11: Chapter 11: Demolishing the Market to Establish Authority: The 380,000 Black Pearl

Shen Du's gaze unabashedly scrutinized the face just inches away.

In his eyes, there was not a trace of the frivolity or lust typical of such pleasure venues; instead, they were pure and focused, as if he were admiring a work of art.

"This wine is not worthy of you."

Shen Du slowly shook his head, his voice calm yet conveying an undeniable authority.

Shen Du knew very well that he still had a full 700,000 in cash in his account to back him up.

In order to completely disrupt this beauty's rhythm.

He naturally released Red Phoenix's wrist and picked up the black-gold wine list from the marble coffee table.

Without looking at the regular luxury wines costing tens of thousands, Shen Du flipped straight to the last page of the menu.

His slender fingers tapped lightly on it.

They landed accurately on the shop's signature treasure, which was not publicly displayed and required even the manager's personal authorization to open.

That was the [Rémy Martin Louis XIII · Black Pearl Limited Edition], priced at 388,888 yuan.

"The limited edition Black Pearl—this is what is worthy of you."

Shen Du looked at Red Phoenix, his tone nonchalant.

As if the massive sum he had just ordered was not a fortune of hundreds of thousands, but merely a glass of plain water to quench his thirst.

This lighthearted sentence instantly placed a heavy bet in this close-quarters game between top-tier players.

Shen Du clearly observed the subtle changes in her expression.

Even those wealthy bosses from Jiangsu and Zhejiang, who were worth over a hundred million and spent money like water at Lanting Mansion every day.

Would not be able to casually order the mansion's signature treasure for a first-meeting "apology" without even blinking an eye.

The impact of 380,000 was real and tangible.

In this first substantive confrontation.

Shen Du saw a flicker of uncontrollable astonishment flash across Red Phoenix's eyes, which had always been so composed and calculating.

The certainty in the eyes of this woman, who had previously prided herself on being able to see through people's hearts, showed a visible crack.

Shen Du watched as Red Phoenix pulled her phone from her handbag and typed out a text message without looking.

This was clearly to confirm the order with the Scarred Manager outside.

After sending the message, she flipped her phone face down on the marble table.

When she looked up again, there was an indescribable complexity in those fox-like eyes, and she stared straight at Shen Du, who was inches away.

Shen Du met her gaze, his mind crystal clear.

In this bizarre and dazzling vanity fair of Shanghai.

Those big bosses at the top of the food chain all had a rational businessman's logic in their hearts.

Simply to please someone, throwing hundreds of thousands in cash at a woman in a nightlife venue.

They would rather go to Hengdian to find innocent young models than pay a premium for a woman who had seen it all in the nightlife scene.

This was the clear-cut, iron-clad rule of class in this circle.

Shen Du knew that the 380,000 he had so nonchalantly thrown down had smashed this iron rule to pieces.

He could clearly see a trace of unprecedented greed in the depths of Red Phoenix's eyes, which had originally been so clear and self-possessed.

The delusion of attempting to ride the favor of this "Young Master Shen" to transform into a dragon and soar to the top.

The door to the private room was pushed open again.

There was no fanfare or sign-holding ceremony like when the nouveau riche on the second floor ordered, nor was there any noisy, exclusive music.

The Scarred Manager had reined in his rough, underworld demeanor and, like a disciplined old-school butler, walked in quietly holding a tray.

In the center of the tray, the bottle of Louis XIII · Black Pearl, reflecting a dark luster, stood quietly.

Shen Du's expression remained unchanged as he fished his bank card from his pocket and handed it over, held between two fingers.

Without any unnecessary words, he cleanly and efficiently completed the 380,000 payment.

After taking the card returned by the Scarred Manager with both hands, Shen Du waved his hand slightly, signaling him to leave.

As the heavy wooden door closed again, the private room returned to its state of privacy and quiet.

Shen Du leaned forward slightly and grasped the precious bottle of cognac.

He did not call the waiter.

He took two brand-new crystal wine glasses himself and slowly poured the amber liquid into them.

"I rarely pour wine for others anymore."

Shen Du pushed one of the glasses in front of Red Phoenix.

Watching the beautiful legs of the wine form on the glass walls, his tone was as calm as if he were stating an insignificant fact:

"Today, I'm making an exception."

The top-grade cognac flowed into the crystal glass, making a subtle, crisp sound.

This light sentence fell into her ears.

Shen Du clearly felt the woman beside him hold her breath for a split second.

She took a deep breath, trying hard to suppress her wildly fluctuating emotions.

Shen Du watched as the fog of "class transcendence" that had just risen in her eyes gradually dissipated.

Leaving only a belated sense of sobriety.

The 380,000 he had thrown down had not paved a smooth path, but rather opened an bottomless abyss.

She finally realized.

Letting greed take hold in front of a young man whose background was completely unfathomable was a very dangerous thing.

Red Phoenix slowly raised her glass and clinked it gently against the crystal glass in Shen Du's hand.

"Clink."

Amidst the crisp sound of the collision, Red Phoenix quickly gathered her wits, gave a self-deprecating smile, and frankly admitted defeat:

"No wonder my subordinates couldn't get close to you, Young Master Shen.

Even with me coming personally, I almost fell into your hands today."

But as a woman who had stood firm in this vanity fair.

She clearly understood the principle of overcoming hardness with softness.

Even though her aura had been completely suppressed, she could still instinctively fight to regain the initiative.

She took a small sip of the Black Pearl.

Then, she naturally lowered her defenses, her body leaning over softly as she rested her head gently on Shen Du's shoulder.

"Young Master Shen, after being teased by you like this today..."

Red Phoenix's warm breath hit Shen Du's neck, her voice laced with a hint of half-real, half-fake resentment:

"How could I ever look at another man again?"

With soft fragrance and jade in his arms, Shen Du remained perfectly composed, his breathing rate not even slightly disrupted.

This flawless reaction convinced Red Phoenix that conventional seduction tactics were ineffective against him.

She stopped the meaningless tug-of-war and finally played the core trump card for which she had personally entered the fray tonight.

Red Phoenix tilted her head up slightly, her face only inches from Shen Du's jawline.

Her red lips parted, and she softly probed, seemingly casual but actually hiding a sharp edge:

"I wonder... Young Master Shen, do you know anything about finance?"

The word "finance" fell into his ears.

The fingers Shen Du had wrapped around Red Phoenix's shoulder paused slightly.

This word was like a precise key, instantly unlocking the memories in his mind regarding the 2010 capital market.

The frenzy of underground capital pools in the Yangtze River Delta, the impending stock index futures short-selling storm, the secret planning of certain land plots...

A clear path to harvesting wealth unfolded rapidly in his mind.

The thoughts he had been using to rapidly calculate the breakthrough point suddenly became clear at this moment.

Shen Du turned his head to look at Red Phoenix, who was just inches away.

There were no exaggerated ripples in his eyes, only the certainty of someone who had seen through the game, and he thought to himself:

He was too familiar with finance.

This was his old trade.