“President Yao.” Han Yanyan walked up to the coffee table, stopping with her hands neatly clasped in front of her. She looked very proper, very professional, and yet… quite submissive.
“What is it?” Yao Chen seemed to have forgotten calling Han Yanyan over, as if he had completely lost his memory.
Is this amusing? Han Yanyan felt irritated deep inside but maintained a calm expression, replying, “You called me to pick up my phone.”
“Oh.” Yao Chen appeared to remember, turning to a bald man and asking, “San Hu, where’s the phone?”
The bald man, despite wearing an expensive suit, sported tattoos emerging from under his collar, crawling up to the back of his head—he was on the verge of having “society” tattooed on his face. Among the men in suits within this room, very few looked genuinely civilized. If they were stripped of their blazers and shirts, Han Yanyan guessed the room would be filled with men with ink-covered arms.
Yao Chen had risen from the bottom; his close associates shared the same path. Now that they had money, they all dressed well.
Leading the pack was Yao Chen himself, dressed in top-tier designer clothing. Those unfamiliar with his background would easily mistake him for an elite from some industry.
San Hu chuckled, rummaging through his pockets before pulling out Han Yanyan’s phone. Originally in Yao Chen’s possession, somehow it now lay in the hands of this bald man, passing through who knows how many hands. Han Yanyan couldn’t help but wonder how many had perused her albums. Expecting people who didn’t even finish high school to understand the concepts of respect for privacy or respect for women was utterly unrealistic.
Having just spent two years amid the true upper class, Han Yanyan looked at these men without a hint of nervousness. Calmly, she took her phone from San Hu, addressing Yao Chen, “Thank you, President Yao. I’m sorry for the trouble.”
Yao Chen simply nodded.
“Unless President Yao needs anything, I’ll head back to work now.”
“Hey, hey, hey, don’t go, sister! Come on, today President Yao is in a good mood. Stay and have a few drinks with us,” San Hu insisted, reaching out to pull Han Yanyan closer. The others chimed in, fooling around.
Han Yanyan shifted swiftly, dodging the grasp of San Hu.
After realizing her own capabilities akin to “Apocalyptic Han Yanyan” in her previous life, she had hired a proper combat coach to refine her rough training from Ding Yao. Now, she also carried the persona of “Policewoman Han Yanyan” from this world, making it easy to escape his grip.
She steadied herself, looking back at Yao Chen, “President Yao?”
Having just observed, Yao Chen now spoke, addressing San Hu, “Stop it. She’s not a princess.”
San Hu grinned, “Let her have some fun with us. It’s nothing serious.”
Before Yao Chen could respond, Han Yanyan suddenly lifted her eyes and retorted, “What you said is incorrect.”
Her abrupt declaration drew all eyes to her. Used to grand spectacles, “Miss Han” was unfazed by the attention.
With a childlike innocence, she earnestly reasoned, “I am an employee of Jin Hao, and President Yao pays my salary. Thus, I must work diligently. Each private room has a set number of service staff, which is limited. Today is the weekend, the busiest time of the week. During the time I waste here, my colleagues will be busily working; mistakes could arise from their haste, leading to customer dissatisfaction, which ultimately impacts President Yao's business.”
San Hu laughed heartily, “That’s right! You’re one of President Yao’s employees, but we’re also his brothers! As an employee, surely joining us for a drink is quite fitting!”
Han Yanyan remained serious, “For a business to grow, the most taboo is muddling personal and professional matters, unclear responsibilities, and ambiguous roles. Interfering in the management of professionals with a personal touch is a significant reason management systems collapse.”
She had meant to play the honest scholar, yet unintentionally displayed a hint of the grandeur that came with being “Miss Han” from the conference room.
Though only a young girl yet to leave school, she often revealed a sense of maturity that didn’t match her age. As Yao Chen’s gaze settled on her face, he recalled how they were so close the night before, her expression calm as she conveyed a warning. Later in the car, money had been offered, yet the young girl remained unbothered, calmly rejecting the temptation.
Clear-headed, resolute.
“Oh wow, now she’s preaching to me about principles.” San Hu laughed, slapping his thigh.
The men roared with laughter, having little education, everything she articulated went in one ear and out the other. They found amusement in watching this beautiful girl seriously explain things to these ruffians.
Only Yao Chen looked at Han Yanyan with an inquisitive expression, absorbing her words.
Amid all these rascals, only the biggest rogue, Yao Chen, took her words to heart. His past experiences shaped his current being.
“Alright, San Hu.” Yao Chen finally interjected, “The shop is busy, so let her get to work.”
He turned to Han Yanyan and added, “Call over Emily, Ah May, and Ying Ying.”
These ladies were the top performers at Jin Hao, all stunning and alluring, their charm enough to weaken the bones of many a man. Suddenly, Han Yanyan seemed but a pale comparison in her plain outfit. While attractive, among the nightlife crowd, she appeared too understated.
