"Miss Zhao, Mr. Lin is visiting our store for the very first time, after all. We were just trying to attract some business."
Seemingly sensing what was on Zhao Qingling's mind, the female sales assistant added that remark.
Of course, the talk about attracting business was merely an excuse.
When it all came down to it, it was because of that Supreme Black Card.
The sales assistant wasn't an idiot; anyone capable of owning such a black card clearly possessed an extraordinary background.
There was certainly no harm in their boutique trying to get on his good side.
"I was just asking casually anyway. I don't really care about discounts or no discounts."
Zhao Qingling waved her hand, accepting the sales assistant's explanation. "Alright, Lin Feng, you've bought the clothes. You can just come back and pick them up yourself tomorrow. Let's go."
With that, without waiting for any reaction from Lin Feng, Zhao Qingling turned, pushed open the door, and walked out.
Lin Feng chuckled helplessly, waved at the sales assistant, and hurried after her.
All the way out of the mall, Zhao Qingling seemed to have thought of something, looking Lin Feng up and down.
"What is it? There aren't any flowers on my face, are there?"
Feeling a bit creeped out by Zhao Qingling's gaze, Lin Feng instinctively touched his cheek and said, "Or do you think I'm so devastatingly handsome that you've fallen for me? Let me tell you, I'm not just blessed with good looks—I've got a lot of depth, too."
"Cut the narcissism."
Zhao Qingling scoffed. "Though I have to admit, I didn't realize you had some real muscle financially. Eighteen thousand and you just pulled it out like that. Just a second ago, I was actually thinking that if you couldn't pay, I'd reluctantly step in and settle the bill for you."
Hearing this, Lin Feng immediately clutched his chest with a look of utter agony on his face.
This sudden movement startled Zhao Qingling. "Lin Feng, what's wrong? Are you feeling sick somewhere?"
"Dropping eighteen thousand in one go, my heart aches so much," Lin Feng said in anguish. "How about you... Miss Zhao show some pity, soothe this heartache of mine, and give me eighteen thousand?"
As soon as those words came out, Zhao Qingling, who had just been somewhat worried, found herself torn between anger and laughter, and she punched Lin Feng straight in the chest.
"Ugh, I thought something was actually wrong with you and you gave me a scare. It turns out your heart's just aching over spending money on clothes?"
Zhao Qingling rolled her eyes. "Give it to you? Not completely out of the question, especially since you at least helped me out as a shield today. But let's get one thing straight: from now on, you'll be my little lackey. How's that sound?"
"So my well-toned physique is only worth eighteen thousand? That's way too cheap," Lin Feng joked. "If I went looking for a sugar mummy on a whim, I bet it'd go for a lot more than this."
"Then go find yourself a sugar mummy!"
Zhao Qingling retorted irritably, then abruptly changed the subject. "Now that the clothes are bought, Lin Feng, what are you planning to do next?"
Instead of answering immediately, Lin Feng glanced at the sky outside, pondered for a few seconds, and then asked, "Qingling, where is the most famous bar in Nancheng?"
At this question, Zhao Qingling froze for a moment.
In her mind, people who frequented places like bars were hardly upstanding citizens.
Why did someone as young as Lin Feng have such a sleazy bad habit?
Suspiciously, Zhao Qingling eyed Lin Feng. "A place like a bar is full of all sorts of shady characters, and the drinks aren't any good either. Why on earth are you going to a bar?"
"Need you ask? To look for a sugar mummy, of course," Lin Feng said with a deadpan expression. "Only in a bar can you run into those lonely young wives whose husbands are away all year round!"
As he spoke, Lin Feng patted his chest. "With this physique of mine, matched with my looks, I'm practically a married-woman killer!"
Hearing this, Zhao Qingling instantly flew into a rage.
To think she had previously believed Lin Feng was a decent guy—turns out he was cut from the exact same cloth as Sun Shaohong!
As expected, men were all trash!
"Then go to your bar and find your sugar women! Don't ever let me see you again!"
Flashing an angry retort, Zhao Qingling didn't care how Lin Feng reacted; she hurriedly dived into her McLaren, slammed on the accelerator, and sped away.
Watching the roaring car fade into the distance, Lin Feng shook his head with an amused smile.
"This little girl sure has a fiery temper. Just mentioned going to a bar—was all that really necessary?" Lin Feng muttered to himself.
He was indeed heading to a bar.
But he certainly wasn't going to look for married women, contrary to what he had just joked about.
Lin Feng knew very well that if he wanted the mastermind behind the annihilation of the Lin Family to show their face, he needed to make as much noise as possible and make his name known throughout Nancheng.
And that reputation needed to be established not just out in the open, but in the shadows as well.
Prominent clans like the Zhao Family certainly belonged to Nancheng's upper crust.
However, Nancheng also possessed an underworld governed by its own unique rules.
And when it came to quickly getting a grasp on the underground forces, there was simply no place more suitable than a bar.
Zhao Qingling had said one thing that was entirely correct: places like bars were cesspools of mixed company.
All sorts of hoodlums and good-for-nothing thugs gathered there.
Precisely for that reason, bars could be considered the absolute best places for gathering intelligence.
"Let's hope I don't make a wasted trip this time."
Muttering to himself, Lin Feng stood by the roadside and hailed a taxi.
As soon as he got in, Lin Feng spoke directly, "Driver, where's the most famous bar in Nancheng? Take me there."
He genuinely wasn't familiar with Nancheng.
He certainly didn't know which bar in Nancheng was the most renowned.
But someone like a taxi driver, who spent all day darting through Nancheng's streets and alleys, would undoubtedly know the spot.
Sure enough.
Hearing Lin Feng's request, the taxi driver grinned. "The most famous bar? That's gotta be Brilliant Lights! Little brother, you don't even know that? Must be pretty new to Nancheng, huh?"
"Yeah, I only got to Nancheng yesterday. I kept hearing that the bars here are great, so I wanted to come experience it," Lin Feng said with a smile.
"Then you've come to the right place! Let me tell you, our Nancheng bars are top-tier nationwide!"
The taxi driver flashed a thumbs-up. "Especially Brilliant Lights—as long as you've got money, it'll leave you beyond satisfied! But little brother, let me give you a word of warning: have your fun, but don't go starting trouble in the bar! Otherwise, you'll be in for a world of hurt you can't walk away from."
The taxi driver continued earnestly, "After all, anyone who can run a bar like that has got some backing. You're far from home, so don't get yourself killed in a foreign city just over a momentary flash of temper."
"Oh? Does that mean the bar owner is involved with the underworld?" Lin Feng asked, deep in thought.
"Naturally. But you don't need to dig into all that; you're just heading over to have some fun anyway."
With a chuckle, the taxi driver stepped on the gas.
The oil-stained taxi let out a roar and sped off into the distance.