Meanwhile, Lin Hao was admiring the beauty of his new house — or should he say, his penthouse.
The penthouse covered the entire top floor, more than a thousand square meters of quiet luxury high above the city. Every wall was glass, revealing the endless view of Shanghai's skyline and the silver curve of the Huangpu River.
The living hall was vast, decorated with marble floors, soft gray walls, and a long sectional sofa facing a built-in 120-inch OLED screen. Beside it stood a grand piano, placed under a modern chandelier that scattered warm light across the room.
There were four bedrooms, each with its own balcony and bathroom. The master suite had a panoramic view, a walk-in closet larger than his old apartment, and a marble bathroom with a soaking tub overlooking the city lights.
The kitchen connected to a private dining area that could seat ten people. It was fitted with imported appliances — everything from Italian ovens to German chillers — all smart-controlled.
Down the hall, a study room, a private gym, and even a small indoor garden added to the sense of a complete world of its own.
A soft scent of sandalwood drifted through the air vents. The temperature, lighting, and curtains all adjusted automatically, as if the entire penthouse was alive, responding to his presence.
The place came fully furnished and serviced, with 24-hour concierge, private chefs, and housekeeping available on call.
It wasn't just a home — it was a symbol of power and wealth.
---
"Now this is what we call truly beautiful, don't we?" he thought to himself, smiling like a fool.
As he felt hungry, he decided to call the hotel service and order some food.
He walked over to the landline phone placed beside the sofa and sat down on the soft cushions.
"Oh, oh! How can a sofa be this soft?" he thought gleefully — after all, this sofa also belonged to him now.
He picked up the phone and dialed '1'.
It connected instantly, and a soft female voice came from the other side.
"Good evening, Mr. Lin."
He replied calmly, making sure not to sound childish. "Good evening."
The woman on the other end asked, "Mr. Lin, do you need anything?"
"Yeah," he said. "I think it's time for dinner."
"Yes, sir, right away. Would you like something specific for dinner?" she asked politely.
He thought for a moment. "No, just send whatever you have."
Since he wasn't too hungry, he decided to go with whatever the service provided.
As the bill was settled at the end of every year, he didn't have to pay immediately for anything.
He decided to play games on his mobile while waiting for the dinner to arrive.
But just five minutes later, there was a knock on the door.
He was shocked. He had called only five minutes ago — could the food really have arrived so quickly?
"Could it be a guest? No, that can't be, no one knows that I moved here. Then… oh! Maybe the landlady knows, but even she doesn't know the exact address. So who could it be?" he thought.
He opened the door and saw an old, elegant man pushing a service trolley full of a variety of food. Behind him stood two young and beautiful women.
The old man said, "Good evening, Mr. Lin."
Lin Hao replied politely, "Good evening."
Although he was surprised to see such fast service and how a small team had come just for one man's dinner, he didn't let it show.
The old man asked, "Shall we place the dishes on the table, Mr. Lin?"
Lin Hao looked toward the dining table and said, "Sure."
The old man and the two young women went to the dining table and skillfully began placing the dishes one by one.
---
The dinner included the following dishes:
A serving of A5 Kobe Beef Steak, seared to perfection and finished with a light truffle butter glaze. Beside it sat a plate of Braised Abalone in Oyster Sauce, its rich aroma filling the air the moment the silver cover was lifted.
There was also a steamed grouper, its white flesh tender and fresh, served with soy sauce and spring onions — a classic symbol of prosperity in Chinese fine dining. A side of truffle fried rice accompanied the meal, each grain glistening with oil and infused with the earthy scent of black truffle.
For dessert, the chef had prepared a small porcelain bowl of bird's nest with rock sugar, the transparent strands floating delicately in a golden syrup — a luxury once reserved only for the wealthy and the imperial court.
A bottle of Dom Pérignon champagne stood chilled beside the dishes, waiting to be opened.
The entire meal, carefully plated and served on a polished room service trolley, reflected quiet elegance and wealth. It wasn't loud or exaggerated — just refined, the kind of dinner only the upper class could casually enjoy.
As they finished setting the dishes on the table, one of the young women asked him if he would like them to open the champagne for him.
He declined the offer without a second thought.
The staff then took their leave, quietly closing the door behind them.
---
Lin Hao began eating his dinner.
He picked up the knife and fork, cutting into the steak. The meat was so tender that it yielded with barely any effort. When he took the first bite, his eyes widened slightly — the beef melted on his tongue, the rich flavor of fat and truffle blending perfectly.
It was nothing like anything he'd ever tasted before.
He didn't rush. Every few minutes, he alternated between dishes — a bite of the abalone, a taste of the grouper, a spoonful of the truffle fried rice. The flavors were delicate but deep, balanced in a way only true professionals could achieve.
By the time he reached the bird's nest dessert, his stomach was comfortably full, yet he couldn't help but savor it slowly. The sweetness was light, almost clean, leaving a faint, refreshing aftertaste.
He leaned back slightly, setting his chopsticks down. The city lights outside the glass walls glittered like countless stars, and his reflection looked back at him — calm, composed, and yet not quite believing.
"This… is my life now," he murmured quietly.
For the first time in years, he wasn't eating out of hunger — he was eating out of choice, out of peace. The realization brought with it a strange mix of satisfaction and humility.
He poured himself a glass of champagne and raised it slightly toward the window, as if to toast the silent city.
"To new beginnings," he said softly, before taking a slow sip.
The bubbles tingled on his tongue — cold and bright — matching the faint smile on his face.
---
After finishing dinner, he began to feel sleepy.
He went to the master bedroom and collapsed on the king-sized bed.
He didn't know that good news was coming tomorrow.
He had a beautiful sleep that night.