I'm A Baller - Chapter 22

Chapter 22: This is Patek Philippe
Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

Five hundred fifty thousand dollars?
To buy a watch?!
‘Junior, are you taking it to heaven?!’ Lin Weiwei thought incredulously.
Lin Weiwei was from the capital, and her family was rather well-to-do.
While attending college, her family bought her an Audi A4L, which was worth three hundred twenty thousand dollars, as well as an apartment at Dong Si Huan as a gift.
But what watch was she wearing?
Pasha de Cartier. The price was nowhere close to five hundred fifty thousand!
Lin Weiwei had seen tycoons before, but they practically had the words ‘I am rich’ tattooed on their faces in 24K pure gold.
Seeing how they spent their money wouldn’t be surprising because she had expected it in her heart. At most, she would just be a little envious.
But this junior that Liu Li met on the train…
What a weirdo!
He wore Baleno clothes, but here he was purchasing a five-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar Patek Philippe. Who wouldn’t be confused?
Looking through her sunglasses, Lin Weiwei stared at Wang Yan and thought, “Wow kid, you really know how to disguise yourself.”
Wang Yan felt wronged.
He had been so busy for the entire week and was under the hot sun for so long he felt like he lost a layer of skin. When would he have had the time to go shopping for clothes?
He wanted to buy clothes from Wangfujing, a popular shopping street, originally, but he considered the fact that all his assets combined were just enough to buy a 5170J, and that would leave him with less than a hundred thousand dollars, thus he didn’t dare to go to the shops to splurge just yet.
As for Liu Li, she was just having lots of philosophical thoughts…
‘Who am I? Where am I? What am I doing?’
Her family was far poorer than Lin Weiwei’s, and her social circle was even smaller. Among all the luxury goods, bags and cosmetics were seen daily, but a five-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar watch…
That was beyond her imagination.
Wang Yan didn’t notice how shocked the two ladies behind him were and was incredibly disappointed.
He couldn’t afford to wait. Even if Geneva had some in stock, transferring it would take at least a week.
“I am afraid that is not possible. I came from outside of the capital and my time here is limited.”
The man nodded to show his understanding, then asked, “Well, apart from 5170J, do you have any other backup choices?”
Wang Yan had two.
“5396/1R-001, rose gold. 5905-001, also rose gold.”
The man smiled and extended his arm to show the way. “Please wait a while in the VIP room. The two designs of watches you want are in stock. Seems like your wish can be granted. Your luck isn’t too bad.”
Liu Li and Lin Weiwei followed behind Wang Yan and were ushered to take a seat in the VIP room. A person came over immediately to ask, “Would you like to have tea, coffee, or freshly squeezed fruit juice?”
The three ordered fruit juices and all of them were watermelon juice, perfectly fit for a child’s tastes.
Finally, there were no outsiders and Liu Li could show all her feelings. She looked at Wang Yan in awe but was unable to say anything in the end.
People were so weird. There wouldn’t be much reaction when one was sitting in a five-hundred-fifty-thousand-dollar car, but when someone wore the same amount on their hand, it was very hard to accept.
Wang Yan didn’t understand the logic, but he didn’t want to grow apart from Liu Li, hence he joked, “San Wang, it’s only a watch, why that reaction?”
San Wang?
Lin Weiwei slowly turned her head and took a glance at Liu Li, throwing her a strange look.
Liu Li was a little embarrassed and a little angry. That uncomfortable feeling she had was immediately forgotten.
“It that a normal watch? Only?! I went to beg people to rent their rooms to you so that you could save 6,500 dollars, and you scare me like this?!”
“Hey, can you use some logic? Weren’t the two of you going to drop off luggage?”
Wang Yan felt wronged. According to his plan, he’d had no intention of letting them know!
“Anyway, I am very grateful to you. The thought of sleeping on the bedsheets that you brought is making me anxious.”
“Oh, brother!” Liu Li was embarrassed and angry. She told Wang Yan directly to ruin all his fantasies, “My mom bought me new bedsheets. They were just washed with detergent. If you like them, I can just give them to you!”
Wang Yan shamelessly nodded his head. “I like that, too!”
Lin Weiwei felt so out of place. She quietly pressed the ‘record’ button on her phone and was sending the recordings to the group chat that consisted of their best friends. She was also occasionally murmuring to herself.
