No one knows what others might think of such bold pronouncements, but Lu Jingyang found them utterly distasteful.
It was true, he had no grand ambitions in life; he simply wished to be a couch potato. But that didn't mean he lacked the ability to discern right from wrong. He genuinely considered these people his brothers, which was why he'd been treating them to meals, drinks, and outings for years.
But had they ever considered him a brother?
No!
They merely saw him as a walking ATM.
Lu Yanbei had a point: fair-weather friends were ultimately sustained by money. Without financial backing, their so-called friendship was as fragile as glass.
Li Chao's voice boomed, echoing through the entire bar, drawing countless curious glances.
"Boss!" The band members actually looked down on Li Chao and his cronies. Not only did they never pay, but they were also constantly finding fault. They acted as if the bar was their own, bossing everyone around simply because they were friends with the owner.
And now, they were even bullying the new lead singer. It was utterly shameless!
She was a young girl, still in school, working at the bar to earn tuition. Who had she offended to be subjected to such humiliation? This was a bar, not some disreputable establishment. It was simply too much!
Lu Jingyang calmly surveyed the shards of glass scattered on the floor and stumbled over. "What's going on?"
"Young Master Lu, you're here just in time! I was just disciplining your employee for you!" Upon seeing Lu Jingyang, Li Chao showed no remorse. Instead, he shamelessly claimed it was for Lu Jingyang's own good, which made him suddenly burst into laughter.
How much of a scoundrel was he to consider these people his friends!
"Hahaha..." Lu Jingyang laughed until he was doubled over, almost unable to stop. "You're smashing my property, scaring away my customers, and bullying my employees, and all this is for my sake?"
Li Chao and his companions seemed utterly bewildered by Lu Jingyang's attitude, completely clueless as to his intentions.
"Did you have fun smashing things?" Lu Jingyang stepped forward, helped the female singer up, and pulled her behind him. "If it wasn't enough, I can have them bring out a few more cases of drinks so you can smash to your heart's content!"
The others, excluding Li Chao, immediately understood.
Lu Jingyang was angry!
"It's a misunderstanding, just a misunderstanding..."
"Li Chao was drunk and was just joking with the young lady."
"Yeah, we didn't mean anything by it, we just wanted to buy her a drink..."
Among this group of hangers-on, Li Chao held the highest status, being inseparable from Lu Jingyang. Lu Jingyang might tolerate Li Chao's actions, but their words likely wouldn't be so easily dismissed.
Therefore, one clever individual shifted all the blame onto Li Chao, attempting to quell Lu Jingyang's anger.
In the past, no matter how outrageous Li Chao's antics were, Lu Jingyang always accepted them without a word of complaint. But today, they clearly felt something was different about Lu Jingyang.
Lu Jingyang glanced indifferently at the group and walked directly up to Li Chao. "Have you ever considered me a brother?"
The smugness on Li Chao's face visibly froze. "Of course! I've always considered you my best brother!"
"Best brother..." Lu Jingyang slowly savored the words. "Yes, a good brother!"
He patted the other man's shoulder, his expression gradually darkening. "To be this good a brother, it truly takes a certain level of effort..."
Before Li Chao could speak, Lu Jingyang turned to the manager behind him and said, "Tally up the drinks, the damaged tables and chairs. Ah, and also the outstanding bills. I believe this 'good brother' of mine will surely look out for his brother and compensate me for my losses, right?"
Li Chao hadn't expected Lu Jingyang to suddenly turn on him, and his face immediately soured. "It's just a few smashed bottles, is it that big a deal? Does our brotherhood of many years mean less than a few bottles of alcohol?"
"Or perhaps, you never considered me a brother at all!" Li Chao, in his embarrassment and anger, didn't show any shame but instead accused Lu Jingyang.
"Don't consider you a brother?" Lu Jingyang chuckled. "Should I remind you? How many times have I paid your bills over the years, how many favors have I done for you?"
"Ah Bin, when you got into trouble, who paid to resolve it?"
"Ah Hong, when your relatives kicked you out, who took you in?"
"And Ah Xing, you said you liked my Harley, and I gave it to you without a second thought, didn't I?"
The individuals called out averted their gazes, turning their heads away.
Without their support, Li Chao suddenly found himself isolated and helpless.
At this moment, Lu Jingyang turned back again, looking at the flushed face of Li Chao before him.
This man he had always called 'brother'.
"And you, Li Chao! I've always confided in you. You know everything about my thoughts and feelings. Yes, you've offered me some advice, but when have I ever not rewarded you?"
"The Land Rover you drive, the women you've fancied, even the usurious loans you've taken, I've helped you with them all!"
"I don't owe you anything!" Lu Jingyang, for once, stood his ground and voiced the words that had been accumulating in his heart. "I can overlook past incidents. But you've already benefited, and now you're barking orders at my people on my turf, smashing my place. Isn't that going too far?"
"Young Master Lu, please calm down!"
"We're all brothers, let's smooth things over, let's put it behind us!"
"Brothers?" Lu Jingyang, fueled by alcohol, decided to be blunt. "I wouldn't dare be his brother! With him around, wouldn't I be bankrupted?"
Li Chao, publicly reprimanded by Lu Jingyang, felt utterly humiliated and angrily retorted, "Those were all things you offered willingly! Do I lack your paltry sums of money?"
"It's just a few bottles of wine? What are they worth? I'll pay for them!"
"Is fifty thousand enough?"
As Li Chao spoke, he pulled a card from his pocket and tossed it in front of Lu Jingyang.
Lu Jingyang let out a cold laugh. "If I recall correctly, this card was given to you by me, wasn't it? Are you sure there's any money left in it?"
Everyone present showed expressions of disbelief at these words.
"Heavens, this man is too shameless! Flaunting money given by others, isn't he afraid of divine retribution?"
"He looks like a rogue, a street hoodlum!"
"To be friends with someone like that is truly a lifetime of bad luck!"
Listening to the hushed whispers around them, Li Chao could no longer bear the humiliation. He said indignantly, "Lu Jingyang, do you really want to fall out with me in front of everyone? Aren't you afraid I'll expose your secrets?"
"What secrets could I possibly have?" Lu Jingyang arrogantly tilted his chin.
He was just a good-for-nothing idler, lacking ambition and talent, but he hadn't done anything truly wicked. The only mistake he'd made was being instigated by Song Yan to harm Su He. But that attempt hadn't succeeded, had it?
Seeing the arrogant look in his eyes, Li Chao couldn't help but sneer, "Everyone! Do you know the cost of the wine you're drinking, and how much it's sold to you for? The profit margins are beyond your imagination!"