The young woman singing was so startled she wanted to flee, but she was surrounded by several people, with nowhere to escape. They didn't seem to notice Xie Sui and his companions, as if they were invisible.
"Haha... someone's calling someone 'Daddy' directly. What kind of hobby is that? Come on, kowtow to Daddy, and I'll give you a red envelope!"
Xie Sui's teasing voice rang out, and only then did the group deign to cast their eyes on him.
Black Gorilla chimed in, "You're so ugly, I wouldn't want you even if you called me Daddy. I don't have a son that ugly."
Wu Xiong, always eager to stir up trouble, added, "It's okay if you're ugly. At least you have a son calling you Daddy. It's like you have one."
Dry Monkey burst into laughter, collapsing on the sofa. Brother Xie was just messing around with these ruffians.
"You're looking for death. Do you know who I am?"
"Who cares who you are? Are we afraid of you? We just got out and want to stretch our legs. Get them!"
Black Gorilla stood up. Nearly two meters tall, he made the group gasp for breath. Damn, he was huge!
Dry Monkey immediately grabbed an ashtray and smashed it over one of them, shouting, "Awesome!"
Before, it was always others beating him, and he dared not fight back. Having someone to back him up felt truly great!
Xie Sui joined in the fray, and soon they had beaten the group into submission, huddled in a corner too scared to resist.
"Damn it, you've ruined my mood. You bunch of scumbags, I could take you all on by myself."
Black Gorilla held a beer bottle menacingly near their heads, delivering a couple of hard blows to anyone who dared defy him, eliciting constant groans of pain.
White Hair tilted his head, his cold eyes fixed on Xie Sui. "Brother, which gang are you from? State your name, you might be one of us."
"Who's one of you? Who are you calling that? Do I look like a lowlife who can't show his face?"
Wu Xiong quipped, "You look pretty much like it, without needing makeup."
"Get lost."
Everyone erupted in laughter. However, the girl named Adie said, "You guys should leave quickly. These are people from the Sanhe Gang, they won't let you go."
"Sanhe Gang? I've had drinks with their boss before."
"Bullshit, keep lying. I've eaten with Mr. Li before."
Wu Xiong didn't believe him. Brother Xie was really bragging beyond limits.
Xie Sui thought, why doesn't anyone believe the truth when I tell it?
He was determined to save face today, pulling out his phone to call the boss of the Sanhe Gang. But to his dismay, he realized he hadn't saved the man's number. This was awkward.
"Uh, what's your boss's phone number?"
The group looked at him with disdain, another poser.
Xie Sui felt the effects of the alcohol, determined to get his dignity back today. "I'll call my secretary, he'll definitely come."
Before he could connect, a group of people burst in from outside – White Hair's brothers. This time, the fight was brutal. If it weren't for Black Gorilla's incredible toughness, they would have been the ones getting beaten.
The brawl moved from the private room to the lobby, and finally, the police were called. They were all arrested.
The group huddled in the police station. Xie Sui hid behind Black Gorilla, unwilling to show his face, feeling utterly humiliated.
To be the esteemed Mr. Xie and get arrested for brawling with petty thugs was a massive loss of face.
Ah Hua and Lin Wanwan arrived soon after, bringing lawyers. It was just a group fight, so after paying a fine and receiving a stern warning, they were released.
Xie Sui hung his head, afraid to meet Lin Wanwan's gaze. The others collectively called out, "Hello, sister-in-law."
Lin Wanwan's suppressed anger flared up again. "Do you want to be the boss?"
"No, I'm not, I don't have that ambition. Wife, please calm down. They started it. I was just defending myself. I swear, I'm this old now, who still likes fighting? I don't."
Lin Wanwan snorted. "You don't like it? I saw you laughing quite happily in there. Then stay here. You don't need to come back."
"Don't, that was Dry Monkey teasing me. It's all your fault. Why are you laughing?"
Seeing Xie Sui acting like a subservient grandson, the others wanted to laugh but didn't dare show it. They all thought Lin Wanwan was quite fierce.
"Are these your brothers? Let's find a hotel first."
Ah Hua went to make arrangements. Xie Sui left with Lin Wanwan, knowing he'd likely be kneeling on a washboard tonight.
As soon as they left, the others breathed a sigh of relief and sympathized, "Why get married? Look at how Brother Xie is controlled. He probably can't even get into bed when he gets home."
"That's for sure. He has to kneel."
Ah Hua sighed, "Stop talking. You're corrupting Mr. Xie. Mrs. Xie will put you all in jail. Mrs. Xie is in charge here, don't make her angry."
"Brother Xie is useless. If this were my hometown, I'd beat this kind of woman three times a day, and she'd be obedient. How can a man let a woman walk all over him!"
Ah Hua said, "Alright, what's your name? I've noted what you just said. I'll tell Mrs. Xie tomorrow."
"No, no, I was just talking. If I had such a beautiful wife, I'd be willing to kneel."
"Stop joking. Go rest."
The idea of a beautiful young woman warming their beds was gone. However, the hotel was five-star. Even if it wasn't a presidential suite, it cost a thousand yuan a night and included breakfast.
The three of them booked three rooms, enjoying the treatment of the rich.
The next day, new clothes and accessories were delivered: watches, mobile phones, small leather bags, gold chains, sunglasses, gold rings – the standard attire of a gangster, but a boss, not a petty thug.
The three met at the breakfast area. Wu Xiong remarked, "This gold chain and ring look so real, very flashy. Brother Xie is good to us."
Dry Monkey's eyes widened in disbelief. "It's not like they look real, they *are* real."
"Holy crap, that must have cost a lot."
"I think Brother Xie might not have been bragging. He's genuinely rich."
"..."
The three exchanged glances. Perhaps, possibly, they were in luck.
Xie Sui arrived while they were eating, this time accompanied by Ah Hua and his secretary. Clothes really do make the man; the three of them barely recognized him.
"Having breakfast? Come talk to me after you're done."
Xie Sui ordered a coffee and waited in the lounge area. The secretary held documents, waiting for him to finish reading and note down instructions.
The three hurried through their meal and came to stand like primary school students.
"Don't be so formal, we're brothers. Don't be distant. For you guys, I knelt on a washboard for an hour last night."
The three smiled, the awkwardness vanishing. They sat down and said, "Brother Xie, you're really a big boss."
The secretary said, "Our Mr. Xie is a famous stock guru, worth tens of billions, with over a dozen factories and companies. Would you consider that a big boss?"
The three were dumbfounded, swallowed hard, and then overjoyed. If Brother Xie let slip even a little from his fingers, wouldn't it be enough for them to live on for a lifetime?
Black Gorilla raised his hand and asked, "Uh, Brother Xie, do the three young ladies you promised us last night still count?"
Xie Sui was taken aback. This guy was still thinking about that. He angrily cursed, "Get lost! I'll get you a wife to keep you in line. Look at your ambition."