"Xiao Cai, where are you? Hurry and drive to pick me up, we're going to Orchid KTV!"
Xiao Li Zi had become quite familiar with Cai Jin Qu these days.
The two men, on vacation, had become playmates.
If they weren't both in their forties, one might mistake it for children playing house, with nothing left but to play.
Upon receiving the call, Cai Jin Qu immediately drove his sports car to pick up Xiao Li Zi.
All the way, he wondered why it had to be Orchid KTV.
He recalled the details of the past two days and discovered a secret.
Xiao Li Zi always requested a specific girl to accompany him when singing. The girl's appearance was quite ordinary, barely passable at Orchid KTV, and likely wouldn't even get a second glance elsewhere.
He didn't know why Xiao Li Zi was so smitten with her. As long as things got done, Cai Jin Qu didn't care what the person looked like; even if Chang'e descended from the heavens, it wouldn't concern him in the slightest.
But now, everything revolved around Xiao Li Zi; as long as he was happy, things would be resolved in minutes.
Everything was like a procedure: enter, choose a host, select someone to accompany singing. Xiao Li Zi was already proficient.
The difference was that today, they didn't eat first but went directly to the KTV.
"Hello? Hello? Who is this?"
Amidst the noise in the room, Cai Jin Qu answered the phone. He gestured to Xiao Li Zi, indicating there was a call, then turned and left the private room.
He was gone for a long time.
"Brother Li Zi, I'll be right back!"
The accompanying girl also went out. A person at the door, presumably their manager, beckoned her with a hand.
Xiao Li Zi didn't stop them. He heard the girl say she'd be back soon, so he waited patiently.
Left alone, singing lost its appeal, and he slumped onto the sofa.
"Hey! Get up! Sir, please settle the bill!"
The tone was neither disrespectful nor overly aggressive.
"Settle the bill? We haven't even finished enjoying ourselves, and the others haven't arrived yet. Why should we pay?"
Xiao Li Zi wasn't sure how long they had been there; it felt like only a short while.
"Look at the time. We're closing!"
"What? KTV closes? That's a joke!"
Xiao Li Zi said sarcastically.
He knew very little about KTVs, only bits and pieces he'd seen online. He was unfamiliar with actual KTV operations.
He checked his phone; it showed 02:15. Indeed, it was late.
The server said nothing, just stared at him.
"Since that's the case, then let's settle the bill. How much?"
The server was blunt: "Including drinks, fruit platter, and accompaniment service fees, it's a total of five thousand one hundred and eighty yuan!"
"What? Five thousand for such a short time?"
Xiao Li Zi sat bolt upright from his slumped position.
Five thousand yuan was more than his monthly salary. Who would have thought it was only a few hours? Crucially, he didn't have that much money on him.
"Yes, sir. Will you be paying in cash or by card?"
The server inquired. Although she looked down on those who pretended to be wealthy without the means, she had to follow company policy.
Xiao Li Zi's heart sank. The earlier joy of singing had vanished.
"Sigh, can I make a phone call? Please wait."
Xiao Li Zi sighed, thinking of calling Xiao Cai to come and settle the bill.
"Beep... Beep..."
A long tone echoed from the phone, interspersed with static. Clearly, the signal was poor.
Xiao Li Zi looked at his phone screen, growing anxious, and hung up. He tried dialing again.
This time, a voice came through: "The number you have dialed has been turned off!"
Xiao Li Zi panicked, clearly flustered.
"This! Xiao Cai, he's really unreliable, turning off his phone at a time like this! Sigh!"
Xiao Li Zi lamented, unconsciously pacing back and forth.
He was anxious, his brow furrowed, and he repeatedly rubbed his chin with his right hand, sighing repeatedly.
"Cash, or card!"
The server couldn't afford to wait and emphasized the purpose of her visit.
"Wait a moment longer!"
"Until when?"
"I said, wait! Just wait! Do you people process customers? Why don't you process me then!"
Xiao Li Zi was enraged by the server's tone, wondering what KTV processed people for bills.
"If you don't have money, just say so. Standing in the latrine without relieving yourself. Oh, now that you're done, you want to pull up your pants and leave? It's not that easy!" Su Dan Xiao Shuo Wang
The server said sarcastically.
"Shut up! You shut up! I'm thinking of a way!"
Xiao Li Zi yelled, losing his temper.
Immediately, he tried calling Cai Jin Qu again.
Still no answer.
"Sigh!"
Xiao Li Zi helplessly crouched on the ground, rubbing his hair with his hands.
All of this was observed by Cai Jin Qu.
He hadn't left; he was there the entire time. This was just a small stratagem he had devised to make Xiao Li Zi understand the value of money.
Although this KTV wasn't his, he was a shareholder.
Business-oriented KTVs like this were more expensive than ordinary ones.
"When will you settle the bill?"
The server had lost her patience and asked coldly.
"I don't have the money. You decide what to do."
"No, you must pay today, or we'll call the police!"
Xiao Li Zi was speechless; he couldn't afford the bill. Although he received a salary every month, he had no idea where it went, and he never had five thousand yuan in his pocket.
No matter what the server said, Xiao Li Zi remained stubbornly seated on the ground, like a dead pig unafraid of boiling water.
Cai Jin Qu saw his opportunity and appeared at the entrance of the private room.
"Hey! Brother Li Zi, what's wrong? Why are you sitting on the ground?"
Xiao Li Zi turned his head and saw Xiao Cai, overjoyed.
He scrambled to his feet and said, "You're finally here! They..."
As he spoke, Xiao Li Zi pointed at the server.
"Sir, we are closing. Please settle your bill."
Seeing Cai Jin Qu's attire, the server smiled and said.
Cai Jin Qu unhurriedly took out a card and handed it to her.
"Alright, please wait a moment!"
The server took the membership card, clutched it tightly with both hands, bowed slightly, and left the private room.
"Oh, Xiao Cai, where did you go? Why did it take so long?"
Xiao Li Zi complained.
"I'm sorry, Brother Li Zi. I had some business issues that were a bit troublesome, so it took me a while. I apologize for making you suffer! I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry."
"Sigh, forget it, forget it. It's all in the past. Just don't turn off your phone next time!"
Xiao Li Zi said, still a little shaken.
"Don't worry, there won't be a next time!"