53: Chapter 53 Class Monitor: I earn a million a year. Jiang Chen: That's just pocket money.

The heavy, clunky helmet stood on the table like a tombstone, causing the lively dinner to fall silent for a moment.

Class Monitor Zhang Wei rubbed his aching wrist, his face alternating between shades of green and white. That last moment had been too embarrassing; to regain his dignity, he decided to win back face in his area of greatest expertise—his "money power."

"Ahem, it seems Classmate Jiang Chen has quite a bit of strength. Have you trained?"

Class Monitor Zhang Wei forced a smile and abruptly changed the subject. "But these days, strength alone isn't enough. You need brains, and you need capital. Come, come, waiter! Bring the menu!"

With a grand wave of his hand, he declared boldly, "I'm in a good mood today! Bring out all your signature dishes! And the wine—that, uh... 82 Lafite, do you have it? Open two bottles for me!"

The classmates nearby stared, their eyes widening.

"Holy crap! Class Monitor, you're awesome!"

"82 Lafite? Doesn't that cost tens of thousands a bottle? Class Monitor, your million-a-year salary really isn't just talk!"

Listening to the compliments around him, Class Monitor Zhang Wei's bruised ego was finally greatly satisfied. He cast a provocative glance at Jiang Chen, who was busy peeling shrimp, and sneered inwardly: What's the use of having strength? This meal costs more than you make delivering food in a whole year!

After several rounds of drinks and dishes,

Class Monitor Zhang Wei, his face flushed, used the liquid courage to start lecturing Jiang Chen:

"Jiang Chen, don't blame me for not giving you face. In this society, money is a man's backbone. Look at you—wearing cheap clothes from a street stall, carrying a motorcycle helmet. How are you going to find a wife in the future?"

"Take a piece of advice from your brother: reconsider that job as a security captain. It might be tiring, but at least it's a proper job; it's better than just messing around outside."

Jiang Chen popped the last shrimp into his mouth, wiped his hands, and nodded with a smile: "Class Monitor is right. I've learned my lesson."

This lukewarm attitude made Class Monitor Zhang Wei feel like he had punched a pile of cotton, leaving him even more frustrated.

Just then, the private room door was pushed open.

A waiter in uniform walked in, holding a bill and smiling: "Excuse me, sir. Because the wine you ordered is quite valuable, we need to verify the bill first."

"Verify what? Afraid I can't pay?"

Class Monitor Zhang Wei snorted in dissatisfaction and took the bill. "How much? Charge it!"

However, when his eyes landed on the number at the very bottom of the bill, his face, previously flushed from alcohol, instantly turned deathly pale, as if all the blood had been drained from him.

The hand holding the bill began to tremble uncontrollably.

"How... how much?!"

Class Monitor Zhang Wei's voice cracked, and his eyes nearly popped out of their sockets. "Eight... eight hundred and eighty thousand?!"

The entire room fell into instant silence. The classmates who had been laughing and joking were suddenly like ducks with their necks squeezed, dropping their chopsticks.

Eight hundred and eighty thousand? For one meal?

"There must be a mistake!"

Class Monitor Zhang Wei stood up abruptly and slammed the bill onto the table. "Is this a scam shop? I only ordered two bottles of wine; how could it be eight hundred and eighty thousand?"

The waiter's smile remained professional and standard, but his eyes conveyed an unquestionable certainty: "Sir, there is no mistake. The 82 Lafite you specifically requested is not only a vintage wine but also an auction-grade limited edition from our boss's private collection, priced at 388,000 per bottle. Together with the two bottles, plus the service fee and the cost of the food, it comes to exactly 880,000."

"And... the wine has already been opened, and you've already drunk it."

Class Monitor Zhang Wei felt the world spinning, his legs turned to jelly, and he collapsed back into his chair.

380,000 a bottle? He thought it would be 30,000 or 50,000 at most!

Although he boasted an annual salary of a million, that was pre-tax, and he still had mortgage and car loan payments. The cash he had on hand was, at most, 200,000. He couldn't pay this 880,000 bill even if he sold himself!

"Th-this..."

Class Monitor Zhang Wei was drenched in sweat and looked to his classmates for help. "Everyone... uh... today's wine is a bit over budget. Can we... ahem, split the bill?"

As soon as he said this, the room erupted in uproar. The people who had been fawning over him a moment ago instantly changed their expressions.

"Split the bill? Class Monitor, are you joking? Didn't you say you were treating us?"

