```
Chapter 004: The Charm of Money
The opulent and classical lobby on the first floor of Patek Philippe was only for reception; the real display area was on the second floor. Guided by Linda, the three of them took the elevator up to the second floor.
As they stepped off the elevator, the strikingly beautiful Linda, who always carried a seductive charm on her face, led the way while speaking in a gentle and delicate voice:
"May I ask how to address you, sir?"
Exiting the elevator and looking around, the second-floor showroom was filled with individual display cases for each luxury watch, exuding an aura of opulence and taste.
The golden card in Chu Mo's pocket gave him boundless confidence. He casually surveyed the watches, his expression unchanging as he responded indifferently:
"My surname is Chu, Chu as in 'the Chu from across the river of Han'."
"Mr. Chu, this way, please!"
Arriving at a display case, Linda's face bloomed with a flower-like smile as she introduced:
"This model is the 5296G-010 Mr. Chu wished to see. Its simple design features a large three-hand calendar, and the cream-colored surface is paired with an 18K white gold case, simple yet dignified. Its price is two hundred and thirty-nine thousand. You can try it on first before making a decision!"
In the display case, the classic white gold watch lay quietly before them.
The 35-40mm dial is suitable for the majority of wrists.
With a case thickness of 8.6mm, it is slimmer than most mechanical watches.
The black American alligator leather strap is matched with a simple pin buckle, a design that is simple, yet far from plain.
Two hundred and thirty-nine thousand!
Looking at the watch before him—a watch he once longed for in his dreams but could only ever dream about—Chu Mo felt not the surprise he imagined, nor the anticipation of acquiring a coveted possession. All he felt was the satisfaction of a desire about to be fulfilled.
With Chu Mo's status, naturally, he would not have had access to such a luxury watch. The only reason Chu Mo knew about this Patek Philippe 5296G-010 was that his editor-in-chief owned one!
Two years ago, after having survived on instant noodles for three consecutive months and running out of resources, Chu Mo took a short piece he had written in three days to a well-known magazine publisher.
Chu Mo, who was filled with confidence when he submitted his article, was ruthlessly rejected by the editor.
With no way out, a desperate Chu Mo pleaded, but inadvertently caught the attention of the magazine's boss, who was about to leave!
The boss was a corpulent middle-aged man in his mid-forties who, upon learning of the situation, took a brief look at Chu Mo's manuscript.
Chu Mo even suspected that the man had not even properly read the title. However, with that brief glance, the boss lightly nodded his head, and just like that, Chu Mo's article was accepted for publication.
It was then, in that moment, that Chu Mo noticed the watch on the wrist of the magazine's boss!
Patek Philippe 5296G-010!
For Chu Mo at that time, this watch worth two hundred and thirty-nine thousand was his life's goal!
And now, that goal was about to be easily achieved.
The recollections in his eyes gradually faded away.
Taking a gentle breath and sensing the subtle fragrance at the tip of his nose, Chu Mo said without any hesitation:
"No need to try it on, wrap it up for me!"
"Very well, sir. Please wait in our VIP lounge for a moment, and I will handle the paperwork for you!"
Linda's exquisite face was full of smiles as she extended a guiding hand. Yet, the young man before her gently shook his head!
Seeing Chu Mo shake his head, not just Linda but also Ling Yue at his side showed a puzzled expression.
To Ling Yue's mind, with Chu Mo's net worth in the billions, buying a watch for around two hundred thousand should be considered appropriate for his status.
The watch is not a car or a house; it is merely a luxury item.
Someone with a hundred million in savings would be expected to see buying real estate with it all as an investment, which makes sense.
If it's a car, a tycoon with one hundred million in assets could enjoy a one or two million car, or even splurge on a five million one!
However, if someone spends ten, twenty, or even fifty million on a luxury car that doesn't generate any real value, it can only mean they are squandering their wealth.
By the same token, in Ling Yue's mind, Chu Mo's worth justified the purchase of a few hundred thousand on a Patek Philippe to highlight his status.
Initially, Ling Yue had admired her old classmate's precise taste, but when she saw him shake his head, she couldn't help feeling puzzled.
Did Chu Mo find the watch too expensive, or could it be that he didn't have full control over the money in his card?
As Ling Yue was lost in thought, Chu Mo suddenly changed direction and walked towards the central display table in the hall.
There stood a display case that was several times larger than the others, standing silently.
Watching Chu Mo's figure, Linda, who recovered her wits first, immediately followed him, almost jogging, her face slightly flushed as she quickly reached the central counter and gently yet cautiously said:
"Mr. Chu, let me introduce you to this watch—the 5002 is the most complicated wristwatch made by Patek Philippe, and it's also the brand's first double-faced wristwatch.
The movement contains 686 parts, some of which are extremely small. The watch is set with fifty-five jewels, and it has a power reserve of forty-eight hours. The crystal is made of sapphire...
Its price is 17.6 million!"
```
Seventeen million, six hundred thousand!
