Chapter 32: Master of Skills?
He Yanzhou stayed overnight.
He had just entered the bedroom when there was a cautious knock on the door behind him three times.
"Come in." He sat down in the chair.
The door opened a crack, and He Xi squeezed her head in: "Brother, want some fruit?"
"You just ate that plate with your mouth?"
"How could that be?" He Xi slipped in and placed the fruit plate neatly on the table in front of him: "I specially cut it for you again."
The plate contained apples, honeydew melon, and a few slices of star fruit; the knife skills were so-so, and the pieces varied in size.
He Yanzhou symbolically ate a piece of apple without saying a word, waiting for her to speak.
He Xi swung his hands behind his back a few times: "Brother, I took Sister Ningning to Beidao to see Sister Xu, and I also told Mom about Sister Xu's situation. But I swear, none of it was my choice. Mom threatened to cut off my allowance."
Did I shortchange you by one cent?
"How can I keep asking you for money?"
He Yanzhou tossed the fork back into the fruit plate: "I hope you'll be this conscientious next time."
"...No, please." He Xi had taken money from both sides, and she was used to spending lavishly. Without anyone's money, she felt like she couldn't make ends meet. In short, the fault was entirely hers. She stood there obediently and sincerely apologized: "Brother, I'm sorry."
"Stand as punishment."
"Okay, sure." He Xi stood up straight, feeling slightly relieved that his attitude was relatively gentle, and asked curiously, "Aren't you worried at all?"
"What are you worried about?"
"What will happen to my sister-in-law if Ningning really goes to Beidao?"
He Yanzhou thought for two seconds, then turned to look at her: "Who's your sister-in-law?"
He Xi replied matter-of-factly, "Zhu Xu!"
He couldn't help but breathe a sigh of relief, completely charmed by her coaxing: "Don't just stand there, sit down."
"Hey." He Xi shifted her foot; "So what if it affects my sister-in-law?"
“Zhu Xu won’t care about her.” He Yanzhou understands Zhu Xu; she’s not that petty. As long as she’s determined, nothing can stand in her way.
"So Mom's attitude seems pretty firm. What are you planning to do?" She asked him seriously, taking two steps back to sit on the edge of the bed.
He Yanzhou glanced back: "This semester..."
"Mom seems to be calling me," He Xi sprang up as if her bottom had a spring in it. "I'll go see." She said as she dashed off.
The door was carefully closed, and the room became quiet.
He Yanzhou pushed the fruit plate aside and leaned back.
Looking around, the layout and furnishings of the room hadn't changed much. It was usually empty, and he had only stayed there a handful of times.
He pulled open the drawer in the lower right corner of the desk, and there was an old wallet under the laptop. It was made of black calfskin, with obvious signs of wear on the edges, and it was the wallet he had used the longest.
He opened the inner compartment and found the amulet that Zhu Xu had given him. He carefully took it out. Because of its age, the edges had faded a little, but the amulet was still well preserved.
After examining it for a while, he put it back in its original place, closed the wallet, and put it into the suit pocket draped over the back of the chair.
After spending the night at home, He Yanzhou took a flight to Beidao the following afternoon because he had an unavoidable dinner party that evening. However, he had to return to Lincheng two days later to handle matters at the head office.
For the past year or two, he has been constantly traveling between the two places.
Upon arrival, I first went to Zhu Xu's place, but didn't see him.
Xiao Zhou was fairly familiar with him, and politely said, "Why don't you wait a moment while I call Sister Xu and ask when she's coming?"
He Yanzhou asked, "Is she very busy?"
"That's how it's been lately."
He Yanzhou nodded, preparing to take his leave. Before leaving, he noticed a bunch of red roses on the windowsill, with only one white orchid nestled among them. The orchid's shape, as its name suggests, resembled a butterfly perched on the cluster of flowers. The two colors, combined, did not appear monotonous; instead, they made the red roses stand out even more vividly.
He pointed and asked, "Does anyone want those flowers?"
Xiao Zhou said, "If you want it, I can give it to you first."
He nodded: "Okay."
"Then I'll package it."
"No need, just give it to me." He Yanzhou paid, took the flowers, got into his car, and drove away.