As men sought excitement at night, they preferred women who were a bit wild.
Han Yanyan exited room 812 and called for a few red ladies. Knowing it was President Yao summoning them, all the girls happily gathered. Besides being wealthy, he was quite handsome, and anyone who could connect with him might just elevate themselves drastically.
Han Yanyan watched as the ladies joyfully entered room 812 before turning back to her designated area.
Yao Chen, with his strong presence and wealth, held an unshakeable status in their world. What more could a man like him desire?
Despite being a crowd of ruffians who had earned their stripes through brawling, why were they all dressed so sharply, resembling business elites? Han Yanyan couldn’t accept they possessed such taste.
Among this group, Yao Chen was the real standout. The others donned attire that felt unbefitting, merely an attempt to keep in line with Yao Chen’s style—a projection of who he was and what he wished to represent.
At thirty-three, Yao Chen was transitioning into his mid-thirties. He had long since moved beyond the days of brawling for territory, rising from the streets and living in a chaotic world. With wealth behind him, he began to seek identity and social status.
If Han Yanyan wasn’t mistaken, Yao Chen seemed to prefer being referred to as “President Yao” rather than “Yao Ye.” The latter bore a heavier connotation of delinquency, which he sought to mask with his elite attire.
Having hinted at his preferences, Han Yanyan discerned the underlying essence of his character.
Perhaps he was in a phase where he had earned enough from dubious means and sought redemption.
Her job as a waitress took place at night, divided into shifts. Today, she worked the morning shift and finished at dawn. After changing clothes, she took the staff elevator to the first floor when she unexpectedly ran into Yao Chen and San Hu, who were exiting with women from the guest elevator.
The doormen outside unifiedly bowed, greeting, “Goodbye, President Yao.”
Han Yanyan chose not to move closer, opting to stay by the wall until the rowdy group of men passed before quietly following behind them out the main door.
Outside, not only was Yao Chen's luxury car waiting but there were also several men on standby. These men weren’t even allowed to enter the private rooms and remained outside.
Han Yanyan’s gaze traveled over one of the younger boys, and a faint smile appeared at the corner of her lips.
This young man had only recently joined the criminal police team, Xiao Yang. He had been on the outside, while during her prior life, Han Yanyan was within the mix. In this new life, she had transformed into a young college student, while Xiao Yang still remained undercover, while Jiang Ye would continue to monitor Yao Chen closely.
Was it really so simple to wash away one’s sins? If everyone could just do bad things, accumulate wealth, and then clear their past, what would be the need for the law?
As the group clamored into the car, Han Yanyan took the opportunity to swiftly glide along the wall towards the exit. At this hour, she needed to catch a taxi, which required reaching the street outside the parking lot.
She had learned over time that this world had no ride-hailing services. Leo was truly lagging behind!
Yao Chen allowed the women to board first. As he was about to step into the car, his gaze caught sight of a graceful figure slipping through the crowd, running lightly towards the parking lot exit.
During work hours, female staff had a designated hairstyle, their long hair pinned up. Having finished work, her locks cascaded down her shoulders, flowing gently with her movements.
Several cars rolled out of the courtyard, and through the dark-tinted windows, Yao Chen observed the girl attempting to hail a taxi from the roadside. In the chilly autumn night, she had donned a thin down jacket, her delicate legs clad in jeans, straight and slender.
Her clothing appeared cheap, nowhere near as exquisite as the ladies in his car. Yet, her youthfulness sparkled through, no cheap outfit could overshadow her vibrancy.
Yao Chen felt the truth of aging beginning to wash over him.
San Hu sat across from him, already entangled with a woman. He lived recklessly and free, spending ruthlessly, partying hard, and indulging in women without restraint.
Yao Chen had once been that way but had since moved past. After accumulating a certain level of wealth, perspectives altered. He inhaled his cigarette, glancing at San Hu with a smirk.
Turning back, his gaze settled on the girl, who was now far away. The late hour rendered it difficult to catch a taxi, yet he could still see her slender figure standing alone.
Yao Chen exhaled smoke from his lungs, pushed away the clingy woman beside him, and pulled out his phone to make a call.
San Hu, hearing this, wrestled his way up from the woman, asking, “Is that the little girl? The one who preached about principles?”
Yao Chen responded indifferently with a “mm-hmm.”
San Hu chuckled, “Bro, you really care, huh?”
Yao Chen scoffed, choosing to ignore him.
Han Yanyan stood there for some time, yet no taxis seemed to arrive. Just as she pondered whether to walk a bit further, a car unexpectedly halted in front of her.
The window slid down, revealing Xiao Yang’s face. Han Yanyan paused, surprised.
Xiao Yang leaned out, asking, “Is this Han Yanyan? Hey, I’m Xiao Yang, you remember me, right? I work with President Yao. He sent me to give you a ride back.”