God-Tier Get Rich System – CH65

Chapter 65: Meeting Friends

Several heads crowded around the third-floor window, peering at the people getting out of the car below. They chatted animatedly:

“He’s here, he’s here!”

“Hand in hand in this heat? Are they really that clingy? Yikes!”

“Didn’t expect this… didn’t expect Brother Xu to be like this in a relationship!”

“That guy’s pretty handsome—no wonder Brother Xu fell for him.”

“Hmph! Why is it that all the high-quality men are dating other men?”

“All?”

“Yeah! Brother Xu, and Mu Lantu too.”

“Where do I even start with that statement…”

“……”

The handsome young man beside Xu Huazhang looked up.

The people by the window instinctively ducked out of sight.

“So sharp?”

Xu Huazhang followed Mu Lantu’s gaze but saw no one, though he had a good guess.

“Baby, they’re probably already here.”

Mu Lantu checked his watch. Good—right on time.

When they reached the private room on the third floor, Mu Lantu felt several gazes fall on him as soon as he stepped in.

There were five people in the room: three men and two women, all well-dressed.

“Brother Xu, you’re here.”

They all stood up with welcoming smiles. As they spoke, they subtly sized up Mu Lantu. When their eyes met his, they nodded politely.

Xu Huazhang held Mu Lantu’s hand as they walked over.

“Sorry we’re late.”

The five quickly reassured him it wasn’t a problem and invited them to sit.

Once seated, Xu Huazhang said, “Let me introduce you all. This is my boyfriend, Mu Lantu. He’s young—only twenty-two—so I hope you’ll all look after him.”

Mu Lantu nodded. “Hello, everyone.”

Then Xu Huazhang introduced his friends.

Lu Ziming, Zou Miaozhu, Bian Xinlei, Dai Jianxiu, and Yin Fang’ai had all grown up with Xu Huazhang. They used to live in the same upscale neighborhood—so needless to say, they all came from good families.

“Brother Xu…” Yin Fang’ai gripped her teacup tightly. “I heard you two have already met each other’s parents?”

Mu Lantu’s radar immediately kicked in, and he looked at her cautiously.

Xu Huazhang sensed something too. He glanced nervously at Mu Lantu and replied with polite detachment, “Yes, my family really likes Lantu.”

Yin Fang’ai forced a smile. “Congratulations.”

Sensing the awkward tension, the others quickly changed the topic.

“Brother Xu, shall we eat while we talk?”

Mu Lantu seemed completely at ease. Xu Huazhang attentively made dipping sauce for him, poured tea, and served food—all clear signs of how much he valued him. No one made things difficult for Mu Lantu.

After dinner, they all went to a karaoke bar for an hour, then parted ways.

Once Xu Huazhang and Mu Lantu left, the rest headed to a bar.

“I don’t think I’m imagining it—Brother Xu used to like me,” Yin Fang’ai said, hugging a bottle and biting her lip, her eyes turning red.

The other four scratched their heads, wanting to say, “Yeah, that’s definitely your imagination.” Knowing Xu Huazhang’s personality, if he’d liked her, he would’ve made a move long ago. Besides, he had never hidden the fact that he liked men.

Lu Ziming clumsily tried to comfort her. “Even if he did like you before, now he’s with someone else. They’ve already met the parents. Please don’t—”

“I know!” Yin Fang’ai interrupted. “I’m not going to do anything. It just feels… so sudden.” She really thought she had a chance.

Zou Miaozhu found it baffling that she’d fall for Xu Huazhang. Sure, Xu Huazhang smiled at Mu Lantu like he was precious, but in her memory, he was usually serious with everyone else—commanding more awe than affection.

That’s the right word—“awe.” Not closeness.

Even their form of address showed it. While everyone else called each other by the second part of their names, they all called him “Brother Xu.” Not one of them dared to call him “Huazhang,” not even Lu Ziming, who was three months older.

“Fang’ai, Brother Xu’s not the right guy for you. You should give up.”

Yin Fang’ai didn’t respond. What else could she do but accept it?

She knew full well—they were in love and suited each other perfectly. Forcing herself in would only make her a laughingstock.

Mu Lantu believed in understanding a partner’s circle of friends, but he didn’t expect—or want—to be besties with all of them. Friendship still depended on chemistry.

A couple of days after the gathering, he called Gu Jincheng to introduce his boyfriend.

Gu Jincheng showed up eagerly, only to freeze when he saw Xu Huazhang.

“President Mu, this is your boyfriend?”

“Yes. Is there a problem?”

To avoid misunderstandings, Mu Lantu had already told him on the phone that his partner was a man. Gu Jincheng had said he didn’t mind, which is why this meal was arranged.

Xu Huazhang noticed Gu Jincheng’s shocked expression and raised a brow. “You know me?”

“Yes, I…” Gu Jincheng suddenly felt like a student summoned by the dean and sat up straight. “Second Brother Xu, you might not remember me—we’ve met a few times before. Gu Caiwei is my aunt.”

