Chapter 67: Boy, Man
After a busy day at the arcade, Chen Xue Wen returned home with Lai Hou and the others. Wu Li Hong had already prepared dinner.
Lai Hou looked around at the spotless room and sighed, “Having a woman in the house really makes a difference!”
Then, he turned to Wu Li Hong with a sly grin. “Sister Hong, last time you mentioned you had some girlfriends?”
“Any chance you could introduce us sometime?”
Wu Li Hong gave him a sidelong glance. “What are you up to?”
Lai Hou chuckled. “Nothing much, just making new friends. You know how it is—more friends, more opportunities.”
Wu Li Hong rolled her eyes. “Oh, please. You think I don’t know what’s on your mind?”
Lai Hou scratched his head and laughed sheepishly.
Wu Li Hong sighed. “Fine. If I get the chance, I’ll invite them out for dinner with you guys. But let me make this clear—I’ll give you the opportunity, but whether you can win them over is on you.”
Lai Hou nodded eagerly. “Thank you, Sister Hong!”
Meanwhile, Chen Xue Wen was reviewing the list that Lai Hou had compiled—names of fighting game experts in Peaceful City.
“Is this all?” he asked.
Lai Hou shook his head. “Probably not. I’ve asked a few other people to gather more information. Give me three days, and I’ll have everything sorted.”
Chen Xue Wen nodded in satisfaction. “Monkey, this is important. We need to be thorough. This tournament has to make an impact.”
He turned to Wang Zhen Dong. “Dong, your task is to find someone who can make custom trophies. I want a few made.”
Wang Zhen Dong was taken aback. “Brother Wen, trophies? Isn’t that overdoing it?”
Lai Hou was equally surprised. “Yeah, Brother Wen, is that really necessary? Trophies aren’t cheap. This is just a tournament—why invest so much?”
Chen Xue Wen shook his head. “The cost of trophies isn’t the issue. I’m also putting up twenty thousand yuan as prize money.”
That declaration had even Wu Li Hong running out from the kitchen. “Xue Wen, are you crazy?!”
“Twenty thousand? Even if our arcade is packed every day, how long would it take to make that back?”
Lai Hou started counting on his fingers. “Yeah, Brother Wen, this doesn’t make sense. Think about it—between both of our arcades, we have around 140 to 150 machines. Even if every machine is occupied all day, how much can we actually make?”
“Bringing in customers is great, but at this rate, we’re going to be losing money.”
Chen Xue Wen simply smiled. “You guys don’t need to worry. I’ve thought this through. Twenty thousand is necessary.”
“And I’ve made my decision—this tournament will be a monthly event!”
The three of them gasped in shock.
Lai Hou panicked. “Brother Wen, that’s impossible!”
“Even if our arcades do well, our monthly revenue might not even hit twenty thousand. If you do this every month, we’ll be running at a loss!”
Chen Xue Wen remained calm. “That’s not your concern. If I’m doing this, I have my reasons.”
“If you’re my brothers, then just help me make it happen.”
The three exchanged glances but said no more. They had been through enough with Chen Xue Wen to know that he never acted recklessly. If he had made up his mind, there was a reason behind it.
Wu Li Hong finished cooking, and after dinner, Lai Hou and the others returned to the arcade to run it for the night and stay over.
Chen Xue Wen retreated to his room, sitting on the bed with a book in his hands.
Wu Li Hong cleaned up the dishes and then went into the bathroom to shower.
Listening to the sound of running water, Chen Xue Wen suddenly felt restless.
He was, after all, a young man in his prime. The thought of an attractive girl just a wall away, bathing, stirred something inside him. But he pushed down those thoughts.
He turned off the light, took off his clothes, and buried himself under the covers, hoping sleep would calm his nerves.
Just as he was settling in, the door creaked open.
A delicate figure stood in the doorway—Wu Li Hong, fresh from her shower, wearing a loose nightgown.
The moonlight streaming through the window illuminated the fabric, outlining her graceful silhouette.
Chen Xue Wen’s breath hitched at the sight.
He gripped his blanket tightly, momentarily at a loss for words.
Wu Li Hong walked in naturally, shutting the door behind her.
Then, she slipped off her nightgown and climbed into his bed.
Chen Xue Wen stiffened completely.
The warmth of her body, so close, left his mind blank.
She turned her back to him, her voice trembling slightly. “It’s so cold.”
“Can you… hold me?”
Chen Xue Wen hesitated. His hands twitched, but he didn’t dare reach out.
Sensing his hesitation, Wu Li Hong moved closer. Her soft, supple form pressed against him, her curves settling against his thigh.
Chen Xue Wen felt his entire body burn, his blood rushing to a single point.
He tried to inch away, desperate to keep his restraint.
But the bed was only so big.
His breath was unsteady. “Don’t… don’t get so close. I… I’m afraid…”
Wu Li Hong, feeling his nervous tension, chuckled lightly. “Afraid of what?”
Chen Xue Wen trembled. “I… I’m afraid I won’t be able to control myself.”
Wu Li Hong turned to face him, her eyes locking onto his. She whispered, “I’m not afraid.”
Three simple words.
Chen Xue Wen lost control.
He pulled her into his arms.
Wu Li Hong nestled against his chest, her eyes misty with emotion. She felt safe. Cherished.
Chen Xue Wen was inexperienced, fumbling in his actions, unsure of what to do.
Wu Li Hong blushed, touching his nose playfully. “Dummy.”
She took the lead, pushing him onto his back.
That night, Chen Xue Wen was no longer a boy.
He became a man.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation