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墨書 Inktalez
Before noon, they made a trip to the eyewear store, and when they came out, Young Master Mu had a pair of sunglasses worth over nine thousand dollars perched on his nose.
Before lunch, they casually strolled through a beauty and nutrition studio, a professional establishment catering exclusively to the wealthy elite. At this moment, Mu Shao's extensive knowledge shone through as he engaged in a lively conversation with the female nutritionist. Before leaving, he casually requested a few spices, and upon hearing the price, Su Rongle winced; even with a twenty percent discount, it was still over twenty thousand.
After lunch, the two headed straight to the Arcade, a shared passion of theirs. Back in high school, they had mastered the art of clearing levels with a steel ball and had not lost their touch. Whether it was boxing or Fishing, whether playing casually or betting against each other, they were both quite skilled. After two hours of excitement, they managed to win a bit at Fishing but craved more action. They joined a group of pool players for a game of Snooker but ended up having terrible luck, losing over five thousand dollars to a girl with a nose ring. Amidst the cheers of their peers, their faces turned red as they fled in embarrassment.
In reality, neither of them could truly be considered rich second-generation heirs; at least, they didn't see themselves that way. Next to the Arcade was a row of luxury cars that made Lezi feel self-conscious. His BMW 3 Series, which he had begged his father for, hardly qualified as a luxury vehicle. High school students who played at the Arcade might very well drive 7 Series or imported Audis.
"Slow down... Don't scratch someone else's car; if you do, you won't be able to pay for it," Mulin Shen reminded him. The exit from the amusement park was congested with cars, many of which were high-end luxury vehicles.
Seeing one particular car, Lezi scoffed and said, "It's just a Lamborghini; my dad can afford that."
"Are you really that ignorant? Look at the exhaust," Mulin Shen replied.
As the car slowly passed by, Lezi glanced over and noticed that the exhaust pipe was raised and nearly twice as thick as that of an ordinary car. Shocked, he exclaimed, "Wow, it's modified?"
The car alone was worth hundreds of thousands; one could only imagine how much the modifications cost. Mulin Shen remarked, "Cars like that are not for us poor folks. A professionally modified vehicle can cost more than the car itself."
"Poor folks?" Lezi was taken aback by the term and asked in confusion, "Do we count as poor?"
"What do you think? Wealth is like different levels in martial arts; at the lowest level, people chase brands and indulge in pleasures—it's like entering some prestigious sect where you flaunt your wealth however you want. At a higher level, one wields no sword but has a sword in their heart; even petals can become weapons—it's like being rich enough to disregard any formality," Mulin Shen explained.
"I get it; it's about being able to eat whatever you want whenever you want, sleeping with whoever you desire, flying on private jets or sailing on yachts—all custom-made?" Lezi asked.
"Yes, this is it," Mu Shao said with longing.
"Is there something even higher?" Lezi asked, equally captivated.
"Of course there is. With just a gesture, the winds can change... Take Soros for example; he can bring down a small country in the Stock Market. Or Buffett, during an economic crisis when the Federal Reserve is short on cash, they have to borrow from him personally... People like that don’t need to show off; they can directly influence political decisions. That’s real power." Mulin Shen, with a broader perspective than Lezi, left him speechless. Lezi stared blankly as Mu Shao pretended to slap him. "Focus on driving and stop being foolish."
"Huh?" Lezi jumped in surprise, then said unhappily, "I was feeling pretty good about myself until you said that. Now I feel completely unconfident. According to you, we’re all poor; what’s the point of trying?"
"Even the poor have to make do... Go to the City God Temple and burn some incense; it might help," Mulin Shen suggested.
"Burning incense for wealth? Does that really work?" Lezi was skeptical.
"What do you need wealth for? Just pray for your dad to kick the bucket sooner; then all his assets will be yours," Mulin Shen replied.
Suddenly, the car came to a halt. Mulin Shen ducked, fearing that his joke would anger Lezi, but unexpectedly, Lezi blinked and praised, "Good idea! How did I not think of that? That old man is getting tighter with money; I want to buy a new car but he won’t give me any cash. If I could earn it myself... Damn, if I could earn it, why would I even call him 'dad'?"
"Haha... that's the spirit," Mulin Shen laughed heartily.
