Chapter 4: Shanghai Beauty

A little later, Han Qiuya replied: *I’ll come to your place tomorrow morning. We can talk in person. ♡*

The next morning, a knock woke Chen Ye.

“Who is it?”

Still groggy, he rubbed his eyes and opened the door. A striking figure stood outside.

“Qiuya-jie? Why are you here so early?”

He jolted awake. She wore a black jumpsuit, her hair swept up high and sunglasses perched on her nose, looking effortlessly stylish. She lowered the glasses with one pale finger, revealing her beautiful eyes, and glanced down at him.

“That eager first thing in the morning? Young men really do have energy to spare!”

“Uh…”

Flushing, Chen Ye grabbed a piece of clothing by the door and held it in front of his lower abdomen.

“Why cover up? It’s not as if I haven’t seen it.” Smiling flirtatiously, Han Qiuya swayed into the room, bringing a trace of perfume with her.

“It’s a bit basic here,” Chen Ye said, embarrassed.

“That’s all right. It’s quite clean.” She sat on the edge of the bed, crossed her legs, and raised an eyebrow. “Have you made up your mind? You want me to help you find a job?”

“Yes.” He nodded. “I want to make money. I want to make something of myself in Shanghai!”

The memory of Wen Yu climbing into Xie Dong’s sports car the night before set his determination ablaze.

“Make something of yourself.” Han Qiuya sighed. “Shanghai is enormous. Over a million people come here every year, but very few make it to the top. All I can promise is to introduce you to a job that pays well. The rest depends on you.”

“That’s fine. I’ll work hard.” His gaze was steady.

She liked his drive and nodded approvingly. “First, tell me what you’re good at, so I can find a suitable position.”

“I…” Chen Ye thought for a moment. “I can fight.”

Han Qiuya burst out laughing.

His face reddened, and he looked down. He knew it wasn’t exactly a marketable skill, but it really was the thing he did best.

Back when he’d fought the thugs for Wen Yu, he’d held his own against five opponents and scared them off with his reckless ferocity. During his years in prison, he had also studied under a traditional Chinese medicine practitioner, who saw potential in him and taught him the body’s meridians and acupoints.

That knowledge had made him even more formidable. He could strengthen his body by stimulating his own meridians and acupoints, and when facing an enemy, he could find vulnerable points and joints and win with a single strike. Three or five men could hardly get close to him now.

“Little brother, we live in a civilized society. Fighting won’t get you anywhere.”

Her words were like a bucket of cold water. Then she affectionately tapped his forehead. “These days, what matters is this.”

“Brains?”

“Exactly.” Her eyes sparkled mischievously. “And if you’re talking about your talents, you could have mentioned what you’re good at in bed. I saw that for myself yesterday.”

Chen Ye blushed again.

“All right, I’ll stop teasing. Apart from fighting, what else can you do?” She watched him expectantly.

“I know some traditional Chinese medicine. I’m familiar with meridians and acupoints, and I can do acupuncture and massage. Does that count?”

He had learned those skills from his mentor in prison.

Her eyes lit up. “Of course it counts! Those are professional skills. You can make a living with them.”

“Good.” He breathed a sigh of relief. At last, he had something presentable to offer.

Han Qiuya thought for a moment. “I know what to do. Let me make a call.”

She stood by the window and dialed. When the call connected, she spoke affectionately.

“Bai-jie, have you missed me lately?”

“Ha! You heartless woman. Have you been too busy thinking about men to spare a thought for me?”

“Are you free today? Let’s meet. I want to introduce you to a friend.”

“Of course he’s handsome. A real hunk, just your type! Ha!”

“All right, it’s a date!”

Chen Ye was staring at her slender silhouette when she finished the call, turned, and patted his shoulder. “Get ready. I’m taking you to meet a wealthy lady.”

He licked his dry lips. “Jie, this is legitimate work, right?”

The conversation hadn’t sounded entirely innocent.

She giggled. “Did I scare you? We’re close friends, so we say whatever comes into our heads. Don’t overthink it. You’ll understand when you meet her.”

At ten thirty, she drove him to the appointed place. He got out and stared up at the magnificent sign.

“Shanghai Beauty Health and Wellness Center?”

“Qiuya-jie, what do they do here?”

She arched an eyebrow. “Are you really that innocent? It’s a place that caters to wealthy women.”

That only confused him more. The more he heard, the stranger it sounded.

She patted his shoulder. “Come on. Let’s talk inside.”

The interior stunned him. Everything shone: crystal chandeliers glittered overhead, their light reflected in the marble floor. Walking across it felt like stepping into a dream beneath a vast galaxy.

“Welcome!”

Two attendants approached, a man and a woman. The man was tall and powerfully built, though his carefully styled hair and powdered face gave him the look of a pretty boy. The tall woman wore a qipao, her features delicate and her movements graceful.

“I’m here to see President Bai. We have an appointment,” Han Qiuya said with the poise of an esteemed guest.

“You’re Ms. Han, aren’t you? President Bai told us to expect you. Please follow me.”

The woman led them down a corridor. Chen Ye felt as though he were floating through a splendid palace; even the air carried a delicate fragrance.

He had grown up in a mountain village. The grandest place he’d ever seen was Longfu Hotel in the county seat, where he’d attended a classmate’s birthday while in high school. At the time, he’d been awestruck, certain it was as fine as heaven itself. Compared with this place, though, the hotel might as well have been underground.

Amused by the way he looked around, Han Qiuya smiled. “Relax.”

Mortified, Chen Ye wished the floor would swallow him. Just then, he caught sight of an all-too-familiar figure in a room off the corridor.

“Wen Yu?”