Ian Lawson was still lost in his reverie, defending himself: “Since I was a child, my dream has been to live a life different from everyone else’s—to stand atop the highest mountain, looking down at the masses below, and to feel that there truly exists a way of living that is unlike any other in this world.”

　　Carolyn Turner sneered, “I think you’d better keep your feet on the ground, hurry up and find a good job, and make more money.”

　　Ian Lawson, like a little boy whose toy had been taken away and then told it wasn’t worth anything, became both embarrassed and angry. He interrupted Carolyn Turner: “What do women know? I just want to make my life more exciting. You know, picking the thinnest part of a plank and drilling a few holes is effortless and risk-free, but that only gets you a cheap life. I think life is like a gemstone—it needs to be polished before it can shine brilliantly.”

　　Autumn Lewis, standing nearby, spoke in a tone of pity: “In this world, there are very few people who are completely healthy when it comes to money. Little Annie is young, just out of school, and these silly boys are always daydreaming. Let me tell you: life doesn’t need a reason, but it does need RMB. Family and love need RMB even more. The seven daily necessities—firewood, rice, oil, salt, sauce, vinegar, and tea—which of them isn’t bought with money? And all that adventure gear of yours—wasn’t it all bought with money?”

　　Ian Lawson stubbornly replied, “Sister Autumn, don’t say that. Money—just enough to maintain a simple life is fine. I only hope that the money I earn in the future will let me live the life I look forward to, and I’ll be satisfied. Any more money—even if it can buy a smile, it can’t buy true feelings; even if it can buy a beauty, it can’t buy love. If I had more money, I’d travel all over the country, experiencing…”

　　Carolyn Turner stretched exaggeratedly, shot a flirtatious glance sideways, and finally let her teasing gaze fall on Ian Lawson’s lower body. Instantly, a little tent uncontrollably rose between Ian Lawson’s legs. A faint smile appeared at the corner of Carolyn Turner’s red lips; she deliberately stuck out her fragrant tongue, licked her lips, and made a look of greedy anticipation, saying, “What is money? It’s a tool for maintaining freedom—Rousseau said that. Money can make women more independent and free, so they’re not controlled by men, and can even control men. So, money is a woman’s ultimate choice; it gives women courage—the courage to be independent and self-reliant.”

　　Autumn Lewis smiled gently and added, “When it comes to money, human society has almost ten thousand kinds of psychological distortions and misconceptions—Shakespeare said that. Your contempt for money just now is one such psychological distortion. Ah… a fine product of ignorance-based education. You know, money can, to a certain extent, measure, signify, and represent all interests; money is the universal equivalent of all interests.”

Chapter 3 Curiosity (Part 2)

　　Carolyn Turner was straightening the clothes that had been rumpled during their earlier horseplay—of course, this was also a way to draw the men’s eyes to her body: “Damn Annie, you wrinkled my clothes. This is a designer brand, over 5,000 yuan. Pay up.”

　　“No money,” Ian Lawson replied bluntly, covering the embarrassing bulge on his body. Then, with a self-sacrificing air, he suggested, “How about this—I’ll take one for the team and spend the night with you as compensation?”

　　“What? Dream on! You’re just a greenhorn—no skills, no technique, and you want to earn 5,000 yuan in one night? You think you’re the top pick? No way,” Carolyn Turner said, looking at Ian Lawson with a half-smile.

　　Autumn Lewis raised her hand, struck a seductive pose, let out a long moan, and took advantage of the situation: “Little chef, come keep you company. I’ll pay Sister Carolyn for you.”

　　Ian Lawson clutched his legs and replied firmly, “No, don’t lump me in with ‘typical leaders.’ I am someone who cannot be corrupted by wealth, cannot be swayed by poverty, and cannot be subdued by power.”

　　Carolyn Turner and Autumn Lewis burst out laughing. Carolyn Turner said, “Little Annie, do ‘typical leaders’ need us to take the initiative? Not at all… So, do you understand the importance of money now?”

　　Only now did Ian Lawson realize that the main entertainment for these bourgeois resentful women after work was to torment bartenders at the bar. They had a whole arsenal of ways to toy with men. Ian Lawson had never encountered women like this before; the earlier teasing left him both itching with desire and chilled to the bone—this was what they called “heaven and hell at once”—terrifying.

　　Ian Lawson’s consistent principle was: it doesn’t hurt to be attentive and considerate to all the girls in the world, but a man should stick to his own ideas. Just now, it had taken all his willpower to restrain himself and appear calm. He knew that if he showed even a hint of lechery, the two women would immediately reveal their true colors and mercilessly mock their plaything.

　　Carolyn Turner finished straightening her clothes and, trying to sound casual and forgiving, said, “Damn Annie, since you can’t pay, hmm, give me the necklace around your neck.”

　　Ian Lawson calmed down, gently but firmly shook his head, and replied, “This is an antique. It’s worth far more than five thousand yuan. Even if you traded your dress for it—it wouldn’t be enough.”

　　This necklace was the platinum one that had been troubling Ian Lawson. After being tested, it had returned to his neck. Earlier, when Carolyn Turner and Ian Lawson were tangled together, she had intentionally or unintentionally touched the necklace several times. Its heavy weight and sparkling craftsmanship had made her quite curious.

　　“An antique? I’ve never seen an antique platinum necklace before. Let me have a look.” Carolyn Turner reached out her hand boldly, asking for it.