Chapter 20: Gold-Rank Therapist

“Anni-jie, please don’t hit her!” Startled by Jin Anni’s temper, Chen Ye hurried to intervene.

Her eyes sharp again, she pointed at Kong Fei. “You gave me a headache all morning. If this handsome man hadn’t helped me, I wouldn’t have let any of you off. He solved the problem for you. Aren’t you going to thank him?”

“There’s no need to thank me,” Chen Ye said quickly.

Kong Fei rubbed her stinging cheek, clenched her teeth, and said coldly, “Thank you.”

How had things turned out like this? Chen Ye offered Jin Anni the tea. “Please have some ginger tea. The liver governs the free flow of qi, and after a massage your yang qi needs gentle warmth; warm ginger tea is ideal. And try not to get angry; it isn’t good for you.”

“I’ll listen to you.” Her expression softened into a smile. She liked him more the longer she looked at him.

Hoping to ease the tension, he continued, “I cleared the blockage in your liver meridian, but that’s only temporary; it will become blocked again. You’ll need several more treatments and some medicine.”

Kong Fei scoffed. This was a familiar sales tactic: once a customer was pleased, a therapist would start pushing products. In her view, insiders knew the products offered little beyond emotional reassurance. Kong Fei despised the practice, considering it deceptive. After more than three months at the center she was still an assistant, largely because she never sold such products.

Jin Anni also thought he was making a pitch. “I have over a hundred thousand yuan left on my account. I can add more if necessary.” Her eyes cooled. She would have turned on anyone else for pushing products, but Chen Ye had helped her, so she was willing to indulge him.

“You’ve misunderstood. Don’t add money!” he said quickly. “Three to five more massages should be enough. They’re only a few hundred each. If you don’t trust anyone else, come to me. There’s no extra charge.”

He found paper and a pen, wrote out a prescription, and handed it to her. “Have your assistant buy these herbs. I think three courses should do it. They’re common and cost only a few hundred yuan altogether. They’re inexpensive, but they can treat serious problems.”

Jin Anni and Kong Fei stared at him. Given a perfect chance to sell products, he had instead offered a prescription.

Feeling a little ashamed, Jin Anni laughed. “I didn’t realize you were a traditional doctor too.”

“I’ve studied a little.”

“Doctors charge for prescriptions, don’t they?”

“I don’t. This one’s free.”

She laughed heartily, then waved a hand. “Bring me my clothes.”

Chen Ye fetched them and drew a folding screen across for privacy. He had already massaged her, but the gesture showed respect.

Dressed and looking much more alert, Jin Anni opened her purse and put a stack of cash on the massage bed. “That’s all I brought. If it’s not enough, I’ll give you more next time.”

“You don’t have to.” Chen Ye picked up the money and followed her.

“Keep it. It’s a small tip.”

“Really, there’s no need.”

“Call it payment for the prescription.” Her brows drew together. “If you keep refusing, I’ll be angry.”

“Thank you, Anni-jie.”

“I’ll come back in a few days.” Smiling, she waved and left.

Alone with Kong Fei, Chen Ye estimated the cash at three to five thousand yuan. For the first time, money had come easily: he’d spent a month delivering packages under the blazing sun for about the same amount. One massage had earned him a month’s wages. It was exhilarating.

“Hmph. Greedy,” Kong Fei said, looking at him with contempt as she turned to leave.

“How am I greedy? Anni-jie insisted…”

Bang! She shut the door without listening.

“Damn.” He ruffled his hair. Had he offended her? Perhaps she resented being made to thank him. “Kong Fei, if you weren’t so pretty, I’d have gone after you and given you a piece of my mind,” he muttered. Then he pocketed the money and went out cheerfully.

At lunchtime, some staff ordered delivery, some brought food, and others went out. Chen Ye ordered a meal. Passing the break room after collecting it, he saw Kong Fei fast asleep under a blanket. Didn’t she eat lunch?

Someone patted his shoulder. “Looking at the pretty girl?”

It was Li Bo, also returning with a delivery. “I was wondering whether she eats lunch,” Chen Ye said.

“Come here. I’ll tell you.” Li Bo beckoned mysteriously. They found a quiet corner in the dining area.

Gnawing on a chicken leg, Li Bo lowered his voice. “She looks so pure and acts superior, but she’s cheap.”

“Why do you say that?”

“Do you know what she does?”

“No.”

“She’s a chicken.”

Chen Ye glanced at the chicken leg in Li Bo’s hand. “A chicken?”

“Not that kind. A nightclub hostess—a hooker, you understand?”

“No way.” Chen Ye pictured Kong Fei’s innocent face and could hardly believe it.

“People have seen her working at a nightclub more than once,” Li Bo said with a sly smile. He claimed she slept at lunch because she worked nights and skipped food to stay slim. “Haven’t you noticed the other women don’t associate with her? They all know what she’s like. Don’t let her looks fool you. She’s a slut.”

Chen Ye didn’t know what to say.

Outside, someone exclaimed, “We have another gold-rank therapist?”

“Promoted straight to gold? That’s a miracle!”

Li Bo and Chen Ye looked up. “Who got promoted?” Li Bo put down his chopsticks, frowning. “Besides me, who else here qualifies?”

He hurried into the lobby. A screen displayed the therapists’ and assistants’ photos, names, numbers, and qualifications for clients to choose from. Two names now appeared under gold-rank therapist: Li Bo and Chen Ye.