Chapter 145: Change the Girl

"Please, I really can't go with that man..." Yao Chuchu pleaded, weeping.

"You knocked over a customer's table today, and the customer specifically asked for you. All the girls in the club are watching; if I protect you, how am I supposed to manage them in the future?" Zhabo Qiang patted Yao Chuchu's shoulder, offering a hollow comfort. "Even if you don't go with him today, you'll have to go with someone else tomorrow. This Young Master Hui might be a bit of a playboy, but he isn't ugly. If a coal tycoon comes along later and asks for you, it'll be even harder for you."

"I won't go... I absolutely will not go with that person. I'd rather die than go," Yao Chuchu wailed hysterically.

Seeing her intense resistance, Zhabo Qiang considered for a moment and said, "How about this: I’ve been shielding you only because of Lu Feng. If you can call him and get him to come see you, then you don't have to go with this man surnamed Yuan. If you can't get him to come, it means you have no value to him, and you'll have to work as an escort."

"You can't blame me for this, either. Your father has sent you here twice already, and I haven't forced you to entertain guests for so long; many of the other girls are already dissatisfied," Zhabo Qiang added.

Yao Chuchu froze, falling into a long silence.

"Well? Are you going to make the call or not?" Zhabo Qiang urged.

Yao Chuchu lifted her tear-reddened eyes and choked out, "I don't have his phone number."

"Damn! You don't even have his number? Then there's nothing left to say. Let's go!" Zhabo Qiang shook his head.

"No! I'd rather die than go, I'm willing to call... please, I'm willing to call..." Yao Chuchu begged.

Zhabo Qiang pondered for a moment, took out his phone, weighed it in his hand, and said, "I do have Lu Feng’s number, but think carefully. I can help you call him, but if you can't get him to come here, you'll have to go with the man named Yuan. If you agree, I'll dial it for you."

Yao Chuchu had no choice but to nod.

Seeing her agreement, Zhabo Qiang swiped through his phone, found Lu Feng’s number, dialed it, and handed the phone to her.

"Hello? Yes, this is Lu Feng. Who is this?"

Yao Chuchu’s hand trembled as she held the phone. "Can... can you come over here?"

"Who are you? Is something wrong?"

Tears streamed down Yao Chuchu’s face. She covered her mouth to stifle her sobs and choked out, "Please, help me..."

"I don't understand. What is going on?"

"Please... wuwuwu..." Yao Chuchu, already tipsy from having been forced to drink earlier, was overcome with emotion and spoke incoherently.

Zhabo Qiang, losing patience, took the phone back and held it to his ear. "Young Master Feng, it’s Zhabo Qiang. The thing is, that girl Yao Chuchu is in a bit of trouble. I’ve been giving you face and protecting her, but I can't protect her forever, right?"

Lu Feng frowned slightly. "Didn't we agree to let her go last time?"

"Young Master Feng, don't misunderstand. I kept my word and let her go. But her father sent her back here to make money, and he comes by every few days asking for cash. I’ve been giving you face by not making her entertain guests, but you know my clubs need to make money; I can't keep indulging this forever," Zhabo Qiang explained.

Lu Feng was speechless. He had seen Yao Chuchu’s father last time and knew the man was shameless, but hearing this firsthand still left him at a loss for words.

"How much money does she owe?" Lu Feng asked after a moment of thought.

"It’s not about the money, Young Master Feng. If she were a girl you liked, I’d protect her for life. But if you don't need her, it’s better for her to find a rich young master," Zhabo Qiang said.

Lu Feng fell silent. The sound of Yao Chuchu’s desperate crying still echoed in his ears; it was truly heartbreaking.

Should he save her, or not?

After all, Yao Chuchu had lost her mother in a case he was involved in; she was a pitiful soul.

"Fine. I'll come over," Lu Feng said.

"Alright then." After hanging up, Zhabo Qiang looked down at Yao Chuchu and said, "You’re truly lucky; Young Master Feng agreed to come."

