Chapter 24: Medisn Pharmaceutical Factory

Downstairs at Yujing Bay.

Su Yunzhou called Jian Shan. Once Jian Shan understood what his patron needed, he immediately sent over a location pin.

[Medisn Pharmaceutical Factory]

The name was quite interesting, and it wasn't too far away, either—just a little over a ten-minute cab ride.

Jian Shan sent another message.

[Mr. Su, I've already talked to my buddy. Just look for Gu when you arrive. They have a live music performance there tonight.]

[Sounds good~]

After replying to the message, Su Yunzhou looked up at the thousands of illuminated windows in the residential high-rise, wondering which apartment belonged to Liu Yiyi. Earlier, when they decided to grab a bite, she had said she needed to go back upstairs to drop off the roses. She had told Su Yunzhou to pick a spot and insisted that she would be paying. But almost ten minutes had passed since she went up.

Meanwhile, upstairs.

Liu Yiyi was hurriedly getting ready to head out. She had used dropping off the flowers as an excuse, but in reality, she wanted to change her outfit. However, when she opened her wardrobe, she had no idea what to wear. She agonized over it for a few minutes. Unable to pick anything, she finally decided to stick with her current outfit and just apply some light makeup before leaving.

Yet, no matter how she applied it today, she just wasn't satisfied. Anxious and frustrated, ten minutes slipped away in the blink of an eye. She finally rushed out the door with a light makeup look that she mentally rated a mere 66 out of 100.

"Sorry! I just had to take a quick phone call," Liu Yiyi said, telling a white lie.

Su Yunzhou looked at the red lipstick and eyeshadow on her face. He nodded silently and swept his hand forward in a dramatic gesture. "Your Highness, your private carriage has arrived. Please get in."

Her foul mood from her botched makeup routine instantly improved by leaps and bounds. Su Yunzhou gently pulled the car door open, raising his left hand to hover over the door frame so she wouldn't bump her head.

[Affinity +1]

Hearing the system notification, Su Yunzhou was overjoyed. Affinity had been getting increasingly difficult to raise lately. As expected, it was the little details that truly moved people's hearts.

Seeing his passengers board, the driver of the luxury car politely explained, "Sir, because I waited for a while, there's a delay fee. The final cost might be a bit higher than the estimate..."

Su Yunzhou waved it off without a care. "That's fine. Let's go!"

Two faint blushes crept up Liu Yiyi's pretty face as she changed the subject. "Where are we going?"

Fifteen minutes later.

The pair arrived at their destination: Medisn Pharmaceutical Factory.

Liu Yiyi looked at the distinctly unique storefront not far away, and all her previous worries evaporated. In the car, Su Yunzhou had mentioned that he picked a hybrid lounge bar that featured live music. She had been slightly worried that it would be one of those obnoxiously loud nightclubs packed with wildly thrashing bodies. But looking at it now, she realized she had been overthinking.

Some people said that the place a man chose for dinner showed his wealth, the dishes he ordered showed his taste, and the alcohol he drank showed his character. Liu Yiyi gazed at the handsome side profile of the man beside her, a myriad of thoughts swirling in her mind.

The facade of the Pharmaceutical Factory utilized massive frosted glass doors to create a visually striking glass wall. Outside, a few scattered patrons were gathered in small circles, chatting and smoking. It looked incredibly cozy and relaxed. Liu Yiyi would occasionally visit bars for business engagements, but this was her first time seeing a lounge bar that prohibited indoor smoking.

Su Yunzhou walked up to the entrance and spoke to a server. "Hello, I'm looking for a man named Gu."

The server immediately called for Gu over his walkie-talkie. Gu was a sharp-looking young man dressed in a black shirt and black dress pants. He strode over and, upon spotting Su Yunzhou, asked in a hushed tone to confirm, "Mr. Su?"

Su Yunzhou gave a slight nod. "Jian Shan sent me."

Gu's expression instantly became a few degrees more respectful. He recalled his buddy's warning that this was a man with deep pockets who needed to be thoroughly entertained and perfectly accommodated. "Sir, I've reserved a second-floor VIP booth with the absolute best view for the two of you. Will that be alright?"

"Lead the way," Su Yunzhou replied concisely.

Gu happily led them inside. A VIP booth wasn't just a status symbol for the guests; it was also where promoters like him scored their biggest tabs. He just couldn't quite figure out what kind of date this gentleman and this increasingly stunning mature woman were on. Different dates meant different vibes, and naturally, entirely different levels of spending.

As the two stepped inside, they were immediately hit by a wave of warmth and atmospheric jazz music. The upbeat melody echoed throughout the space. The sound quality was superb, ensuring the music reached every corner with crystal clarity. Dim, moody lighting washed over the plush sofas. The men and women present were all impeccably dressed and exuded an air of elegance, while a few younger couples swayed their hips to the beat.

