Billionaire Biker Boy

Chapter 21. The Ultimate Skill

 

Samut still couldn't figure out how to compose himself after the host wrapped up the show. The crew came over to remove Wonchana's mic, and the man walked off to wash his hands, then scanned the area for Samut. When Samut met those sharp eyes, his face instantly felt like it was on fire.

...Am I coming down with a fever again?

 

As the taller man approached, his large hand landed on Samut’s small forehead. Wonchana frowned as he felt the lingering warmth on the smaller man's skin and asked in a slightly scolding tone, "Why didn't you go inside with this heat?"

 

"I didn't feel unwell," Samut replied awkwardly. Initially, he'd been standing in the shade of the silo, and the breeze by the river had kept things cool. But now, with the sun blazing past eleven o'clock, the heat was becoming unbearable. Seeing the downcast look on Samur's face, Wonchana sighed and ruffled his hair gently.

 

"Alright, let's go."

 

"Is all the work done?" Samut asked, looking up at him with a pleading gaze.

 

"Yeah, I'm done for the day. Come on, let's go eat some prawns," Wonchana said, placing a hand on Samut’s back and gently guiding him toward the car.

 

Wonchana drove them back to Bangkok, turning left onto Ratchaphruek Road to head toward Nonthaburi. After crossing one of the Chao Phraya River bridges, he took a turn down to a riverside pier. Less than an hour after leaving the factory, they arrived at a riverside restaurant owned by one of Wonchana's senior friends from his bike group.

 

The Thai-style building by the Chao Phraya River was shaded by large trees, giving it a serene atmosphere. At the entrance, there was a souvenir stall catering to foreign tourists.

Samut wandered over, intrigued, and ran his hand over a piece of woven fabric with a red crab pattern.

...Mom would probably like this. ...But is it expensive?

 

"Feel free to ask if you're interested," said a woman in her fifties, dressed elegantly in traditional Thai attire, as she approached him. Samut squinted at her and then, with his naturally sweet tone, said, "Wow, Auntie, your outfit is so beautiful!"

 

The elegantly dressed woman laughed at the young man's flattery. "Thank you, dear. Are you looking to buy something for an elder in your family?"

 

"Yes, I am! My mom is from Hat Yai, but she loves wearing Thai fabrics like this. How much is this piece?"

 

"We have a range of prices. These are all handwoven fabrics I've collected from various provinces, as I'm passionate about Thai textiles. We have silk, mudmee, tin chok, and tribal weaves," she explained, pointing to the piece in Samut's hands.

 

"The one you're holding is a mudmee weave from Surin, called the 'Pu Tid Hae' pattern. This one is 2,200 baht."

 

"Whoa.." Samut feigned a crestfallen look."

'..This Nuu O only has 1,000 baht," he said.

 

Wonchana, who had been listening nearby, immediately realised what the smaller man was up to. This time, however, he didn't intervene or pull out his wallet. Instead, he stood back and watched the little drama unfold with amusement.

 

The older woman narrowed her eyes at Samut, scrutinising him. Despite his simple attire, his fair complexion and good looks stood out. Not to mention the tall, well-dressed man beside him, who exuded an air of wealth and seemed oddly familiar.

...Hah, trying to haggle with me? ... You've underestimated me, Pilai!

 

And so began the negotiation between the young man and the older woman. Though Samut's words were sweet, they were sharp and calculated. In the end, when the price dropped to 1,650 baht, Little Chihuahua turned on his puppy eyes and pleaded,

 

"But I don't want any other pattern. Mom likes this one. If you could just lower it by another 150 baht, I could be a filial son and still afford some snacks!"

 

Wonchana burst out laughing, causing both to whip their heads around to glare at him.

 

"If I go any lower, I won't make anything, dear," Auntie Pilai said.

 

...This kid's haggling skills are no joke.

 

Finally, out of hunger or pity for the two negotiators, Wonchana pulled out two grey banknotes and handed them to Auntie Pilai. 

 

"We'll take this one. And... keep the change."

 

He then wandered off to browse other items, leaving the two who had been haggling so brutally to stare at each other in stunned silence. Auntie Pilai shot a light-hearted glare at the tall man.

...And you çouldn't have paid earlier? What a waste of breath!

════[changbins_delulu_wife]════

"P'Win, buying it like that-what am I supposed to tell my mom?" Samut muttered as the restaurant staff led them to their table.

 

"Just tell her you bought it," Wonchana replied.

 

"But I didn't pay for it."

 

"It's fine. My money's your money."

 

Samut shot him a glare, pursing his lips as if he wanted to say something but decided against it.

 

When they reached their table, the restaurant wasn't as crowded as usual for a Saturday. It seemed most people were waiting for the upcoming public holiday to dine out.

 

"Order whatever you want," said the generous host, who conveniently sat on the same side of the table.

 

"I want grilled—" Samut began, but the word 'prawns' never made it out of his mouth. He froze when he opened the menu and saw the price.

...It's 900 baht per piece? ...Seriously?

 

"What size would you like? Today we have 700-gram prawns for 1,400 baht each. It's rare to get ones this size," the server chimed in, trying to upsell. Samut turned wide-eyed toward Wonchana. 

...It can get any more expensive? ...It's not even lobster!

 

"We'll take one," Wonchana said at once, knowing full well the little puppy wouldn't dare order it himself.

 

The little puppy, his eyes still wide, felt even more flustered when he met Wonchana's smiling gaze. He quickly turned back to his menu, pretending to study it intently.

 

Wonchana watched him with amusement and eventually helped him decide when he saw Samut struggling.

 

"You like white fish, right? How about sea bass? Steamed with lime, fried with garlic, or fried with fish sauce?"

"Steamed with lime," Samut decided quickly when he had easier options.

"...is there anything you don't eat, P'Win?"

 

"I can eat anything. Just order what you want," Wonchana replied.

 

"Then let's get crab curry and stir-fried bitter melon leaves. Oh, and a cola," Samut added. Wonchana ordered two extra plates of rice. Once the server left, Samut explained, "I don't usually drink soda, but it's so hot today."

 

"Are you sure you're not coming down with a fever again?" Wonchana asked, placing a large hand on Samut’s flushed cheek with concern.

...He still felt a bit warm, though it could've been from the sun.

 

"I don't think so," Samut replied, lowering his gaze to the fabric he'd bought for his mother, stroking it with satisfaction.

 

Watching him, Wonchana couldn't help but ask, "From what I've heard, your family seems well-off. Why do you haggle so viciously when buying things?"

 

Samut paused to think before answering, "Mom taught me how to haggle. She taught me to value money and not be wasteful, because you never know what the future holds. But I don't haggle over everything. I usually don't haggle over food. If it's too expensive, I just won't buy it. I mostly haggle for items, and I always consider the quality too."

 

"Hmm... But if Nuu O opened a shop, would you want your customers to haggle?" Wonchana asked.

 

Samut fell silent, pondering the question. Wonchana continued, "Whether it's food or any other items, I think every seller calculates their costs carefully. Have you ever seen how long it takes to make a piece of handwoven fabric? Artisanal or handmade items require a lot of skill and time. Even if the materials don't seem expensive, the craftsmanship and labour have value. Sellers also need to include a fair profit margin to survive. Otherwise, how would they make a living? I'm not saying you shouldn't haggle. If a buyer can't afford something, they should negotiate. And if a seller overcharges beyond the quality, they won't last long because people will stop buying. But for those who price their goods fairly, I never haggle."

 

Samut considered his words and found them reasonable, though his lips still pouted slightly in defiance. "Not everyone's as loaded as you, P'Win."

 

Wonchana laughed. "I just know how to use money to buy happiness. It's not that I don't understand the value of money. My family almost went bankrupt once, but we fought our way back. I know how hard it is to earn money."

Then, with a teasing smile, he added, "...And if you agree to be my boyfriend, I promise you'll never have to haggle again. Plus, you'll get to drink 25 per cent cocoa every day."

 

The heart of the one being flirted with raced uncontrollably.

...Why do I feel like I'm about to faint?

 

Samut squeezed his hands together, unsure where to place them, before finally asking, 

 

"What do you like about me?"

 

"I liked you from the moment that Little Chihuahua jumped on the back of my bike and threatened to call the police if I kicked him off... Honestly, that was just the first impression. But the more I got to know you, the more I liked you," Wonchana said, smiling beautifully.

..I like everything about this Ocean, my little Samut."