heard her son was hungry, her heart ached, and she quickly headed to the kitchen. In fact, no one knows their child better than a mother. She knows and understands her child best, and Mrs. Lin had long known that Lin Chuan was being sly, but she didn't call him out on it.

A smile formed on Lin Chuan's lips, surprised that the little cleverness he used as a child still worked. Lin Chuan quickly stood up from his father's memorial altar. Looking at that portrait, his father was quite handsome in his younger years, not as handsome as himself perhaps, but should have been enough to captivate quite a few, right? It was said that his father used to be a poet, and you should know that in those days, poets were the most sought-after, with countless young women wishing to marry one.

Things have changed now; times have changed. Poets are now synonymous with paupers; which girl would be willing to have one? Nowadays, girls are all materialistic, all chasing money. Even if your poetry could match that of Li Bai, without money you're still shown the door.

"Dad, rest assured, I will fulfill mom's dream." Lin Chuan stated determinedly, "I'll try to find her a daughter-in-law soon."

Sweet smells soon wafted from the kitchen.

Lin Chuan's stomach grumbled with hunger.

It was only during the meal that Lin Chuan found out Aunt Zhou had lost her temper at his mother and had decreed she would never introduce any girls to him for the rest of her life. She had also severely scolded his mother, remarking about how the family was so poor they couldn't even make ends meet, yet they were still picky. This was why his mother felt she couldn't lift her head in pride, always feeling inferior to others.

"Chuan, I'm going back to work at the Sanitation Bureau tomorrow." Mrs. Lin suddenly spoke.

"Mom, your leg isn't completely healed yet." Lin Chuan said anxiously, "How can I let you go to work?"

"It's nothing." Mrs. Lin shook her head, saying, "I've rested at home for a month and a half, my legs are already much better. Though they're still a bit lame, if I don't move them, they will heal even slower. So, I'll go back to work."

No one could change the decision made by Mrs. Lin. Lin Chuan could only nod and agree, after all, his mother was a woman with a strong sense of opinion. Changing her mind, he feared, would be quite difficult. The dinner was somewhat pressed and silent.

......

Night fell, and Mrs. Lin went to bed early, because she had to go to work at the Sanitation Bureau the next day. But Lin Chuan simply couldn't fall asleep. He hated himself for being weak, hated himself for not being able to control his own temper. As he was lying on the couch, reflecting on himself, his pocket phone rang. This old Nokia with a black and white screen had a very strong battery life; not charged for a week and still, there was half left.

The incoming call was from Tang Yumeng's number; at this late hour, her calling him, could there be some urgent matter?

"Secretary Tang, are you looking for me?" Lin Chuan answered the phone, and the sound of rock music came through from the other end. Judging by the sound, it seemed she was in a bar, but Lin Chuan wasn't quite sure.

"Call me sister." Tang Yumeng sounded annoyed.

"Yes, yes, sister." Lin Chuan nodded.

"Are you free?" asked Tang Yumeng.

"Would I dare to not be free when you're asking?" Lin Chuan said with a laugh.

"Come out and have a drink with me." Tang Yumeng said.

"Uh..." Lin Chuan hesitated, then asked, "Where at?"

"Extraordinary Bar on Construction Road." Tang Yumeng said with a laugh.

"Okay, I'll be right there." Lin Chuan nodded.

He tidied up his outfit and sprayed some water on his messy hair. Facing the mirror, Lin Chuan patted his face and smiled, "Handsome to a fault."

The Extraordinary Bar on Construction Road is considered a bar with taste, where the crowd isn't too rowdy. Of course, that doesn't necessarily mean it's very safe. But at least it has much higher security than the bars on the bar street. The bar has powerful backing, rumored to be owned by the son of some official. Hence, ordinary people wouldn't dare to make trouble here, but that doesn't exclude some misguided fools.

As he arrived at the Extraordinary Bar, the neon lights were almost blinding, changing and flickering in sync with the music from within.

