Chen Liuhe glanced sideways, clearly sensing the hatred in Qin Ruohan's eyes. With a chuckle, he said, "Killing Zhang Yongfu or Zhou Yunkang isn't hard, but have you thought this through? While the Black Dragon Society might only be a second or third-tier gang in Hangzhou, they still have some influence. Can you guarantee that you'll wipe out the entire gang without letting a single one slip through the cracks?"
Chen Liuhe smirked. "If you're not sure, it's best not to act too hastily. Just one loose end could lead to your downfall. Only desperate men fight to the death like that, and you're just a small-time businesswoman, not some outlaw."
"As long as I can avenge my father, I'm not afraid of anything!" Qin Ruohan's stubbornness was evident.
Chen Liuhe shook his head with a smile. "You might not be afraid, but I am. And again, why should I help you kill someone? What you've offered me so far is far from enough to make me risk my life for you."
Seeing the paleness in Qin Ruohan's face, Chen Liuhe sighed. This woman was pitiful, with reasons to evoke sympathy. After a brief pause, he added, "If you really want revenge, focus on becoming stronger first. Relying on others will never compare to relying on yourself."
Qin Ruohan clenched her hands in silence, gripping her dress so tightly it wrinkled. Even the thin black stockings clinging to her delicate skin were creased.
By the time the two returned to the club, night had fallen, and the place was bustling. Cars were coming and going, and business was clearly booming.
After parting ways with Qin Ruohan, Chen Liuhe found himself bored in his office, so he headed downstairs to find Huang Baiwan, who was manning the gate.
The two sat on the steps outside, chatting in the cold wind.
Carefully pulling out a bright red cigarette pack from his pocket, Huang Baiwan offered Chen Liuhe one, then stashed the pack away and pulled out a crumpled box of Da Qianmen for himself.
Chen Liuhe chuckled, "Well, well, Old Huang, you're already smoking premium cigarettes now that you've just taken office? Haven't even warmed your seat yet, and you're already halfway into corruption?"
Huang Baiwan grinned. "The security guards gave it to me. If you don't blend in with these guys, you'll be seen as an outsider. You won't win their trust or respect." He lit Chen Liuhe's cigarette.
Taking a deep puff, Chen Liuhe smiled and said, "That's true. With a new boss in charge, the old crew must be on edge. I've always known you have a knack for reading people."
Pausing for a moment, Chen Liuhe continued, "But you're the head of security now, so why are you still watching the door?"
Huang Baiwan chuckled, "What else am I good at besides guarding doors? Honestly, just sitting in an office collecting a paycheck doesn't feel right. Plus, standing out here, you get to meet all sorts of people—might come in handy one day."
Chen Liuhe's eyes gleamed with approval. Huang Baiwan wasn't the sharpest tool in the shed, but he had street smarts. He knew what he wanted, what he needed to do, and he never missed a chance to claw his way up, no matter how slim it seemed.
As they were chatting, the walkie-talkie clipped to Huang Baiwan's chest suddenly crackled with urgency. "Captain, there's trouble on the second floor! Two of our guys are bleeding. You need to get up here and handle it, quick!"
Huang Baiwan's face tightened. He tossed his cigarette aside and said to Chen Liuhe, "Brother Liu, I've gotta check this out."
Chen Liuhe smirked. "Didn't expect a full-on brawl on our first day in charge. This could be fun." He stood up. "I'm bored anyway. Let's go see what's happening."
In a place like this, it wasn't uncommon for people to stir up trouble. Fights broke out all the time, so Chen Liuhe didn't find it surprising.
Huang Baiwan, ever the quick mover, nodded at Chen Liuhe and rushed into the club, barking orders into his walkie-talkie, "All available personnel, get to the second floor now!"
The club, "Jinyu Mantang," had five floors. The first two were KTV rooms, the third was for tea and entertainment, the fourth was a women's spa, and the fifth housed offices.
When they got to the second floor, the hallway was in chaos. Seven or eight security guards had surrounded one of the rooms, sealing it off. Among them were several pale-faced hostesses, known as "princesses."
"Everyone's here to have a good time, right? There's no need to get so worked up. Can't we just talk things out? There's no need to fight. It's not good for anyone," Huang Baiwan said as he entered the room, putting on a polite smile for the guests. He wasn't a brute; he knew how to swallow his pride when necessary.
Taking a quick glance around the dimly lit room, Chen Liuhe noticed three men sitting on the plush leather sofa. They all looked to be in their thirties.
One look was all it took for a faint smirk to curl on Chen Liuhe's lips. These three weren't ordinary people. Besides their rough, hardened faces, there was a hidden glint of ruthlessness in their eyes, along with an almost imperceptible aura of violence.
These men weren't just dangerous—they were killers or at least people with blood on their hands. Ordinary folks couldn't fake that kind of vibe; it came from years of living on the edge.
On the floor lay two security guards, groaning in pain. Their heads were bleeding, and shards of glass were stuck in their foreheads—clearly, they had been struck with bottles.
In the corner by the sofa, a young woman cowered in fear. Her heavy makeup couldn't hide her youth—she was no older than twenty. She had a pretty face, but at the moment, she was disheveled and terrified, her clothes half-torn, trembling as she hugged herself.
Chen Liuhe took in the scene with a cold laugh. It was obvious what had happened. These three men had made a move on the girl, and when things didn't go their way, this fight broke out.
He didn't intervene or say a word. Instead, he stood quietly by the door, curiously watching how Huang Baiwan would handle the situation.
The man in the middle sneered, "And who the hell are you? We came here to have a good time, but now we're pissed off. What do you plan to do about that?"
Huang Baiwan kept his cool, smiling obsequiously. "If there's been any lapse in our service, I sincerely apologize on behalf of the club. How about this—we'll offer you a bottle of our finest wine, and hopefully, we can all let bygones be bygones."
His approach was meek, almost spineless, but to Chen Liuhe, it was the smart move. Clearly, Huang Baiwan had recognized that these men weren't ordinary troublemakers.
Better to de-escalate than risk a fight with dangerous people, especially when you're in business for profit.
The three men grinned, but their expressions were far from friendly. They weren't pushovers. In fact, each of them had bodies on their hands. They had just escaped to Hangzhou and were looking to blow off some steam. But when their fun was spoiled, their mood soured.
"Alright, we'll let it go," the man in the middle said with a grin, pointing at the girl trembling in the corner. "As long as she spends the night with the three of us, we'll forget this whole thing ever happened."
The man on his left, with a scar on his face, laughed coldly. "I've seen plenty of whores, but I hate the ones who pretend to be saints. If you're gonna sell yourself, then own it. There's nothing worse than a whore who tries to act innocent."
He paused, running a hand over his buzz cut. A predatory glint flashed in his eyes. "But I gotta admit, this one looks like fun. I love breaking in wild mares."
At this point, even Chen Liuhe furrowed his brows slightly. It was clear this wasn't going to end peacefully.
"Come on, gentlemen. That's not how we do things here. We run a clean business. Our girls are here to serve drinks, not sell themselves. Of course, if it's mutual, we won't interfere, but forcing someone isn't acceptable, is it?"
Huang Baiwan smiled apologetically. "How about this? I'll personally cover the cost for you three to enjoy a full-service spa experience. Trust me, it'll be much more satisfying than anything here."
At this point, Chen Liuhe chimed in with a grin, "Sounds like a good idea. I'll even throw in an extra 250 on the house."