"Exactly! My monthly salary is only 5,000, and I only had a small glass. Do you expect me to cough up tens of thousands?"

"Oh my, I suddenly remembered I didn't turn off the gas at home. I'm leaving first..."

Human nature is fragile and vulnerable in the face of money.

Watching this chaotic scene, Jiang Chen, who had been silent the whole time, finally put down his teacup.

"Tsk, tsk." He shook his head and sighed softly. "Class Monitor, if you don't have the money, don't act like a big shot. Isn't this embarrassing now?"

"Jiang Chen! Shut up!" Class Monitor Zhang Wei, humiliated and furious, pointed at Jiang Chen and roared, "Do you have money? If you're so good, you do it! What's the use of making snide remarks here? This is 880,000! You couldn't afford this even if you sold 10,000 of your food delivery e-bikes!"

"Exactly! A poor ghost has no right to speak!" Li Li chimed in, even though she was panicking inside.

"880,000?" Jiang Chen shrugged, looking indifferent. "Is that a lot?"

Under the watchful eyes of everyone, he reached into his pocket and rummaged around for a moment. He didn't pull out any stacks of cash.

Instead, he pulled out a card that was as black as ink, with no bank logos, only a single gold line running across the surface.

That was a state-level special account black card. It was also the "pocket money" account that General Qin Weiguo had given him, with a limit of... infinity.

"Charge it to me." Jiang Chen held the card between two fingers and flicked it casually. The card traced a graceful arc in the air and landed with a "clack" precisely on the tray held by the waiter.

"No PIN."

The whole room froze. Class Monitor Zhang Wei looked at the pitch-black card and let out a harsh, sneering laugh: "Jiang Chen, have you lost your mind? Trying to show off with a supermarket membership card? This is a POS machine, not a points redemption machine!"

"Waiter! Call the police! This guy is trying to dine and dash!"

The waiter was also hesitant. He had worked at the hotel for ten years and had seen countless types of bank cards, but he had truly never seen such a pitch-black card without even a UnionPay logo.

"Sir, this card..."

Just as the waiter was about to refuse, the door to the private room was heavily pushed open. A middle-aged man in a bespoke suit, drenched in sweat, rushed in. He was the General Manager of this Tianhai Grand Hotel, and also a former executive of the Wang Group.

"Stop! Everyone stop!"

The General Manager practically slid to his knees in front of the waiter and snatched the black card off the tray. His hands were trembling.

Of course he recognized this card! Just yesterday, when the Wang Group collapsed and assets were being liquidated, the mysterious acquirer had used a card of this level! This was a privileged card with direct access to the national treasury!

And this young man before him... The General Manager suddenly looked up, saw Jiang Chen's face clearly, and his legs instantly gave way. With a "thud," he knelt to the ground.

"B-boss!"

This shout of "Boss" was heart-wrenching and soul-stirring. The entire private room fell into deathly silence.

Class Monitor Zhang Wei's jaw dropped to the floor, and his eyes nearly popped out. The makeup mirror in Li Li's hand shattered with a "crack." All the classmates were stunned, as if struck by lightning, staring blankly at the young man who was calmly smoking.

Boss? The boss of this five-star hotel?

"You are..." Jiang Chen raised an eyebrow.

"I'm Manager Zhao here!" The General Manager beamed, his smile humble to the point of groveling. "Yesterday, when the Wang Group's assets were used to settle debts, this hotel was transferred to your name! You are the owner of this place!"

"Oh, I remember now." Jiang Chen flicked the cigarette ash, suddenly realizing. "The Wang family had too much junk; I forgot about this restaurant."

He turned his head and looked at Class Monitor Zhang Wei, who was ashen-faced and trembling, a playful curve appearing at the corner of his mouth.

"Class Monitor, what were you saying just now? You earn a million a year?"

Jiang Chen stood up, picked up the priceless helmet from the table, and tucked it back under his arm. His tone was as flat as if he were commenting on the weather: "That's nice. Keep working hard; after a year, it might be enough to cover the pocket change for this meal of mine."

Having said that, he didn't even glance at this group of petrified "old classmates" and turned to leave.

The General Manager quickly scrambled up and shouted to the doorway: "Attention everyone! Bow! See the boss off!"

Two rows of waiters outside the door bowed in unison at a ninety-degree angle, their voices shaking the roof: "Farewell, Boss!!!"

Leaving only the group in the private room, completely lost in the wind, questioning their existence.