The distinguished guests entered, the bodyguards dispersed, and the passageway returned to normal.
“Who was that, Chen Ge! So imposing, so cool! It was like a movie!”
“Yeah! I didn’t even dare to breathe.”
“Bro, who were those people that just went in?”
A group of girls crowded around Chen Ge, chattering away, asking questions left and right. Chen Ge’s head was spinning, so he quickly led the girls into the nightclub.
The atmosphere inside was clearly more ambiguous, the lighting dim and hazy, countless golden-red disco balls flashing and swirling.
In the very center, a round stage was set up, spotlights pouring down as several dancers dressed as bunny girls performed the trending Western song, “True blue.” Half their chests were boldly exposed, their round hips wrapped in high-waisted triangle shorts, black garter stockings seductive and provocative.
A bunch of young girls watched, blushing fiercely, feeling a burning heat inside.
The reserved ring-shaped booth had a great spot, close to the stage.
All the booths around were packed with guests, and waiters in white shirts and suspenders weaved in and out. The scene was lively and grand.
“I specially reserved a booth for you. The private rooms are all full. You girls don’t really need a private room anyway. Why not just sit here, enjoy the show, and listen to some music?”
Chen Ge called over a waiter to bring drinks and a fruit platter.
“Don’t drink too much, just two glasses each. Here, take this beeper— call me if there’s anything. But let’s agree now, don’t just beep me for no reason.”
Chen Ge was about to leave, but the group of girls wouldn’t let him. They insisted on knowing who that big shot was earlier.
Left with no choice, Chen Ge sat down, lowered his voice as much as possible: “Those were the two young masters of the Zhuang Family. They’re here tonight for business. Shh, don’t mention it, tonight is full of big shots. Don’t cause any trouble, I’m begging you girls.”
Chen Ge finally escaped. The girls squeezed together, chattering and whispering. There was plenty of space on the sofa, but they just had to sit close.
“Is it that Zhuang Family?”
“Which one?”
“You know… Shenghui Bank. My aunt’s husband works as a teller at Shenghui Bank, and the salary is really high.”
“Shenghui!” a girl exclaimed. The others all shushed her, and she shrank back, whispering, “I heard half the money in Hong Kong Island is owned by the Zhuang Family. Their family is buying up almost all the undeveloped farmland in the New Territories.”
Li Yaru sighed, “They’re really rich.”
She knew about Shenghui Group. In a tiny place like Hong Kong Island, every kid knew them.
The apartment she lived in was developed by Shenghui.
The price was sky-high; she hadn’t wanted her father to buy it at first, but he said Shenghui’s properties always had the best locations and prices would definitely soar.
Not just the apartment— when the Li Family opened their new restaurant, they even took out a loan from Shenghui Bank.
“Of course! It’s the Zhuang Family, the King of the Wealthy on Hong Kong Island. What an eye-opener tonight. I just wonder which young master that was— I heard their family has lots of young masters!”
Li Yaru wasn’t interested in which young master it was, just grumbled indignantly, “They’re so rich, but the apartments are still so expensive. They really bleed people dry.”
The girls burst out laughing, then changed the subject, no longer talking about the Zhuang Family. People like that were too far removed from them.
She sipped a chocolate syrup cocktail, nibbled on exquisite French desserts, and admired the dazzling, decadent song and dance, enjoying a side of the world completely different from her own.
After tonight, she probably wouldn’t ever come to a place like this again.
Song after song played on stage. Flower baskets ringed the stage in a full circle— these were all gifts from guests, ranging from five thousand to a hundred thousand, in five different tiers, and served as part of the performers’ income.
At nine-thirty, after much anticipation, Zhou Xuanxuan finally took the stage.
She was known as the “Night Lark,” and her live performance was stunning. A few fans in the crowd started competing, piling up hundred-thousand-dollar flower baskets like running water.
“So beautiful… Live is completely different from tape. I’m glad I came,” Li Yaru murmured, a little tipsy, her misty eyes lost in the music.
Zhou Xuanxuan sang five songs, and when she left the stage, the place was in an uproar. Many guests had come specifically for her, and her fans spent money like water.
The Manager had to keep things under control and quickly urged Jasmine to get on stage.
Jasmine was the lead star groomed by Emperor Haocheng, skilled in both singing and dancing, and had been in the spotlight for the past two years.
The bosses who spent money on her were too many to count.
Jasmine was still doing her makeup, being rushed along, a hint of pride between her brows— she never liked playing second fiddle to anyone.
But tonight, all the attention had been stolen. Jasmine didn’t put much effort into her performance, picked a few trendy songs to dance to, and when she got off stage, she saw she’d received barely half as many flower baskets as usual.
