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It seemed like he directly went up to provoke them. And the result?

The result was having his wrist pinned down and a cold glass of red wine poured over his head.

Chi Yao threw his phone onto the dashboard and started the engine, pressing down on the gas pedal.

This time, he couldn’t let himself get drenched in red wine again—especially since he quite liked the clothes he was wearing.

It was a 40-minute drive, but Chi Yao got delayed a bit on the way. He stopped at a supermarket to buy a small bag of candy, and when he got back to the car, he tossed his cigarettes, both on him and the ones in the car, straight into the trash.

He had to quit smoking.

As for alcohol, he wasn’t planning on giving that up. Quitting drinking would feel like having one less source of joy.

Chi Yao remembered that eating more before drinking was a good idea, especially something sweet. During his pregnancy, he’d developed a particular fondness for sweets, a habit he’d picked up during that time.

Now that he had returned to the past, Chi Yao was about 80% sure of it. He had really gone back.

So now, it was more like a psychological craving—he just wanted to eat something sweet. After stopping again to buy some pastries from a dessert shop, Chi Yao ate one before restarting the car. The sweet taste lingered in his mouth; in the past, he hadn’t cared much for it, but now he found it irresistible.

After cleaning his hands, he restarted the engine.

When he arrived at the barbecue place, a crowd had already gathered.

This was a clubhouse in the center of the city. Not only could you have a barbecue here, but there were plenty of other things to do as well.

Chi Yao put his car keys in his pocket and walked toward the crowd.

Many people enthusiastically greeted him, and for the first time, Chi Yao actually looked at them closely. He realized how blind he’d been before. The obvious fakeness in their actions and their insincerity—they had always been there, but he’d never noticed.

He’d actually thought he was popular, that everyone liked him and wanted to be his friend.

In reality, they only liked the money in his wallet. He had always been generous, so much so that they jokingly called him their “patron.” Chi Yao used to laugh it off, thinking it was all in good fun, but in truth, that was exactly what they thought of him.

They regularly invited him out, just so he’d pay the bills.

With such an easy target, if Chi Yao were in their position, he might have done the same.

Behind his back, they all looked down on him, thinking he was just a rich fool. Aside from his wealth, his temperamental personality made him hard to like. Yet, in front of him, they quickly put on a different face. It was a waste they weren’t in acting careers.

“Over here!” Xue Zhongming walked out from the crowd, waving at Chi Yao excitedly as he approached.

“Why don’t you try acting?” Chi Yao suddenly asked.

Xue Zhongming was stunned for a moment. “What?”

Realizing he had spoken his mind aloud, Chi Yao gave a cold smile. “You’ve got the looks for it. Ever thought about entering showbiz? I could invest in you.”

Scratching the back of his head, Xue Zhongming gave a silly grin. “My looks can’t compare to yours. If anyone should go into showbiz, it’s you. If you did, everyone here would be your fan, praising you all day long.”

“Me? I don’t have the talent for acting.” As Chi Yao said this, his eyes were smiling, watching Xue Zhongming intently.

Xue Zhongming froze for a second. There was something strange about Chi Yao’s gaze—it felt like it could see right through his fake smile, exposing his true self.

Suddenly feeling uneasy, Xue Zhongming quickly dismissed the thought. A moment later, Chi Yao’s eyes returned to normal, and everything seemed the same as before. Xue Zhongming convinced himself that he must have been imagining things.

This guy is just a pretty airhead, he thought. All he has is a face prettier than most women’s, but inside, he’s an empty shell.

He’s proud and aloof, but easily influenced by others. He can’t tell right from wrong, blindly accepting whatever people say. The only reason he’s lucky is because he was born into the right family.

“What are we grilling today?” Chi Yao turned his head toward the right, where the grill was, and the aroma of roasted meat wafted through the air.

“Lamb! We know how much you love it, so we got half a lamb just for you,” Xue Zhongming said, glancing at Chi Yao’s profile. Whatever strange feeling he’d had before was now completely gone.

“Nice,” Chi Yao responded, stepping toward the grill. Xue Zhongming followed him, and when they reached the grill, the people manning it, recognizing their generous patron, immediately flashed fawning smiles and handed over some freshly roasted lamb.

The smell of the meat filled Chi Yao’s nostrils, but suddenly, he found it greasy and unappetizing.

“Do you have lotus root slices?” Chi Yao asked, ignoring the lamb and instead inquiring about lotus root.

The man’s expression faltered as he set down the lamb and turned to get the lotus root slices.

“Yes, we do.”

“Then grill me a few skewers,” Chi Yao said, his tone commanding without any hint of courtesy.

The man lowered his head and began grilling the lotus root, while Chi Yao turned and sat down on a nearby chair.

As soon as he sat, someone immediately approached him. Chi Yao didn’t even glance at them, but the person leaned in, their lips nearly brushing against Chi Yao’s hair. The sudden proximity brought with it an overpowering scent of perfume, which made Chi Yao recoil in disgust.

He abruptly looked up, his gaze turning icy cold.

The person seemed oblivious to Chi Yao’s expression and continued speaking close to his ear. “Young Master Chi, a new restaurant opened in the East District recently. The chef is supposed to be really good. When you’re free, why don’t you come and try it?”

“…Sure.” Chi Yao stared at the person’s face for a few seconds, and just as their expression began to falter, he smiled and nodded.

These people always found the best places to eat and drink, claiming it was to cheer him up. In reality, they just wanted an excuse to enjoy themselves at his expense. It was always like this—Chi Yao, the one paying, while they surrounded him, pretending to be friends.

Xue Zhongming stood nearby, eating lamb while keeping an eye and ear on Chi Yao.

Something about Chi Yao today felt different, though he couldn’t quite figure out what.

Taking a large bite of the lamb, the rich juices burst in his mouth. This club wasn’t cheap, and with the little money he had, he could barely afford a glass of water here. But with Chi Yao around, he could indulge freely.