Chapter 5: Tacit Understanding (Patreon)

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Although Guanhai already knew what was going on, he couldn't help but feel a bit disappointed. He tore open the red envelope and took out a hundred New Genesis Coins.

Indeed, there was only a hundred yuan inside the red envelope. Guanhai had completely torn it open, and apart from the hundred yuan, there was nothing else inside.

"Well, this is disappointing!" Guanhai muttered. He didn't get angry; instead, he wore a wry smile on his face.

Yang Haoran smiled helplessly and said, "I thought this Mr. Liu was quite generous. Seems like I overestimated him. I've been in this business for some time now, and usually, red envelopes have at least two hundred inside. I planned to split it fifty-fifty with you, but it looks like that plan's gone."

Since Yang Haoran entered this line of work, Guanhai had brought him a lot of business. He had gained some fame on their street, and Guanhai was partly responsible for that. Whenever Guanhai brought in business, Yang Haoran would split the earnings with him. Despite his need for money, Yang Haoran never let his friends lose out.

After just a quick pinch, Yang Haoran confirmed there was only a hundred inside the red envelope. So, he simply handed it all to Guanhai. Just a hundred yuan wouldn't do to split it equally; that would make him seem petty.

However, Guanhai didn't accept the hundred yuan. Instead, he tossed it to Yang Haoran, saying, "You've been busy all afternoon. It wouldn't be fair for me to take this money. Though I introduced this deal, I never expected Mr. Liu to be this stingy. It's a miscalculation on my part."

Seeing Yang Haoran still trying to hand him the money, Guanhai continued, "He's inviting us for dinner tonight. I'll make sure to get back what's rightfully mine. Afterward, I'll take him to my bar for some spending. That way, I'll make up for my loss. So, don't worry about me losing out."

Yang Haoran chuckled at his words and then put the hundred yuan into his bag.

As the car started, the two headed towards their destination. Along the way, Guanhai drove and said with a smile, "I've figured you out now. You, kid, probably don't know anything at all. I've been through many deals with you, and though your methods vary each time, something always feels off. Tell me honestly, are you just pretending to be knowledgeable?"

Yang Haoran heard this but didn't show any embarrassment at being caught lying. Instead, he looked at Guanhai with disdain and snorted, "Huh, you, an ordinary mortal, how could you understand the prowess of your brother Yang? You think you're the only smart one, and everyone else is foolish? If I were truly incompetent, I would have been called a fraud long ago. My small convenience store probably would've been vandalized countless times. But have you ever seen me being accused of fraud? Have you ever seen anyone causing trouble at my small convenience store?"

With Yang Haoran's question, Guanhai's smile turned awkward. Indeed, he had never seen anyone accusing Yang Haoran of fraud, nor had he seen anyone causing trouble at Yang Haoran's shop. Moreover, everyone Guanhai knew who had dealt with Yang Haoran seemed to have a good impression of him. Some even respected him a lot. From this perspective, Yang Haoran didn't seem like a fraudster, at least not among the people Guanhai knew.

However, Guanhai still felt that Yang Haoran was likely putting on airs. He didn't have any evidence; it was just his intuition. In the environment he was currently in, the existence of ghosts and gods was elusive. Finding evidence of Yang Haoran's pretense wouldn't be easy.

Without evidence, Guanhai couldn't argue against Yang Haoran. He could only smile awkwardly to cover his embarrassment.

Guanhai didn't continue the topic, and Yang Haoran didn't press further, not wanting to embarrass Guanhai. In friendships, it's important to maintain a balance. No matter how good the relationship is, one shouldn't push too hard; even jokes, if taken too far, could leave a sour note.

Moreover, Yang Haoran knew deep down that Guanhai wasn't entirely wrong. He really didn't have much skill. The little fame he had was all thanks to his acting. If he were asked to deal with supernatural creatures, he'd probably run away faster than anyone.

However, in handling Mr. Liu's housing matter today, Yang Haoran wasn't entirely deceiving him. Some things he said were lies, while others were truths. Mixing truth and lies made it harder to discern the problem.

Mr. Liu's chosen restaurant was just an ordinary one, small and shabby. But Mr. Liu had found a good excuse; he claimed the food here was excellent, so he chose it. Whether the money mattered or not was irrelevant.

If Yang Haoran hadn't dined at this restaurant before, and if he didn't know how much Mr. Liu had given him in the red envelope, he might have believed Mr. Liu's words. But now, he simply smiled without saying a word.

