Chapter 43 The Paramount's Two-Point Profit

Lu Che murmured half a sentence, then stopped speaking.

He has been investigating cases for seven years, gone undercover three times, and witnessed countless disguises. Some pretended to be ruthless, some pretended to be stupid, and some pretended to be affectionate.

But Fang Che is different.

His recklessness was genuine, and his naiveté seemed pure. As for his determination to protect those around him, it seemed more like he was born that way than he was calculating.

How could someone like that end up in a gang?

How could she possibly be treated differently by Li Hanzhou?

Lu Che recalled that glimpse in the tea restaurant.

The boy's eyes were as wary as a cat with its fur standing on end; the bandage on his shoulder was still on, but his aura was in no way weak.

And there was that untouched iced lemon tea, that deliberate distance, and the intuition that "I know you" could be smelled even across the table.

"Zhou Wenxuan acted quickly." Lu Che withdrew his hand, tidied up the photos, and locked them in the drawer.

The ICAC's direct contact with Fong Chee indicates that the higher-ups have lost patience with the Chiang Tin-kei line.

His task was more complex: to find out the intersection of the drug networks of Wo Yee Tong and Tung Sing Society, and at the same time assess whether Li Han Zhou was "usable".

Fang Che became the most delicate and dangerous piece in the center of the chessboard.

Li Hanzhou protected him, Jiang Tianqi stared at him, Zhou Wenxuan wanted to win him over, and Ma Wang wanted to get rid of him.

Now, even I've been aroused with... an interest I shouldn't have had.

Lu Che leaned back in his chair and closed his eyes.

But in his mind, he recalled the swiftness with which the boy snatched the steel pipe, and the gleam in his eyes when he talked about running a school.

The light was so clean that it made the pool of water appear even more murky.

"Fang Che," he murmured the name, his tongue pressed against his teeth, a hint of amusement in his voice that he himself was unaware of, "Don't disappoint me."

Portland Street gradually awakens in the morning mist.

Fang Che felt that the biggest enemy during his recovery period was not pain, but boredom.

When Amin came running over again to ask him how to install the tricycle chain, Fang Che finally jumped up from the sofa!

He then touched the wound, gasped, and fell back down.

"Hey buddy!" he shouted, "Teaching kids to fix cars comes with after-sales service?"

Cheng Tieniu poked his head out of the kitchen, holding a spatula in his hand: "I'm making chicken soup! Uncle Chen ordered it, you have to drink it!"

"Chicken soup again!" Fang Che lamented. "I've had it for three days straight! I want pork stew with vermicelli! And sweet and sour pork!"

"Your injury hasn't healed yet, so avoid greasy food," Li Hanzhou's voice came from the doorway.

Before the person even entered, their undeniable aura made Fang Che shrink back.

Li Hanzhou wore a gray shirt today, with the sleeves rolled up to his elbows.

He held the file folder, his gaze sweeping over Fang Che's face, which was filled with longing, and a faint smile flashed in his eyes.

"Good morning, Brother Li," Fang Che greeted listlessly.

"Good morning." Li Hanzhou placed the file bag on the table. "Several residents on Portland Street came to ask when there will be another 'cultural performance'."

Fang Che's eyes lit up: "Square dancing? They still want to watch?"

“They don’t just want to watch.” Li Hanzhou sat down. “They said that after the last performance, the neighbors started visiting each other more often, and they were more willing to come out and chat in the evenings. They asked if you had any new songs.”

Fang Che almost jumped up: "Yes! 'Love Liar, I Ask You,' 'Dancing Girl's Tears'... they're all divine songs!" He was about to gesture when Li Hanzhou stopped him with a look.

"Let's talk about it after the injury heals."

"Oh..." Fang Che shrank back, his eyes darting around, "What about the contract..."

“It’s progressing.” Li Hanzhou paused. “Your trick last time worked.”

Fang Che immediately smiled.

Just then, Ah Biao's voice came from the front hall: "Young Master Che, Thirteen Sister called and said that the Paramount Ballroom has been renovated and she would like you to come and give her your feedback. The car is already outside."

Fang Che's smile froze.

Paramount! Thirteen Sister! That female devil who pinches and rubs his face the moment they meet!

