Chapter 45: The Impressive Tong

He Haoxuan nodded, not wishing to linger here any longer.

Xiao Juan hurriedly said, “Brother Xuan, remember to take us to Starlight Club this weekend.”

“Xiao Juan, don’t listen to his boasting,” someone interjected. “Do you know? You need a membership card to enter Starlight Club. Even Zhisheng doesn’t have one, and the minimum spend there is one hundred thousand.”

“What? That expensive!” Xiao Juan and her friends were shocked.

He Haoxuan was indifferent. Since Li Qingwan had already paid for the barbecue tonight, he decided to treat them to a visit to the club. “It’s no problem, Xiao Juan. Just follow Li Qingwan to Starlight Club this weekend.”

“Yay!” Xiao Juan and her friends jumped up with excitement.

“Damn it, even a pauper like him dares to brag like this,” Wang Zhisheng cursed angrily. “If you, He Haoxuan, manage to spend at Starlight Club this weekend, I’ll perform the stone-breaking act on my chest right here.”

He Haoxuan laughed, “Alright, you must perform for everyone then. Though I suspect it’ll be the stone that breaks your chest, not the other way around.”

“If you fail, what then?” Wang Zhisheng sidled up to Haoxuan, grinning slyly. “Maybe you should let Li Qingwan spend a night with me. How about that?”

“If I lose, I’ll accept any punishment,” He Haoxuan replied nonchalantly.

Starlight Club belonged to Fang Yongsheng. With a word, Haoxuan could own the place, let alone spend there. Fang Yongsheng’s boss, Scorpion—Huang Zhisheng—had once been his subordinate; even a hint from Haoxuan would make Scorpion go to any lengths.

“Hahaha, He Haoxuan, you said it, don’t go back on your word!” Wang Zhisheng laughed triumphantly.

Li Qingwan was furious, nearly spitting blood. This useless He Haoxuan was getting more foolish by the day. How could he wager with Wang Zhisheng?

Wait, what exactly were Haoxuan and Zhisheng betting on? Why did it seem so mysterious?

Li Qingwan tried to ask Haoxuan, but he just laughed it off and avoided answering.

Suddenly, a Mercedes appeared and parked not far ahead. Three men got out, evidently intending to eat barbecue here.

Wang Zhisheng’s eyes lit up when he saw a man in a black T-shirt, and he rushed over as if greeting his own parents. “Brother Tong, Brother Tong!”

The man in black turned, hearing someone call him, and asked curiously, “Do we know each other?”

“Brother Tong doesn’t know me, but I’ve seen you before. I’m Wang Zhisheng from the Wang family, the one from Liyang Company. Our family does business with yours.” Afraid of offending the man, Wang Zhisheng nodded and bowed like a lapdog.

A look of disdain crossed the black-clad man’s face. “So, the Wang family from Liyang Company. What do you want?”

“Nothing, really. I just saw Brother Tong here for a late-night snack and thought I’d help pay the bill.” Wang Zhisheng ingratiated himself.

The man in black ignored him and, with his two companions, moved to another table and called for the owner to bring barbecue.

He Haoxuan was about to leave, but Xiao Juan and her friends called him over to eat. Li Qingwan guessed Haoxuan hadn’t eaten his fill and, since Wang Zhisheng was treating, thought it better for him to eat more and make Zhisheng spend more. So, she also urged Haoxuan to stay.

To ensure Zhisheng paid more, Li Qingwan unreservedly ordered a lot of food, which made Minnie fume. “Li Qingwan, what are you doing? Treating you to barbecue doesn’t mean you can clear out the whole restaurant!”

“Hehe, we just eat a lot, can’t help it.” Li Qingwan winked at Haoxuan and whispered, “Eat more, make sure to finish everything.”

Haoxuan rubbed his belly. “I’ve already eaten quite a bit, I can’t eat much more.”

“I don’t care. If you don’t listen to me tonight, I’ll tell my sister you harassed me,” Li Qingwan whispered into Haoxuan’s ear, her lips occasionally brushing his skin, making him feel “uncomfortable.”

Wang Zhisheng, excited, returned and said to Minnie, “Minnie, keep an eye on that table. As soon as they finish, let me know so I can pay.”

“Zhisheng, who are those three men? Why are you so eager to please?” Minnie asked, puzzled.

Wang Zhisheng had never treated her so well; why was he so attentive to a man?

“You don’t understand. Brother Tong is a powerful figure, a man whose influence reaches everywhere.” Zhisheng was excited. “It’s a rare chance to meet him tonight. If I can get in his good graces, my family will praise me, and my older brother won’t be able to compare.”

“What? Brother Tong can sway your family’s decisions?” Minnie’s face brightened.

She knew Zhisheng was always vying with his brother for power, both wanting more inheritance. If Zhisheng became the Wang family heir, it would benefit her too.

Zhisheng nodded. “Of course. Brother Tong is a senior executive at Star Hotel, and he’s rumored to have even more powerful connections. When our old man meets Brother Tong, he’s like a mouse before a cat. Once, a young master from a big group offended Brother Tong, and their family was ruined the next day. They were nearly wiped out. If they hadn’t begged Brother Tong for mercy, their family might have vanished from the earth.”

“So, you’re trying to curry favor with Brother Tong,” Minnie deliberately glanced at He Haoxuan across the table. “You need powerful friends to be powerful yourself. As for someone like Haoxuan, a pauper, we should stop seeing him.”

Li Qingwan grew angry at this. “Minnie, what do you mean by that?”

“What do I mean? Isn’t it obvious? Don’t think you can fool us with an act. Haoxuan isn’t rich; he’s just a penniless loser, a useless nobody.” Minnie shouted.

Li Qingwan was startled—she hadn’t expected Minnie’s sharp eyes to see through Haoxuan as a wastrel.

However, Xiao Juan and her friends stood by Haoxuan, insisting, “Minnie, don’t say that about Brother Xuan. He’s wealthy.”

“Heh, since you say he’s rich, let’s all follow him to Starlight Club and see how he gets in,” Minnie sneered.

“Yes, I bet Haoxuan will have his leg broken by someone there,” Wang Zhisheng jeered. “Someone as worthless as him, I could crush him anytime.”

The men at the other table overheard Zhisheng’s loud taunts and glanced over.

Suddenly, Brother Tong spotted He Haoxuan, his expression changed dramatically, and he jumped up, racing toward them.

Because Brother Tong was running so fast and focused entirely on Haoxuan, he didn’t notice the nearby tables, crashing into them and sending chairs flying.