Trillionaire's Slice of Life

"Chu Mo, have you forgotten about me?"

Ling Yue's voice carried a mix of three parts reproach, three parts dissatisfaction, and a hint of coquetry.

Even over the phone, Chu Mo could imagine the girl on the other end pouting her lips.

And seeing the look of "I knew it" on Li Fei's face across from him, Chu Mo felt even more jittery, worried that Li Fei might say something misleading. Chu Mo quickly interjected with a light cough:

"Ahem... Ling Yue, I'm currently having dinner with Li Fei. The guy's right next to me."

As he said this, the girl on the other end immediately voiced her discontent:

"Are you guys having a gathering? Why didn't you invite me? Where are you now? I've just finished work and have nowhere to go, so I might as well join the fun."

After hearing this, Chu Mo, who was about to refuse, listened as Li Fei suddenly spoke into the phone:

"Beauty queen, we're at the barbecue restaurant on Láncūn Road. We've just sat down; you'd be right on time if you come now."

"Wait for me, I guarantee I'll be there within twenty minutes."

"Beep..."

The sound of the call being hung up rang out, and a somewhat helpless Chu Mo sighed:

"I mean, we were just brothers having drinks, why did you invite her?"

Li Fei, seated opposite, suddenly widened his eyes while voicing his discontent:

"Hey, don't act so innocent after getting a bargain, Chu Mo. Am I not doing this for the sake of your happiness in the second half of your life?

Beauty queen Ling Yue, back in the day so many people lined up and couldn't even get a glimpse of her, and now that she's inexplicably taken a fancy to you, wouldn't you rush to take the opportunity?

I'm truly baffled, how on earth did someone of Ling Yue's caliber come to fancy you."

With that, he downed his beer in one gulp, started to get up with a swish of his hand, and said:

"Alright, I'll not play the third wheel anymore. I've already paid for the meal. You two lovebirds enjoy to your hearts' content. We brothers can meet for drinks anytime. You'd better seize this chance, I'm off."

Seeing him getting up to leave, Chu Mo grabbed him and pushed him back down into his seat, saying earnestly:

"It's rush hour now, and the roads are jammed. If Ling Yue can make it here in half an hour, she must be quite capable. It's still early; don't you have anything you want to ask me?"

Taking his seat, Li Fei stroked his chin and pondered for a moment before he sighed softly:

"We two brothers know each other inside out. Last month when we met, you drank quite a bit, and in the end, you threw up all over me. When I took you back, you told me you couldn't hold on much longer.

You told me you would give yourself another six months, and if there was still no improvement, you'd pack up and shamefully head back to your hometown. Hearing that really made me feel terrible.

It's been three years, the two of us have struggled here together for three years, watching my best friend in low spirits while being unable to lend you a helping hand..."

Chu Mo picked up his glass. Indeed, he had been drunk last time and didn't even remember how he got home, let alone what he had said.

He toasted with his buddy across the table, threw his head back and drained his glass without saying much, feeling that everything was understood without words.

"The last time Ling Yue mentioned you in the group chat, I found it strange but didn't think much about it. Yesterday, our class monitor Du Yanyan brought you up again.

She said, Chu Mo, that you had become some kind of domineering CEO, and that got me thinking that you must be hiding something from me. But we're brothers, and when you were in deep trouble, I couldn't help you out. If you truly achieve wealth and success, I'd genuinely be happy for you from the bottom of my heart."

Chu Mo nodded, took a deep breath, and then said with some emotion:

"Some things happened, and to be honest, I've been in a whirl these past days, feeling like I'm floating. I didn't tell you because I didn't know how to explain it to you yet. Not just you, I haven't even told our parents.

Long story short, brother, I've made it. You know about Bafang International, right? That famous five-star hotel – it's mine. I ran into our class monitor Du Yanyan at the hotel a few days ago, waived her bill, and gave her a VIP card, so that's probably why she thinks I'm like some domineering CEO.

Ha ha, who would've thought I, Chu Mo, could one day be called a domineering CEO... Just a month ago, I was thinking it was about time for me to crawl back to my hometown. Life, eh? Full of surprises at every turn."

His buddy filled their glasses once more, and after making a toast, Li Fei said in a casual manner:

"You can't hold your liquor, so take it easy. We can't count on Ling Yue to carry you home later, right?"

Chu Mo nodded, yet he still drained his glass in one gulp.

"Now that it's all out there, what do you think? Interested in joining my hotel?

Someone's already got the chairman position, but I can easily get you something like a general manager's role. Don't worry about the salary; I wouldn't shortchange you as a brother. In short, live in a villa and drive luxury cars."

