Chapter Ten: Changing One's Address

“Yes, he’s my friend,” Sun Yunzhao replied with a gentle smile, tucking a lock of hair behind her ear.

There was no denying it—though her figure wasn’t exactly voluptuous nor perfectly proportioned, every inch of her radiated femininity. She was as soft as water itself, and the shy, electrifying charm in the arc of her smile and the downward tilt of her gaze could leave any man haunted for a lifetime.

“I didn’t know, I’m sorry, sir,” the server quickly amended, realizing her error.

Sun Yunzhao was one of the top sommeliers at Blue Rose, and the clients she served easily spent millions on wine. She was educated, quick-witted, emotionally intelligent, eloquent, and innately alluring—a golden child in the eyes of the club’s owner. No server would dare cross her.

Glancing at Lu Hao's expression and seeing Xiaoyu, the server, apologizing, Sun Yunzhao immediately understood the situation.

She turned to Xiaoyu and said seriously, “Xiaoyu, this is my childhood friend. If he comes in the future, let me know first and don’t say anything inappropriate.”

Xiaoyu, a little flustered, answered, “Of course, Yunzhao, I understand.”

At that moment, Sun Yunzhao cast a glance at Lu Hao, finding herself drawn to his tall frame and sunny, open smile.

“Lu, are you here to meet a client?” she asked, toying with her alluring golden earrings.

To be honest, this was a sensitive place, and when men and women appeared here together, their intentions were often tacitly understood.

Lu Hao replied, “More or less. I’d like to meet your manager—I have something to sell.”

Curiosity piqued, Sun Yunzhao asked, “What is it?”

“An aphrodisiac,” Lu Hao replied after a moment’s hesitation, deciding to be forthright.

“What?” Sun Yunzhao covered her mouth, genuinely surprised.

Seeing her reaction, Lu Hao felt a bit awkward. “Yes, it’s exactly what you think. I went to medical school—I wouldn’t sell anything dodgy…”

Sun Yunzhao smiled. The recent drama between Lu Hao and his fiancée had made quite a stir in their village. Her mother had called her about it, so she knew about Lu Hao’s financial troubles.

As his childhood friend, she was willing to help if she could. Besides, his background as a top university graduate made him easy to like.

“Well… actually, we’re looking for that kind of product lately. But you have to guarantee its effectiveness, can you? Come with me,” she said.

Lu Hao smiled. “Don’t worry.”

Halfway down the hall, Sun Yunzhao looked at Lu Hao with concern.

“I just don’t know why you’re selling medicine like this. Doing this sort of thing privately can be risky. If you really need money, you can talk to me.”

Lu Hao waved it off with a smile. “It’s fine. I’ll get the proper licenses and patents soon.”

“Alright,” Sun Yunzhao replied, leading him on. Her fair back, long legs, and perfect waistline all seemed to radiate an irresistible allure before Lu Hao’s eyes.

Just then, a tall man with a crew cut, his hair dyed green, strode into the main hall. He wore a simple white tank top and looked visibly agitated.

“Yunzhao! Just the person I needed!” he called.

“Yunzhao, help me out! I’m still over ten thousand short. Lend it to me, I’ll pay you back in a couple of days,” he pleaded, striding up to her and reaching for her hand.

Sun Yunzhao instinctively stepped back, withdrawing her hand. Her delicate face turned pale.

“Wu Jian, this is my workplace. Could you please respect me a little?” She glanced at Lu Hao beside her, feeling awkward.

Disgust and contempt flickered across Wu Jian’s face. “What’s the problem? Why are you so nervous about your job here?”

Wu Jian was Sun Yunzhao’s boyfriend. After one night when she’d drunkenly needed help, he had insisted on taking her home despite everyone’s protests, which had touched her heart. That’s how they got together.

What she hadn’t realized was that Wu Jian drifted from KTVs to bars and red-light districts, unemployed, his vices including smoking, drinking, tattoos, fighting, and endless gambling. Worst of all, he was dirt poor, and his gambling debts often followed him home—debts Sun Yunzhao had repaid time and again with her hard-earned money.

“Wu Jian, how many times have I told you? Earning money isn’t easy. You have to use it wisely,” she said.

“Why won’t you listen?”

Not wanting to embarrass her boyfriend, Sun Yunzhao didn’t mention his gambling habit in front of others.

Wu Jian, catching sight of the tall, young Lu Hao, felt his pride stung. He suspected Sun Yunzhao might be using Lu Hao somehow.

He jabbed his finger at her, his tone menacing. “I’m not asking. Give me the money now. And you’d better stay away from these men when you’re out—it won’t do you any good.”

At that, Sun Yunzhao’s gaze dimmed. “I… I don’t have that much money on me.”

Most of her money went to her family—to fix the house and pay for her brother’s schooling. Even if she had more, she couldn’t keep handing it to Wu Jian. His needs were a bottomless pit; she’d already spent nearly a hundred thousand on him.

“Give it to me! Didn’t you hear? I need to win it back. Once I do, I’ll pay you back tenfold, alright?” Wu Jian suddenly roared, his eyes bloodshot—a typical reaction of a gambler driven to desperation.

Lu Hao frowned at the outburst. “What’s going on? What do you mean, win it back?”

He’d caught enough to sense something wasn’t right. Clearly, Wu Jian’s so-called comeback had everything to do with gambling.

Wu Jian’s face darkened at Lu Hao’s words, his temper flaring. He’d just lost everything, owed over a hundred thousand, and now debt collectors were hounding him—how could he be in a good mood?

“You’ve got some nerve. Who the hell are you? This is between me and my girlfriend. Mind your own business.” He glared at Lu Hao, veins bulging on his face and hands.

His nerves frayed and his social bravado on full display, Wu Jian stepped up to Lu Hao, itching for a fight.

Lu Hao glanced at Sun Yunzhao and held back. After all, this was her boyfriend, and he didn’t know the full story. He decided to give them some face.

Sun Yunzhao, exercising all her patience, tried to reason with Wu Jian. “Wu Jian, can we talk about this at home? I can’t discuss it here—I’m at work.”

“Cut the crap! Your job is to entertain these men! Don’t think I don’t know?” Wu Jian’s fury boiled over; his neck flushed red as he strode forward and slapped Sun Yunzhao hard across the face.