Chapter 0573 Out of Place

The main reason Zhao Fusheng followed Tan Kaixuan to sit among a bevy of girls was that he felt he should keep Tan Kaixuan in check. Otherwise, given Tan Kaixuan's personality, with so many girls accompanying them, just the drinks would cost a fortune, plus miscellaneous expenses. Zhao Fusheng estimated it would be at least a thousand yuan.

More importantly, Zhao Fusheng felt that this kind of setting was indeed unsuitable for having any heart-to-heart talk with Tan Kaixuan. It was purely for fun, just to entertain themselves.

It must be said that young girls always exude a certain vitality. Any one of these girls could be considered an outstanding beauty. Perhaps not quite at the level of campus belle or goddess, but walking down the street, they would certainly attract plenty of glances.

Educated girls often appear more refined than ordinary ones. Even just sitting there in stockings, their enviably long legs alone formed a beautiful sight.

Not to mention five or six girls, with over a dozen long legs on display.

Seeing Tan Kaixuan approach, everyone smiled and greeted him, apparently having known him before. As for Zhao Fusheng, no one paid him any attention; they only nodded politely.

Zhao Fusheng didn't mind. Nightclubs were like that—places devoid of sentiment. Most men and women met by chance. A casual fling was possible, but a story of a talented scholar and a beautiful lady? Sorry, that was a legend from the operas.

Reality is often more absurd than opera, but also more cruel.

Most tales of talented scholars and beautiful ladies were fabricated by self-righteous literati to fool the common folk.

The girl with the smoky eye makeup, after calling Zhao Fusheng and Tan Kaixuan over, went up to the stage to dance, occasionally blowing kisses in their direction.

After sitting down, Tan Kaixuan joked with a smile, "Ladies, whoever can get my friend drunk today, I'll give her a big red envelope. And if anyone can get him into her bed, tomorrow at the Wanda Mall cosmetics counter, you can pick whatever you want—my treat."

Whether he was speaking offhand or truly meant it, his words instantly livened up the atmosphere. After all, Tan Kaixuan had recently gained a reputation at this bar for being generous and sociable. Someone he treated this way must be a true friend.

People who go out to have fun aren't fools. Even if they don't love money, no one would deliberately antagonize a wealthy man.

Zhao Fusheng, however, had no interest in socializing with these people. He gave a perfunctory smile, dealing with others while talking to Tan Kaixuan.

Unlike Zhao Fusheng, Tan Kaixuan was well-versed in such situations. He skillfully flirted with the girls while chatting with Zhao Fusheng from time to time.

After sitting for a while, Zhao Fusheng grew bored. He stood up and walked to the railing, watching the nightclub's chaotic revelry, the neon lights flickering and dazzling the eyes.

Zhao Fusheng had never been fond of drinking, and after being forced to down a few glasses, he found himself feeling a bit dizzy.

"What's up, a bit out of your element?" Tan Kaixuan sidled up to Zhao Fusheng and asked with a grin.

Zhao Fusheng nodded. "Very much so."

He was being honest. For him, the environment here was far too noisy, with not a moment of peace. Perhaps only when the nightclub closed at midnight would this place truly quiet down.

"But this is what life is all about," Tan Kaixuan suddenly said something that caught Zhao Fusheng off guard.

Zhao Fusheng was momentarily stunned, looking at Tan Kaixuan in surprise, not expecting him to say that.

"I understand. There are many ways to live. Living diligently like you is one way, but living like I do now is also a way," Tan Kaixuan smiled at Zhao Fusheng. "We're still young, with a long road of struggle ahead. We have to walk a very long way. If we live like ascetics, don't you think it's boring?"

Though Zhao Fusheng wanted to refute him, he had to admit the guy had a point. Everyone chooses their own lifestyle; not everyone should live like him. Zhao Fusheng understood this all too well, and that's why he rarely interfered with others' choices.

Zhao Fusheng really didn't want to see a second Wang Zhen emerge.

Some mistakes are enough to make once.

"But I also know you're different from me. You have too much on your mind," Tan Kaixuan suddenly said.

Zhao Fusheng was taken aback, then laughed, shaking his head without explaining.

Those who understand you need no explanation; those who don't, no amount of explanation will help. That's life.

"What do you think we'll be like ten years from now?" Tan Kaixuan put his arm around Zhao Fusheng's shoulder and asked.

Zhao Fusheng smiled, but in his mind, he saw the middle-aged man worth hundreds of millions or even billions who still sat with him at roadside stalls eating barbecue and drinking beer.

Back then, he was a big shot who could command the winds and rains in Shanghai, yet he never put on airs. He was like a boy who never grew up.

Of course, that was only in front of friends.

In the eyes of others, in the eyes of his subordinates, Tan Kaixuan was still the stock market tycoon whose single word could decide the fortunes and lives of countless people.

He was moody, fickle, capable of turning his hand to produce clouds or rain.

But Zhao Fusheng knew that Tan Kaixuan was still Tan Kaixuan.

Just like now, though he still enjoyed mingling with beautiful women, he really had no intention of taking any of these girls to bed.

To be precise, Tan Kaixuan simply enjoyed the pleasure of nightlife.

Just as some people like tea, some like singing, some like dancing, Tan Kaixuan's hobby was just hanging out in bars.

"Ten years from now, you'll probably be very rich," Zhao Fusheng thought for a moment and said to Tan Kaixuan with a smile.

Tan Kaixuan chuckled. "Of course, who do you think I am?"

Clearly, the guy had no idea what Zhao Fusheng meant.

Zhao Fusheng didn't mind. For him, what Tan Kaixuan had experienced in his previous life was not a pleasant memory. After all, no one who had lost their best friend would want them to repeat the same mistakes.

Zhao Fusheng felt the same way. So he would rather let Tan Kaixuan fool around now than let him walk down that old path again.