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In the labyrinth of alleys, there were inevitably young revelers staggering and vomiting, while packs of stray dogs and cats roamed about, occasionally rummaging through garbage bins.

Chu Yuening pinched Ah Shui's arm for luck, then followed him into a small bar in the heart of the street. Upon entering, deafening disco music assaulted their ears.

Chu Yuening pressed her earlobes, struggling to adjust to the noisy atmosphere.

The bar was divided into two zones - a dance floor and a drinking area. Amidst the colorful flashing lights and bustling crowd, it was difficult to discern individual faces.

After scanning the dance floor, Chu Yuening, with her heart thumping excitedly from the vibrations, retreated and entered the drinking area. There, she spotted a young man seated at the bar, his wrist adorned with a red string bracelet bearing copper coins, just like Ah Shui's.

A friend tapped him from behind, "Ah Shui!"

Meng Zhou, clearly irritated, removed his friend's hand from his shoulder and clinked glasses with him.

"I've told you, I changed my name. Call me Meng Ziyuan."

Chapter 33

The friend, finishing his drink, found it odd and asked, "Why would you change your name all of a sudden?"

Meng Zhou found it bothersome and waved dismissively. "Don't worry about it, just call me by my new name."

"Are you crazy?" his friend muttered under his breath. "You're an adult, and you're still changing your name?"

After the complaint, his friend's eyes lit up. "I've heard you've been on a lucky streak lately, everyone says you always win when you gamble. Any chance you'll bring me along to make some money?"

Meng Zhou pulled out a lottery ticket from his pocket. "The draw is at seven tonight, let's see how it goes."

A stunning woman with curly hair and a glittering, short dress sauntered over, placing her hand gently around Meng Zhou's neck as she leaned in, blowing a soft breath into his ear.

"Brother Ziyuan, are you taking me out tonight?"

"Doris is my lucky sweetheart, do I even need to ask?" Meng Zhou playfully pinched her buttocks.

Doris giggled and pushed Meng Zhou away. "You're such a jerk."

"Too bad, you still like this jerk," Meng Zhou said, pulling her into his embrace. Doris sat on his lap, resting her head in his arms.

His friend was envious, whispering, "Ah Shui, your luck has really been incredible lately. You have money, beautiful women, and even bought a BMW. How did you do it? Share your secret with me."

If this were in the past, how could Meng Zhou possibly have such great fortune?

Anything and anyone associated with him would inevitably encounter misfortune. Penniless and lacking in character, what good came from merely having an attractive appearance? There were plenty of handsome men in Hong Kong. Meng Zhou's life was a mess; he was practically repellant to women.

Not one of his acquaintances who hung around with him wasn't a loser.

Now that they saw Meng Zhou doing so well, they were envious.

Two more friends entered, noticing Meng Zhou and immediately gathering around him.

Each of them began to exaggerate his accomplishments.

Basking in their flattery, Meng Zhou's vanity swelled. He pulled out two thick wads of Hong Kong dollars from his back pocket.

One friend grabbed the cash to count it, "A full hundred thousand in cash! Are you really just stumbling upon money blindfolded?"

"With this much money, can you finally repay me the two thousand you owe?" another friend chimed in, staring at the money with watering eyes.

Meng Zhou nonchalantly waved his hand, "With interest included, take three thousand and clear your debt."

With a friend gleefully counting the three thousand dollars, he exclaimed, "If you've found a way to get rich, don't forget to bring your brothers along!"

"One must wonder where all this money comes from," another friend inquired.

Meng Zhou put on an exaggeratedly troubled expression and replied, "Just lucky bets, I guess. Nothing wins, nothing loses – my luck's been incredible lately. Horse racing, lottery, I've been hitting the big prizes in all sorts of upsets."

One of the friends recalled a recent news story, "Was that you who won a million by betting on a short-legged horse in the racing circuit?"

"Who else?" Meng Zhou patted Doris's rear, who then obediently stood up. He slapped the bar counter with a lavish gesture, addressing the bartender, "My friends' tabs are on me tonight."

After that, Meng Zhou encouraged his friends to drink as they pleased.

Chu Yuening found a seat at the back. A waiter dressed in a crisp white shirt and black bow tie approached her.

"Miss, may I ask what you'd like to drink?"

Chu Yuening was taken aback by the question, her fair complexion momentarily startled. It was her first time in a bar, and she wasn't familiar with the drinks. She asked, "Do you have any low-alcohol drinks that are also quite enjoyable?"

The waiter recommended a couple, "A Margarita or a Mojito are both cocktails with relatively low alcohol content. They're not likely to get you drunk quickly, so you might want to give them a try."

"Very well, I'll have a Margarita," Chu Yuening ordered, and the bartender promptly served it.

The blue Margarita came with a slice of lemon resting on the rim of the glass. Stirring the ice cubes within, Chu Yuening gazed ahead, observing Meng Zhou and his group of friends who were indulging in copious amounts of alcohol. Her eyes were fixed on the red string around Meng Zhou's wrist.

Under the dim lighting, the coin in his hand shimmered as he lifted his glass, its golden hue distinct from the black aura emitted by Qiao Ziyuan's coin. This one exuded a subtle golden glow, symbolizing various things – vitality or fortune, perhaps.

As Chu Yuening concentrated on the coin, pondering how to remove it, another tall figure entered the bar through the door.

In a corner, Shi Boren held a compact camera aloft, calling out, "Brother Xu, we're over here."

Zhou Fengxu scanned the room before turning his gaze to the corner booth where the voice had originated. There were around five or six people. He approached them, took a look around, and sat down. "Uncle Zhong? Where is he?"

"Uncle Zhong has family duties; how could he spare the time to play with us?" Shi Boren blew on the camera lens gently before carefully wiping it clean.

Shi Pingzhi picked up a glass from the stained black marble counter and placed it in front of Zhou Fengxu. "Brother Xu, it's my birthday today. Let's all have a good time and drink up."

Zhou Fengxu presented the gift he brought to Shi Pingzhi, simultaneously using the gesture to gently push the wine back. The glass tilted, spilling a bit of its golden liquor.