109: Chapter 109 The Differences Between Families

The back seat of the maybach was as spacious as a small private room.

Chen Haoyu huddled in the corner of the leather seat, not even daring to sit fully, terrified that the rivets on his jeans would scratch this seat, which cost hundreds of thousands. The car was so quiet that he could hear his own pathetic heartbeat.

To break the suffocating awkwardness, Chen Haoyu gave a dry cough and reached out to touch the solid wood cover on the center armrest box.

"Brother Yang, this car... is awesome." Chen Haoyu said, making small talk with a plastered-on smile. "It's much more stable than my beat-up sports car; going over speed bumps feels like driving on flat ground. I want to change cars too, but money is a bit tight right now."

Chen Muyang was leaning on the other side, eyes closed in rest, not even lifting his eyelids: "Isn't Uncle the boss of that engineering company? How could he be short of money for you?"

This question scratched exactly where Chen Haoyu itched. He straightened his back, put on an air of "the troubles of a second-generation rich kid," and began to humblebrag.

"Ugh! Don't even mention it! My dad is the type who gets stingier the richer he gets!" Chen Haoyu complained, slapping his thigh. "He only gives me fifty thousand a month for allowance. What can you do with fifty thousand? Fill the tank a few times, buy a couple of rounds of drinks for the boys, and it's gone. If I want to buy a slightly decent watch, I have to save up for half a year. Brother Yang, tell me, in this day and age, isn't fifty thousand like tossing change at a beggar?"

After speaking, he intentionally glanced at Chen Muyang out of the corner of his eye.

In his shallow understanding, fifty thousand a month was already the top-tier treatment for a rich Young Master in the county. He said this, firstly to build rapport, and secondly, to test Chen Muyang's bottom line.

Chen Nianyao, in the front passenger seat, was playing on her phone. Hearing this, she snorted through her nose without turning her head.

Chen Muyang finally opened his eyes.

He turned his head and looked at Chen Haoyu's face, which was plastered with "hurry up and praise me for being rich." His expression was as calm as if he were looking at a frog in a well.

"Fifty thousand." Chen Muyang repeated the number, his tone flat. "It is indeed a bit low. It's not even enough for this car's fuel."

The smile on Chen Haoyu's face stiffened. He had expected Chen Muyang to chime in or show a hint of surprise, but he hadn't expected to be branded as a "person living in poverty" right away.

"I... is that so?" Chen Haoyu rubbed his hands awkwardly. "But there's nothing I can do; the old man values money more than his life. If I had even half... no, one-tenth of your ability, Brother Yang, that would be great."

"Give me your phone." Chen Muyang said suddenly.

"Huh?" Chen Haoyu was stunned, subconsciously handing over his iPhone with the cracked screen protector.

"WeChat payment QR code."

Before Chen Haoyu's brain had even processed it, his fingers had mechanically pulled up the QR code.

"Ding."

A crisp notification sound.

Chen Muyang tossed the phone back to him and closed his eyes again: "It's our first time meeting, and as your brother, I didn't prepare a gift. Take this money to buy some decent clothes. For tomorrow's ancestor worship, don't embarrass the Chen family by wearing those tacky sequins."

Chen Haoyu scrambled to catch the phone.

Giving money again?

He muttered to himself, assuming it was probably just a few thousand to make a gesture. After all, he'd already had his bill waived at the bar; how much more could he give?

He looked down at the screen nonchalantly.

With this one look, his eyes locked onto the screen.

Transfer note: Meeting gift.

Amount: ¥500,000.00.

Ones, tens, hundreds, thousands, ten thousands... hundred thousand!

Five hundred thousand?!

Chen Haoyu sucked in a sharp breath. His hand trembled, and the phone dropped directly onto the leather seat he hadn't dared to sit fully on.

He rubbed his eyes vigorously, pressed his face to the screen, and counted the string of zeros again.

That's right, it was a "5" followed by a string of "0"s that made him dizzy.

