The Billionaire's Multiplier System
Chapter 72 - 71 – Tension, Toasts, and a Crimson Glance

Chapter 72: Chapter 71 – Tension, Toasts, and a Crimson Glance

Location: Xiangyuan Club – Inner Circle Lounge

The room smelled of cedar, expensive ink, and silent tension.

Lin Feng sat across from a pair of Crimson Circle juniors — representatives from two smaller elite families, whispering doubts behind wine glasses.

"You’ve been quiet lately, Lin," one of them said, swirling a drink.

"Some are wondering if your spotlight’s flickering."

Lin didn’t answer. He passed his phone across the table.

The screen showed a silent video — a commercial zone announcement.

One of the projects Ji Haoran tried to blacklist had just been approved for landmark support, thanks to a counter-zoning investment Lin made last week through a ghost company.

The room went still.

"That’s... a Luo family zone," the second junior murmured.

"Was," Lin replied.

Cut To: Luo Zixuan’s Private Office

News came in fast.

"South Block re-approved. Cultural value claim rejected. Landmark partnership now under Silent Stake Holdings."

Zixuan slammed his tablet down.

"He’s bleeding us through culture now?! He’s not even touching us directly."

Scene: Golden Chamber Hall – Private Corridor

Xu Shanyue leaned against the wall as Lin Feng walked past.

"They say you’re hiding lately."

He paused.

"I don’t hide."

"Then what do you call this?"

"Quiet money. No headlines. Just movement."

She smiled faintly.

"You’re starting to sound like me."

"No," he said. "You sound like me when you’re winning."

Final Scene – System Prompt

*"Congratulations, Host.

Ji Haoran’s zoning sabotage blocked.

Silent Stake Holdings recognized by Crimson Circle sub-network.

Next move advised: Consolidate junior faction loyalty or spark division within Luo’s inner circle."*

P.S. You really should open a school. The elite’s kids are easier to control than their fathers.

The waiter had just refilled the wine.

Ten people sat around the long rectangular table, but only one name was circling the room.

"Lin Feng..."

No one dared say it too loud, but everyone was talking.

"So he’s not from a big-name family?"

"Doesn’t matter. He just transferred in and bought out half the side street near campus."

"Bought it? That coffee chain’s under his name?"

"Not just that."

Chen Yuan leaned forward slightly, lips curling with subtle disdain.

"You know the online influencer Xiaoyue? The one with 800k followers?"

"What about her?"

"She called him ’Boss Lin’... in public."

Xu Shanyue sat at the head of the table, quiet, but her gaze brushed across Lin Feng like a silent test.

He wasn’t speaking.

He didn’t need to.

Wang Wei, who’d just made a toast, smiled awkwardly.

"Mr. Lin, it’s rare to have someone like you here... low-key, but full of surprises."

"I’m just a student." Lin Feng’s tone was flat.

"We’re all classmates. No need to treat me like an outsider."

Several people exchanged glances.

That was exactly the problem.

"You see what car he came in?" someone whispered.

"Yeah. AMG GT."

"Not rented either. Plate’s private."

"He parked like he owned the valet."

Suddenly, someone spoke up loudly — Li Yuntao.

"Haha, well, I’ve also been trying my best lately. Doing some short videos, built a little media team. We just signed a minor contract."

He glanced sideways. Xiao Ruoyu looked up, mildly surprised.

"Oh? That’s impressive."

"Yeah, not much— just about 60–70K monthly right now," Yuntao said "modestly," voice carrying.

People reacted.

Some nodded. A few looked surprised. One or two even clapped.

Then Lin Feng’s phone buzzed.

He glanced down, casually tapped once, and turned it over.

On the screen, clear as day, sat a transaction receipt.

¥680,000 — Outbound Transfer (Real Estate Acquisition)

Recipient: Qingnan Cultural Holdings

Everyone saw it.

No one dared ask.

"Oops," Lin Feng said lightly.

"Didn’t mean to flash that."

Xiao Ruoyu laughed softly, covering her mouth. Even Xu Shanyue raised an eyebrow — but didn’t speak.

System Prompt (Muted):

*"Congratulations. You have:

Crushed Li Yuntao’s flex.

Gained ’Invisible Investor’ status in two female leads’ hearts.

Triggered hidden prestige among Crimson juniors."*

New passive unlocked: ’No One Dares Toast Before You.’

The private room buzzed with low conversation.

The scent of sea cucumber and truffle broth mixed with the sharp aroma of aged red wine.

No one touched their glasses.

Not yet.

Everyone was waiting.

At the head of the table, Xu Shanyue picked up her wine slowly, swirling it, her red fingernails catching the chandelier’s glow. Her eyes never left Lin Feng.

"It’s rare," she said, voice smooth as glass, "for someone outside the inner families to draw this much attention."

Her smile didn’t reach her eyes.

"Especially... from our juniors."

The table fell silent again.

Wang Wei, halfway through picking up his glass, slowly set it down.

Li Yuntao cleared his throat, then stared at his phone like it had betrayed him.