The venue was split into two levels. The first floor was expansive. Tucked all the way in the back was a live music stage set up with various instruments. In another corner sat a massive bar. The wall behind it was divided into hundreds of small cubbies, each displaying an assortment of colorful bottles. Four or five bartenders were bustling non-stop behind the counter.

Gu was great at reading the room and immediately introduced the layout. "This is one of the Pharmaceutical Factory's signatures. We've sourced famous liquors from all over the globe, and our boss personally updates the drink menu every single week. Every time you visit the Pharmaceutical Factory, you get to experience a completely unique flavor profile."

"Interesting," Su Yunzhou remarked.

A hint of intrigue also flashed in Liu Yiyi's beautiful eyes. She actually quite enjoyed drinking. It was just that, most of the time, she drank alone at home. Alcohol had been her sole companion through her most agonizing nights.

As he spoke, Gu led them to a side staircase and up to the second floor. This level was divided into dozens of VIP booths, all offering an unobstructed view of the stage downstairs. Gu picked up the 'Reserved' sign from one of the tables.

"Sir, this is the VIP booth I saved specifically for you," Gu said, glancing at his watch. "There's another performance at nine. We booked a pretty good folk singer."

Su Yunzhou was quite pleased with the spacious booth and plush sofas. He casually turned his gaze to Liu Yiyi.

"Mhm," Liu Yiyi nodded slightly before asking, "Do you have any signature recommendations?"

Overjoyed, Gu carefully pitched his upsell. "Miss, the number one item on our drink menu this week is the 'Free Flight.' It's an absolutely groundbreaking cocktail..."

Liu Yiyi cut him off. "We'll order drinks in a bit. What do you have for food?"

Realizing his mistake, Gu flashed an apologetic look and immediately switched the iPad in his hands to the food menu. He cheered inwardly, "Tonight is in the bag!" Usually, anyone who dared to order a full meal at a lounge bar ended up spending a small fortune.

Liu Yiyi ordered a few specialty dishes. Then, guided by Gu's professional recommendations, she ordered six glasses of wine in three different flavor profiles to pair with their meal.

Gu tucked the iPad under his arm and turned to Su Yunzhou. "I apologize, but we require payment upfront here..."

Su Yunzhou took out his phone, but Liu Yiyi stopped him.

"We had a deal! I'm treating you today!" Her pretty face was filled with determination, radiating a stubbornness that wouldn't take no for an answer.

Su Yunzhou smiled helplessly and sat back down.

Feeling a twinge of envy, Gu pulled up the payment QR code. Such a gorgeous, elegant woman, yet she was actively fighting to pay the bill. This Mr. Su didn't look very old, but he was clearly a smooth operator.

"Since you were referred by a friend, I'll apply my employee discount," Gu said. "Your total comes to 1,600 yuan."

Liu Yiyi paused for a brief moment before successfully scanning the code.

Su Yunzhou immediately received a system notification.

[A mature woman has spent 1,600 yuan on you. Current Affinity: 68 points. Cashback: 108,800 yuan.]

A short while later.

The table was filled with fine food and exquisite drinks. Gu had thoughtfully thrown in a complimentary fruit platter and two warm beverages, suggesting they warm their stomachs first, before respectfully excusing himself to attend to other customers.

Liu Yiyi took the initiative to pick up her glass. The beautifully layered cocktail radiated a mesmerizing pale blue hue under the lights. "Hmm? What did he say this drink was called again?"

Su Yunzhou raised his own glass, gently clinked the rim against hers, and took a small sip. "Free Flight."

Liu Yiyi's eyes sparkled. She took a delicate sip, the fragrance lingering on her lips and teeth. Everything was understood without being spoken.

Why do adults love drinking? Because it was only through this medium that they could freely express their emotions like a child.

With Su Yunzhou's deliberate guidance, Liu Yiyi gradually began to open up and talk more.

At nine o'clock.

A male singer with a guitar slung over his back stepped onto the stage. He began to sing a song that felt inappropriate for the setting, yet deeply relatable.

"We are born into solitude,

We are born to be alone.

No matter what you possess,

We are born into solitude."

Liu Yiyi listened quietly. Her suppressed emotions surged to the surface, bringing a touch of reminiscence and sorrow to the corners of her eyes.

Seeing this scene, Su Yunzhou didn't know how to comfort her. He tried to speak several times, but the words felt too pale and inadequate the moment they reached his lips.

Suddenly, a spark of inspiration hit him. He came up with a bold idea.

"I'm going to the restroom real quick."

"Mhm."