"Bro... Brother Yang?" Chen Haoyu's voice cracked like a rooster being strangled. "Did you... transfer this by mistake? Did you press two extra zeros?"

His monthly allowance was only fifty thousand, and he still had to beg his old man for it. This casual wave of his hand was ten months of his living expenses?

"No mistake." Chen Muyang adjusted to a comfortable sitting position, his voice lazy. "I don't like owing favors. Didn't you say you wanted to treat us at the bar earlier? Besides covering the tab, the rest is the labor fee for hiring you."

"Labor fee?" Chen Haoyu swallowed, feeling his throat go dry.

"Tomorrow, when we return to the village, there will be some flies trying to swarm my parents that I won't find it convenient to deal with personally." Chen Muyang opened his eyes, a cold light flashing in his pupils. "Although your beat-up sports car is noisy, sometimes you need that kind of commotion to scare people. Do you understand what I mean?"

If Chen Haoyu didn't understand now, his brain would be full of mush.

This wasn't a labor fee; this was an indentured servitude contract!

But looking at that solid five hundred thousand, the little bit of self-esteem Chen Haoyu had left was smashed to pieces by the money. Any airs of being a cousin, any face of being a Young Master in the county, all of it went out the window at this moment.

He grabbed the phone and quickly tapped "Accept," terrified that Chen Muyang might change his mind.

"Understood! Perfectly understood!" Chen Haoyu was so excited his face turned red. He wanted to salute Chen Muyang in the car. "Don't worry, Brother Yang! From today on, I am your gun—point me wherever you want! Tomorrow, whoever dares to act up in front of Second Uncle, I'll drive my car right over them!"

The notification sound of the money arriving was like the most beautiful music in the world.

Looking at his account balance, Chen Haoyu felt like his entire being had been elevated. He used to think Chen Fan's family were poor ghosts coming back to freeload, but now it seemed he was the bumpkin who had never seen the world.

Is this the disparity of the world?

A random red envelope from them could buy the used porsche he was so proud of.

"Brother, did you really give him that much?" Chen Nianyao whispered from the front. "That's too wasteful; that money could buy several bags."

"Buying bags only makes you happy." Chen Muyang glanced at Chen Haoyu, who had completely turned into a lackey, and said indifferently, "But buying an obedient dog can save a lot of trouble."

The car drove into the underground garage of the most luxurious hotel in the county.

Chen Haoyu jumped out of the car before the driver, trotted over eagerly to open the door for Chen Muyang, and thoughtfully shielded the top of the door frame with his hand.

"Brother Yang, watch your head! The floor is slippery, walk slowly!"

His level of attentiveness was a hundred times more professional than the hotel doorman.

Chen Muyang got out of the car, took one look at this cousin who had been showing off his fifty-thousand allowance just moments ago, and patted his shoulder.

"Well done."

These simple four words made Chen Haoyu feel light as a feather.

He followed behind Chen Muyang, looking at that tall, straight back, and secretly swore to himself: Screw face! From now on, Chen Muyang is his real dad! He must cling to this thigh for dear life!

"Alright, that's enough." Chen Muyang walked to the elevator, waved his hand. "Go back and get a good sleep. Be at the village entrance at 6:00 AM sharp tomorrow. If you're one minute late..."

"I wouldn't dare! Absolutely not!" Chen Haoyu patted his chest with a loud thud. "I'll sleep in the car tonight! I guarantee I'll be ready whenever you call!"

The elevator door closed.

Chen Haoyu stood in the empty underground garage, looking at the balance on his phone, and let out a goofy laugh. He planted a kiss on his phone screen, then turned and adjusted his collar in the elevator's reflective mirror.

"Five hundred thousand... now that is the spending power of a Young Master!"

He had to hurry home and tell the old man about this. Let the old man see what real extravagance is! This slap in the face must be returned!

(Update finished for today~ Please keep the updates coming~ Tips appreciated~ Likes appreciated~)