PS: I've reshuffled the chapters; some content moved to the previous one~~
Si Nian teased, "Since arriving in Demon City, I've noticed some streets and spots are packed with gorgeous women—all impeccably dressed, and plenty of foreigners too."
"Most of those places became trendy because Internet Celebrities made them Check-in hotspots. In Demon City, the average spend in those places isn't low; the clientele are usually well-off Petite bourgeoisie, elites, even Second-generation rich. When people like that gather, the beauties naturally follow."
Jiang Cheng's explanation drew an approving nod from Si Nian. "Now that you mention it, that's exactly how it works."
"This speakeasy is the same—brand-new, but already famous thanks to Internet Celebrities and socialite hyping it up; everyone's coming to check in."
The place had been recommended by Wang Congcong.
On paper it belonged to a friend of his, but behind the scenes Wang Congcong held shares too.
So now you get why he's forever parading around with a gaggle of Internet Celebrities?
As a successful incubator of Internet Celebrities, he knows exactly how to craft a marketable image and push it into the limelight.
He understands and actively plays the game.
First he brought a few girlfriends to snap photos and claw their way onto the hot search.
Then he mobilized the influencers under his banner to come shoot.
He even sent out free tasting coupons to plenty of active small red potato bloggers.
Inside, the light was dim; mellow music trickled like running water, curling around the ears.
A towering liquor cabinet greeted them like a treasure vault, crammed with every imaginable bottle.
Crimson and white lamps on the cabinet glimmered like scattered stars, lending the space a veil of mystery.
Elsewhere, ambient strips and pin-spots dotted the room; candle-flames on tables trembled in the breeze.
The gloom and the hushed music lent the air a hint of flirtation.
Wang Congcong had already reserved their table.
The Waitress led the pair to a diagonal corner of the terrace and they sat.
The spot offered an expansive view.
From the left edge of the terrace, torrents of pedestrians and car-lights streamed below; straight ahead, the whole Bund lay before them.
Under the moon, the Huangpu River glimmered silver; far off, the Pearl Tower's lights sparkled in the night like a radiant jewel.
Clearly Si Nian loved the vibe.
Compared to her stiff manner during the group dinner earlier, beside Jiang Cheng she now looked completely relaxed.
Her star-bright eyes sparkled with excitement as she snapped photos of the Bund from the terrace.
Once seated, the Waitess approached warmly and began detailing the menu to Jiang Cheng. "Good evening, sir; our minimum spend is six hundred yuan. These are our signatures…"
What surprised Jiang Cheng was that the terrace and certain sofa booths carried no extra minimum.
As long as the six-hundred-yuan floor was met, you could sit anywhere.
Only after two hours would you need to reorder—or politely leave.
That model was far better than most competitors.
Plenty of speakeasies slapped an additional minimum on prime terrace spots.
At the top three most popular bars, a special seat could start at eight-thousand-eight-hundred-eighty-eight.
For that money you could order a great divine dragon in a club.
So tell me—over the top or not?
Jiang Cheng slid the menu toward Si Nian.
"See if anything catches your eye."
Delighted by his continued gallantry, Si Nian took it with a smile.
But when she actually scanned the list, her grin froze.
The drink names were all bizarre and unfamiliar.
For instance: "Queen's Treasure," "Professor Snape's Herb Potion," "Cuba Libre," "Bloody Mary Girl-Slayer"… She couldn't even tell what sort of drinks they were.
After a moment she admitted, "I have no clue. I've only ever had canned cocktails. I'll go with this Bloody Mary Girl-Slayer—it sounds dark."
As she pointed to order it, Jiang Cheng stopped her. "Guess why it's called Girl-Slayer?"
"Hmm?"
"Its nickname is 'One-Shot White-Girl Down.'"
A girl is, by definition, a pure little maiden.
And maidens, as a rule, can't hold their liquor.
With twenty-plus percent alcohol, one glass and odds are good you'll be going home together.
He indicated other options. "These marked rum are lighter; the ones labeled vodka are a notch stronger…"
PS… Planned 7k words today, didn't expect to barrel straight into the next chapter…