Night, Saint Anna City, Summer Palm Bar.
A Ford F-150 parked in the spot in front of the bar, and Sun Yan in sportswear got out of the car.
"Yo! Brother Sun, you finally came. Haven't seen you at Ah Fen Restaurant recently, where have you been working now?"
A young overseas Chinese, smoking at the bar's entrance, spotted Sun Yan and quickly approached with a grin, offering him a cigarette.
Sun Yan smiled as he took the cigarette: "Working my ass off, I've inherited the graveyard my grandpa opened. If any of your friends have that kind of affair in their family, remember to recommend me. Let them have their burial at my graveyard."
"Seriously? Your reemployment path is kind of shady, can a graveyard still make money these days?"
Liu Qifei looked surprised. Growing up overseas, he and Sun Yan had known each other since elementary school and played together all the way through, making them the closest friends.
So, he naturally knew that Sun Yan's grandfather ran a graveyard.
But he never imagined that Sun Yan would actually inherit this rather niche business.
"Just getting by. Let's talk inside. Who organized tonight?" Sun Yan put his arm around Liu Qifei's shoulder and asked as they walked into the bar.
"Ah Kun's cousin, the one who often told us he likes to go to Southeast Asia for flings every now and then. Every time, he's either with Thai girls or Cambodian girls. No one knows how many entanglements he left over there. But his life is quite comfortable, dating a rich older woman and not worrying about major life issues."
Liu Qifei took a drag from his cigarette and smiled as he explained the situation to Sun Yan.
As overseas Chinese living here long-term, they mostly hung out with fellow Chinese expatriates.
So, they got to know all sorts of people, like Ah Kun, who is in the luxury watch repair business in Saint Anna City.
As for his cousin, known as 'Mr. Briefcase,' he's quite a character.
Born with a handsome face that women adore, he doesn't need to work and idles around all day, living off women—more so than Sun Yan and others with stable jobs.
Half a year ago, Mr. Briefcase wooed a rich Japanese student studying in the US, and now he's driving a Ferrari and living in luxury, making many envious.
Inside the bar, the DJ was making waves, and as Sun Yan walked in, he could feel even the ground under his feet vibrating.
Under Liu Qifei's lead, the two found the booth Mr. Briefcase had reserved.
By now, the couch was packed with young men and women indulging in drinks, and a young man in a suit sitting prominently in the middle was particularly eye-catching.
He wore a pink suit, paired with a golden Rolex on his wrist, and was hugging two blonde girls on either side, all while they enthusiastically poured drinks for him.
"Sun Yan, why are you so late? Three self-punishment shots!" Mr. Briefcase picked up the whiskey from the table and poured three shots, signaling for Sun Yan to drink.
These people often went out drinking together and were all familiar with each other, though not particularly close.
If someone offered drinks, nobody would miss out on such a good deal, and it was a chance to expand their network. Even if it was Mr. Briefcase, who usually wasn't tight with the crowd, setting up a gathering, Sun Yan would come along. It was a survival skill.
"My bad, my bad." Sun Yan chuckled as he downed the three shots, then everyone's attention shifted back to Mr. Briefcase.
"Spent two months in Thailand this time, had an amazing time. You guys should try it if you get the chance. Women there are fantastically fun. Didn't spend a dime and hooked up with a local chick; she was all over me every day. No matter where I went, she had to follow, and regardless of the positions I suggested, she matched my energy entirely. You can't imagine how compliant she was."
Mr. Briefcase, with a cigarette in his mouth, shared his travel exploits in Southeast Asia with everyone, boastfully.
Someone nearby holding a drink laughed, "That's just because you're handsome, Mr. Briefcase. If I were as handsome as you, I'd be having a blast even staying in North America."
"Hahaha." Mr. Briefcase waved dismissively, "It's not just about looks. Nowadays, having money is what counts when picking up girls. You guys earn US dollars here in America, exchange it in Southeast Asia, and over there, each of you is a wealthy foreigner, living the high life. Ever heard of the emperor's bath? Must try it, even Yu Wenle specially went there to play."
People either loved or were indifferent to Mr. Briefcase's tales.
The booth soon split into three groups—one led by Mr. Briefcase, chatting and drinking with him, another engaging with the hostesses in games and grabbing thighs, and another, like Sun Yan, sitting at the booth's edge, playing along as part of the atmosphere team.
After several nights spent living at the graveyard without experiencing Gospel Town's nightlife, Sun Yan was particularly excited to hit the bar tonight, stepping into the dance floor and grooving with the crowd.
After drinking heavily, his bladder felt full.
Sun Yan had to leave the dance floor, heading straight for the restroom.
"Ugh!"
Entering, he saw a familiar figure in front of a urinal, bending over and vomiting—the flashy pink suit unmistakably Mr. Briefcase's.
"Mr. Briefcase, you really spent a lot tonight." Sun Yan walked up beside him, making small talk as he relieved himself.
In such situations, acting too aloof wouldn't be appropriate; after all, someone spent money inviting you for drinks, showing some respect to the wealthy senior was in order.
"Not a big deal, really no biggie, just here to have a good time together—living happily is what matters most."
Mr. Briefcase wiped his mouth, straightened his posture, and laughed nonchalantly, patting Sun Yan's shoulder.
Due to wanting to throw up comfortably, Mr. Briefcase had already undone his suit buttons, and Sun Yan finally noticed the necklace he was wearing.
It was a wooden Buddha Pendant, featuring a three-faced Buddha with a bat, snake, and human.
The Buddha was covered in tattoo-like patterns, with one hand pointing up and the other down.
In all honesty, Sun Yan had never seen such a sinister-looking Buddha—it was terrifying enough to make him instinctively frown in discomfort.
Noticing Sun Yan admiring his necklace, the tipsy Mr. Briefcase kissed the Buddha Pendant arrogantly, smiling, "Pretty, right? The Thai chick gave it to me before I left, said she specially asked the temple for it to bless me with good health and wealth every year. Sun Yan, you wouldn't believe how gullible the women there are, each more innocent than the last. Tell them 'I love you' and they'll love you to death, swear by their life they'll be yours forever—but use your toes to think, how could I marry a poor woman from a place like that."
Sun Yan quietly opened the Celestial Eye, observing the Buddha Pendant on Mr. Briefcase's chest.
He saw that the surface of the three-faced Buddha was emitting a dark green ominous glow—clearly an inauspicious evil object. Poor Mr. Briefcase, oblivious, still flaunting it proudly.
Business came just like that.
"Mr. Briefcase, do you still have my phone number saved? If you come across anything strange recently and can't deal with it yourself, you can come find me. I'll give you a discount."
Sun Yan put his gun back in his pants, giving Mr. Briefcase's arm a knowing pat, smiling as he turned to leave.
"What do you mean?"
Mr. Briefcase looked a bit confused, not quite catching the drift of Sun Yan's words. Before he could ponder further, he was abruptly hit with another wave of nausea, bending over again to purge.