Chapter 10: Overestimating One’s Own Abilities
Qiao Jiu had always known that Guan Wei’s bar was anything but clean, but tonight, her eyes were truly opened.
On the sofa beside her, a man clung to a hostess as if he couldn’t bear to part, kissing her fervently. In a moment of excitement, he pressed her down, his hand slipping beneath her skirt.
The private room was awash with flashing lights; the hostess’s legs wrapped around his waist appeared all the more strikingly pale. Qiao Jiu was still pinned in Lu Fengzhou’s embrace, stunned and bewildered.
It wasn’t broad daylight, but surely this counted as a public place. Yet no one else seemed to think anything was amiss; even the other hostesses entertaining guests nearby didn’t spare them a glance.
Unable to help herself, Qiao Jiu frowned. When the hostess’s skirt was finally pushed all the way up, she hurriedly turned her head aside.
Lu Fengzhou swirled his wine glass gently, then suddenly raised his foot and kicked the coffee table in front of him.
The table was littered with bottles and glasses. Though he didn’t use much force, the table shifted a little, and an empty wine bottle toppled over, rolling twice with a clatter before it collided with another bottle and stopped.
The sound wasn’t particularly loud, but it was enough for the couple nearby, who were about to get started, to notice.
The man paused, seeming to realize something. He got up, still smiling, and said, “I forgot, I forgot—this isn’t the right place.”
He straightened his clothes and stood, then pulled the hostess up as well. She simply tidied her hair, showing no embarrassment, and the two walked straight towards the restroom in the private room.
Qiao Jiu didn’t know what to say. She took a couple of deep breaths, slid off Lu Fengzhou’s lap, poured herself another drink, raised her glass to him, and downed it in one go. After setting the glass down, she spoke, “Is this what you meant by ‘entertaining clients’ in the past?”
Lu Fengzhou sat up, “I’ve heard you used to be quite the party girl yourself. What, you can’t handle scenes like this?”
She had indeed been fond of nightlife. With her father’s ability to make money, she had plenty to spend—why not indulge? But she’d only ever sought company for drinks, thrown money around for amusement, or gotten into a fight when she was upset; she’d never witnessed anything like what just happened.
Not that this sort of thing was intolerable now—she just always thought it was something done on the sly.
Qiao Jiu said nothing, only poured herself another glass. Tonight, Lu Fengzhou was the host, but it was her money being spent. A few extra drinks wouldn’t be unreasonable.
Lu Fengzhou watched her, his gaze dropping after a few seconds to her bandaged hand.
He scoffed, “Overestimating yourself.”
Her movements paused. She looked up at him.
Lu Fengzhou clicked his tongue twice, “That bartender knows how to care for someone.”
Without waiting for Qiao Jiu’s reply, he continued, “People who come from places like this always understand women better than men on the outside.”
Qiao Jiu frowned, “What are you trying to say?”
Lu Fengzhou was about to speak when his expression froze. He reached into his pocket for his phone—the screen was lit up, a call coming in.
He glanced at it, stood up, ignored Qiao Jiu, and walked straight out of the private room.
Qiao Jiu let out a quiet snort, shifted over to sit on the sofa next to her, but as soon as she sat down, she heard something strange behind her.
She was no stranger to these things; the sound was unmistakable.
Unable to restrain herself, she frowned and turned back.
Two sofas faced each other; on the one behind her, a man sat with his back to hers. The sounds were coming from beneath his sofa.