Chapter 8: Meeting Li Manli Again “Brother Liang, how could you open a bottle of Ace of Spades without waiting for me?” Zhang Qian, having received the news, rushed over, her face bright with a captivating smile. Behind her trailed seven or eight women of varying styles, all beautiful. The upscale nature of Renaisa Club was evident here, as almost none of these girls had tattoos. Anyone who frequented nightlife spots knew that beauty alone didn’t gauge a club’s quality. One important criterion was whether the girls on the team were heavily tattooed. If they had full sleeves or back tattoos, it typically indicated a lower standard, appealing mostly to rough types who often weren’t financially well-off. Those with a bit of money preferred clean-cut girls, even if it was only a surface impression—it was simply more pleasing to the eye. “Does opening a bottle of Ace of Spades come with a special show?” Lu Liang looked over the group of girls, selecting two with average looks but warm personalities. Both seemed around twenty, flashing him sweet smiles that suggested they were hardworking and genuine. The reason men went out was to have fun. But some women, relying solely on their looks, maintained a constant sulk. Lu Liang didn’t even give those girls a second glance; he wasn’t interested, no matter how stunning they were. “Brother Liang, what kind of special show would you like?” Zhang Qian asked with a smile, clinging to his arm so tightly her chest pressed out of shape. She glanced at Liu Mingxuan, then at Zhang Qian, who was the marketing manager—if she was here, then Lu Liang must be the main guest. Distracted, Li Manli accidentally knocked over the champagne tower, sending glasses crashing to the floor. Everyone’s gaze instantly turned to her. Near tears, Li Manli began bowing and apologizing repeatedly, “I’m so sorry…” Zhang Qian, Liu Mingxuan, and the others all looked to Lu Liang, the host. No one else was in a position to accept her apology on his behalf. Even if Zhang Qian wanted to plead on Li Manli’s behalf, she had to gauge Lu Liang’s reaction first. If it didn’t go well, she risked angering him and hurting her own standing. “It’s fine, broken glass is good luck. Don’t bother cleaning it up—you might cut yourself.” Lu Liang reached out, pulling Li Manli away from the mess, and kicked the broken glasses aside. She was dressed in a navy-blue and white sailor uniform, complete with a white beret and knee-high white stockings. Especially now, looking teary-eyed and remorseful, she exuded an air that made people want to protect her. Liu Mingxuan raised an eyebrow and suddenly shouted in mock anger, “What kind of service is this? Get your manager over here. An entire bottle of Ace of Spades wasted like that? Do they think we have money blowing in from nowhere?” After being friends for over ten years, going through school, sharing bunks, and even smoking the same cigarettes, he knew Lu Liang’s personality well. Lu Liang might be easygoing, but he wasn’t a pushover. Being this forgiving, it was clear he had a reason. And given that Li Manli was a beauty, the type Lu Liang liked, as a close friend, Liu Mingxuan was more than happy to give him a nudge. After all, spending 8,800 yuan on a champagne tower deserved a bit of extra attention. “Calm down. We’re here to have fun, so let’s not get too upset. Accidents happen to everyone.” Lu Liang glanced at Liu Mingxuan, and they shared a quick, knowing look and a smile. In truth, Lu Liang didn’t mind the accident. Ever since word of his divorce got around, he’d encountered Li Manli a few times, whether in hallways or elevators. She always seemed to carry an air of superiority, giving him a cold shoulder as if she dreaded him getting any closer. Lu Liang wasn’t deeply bothered, but it did leave a bit of a sour taste. Did she really think he was some kind of lowly loser? If they hadn’t crossed paths, he would’ve just let it go. But now that he was here as her customer, he wasn’t about to just let her off easy. “Brother Xuan, don’t be mad. Let me pour you a drink.” Zhang Qian quickly filled his glass, apologizing profusely, then handed a full glass to Li Manli. “Properly thank Brother Liang. If it were anyone else, they’d surely make you pay for it.” “Thank you, Brother Liang,” Li Manli said gratefully. Had he made a fuss, her monthly bonus would’ve likely been forfeited. There had been similar incidents in the past. If a customer made a big deal of it, the general manager would have to apologize and offer a complimentary bottle to make up for it. After all, anyone buying Ace of Spades usually wasn’t short on money—they came out to relax and enjoy. As service staff, a simple apology didn’t mean it was over when they made mistakes.