She was even more displeased, but there was nothing she could do— she still had to force a smile and toast the bosses who’d sent the baskets.
“Zhou Xuanxuan really sings better. This one just now sounded like she was pinching her throat.”
“Yeah, and her dancing isn’t as good as Ah Rou’s at our school’s party! And she’s not as pretty as Ah Rou either. Ah Rou, it’s a pity you’re not a superstar!”
With a few drinks in them, the girls became bolder and their voices louder.
At Li Yaru’s table, they happened to overhear these disparaging remarks and immediately got angry. Her slender brows arched, her clear eyes swept contemptuously over—
Seventeen- or eighteen-year-old girls, no matter how mature they tried to act, still had a childish air. Jasmine took one glance at their cheap jewelry and could tell Li Yaru—
“A country bumpkin, all poor and shabby.” Jasmine stepped over, sneering, “I thought some superstar was giving pointers here, but turns out—”
They were all girls spoiled by their families, protected at school, not used to foul language, and this was the first time they’d been called poor and cursed as “Eight Women.”
Lu Junqiu couldn’t swallow the insult and stood up recklessly to argue with her. Li Yaru tried to pull her back but couldn’t.
“You really didn’t sing well, or dance well either, so why can’t people say so? If my words were out of line, I apologize, but why do you have to call people poor?”
Jasmine laughed sharply, not taking these girls seriously at all. “Yeah, I don’t sing well? Then you sing. You dance. Get up there and perform a song— if any guest sends you a flower basket, I’ll give you all the baskets I received tonight.”
Lu Junqiu’s face burned. She’d rather be killed than sing! With her loud voice!
“Who wants your flowers anyway?”
“As expected of a country girl— doesn’t even understand Emperor Haocheng’s rules. Each flower basket means a ten-percent cut. I have ten baskets here, which is at least fifty thousand. Enough for your pretty friend here to buy a Chanel. And yes, the real thing.”
Jasmine arched a mocking eyebrow at Li Yaru. If she guessed right, this was the “Ah Rou” they’d mentioned.
Li Yaru had still been rational, not wanting to cause trouble in this kind of place, but this heavily made-up lady actually implied she wore knockoffs!
How could her clothes be fake! They weren’t…
Li Yaru’s flushed cheeks instantly went pale. She shot to her feet, shielding her cousin behind her, and glared at Jasmine with clear, fierce eyes: “You sure are nosy. Who’s the real ‘Eight Women’ here? It’s just singing and dancing— what, you think you’re the only one who can do it?”
Jasmine lifted her luxurious fox fur, snorted coldly. Did they think this was a marketplace, where just anyone could perform and make a fool of themselves?
After Jasmine left, plenty of curious and amused glances and laughter were cast their way.
The group of girls fell silent. They looked at each other, then all turned in unison to glare at Li Yaru.
Li Yaru: “…………”
Lu Junqiu clung to her, feeling wronged.
Li Yaru calmed down and realized she’d been too impulsive, her face bitter. “It’s bad enough I came to a place like this, but if I go up and sing and my family finds out, I’ll never be allowed out again…”
Lu Junqiu bit her lip, unwilling to give up. “But if you really get those flower baskets, that’s fifty thousand! Sis, fifty thousand! You’ll be rich!”
.
In the most luxurious private room of Emperor Haocheng, a fierce negotiation had just ended.
The contract was signed, and the tense atmosphere dissipated. The disco ball’s shifting light swept across the gilded corners.
Dancers dressed provocatively came in to pour drinks and dance, the air filled with laughter and flirtation.
Tonight, Zhuang Qiting was here on behalf of his father to discuss a port business deal.
The other party was a group of Baipi Pig foreigners, who specifically requested to see some racy song and dance— basically, an erotic show.
He wasn’t good at arranging these things and left it all to his second brother, Zhuang Qikai.
When a woman, pure as a white rabbit, tried to snuggle up to him, his sharp gaze immediately shot toward his brother.
Zhuang Qikai hurried over to take the woman away, whispering, “Big Brother, don’t be so serious. We’re here for business. These Baipi Pigs love this stuff. If we just sit here, we look out of place. It’s all just for show anyway. I even specially found you a pure one.”
Zhuang Qiting pulled out a cigar and looked at his little brother, who always thought he could teach him a thing or two. “Then you put on more of a show for me— take my share and get yourself a girl on each arm.”
Zhuang Qikai’s smile froze, and he replied bitterly, “…Big Brother, I hate these social events too.”
Zhuang Qiting didn’t bother arguing. He stood up coolly, holding an unlit cigar between his fingers, and strolled out of the smoky room to lean against the balcony railing and light up.
Every private room on the second floor had its own viewing balcony, with a perfect view of the central stage.