Chapter 8: Rose Bar

It was past six o'clock when Wang Shengguo returned home.

Li Xiumei asked the maid, Aunt Chen, to call Wang Teng downstairs for dinner.

Wang Teng had just finished showering and changed into fresh clothes; he was currently using a hairdryer, blowing his hair with a loud whirring sound.

"Got it, Aunt Chen. I'll be down in a second."

He replied casually.

After becoming a martial arts apprentice, even his hearing had improved significantly, and the noise of the hairdryer didn't affect him in the slightest.

In less than a minute, he finished drying his hair, unplugged the device, and went downstairs to eat.

Wang Shengguo and Li Xiumei were both waiting for him.

Several bowls of dishes were laid out on the table, steaming hot and fragrant.

The family sat together to eat.

"Son, how was your training today?"

Li Xiumei asked the question Wang Shengguo most wanted to know; he looked at Wang Teng with eager anticipation.

To be fair, it wasn't easy being a father like Wang Shengguo. Usually, his friends would brag about how outstanding their sons and daughters were, or how someone’s child had become an intermediate or advanced martial arts apprentice.

Only Wang Shengguo found it hard to speak up. He was the boss of a large company with assets worth over a hundred million, yet his son was a good-for-nothing.

It would certainly be a laughingstock if word got out.

Now that his son had finally seen the light and was willing to practice martial arts, once he truly became an advanced martial arts apprentice, he would finally have something to brag about.

"It was alright. The senior brother at the martial arts gym said I still have talent," Wang Teng said.

He didn't tell his parents that he was already an intermediate martial arts apprentice. He was afraid that if the happiness came too suddenly, they might faint from joy.

He would tell them slowly in the future.

"As long as you have talent, that's good. That's good."

Wang Shengguo’s eyes crinkled with joy as he waved his hand and said, "You train hard. Although our Wang family isn't a wealthy tycoon, we are at least much better off than the average person. Don't worry about the resources for martial arts training."

Wang Teng nodded without saying much.

He wasn't very worried about resources. Others might desperately need various training supplies, but he didn't rely on them much.

With his cheat code, other people's resources were his resources!

"Come, eat more. You must be hungry and tired after training all day."

Compared to whether Wang Teng could become a martial artist, Li Xiumei was more concerned about whether he was suffering or exhausted. Seeing Wang Teng wolfing down his food, she felt a pang of heartache.

Wang Teng was too busy to talk. It had to be said that star beast meat was truly delicious—fatty but not greasy, melting in the mouth.

As it entered his stomach, a warm current seemed to flow through his limbs and bones, soothing his fatigue.

Li Xiumei and Wang Shengguo also ate a little, but they didn't dare eat too much.

After all, they didn't practice martial arts; eating too much would be counterproductive.

In the era of martial arts, although ordinary people were influenced by Force and had much higher physical fitness, that was a long-term, subtle influence.

After dinner, just as Wang Teng was preparing to head to the Jixing Martial Arts Gym, his phone rang.

He picked it up, and Xu Jie’s voice came through.

"Brother Wang Teng, we’re already at the Rose Bar. Hurry up and get over here."

Wang Teng finally remembered this matter, which he had long since cast to the back of his mind. He couldn't help but smile bitterly and said, "Alright, wait for me. I'll be there shortly."

"Looks like I won't be able to make it to the Jixing Martial Arts Gym tonight."

Wang Teng felt a bit regretful, but he knew that it was impossible to spend every day at the gym.

"I'll just treat it as relaxing."

Wang Teng greeted his parents and headed out.

*Vroom, vroom, vroom...*

The sports car roared down the street. Whether it was the streamlined body or the massive roar, it was the focal point of every passerby's gaze.

Nancheng Bar Street!

Donghai had many bar streets, and the Nancheng area was considered the most prosperous.

A large number of bars gathered here, with different types, styles, and even price points.

Mass-market bars catered to low-end consumers, while high-end bars were suitable for the social elite or the children of wealthy families.

Although he didn't want to say it, people were indeed invisibly divided into different classes.

Every night, the bar street was a scene of red lanterns and green wine; the dazzling neon lights and gorgeous light and shadow intertwined, converging into a dreamlike spectacle.

Young urban men and women worked under heavy loads during the day, burdened by pressure, and hoped to find a place to relax at night.

Social pressure had never disappeared; in the era of martial arts, the pressure was even greater.

They needed an outlet!

Of course, for people like Wang Teng, it was nothing more than a place to find some fun.

Outside the Rose Bar, a line of sports cars and luxury cars was parked. Wang Teng searched for a long time before finally finding an empty spot to park his car, then walked into the bar.

*Boom!*

A door separated the inside of the bar from the outside world into two different realms.

The moment the door opened, the explosive music, the sound of handsome men and beautiful women laughing and joking, and the flickering lights all converged, assaulting Wang Teng’s eardrums and eyes.

"What a familiar feeling!"

In his previous life, after the Wang family fell and disappeared, Wang Teng never came to a bar again.

It was as if he had been kicked out of this noisy world.

But now, he was back!

Wang Teng strode into the Rose Bar. With his handsome face, designer clothes, and a body that had become robust and upright after becoming a martial arts apprentice over the last two days, his spirit was brand new. He stood out like a diamond in the sand, appearing exceptionally bright and dazzling.

Many women’s gazes were drawn to him, seemingly a bit interested.

Wang Teng used to be an "old salted meat," but now he was a genuine "little fresh meat." His appearance carried a hint of youthfulness, yet his temperament was vastly different.

In his previous life, he had experienced many things and the ups and downs of life.

He had enjoyed wealth and felt poverty.

He had been high-spirited and successful in his youth, and he had also sunk into depravity and frustration...

These rich experiences forged his calm temperament, making it easy for people to develop a good impression of him at first sight.

Wang Teng scanned the bar, looking for Xu Jie and the others.

At this moment, a voice came from the left.

"Brother Wang Teng, over here, over here!"

Wang Teng saw the girl waving at him—Bai Wei, a little sister in their circle.

She wore her hair in a bun, looking playful yet carrying a hint of charm.

Wang Teng still remembered that after she came of age, this little girl grew up to be a "femme fatale," and he didn't know how many men were captivated by her.

"You guys arrived early enough."

Bai Wei made room for Wang Teng, and he sat down beside her.

"Brother Wang Teng, you’re the one who’s late," Xu Jie complained.

"The night is long, it’s only just begun. Why come so early?" Wang Teng laughed.

"Brother Wang Teng!"

Another boy also greeted Wang Teng.

"Yu Hao, it’s been a while," Wang Teng looked at him.

"I’ve been kept on a tight leash by my dad lately. I even snuck out today," Yu Hao said helplessly.

"This kid is being forced by his dad to practice martial arts," Xu Jie laughed gloatingly.

"Oh? How’s the training going?" Wang Teng asked, surprised.

"I’m already a low-level martial arts apprentice," Yu Hao said, scratching his head, feeling a bit embarrassed.

"Damn, you kid, you became a low-level martial arts apprentice without a word!" Xu Jie exclaimed, clearly unaware of this news.

"You’re the only one among us who’s become a martial arts apprentice. If we get bullied in the future, we’ll have to look to you."

He immediately put his arm around Yu Hao’s shoulder and laughed.

"Little Mouse, we’re counting on you from now on!" Bai Wei also chimed in with a smile.

Yu Hao felt a bit smug, especially since Bai Wei’s affirmation made him feel very satisfied.

The few of them were the closest, and it was inevitable that there would be some hazy feelings between the boys and girls.

That was how Yu Hao felt about Bai Wei.

Wang Teng smiled and asked, "Why don't I see Yuan Zhenghua?"

The group fell silent for a moment.

"He won't be coming!" Xu Jie sneered.

"Hm? What happened?" Wang Teng asked, frowning.

"That guy latched onto Li Rongcheng of the Li family and became his lackey," Xu Jie curled his lip.

"Li Rongcheng!"

Wang Teng thought for a moment and finally recalled this person from the depths of his memory.

The families of Wang Teng and the others were similar in status, and their fathers all knew each other and had business dealings, so they naturally formed a small circle.

And the Li family, where Li Rongcheng belonged, was considered a significant family in Donghai, much stronger than any of theirs.

In Xu Jie’s view, Yuan Zhenghua getting close to Li Rongcheng was just him clinging to someone else's coattails.

That was how the circle of rich second-generation kids worked; only those with similar strength could be called friends.

If the gap was too large, it became sycophancy instead.

"Let's not talk about him. To each their own, there's nothing to say," Wang Teng said indifferently.

"Right, let's not talk about that kid. I get angry just mentioning him," Xu Jie said.

The group changed the subject, ordered drinks and fruit platters, and chatted and laughed. Wang Teng gradually rediscovered the feeling of his youth.

***

Stomach pain + low fever, it came too suddenly, caught me off guard. Just one chapter of 3000+ today, going to sleep~

Edited: deleted 500 words, not satisfied.

(End of chapter)