Chapter 154: Rich Friends?

Moses Adams was relieved he had come to call Jiang Hai at 4:30. If he had waited until the agreed-upon time, it would have been far too late.

Since Jiang Hai refused to change his clothes, Moses had no choice but to think of another solution.

Without even stopping to eat, the two went downstairs, got into the waiting car, and headed straight for New York's Fifth Avenue. This iconic thoroughfare in Manhattan stretches from Washington Square Park in the south to 138th Street in the north. Along its length, you'll find many famous landmarks, including the Empire State Building, the New York Public Library, Rockefeller Center, St. Patrick's Cathedral, and Central Park.

However, Moses and Jiang Hai weren't there to sightsee. Their destination was the section between 60th and 34th Streets, also known as the "Street of Dreams." This stretch is home to almost every luxury brand store in the world, making it one of the most exclusive shopping districts globally.

It's been calculated that the average annual rent per square foot (about 0.09 square meters) for shops on this street exceeds $1,000. This means the rent per square meter is over $10,000. For a small shop, the yearly rent alone runs into hundreds of thousands of dollars. Businesses here can't afford to be slow-moving—success is mandatory.

Of course, the luxury stores here aren't struggling to survive. But even so, this area is typically frequented by window shoppers rather than big spenders. The one notable exception is when Chinese tour groups visit—those shoppers have a reputation for making their presence felt.

Moses had brought Jiang Hai here to shop, though he clearly wasn't earning a commission from the purchase.

Men and women are inherently different, not only in their values and psychology but also in what they notice about each other.

When men observe women, they typically start with their faces, followed by their figures, clothing, and demeanor, before considering a deeper connection. Women, on the other hand, have a different set of priorities.

As the saying goes, "Girls love beauty, and girls love wealth." When they're young, girls often focus on a boy's looks and popularity. For instance, the basketball or football team captain is likely to be admired. If he's both handsome and talented, he becomes a darling of his peers, dominating the social scene. But as women mature, their priorities evolve.

For many women, especially those frequenting the kind of places Jiang Hai and Moses were heading to, wealth often speaks louder than physical appearance.

For these women, assessing a man's financial situation is straightforward—through his clothing, car, and watch. Jiang Hai wasn't willing to change his clothes, and buying a car wasn't an immediate option, which left the watch as the best way to display his wealth.

It's said that the poor play with cars, the rich play with watches, and those in between settle for mobile phones. For Jiang Hai, watches were uncharted territory. Though he now had money, he still felt like someone who "played with mobile phones." Moses was asking him to leapfrog from that level to the high-status world of luxury watches.

"We're here," Moses said as their car pulled up. Stepping out, the two walked into a boutique on Fifth Avenue.

"Hello, sir. How can I assist you?" A well-dressed saleswoman greeted them with a bright smile, showcasing her perfectly aligned teeth. Her gaze, however, was primarily fixed on Moses Adams, clearly assuming he was the main customer based on his attire and demeanor.

"My boss is looking to buy a watch," Moses corrected her, making a point to emphasize Jiang Hai's position.

The saleswoman blinked in surprise but quickly recovered, maintaining her professional demeanor. "This way, please." She led them to a display case featuring Vacheron Constantin watches.

"This is the Heritage collection, one of our most popular series. These watches range from a few thousand to several hundred thousand dollars. Many of our Chinese customers particularly favor this series. Vacheron Constantin is considered one of the top watch brands in the world, and its timepieces are often featured in films like the 007 series," she said, launching into her practiced sales pitch.

Jiang Hai was initially overwhelmed, but as she spoke, he began to settle down. However, his jaw nearly dropped when he saw the price tags. Watches priced at $7,000 or $8,000 didn't look particularly impressive to him, while the more elaborate, skeletonized designs cost upwards of $150,000.

He couldn't help but mentally calculate: $150,000 was enough to buy fifty boatloads of cuttlefish. The thought of spending that kind of money on a watch was staggering.

"Uh… do I really need to buy this?" Jiang Hai hesitated, turning to Moses Adams.

"Well, it's not absolutely necessary," Moses admitted. "But think about it, boss. Tonight's event might not justify the expense, but what about the NBA cocktail party after the All-Star Game? Or the beef cattle exhibition in April? Making a strong impression in these settings could open doors and help establish valuable connections. Sometimes, appearances matter more than we'd like to admit."

Jiang Hai sighed. He didn't want to spend such an outrageous sum, but Moses's logic was sound. After all, having more friends often means having more opportunities.

"Fine," Jiang Hai grumbled, finally relenting. "If I'm going to buy a watch, I might as well get the best. Miss, show me the most expensive one you've got."

The saleswoman's eyes lit up. "Certainly, sir. The most expensive watch we currently have, excluding limited editions, is this men's model from the Patek Philippe Grand Complications collection." She carefully retrieved a watch from another display case.

Jiang Hai's heart sank when he saw the price tag: $980,000. His ears rang as the saleswoman rattled off its features—platinum dial, intricate craftsmanship—but he couldn't focus on a single word. All he could see was the staggering figure.

"Sir, are you sure you want this watch?" she asked cautiously.

"Buy it!" Jiang Hai growled after taking several deep breaths. Handing over his credit card, he forced himself to commit.

The salesperson's demeanor shifted instantly. Completing the transaction with remarkable efficiency, she handed him a business card. "If you have any questions or need further assistance, please don't hesitate to call me. I'm available 24/7."

Jiang Hai barely heard her as he stared at the watch, still trying to process what he'd just done.

(To be continued.)