He instinctively shrank back into the sofa: "Brother Biao, please tell him that my wound is infected, I have a high fever, and I can't get out of bed..."

“Thirteen Sister said,” Ah Biao said helplessly, “that she knows you’re injured and has prepared bird’s nest soup and a private room. She also said… if you don’t go, she’ll come to ‘visit’ in person and bring some ‘gifts’ for the children.”

Fang Che: "..." This is a blatant threat! And it even involves collateral damage!

He could almost see Thirteen Sister smiling and pinching the children's cheeks, saying, "Oh, so cute, let your sister kiss you," while he stood by, raging in utter helplessness.

“Brother Li…” Fang Che turned his head and looked at Li Hanzhou expectantly.

Before Li Hanzhou could speak, a clear female voice came from the doorway: "Brother Hanzhou!"

Li Ruoxue, dressed in a Chanel suit and carrying a small bag, strode in.

She first looked at Li Hanzhou, her tone softening: "Brother Hanzhou, didn't we agree to go to the Peninsula Hotel with me today for a charity auction luncheon? I finally managed to get the invitation, and all the attendees are Justices of the Peace and business tycoons, which is very important for the transformation of our organization."

As she spoke, she glanced at Fang Che, her eyes conveying a clear message: for such an important occasion, it's more appropriate to bring a sensible female companion. What's the point of bringing this greenhorn to the Paramount?

Fang Che immediately shrank back, silently chanting in his mind: You can't see me, you can't see me, I'm just an injured person...

Li Ruoxue walked up to Li Hanzhou, her tone a mix of coquettishness and grievance: "When Daddy was alive, he always said that we should cultivate connections in legitimate circles. I can't handle those old foxes by myself... Please come with me, okay?"

Her eyes were slightly red, and she looked pitiful.

The scene fell silent for a moment.

Ah Biao looked down at the ground, while Cheng Tieniu fiddled with a spatula in the kitchen.

Fang Che's inner monologue: Oh no, this is a life-or-death question. On one hand, there's the important matter (and my future sister-in-law), and on the other hand, there's my brother (and the possibility of being subjected to cheek-pinching torture). Brother Li, what should I choose?

He quickly gave Li Hanzhou a wink: "Brother Li, you go! I'll bring Tie Niu and A Gui, we can handle it! At most, our faces will get a little swollen from being pinched!"

Li Hanzhou's gaze swept past Li Ruoxue and landed on Fang Che.

The boy winked and made faces, his face clearly saying "Go quickly," but the hint of cowardice in his eyes was unmistakable.

Just one glance.

Li Hanzhou withdrew his gaze and said to Li Ruoxue, "Let Uncle Chen accompany you to the auction. He understands those people's tricks better."

Li Ruoxue was stunned: "Uncle Chen? Brother Hanzhou, you..."

"The Paramount affair is crucial to the next step of the organization." Li Hanzhou's voice turned colder. "Thirteenth Sister is an important partner. Ruoxue, the bigger picture is more important."

After saying that, he said to Ah Gui, "Prepare the car."

Then, looking at Fang Che who was still in a daze, he said, "Let's go."

Fang Che: "Huh? Oh!"

He followed Li Hanzhou outside, and as he passed Li Ruoxue, he felt a chill run down his spine.

I only caught my breath after getting in the car and closing the door.

Brother Li actually chose to go to the Paramount with him.

Fang Che secretly glanced at Li Hanzhou, who was resting with his eyes closed beside him.

The man's profile was hard and cold, with his jaw slightly taut.

“Brother Li,” he whispered, “I can actually go to the Paramount by myself…”

"Shut up." Li Hanzhou didn't even open his eyes. "Rest."

Fang Che immediately fell silent, but his heart warmed.

Ah Gui in the front seat glanced at him in the rearview mirror and silently shook his head.

Paramount Nightclub is not open during the day.

As soon as he stepped inside, Fang Che couldn't help but exclaim "Wow!"

It's changed so much!

The previously crowded and dimly lit lobby has been redesigned, with wider passageways and more rest areas.

The most eye-catching feature is a row of private rooms along the wall, with "VIP" number plates hanging on the doors. The decor has been changed from gold and red to darker tones, making it much more understated.

