At the spa.
The room was, well…
A tempest brewing.
Clouds parting for the sun.
Mist swirling and rising.
Rain falling from the heavens.
Passion intertwining like clouds and rain.
And finally… the clouds cleared, and the mist dispersed!
Everything settled into calm.
Qin Wan’s face still carried the flush of joy, lying on Ye Qiu’s chest, catching her breath.
It had been years since she’d last experienced this, and today’s release made her feel years younger—like a begonia refreshed by rain, radiant and vibrant, not a trace of her thirty-something age showing.
“How do you feel?” Qin Wan asked shyly.
She wasn’t sure if her performance had satisfied Ye Qiu.
“Four words: beyond description,” Ye Qiu grinned.
While Lin Jingzhi and Bai Bing both brought him comfort, Qin Wan, with her mature allure, was a different sensation entirely.
“So, are you satisfied?” Qin Wan asked softly.
“Of course,” Ye Qiu said, wrapping his arms around her with a smile, “Wan Sis, want to go again?”
“No way, Jingzhi warned me not to drain you dry.”
“Oh? Sounds like you’re not fully satisfied yet—let’s go again!”
“Stop it, one more round and I won’t be able to get out of bed, I’ve got serious business to handle today,” Qin Wan said, grabbing her phone from the nightstand. She opened Weibo, glanced at it, and gasped, “Jin Lingling’s been banned across the internet!”
“Really?” Ye Qiu was mildly surprised, not expecting Long Ye’s efficiency to be this high.
“That friend you called in is impressive,” Qin Wan remarked.
“You bet, he used to be the little terror of the capital,” Ye Qiu replied.
Just then, his phone rang.
It was Long Ye.
The moment Ye Qiu answered, Long Ye’s voice burst through.
“Boss, it’s all taken care of, don’t worry. Jin Lingling’s not just banned online, she’s been officially labelled a disgraced artist—her career’s done for good. Plus, the brands she endorsed are coming after her for a billion in breach-of-contract fees.”
“Well done,” Ye Qiu said, “Next time I’m in the capital, drinks are on me.”
“When you come to the capital, I might not be there,” Long Ye replied.
“Why not?” Ye Qiu asked, puzzled.
“I’ve accepted Old Tang’s invite and officially joined the Hades Temple, probably heading out on a mission soon,” Long Ye explained.
“Hades Temple missions are dangerous, watch yourself,” Ye Qiu cautioned.
“Don’t worry, Boss, I’ll be fine. If I’m in the capital next time you visit, I’ll take you out. Let me tell you, the girls there are something else, especially the ones in uniforms—top-notch service…”
“Get lost!”
Ye Qiu hung up before Long Ye could finish.
The room was quiet, the phone loud enough that Qin Wan heard every word of their exchange.
“Where’s he taking you? Did I just hear something about uniforms and top-notch service?” Qin Wan eyed Ye Qiu suspiciously, “Have you really stepped out on us?”
Ye Qiu quickly clarified, “Wan Sis, don’t listen to Long Ye’s nonsense, I can barely keep up with you all, where’d I find the energy to mess around?”
“Yeah, right, you’re strong as an ox, I’m still sore all over,” Qin Wan rolled her eyes and started dressing.
“Wan Sis, it’s still early, why not rest a bit more? I’ll call Lin Sis over tonight,” Ye Qiu suggested.
“What are you up to?” Qin Wan shot him a look.
Ye Qiu chuckled, “What else? The three of us make a perfect table for some Landlord.”
“You think I’d buy that?”
A man’s mouth, full of tricks.
“Rest up, I’ve got a meeting,” Qin Wan said, kissing Ye Qiu after dressing, then heading out.
Ye Qiu watched her leave, noting how, freshly revitalised, Qin Wan swayed like a peach blossom in bloom—utterly captivating.
“The taste of a mature woman, damn, that’s something else!”
He picked up his phone and opened WeChat.
Lately, he’d been swamped with other matters, neglecting the Chinese Medicine Department.
He sent a message to the department’s group chat: “What’s the situation with the department?”
Replies came fast.
Old Xiang: “Busy.”
Su Xiaoxiao: “Busy.”
Fu Yanjie: “Busy as hell, I’m about to collapse, Director, send help.”
“You’ve all worked hard, how about this—after work tonight, come to Dihao Grand Hotel, dinner’s on me.”
With the department this slammed, as director, it was time to treat his team.
Fu Yanjie: “Director, for real? I hear Dihao’s pricey, you sure about this?”
“Don’t worry, I’ve got the cash,” Ye Qiu replied, “7 PM, Dihao Grand Hotel, Emperor Hall, be there.”
…
6:30 PM.
Ye Qiu arrived at Dihao Grand Hotel.
Stepping out of the car, he spotted Su Xiaoxiao and Old Xiang at the entrance.
“You’re early,” Ye Qiu greeted with a smile.
He glanced at them—Old Xiang looked exhausted, clearly worn out from work, while Su Xiaoxiao… certain assets seemed bigger. Was she chugging papaya juice nonstop?
Not seeing Fu Yanjie, he asked, “Where’s Little Fatty?”
“Over there,” Su Xiaoxiao pointed.
Ye Qiu followed her gesture to a café next to the hotel, puzzled, “He’s grabbing coffee?”
“No, he’s on a blind date,” Old Xiang said, “His family set him up with a girl, they’re meeting at the café.”
“Oh, really?” Ye Qiu’s eyes glinted, “Let’s go check it out.”
“Director, is that okay?” Su Xiaoxiao hesitated.
“What’s wrong with it? It’s about Little Fatty’s future, we’re just looking out for him.”
Ye Qiu strode toward the café, Old Xiang and Su Xiaoxiao hurrying after.
Soon, they spotted Fu Yanjie.
Across from him sat a woman in heavy makeup, dolled up to the nines.
The seats behind Fu Yanjie were empty.
Ye Qiu led Su Xiaoxiao and Old Xiang to sit quietly, close enough to overhear the conversation.
The woman said, “Fu Yanjie, I’ve got the rundown on you, and I’m pretty satisfied, but I’ve got a few conditions.”
“Go ahead,” Fu Yanjie replied, knowing blind dates often came with demands from the woman.
She cut to the chase, “I’ll be blunt. My mom raised me alone, it wasn’t easy, we’re just a regular working family, not rich. I’ve got a younger brother about to get married.”
“If we tie the knot, I want a million in bride price, seven hundred thousand of that for my brother’s wedding.”
“Plus, a car—minimum Audi A4. Oh, and the house needs to be in my name. Any objections?”
“If not, we can get the license tomorrow.”
Ye Qiu bristled—this wasn’t a date, it was a business deal!
He was about to step in when Fu Yanjie calmly replied, “You said your mom had it tough—your dad’s fault, not mine.”
“Jiangzhou’s going rate for bride price is about three hundred thousand. Seven hundred thousand for your brother’s wedding isn’t out of the question, but if I’m paying that much, his wife sleeps with him on even days, and with me on odd days.”
“After all, I’d be the majority shareholder!”
