Chapter 52: I Don’t Like Luxury Cars!

Only after arriving did he realize just how grand the opening ceremony was. And upon entering the venue, he found himself distinctly out of place among the other guests. Everyone present was either a second-generation heir or a wealthy collector of luxury cars, impeccably dressed in designer brands or adorned with extravagant jewelry. Clearly, these people were here to flaunt their wealth.

Lin Fan discerned that this opening ceremony was merely an occasion for the affluent heirs to show off, with only a handful genuinely seeking friendship. As he glanced around curiously, Ouyang Qi suddenly appeared behind him.

“Why are you dressed so plainly? Didn’t your cousin tell you tonight was a gathering of the supercar club?” she asked.

“I prefer to keep a low profile!” Lin Fan replied with a touch of pride.

He hadn’t expected the event to be so large; he’d thought it was just a minor affair among local heirs. He was surprised by the turnout.

“Well, the words ‘supercar club’ alone make it obvious that attendees are extraordinary. Don’t tell me you don’t understand even that?” Ouyang Qi was baffled.

Lin Fan felt awkward; he truly didn’t know these unspoken rules. The world of the wealthy was unimaginable for ordinary people. He had been poor, and even now, with newfound wealth, he couldn’t quite shed his air of poverty.

The other guests came from families with either power or immense wealth, many raised with a silver spoon, their bearing and conversation filled with aristocratic flair. For someone like him to be here was akin to a country chicken wandering into a flock of phoenixes.

Ouyang Qi didn’t press further, assuming he was simply modest and unassuming. She took his arm and led him toward the gathering.

On the lawn, temporary outdoor bars and pavilions had been set up, much like an open-air karaoke. In the center was a dance floor, where a group of attractive men and women danced to the music.

Crossing the lawn, the two entered the main hall of the car dealership. On the sofas in the reception area, Su Juanmo was happily engaged in conversation with others.

“Ouyang, is this your new boyfriend? He’s rather ordinary, isn’t he?” one person teased, noting how Ouyang Qi was practically glued to Lin Fan’s side.

“Don’t be arrogant. He may look ordinary, but put together, you all don’t have as much wealth as he does,” Ouyang Qi retorted, rolling her eyes and reluctantly letting go of Lin Fan’s arm.

Lin Fan glanced at Su Juanmo. Tonight, she was dressed conservatively in a simple white suit, her makeup less elaborate than the other women. But with her natural beauty and flawless complexion, she outshone them all even without cosmetics. In contrast, Ouyang Qi, with her bold style, wore a crop top and loose bell-bottoms, looking every bit the cowgirl.

In truth, Lin Fan preferred Ouyang Qi’s lively personality to the aloof type. But to unlock the power function and complete his task, he would, as before, go out of his way to please Su Juanmo.

“Oh, so your new boyfriend’s family is even more impressive than the richest man in Hangzhou?” said Lei Hao, a famous heir from neighboring Jiangyang. His family was a major shareholder in one of the country’s top five automakers, with assets in the billions. He was a friend of Su Juanmo’s cousin Ouyang Xiaojun, and familiar with both Ouyang Qi and Su Juanmo, making it easy for him to joke with Ouyang Qi.

“You’re not wrong—he’s even more formidable than Chairman Wang! Even Chairman Wang insisted on meeting him personally. You know the Imperial Hotel…” Ouyang Qi began, but another person interjected, laughing dismissively: “Chairman Wang has assets in the tens of billions and is a renowned tycoon. If he’s really more impressive, how come we’ve never heard of him?”

These heirs all had their own circles. Even if someone hadn’t been exposed online—be it a wealthy heir, an illegitimate child of a tycoon, or any scandal—they could always find out within their circles. They loved nothing more than networking with their peers, currying favor with those stronger or more influential.

“You don’t know half as much as you think. Don’t act like you’re omniscient—really, you’re just seeing the world from the bottom of a well,” Ouyang Qi retorted. She and Lei Hao were close enough that such criticism didn’t invite ridicule.

Besides, everyone knew Ouyang Qi was famed for chasing wealthy husbands. Even if Lin Fan looked plain, no one found it unusual.

Once seated, the others began interrogating Lin Fan, seeking details about his background. He answered honestly, saying he came from a rural area and had struck it rich by winning the lottery, carefully omitting that he’d bought the Imperial Hotel.

Lin Fan keenly sensed the coldness in their attitudes. After their tedious questioning, they ignored him altogether.

A few important guests arrived, and as the car dealership owner and supercar club president, Ouyang Xiaojun rose to greet them, leaving only Lin Fan, Su Juanmo, and several other heirs at the table. Ouyang Qi went off with her brother, Ouyang Xiaojun, to welcome the guests.

The dealership was, after all, an Ouyang family investment.

“If I’d known, I wouldn’t have invited you—spare you the embarrassment…” Su Juanmo initiated conversation, but her tone remained frosty.

Lin Fan noticed that her affection for him remained at fifteen, unchanged. Even gifting her a luxury estate worth three hundred million hadn’t moved her, which left him frustrated. If even three hundred million couldn’t budge her, he’d probably have to spend ten billion to win her heart!

“It’s nothing—I get to broaden my horizons. I’ve always been curious about how the wealthy live. Now I know what these heirs do in their free time. No wonder so many envy them…” Lin Fan laughed at himself.

He truly couldn’t compare with these heirs. Still, it wasn’t a wasted trip; now he understood the rules and could better blend into their circles in the future.

It wasn’t Su Juanmo’s fault, really. She’d assumed he was a hidden tycoon, well-versed in these circles. Had she known he was clueless, she wouldn’t have invited him.

“By the way, do you like the estate I gave you?” Lin Fan tilted his head, hopeful.

“Thank you for your kindness. It’s too big—I plan to save it as a wedding house, and move in when I get married,” Su Juanmo smiled, nodding graciously.

“As long as you like it!” Lin Fan beamed, seeing her radiant smile for the first time. Before, she always wore a world-weary expression, difficult to approach.

“Do you like luxury cars?” Lin Fan glanced at the array of supercars in the hall and asked again.

At his words, a flash of excitement crossed Su Juanmo’s eyes. “When I was little, I dreamed of becoming a race car driver. It seemed so thrilling—I’ve always loved watching racing movies.”