Guanhai owned a small bar on the same street, not far from the restaurant. So, both Guanhai and Yang Haoran had visited this restaurant before. To be honest, the food here was quite average, not as delicious as Mr. Liu claimed. The only advantage was that the restaurant was very cheap.

Both Yang Haoran and Guanhai were aware of this fact, but neither of them broke the illusion. They both smiled amicably, showing no signs of dissatisfaction.

As the dishes were served and glasses clinked, the atmosphere was harmonious. None of them commented on the taste of the food, and neither Yang Haoran nor Guanhai mentioned the red envelope incident. They understood each other without saying a word.

Guanhai was mature beyond his years. Though not cunning, he had his methods and principles in dealing with people. He dared to call himself a romantic, adept at navigating social situations. That required skill.

Yang Haoran, having spent over a decade navigating society, had seen many ups and downs. While he might not match Guanhai in wooing women, he had his own ways of surviving in this world.

His decision not to mention the red envelope incident and to engage with Mr. Liu warmly was merely to avoid embarrassing him. Mr. Liu might be stingy, but he had his own circle of friends. Not burning bridges with him would leave a positive impression, potentially widening Yang Haoran's network. Perhaps this stingy person could even help Yang Haoran gain more business in the future.

Confronting Mr. Liu about his stinginess would only lead to an unpleasant outcome, embarrassing everyone involved and potentially offending him, which was unnecessary.

The smart way to handle things was to gain more friends and fewer enemies. As long as the other party didn't violate his principles, what harm was there in taking a small loss? Sometimes, taking a small loss could lead to greater gains in the future.

In Yang Haoran's view, everyone had their uses, even fools. It all depended on how one utilized them.

Furthermore, fate was mysterious. Today, someone might need your help, and tomorrow, you might need theirs. While some might scoff at this idea, Yang Haoran had experienced it firsthand and it left a deep impression on him. So, he generally avoided burning bridges unless absolutely necessary.

After a satisfying meal, Mr. Liu became tipsy, while Yang Haoran and Guanhai remained unfazed. It wasn't that they drank less than Mr. Liu, or that Mr. Liu had a poor tolerance for alcohol. It was simply that Yang Haoran and Guanhai had high alcohol tolerance.

When the bill came, the three of them had spent over six hundred New Genesis Coins. If Mr. Liu were sober, he would probably question the bill, thinking it wasn't calculated correctly. But in his current intoxicated state, he was generous and carefree.

"Pocket change! Haha! Pocket change! Today, I'm happy. This little money doesn't matter!" Mr. Liu laughed foolishly as he settled the bill without batting an eye.

In reality, the restaurant didn't cheat them. While the food was cheap, they had consumed a lot of alcohol, which added up. Yang Haoran and Guanhai understood this, but whether Mr. Liu did was uncertain.

"Let's go, let's go! Guanhai, my friend, I heard you have a bar nearby. Since we're all in such a good mood today, let's go to your bar for some more drinks. This time, it's still on me. No one should argue with me about it!" Mr. Liu pulled Guanhai and Yang Haoran, showing great affection. To an outsider, it seemed like the three were extremely close friends.

Watching Mr. Liu's excited state, Yang Haoran couldn't help but recall his past self. He used to be frugal in his personal expenses but generous when it came to treating friends. He would often spend lavishly, even though it meant tightening his belt afterward.

Some people saw this behavior as straightforwardness, but others viewed it as a pathological need for validation, a desire not to be ignored or looked down upon. When Yang Haoran heard such discussions behind his back, it saddened him because, at the time, he was genuinely straightforward and never thought of showing off in front of friends. But not everyone saw it that way.

This experience taught him valuable lessons. He understood that you couldn't always know what others were truly thinking. While you might see someone as a friend and willingly take a loss for them, they might not appreciate it. They might even see you as a braggart.

True friendship, true camaraderie, took time to develop. It wasn't something that could be achieved after a few casual encounters. As the saying goes, time reveals true intentions.

However, the current Mr. Liu wasn't the same as the past Yang Haoran, and Yang Haoran wasn't the same person he used to be either. He didn't say anything dismissive to Mr. Liu; instead, he accepted Mr. Liu's invitation with a cheerful smile.

"Great! Let's go to Guanhai's place. I haven't had enough drinks yet!" Yang Haoran exclaimed joyfully. Guanhai, who had spent the whole afternoon without earning a single coin, certainly deserved a visit to his bar, and Yang Haoran was ready to spend there.

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Next Chapter ->Chapter 6: Unexplained Chill