"Boss Li! Little Che! You've finally arrived!"

Thirteen Sister, dressed in a dark red cheongsam, greeted us with a smile.

She wore lighter makeup today, which made her look fresher.

After greeting Li Hanzhou, his gaze fell on Fang Che.

Fang Che subconsciously moved half a step behind Li Hanzhou.

Thirteen Sister laughed even harder: "Oh, little brother, don't dodge! I won't pinch your cheeks today!" As she spoke, she leaned closer and looked at him carefully. "You look better, but you're still thin! You have to finish the bird's nest soup later!"

Fang Che chuckled dryly, "Thank you, Thirteenth Sister..."

I thought to myself: They didn't pinch my face, but their eyes were like they were trying to rip my clothes off, which was even scarier!

"Let's go and see the results!" Thirteen Sister pushed open the door to the private room.

The private room wasn't large, but it was decorated with care.

Soft leather sofa, marble coffee table, and soundproofed walls.

There's also a karaoke machine and a small TV.

"I changed it exactly as you suggested last time!" Thirteen Sister said proudly. "I tested the soundproofing, and it works great. The karaoke system is a new model imported from Japan. The sofas and coffee tables are all custom-made, and the customer feedback has been excellent!"

She then pushed open the doors to several neighboring rooms, each with a different style, one of which even had a mini dance floor.

"We created themed private rooms to cater to different customer preferences. During the week of trial operation, we were fully booked every night! Especially business people and young masters love booking private rooms. We also launched a membership system, and this week we received nearly 300,000 yuan in pre-paid deposits!"

Thirteen Sister became more and more excited as she spoke, looking at Fang Che: "Little brother, you are truly my lucky charm!"

Fang Che was quite pleased to hear that.

But his professional instincts kicked in, and after carefully examining the private room and then the main hall, he still noticed some problems.

“Thirteenth Sister,” he said carefully, “the overall quality is good, but some details can be improved.”

"Tell me!" Thirteen Sister immediately took out her notebook.

Li Hanzhou also looked up at him.

Fang Che pointed to the door frame of the private room: "The soundproofing material isn't tight enough, so sound will leak through the gaps. Adding a sealing strip would be better. The karaoke system is complicated to operate, so we can train the waiters to help with song selection and promote drinks at the same time."

He walked to the lobby bar: "The casual dining area is still a bit messy, and the waiters are prone to bumping into people. We should mark out designated food delivery routes and put guide lines on the floor. The background music volume can be adjusted in different areas, with quieter music in the private rooms and louder music in the casual dining area, so that they don't interfere with each other."

“Also,” Fang Che looked at Thirteen Sister, “the membership system can be further refined. Divide it into silver cards, gold cards, and diamond cards, with different levels corresponding to different benefits and priorities. Implement a points redemption system, where customers can accumulate points through spending and exchange them for drinks or discounts. Regularly hold exclusive member events to increase customer loyalty.”

He continued, "The fruit platter can be made more elaborate, the variety of snacks can be increased, and some unique flavors can be created. The training of waiters also needs to keep up, with standardized scripts and the ability to make appropriate recommendations."

Thirteen Sister listened and took notes, her eyes shining.

Li Hanzhou watched from the side, a barely perceptible twitch of his lips.

Thirteen Sister's eyes lit up, and she quickly jotted down notes in her notebook.

After Fang Che finished speaking, she closed the notebook and let out a long sigh.

“Little brother,” she looked at Fang Che, her gaze complex, “every single one of your ideas hits the nail on the head. There are some problems that we ourselves find awkward, but we just don’t know how to fix them. After hearing what you said, it all makes sense.”

She turned to Li Hanzhou, her tone serious: "Boss Li, I won't beat around the bush."

Xiao Che is a talent, a great talent!

The idea alone more than doubled Paramount's profits.

If these suggestions are implemented today, I am confident that profits will double again.

She looked at Fang Che again and said solemnly, "Little brother, I'd like to formally hire you as the operations consultant for the Paramount. You don't need to come every day, just a few times a month to check in and offer suggestions. The compensation..."

She paused, then held up two fingers: "Two percent of the Paramount's monthly net profit will be directly deposited into your account. As long as you nod, the calculation will begin next month."