Huo Qi didn’t even bother saving face for him and cut straight to the point.
The atmosphere suddenly made those around them feel something was off between the two, as if something had happened that they didn’t know about, and it sounded serious.
"Hey, Huo, is there some kind of trouble between you two?"
Seeing Lawrence walk away in a huff after being put at a disadvantage by Huo Qi, someone came up to ask with concern.
Huo Qi smiled, "It’s nothing. We just had a few words in the dorm before, no big deal."
"Oh, Lawrence does have a temper, but that’s because of his background, you know? Take my advice, don’t provoke him. After all, you’re planning to make it big in New York."
Huo Qi nodded, "Thanks, I’ll keep that in mind."
On the other side, Allen informed Ao Chen of the professor’s decision, and Ao Chen pursed his lips and chuckled, "It’s a good thing Davis has so much clout, and Jessica really put in a lot of effort too. For this hot pot, I think we should have it at Davis’s place."
Allen’s face lit up with surprise, "Really? Then I’ll let everyone know."
"Yeah, sure, Allen, do you know why that kid was there entertaining people?"
Allen let out an ’oh,’ "If you hadn’t brought it up, I almost forgot about it. It’s : it’s really related to his roommate, who is not a good person,
His roommate has a relative doing quite well in Hollywood, but that’s all, not very influential. A lot of resources don’t fall his way, so he introduces ambitious young people to professors, offering flesh trade deals, with the professor as the intermediary."
Ao Chen interrupted him, "So you mean to say, that kid was there on his own free will, and here I am, messing up their great opportunity?"
The sarcasm in his voice was palpable.
Allen opened and closed his mouth but failed to utter a single word, which made Ao Chen even more irritated.
"So you’ve lost your ability to speak, have you?"
"No, no, it’s not that. I think you’ve got it wrong. It’s clear that Huo Qi didn’t agree at all. It’s just that his roommate lied, saying the professor wanted to see him, and then told the professor that Huo Qi agreed to it willingly. The person the professor was meeting was relatively well-off, with tastes exactly like Huo Qi’s.
If Huo Qi had made him happy that night, who knows how much investment his relative could’ve scored in Hollywood. Now that we’ve ruined it, that roommate probably won’t have it easy getting past Huo Qi. But of course, the young guy is no pushover himself. I don’t think you need to worry too much."
Not worry too much, is that something a person would say?
Ao Chen’s expression changed several times, "Does Jessica know him?"
Allen snorted, "What kind of misunderstanding do you have about our Jessica? Jessica is an Oscar-winning actress. Do you think she’d know that kind of so-so person? Companies and investors waiting to collaborate with Jessica are countless. What are you thinking?"
"What’s the relative’s name, and what does this roommate called Lawrence want to do? Don’t you check into these things?"
Allen, "That’s preposterous. Did you ask me to look into this? I’m not interested in Huo Qi. If you’re interested, go check it out yourself. You’re so arrogant. Only you, Ao Chen. If you didn’t have your finishing move, do you think I’d let you get away with it?"
Allen spoke as if deeply wronged, wishing he could find someone else to complain to right then.
But he didn’t dare, out of respect for Ao Chen’s authority.
Ao Chen pinched the bridge of his nose, "Don’t talk to me with that disgusting, wheedling tone. It’s making me want to throw up last night’s dinner. Send me Huo Qi’s dorm address; I need to get my clothes back. They cost over a million; they’re expensive."
Allen almost choked, "This coming from a man who ditches cars worth tens of millions: you’re moaning about clothes worth a little over a million? I almost believed you. Keep making stuff up, just keep going."
Ao Chen: "...Why all the nonsense? Are you doing this or not? Are we still having hot pot or not?"
"That’s all you know, to threaten people, that’s too much."
"Where’s the ’too much’? Is it you or me who’s going too far?"
Allen: "...Next time I call you, I’ll be a dog."
Ao Chen: "...You’ve got that little backbone? Don’t you have any shame, Allen?"
"Who doesn’t know who in front of you? What’s the point of shame?"
"Seriously, a big guy nearly two meters tall barking like a dog at the other end of the phone. Don’t you find that jarring? Doesn’t it clash horribly with your image?"
"Not at all." Allen was completely unbothered, "You set up the hot pot, and I’m completely cured. If you ever snag that young guy, I still want to ask him if he can make hot pot. If his is tastier than yours, we’ll all switch sides and dump you collectively. You stingy old Ge Langtai."