Yao Chuchu covered her mouth, leaning weakly against the wall.

Zhabo Qiang walked out of the liquor storage room and told one of his subordinates, "Go tell that man named Yuan that Chuchu already has an appointment, and tell him to pick another girl. Tonight's drinks are on me."

As the subordinate turned to leave, Zhabo Qiang called him back. "Also, have a girl come over to wash Yao Chuchu's face, fix her makeup, and take her to a room upstairs."

The subordinate nodded and went to carry out the orders.

...

By the time Lu Feng arrived at the Beauty Nightclub, Yuan Jianhui and two of his cronies were still drinking.

Yuan Jianhui was seated facing the entrance. As he tilted his head back to take a drink, he happened to spot Lu Feng walking in.

They had just seen each other at a luxury watch store today; running into each other again was truly a case of bad blood.

Yuan Jianhui immediately led his two cronies over to intercept Lu Feng, provocatively saying, "Look who it is. Did the cops come to raid the place?"

Lu Feng recognized Yuan Jianhui but had no interest in engaging him; he started to walk past him.

Yuan Jianhui persistently blocked his path, continuing his taunts. "What's the rush? Don't think you're a rich man just because you bought a Roger Dubuis, and that's assuming you were the one who bought it. A high-end nightclub like this isn't a place for people like you... Hey, tell me, do cops get free service when they come to play?"

"Move," Lu Feng said in a low voice.

"Oh? Angry? No worries, I'm in a good mood today. If you can't afford the girls here, that's fine. I just happened to get my hands on a top-tier, fresh young beauty today; why don't you come watch the show? Once I'm done, if you haven't run out of ammunition, you can have a go. She might be a bit sticky, but you don't mind, right?" Yuan Jianhui spewed filth in his provocation.

...

At this moment, a floor manager who had received Zhabo Qiang's instructions came over to tell Yuan Jianhui that Yao Chuchu had an appointment and that he should choose another girl.

Yuan Jianhui flew into a rage. "Your mother! Are you playing me? Zhabo Qiang, get your ass out here!"

"I don't know how to 'get lost,' but I can come over," Zhabo Qiang said calmly as he approached.

"What the hell do you mean? I specifically asked for that girl, and now you're telling me to pick someone else!" Yuan Jianhui grabbed Zhabo Qiang by the collar and roared.

Zhabo Qiang had managed to thrive in the Green Dragon Society, so he naturally knew some martial arts. He was much stronger than Yuan Jianhui, and with a firm grip, he pried Yuan Jianhui’s hand off his collar. "I mean exactly that—you're picking someone else."

"I want that girl!"

"That girl already has an appointment," Zhabo Qiang said.

"Who! Who the hell dares to fight me for a woman? If you've got guts, stand up, and I'll beat you to death!" Yuan Jianhui shouted.

Zhabo Qiang spotted Lu Feng behind them, pointed at him with a smile, and said, "It's him."

Yuan Jianhui turned around, saw that Zhabo Qiang was pointing at Lu Feng, and froze.

Zhabo Qiang walked up to Lu Feng, slipped a door card into his hand, and said, "The girl is in room 606 on the sixth floor. Go ahead. I have things to deal with here."

Lu Feng took the card and went straight into the elevator, heading upstairs.

Watching Lu Feng go up, Yuan Jianhui erupted in fury. He grabbed Zhabo Qiang by the collar again and roared, "You're playing me! I asked for that girl first—how did she end up with that bastard!"

Zhabo Qiang pried his hand away again and said, "Relax. It's just one girl. If you can't beat someone else to it, just pick another one."

"You dare to screw with me! Do you believe I'll trash this place of yours?" Yuan Jianhui shouted in anger.

Zhabo Qiang shrugged dismissively. "If you want to trash it, go ahead and try. You think the Green Dragon Society is afraid of you?"