Mu Lantu raised his eyebrows too and looked at Xu Huazhang. Wasn’t Gu Caiwei his sister-in-law?

Well, that was unexpected.

Xu Huazhang still had no impression. Gu Jincheng was younger, and even if they had met, Xu probably hadn’t paid much attention.

“So you’re my sister-in-law’s nephew? Small world.”

Gu Jincheng gave an awkward smile while crying internally. He never expected his college classmate to become his aunt’s… “little brother-in-law”? What was he even supposed to call him?

Xu Huazhang smiled. “Shall we eat?”

Mu Lantu kindly offered, “Or I could take you out next time, just the two of us?”

Gu Jincheng felt like backing out now would make him look like a coward. He mustered his courage. “I’m already here.”

All right then.

They ordered food.

Knowing Gu Jincheng felt uncomfortable, Xu Huazhang didn’t force conversation on him. He left the chatting to Mu Lantu.

After most of the meal, Xu excused himself to the restroom, giving the two of them some private time.

He stepped out of the private room, checked his watch, and started timing.

As soon as the door closed, Gu Jincheng let out a long breath and eagerly asked, “President Mu, what’s going on? You two are not from the same world. How did you meet and end up together?”

Mu Lantu gave him a simple explanation.

Gu Jincheng still found it unbelievable. He itched to post an online rant: “Help! My college classmate is now my aunt’s brother-in-law!”—it would go viral for sure.

Xu Huazhang waited five minutes, then knocked and re-entered.

Gu Jincheng grumbled internally—why’d he come back so fast? He had so many more questions for Mu Lantu!

Xu Huazhang had no intention of letting anyone take up his time with Mu Lantu. He smiled warmly. “Everyone finished eating?”

Mu Lantu replied, “Yes.”

Gu Jincheng also said, “All done. Thanks for the meal.”

Xu looked at him. “We’re going for a stroll—do you…”

Gu Jincheng got the hint. “You two go ahead. I’ll hang around a bit, then head home.”

As soon as they left, he pulled out his phone to message his aunt.

[Gu Jincheng]: Auntie, Auntie! Mu Lantu is the partner of Uncle Xu’s younger brother?! He’s also my college classmate!

[Auntie]: Ah… well, that’s fine. It doesn’t affect your relationship.

Gu Jincheng let out a mental wail. Sure, it technically didn’t—but how was he supposed to deal with the fact that his classmate was now a generation above him?

When he got home, he told his parents.

Gu Yingwu and his wife were stunned.

Their family had close ties to the entertainment industry, and they knew there were many gay people in it. They weren’t shocked by Mu Lantu’s orientation—but the fact that his partner was from the Xu family was shocking.

After a pause, Gu Yingwu said, “Your classmate is clearly a capable person. He’ll only achieve more in the future.”

His wife didn’t say anything, but inside, she was pleased. Their son wasn’t doing too badly either, and being close with someone like Mu Lantu was a real asset.

Their family was considered second-tier in Imperial City. Thanks to Gu Caiwei’s marriage into the Xu family, they had already benefited. Now, with this new connection between Jincheng and Mu Lantu, their families would become even closer. Stepping into the top tier was just a matter of time.

Jincheng suddenly thought of the bet and asked, “Dad, what’s the current status of that bet?”

Gu Yingwu looked proud. “Your friend has a high chance of winning!”

Jincheng didn’t know the details and looked surprised. “But if Lantu wins, doesn’t that mean you lose? Why are you so happy about that?”

Gu Yingwu patted his head like a watermelon. “Silly boy. You’ll understand someday. But don’t tell Lantu yet. Until the final day, anything could happen.”

Jincheng said, “I wouldn’t even know what to say—I don’t know the details myself.”

Mu Lantu hadn’t thought about the bet since signing the contract. He figured he’d hear the result at the end—no need to keep tabs.

Now that Dream Home Resort was open to tourists, his account balance was increasing by the second. Just watching it put him in a great mood.

[Little Five, how much money do I have now?]

[Host, including your stock portfolio, the total is 286.53 million.]

Mu Lantu opened a map of the Jasmine Country and hesitated between Qingning City and Huadu.

Qingning was his hometown; Huadu was the country’s most populous city.

[Little Five, build a teleportation station in Huadu.]

[Affirmative.]

As he watched his account rapidly drain, he clutched his chest in pain and comforted himself: Stay calm, stay calm. The more you spend, the more you earn.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Baby, it’s me.”

Mu Lantu closed the screen. “Come in.”

Seeing him clutching his chest, Xu Huazhang panicked and rushed over. “What’s wrong? Are you feeling unwell?”

Mu Lantu lowered his hand. “No.”

Xu checked his complexion and touched his forehead—nothing seemed off. “Don’t hide things from me.”

Mu Lantu had to make up an excuse. “I ate snacks too fast earlier and choked a bit. I’m fine now.”

Only then did Xu relax. “Mom just called. She said she wants to come visit the courtyard house.”

“Sure. Do we need to go pick her up?” Mu Lantu held his hand and walked out of the study. “If so, you can go. I’ll stay and get the place ready.”