Volume 1, Chapter 45: Gym Membership Card

What a coincidence!

Liu Ziwen had his money robbed just today, and now he suddenly wants to pay me my wages. He must suspect that I am the one who committed the robbery.

I cannot go to him; it would be walking straight into a trap.

"Save it, you can keep that little bit of money. It wouldn't even cover the taxi fare."

I decisively refused and hung up the phone.

My heart was still beating wildly, and with a pale face, I had to sit down and calm my nerves.

"Zhou Yan, don't worry. I swear on my life that I will never breathe a word about what happened today."

Liu Fangfei promised with a grim expression, and it was clear that she was regretting it too.

"I just hope he doesn't go to the police!" I sighed softly.

"Since he called you, he probably doesn't plan on reporting it. After all, a matter like this is too humiliating. He's afraid those photos will leak, and he wants them back even more."

Liu Fangfei switched back to her detective analysis mode, which actually made a lot of sense and settled my mind considerably.

The deed was already done, and other than flatly denying it, I had no other choice.

We left the small diner and parted ways.

I couldn't carry this much cash on me, and I had to guard against the possibility that Liu Ziwen might have marked the bills.

So, I headed straight to the nearest bank.

I did have a bank card, which the school had uniformly issued to help the bank meet its quota. It only had a ten-yuan balance pre-loaded on it.

I deposited five thousand yuan into the account. Feeling much lighter in both body and mind, I headed off to work at the KTV.

The Night Beauty KTV had undergone some changes. There were now colorful lights strung up around the door, and a large sign stood to one side: *Summer Kickoff, 20% Off Everything*.

Han Feng had started running promotions to boost revenue.

When I walked into Han Feng's office, I saw a familiar woman wearing a short skirt and black stockings, sitting on the sofa with her legs crossed and a slim cigarette dangling from her mouth.

It was Zheng Juan. What was she doing here?

"Zheng Juan, do you have any objections to the arrangements we just discussed?" Han Feng asked, exhaling a puff of smoke.

"None at all!"

Zheng Juan nodded vigorously, stood up to face me, and offered an apologetic smile once more.

"Xiaoyan, I'm sorry about what happened last time. I was just blinded by greed and shouldn't have listened to Xu Li's instigation."

While apologizing, Zheng Juan didn't forget to drag Xu Li down with her.

Her intention was clear: to make it seem like Xu Li was the one with the truly rotten character.

Their friendship was as fragile as glass; any closeness between them was merely an illusion.

"It's all in the past. It's nothing."

I waved my hand, unwilling to spare her even another glance.

Zheng Juan instinctively swayed her hips as she walked out. Puzzled, I asked, "Brother Feng, what is she doing here?"

"I brought her on to work here and help manage the part-time hostesses who sell drinks. Those women have extremely thick skins, and to be honest with you, brother, I think Xiaoya is too young. Relying solely on a hot temper won't be enough to keep them in line," Han Feng explained.

"But she's Wu Rui's wife."

I couldn't help but remind him. How could Han Feng forget how miserably we got beaten up when we went to the fertilizer plant last time?

"They officially divorced a few days ago. If Wu Rui dares to come looking for trouble again, I won't be polite with him," Han Feng said dismissively.

"Alright, I'll leave everything to Brother Feng's arrangements."

Han Feng mentioned that he had also adjusted the management of these so-called hostesses.

They were strictly forbidden from accepting private tips inside the private rooms; all tips had to be handed over to the front desk for proportional redistribution.

The purpose of this was to guard against sudden police raids and prevent them from finding any evidence of illicit transactions.

Director Qin harbored a deep grudge and had been keeping a close eye on the KTV. Precautions like this were simply non-negotiable.

Additionally, starting today, the locks on all room doors would be removed.

Any solicitation or prostitution was strictly prohibited.

"Brother Feng, won't this affect our revenue?"

Although I hadn't been to the KTV very many times, I was well aware of what went on inside those tightly shut private rooms.

"I've served time in prison before, and I certainly don't want to go back. I want to run this KTV as legitimately as possible. Once we establish that foundation, we can look for other opportunities to make a fortune!" Han Feng confided.

He then pulled a gym membership card from his desk drawer and handed it to me.

"Go work out whenever you have some free time. While building up your physical strength, it'll also boost your energy and spirit. In the future, I'm counting on you, brother, to take charge of a major operation!" Han Feng encouraged with a smile.

A wave of warmth washed over me as I rubbed the gym membership card and asked touched, "Brother Feng, getting this card must have cost a pretty penny, right?"

"Not expensive, eighteen hundred, it's an annual pass."

Han Feng said offhandedly, "The fitness center has punching bags. You should go practice your combat skills when you have free time, brother. We aren't looking to pick fights, but we can't let ourselves be beaten up easily either."

Right! </i>
I nodded vigorously, a surge of ambition and heroism rising within my chest.

I had to train myself to be formidable so that I would never let anyone bully me again!

Just then,

Old Hei, who had been making his rounds, walked in. I cupped my fists and bowed to him, asking Brother Hei to teach me a few self-defense moves.

Old Hei laughed heartily and didn't refuse. Right there in the open space of the room, he demonstrated a combat technique.

If someone puts you in a chokehold from behind, do not try to break away forward.

Instead, quickly press your body backward against the attacker and strike their ribs fiercely with your elbow. That will allow you to break free.

It looked simple, but mastering it required repeated comprehension.

After practicing a few times, I was drenched in sweat and breathing heavily, feeling that I had benefited immensely.

Although I was the nominal assistant general manager at the KTV, I didn't want to wander around idly and look like I wasn't doing any real work.

After discussing it with Han Feng, he reluctantly agreed to let me work as a waiter.

Han Feng granted me special privileges: I didn't have to follow the regular waiters' schedule, I could take a break whenever I felt tired, and I could clock out and go home whenever I wanted.

Deeply grateful for Han Feng's consideration, I went out and found Fu Xiaoya to inform her of the decision.

Fu Xiaoya was displeased at first, thinking I had no ambition and was just asking for trouble by doing menial work like serving others. She practically came out and said Han Feng was not treating me right.

I repeatedly emphasized that it was something I wanted to do for my own self-improvement.

Only then did she frown and agree to assign me tasks.

I changed into the waiter's uniform, picked up the walkie-talkie, and glanced at myself in the full-length mirror, feeling that I looked quite presentable.

As night fell, the KTV started filling up with customers.

Zheng Juan hurried up and down the stairs, repeatedly drilling the KTV's new rules into the part-time hostesses.

Some of the women were unhappy with the regulations, and arguments inevitably broke out between them, but Zheng Juan was no pushover—her voice was always the loudest.

"Xiaoyan, go take the drinks to Room 108!"

Fu Xiaoya called out to me over the walkie-talkie.

I quickly hurried over, picked up the drinks from the bar counter, and walked into Room 108.

Seated on the sofa were five dripping-with-jewels wealthy matrons, all of whom looked to be over forty.

A life of pampered ease had made them plump and fair-skinned, and arrogant smiles hung on the corners of all their mouths.

I carefully placed the fruit platter and beer on the table. One of the matrons, dressed in a red qipao, looked me up and down and asked with a malicious smile,

"You look new, young man. What's your name?"

"My name is Zhou Yan!"

"Little brother Zhou Yan, can you perform a little show for us?" the red-qipao matron giggled mischievously.

"Haha, I'm all for it. Just singing gets boring."

Another matron raised her hand with a loud laugh, and the other three raised no objections.

"What kind of show?"

I asked hesitantly.