Chapter 74 - 74: Gamble
Chapter 74 - 74: Gamble
Chapter 74: Gamble
Translator: Atlas Studios Editor: Atlas Studios
Chu Qing was familiar with Jinmen Lamb Hotpot the second time he came. This was the most famous hotpot restaurant in Jinmen. It occupied dozens of acres and had a four-story building. There were many private rooms and booths.
With Zhuo Buqun’s wealth, it was impossible to book the entire venue. Therefore, in order to hold the gathering tonight, he only booked the largest private room. It would not be a problem to accommodate 20 to 30 people.
When Chu Qing arrived at the hotpot restaurant, he already knew which private room it was through the group chat. Hence, Chu Qing parked the car and went straight to the private room.
Chu Qing went upstairs. From afar, he could already hear the commotion coming from private room 3. It seemed that everyone was quite early. When he reached the door, Chu Qing pushed it open and entered.
The moment Chu Qing appeared, the noise in the room stopped abruptly. The expressions on everyone’s faces froze instantly, especially Zhuo Buqun, who looked as if he had seen a ghost.
Even Chu Qing, who had lived two lives, felt his hair stand on end. He had not done anything earth-shattering. Did these people have to have such a huge reaction?
Chu Qing reflected on himself. He did not wear his shoes backward, unzipped his pants, or buttoned his shirt wrongly. Moreover, the way he wore his jeans and jacket was natural.
However, from the focus of those people’s gazes, the problem lay in his clothes. Before Chu Qing could figure it out, everyone began to quarrel again. Each of them smiled evilly at Zhuo Buqun with ill intentions.
At this moment, Zhuo Buqun’s face was already wrinkled beyond recognition. There was still that complacent look from before. Chu Qing was puzzled. After he found Tang Ziyan in the crowd, he pulled Tang Ziyan to the side and asked, “What happened?”
Tang Ziyan put her arm around Chu Qing’s shoulder and laughed out loud. When she heard Chu Qing’s question, she suppressed her laughter and said breathlessly, “I – It’s… hilarious. J-just now, Zhuo Buqun made a bet with everyone. He said that you would definitely wear your school uniform to the gathering today. If he loses, he will pay for everyone’s food for a week. If he wins, we will pay for his food for a week.”
“How can I not agree to such a good thing? There are so many people here. Even if he loses, everyone will only give him a meal. In the end, haha, did you see his expression? You really didn’t disappoint everyone.”
“Oh.” When Chu Qing found out about this, he couldn’t help but be puzzled. “When I went to the shopping mall to buy clothes in the afternoon, I even bumped into him. He even made such a bet. Is there something wrong with his brain?”
“He probably knows that you can’t afford it.” Tang Ziyan’s unintentional words exposed the whole story.
Chu Qing couldn’t help but wince as he imagined Zhuo Buqun’s slap landing on his own face. The thought alone was enough to make him cringe.
Looking at the stiff smile on Zhuo Buqun’s face, Chu Qing seemed to have thought of something. He turned around and asked Tang Ziyan, “Am I included in the bet?”
Tang Ziyan was stunned for a moment before her eyes lit up. She revealed an expression that said, “Of course, Chu Qing. His words were to treat the students who came to the gathering tonight to a week’s meal.”
Chu Qing walked toward Zhuo Buqun with a smile and separated the crowd surrounding him. He asked loudly, “Zhuo Buqun, I heard that you are going to treat everyone to a week’s worth of food. Don’t forget about mine!”
Immediately, Zhuo Buqun was stunned. He gritted his teeth and retorted, “You are not…”
That was when the last word was stuck in his throat. He could not say it no matter how hard he tried. His face turned red.
Chu Qing tactfully hinted to Zhuo Buqun with his eyes that their classmates were still present, hoping to avoid any further confrontation or embarrassment.
Zhuo Buqun reluctantly accepted the situation, realizing that preserving his reputation and maintaining a harmonious atmosphere at the gathering was more important than expressing his anger. He decided to put on a smile and continue with the event, unwilling to let his pride get in the way of social appearances.
Zhuo Buqun reacted quickly. After he thought it through, he immediately changed his words and replied, “Of course, I admit defeat. For everyone who is present, for the next week, I will pay for the meals at the cafeteria.”
The crowd cheered and applauded Zhuo Buqun’s decision. However, deep down, he felt a pang of regret. He understood the impact this gathering would have on his wallet. With a cunning mind, he quickly devised a plan to limit the food expenses to the school cafeteria, ensuring that his budget would not be further strained.
Indeed, even dining in the school cafeteria for a large group of people would still accumulate significant expenses over the course of a week. Zhuo Buqun understood the financial strain this would bring, but he was determined to maintain his reputation and face among his classmates. He silently hoped that the gathering would go smoothly and that his wallet would not suffer too much damage in the process.
Chu Qing laughed evilly and placed his hand on Zhuo Buqun’s shoulder. He said in a low voice, “You want to treat everyone to a week’s worth of food. I wonder if the money for tonight’s dinner is enough. You won’t make everyone pay for their meals, right? Let me make it clear first. I didn’t bring any money when I came tonight…”
Before Chu Qing could finish speaking, Zhuo Buqun gritted his teeth and said, “It’s none of your business.” Then, he shook off Chu Qing’s arm and left.
He was really furious. When he met Chu Qing in the shopping mall in the afternoon, he didn’t see him carrying anything. Moreover, he thought a country bumpkin like Chu Qing could not afford the expensive clothes in the mall.
Zhuo Buqun couldn’t help but feel a surge of annoyance and irritation when he noticed Chu Qing’s change in attire. In Zhuo Buqun’s mind, Chu Qing had always been associated with his school uniform, and the fact that Chu Qing had deviated from that image felt like a personal affront to Zhuo Buqun. It seemed as if Chu Qing was deliberately going against his expectations, further fueling Zhuo Buqun’s frustration and resentment toward him.
Zhuo Buqun struggled to contain his anger and jealousy as he interacted with his classmates. However, deep down, his emotions were seething. The sight of Chu Qing’s perfect and enviable face only intensified his feelings of resentment and the desire to harm him. Despite his efforts to maintain composure, the primitive impulse to harm Chu Qing lingered in Zhuo Buqun’s heart, fueled by his envy and frustration..