Lin Feng smiled lightly.

"I’ve never cared about attention. Just making a little money and minding my own business."

"A little money?" someone muttered.

"He casually spent 600k like tipping a waiter..."

Chen Yuan finally couldn’t hold it.

"Some of us worked two years to raise half that for a startup. Lin Feng... you just ’made a call’ and signed a block."

"That’s not even investment," another said. "That’s territory claiming."

The waiter refilled glasses. Still, no one toasted.

Lin Feng sat with a quiet presence, not arrogant—just calm. Like he already owned the place, and everyone else was renting time.

Suddenly, someone new entered.

A girl.

Long legs, fitted burgundy dress, subtle diamond earrings. She walked with purpose, heels sharp against the marble.

"Sorry for being late. I was dealing with my uncle’s board report."

The room tensed.

Xu Shanyue’s expression didn’t shift, but her grip on her wine glass did.

Guo Yuwei.

Another Crimson Circle junior, equally dangerous, but with more sugar-coated thorns.

"I heard this dinner got interesting," she said, sliding into the seat beside Lin Feng without asking.

"Mr. Lin. Or should I call you ’The Phantom Buyer of Qingnan Street?’"

"That’s a terrible nickname," Lin Feng said, not missing a beat.

She laughed. "Then you should publicly deny it. Though... I heard the coffee shop owner called you ’Boss Lin’ three times before collapsing in gratitude."

Xu Shanyue finally raised her glass.

"Well, now that everyone’s here... shall we toast?"

But Guo Yuwei turned and raised her glass toward Lin Feng first.

"To the one who made tonight... very worth attending."

The others followed. One by one. No one dared be second. Everyone toasted after Guo Yuwei—but before Xu Shanyue.

Even Wang Wei.

Even Chen Yuan.

Xu Shanyue’s smile didn’t crack, but her gaze turned glacial.

"Interesting," she said softly.

She took a slow sip. "Then let’s see what other surprises unfold tonight."

Later That Night

The dinner dragged into soft music and slow-drip wine. Plates cleared, desserts untouched. Everyone still hovered around Lin Feng’s orbit—each with their own agenda.

Wang Wei was the first to make a move.

"Mr. Lin, I heard you acquired Building No. 9 on Qingnan. We’ve been eyeing that location for a boutique VR café. Mind if we talk numbers?"

Lin Feng glanced at him, but before he could reply—

Guo Yuwei cut in.

"No need. I already discussed a joint-lease model with the current manager. Lin Feng owns the building; I manage the brand. It’s already a done deal."

Wang Wei froze.

Chen Yuan frowned. "Is that true?"

"I said I’d let friends invest. Not random tourists," Lin Feng replied without looking at Wang.

That hit like a slap. A quiet one, but it echoed.

Wang Wei’s ears turned red. He forced a smile and sat down.

Xu Shanyue tapped her wineglass once.

"Lin Feng, I suppose I’m a tourist too, then?"

He finally looked at her.

Long pause.

"I wouldn’t say that."

"But I didn’t say friend either."

That landed. Even Guo Yuwei arched a brow.

Xu Shanyue narrowed her eyes.

For the first time in years, someone didn’t play nice with her.

System Prompt (Silent):

*"Social aura triggered:

Guo Yuwei Favorability +10

Xu Shanyue Competitive Interest +15

Crimson Circle Internal Dynamics Shifted."*

New passive unlocked: ’The Quiet Throne – Others Speak, You Rule.’

10 Minutes Later – Rooftop Balcony

Cool air. Distant traffic. City lights blinking below.

Lin Feng stood alone by the railing, phone in hand. Silent. Watching a message from the system flash.

[Spend 3,000 yuan on an elite woman within 5 minutes = reward bonus multiplier unlocked.]

He didn’t move.

But then—

Footsteps.

He didn’t need to look to know who it was.

"You humiliated me in front of everyone."

Xu Shanyue’s voice was quiet.

Lin Feng finally turned.

She wasn’t smiling. Her perfect expression had cracked slightly—just a fraction. But it was there.

"I didn’t toast first," she said. "They noticed."

"And you said I wasn’t a friend."

Lin Feng leaned against the railing, not facing her fully.

"I never promised to play your game."

"Then you’ll make enemies."

"I’ve already got a system. I don’t need enemies or allies."

She blinked. "What system?"

He didn’t answer.

Instead, he pulled out his phone, tapped, and within seconds—

"Done."

She raised an eyebrow. "Done what?"

"3,000 yuan," he said flatly. "On a Crimson Circle elite woman."

She looked confused—until her phone buzzed.

[Transaction Complete – Luxury Silk Scarf | Gifted By: Lin Feng]

Her eyes widened.

"You..."

"Now you’re officially a receipt," he said casually, walking past her.

"Think about how you want to be remembered, Xu Shanyue—friend, tourist, or something else."

She didn’t stop him.

But as he disappeared down the stairs, her fingers closed around her phone like it was something fragile and burning.

And for once—

Xu Shanyue had no comeback.