Chapter 507 - 243: Gift Selection
Chapter 507: Chapter 243: Gift Selection
Combined with the refined and gentle atmosphere, Lin Shen felt he hadn’t come to the wrong place.
"Mr. Lin, are you buying these for yourself, or as a gift for a friend?"
"It’s a gift."
Lin Shen’s brief reply made his intentions clear to the saleswoman, who smiled and continued her inquiry.
"What price range are you considering, then? We have options from a few hundred to several thousand."
"Do you have anything in the ten-thousand-yuan range?"
’Ten thousand yuan?’
Lin Shen’s words made the saleswoman blink, inwardly stunned.
’That expensive?’
At first, seeing how young Lin Shen was, the saleswoman had assumed he just wanted to try a cigar for the experience.
But upon hearing it was a gift—and one in the ten-thousand-yuan range at that—the saleswoman instantly became 120 percent focused.
’Such an expensive price point must mean this young man is buying a gift for an elder!’
’And with the National Day and Mid-Autumn Festival just around the corner, he might even be buying it for his father-in-law!’
’He’s so rich!’
’Giving a ten-thousand-yuan-class cigar as a gift... he must be a second-generation heir from a wealthy family.’
Facing such a high-potential customer, the saleswoman didn’t dare to be neglectful. Her attitude became even more polite and gentle.
"We do, sir! Do you have a preferred brand in mind?"
"Why don’t you recommend something for me."
Lin Shen had never smoked, let alone cigars, so naturally, he knew nothing about them.
’I should have just let the little girl pick one out.’
’As a wannabe socialite, she should know plenty about these luxury goods.’
While Lin Shen grumbled to himself, the saleswoman was already blooming with joy.
’He wants me to recommend one?’
’This is perfect!’
’Isn’t this commission just falling right into my lap!’
The saleswoman was secretly delighted and quickly ushered Lin Shen into the VIP room.
Though it was called a VIP lounge, it actually looked more like a study.
Carved window lattices, sandalwood doors.
With its antique decor and lush green plants, it was hard to imagine this place was inside a modern shopping mall.
"Mr. Lin, this is the Behike I’m recommending for you."
A moment later, the saleswoman returned, carrying an exquisite, rectangular red cigar box. After using a special pair of cedar tongs to pick out a single cigar, she knelt beside Lin Shen to describe its appearance.
"This is a treasure among Cuban cigars. It’s a limited-edition product released by the Behike brand to commemorate its 40th anniversary. Only 100 boxes were produced, each containing 40 cigars. Its extreme rarity makes it the perfect choice for a gift."
"Its tobacco leaves are all sourced from several famous regions in Cuba, including Vinales and the Vueltos region, ensuring superior quality."
"Furthermore, each box of Behike comes with a handcrafted humidor from the French company Eli Blue, exuding luxury and prestige."
"In terms of taste, the Behike has a rich and complex flavor profile. The smoke is mellow and smooth, with a unique Cuban tobacco character. The flavor transitions subtly from the first third to the last, providing the ultimate smoking experience. Would you like me to prepare one for you?"
’Prepare one?’
’That sounds a bit strange!’
Lin Shen found the phrasing a little odd, but he had heard of the profession of "Cigar Master" before.
It’s a job where you serve a boss while he smokes a cigar.
The boss smokes up top, while they get to work down below.
It was hard to imagine that serving someone smoking could form an entire industry, and a popular one at that!
’They even have certifications for it!’
As a wealthy man, Lin Shen really couldn’t grasp the games and rules of the upper circle these days.
In fact, with his net worth of several tens of millions, he had only just reached the threshold of the upper circle.
To cross that threshold and truly enter a class unimaginable to ordinary people, Lin Shen still had a long way to go.
"No, thank you."
Lin Shen decisively refused the saleswoman’s offer to prepare a cigar.
"I don’t smoke."
’He doesn’t?’
His words left the saleswoman completely baffled.
It was the first time she’d seen a non-smoker come in to buy cigars. ’Could he really be buying them just as a gift?’
The saleswoman found this handsome, rich young heir rather interesting.
She got the feeling he was the type of well-bred, rich kid who was always obedient and well-behaved, never touching things like tobacco or alcohol.
An idea sparked in the saleswoman’s mind, and she asked tentatively.
"Would you like to try one, then? Cigars aren’t actually that harsh."
"Alright."
Although Lin Shen didn’t like smoking, that didn’t stop him from wanting to try.
