Chapter 85
Chapter 85
We were only a kilometer away from the Club Old Zhao Seven had mentioned when Song Xiaotian suddenly pulled the car over.
None of us knew what he was doing.
He pulled out his wallet, took out a hundred-yuan bill, and handed it to Old Zhao Seven. “Seventh Master, could you do me a favor and buy me a pack of Huanghelou? Get the Purple Dragon City variety.”
Old Zhao Seven glanced at him, then at us, took the money, and got out of the car.
Although there was a convenience store just across the street, not far away, Meng Yifan and I immediately grew tense. I asked Song Xiaotian, “You could’ve just asked one of us to go. Aren’t you afraid he’ll run off?”
Song Xiaotian looked dead serious. “If he actually runs, that would be for the best. It would mean everything he just told us was a lie. If we followed him in there under those circumstances, we definitely wouldn’t have a good ending.”
My heart tightened, and I frowned. “You still don’t trust what he said?”
Song Xiaotian shook his head. “Not entirely. Even if there’s a ninety percent chance he’s telling the truth, what happens if that remaining ten percent comes true? That’s Du Ruhai’s territory. Going there is no different from walking into a trap.”
Meng Yifan and I exchanged a look. The mental preparation we had just finished collapsed instantly under Song Xiaotian’s words.
If that ten percent chance manifested, we were truly finished. It would be like three sheep wandering into a wolf’s den; there might not even be bones left by the time they were done with us.
“No matter what happens later, we play it by ear,” Song Xiaotian said. “The three of us can only trust each other. We must trust each other. We cannot trust anyone else-including Old Zhao Seven.”
Meng Yifan and I nodded quickly, fully understanding the gravity of the situation.
I trusted Meng Yifan a hundred percent, and I trusted Song Xiaotian a hundred percent as well.
I glanced out the window and saw Old Zhao Seven was already paying. I quickly pulled Du Mingyang’s ashes out of my backpack and tucked them under the seat. Then, I grabbed my backpack, got out of the car, and opened the trunk.
Old Zhao Seven happened to walk back just then and looked at me. “What are you opening the trunk for?”
I told him Du Mingyang’s ashes were in the bag and that Meng Yifan thought it was bad luck to have them in the cabin, so I was putting them in the trunk.
Once we were all back inside, the car continued toward the Club.
About ten minutes later, we reached our destination.
We parked across from the Club and headed straight for the main entrance. We had to walk in openly; after all, Old Zhao Seven was an honored guest of Du Ruhai and a regular at this establishment. Sneaking in would only make things harder.
The Club was massive and luxuriously decorated. You couldn’t even see the whole layout at a single glance, which spoke to its sheer scale.
The pleasures of the rich were truly beyond our imagination.
There were greeting girls at the door, each dressed in a qipao. Their figures and features were exceptional; I even felt they had more grace and poise than some celebrities.
A floor manager was waiting in the lobby. The moment he saw Old Zhao Seven, he hurried over respectfully.
“Seventh Master, you’ve arrived. And these gentlemen are?”
“Friends.”
Old Zhao Seven smiled and said, “I brought these young masters here to enjoy themselves and get to know the place.”
Before coming here, Old Zhao Seven had mentioned that this Club wasn’t just a place for entertainment and relaxation; it was where Du Ruhai expanded his network. Everyone who came here to play was either wealthy or influential, and they didn’t have to pay for anything.
That was because every expense was billed to President Du.
“Welcome, welcome.”
The manager put on a fawning expression, truly treating us like wealthy young heirs. “Gentlemen, you are welcome to come whenever you like. Everything is on President Du. Of course, since this is your first time, I should fulfill the duties of a host on behalf of President Du and give you a tour.”
Old Zhao Seven raised a hand. “No need. Go about your business. I’ll show them around myself.”
With that, Old Zhao Seven patted the manager on the shoulder twice.
The manager smiled. “Very well. If you need anything, just let me know.”
Once we were inside the elevator, I asked Old Zhao Seven out of curiosity, “How come I don’t see any security or bodyguards? They don’t even have anyone stationed in the lobby?”
Old Zhao Seven chuckled. “In all of Lanjiang City, how many people would dare to pick a fight with a titan like him? Offending Du Ruhai isn’t just about offending the man himself. The capital and the power players behind him aren’t taking his money for nothing.”
“Of course, the security here is actually top-notch. If anyone makes a scene, they’ll be dragged away by a waiter in less than a minute. That’s because the waiters here are the bodyguards.”
I felt a chill run down my spine.
It seemed our perspective was still too narrow; we hadn’t realized just how terrifying Du Ruhai truly was.
To put it into perspective: if Du Ruhai killed someone in this city and the family went to report it, the case would likely be dropped by that night-either the family would be pressured to keep quiet, or they’d be silenced permanently.
This world wasn’t nearly as fair as we had been led to believe.
Our previous stunt of going to the Weihai Group to cause trouble had been nothing but the reckless ignorance of the uninformed.
Next, Old Zhao Seven indeed took us on a tour of the club, giving us a glimpse into the pleasures of the wealthy.
I even spotted several famous local entrepreneurs.
In the distance, a portly, middle-aged man with a greasy face was emerging from a room with a beautiful woman on his arm.
Song Xiaotian suddenly jerked his head away, as if he recognized the man and didn’t want to be seen.
I asked Song Xiaotian who it was.
“A leader from my old unit. He’s the one who fired me.”
Song Xiaotian’s expression was grim as he cursed, “These bastards… I’m fucking done with this.”
Meng Yifan teased, “Your old boss certainly knows how to enjoy himself.”
“Fuck off!” Song Xiaotian snapped.
At that moment, Old Zhao Seven led us back into the elevator. “The floor above is Du Ruhai’s private domain. Those letters are in one of the rooms up there. Next door is where he conducts official business. He usually doesn’t bring anyone up there unless it’s for something important, with someone important.”
The elevator reached the top floor quickly.
When we stepped out, there wasn’t a single bodyguard in the hallway. It seemed Du Ruhai really hadn’t come today.
“Seventh Master, why did you pat that manager on the shoulder earlier? And twice, specifically?”
Song Xiaotian suddenly asked, “Were you giving him a signal?”
The moment the words left his mouth, Old Zhao Seven froze.
We froze, too.
In the next second, he bolted straight ahead. This reaction was, without a doubt, the confirmation of Song Xiaotian’s suspicion.
Old Zhao Seven had played us again!
“Old Zhao Seven, you son of a bitch!”
Meng Yifan and I were livid. We lunged forward to chase him.
But we had only run a few steps when the doors lining both sides of the hallway swung wide. Waiters poured out one after another.
About twenty of them surrounded us in an instant.
We didn’t dare move another inch. These waiters didn’t have the aura of service staff at all; I would have believed it if someone told me they had all killed people before.
Once he was safe, Old Zhao Seven turned back to look at us and let out a loud laugh. “You boys are clever, but not clever enough. How could you trust someone’s word so easily?”
Just then, the door beside him opened.
Du Ruhai stepped out leisurely, swirling a glass of red wine. He looked at us with a mocking sneer. “Meeting again so soon? You really must miss me, Du Ruhai, quite a lot. You find me wherever I go.”
“But since you’re here, you might as well stay.”