Chapter 73: You Seem Unconvinced?
The Fighting Tournament stretched on until seven in the evening, finally drawing to a close. The six winners left with broad smiles, their pockets heavier with prize money.
Meanwhile, Lai Hou reviewed the day’s sales numbers from both arcade shops. Once again, they had hit a new peak.
With the shops locked up for the night, the crew made their way to a nearby street-side food stall for a celebratory feast.
On the way there, Lai Hou sneaked up beside Wu Li Hong, whispering conspiratorially, “Sister Hong, your girls haven’t eaten yet, right?”
“How about we use this opportunity to call them over and eat together?”
Wu Li Hong laughed and knocked him on the head. “You little punk! True to your name—impatient like a monkey!”
Lai Hou rubbed his head with a grin. “Sister Hong, I’m just looking out for your sisters!”
“Looking out for them, my ass!” Wu Li Hong scoffed, rolling her eyes. “What sneaky ideas are you up to now?”
Still, she made the call, sending their location to the girls. She then glanced at Lai Hou and Wang Zhen Dong. “They’re on their way. I’ve set you guys up, but the rest is on you. Seize the chance!”
At that, Lai Hou immediately straightened up, and even ran to the restroom to freshen up.
Among the group, only Chen Xue Wen remained unfazed. He had no interest in such matters. As for Li Tie Zhu, he was still engrossed in his Snake Game—his sole passions being games and food, with zero interest in women.
Not long after, several women dressed in striking outfits arrived. The moment they stepped into the street-side food stall, they drew quite a few stares and even some whistles from the surrounding patrons. Ignoring them, the women walked straight toward Wu Li Hong.
“Sister Hong!” they greeted cheerfully.
Wu Li Hong welcomed them warmly, hugging them before leading them to the table and making introductions. The girls were around Wu Li Hong’s age, all from the same circles. Back when they worked together, Wu Li Hong had always looked out for them, earning their loyalty. To them, she was their big sister.
After introducing them, she pointed to Chen Xue Wen. “This is the guy I told you about—Brother Wen!”
At the mention of his name, the girls’ eyes lit up. As regulars in the nightlife scene, they were well aware of the underworld rumors. The story of Chen Xue Wen’s fight with Snake had been the hottest topic among gangsters recently. His name commanded respect from both the big bosses and the small-time punks alike.
Though they had never met him before, they had heard plenty. Now, seeing him in person, they were visibly excited.
“Brother Wen!” they greeted in unison.
Chen Xue Wen smiled and nodded. “Take a seat. We’re all friends here, no need to be formal.”
Seeing how approachable he was, the girls relaxed and took their seats. Two of them ended up beside Lai Hou and Wang Zhen Dong. However, the two men, who had been so eager just moments ago, were now stiff and blushing furiously, barely able to speak.
Their previous boldness had vanished. Now, they sat like nervous schoolboys, not daring to look at the women beside them.
Wu Li Hong sighed in exasperation. “Seriously? You two were all fired up before, and now you’re acting like shy virgins?”
She clicked her tongue. “Sitting there in dead silence, eyes glued to the table—what, you expect the girls to flirt with you instead?”
Shaking her head, she stepped in to liven up the atmosphere. Fortunately, the girls were seasoned veterans of the nightlife, and soon enough, the table was filled with laughter and lively chatter.
Once they got comfortable, Lai Hou and Wang Zhen Dong regained their confidence, happily chatting away with the girls.
Halfway through the meal, a group of men walked into the street-side food stall. As they passed by, one young man suddenly caught sight of the women at Chen Xue Wen’s table. His eyes gleamed with recognition.
“Well, well, what are these sluts doing here?” he sneered.
He turned to a man beside him. “Brother Feng, we hit the jackpot tonight. Let me get you a couple of chicks to play with.”
The leader, Zhang Feng, glanced over and also lit up with interest. “Oh? You know them?”
The younger man chuckled. “Of course! These girls work at my club. They make their living off me!”
“You guys go in first,” he told his companions. “I’ll go fetch them over for you.”
Zhang Feng grinned and led his group inside, leaving the younger man to swagger toward Chen Xue Wen’s table.
“Oh hey, Little Man, Little Qi, Bing Bing—fancy meeting you here!” he said with a wide grin.
His eyes then landed on Wu Li Hong. “Oh, Sister Hong, you’re here too?”
The moment the girls saw him, their faces stiffened, smiles vanishing. Even Wu Li Hong’s expression darkened.
“Manager Zhao,” the girls greeted reluctantly.
Zhao Dong laughed and casually draped his arms around Little Man and Wu Li Hong’s shoulders. “What luck running into you ladies tonight. Perfect timing—I’ve got some VIPs to entertain. Why don’t you join us for a drink?”
The table fell silent. Even Chen Xue Wen frowned. This guy was blatantly trying to snatch people from their table.
Wu Li Hong pushed his arm off coldly. “Sorry, Manager Zhao, but we’re here with friends. We won’t be joining you.”
Zhao Dong’s smile faded slightly as he glanced at her, then at the men at the table. A sneer tugged at his lips.
“Come on, Sister Hong. These aren’t just any customers—they’re big-time bosses. Entertain them well, and they’ll book your tables for the night. You’ll make a killing!”
He turned to Chen Xue Wen and his group with a smug grin. “Sorry, boys. These lovely ladies have other commitments. But hey, this meal’s on me, how about that?”
The arrogance in his tone was unmistakable.
Lai Hou’s face darkened. This was downright insulting. He was about to speak up, but Chen Xue Wen raised a hand, stopping him.
Chen Xue Wen locked eyes with Zhao Dong, his voice calm. “Manager Zhao, right?”
“Tonight, these ladies are eating with me, which makes them my friends. Now you’re telling me you’re taking my friends away to entertain your guests. Do you really think that’s appropriate?”
Zhao Dong’s face fell as he glared at him. “Oh? Sounds like you’ve got a problem with that.”
Chen Xue Wen smiled, standing up. He stepped right in front of Zhao Dong, meeting his gaze without flinching.
“It’s not about having a problem,” he said evenly. “It’s just—why should I accept it?”
Before Zhao Dong could react, Chen Xue Wen grabbed a wine bottle from the table and smashed it over his head.
This novel is translated and hosted on Bcatranslation