Liu Li noticed her phone ringing because there were lots of notifications, and she opened the messages. She realized what Lin Weiwei was doing and went to snatch her phone.
Lin Weiwei was five feet and seven inches tall. She straightened her elbow and pressed her hand against Liu Li’s face…
Done, the world’s longest distance was formed.
“Hey! Don’t blabber nonsense in the group chat! Annoying! Let me go!”
They were playing among themselves and Wang Yan just laughed while looking at them, as if it didn’t concern him.
This lasted until the watermelon juice and watch were delivered consecutively.
Patek Philippe’s watch, and the watch box alone, were beyond Wang Yan’s imagination.
The watch box was approximately six inches in height, ten inches in length, and five inches in width. It was handmade using Northern Europe walnut with piano lacquer. Looking at it was similar to admiring an art piece. Holding it in his hand, he found it was a little heavy.
Moreover, the two designs of the watches’ corresponding boxes were different. One was dark reddish-brown in color and the other was just black.
The 5396/1R was a kind of complicated automatic mechanical watch. The strap was made of an 18K rose gold material, and the dial plate was dark brown in color.
The biggest difference between the 5905R and the former was the watch strap. The 5905R was made of alligator skin. Compared to a gold watch strap, the design seemed more casual…
Comparing the two watches, the 5905R’s watch strap made of alligator skin was more comfortable to wear and more lightweight. However, the dial plate’s diameter was up to 1.6 inches, which seemed bigger. Furthermore, it was a mechanical watch.
The 5396/1R was very mature and trendy, the dial plate was just the right size, and the visuals were just amazing.
However, all the disadvantages that a gold watch strap could have were present, too.
For example, the hair on one’s arm would get caught in the strap, wearing it in winter could cause the wrist to feel cold, the strap wasn’t easy to clean, and more.
Luckily, Wang Yan’s wrist hair was rather thin and he had very little hair, hence the biggest disadvantages could be neglected.
The 5396/1R rose gold paired with dark brown dial plate was a minimalistic design, but it was extravagant as well. The more Wang Yan looked at it, the more he liked it.
Wang Yan didn’t ask Liu Li and Lin Weiwei for their opinions.
If the item was five hundred thousand dollars, how would they give their advice?
Asking it would just be showing off, which would be childish of him.
“I’m very satisfied. What’s the current price?”
Wang Yan didn’t take off the watch, so the man knew exactly which model he was asking about.
“Four hundred eighty-eight thousand dollars.”
The man was knowledgeable and informed Wang Yan about whatever he needed to know.
“Mr. Wang, I need to remind you that according to the conversion rate yesterday from Swiss franc to Chinese yuan, which was 1 to 6.3805, the 5396/1R in Geneva would be cheaper than in China by about twenty-eight thousand dollars. The price difference would exist between Hong Kong and China as well.
“We are very regretful of this fact, but please believe that it was not our intention. To make up for that, we will provide the best service possible.”
Wang Yan gave a smile of satisfaction. “Of course, I understand. It’s okay. Where do I make a payment?”
Lin Weiwei and Liu Li looked down at their watches at the same time.
Four and a half minutes.
They made eye contact with each other in sync.
Liu Li thought, ‘Oh my, that’s faster than when I am deciding to buy a two-hundred-dollar shirt…’
Lin Weiwei thought, ‘Lies! Without at least half an hour, you would never decide on a shirt! It’s obviously faster than when you change your sanitary napkin!’
As they were making eye contact, the service personnel brought out two cufflinks to him on satin. They were made of 18K rose gold and displayed Patek Philippe’s Calatrava logo.
“Mr. Wang, this is a complimentary gift from our store. I believe that there will eventually be an event that would require you to dress in formal wear. We hope that Patek Philippe will be able to help you in small ways such as this.”
Liu Li and Lin Weiwei continued to raise eyebrows at each other.
Look at the service, even the complimentary gift was so high-class!
Wang Yan thanked them.
Next was registering the personal information of the watch owner, creating a VIP card, adjusting the watch timing, and signing a set of documents in both English and Chinese. The man then explained the services available after purchasing the watch and how to keep the watch in its best condition.
After 20 minutes, the man proudly said the final sentence.
“After five years, the price of your watch will increase by at least 50 thousand dollars. A secondhand price will not be less than six hundred thousand. Patek Philippe’s value is always increasing!”