When it came to money and their fathers, both shared similar backgrounds and consistent viewpoints. However, after discussing for a while, they found themselves at a loss. Both their fathers had started consciously controlling their finances, making their carefree days increasingly difficult. They exchanged stories about who had bought a new car, who had immigrated, and whose parents had opened a store. The more they talked, the more they felt impoverished; life was becoming unbearable.
As they complained, Lezi's attention was drawn away by something in the rearview mirror—a girl in shorts with long legs caught his eye. He stretched his neck to get a better look, his desires stirred. He leaned out of the window to gaze intently when Mulin Shen reminded him, "Stop looking; she's the type that will make you bleed from your eyes."
"She’s only wearing shorts and a top; how did you figure that out?" Lezi bit his finger, saliva glistening at the corner of his mouth as he contemplated whether to say hello or flirt with her.
"Are you really that ignorant? Look at her shoes... A girl who loves beauty should at least have seven pairs of shoes: one for fun, one for work, one for vacation, one for special occasions, one that has never been worn, and one that she doesn't like. Having a pair you don't like serves as a reminder that you don't always have to dress perfectly... Right now, she's wearing the vacation pair..."
Mulin Shen said calmly, but in Lezi's eyes, all he could see were a pair of almost transparent high-heeled crystal shoes, encasing delicate white feet, adorned with a touch of seductive red nail polish. He couldn't believe it and exclaimed, "Don't fool me! If I miss out on such exquisite shoes, I'll regret it for hours... Love it!"
"I'm not fooling you. This is what the shoemaking master Louboutin said; she's wearing that brand. Their shoes start at five hundred dollars... Do you believe me? That modified Ferrari is hers," Mulin Shen replied.
"I don't believe it. Ah, I need to make a move," Lezi said, his mind racing with excitement.
"Wait five seconds before deciding; otherwise, you'll regret it even more," Mulin Shen grabbed him firmly, and Lezi shot him an angry glare.
The change in mood was swift; in the blink of an eye, Lezi's expression turned awkward as he stared intently. The girl directly opened the door and got into the Ferrari, revving the engine as she backed out. In an instant, Lezi hurriedly started his own car and lamented as he accelerated away, muttering to himself:
"Let's get out of here; we poor folks shouldn't embarrass ourselves."
Even so, they felt humiliated as the car's acceleration performance was off the charts. With a few roaring sounds, it sped past Lezi's vehicle in no time, leaving only the sight of its rear and exhaust smoke behind. The two poor guys felt utterly inferior.
Indeed, those who drink thin soup envy those who eat well; those who eat well envy those who feast luxuriously.
After a day filled with finding money, shopping, and playing games, evening approached in a haze. For these two night owls, dinner was equivalent to a main meal; naturally, they had to eat well. They chose Yue Ke Lai Western Restaurant and seriously devoured two steaks while sampling some salad and escargot. They had already decided on their evening destination: finding girls to have fun with. Instead of hitting the bars, they opted for the Crown Plaza Hotel at Binhai. Mulin Shen mentioned that the rooftop swimming pool there was quite nice; with some luck, they might meet a lonely foreign girl—much better than those local girls at bars who pretended to be cute while clearly selling themselves.
This suggestion excited Su Rongle, who quickly finished eating and settled the bill before dragging Mulin Shen out. He quietly asked about certain features of foreign girls' bodies. Mulin Shen whispered something back that made Lezi smile broadly. The two entered the elevator side by side. Slightly tipsy from the drinks, Mulin Shen reminded him: "Hey Lezi... what you're asking from those Ruhua is an investment; you've already spent several thousand on this. Have you thought about what you want to do?"
"Look at you! I'm just having fun; why bring this up? Investments can lose or gain money; I'll just tell him later if I lose," Su Rongle replied proudly, fully displaying his scheming nature. Mulin Shen found this amusing; that little bit of money from Ruhua wouldn't last long anyway. He chuckled as Lezi accidentally caught sight of a tattoo on his left arm and exclaimed in surprise: "Wow! Why did you tattoo a wild chicken on your arm?"
Mulin Shen slapped his salty hand away, fuming, "Phoenix, what wild chicken?"