When Ling Yue, who had come to stand beside Chu Mo, heard the salesperson quote such an astronomical price, her steps faltered slightly.
If she hadn't quickly steadied herself by grabbing the display counter in front of her, she would have likely suffered the embarrassment of falling down.
Swallowing hard, in that moment, Ling Yue didn't move forward to offer her advice.
She couldn't give the man before her any suggestions, nor could she offer any useful references, because Ling Yue realized there was a chasm between them that she might never be able to cross in her lifetime!
In the showcase, the watch that exuded luxury and a vintage charm shone under the dazzling lights with an otherworldly glow!
Simple lines crafted an exquisitely beautiful image, and the multimillion-dollar price tag added a profound sense of weight to it.
This was the first time Chu Mo had truly liked something from the bottom of his heart. If the watch worth two hundred and thirty thousand that he had just bought was merely to fulfill a past dream, the luxurious and quaint watch before him now ignited a genuine fondness within him!
Thus, without any hesitation and with a calm look in his eyes, Chu Mo said lightly,
"I'd like to try on this one!"
Her right eyelid twitched violently and, despite her heart nearly exploding, Linda managed to keep her composure as she gestured with her hand and said with unprecedented respect,
"Certainly, please wait in the VIP room for a moment!"
Linda, with her high heels clopping, hurried off.
She had seen in Mr. Chu's eyes a strong and confident aura that could only belong to someone with the corresponding social status.
A seventeen-million-dollar order, if this went through…!
Linda could scarcely imagine the hefty commission she would earn!
The VIP room was quiet and elegant, with mahogany sofas that carried a sense of substance, and a tea set laid out on the coffee table. As soon as they sat down, a beautiful waitress came over and asked,
"What would you like to drink?"
Chu Mo said casually, "A cup of coffee, no sugar please."
Ling Yue hesitated for a moment before replying softly, "An orange juice for me, thanks!"
The respectful waitress left carefully after noting that her colleagues had informed her these were major customers contemplating the purchase of a multimillion-dollar masterpiece of the store, warranting no negligence.
Only after the waitress had left did Ling Yue take a deep breath, pat her chest, and a beautiful girl with a 93% beauty score whispered into Chu Mo's ear as if sharing a secret, her voice as delicate as an orchid,
"Chu Mo, you are really steady. I almost couldn't catch my breath just now. Among our classmates, I don't think anyone can match your presence!"
The sweet breath in his ear made Chu Mo feel a slight heat in his heart. Glancing at the stunning beauty beside him, Chu Mo teased with a slight smile,
"Everyone else aside, you are a bank manager. Banks lack everything but money, don't they? The amounts you handle must be much larger than this, right?"
Sitting up straight and tucking a playful strand of hair behind her ear, Ling Yue, brimming with sweetness, replied with a coy smile,
"It's a completely different feeling. The large transactions we see at the bank are mostly just transfers, from one account to another, without any real impact. But this is consumption; you just swiftly purchased a two hundred thousand-dollar watch. That 5002… do you really intend to buy it?"
"I quite like it. I'm usually indifferent about things; as long as something serves its purpose, I'm not picky. It's rare to find something I truly enjoy… "
Before he could finish speaking, Linda approached carrying a blue watch box.
The handcrafted blue case looked very prestigious. Linda carefully opened the box, her fragrance intensifying slightly as she offered with enthusiasm,
"Mr. Chu, may I assist you in trying it on to see how it looks?"
As a Patek Philippe salesperson, Linda was accustomed to serving society's elite, and they held exceptionally high standards for their staff, with a smiling service being the most basic courtesy.
To a young and wealthy client like Chu Mo, who showed a strong intent to purchase, Linda naturally provided service with two hundred percent enthusiasm.
"That would be great, thank you!"
Chu Mo nodded, extending his left hand. His wrist was neither particularly fair nor plump; in fact, it was somewhat slender as he placed it in front of Linda.
The woman, faintly fragrant, ran her smooth, jade-like fingers over his wrist, and amid the subtle scent, the luxurious watch appeared on his wrist.
Lifting his wrist,
Under the soft light cast by the crystal chandelier above, from Chu Mo's perspective, the fifty-five gems reflected light into his eyes in a way that appeared both mysterious and ethereal!
Satisfied already, a voice suddenly emerged in Chu Mo's heart: Possess it!
"I'll take it, let's do the card payment!"
The words shattered the panoply of praises in Linda's mind. Her eyes flared with excitement, and even her voice turned buttery,
"Mr. Chu, you really have an eye for excellence. Let's proceed to the first floor for the payment! Also, may I have a contact number? If you have any questions or need assistance, I will be at your service anytime!"
Her voice, sweet and soft, echoed in his ear, sparking a sudden realization in Chu Mo,
If he wished, just by snapping his fingers, Linda, a woman with a 90% beauty score who would be the center of attention anywhere, would be very willing to engage in a deeper conversation with him.
Indeed, such is the charm of money!