Chapter 18: The Empress Is Coming to Arrest Me

Zhang Doudou frowned, instantly finding Xiao Yang insufferably vulgar for using the word “messing around.” How could what happened between two consenting adults be called “messing around”?

Zhang Doudou had a striking figure, standing at least one meter seventy-two. She dressed lightly, her long legs drawing every eye.

“Xiao Yang, watch your mouth. This is a relationship freely chosen.” She looked at him with disdain. “If you had any capability, you’d find connections too—enabling girls to enter your club.”

Xiao Yang’s fists clenched, his eyes reddening.

But Shen Xian patted him on the shoulder. “Xiao Yang, anger only makes you lose your reason. It’s not worth it. Understand—time and hardship will filter out anything that doesn’t belong to you.”

Xiao Yang understood, but the humiliation was his own to bear; the one wearing the dunce’s cap was him. Shen Xian, standing by, could speak easily since he wasn’t the one suffering.

“Think of me,” Shen Xian went on. “Not only have I lost my woman, but I’m saddled with a huge penalty for breaching contract.”

That sobered Xiao Yang. He realized Shen Xian really did know how to comfort people. Compared to Shen Xian, he almost felt he was better off.

“Trust me, in less than a month your KTV will come back from the dead. By then, both Chen Dabao and Zhang Doudou will be groveling before you,” Shen Xian assured him.

At that, Chen Dabao and Zhang Doudou snorted in derision.

A paid companion service reported? No problem—I have backing.

“Shen Xian, have you forgotten who my uncle is?” Chen Dabao looked at him with contempt.

Chen Dabao’s uncle was none other than Chen Guangzong, father of Chen Feng. In this city, Chen Guangzong wielded enormous influence. He’d spent years entrenching his power in Nanzhou; unless things went too far, he could smooth over almost anything.

Thanks to Chen Guangzong’s protection, even if Chen Dabao’s KTV broke the rules, at worst they’d pay a token fine, close for a day or two, then reopen as if nothing had happened.

Other KTVs had no “hostesses”—only Chen Dabao’s did. If you were a customer, where would you go?

“We’ll see,” Shen Xian replied with a smile.

Xiao Yang, however, still looked at Zhang Doudou, unwilling to give up. “Zhang Doudou, didn’t you say you’d always love me?”

She curled her lip. “Promises only count during love. We’ve broken up now—what use are promises? You’re just not thinking straight. At our age, what love is there to speak of? Once a few more of your KTVs go under, you’ll wise up. You’ll start thinking about food, about making money—instead of love.”

Shen Xian realized Zhang Doudou was exceptionally clear-headed and rational.

“I was with you because we were mutually useful,” Zhang Doudou said as if it were the most natural thing in the world. “Now you have no value to me—why would I stay?”

Xiao Yang said nothing, but his eyes were bloodshot, veins bulging on his arms. A storm raged inside him.

She continued, “Remember, Xiao Yang, we’re adults. Don’t try to bind or guilt-trip me with talk of love. That’s not fair to me. Only self-interest can bind me.”

Harsh words, but the truth nonetheless.

Shen Xian applauded, looking at Zhang Doudou with a smile. “I must admit, Zhang Doudou, you’ve truly surprised me. Your views on love might sound a little skewed, but they make a lot of sense. I’d call you the most clear-headed person alive.”

Zhang Doudou turned to him. “Just like Liu Ruyun—she approached you, not out of love, but because of your talent. Once you lost your talent, she was the first to leave. In this world, what is love but a matter of mutual need?”

Damn—how could a woman be this perceptive?

Shen Xian laughed. “You really are remarkable. But is it possible that in less than a month, you’ll come begging Xiao Yang instead?”

A faint sneer crossed Zhang Doudou’s lips. “Unless Xiao Yang proves more valuable than Chen Dabao, never.”

“Come on, Dabao, let’s go. Arguing is pointless—so is mocking.” Zhang Doudou took Chen Dabao’s arm.

Xiao Yang watched them walk away, but in the end, he did not give chase.

“Even a hundred of you couldn’t outmaneuver Zhang Doudou,” Shen Xian said. “You’re a hopeless romantic—she isn’t.”

“I came to comfort you, and now you’re teaching me life lessons?” Xiao Yang managed a wry smile.

“Reviving your KTV is easy,” Shen Xian said. “Just wait for my word. I promise, in less than a month, your dozen or so KTVs will be packed to the rafters!”

“Are you going to pull strings to get the hostesses back?” Xiao Yang asked.

Shen Xian scoffed. “That’s the lowest way. I want you to understand—people go to KTVs for more than just pretty girls and drinks. There’s a release, too.”

Xiao Yang didn’t take him seriously, but he didn’t argue either.

“Come on, let’s drink,” Xiao Yang said.

One glass after another, and Xiao Yang gradually got drunk, slumping over the table, shoulders shaking.

Shen Xian, on the other hand, remained clear-eyed, raising his glass and gazing at the sky.

Memories of that night three years ago floated through his mind—the night he’d drunk himself into a stupor. The woman who’d writhed so wildly on him—who was she?

It was already one in the morning. In the distance, the city lights still glittered.

Suddenly, his phone chimed. Who would be messaging him at this hour?

He took out his phone—and it was Zhou Wan.

“Postman Teacher, I’ve had your ‘Wait a Minute’ on repeat these past days. It’s really beautiful,” Zhou Wan wrote.

As Shen Xian pondered her intentions, another message arrived: “Postman Teacher, are you still awake?”

He replied, “Not yet asleep, just having a late-night snack.”

She immediately wrote back, “So late—who are you eating with? Girlfriend or wife?”

“I’m not married, and I don’t have a girlfriend. Just a friend,” he answered.

Then he snapped a photo of Xiao Yang slumped on the table and sent it to Zhou Wan.

She zoomed in, seeing only Xiao Yang’s messy hair.

But then she spotted a street sign: East Ningwu Road.

“Postman Teacher lives near Ningwu Road. That means he’s probably at Country Garden, Nanzhou Garden, Nanzhou No.1 Court, or Fuhai Kunpeng Garden!” Zhou Wan quickly deduced Shen Xian’s location. “Wait—the distant lights look like the National Mall, and to the east is a Laoxiangji fast-food shop—so he must be near the barbecue street across the way!”

“When will you head back?” she asked.

Shen Xian replied, “Probably about an hour. Anything you need, Miss Zhou?”

“Oh, nothing—just asking. Then rest early, Postman Teacher.”

Shen Xian didn’t reply further.

Zhou Wan immediately grabbed her keys and tiptoed out, careful not to disturb Ning Cai and her daughter Qingqing, who were sleeping in the next room.

“Let’s see if I can catch you tonight,” Zhou Wan murmured excitedly. “Let’s see how much longer you can keep your secrets.”