Chapter 13: No Match, No Comparison

What has Cao Bin been up to lately? Why has his personality changed so much, and what is he doing carrying so much cash around? He said he had business here, but ended up checking into a hotel room with a voluptuous girl? Before that, he even ordered a bottle of red wine worth 188,888 to spice things up—has he really struck it rich? Did he win the lottery? If that’s the case, Wang Tingting breaking up with Cao Bin now would be a real loss.

Thinking of this, everyone couldn’t help but turn to look at Wang Tingting. Her face was extremely grim. She was puzzled—when did Cao Bin get so much money? She knew his family situation very well; he was an orphan and could never have such funds. Could it be he really won the lottery?

“Hello, are you here to book a room?” Just then, a girl hurried out from the lounge behind and asked the group. This was, of course, Liu Fangfang, who had been called in to cover a shift.

“Yes, we’d like a room.” Zhang Fengwei’s expression was equally somber. Tonight, everyone had planned to buy some drinks and snacks, book a room at Peaceful Grand Hotel, and celebrate with cards and alcohol. After all, his performance in the basketball game had been outstanding, and he was quite pleased with himself. His family was financially comfortable, and his parents gave him a sizable monthly allowance, so booking a room at Peaceful Grand Hotel was well within his means. This time, he brought his new girl and friends to party—and to show off a little; everyone likes to impress their woman.

Yet he didn’t expect to be so thoroughly outdone by his girlfriend’s ex. Whether it was Cao Bin’s backpack full of crisp bills or the sexy beauty at his side, Zhang Fengwei was consumed by jealousy.

Damn! He needed to find a way to regain his standing.

So, with a dark face, Zhang Fengwei took out his ID to book a suite. But before doing so, he quietly asked the receptionist, “Hey... the guy who just went up, Cao Bin, is our classmate. What kind of room did he book? Are there any rooms available next door? I’d like to be close to him.”

“Oh, Mr. Cao? He booked the penthouse suite, a deluxe suite, 8,888 a night. There’s a vacant suite next door; would you like to book it? I can arrange it for you.” The receptionist smiled radiantly.

For rooms like these, the staff gets a commission—at least five percent, more than 400 yuan.

But Zhang Fengwei hesitated; nearly 9,000 a night was a lot. Before he could answer, his friends jumped in, egging him on, “Feng, book a suite. There are so many of us, a standard room would be cramped. With a suite, we can be close to Cao Bin and see what he’s really up to—maybe he hired someone to put on a show.”

“Yeah, Feng, get a suite. It’ll be more comfortable.”

“Come on, Feng, it’s just 8,000 a night. That’s nothing for you.”

“We always stay in standard rooms; it’s boring. Besides, we’ve never stayed in a suite at Peaceful Grand Hotel. Show us some luxury, Feng!”

These fair-weather friends, who usually balk at spending 1,000 for a standard room, now pushed him to book the expensive suite. They all wanted to watch him and Cao Bin go head-to-head. And since they weren’t the ones paying, why not?

With everyone egging him on and Wang Tingting’s big eyes fixed on him, Zhang Fengwei was cornered—he had no choice but to say to the receptionist, “Alright, book us a deluxe suite next to theirs.”

“Right away, sir!” The receptionist was delighted and quickly arranged the penthouse suite for them.

But inwardly, she cursed them for being fools—so easily swayed into spending money. Such a man is not worth having; who knows what trouble he’ll get into if his friends egg him on?

After entering the room, Liu Fangfang went straight to the bathroom to fill the large bathtub. The two of them enjoyed a relaxing soak together—a gradual process that helped ease the initial awkwardness. Clean and comfortable in their bathrobes, they moved to the suite’s living room, where the waiter had already delivered snacks, fruit, and wine.

She hadn’t expected Cao Bin to actually spend 188,888 on a bottle of wine. Liu Fangfang was thrilled, excited, and deeply moved. Cao Bin was tall, handsome, and young—this already made her heart race, and with the money, she was even more drawn to him. Tonight’s “bed-warming” was entirely willing—she even felt she’d profited.

On the spacious, comfortable sofa, Liu Fangfang stretched her long, slender legs across Cao Bin’s lap, her crystal-like feet moving playfully. The two chatted and laughed, their mood relaxed.

