Chapter 71: Disdain

“I ran into him,” Guan Wei said. “Went on a field job with my dad today, out in the suburbs. Lu Fengzhou's car is so flashy, I recognized it at once.”

She laughed. “I wonder what kind of expansion he’s brought to your family’s business. There’s that abandoned factory out in the suburbs—lots of people have wanted that plot, but there’s never been any concrete news. Today, his car was parked near the gate. I suspect he’s got his eye on it. Lu Fengzhou, if he’s interested, I’d wager he can seal the deal.”

Qiao Jiu blinked. Though she’d rather not admit it, she had to concede that Lu Fengzhou was truly gifted in business.

Sometimes, that was why she felt conflicted. Should the legacy her father spent a lifetime building crumble in her hands, or would it be better if someone took it and made it flourish?

Guan Wei's thoughts skipped from Lu Fengzhou and Song Wan, abruptly dropping the topic. She sighed, “You’re free tonight, aren’t you? Want to go out with me?”

“Where to?” Qiao Jiu asked.

Guan Wei sighed, “A new bar opened on Wanyang Road. It’s pretty big, business is booming. I’m curious.”

She mused, “The cake is only so big, and now there’s another mouth to feed. I need to check it out.”

Qiao Jiu glanced at the time; it wasn’t too late, so she agreed.

Guan Wei said she’d come pick her up. After they made arrangements, the call ended.

Qiao Jiu changed clothes and waited by the window. Soon, Guan Wei’s car pulled up.

She hurried downstairs. As she approached, the car window was already open. Guan Wei looked out at Qiao Jiu. “I wanted Jin to come with me, but he insisted it’s not the right place for me. Tell me, my own bar isn’t exactly squeaky clean, so what places aren’t suitable for me?”

Qiao Jiu remembered how Lu Fengzhou had pointedly asked her to pour drinks, and the scenes she’d witnessed in those private rooms—truly eye-opening.

As they drove off, Guan Wei continued her chatter. “Kuyue has been calling me nonstop these days, wanting me to arrange a gathering. But Lu Fengzhou hasn’t been at my place lately, so I haven’t run into him. I thought about talking to him when I saw him today, but he had a lot of bodyguards around. No idea what he was up to; didn’t seem convenient.”

Qiao Jiu leaned back. “He takes lots of bodyguards even to the suburbs?”

Guan Wei grunted. “Exactly. Who knows what shady business he’s up to.”

Soon, the car stopped beside the bar. The place was large, and the steady flow of people at the entrance betrayed its popularity.

They sat in the car for a moment. Qiao Jiu noted, “Plenty of female patrons. Look, the woman getting out of that car looks like a rich lady.”

Guan Wei clicked her tongue. “Let me find a parking spot and see what kind of divine acts are going on inside.”

The lot at the entrance was full, so they parked a bit further away.

Just as they stopped, Guan Wei’s phone rang. She glanced at it, unconcerned, and answered, “Jin.”

Qiao Jiu kept her eyes on the bar entrance, paying little attention to the conversation.

A moment later, Guan Wei’s voice rose sharply. “What about it? I’m asking you, what’s wrong with me checking out the competition?”

Startled, Qiao Jiu turned to her. Guan Wei’s face was stern, clearly angry. After a few seconds, she said, “Liang Xiujin, spell it out for me. Who am I?”

She was clearly at her limit. Qiao Jiu quickly patted her arm. “Why the fight? Whatever it is, talk it out.”

But Guan Wei was past talking. She sneered into the phone, “So you finally say what you really think. You just never thought much of me, did you? Slept with me once in a moment of confusion, and now you regret it. Well, say it, don’t compare me to Xu Lao-san who cheated on you. I run a bar, sure, and maybe there are some shady deals, but I’m clean. I’m telling you, Xu Lao-san can’t compare to me.”

She couldn’t hold back anymore; before the call was even disconnected, she raised her phone and smashed it against the windshield.

The car was expensive, the windshield sturdy. The phone hit with a smack, bounced off, its screen shattered into pieces, but the glass remained intact.

Qiao Jiu’s eyes widened. She’d quarrelled with Guan Wei before, even nearly fought, but had never seen her like this.

She quickly asked, “What happened?”

Guan Wei gritted her teeth. “Nothing major. He just thinks I’m beneath him, that’s all. What else could it be?”

She quickly unfastened her seatbelt. “Come on, let’s go. Tonight, I’ll show you a good time.”

But in this state, what fun could she have? Qiao Jiu got out and grabbed her arm. “Enough, with your attitude, people might think we’re here to cause trouble. Aren’t you afraid you’ll get hurt?”

She pulled Guan Wei back toward the car. “Alright, alright. Clearly tonight’s not the time for fun. Let’s head back. You’re a woman; in this mood, either you’ll get hurt or drink too much and something will happen.”

Guan Wei seemed to lose her resolve. Qiao Jiu tugged her, and she returned to the car without protest.

Qiao Jiu drove on the way back. She meant to take Guan Wei home, but Guan Wei insisted on going to the bar.

Qiao Jiu considered it; her own bar was at least safe. In this state, it wasn’t wise to send Guan Wei home—her family might worry.

So they ended up at the bar, and Qiao Jiu took Guan Wei upstairs and opened a private room.

Before long, Liang Xiucheng called—his call was for Guan Wei, but Qiao Jiu answered.

Liang Xiucheng already knew Guan Wei and Liang Xiujin had fought; he said his brother had just blown up at home and was in a bad state.

Qiao Jiu sat in the private room as a waiter brought in a crate of liquor. Guan Wei drank straight from the bottle.

She sighed, “She’s not well either.”

Liang Xiucheng thought for a moment. “I’ll come over. Give me the room number.”

Qiao Jiu didn’t hesitate, told him the number, and hung up.

Liang Xiucheng arrived quickly—less than twenty minutes. But in that short time, Guan Wei had managed to knock herself out.

Given her loud personality, Qiao Jiu expected her to make a scene when drunk, but she was surprisingly quiet, curled up on the sofa.

Liang Xiucheng saw Guan Wei and visibly relaxed. “I thought you wouldn’t be able to handle it alone.”

Qiao Jiu sat aside, glanced at Liang Xiucheng. “Do you know why they fought?”

He shook his head. “No idea. My brother just exploded out of nowhere.”

There was nothing else to ask, so they sat in silence.

After a while, Qiao Jiu suddenly remembered something. “Where was Zhu Shengren found? Where did they take him?”

Liang Xiucheng thought. “I think it was an abandoned factory on the outskirts. Someone passing by heard shouting inside.”

Qiao Jiu was stunned. “An abandoned factory on the outskirts?”