Chapter 0130: A Rogues' Gallery

Li Jian had no idea that, simply because of a suggestion he made, Fan Baobao had lumped him in with Zhao Fusheng's rogues' gallery. If he had known, he would have cried out in protest—he only wanted to get to know Zhao Fusheng, so how had he inexplicably become a bad guy?

But in Fan Baobao's view, Zhao Fusheng hadn't been like this when he was in Ninghai. He'd been in Beijing less than two days, and already he'd learned to go bar-hopping. It must all be Li Jian's fault.

"Well, maybe we should just go sing karaoke?" Zhao Fusheng thought it over, still trying to salvage the situation.

He could clearly feel that gaze fixed on him. He was even certain that if he enthusiastically responded to Li Jian's call to go to the bar, in the end, Miss Fan would likely make a phone call to Ninghai.

When he got home, what awaited him would probably be a mixed doubles match from his parents.

With that in mind, Zhao Fusheng reiterated his stance: "Karaoke is fine. Let's go sing."

But unfortunately, fate wasn't on his side this time.

Fan Baobao's roommates were very interested in Li Jian's suggestion. Including Zhou Yun, they all cheered. Clearly, being able to go to a bar with a celebrity like Li Jian was extremely appealing to these girls.

And so, the group set off in force for Sanlitun.

Sanlitun is located in the eastern part of Chaoyang District. It got its name because it's three li from the inner city. During the Ming and Qing dynasties, it belonged to Daxing County, Shuntian Prefecture. Because of its proximity to the diplomatic district, Sanlitun gradually developed into an important community where foreign diplomats lived, shopped, and engaged in diplomatic activities. It's a place frequented by foreigners living in Beijing, as well as domestic celebrities and wealthy individuals.

Every nightfall, the area is ablaze with neon lights, bustling with crowds, and shimmering with the noise and luxury of a big city. The bar street in Sanlitun has always given people a feeling of "seeing flowers through a fog"—no one can see its true face, and no one can give it an accurate commercial positioning.

Every day, many foreigners drive or take taxis here, especially at night, when they come in droves. Not only foreigners are willing to come here, but many locals also bring clients or friends here, using it as a social venue.

Fan Baobao couldn't refuse Li Jian's invitation. To be precise, under such circumstances, an individual's opinion could hardly prevail against the collective will. After all, if you want to fit in with the group, you have to give up something.

The group left the restaurant, hailed a taxi, and then Li Jian led the way in his car as they headed straight for the bar street in Sanlitun.

In the car, Li Jian kept giving Zhao Fusheng ambiguous looks. The dim lights and the intoxicating atmosphere of alcohol were enough to break down any girl's defenses. If Zhao Fusheng couldn't seize the opportunity at a time like this, Li Jian would have to say he was beyond teaching.

He was curious about the relationship between Zhao Fusheng and Fan Baobao and would be happy to see something happen between them.

"Don't be nervous. Just relax when we get there. And don't embarrass me, okay? Your big brother here is a celebrity. If you make a fool of yourself, I'll be laughed at too."

Li Jian muttered to Zhao Fusheng as he drove.

Zhao Fusheng never expected that beneath Li Jian's gentle and refined exterior lay such a nagging personality. If it weren't for the crowd around them, he would have loved to pin the guy down and teach him a lesson.

Every word Li Jian said was like a fly buzzing in Zhao Fusheng's ear. Zhao Fusheng wasn't some novice; in his previous life, he'd frequented bars plenty of times. He certainly wasn't the kind of fool who would blush just from holding a girl's hand.

But the key issue was that if it were just him and Li Jian, Zhao Fusheng wouldn't mind showing Li Jian what a true playboy looked like. However, Fan Baobao was standing right behind him, watching like a hawk. He was even certain that if he showed the slightest hint of other intentions, Fan Baobao, who would feel humiliated in front of her roommates, would likely lose her temper on the spot.

With Fan Baobao backed by the two big bosses, his parents, Zhao Fusheng really didn't want to provoke her.

They say fighting with others brings endless joy, but it depends on who you're dealing with.

Zhao Fusheng didn't have the ability to end up alone like some big shot, so he had always been extremely tolerant toward the people close to him.

The group soon arrived at the famous entertainment street near Sanlitun. By day, it exudes youthful vitality and artistic flair; by night, it's a paradise for young revelers. There are all kinds of bars, clubs, and个性十足 clothing stores, and as far as the eye can see, there are young men and women.

The lively atmosphere broke the awkwardness among the group. The girls in the group were all in their twenties, and they had been scheming about how to strike up a conversation with Li Jian. Since Zhao Fusheng was neither outstanding nor available, they had little interest in him. Li Jian, young, wealthy, and handsome, was naturally their prime target.

They had been a bit reserved in the restaurant just now, but now they all mustered the courage to fuss over him, as if the atmosphere had already infected them before they even entered the bar.

"You two lovebirds, make yourselves at home. Don't be shy."

Fan Baobao looked up and saw Li Jian pushing Zhao Fusheng toward her. The former had a smile on his face, while the latter looked utterly helpless.

"I..."

Li Jian was like an older brother who abandons his younger sibling to go off and have fun. Before Fan Baobao could decline, he had already gone off to chat with the girls. Every group of young people out having fun seemed to need such a lively character, but leaving Zhao Fusheng to her was hardly a wise move.

Fan Baobao looked up at Zhao Fusheng, snorted, and said, "Your friend sure likes to have fun."

Zhao Fusheng blinked, trying to look as innocent as possible: "Actually, we only met today."

Hearing this, Fan Baobao smiled and shot him a glare: "Come on, if I weren't here, would you be out picking up girls? Men, none of you are any good."

Clearly, these girls hadn't been to bars many times either. As they showed curiosity and excitement, a group of young men soon gathered around them.

Zhao Fusheng looked around worriedly, sidled up to Li Jian, and whispered, "Nothing's going to happen, right?"

"Happen?" Li Jian glanced at the men and women nearby and then laughed. "Don't worry. Not only haven't we had any drinks tonight, but even if we had, those guys couldn't handle the classmates your childhood sweetheart brought."

Hearing the term "childhood sweetheart," Zhao Fusheng was clearly a bit embarrassed and quickly said, "Don't talk nonsense."

Li Jian shrugged, gave him a look that any man would understand, and walked away.