As the tattoo was revealed, it displayed an intricate design covering the shoulder area. The fiery red feathers formed the shape of flames, surrounding an angry visage—a vividly lifelike phoenix. Mulin Shen began to explain, "This pattern is called Nirvana, derived from the legend of the phoenix rising from the ashes. In foreign cultures, tattoos are a form of art; to those masters, skin is the canvas of the soul, and what is drawn is a projection of your spirit."
While saying this, Mulin Shen's expression turned solemn, his gaze serious. He inexplicably recalled his father's furious face, his mother's gentle countenance, and the countless times he had awakened from drunken stupors, feeling a self-loathing that clung to him like a nightmare. Life had become a constant search for excitement and novelty, yet all he found was a clearer sense of disgust and degradation.
"What's wrong?" Lezi asked curiously.
"Nothing much. I shouldn't have chosen Nirvana; I can't rise from the ashes—I’d probably just get burned to death," Mulin Shen said gloomily as he lowered his sleeves in self-mockery. Lezi, however, missed the deeper meaning in his words and laughed, "Exactly! Why get a phoenix? If it were me, I'd get a QR code—whoever scans it gives me money... Haha..."
In an instant, both burst into laughter. As they descended in the elevator to the underground parking lot, the cheerful ding of the elevator doors opening greeted them. They stepped out casually but suddenly halted in their tracks. Right in front of them stood two burly men blocking their way, looking decidedly unfriendly. In such situations, rich kids usually knew how to handle themselves. Mulin Shen pulled Lezi aside to dodge them but was taken aback when the two men shifted slightly and effectively blocked their path again.
Mulin Shen sensed something was off and pushed Lezi in front of him, urging, "You go."
"What are we afraid of? This big hotel parking lot is full of surveillance; do you think they dare to rob us?" Lezi boasted with pride, puffing out his chest. He was used to showing off and exuded confidence no matter who he faced.
"What if we dared?" One of the men slowly pulled out a gleaming gun from his pocket. Mulin Shen was shocked and nervously exclaimed, "Oh my god! These robbers are high-tech now; they even use injection guns? Shouldn't you cover your face?"
Hearing this made Lezi even bolder; he pointed at his own head and shouted defiantly, "Come on then! Shoot me right here!"
"Yeah, shoot him right here! Eighteen years later he'll be a fine man again," Mulin Shen said while pointing at Lezi's head. In such a vast city, being a robber meant you were asking for trouble.
Lezi grew even bolder and scolded Mulin Shen, "Don't interrupt! You've got to have some flair! Let me say it like this: Eighteen years later, I'll still be a virgin!" He pounded his chest proudly.
The suspected robber was stunned, taken aback, while the two victims were laughing uncontrollably.
With a soft pop, the man raised his gun, almost soundlessly.
Ah... Lezi was so frightened that he covered his eyes. Damn it, this was getting serious.
With a thud, something moved. Lezi checked himself and found he was unharmed. Looking at the two people in front of him who hadn’t moved, he turned around in shock. There it was—Young Master Mu was already rolling on the ground, eyes rolled back, with a half-inch-long syringe embedded in his shoulder.
Another person waved for a car, while this one kept his eyes fixed on Lezi. Lezi broke into a cold sweat, nervously handing over his phone and watch. When they were refused, he cautiously placed them at his feet and then turned to pull Young Master Mu's phone and watch off as well, placing them together. He anxiously said, “I’m his assistant; his family is wealthy and owns a hotel.”
A car backed up and several people got out. Lezi's legs turned to jelly as he envisioned being kidnapped for ransom, possibly locked away in some dark room without food or water. In his panic, he sat down on the ground, tears welling up as he pleaded, “Robber sir, please don’t kidnap me! I’m just a poor guy... I’m so broke I can’t even afford to change to a Mercedes! If you want to kidnap someone, take my dad... he’s rich!”
While he was crying out, the others were swift in their actions. They loaded Young Master Mu into a business van. The back door slammed shut, and an ambulance siren blared. Wait—was that not our car? Lezi opened his eyes to see the vehicle speeding past the toll booth. Blinking again, he realized only two people remained beside him. When he saw them clearly, his mouth dropped open in disbelief as he shouted, “Mu... Uncle Mu!”
“Scared like this? Not much of a man,” Mu Qingchen scoffed.