The wine had been chilled for half an hour, and the taste of the 180,000 bottle was extraordinary. They watched “The Imperial Coroner” as they drank and joked, their feelings rapidly deepening.

As the clock neared ten, Liu Fangfang, flushed from the wine and her own anticipation, could no longer wait—she launched her attack. She was like a locomotive, needing no warm-up, ready to go.

She threw herself into Cao Bin’s arms, and he, an experienced driver, knew exactly what to do. Tonight, he planned to let loose and enjoy himself—tomorrow, even with people around, he doubted he’d have the energy.

Inside the spacious suite, the scenery was lively; next door, Wang Tingting, Zhang Fengwei, and their friends were celebrating with drinks and barbecue. But suddenly, they heard strange noises coming from the neighboring room. As adults, they knew exactly what was happening.

Everyone paused, their first thought confirming that Cao Bin wasn’t joking—he really brought a stunning girl to the hotel. The men were full of envy; someone like Liu Fangfang was a goddess beyond their reach, yet Cao Bin was enjoying her company. Thinking this, they all glanced at Wang Tingting.

Wang Tingting understood perfectly that she couldn’t show any inappropriate feelings. She and Cao Bin had broken up, and she had a new boyfriend who was handsome and wealthy—she’d gained, whatever happened.

She put on her best smile and called out, “It’s freezing—let’s keep playing! Who lost just now? No cheating, you have to finish your drink.”

“Alright, it’s my turn—I said I’d drink.”

“Then hurry up, all three are yours. Finish them, don’t keep us waiting.”

“Fine, fine, I’ll finish them now. All done! If anyone tries to cheat, I’ll deal with them.”

So, the group resumed their games, and Zhang Fengwei’s mood gradually eased. Wang Tingting hadn’t shown any signs of regret, so their games continued, though the atmosphere had changed. They played loudly, but everyone tilted their ears, listening for sounds from the next room.

The noises next door continued, intermittent but persistent, leaving everyone distracted, their minds wandering.

Ten minutes passed...

Twenty minutes...

Thirty minutes...

Forty minutes...

Nearly an hour had gone by, and their game had fallen apart. They tossed the dice aside, staring at Wang Tingting in disbelief.

They wondered—was Cao Bin really that impressive? He’d been “driving” for almost an hour; that was intense. Many of the men were honestly jealous.

Even Zhang Fengwei, usually calm, couldn’t hide his discomfort. He hadn’t expected his girlfriend to have spent more than an hour with Cao Bin, and it made him uneasy. Worse, his own “driving” time was much shorter—no comparison.

Nearly an hour—if he and Wang Tingting ever reached that stage, wouldn’t she be disappointed? It was humiliating.

Truthfully, he wanted to escape; he didn’t want to be compared to such a formidable man. As everyone was lost in their own thoughts, the sounds next door finally died down.

The suite had three rooms, and those who’d brought girlfriends couldn’t hold back any longer; each pulled their partner into their respective rooms. What happened there was obvious—everyone knew.

The only couple left in the living room was Zhang Fengwei and Wang Tingting, both awkward. Wang Tingting had listened for half an hour and was itching for action herself.

She looked at Zhang Fengwei with eyes nearly dripping with desire—anyone could see what she wanted. But Zhang Fengwei shrank back, unwilling to respond. He retreated to the game room to play computer games.

No way! You expect me to “drive” now? Impossible. The guy next door managed an hour; I can barely manage three to five minutes. I’d be a laughingstock.

He’d rather die of embarrassment than lose face.

This left Wang Tingting even more frustrated. After a minute or two, sounds of cars starting echoed from the other rooms, signaling the couples had begun. Wang Tingting sat alone in the living room, pitiful and anxious.

She knew Zhang Fengwei was overthinking, but what could she do? Damn Cao Bin for coming back and ruining her plans, leaving her so conflicted.

Damn it!

Wang Tingting sat on the sofa, staring at the messy living room, growing more and more depressed.

...

For Cao Bin, the night was wonderful and passed quickly. At dawn, he awoke, as was his habit from years of living on the edge—never sleeping in, just getting up when rested.

When he woke, Liu Fangfang had already dressed and was sitting on the sofa, smiling at him. Last night had been delightful; though she wasn’t new, she was experienced, and that was enough.