The dinner was held at a seafood restaurant and ended at 9 p.m., after which it was moved to a private club.
He had only heard of this place before, and this was his first time here. The Western-style building hidden among the trees was filled with a decadent and extravagant atmosphere, where all sorts of men and women displayed their ugly side. The same old things happening back and forth were actually quite boring.
He rarely goes to places like this for social occasions, and he planned to just sit for a bit and then head back today.
His companions pushed aside the waiters at the door and eagerly opened the lobby door for him. After turning through several corridors, they arrived at the private room they had reserved in advance.
He Yanzhou was the last to enter. As he turned his head casually, he suddenly caught sight of a familiar figure. He stopped in his tracks, thinking he was seeing things, when he saw that the figure had already disappeared into the door of the private room opposite, and the person following behind was none other than Zhao Siqiao.
He Yanzhou's heart skipped a beat, and he frowned, not expecting to run into Zhu Xu in such a place.
The background music in the corridor, along with the lights, and the drumbeats pounded against my ears and heart. Men of all types walked by from time to time, each one young and handsome.
He knew a little about it; the male models at this club were even more famous.
"Mr. He, please." Someone reminded him.
He Yanzhou snapped out of his daze, nodded, and followed him inside.
He wasn't hosting the evening gathering, so he found a seat on the side. As he turned his head, he could see the private room opposite him just as the door opened and closed.
/
The lighting in the private room became even more ambiguous and dim.
Zhao Siqiao sat in the middle, with Zhu Xu to her right and Shang Jing, the manager she had just worked with, and two clients she had introduced to her on the other side.
They all seemed to frequent these kinds of places; they were relaxed in their demeanor and spoke very freely.
Zhao Siqiao joked with him for a few moments, then turned around and lowered her voice: "Don't look so serious. People might think I kidnapped you."
Zhu Xu tried to force a smile: "How about this?"
"It'll do," Zhao Siqiao said with a look of disdain. "I still hope you can straighten out your attitude. Everything you do is for the good of the company." A good reason is quite effective. Zhu Xu glanced at her but said nothing.
She added, "Let's chat casually for now, and then we'll find someone to keep them company and take good care of them. Then we won't have to worry about not getting any orders."
"Is this how you do business?"
“It depends on the person. It won’t work for men.” Zhao Siqiao leaned close to Zhu Xu’s ear: “Besides, it’s not necessary for ordinary clients either. But this Shang Jing is no simple woman. She has a lot of connections. I’ve known her for several years. I’m used to playing her games. I just need to cater to her preferences.”
Zhu Xu remained noncommittal.
Zhao Siqiao said, "When the people come in later, don't be too reserved. Just pick the ones you like the most. You don't necessarily have to do anything. Drinking, singing, or just chatting will give you enough emotional value."
Zhu Xu said listlessly, "I'll pass."
Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open.
The newcomer was dressed boldly, with brown curly hair. Although he wore heavy makeup, it couldn't hide the signs of aging in his eyes and brows; he was at least fifty years old.
She was clearly familiar with Zhao Siqiao, her face beaming with smiles: "President Zhao, long time no see! Have you made a fortune lately?"
Zhao Siqiao said, "Thank you for your kind words, Sister Hui. That's why I've come to patronize your business."
"I knew it! You can't forget your older sister." Sister Hui turned the music down and moved aside to make way. "Come in, everyone." She then turned to Zhao Siqiao and said, "I personally selected these today. Mr. Zhao, are you satisfied?"
Zhu Xu looked up and saw several men walk in through the door. They had different styles: elite, roguish, and innocent. Each of them was handsome and tall. They lined up in front of the coffee table, smiling as they looked at him.
Zhu Xu had never seen such a scene before and was deeply shocked.
"Let me tell you, Mr. Zhao, this last one is new. He's really something, I heard..." Sister Hui deliberately lowered her voice to sound mysterious, "I heard he's a master of technique," she said, while deftly wiggling her five fingers a few times, "His hand skills are amazing!"
Seeing that no one followed her in, Sister Hui beckoned behind her: "Hurry up, don't keep them waiting."
