My absurd experiences in North America over the years

On the way back from Rodeo Drive, Lucy's phone rang.

She was dozing off in the passenger seat when the ringtone woke her up. She mumbled an "uh-huh" and pulled her phone out of her bag, holding it to her ear.

"What time tomorrow?...Okay, I got it."

She hung up the phone, threw it back into her bag, and shrank back into her seat, looking like a cat that had been pulled out of its nest and then put back in.

"What's wrong?" Li Fu asked.

"There's a school event tomorrow," Lucy's voice was muffled, tinged with frustration, "some ridiculous alumni donation ceremony. The school said we have to attend, it's so annoying..."

"Then you'd better go to bed early tonight," Li Fu thought it was good news because he wouldn't have to work the night shift.

"Who says otherwise?" Lucy was in a bad mood. "You're having a good time, getting a vacation right away."

Li Fu raised an eyebrow. "Let's make this clear first, this isn't because of me. Tonight must be a paid day off."

Lucy rolled her eyes. "Why are you so petty?"

"How can this be considered petty?" Li Fu casually retorted. "This is perfectly reasonable! Are you some kind of capitalist who squeezes every last drop of blood from a tree?"

"OK, OK, paid leave, paid leave," Lucy waved her hand to stop him from complaining further, "From now on, this kind of situation will be paid leave."

"The boss is generous," Li Fu said, giving a thumbs up.

Lucy curled her lips into a sneer and ignored him.

Li Fu drove the car back to the apartment building, helped her carry the shopping bags upstairs, and prepared to go home. "What time should I pick you up tomorrow?"

"The event will end around 5 p.m. at six o'clock. They may have other arrangements afterward," Lucy said, kicking off her canvas shoes and stepping barefoot onto the carpet before collapsing onto the soft sofa.

Li Fu nodded. They weren't referring to the school; they were definitely referring to his friends.

He could roughly guess that it would be some kind of social dinner; parties are all too common for young people in the West. Like he said, wealthy young people have it too good in Los Angeles.

In China, young models working in clubs might get arrested for prostitution or group sex.

And who cares about you in this area?

As long as you have the pleasure of swords and music, you can indulge in wine, women, and meat.

"Then I'll come back at six o'clock tomorrow," Li Fu said, turning to leave.

"Wait..." Lucy's voice came from behind the sofa.

"What?" Li Fu turned around.

Lucy lay on the back of the sofa, her chin resting on her crossed arms, her golden hair falling down, covering half of her face, revealing only one blue eye.

"Um... don't worry about the money you spent on clothes today, just consider it a work-related expense."

"Okay, boss," Li Fu shrugged casually.

Today I spent about $20,000 on him. No one has ever spent that much money on him at once before.

He must have been somewhat moved.

For most people, $20,000 would take a long time to earn, but for the wealthy... it's just a drop in the ocean.

He just needs to reciprocate by spending money on the other party.

For example, providing more professional services and emotional value.

"That's good," Lucy said, lifting her chin from her arm and then pulling it back behind the sofa. Her voice was muffled. "Let's go, let's go, see you tomorrow."

Li Fu nodded, closed the door, and left.

In the elevator, he looked at himself in the mirror.

When he arrived yesterday, he was wearing a $14 Henley shirt, but in less than 14 hours, he was dressed in expensive brands and carrying several sets of high-end clothes.

This experience is rather absurd.

After returning home, Li Fu took a shower and had a good night's rest.

At six o'clock the next afternoon, he appeared on time downstairs at Lucy's apartment building.

He was wearing a dark gray Armani suit he had bought yesterday, with a black shirt underneath. He wasn't wearing a tie, and the top button of his shirt was undone. His hair was simply combed back, revealing his full forehead and those two sharp, slanted eyebrows.

He wore black leather shoes, the brand-new uppers so smooth they reflected his image.

Soon, the elevator doors opened, and Lucy stepped out.

She wore a pearl white dress today, which was about knee-length and had a small round neckline, revealing only a small part of her collarbone.

Her long golden hair was styled into an updo and secured with a silver hairpin, revealing her slender neck and two small pearl earrings on her earlobes.

She looked completely different from when we first met.

That night she was a black swan; today she is a white magnolia.

"How's this outfit?" Lucy twirled around in front of Li Fu.

Li Fu glanced at her and nodded slightly. "Not bad."

"What do you mean 'okay'?" Lucy rolled her eyes at him, thinking he had absolutely no sense of romance.

"If you want to hear me say it's beautiful, then..." Li Fu hesitated for a moment, "...very beautiful."

Lucy glared at him, as if forcibly suppressing some kind of urge to hit him, "I can't be bothered with you."

She walked to the car, opened the passenger door, and got in.

"Where to?" Li Fu got into the driver's seat.

"A villa in the suburbs, there's a party there tonight," Lucy gave him an address.

The car pulled out of the apartment driveway and merged into the traffic on Sunset Boulevard.

Los Angeles at dusk has a special kind of light; the setting sun dyes the entire city orange-red, and on the distant hills, the Hollywood sign gleams golden in the afterglow.

Lucy leaned against the car window, looking at the scenery outside without saying a word.

Li Fu glanced at her unintentionally.

Her profile looked beautiful in the sunset; the line of her nose slid down from her forehead and slightly upturned at the tip, giving her a surprisingly classical look.

This is rare among European and American women who are always modern and like to be at the forefront of fashion.

The two barely spoke on the way; the only sounds inside the car were the low rumble of the engine and the whooshing of the air conditioning vents.

They were heading to a mountain villa nestled in the mountains, far from the city and its hustle and bustle. It was a popular vacation spot for celebrities and the wealthy, and many actors, singers, or NBA stars owned their own properties there.

The area has a beautiful environment and fresh air. Each villa is usually two or three kilometers apart, ensuring absolute peace and privacy.

Of course, the property prices are outrageously high, almost second only to Beverly Hills.

Li Fu had only seen these villas in movies and news reports. They came in a variety of architectural styles, but without exception, they were all extremely luxurious.

They were going to a villa with a distinctly Mediterranean style, featuring arched doors and windows, palm trees and a neatly manicured lawn in the yard, plus a huge swimming pool in the backyard, which looked quite expensive.

Li Fu parked his car in the parking lot outside the villa.

By this time, it was already getting dark, and a row of cars were parked in the parking lot.

High-end Porsches, Maseratis, Lamborghinis... and a matte black Mercedes-Benz G-Wagen with wheels as big as windmills.

"Where is this place?" Li Fu first observed the surrounding terrain.

"It's a property owned by a friend," Lucy said casually, seemingly uninterested in villas that cost tens of millions of dollars.

Li Fu frowned slightly. "That slicked-back-hair guy from the night before last?"

"Yes," Lucy nodded gently, "He throws a party at home every month, and he invites his classmates from school."

"Party? More like a slutty party!" Li Fu thought to himself.

Based on his knowledge of America from his previous life, many parties were held by the pool, and the attire for attending these parties could hardly be described as revealing.

Can this be considered a proper party when everyone is dressed like this?

Of course, this cannot be said outright.