The one who was staring at her... was Bo Jingzhou.

He sat there for an unknown amount of time, still wearing the same outfit he'd had on when they were walking down influencer street. He was alone, holding a transparent cup in his hand, the amber liquid inside catching the dim light and casting shimmering spots on his fingers.

He was too dazzling.

Whether it was his looks, figure, charisma, or the expensive-looking attire he wore, he unconsciously drew the attention of those around him.

This bar has a lot of women who work there, sexy ones, conservative ones, innocent ones, and domineering types. There are all kinds. Some of them chat together, while others stroll around with their drinks. If they find someone interesting or if someone finds them interesting, they'll sit down and have a closer chat.

Shen Wanci hadn't been there long before she saw several couples walking hand-in-hand and close together, leaving in pairs. One such couple was sitting at the table behind her, within earshot, and she could hear their conversation clearly.

The other party didn't mention money at all, they started talking about feelings instead, and they were particularly sincere. Shen Wanci even felt like they had fallen in love at first sight and confirmed their relationship, but between the lines, there was a very subtle hint: you have to give money to unlock new skills.

When Shen Wanci looked at Bo Jingzhou, she happened to see a woman carrying wine walking towards him. Not only that, but several pairs of eyes were also watching, waiting for her to fail before they moved in.

The woman wore a white long dress, resembling Jian Weining's kind of cool and aloof little white flower.

However, the moment she walked up to Bo Jingzhou and reached for a stool, his cold words stopped her in her tracks. "No money."

A blush crept across the woman's face. That was too direct. She stammered for several seconds before speaking in a coquettish tone: "Sir, you're being too modest. With your clothes, many people couldn't afford it even if they worked their whole lives. And I'm not that kind of woman. I just like you and want to develop something further with you."

They cater to high-end clientele who are well-versed in all kinds of luxury goods. After all, true wealth doesn't flaunt itself with large logos plastered on clothes. Without exaggeration, the fabric and stitching are scrutinized meticulously.

Based on the outfit alone, plus the watch on his wrist, it would definitely be worth a mid-to-high-end apartment in Kyoto.

Bo Jingzhou impatiently furrowed his brows, raised his head and drained the cup of wine in one gulp: "Get out."

Nie Yucheng, that dog, just watched as Shen Wanci was repeatedly forced to drink by that man. He pretended to be warm and polite on the surface, but underneath it all, he was a black-hearted lotus. At first glance, you could tell he had no good intentions.

The woman standing beside him hadn't given up hope. She had finally met a rich and handsome quality man. If she could coax him into happiness, even a long-term arrangement would be good. Even without tips, with his looks and charisma, he'd be enough to brag about in her circle of friends for a year.

She refused to give up so easily, so she stood there hesitantly, looking at him with a pitiful and helpless expression.

"Are you leaving on your own, or should I have the manager ask you to leave?"

They can appear in hotel bars that are only open to guests, and so brazenly solicit customers. This is all because they have a cooperative agreement with the hotel, splitting the profits. But the rules strictly forbid them from harassing guests.

Bao Jingzhou's situation wasn't just seen by Shen Wanci, Nie Yucheng also saw it: "Jingzhou's peach blossom luck is still as good as ever. Although he often has a cold face, every time the three of us are together, he is the one who gets hit on the most."

He chuckled and said, “Don't girls like something challenging like Jingzhou? Something that looks difficult at first glance?”

As soon as the woman approached, Shen Wanci turned her head back, "It's not just women, men are too. They all have a desire to challenge themselves, but few can soberly examine themselves, so they always dream of plucking that unattainable high-mountain flower. Otherwise, there wouldn't be so many unrequited loves."

Love what you have, yet you insist on pursuing someone who doesn't even regard you.

"And you? Do you still like Jingzhou now?"

"Making money is so much fun, you can spend it however you want. You don't have to answer to anyone and do whatever you please. Haven't you heard the saying? Men only affect a woman's sword speed. Before I divorced Bo Jingzhou, I occasionally took on private jobs. Every day, I went to the Bo family as a nanny. The money I earned each month wasn't even as much as what you rich second-generation spend on dogs."

She had seen in the news that dogs not only have private jets but also personal nannies, and they can travel all over the country in a while.

"After the divorce, I've been able to juggle three jobs. My future dream is to pay off all my debts. When I have a deposit of one or two million, I'll go to a city with warm winters and cool summers to retire. I'll practice Tai Chi in the morning, square dance in the evening, and raise a dog—one that can guard the house and be affectionate, following me around begging for hugs. It's better than finding a man who can make me angry anytime, anywhere, and who I can't even get rid of." Shen Wanci didn't answer his question directly.

Nie YuCheng's heart at this moment, even a dog wouldn't be as helpless.

After a moment of awkward silence, I said, "You've made quite the detailed arrangements."

Of course, I even have a name picked out for the dog I'm going to raise in the future." Shen Wanci slightly raised her head, looking rather proud.

Nie Yucheng smiled wryly: "May I ask, what's your name?"

"Call him 'Pot-boiled Rice,' listen to him, he's just 'Pot-boiled Rice.' If you don't listen, he becomes a 'White-eyed Dog,' which is the same as 'Pot-boiled Rice.'"

"...I thought I'd have to call Bo Jingzhou, after all, you called him dog man several times before."

Shen Wanci was amused by his words: "You're overthinking it, I really don't hate him that much."

She wouldn't even allow herself to think about him constantly, not even to the point of naming her dog after him.

Nie Yucheng was still trying to pull her back from this state of apathy, wanting nothing more than an early retirement: "Wouldn't you be heartbroken to leave your beloved profession so soon?"

He had a general idea of the price Shen Wanci charged for a job, a few million at most, and it was just a matter of taking on something with a higher difficulty level.

“Isn’t work just for enjoying life better? Besides, once a job you love becomes one that requires overtime and endless hustle, the passion fades. If that happens, find a museum job locally, or take on some freelance gigs with less demanding deadlines.”

Nie YuCheng: "..."

He seemed to make a lot of sense, and he couldn't refute it. Although he really wanted to find some reason to keep people in Kyoto, a metropolis completely unsuitable for retirement.

Shen Wanci felt a little drunk. Even if Xiao Yu's cocktail wasn't intoxicating, she couldn't resist drinking it like a cow drinking water.

She got up: "The meeting is over, I'm really tired of playing, I'll go back to the room first, you guys play slowly."

(Editor in charge：water for chocolate novel)