Chu Mo's expression was serious, with a glint of sincerity in his eyes.

Li Fei picked up his chopsticks and took a bite, chewing thoughtfully for a while. After setting down his chopsticks, the fair-skinned young man suddenly laughed and said:

"Indeed, I still prefer our relationship as it is now."

Taking a deep breath and casually wiping his mouth with his hand, Li Fei said earnestly:

"If I were to join your company, there would be only two possible outcomes. I know nothing about hotels, at best I'd hold a sinecure where I just take the money without doing the work, then start flattering you to keep my job.

On the other hand, if people in the hotel were aware of our relationship, they would certainly try to curry favor with me, which would eventually turn your hotel into a complete mess. To be honest, I think our current relationship is great—just pure brotherhood."

"I don't want to lose a brother like you."

As his words fell, Chu Mo was about to speak to persuade him, when suddenly Li Fei, with a wave of his hand and a smile, said:

"I'm engaged to Ding Qian, we're getting married on October 1. If you really consider me a brother, you'll give me a big red envelope on that day. That way, you won't have to feel guilty, I'll accept it with peace of mind, and it will prevent our brotherhood from falling apart."

Hearing this, Chu Mo, who had opened his mouth, fell silent for a moment, then suddenly chuckled and said:

"You rascal, this is typically wanting the benefits without putting in the effort, right? And you even make it sound so noble. I was almost fooled by you, self-punishment with a drink."

"Haha, I'll drink to that. Remember to give me a big red envelope," Li Fei laughed.

After putting down his glass, a much more relaxed Li Fei suddenly said:

"You haven't told your parents? This kind of thing can't be hidden forever, right?"

Chu Mo chuckled lightly and shook his head:

"I've thought about this matter long ago. You know my family's situation. My mom is an accountant at an averagely profitable state-owned enterprise. It's a very easy job, and she earns around seventy to eighty thousand a year including all the benefits and her salary.

My dad is a team leader at an advertising company, and he makes over a hundred thousand a year. In our small fourth-tier hometown, their earnings are already quite good.

Even if I told them about my situation, there would be two possible outcomes. The first is that they happily accept it. But honestly, even if I gave them millions or tens of millions, it wouldn't really impact their lives.

I know my parents. They wouldn't quit their jobs just because they had money, nor would they squander it. Instead, the money would cause them worry and fear.

The other possibility is that they would start imagining all sorts of things, thinking I had done something illegal outside, and they would be even more worried and frightened. That's why I don't want to tell them just yet. After all, their life is now peaceful and disease-free, and they are respected at work, without any particular need for money."

Across the table, his close friend first shook his head, then nodded after a moment, finally probing tentatively:

"Won't you bring your parents here to enjoy a better life? After all, the megacity offers conditions that can't be matched back home."

Chu Mo waved his hand dismissively, his face serious as he said:

"They would definitely not want to come here, and even if I persuaded them, they wouldn't be happy.

It's not about material conditions, as you know. Back home they have neighbors and colleagues, places to spend their leisure time, and people to chat with when they're bored. Here…

Besides me, they would be complete strangers in a strange land, with no family or friends. I understand my parents' personalities. Within a week, once the novelty of their interests wears off, they would definitely clamor to go back.

Older generations have a different mindset than us younger folks who like flocking to the big cities."

Li Fei nodded lightly in agreement, then asked curiously:

"So you plan to keep it a secret from your family indefinitely?"

A hint of distress flashed in his eyes, but after taking a deep breath, Chu Mo spoke earnestly:

"I'll just wait a bit longer, until everything here is completely stable, at least until I myself am completely at ease. I'll start telling them little by little.

I haven't figured out the specifics yet, but roughly it'll be either winning the lottery, my books becoming a hit and making a lot of money, or starting a company with friends. In short, I'll find some explanations within their capacity to accept. This matter is not urgent."

Hearing this, Li Fei's eyes flashed with a hint of grievance as he complained:

"Then why can't you find a reason within my capacity to accept and explain it to me? I still have no idea what's going on with you, how on earth you suddenly made it big. It's unfathomable."

"Hahaha, think whatever you want, I've told you everything I can tell you. The things I can't say, you'd never get out of me even if you killed me, that's that...!"

The phone suddenly rang. Chu Mo picked up his phone and saw that it was indeed a call from Ling Yue.

"I'm off, won't disturb you lovebirds anymore. Oh, and can you explain to Ling Yue for me? I was just spouting nonsense in the group chat, don't let the beauty take it seriously. Also, don't forget my big red envelope."

Li Fei, with a carefree wave goodbye, truly turned and left this time. Chu Mo waved back, smiling:

"Don't worry, your red envelope won't be missing."