All eyes turned to the doorway, where a man in a suit and tie, hands in his pockets, walked slowly. He glanced around, his gaze unhurried, before finally settling on a certain spot.
Zhu Xu met those eyes and froze, even Zhao Siqiao next to him secretly gasped.
Sister Hui looked up and saw that the man in front of her was handsome and had an extraordinary demeanor, seemingly different from the newlywed she had only met briefly. However, the room was dimly lit and her old eyesight was failing. She was also afraid of neglecting her guest if she pressed him for details, so she didn't confirm it carefully.
"Don't just stand there, come inside," she urged.
He Yanzhou paused, then glanced at the other person indifferently.
Hui Jie suddenly lost her confidence. This person had a cold gaze, a powerful aura, and a domineering, superior air about him. He didn't seem like someone who would do this kind of work at all. She wondered again where she had gone wrong.
She straightened her back and said lightly, "What are you looking at me for? Go over there."
He Yanzhou's face darkened, and he raised the corners of his mouth sarcastically. His gaze shifted to Zhu Xu sitting in the corner again. After a moment, he actually walked to the end of the line and faced them.
Zhao Siqiao's eyes widened. On one hand, he was unaware of the situation and afraid of getting into trouble. On the other hand, he couldn't help but want to see a good show.
Sister Hui smiled and said, "Everyone, take your pick and see if there's anything you like."
Suddenly, silence fell over the surroundings, and soon whispers came from the left.
Zhao Siqiao listened intently and noticed that the three men were staring at He Yanzhou with shining eyes, looking eager to try.
She cleared her throat, forcing herself to smooth things over: "Well..."
"Sister Shang," Zhu Xu suddenly spoke.
Shang Jing looked over: "President Zhu."
Zhu Xu picked up his glass of red wine, reached past Zhao Siqiao, and said with a smile, "Let me toast you first. The last collaboration was quite pleasant. I hope everyone can enjoy themselves to the fullest today."
"You're too kind, it's too much of a expense for you. Let's cooperate more in the future." Shang Jing stepped forward and clinked glasses with him.
Zhu Xu smiled and nodded, finishing her glass of red wine. She paused for a moment, then said, "I have some connection with one of the people here. I'm sorry, I'll choose first." Her voice was soft and gentle, yet her attitude was firm.
Shang Jing's expression was subtle as she smiled and said, "Please don't be so polite, go ahead."
Zhu Xu sat back down and put down his wine glass. He felt the effects of the wine on his face, his cheeks flushed. He lowered his eyelids and steadied himself for a while before looking up at He Yanzhou: "Let's go with the last one who came in."
She didn't know why He Yanzhou was there, and she was surprised that he was so cooperative.
Zhu Xu knew that if she didn't speak up, and someone made a frivolous remark that angered him, she would feel even more reluctant to do so.
Sister Hui clapped her hands: "This young lady looks unfamiliar, is this your first time here? You have excellent taste." She then winked at the person next to her: "The customer has requested you, hurry up and go over."
He Yanzhou's expression was inscrutable as he pulled his hand out of his pocket and walked towards Zhu Xu.
Seeing their crushes go elsewhere, Shang Jing and the other two each picked someone young and with a great figure, while Zhao Siqiao also randomly pointed to someone.
Sister Hui turned up the music, softened the lights, waved her hand, and left, closing the door behind her.
On the table in front of him were fruit platters, red wine, and desserts, and in the drawer were playing cards and dice.
Someone switched to a high-energy song, and the atmosphere heated up. Everyone went about their own business, and no one paid attention to this area anymore.
Zhu Xu didn't move at first, but out of the corner of his eye he saw He Yanzhou leaning against the sofa with his legs slightly apart. Because of his posture, the crease of his trousers was pulled flat, faintly revealing the outline of his muscles under the fabric—firm and powerful.
Zhu Xu turned his head and glanced at him.
He Yanzhou's gaze swept over as well.
Zhu Xu spoke first: "What are you doing here?"
"Come be a male model."
Zhu Xu paused.
She had been speaking to him softly and gently, but he responded with sarcasm, so she couldn't help but quip, "When did Mr. He change careers?"