There was a large parking area at the entrance of the bar, with several security personnel in bulletproof vests patrolling outside. The lot was filled with luxury cars, with Mercedes and BMWs being common, and plenty of Porsches and Ferraris. Maserati and Lamborghini stood out with their high-tech and trendy appeal.

However, not many people came on foot like Lin Chuan did.

"Stop right there." A security officer stopped Lin Chuan at the entrance.

"What's the matter?" asked Lin Chuan. "Don't tell me I can't go in."

"You are not allowed inside without a membership card," said the head of security, glancing at Lin Chuan.

"I'm invited by Tang Yumeng," Lin Chuan responded.

The head of security was slightly taken aback, promptly checked the registration on his tablet. At first, he didn't believe Lin Chuan could enter the bar with his attire. After seeing the registration at the front desk, he immediately nodded, "Okay, go through the security check."

Then, several security scanners swept over Lin Chuan. The machines beeped an alarm. Shortly after, two thin daggers were found at Lin Chuan's ankle, and the head of security coldly asked, "What are these?"

"Daggers, for self-defense," Lin Chuan replied with an easy smile, "The world can't give us the safety we desire."

"Leave them here, you'll get them back when you leave," the head of security retorted with a cold smile.

"Fine," Lin Chuan said, too lazy to argue.

Upon entering the bar, it was noisy inside. People seemed prim and proper by day, but at night they went wild. In the dance area, amidst the noise and thundering music, a group of sizzling hot dancers led the dance, dressed provocatively and sensuously.

On the sound mixer's booth, a bassist from Ukraine was leading the climax of the show. She was a beautiful, angel-faced Ukrainian girl wearing a short leather jacket and black leather pants, her neck adorned with shimmery necklaces, passionately playing in accord with the music rhythm. The bass sound reached the accentuated multi-hundred-thousand-dollar speakers via the sound cables and blasted out through the many speakers in the bar.

Lin Chuan made his way through the dance floor, walking deeper inside. Finding Tang Yumeng among the hundreds of people in the bar was a challenge, especially as the dim lighting and flashing lights interfered with Lin Chuan's judgment.

However, Lin Chuan had sharp eyesight and quickly located Tang Yumeng in a corner. The woman who always seemed dignified, virtuous, and gentle in his eyes, Lin Chuan was surprised to find her mixing in the bar scene.

Tang Yumeng sat on a sofa, crossing her legs and holding a wine glass filled with amber liquid. She wore a white T-shirt paired with a black skirt. Although it was cold outside, the temperature inside the bar was warm.

Beautiful women always attract attention, and in the bar, despite the presence of dignified individuals, once divested of their formal attire, they remained ordinary men. Any man's heart would flutter at the sight of a beautiful woman. Many men would occasionally glance at Tang Yumeng.

Subsequently, a few handsome and wealthy men approached Tang Yumeng, offered her a drink, sat down to chat for a bit, then sheepishly left—obviously, their hook-up attempts had failed, and their plans for the night were thwarted.

This was, after all, a high-end bar, where patrons were people of status. Even if a hookup didn't succeed, they handled it gracefully: they smiled, gave a toast, and left.

It was unlike some low-end bars where a failed hookup could lead to men trying everything to win over a woman, even issuing threatening words when leaving. If such a scenario occurred, it meant two things: first, the man lacked class, or he was just some newly rich ruffian; second, the bar was not mature in its target clientele.

"Lin Chuan," Tang Yumeng spotted Lin Chuan at a glance.

"Why are you drinking alone here?" Lin Chuan asked in confusion.

"Otherwise, why would I ask you to come?" Tang Yumeng gave Lin Chuan a look.

"What would you like to drink?" Tang Yumeng asked curiously.

"Anything," Lin Chuan replied, glancing at the bottle of Hennessy on Tang Yumeng's table. Judging by the text and batch number, it should be an authentic imported spirit. The aroma and prestige of the bottle were telling signs; secondly, the Extraordinary Bar catered to a high-end clientele, and anyone could taste fake liquor—the patrons of this social circle naturally had similar quality drinks at home.

"Then have a drink with me," Tang Yumeng handed Lin Chuan a glass and poured him half a cup.

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