A familiar face—no problem there. Lezi scrambled to his feet, wiped his face, adjusted his pants, and gathered his belongings while looking at Mu Qingchen with suspicion. Deep down, however, he understood why. Turning to leave, Old Mu called out, “You’re just going to walk away like that?”
“Don’t scare me; you’re not my dad,” Lezi retorted dismissively. Then thinking about what had happened to his friend, he asked in shock, “Uncle Mu, you’re really ruthless; you can do that to your own son?”
“That’s the detox center’s vehicle; they’re taking him for rehabilitation,” Mu Qingchen explained.
Lezi's neck stiffened in surprise; that could very well happen to him too. But how could he dare to argue?
"Oh, it seems you know?" Mu Qingchen realized suddenly.
"I don't know," Lezi shook his head, trying to leave, but was stopped by Old Mu, who sternly lectured him: "You have two options. Either change your phone number and cut off all contact with him, and you must tell me who else he is in contact with—everything must be severed... Or I will have to get in touch with your dad. Don't think I don't know what you two are up to. He isn't familiar with Binhai, and if he has something in his hands, it's most likely something you gave him..."
"I think I'll choose the first option... Just pretend I saw nothing and know nothing... I'm leaving, Uncle. I absolutely won't contact him, and if he tries to reach me, I'll act like I don't know him... I'm leaving now, Uncle..."
The sudden turn of events flashed by, while the planning had taken several days. Dr. Feng Changxiang reminded, "Boss Mu, we need to inform the hotel staff. If we take someone away like this, their security will definitely notice."
"That's easy to handle. Follow me," Mu Qingchen replied.
At that moment, several security personnel rushed in through another entrance. The events captured on camera made them a bit anxious; it wouldn't look good for the hotel if something happened here. Fortunately, it seemed the person involved hadn't left at all. By the time they arrived, Mu Qingchen had already handed over the phone he had dialed. After a few questions, the two left calmly.
"All good now, let's go... Manager Song said it's a familiar face; I took my son for forced detox," the leading security officer said as he led everyone away. The area returned to silence, and the occasional guests had no idea that an event had occurred that would change someone's fate...
Two hours later, fifty kilometers outside Binhai City, an ambulance preparing to depart came to a slow stop as Mu Qingchen drove.
Dr. Feng quickly approached, opened the door, and handed items one by one to Mu Qingchen: shoes, clothes, accessories, a phone, and so on. Without even looking at them, Mu Qingchen tossed them into the back seat. Following that was Dr. Feng's report; a rough analysis brought a sigh of relief from him.
Blood Test: Negative. Saliva Reagent Test: Negative.
"It's not as serious as you might think. Deep addiction to marijuana can lead to complications such as abnormal bleeding, decreased white blood cells, and severe anemia, but your son doesn't have any of that. It seems he was just seeking a thrill and tried it occasionally... In foreign countries, rebellious young people often experiment..." Dr. Feng said, relieved to see this result. If he were an addict, it would be a different story.
"That's good, that's good." Mu Qingchen sighed in relief, as if he had survived a disaster. He asked with some concern, "This treatment... it won't..."
"It won't. You have a bit of a misunderstanding about hypnosis. For example, when I worked at Weinan Psychiatric Hospital, I often used hypnosis for patients with cognitive impairments, amnesia, or memory loss due to pituitary injuries. It can be effective... For Xiao Mu, hypnosis aims to awaken memories deep within him—like childhood memories or love—those beautiful things that can change the impact of his environment on him... Of course, the final effect also depends on the strength of his spirit. As long as he doesn't return to the original environment, there will definitely be results," Dr. Feng explained, concealing many things. For instance, "the strength of the spirit" is not even a medical term; even if such strength exists, it cannot be measured.
Mu Qingchen looked up, lost in thought, remaining silent for a long time. Dr. Feng cautiously asked, "Boss Mu, if you can't bear it, we can stop immediately. I can't guarantee the results; he might wake up still the same."
"Let's go; there's no need to stop... No matter how bad it gets, it won't be worse than now."
Old Mu sighed softly, wiping his eyes discreetly and silently brushing away the tears at the corners of his eyes.
The car started and drove away. At that moment, Old Mu's expression was filled with sorrow; tears streamed down his face without restraint as he watched the car grow more distant until it became just a faint red dot in the night, gradually fading from view until it disappeared completely...
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