"You're getting more and more creative with your games."
Zhu Xu thought to himself that if he could meet someone in a place like this, he might not be entirely innocent.
Thinking of this, she felt a sudden tightness in her chest: "A master of skills?"
What do you think?
"How come your hand skills are so amazing?"
He Yanzhou chuckled, resting his hand on his thigh and tapping the rhythm lightly with his index finger: "Is your memory a little bad? Or do you want me to help you review here?"
"You!" Zhu Xu was furious, glaring at him with shame and indignation.
He Yanzhou's smile vanished instantly. He glanced at Zhao Siqiao, who was singing beside him, and said coldly, "You've grown up. You haven't learned anything good, so you're trying to pick up male models?"
"Then what are you doing here?"
"Social engagements"
Zhu Xu said, "I was just doing it as a social obligation."
He Yanzhou's fingers paused, and he clenched his fist, placing it on his thigh. He took a deep breath and leaned forward, getting closer to Zhu Xu: "Is it too cold? Has your brain frozen too? This place is a mixed bag, with all sorts of people. What are you, a woman, doing here socializing?"
Zhu Xu couldn't help but retort: "Why is President He also resorting to sexism?"
"You know that's not what I meant." He didn't like this place in the first place, and he just happened to come in today. It wasn't that he was prejudiced, but he simply felt that it was unsafe for girls to be in such a smoky and chaotic place.
Zhu Xu moved his lips, but didn't reply. Although the surrounding light was dim, one could already vaguely sense that he was suppressing his anger.
She didn't speak, and He Yanzhou leaned back, also falling silent.
It's like there's an invisible barrier, separating this place from the noise around it.
Zhu Xu took out his phone to check the time, but after staring at the screen for a while, he forgot what he was supposed to do. He felt a pang of annoyance; he hadn't seen him in so long, and they'd ended up arguing.
Suddenly, a cheer came from the left. Zhu Xu subconsciously turned his head and stared wide-eyed in surprise.
A male model next to someone jumped onto the table and swayed his body to the music. Amid cheers from the crowd, he ripped off his T-shirt, revealing his well-defined abs.
Her gaze shifted, and she saw someone kissing obliviously in the corner, the male model's hand moving up and down; Shang Jing, her face flushed, picked up a glass of red wine and splashed it onto the dancing male model on the table, who actually wiped it with his palm and licked it off.
Zhao Siqiao, standing beside him, remained unmoved, her head down, her fingers flying across the keyboard as she replied to someone's message.
Zhu Xu doesn't consider herself particularly innocent, but tonight's experience was truly eye-opening.
Another cheer erupted, and the male model began making rapid hip thrusts in time with the music…
Driven by curiosity, she was watching with great interest.
Suddenly a voice whispered in my ear: "Is it pretty?"
Zhu Xu suddenly turned around.
He Yanzhou asked again, "Does it look good?"
Zhu Xu said, "It's alright."
He stared intently at her and asked in a deep voice, "If I weren't sitting here today, would you be like them?"
Of course she wouldn't.
But tonight, he seemed to be bewitched. Even though he could explain it clearly in two sentences, he refused to admit defeat: "That's possible."
He Yanzhou paused, "Are you serious?"
"...You reminded me that I need to learn from real players..." Her voice trailed off, and she regretted it the moment the words left her mouth.
Why get angry with him for no reason?
As expected, He Yanzhou was speechless. Zhu Xu's chest trembled as he saw the light in He Yanzhou's eyes gradually fade.
At this moment, Zhao Siqiao tugged at her clothes, leaned over and said, "I'm going out for a bit, you can look after things here for now."
Zhu Xu did not respond.
Zhao Siqiao got up and walked towards the door.
Soon, the song ended.
The male model jumped off the table and slumped down next to Shang Jing.
The room suddenly became eerily quiet. Zhu Xu's eyes flickered as he saw He Yanzhou get up.
He didn't bother to say another word to her, buttoned up his suit jacket, and walked straight out with large, steady strides, without even turning his head back.
Zhu Xu watched his retreating figure, knowing in his heart that if he didn't follow him out now, this would be the final outcome between them.
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