After all, he would have plenty of opportunities for socializing and business dealings in the future. He’d have to get used to things like smoking sooner or later.
So, Lin Shen asked the saleswoman to prepare one for him.
"Of course, Mr. Lin."
’Regardless of whether he buys the box or not, just lighting this one up is a thousand yuan in my pocket.’
The saleswoman first presented the cigar’s form to Lin Shen, then took out a cigar cutter and made a straight cut across the cap. Finally, she slowly lit it with a sulfur-free match.
Of course, there was a proper way to light a cigar.
The saleswoman held the flame close to the foot of the cigar, slowly rotating it to heat it evenly before finally lighting it.
"Mr. Lin, you may smoke it now. Since it’s your first time, don’t draw too hard. Savor it slowly."
"Okay."
Following her advice, Lin Shen didn’t use much force. He simply held the cigar and took a gentle puff, but it was enough to send him into a violent coughing fit.
’Holy crap!’
’It’s this strong?’
Seeing this, the saleswoman quickly took the cigar from Lin Shen’s hand and gently patted his back. She then handed him a glass of water and asked in a soft, concerned voice.
"Are you alright?"
"I’m fine."
Lin Shen waved his hand. Once the initial harshness subsided, the rich, fragrant tobacco aroma lingering in his sinuses was actually quite captivating.
Even as a non-smoker, he could tell that the quality of this cigar was indeed very high.
"How much for one?"
Lin Shen asked curiously, and the saleswoman replied.
"One thousand. If you purchase a whole box, the total is 39,999. It comes with a complimentary cigar cutter and matching matches. You can also join our cigar lovers’ club, which holds tasting events for new products from time to time."
"Okay, I’ll take five boxes."
Lin Shen thought for a moment. One box for this afternoon, one to take home to his dad for National Day so his father, a smoker of over twenty years, could try it.
The remaining three boxes he planned to use for future gifts, since there would be plenty of occasions for business and social events.
But when the saleswoman heard Lin Shen wanted to buy five boxes, she was completely stunned.
’Wait!’
’Five boxes?’
’That’s two hundred thousand yuan?’
To be honest, most of the customers who came to buy cigars were wealthy and influential. The saleswoman had seen plenty of rich second-generation heirs and first-generation entrepreneurs.
But she had never seen someone as rich as Lin Shen before.
’He wants to buy five boxes all at once?’
’But this is a globally limited edition...’
When the saleswoman snapped out of it, she hurriedly apologized.
"Mr. Lin, we only have two boxes in stock. How about I introduce you to some other cigar brands? They each have their own unique flavors as well."
"Fine."
Lin Shen didn’t waste any more words. With a wave of his hand, he spent over a hundred thousand yuan on five boxes of cigars.
Besides the initial Behike, the others were Cuban Trinidads in wooden boxes.
「Construction Bank: Your account ending in 7946 was debited RMB 160,000.00 on September 22 at 14:30. Current balance: 16,000,000.」
"Please take care, Mr. Lin."
"Right."
After leaving the cigar shop, Lin Shen went to a wine store and bought several bottles of red wine, including two bottles of aged Maotai that the owner had been cellaring for many years.
They were around thirty years old, with a market price of over ten thousand yuan per bottle.
The owner originally didn’t want to sell them, but seeing how generously Lin Shen paid for the wine, he decided to part with his beloved bottles as a way to befriend him.
After all, you can always buy more wine, but an opportune meeting like this might only happen once!
"Thanks, boss."
After waving goodbye to the shop owner, Lin Shen looked at the jam-packed trunk of his Maybach S680 and felt like he was getting ready to go home for the New Year.
’Maybe I can buy some nice things for my family before I go home for National Day.’
’I’ll leave that task to the little girl. She’s probably the best at picking out these kinds of gifts.’
Lin Shen planned silently.
In his mind, when it came to what gifts to give, only the little girl truly understood.
Although she was young, she had extremely high emotional intelligence, and she knew all about luxury goods.
Back when he was buying gifts for his girlfriend, Lin Shen had always asked the little girl for advice.
’For my parents, asking for her input would probably be a good idea too.’
’I just wonder if she’ll insist on me taking her home with me.’
’If she does, maybe I should have her meet Lin Ping first!’
’As for where they’ll meet...’
The corners of Lin Shen’s mouth curled up. He was already planning to move forward with his little ménage à trois.
’The niece and the aunt... I wonder who would perform better in bed?’