Chapter 306 - 225: The Vacant Friend Niche

Chapter 306: Chapter 225: The Vacant Friend Niche

In a cheerful mood, Lin Chu sped through the streets in his sports car.

He didn’t go back to the club.

Nor did he head to the media company.

Today was his self-declared "day of secluded contemplation," but he’d already finished all his thinking last night. Work was done.

A rare moment of leisure in this fleeting life.

Right now, he wasn’t the boss of a club, nor the boss of LC Media. He was just Lin Chu, an ordinary, plain, and simple rich young man.

’Time to find some fun!’

"Old Hu, what are you up to?"

Lin Chu called Hu Ping’an.

His other buddies all had their own things going on now.

Even Lu Ming was busy every day with his paid-knowledge project. Whether it made money or not didn’t seem too important to him; it was just for fun. But that was good too. At least it was a proper venture.

’He’s still organizing the courses and is crazy busy. I won’t bother him.’

"I... Ahem, I’m at a hotel. I played a game yesterday, won, and now I’m just relaxing a bit."

Hu Ping’an answered quickly, his tone sounding a bit awkward.

"Oh?"

"Well, well, having a second spring already?"

Lin Chu teased with a grin.

’He could obviously guess Hu Ping’an was there chasing girls. What else would he be doing? Playing Gomoku in a hotel room?’

’When men get money, they always satisfy their basic desires first.’

’I’m no different.’

"Hahaha, just say the word, Boss. Whatever you need, I’ll head out right away."

Hu Ping’an said readily after a dry laugh.

"I’m bored. You think of a project, and I’ll foot the bill."

Lin Chu posed the same question as last night.

Wang Hao’s answer had been to watch a movie. He wondered what Hu Ping’an’s would be.

As a cynical, middle-aged veteran who had been beaten down by society countless times, run numerous businesses, and even been driven to the brink of suicide, Lin Chu was somewhat expectant of his answer, hoping for a different perspective.

On the other end of the line, Hu Ping’an was silent for a moment before he asked hesitantly, tentatively, "Well, how about... Australia Island?"

Lin Chu was speechless.

"Holy shit, dude, you’ve got a wild streak, don’t you?"

’Compared to Wang Hao, they were polar opposites. One was too naive, the other too street-smart.’

Hu Ping’an chuckled sheepishly and said, "I just figured you might want to go but were too embarrassed to say it, so I brought it up for you."

"It’s fine if we don’t go, really. I’ve only been there once before. I mainly like the entertainment industry there; I never gamble."

Lin Chu retorted, "Keep thinking! If you dare touch that stuff, we’re not friends anymore."

Hu Ping’an immediately laughed and replied, "Of course I know that. Well then... how about fishing? In Hui City. I have friends there."

Lin Chu said, "Boring. I always get skunked when I go fishing. Not interested."

’I really have no luck in that department.’

’The fish just refuse to bite.’

Hearing this, Hu Ping’an replied honestly, "Then I really don’t know. What hobbies do middle-aged men even have? Besides making money, it’s just getting laid, fishing, and golf."

"Forget it, I’m not asking you anymore. Hanging up, bye. Go get laid."

Lin Chu said, not knowing whether to laugh or cry, and hung up the phone.

’Damn it. That useless Old Hu doesn’t even know how to have fun.’

’Whatever, I guess it’s up to me.’

’But what he said really hit a nerve.’

’No!’

’I refuse to admit I’m a middle-aged man!’

Lin Chu could now somewhat understand the traditional path: work, make money, get married, have kids.

It was traditional, but on the long road of life, it provided the most classic and clear landmarks.

You have a goal to strive for in daily life, and someone always on your mind.

As for him, his various business ventures had all entered a stable development phase. They needed time to gradually brew and mature. This was an objective law; rushing wouldn’t speed things up.

He hadn’t yet found any new growth points or viable fields to enter.

This temporary "lull" in his life was truly boring. He had a surplus of energy with nowhere to release it.

Suddenly, his mind flashed back to the piece of calligraphy left by the previous owner of the house he’d bought for Wang Zhefei: "A life of defiant pride has led to this day; across the four seas, no one is here to watch the setting sun."

’This matter, in the end, had to be sorted out.’

At the next traffic light, Lin Chu turned the car around and headed back to Swan Castle, returning home to stand before his whiteboard once more.

He filled in the missing line.

Lin Chu resumed his brainstorming session.

’The personal and romantic lives of the rich can generally be divided into three types.’

’The first type is people like me: you fall for one person after another. Since you’re rich, you can support them all. If someone gets pregnant and wants to have the baby, fine, let her. You can afford to raise the child, anyway.’

’If you happen to meet someone who can also help your career, you put her in the company and let her do something.’

’Things like official status are practically a meaningless concept.’

’It sounds absurd, but it’s actually quite realistic.’

’The second type, of course, is monogamy: a harmonious husband and wife, a match made in heaven.’

’I can automatically ignore this one. It’s not for me at all.’

’As for the third type, it’s either a political or economic alliance, a marriage between social equals. If they get along, it reverts to the second type. If they don’t, they each do their own thing. Both outcomes are perfectly normal.’

Thinking about all this, Lin Chu sat on the floor, sighed, and lit a cigarette.

’Damn it. This is the hardest problem of all.’

’Life is long, and once the bow is drawn, the arrow cannot be recalled.’

’Business matters, by contrast, are easy to deal with.’

’But in love, if you choose wrong, it’s a disastrous affair.’

’Once a child is born, you can’t exactly stuff it back in.’

’How do other rich young people in my situation make these decisions?’

Right now, Lin Chu really wanted to call two people.

One was Principal Wang.

The other was Eldest Young Master Huo.

These two were polar opposites and could provide him with some case studies.

’It would be nice to befriend them, too.’

’Huh?’

’Wait a minute.’

’There aren’t any heirs from wealthy families with a similar net worth in my social circle.’

’They’re not in the same wealth bracket.’

’Zhu Yizhen doesn’t count; he’s over thirty, so there’s a generation gap in our thinking.’

’Zhu Yixian doesn’t count either. He’s just the second son and hasn’t taken over much of the family’s power yet. He’s just a minor young master.’

’My friend list for that circle is empty.’

...

With that in mind...

Lin Chu first searched for a phone number online.

"Hello, yes, is this the Hurun Rich List?"

"I’d like to invite you to interview me. Under thirty, net worth of several billion. Interested?"

On the other end of the line, the Hurun staff member was a bit stunned by his lazy tone.

It was truly rare for someone to proactively seek them out like this.

After all, many rich people these days valued being low-key.

While some did seek publicity, none were ever this direct.

"Of course, sir. Could you please provide your name, age, city, and industry? And perhaps I could add you on WeChat first?"

"Sure."

Lin Chu gave him his WeChat details and hung up.

...

After thinking for a moment, Lin Chu sent messages to Zhu Yizhen and Zhou Ming respectively.

"Do you know any young men, under twenty-five, or at least under thirty, whose personal or family net worth exceeds a billion, and who are only sons?"

Zhu Yizhen quickly replied, "Why are you asking this?"

Zhou Ming also replied, "What are you up to? This sounds like you’re planning a kidnapping with such precise criteria, haha."

Lin Chu copy-pasted his reply: "I want to meet them, have a chat, and see what kind of wives they all married."

Zhu Yizhen: "Alright, I’ll ask around for you. I’ll organize a cocktail party later."

Zhou Ming: "You should ask Xiaoluan about this. She knows quite a few people in her circle. Just have her make the introductions."

...

...