Chapter 20: No Longer Wanting to Be an Honest Man

Through introductions, Zheng Qian learned that Han Huahao was the owner of Wangyue Pavilion, and not just that—the entire Wangyue Island was his private property.

As for Jiang Tao, he was the Vice President of Yebai Bank, another high-ranking social elite.

The two men first offered a toast before everyone sat down to eat. Zheng Qian’s primary goal was, in fact, to develop his social network and expand his connections. Sometimes, social relations and connections are more useful than money.

When you want to accomplish something, there are only two truly terrible situations in this world: having money but no connections, or having connections but no money. If you have both, there is basically nothing in this world you cannot get done. Whether Zheng Qian could successfully turn these people into his own network depended entirely on his own ability.

After they had eaten and drunk their fill, the group decided to move to a nearby KTV to sing.

"Let’s go. I’ll treat you all to some singing. A few fresh college students just started yesterday; they all have quite good voices," Han Huahao said, patting Chen Weiqiang on the shoulder. "But I’ll warn you, it’s strictly for entertainment, not for anything else!"

They opened a KTV suite, and Han Huahao called in several girls dressed in skimpy outfits to stand in a row. Their looks and temperament were remarkably pure, and it was likely they were indeed college students working part-time.

"Good evening, bosses!" the girls bowed in unison to greet them.

Zheng Qian was stunned. This was supposed to be "strictly for entertainment"? How was this any different from what you see on television?

"Don’t be surprised, it’s the rule," Jiang Tao said, noticing Zheng Qian’s train of thought and offering an explanation. It seemed that Jiang Tao spent plenty of time in such places while entertaining clients.

"Mr. Zheng, you go ahead and choose first. Pick whoever catches your eye."

"Mr. Zheng clearly hasn't been to a place like this before; he has no 'boss aura' at all. I’ll help him pick one. Yu, you go over and keep Mr. Zheng company," Han Huahao said, spotting the situation immediately. He knew these girls well and pointed out the most innocent-looking one for Zheng Qian. "As for the rest, Qiangzi, you go first."

Zheng Qian truly lacked the aura. Sitting in front of these big shots, he felt like the one being accompanied—he felt incredibly timid. In front of the bar staff, he could still put on a brave face, but for some reason, with this new crowd, his confidence had withered.

Everything has a first time. He now had two hundred million in his bank account; who couldn't he afford to have keep him company?

"You go keep Brother Tao company. I don’t like the pure ones; they don’t know how to play and aren't much fun. I like the sexy, mature type," Zheng Qian said, gathering his courage.

Everyone was slightly surprised. Even Xia Xixi, Chen Weiqiang’s assistant, cast a side-glance at him.

"Good man! Alright, then pick another one," Han Huahao said.

Zheng Qian randomly picked a sexier one. It wasn't that he really wanted someone to accompany him, but he wanted to emphasize his own character. That timid display from earlier made him look too much like a pushover. Zheng Qian hated being a pushover. Pushovers were always the ones being bullied. He never wanted to be a pushover again.

Brother Tao looked at the pure girl beside him, then looked at Zheng Qian with a bewildered expression, as if to say: "Don't you know I'm already married, kid?"

Actually, Chen Weiqiang had wanted to pick the young girl named Yu, but since she had been offered to Zheng Qian, he let it go. He didn't expect Zheng Qian to then pass her over to Jiang Tao; it was a bit of a pity. After all, he loved finding pure college students in such places—he shared the same hobby as Richard Dong. However, Chen Weiqiang had a sharp eye and picked another pure-looking college student; although she wasn't quite as good as the one named Yu, she didn't lack much in terms of looks or temperament.

Han Huahao and Jiang Tao each picked two girls.

"Alright, you girls stay, the rest of you can go."

A girl dressed in revealing, sexy attire with a mature vibe sat down beside Zheng Qian and immediately placed her hand on his thigh. Zheng Qian shivered, but he quickly hid the nervous look on his face. Damn it, she’s just a hostess, what is there to be nervous about? Zheng Qian forced himself to calm down.

"Hey, isn't Boss Han being a bit unfair? You all have company, what about me?" Liu Shiqi sat on the side sofa, holding a goblet of high-end wine and crossing her legs.

"Look at my brain, I forgot about Boss Liu." Han Huahao slapped his forehead, then immediately called in a team of handsome, muscular male models, all of whom were over six feet tall. To Zheng Qian’s surprise, Liu Shiqi didn't just pick one—she picked two of the muscular, sturdy-looking men.

The group stayed in the suite for about three hours, singing songs and having a great time, ending up drenched in sweat.

"We’re all sweaty now, shall we go take a shower and play some cards?" Chen Weiqiang proposed, and no one had any objections.

"Mr. Zheng, do you know how to play cards?" Chen Weiqiang asked.

"A little. What are we playing?" Zheng Qian put down his glass. After drinking for so long, he had loosened up and was no longer as timid as before; his face showed a bit more confidence.

"Texas Hold'em, is that okay?"

"Texas Hold'em? I know a little." Zheng Qian had been a fan of Hong Kong films, watching all the movies starring Chow Yun-fat, Andy Lau, and Stephen Chow. He loved that series the most and had learned a thing or two from the Hong Kong-style five-card stud, which wasn't too different from Texas Hold'em. He could handle it.

"Alright, let's meet at Dexian Pavilion later. I'll have Boss Han arrange a place for you to bathe. I'll head over first."

"Good." Zheng Qian nodded.

Whether it was from the alcohol or the lack of air conditioning, Zheng Qian was drenched in sweat and was glad to have a chance to shower. To his surprise, Chen Weiqiang didn't leave alone; he left the KTV suite with his arm around the waist of the pure girl from earlier. Even more startlingly, Liu Shiqi left with the two male models in tow. It seemed they were all regulars here.

Zheng Qian was full of doubts. What happened to "strictly for entertainment"? What was this situation?

"Mr. Zheng, do you want me to call that girl back for you?" Han Huahao noticed Zheng Qian's expression and offered clarification. The mature woman had been clinging to Zheng Qian earlier, and since he wasn't used to it, he had sent her away halfway through. "My place is a legitimate business, but what the girls decide to do on their own is not something I can control."

Zheng Qian suddenly understood. No wonder Chen Weiqiang had been whispering to that girl the whole time—they were negotiating the price!

At KTVs and bars, there are two types of hostesses: those who are forced by circumstance and dire financial need to enter the industry, and those who do it to satisfy vanity and the urge for high-end consumption.

Does that mean the pure girl Yu, whom he had just rejected, was also open to price negotiations?

"I wouldn't go that far, but from what I know, as long as you pay enough, eighty or ninety percent of the girls are willing. As for Yu, she just started yesterday, so I’m not sure."

Truth be told, Zheng Qian was quite taken by her beauty. But since everyone had already left, he decided to let it go. Calling her back now would be awkward.

"No need, Boss Han. Just arrange a place for me and Brother Tao to shower."