Zhou Zhuofei never expected to have the chance to visit New World twice in just over a month. Cen Huan was still working there, so she might even be able to get them a discount. This time, without Zhan Zilang leading the way, the two of them settled for seats in the outer area.
The spot was far from the stage, and the tables were close together, making it easy to overhear nearby conversations if one paid attention.
While ordering, Zhou Zhuofei reminded Du Yu, "Don’t drink too much—you have work tomorrow."
Du Yu brushed it off. "Worst case, I’ll just call in sick."
"You can do that, but I can’t. I need my perfect attendance bonus!"
Du Yu sighed dramatically. "Such a pitiful office worker. Fine, don’t drink then. Your tolerance is terrible anyway—we’ll head back early."
"Of course I’m not drinking." Zhou Zhuofei’s goal tonight was clear: stay sober, keep Du Yu company, and make sure she got home safely.
"Your alcohol tolerance is seriously lacking. When are you going to work on that?"
"Why would I even bother?"
After placing their order, they had barely started chatting when Cen Huan, dressed in her server uniform, appeared out of nowhere to greet Zhou Zhuofei.
"Zhuofei! Here with a friend today? Oh, you’re wearing glasses?"
In the dim lighting, Cen Huan didn’t realize Zhou Zhuofei’s hair was a wig—her first thought was the prop glasses on her face.
"They’re just plain lenses, for fun." Zhou Zhuofei adjusted the slipping frames as she explained.
She hadn’t worn these glasses in ages, and for some reason, they wouldn’t stay put tonight, forcing her to readjust every so often.
"I was just thinking I might run into you."
"Of course I’m here. Hold on, I’ll get you a fruit platter!"
"Is that okay?"
"Relax," Cen Huan said with a smile. "It’s an employee perk. My other friends hardly ever come, so you might as well enjoy it!"
"Great, thanks then."
"Don’t be so formal with me!"
Before long, Cen Huan returned with the fruit platter. Still on the clock, she couldn’t stay long and left after a quick exchange.
"Your connections are insane," Du Yu marveled. "How do you know people everywhere?"
"Not really. She’s my neighbor—I mentioned her before, remember?"
"Vaguely." Du Yu wasn’t really paying attention and casually picked up a piece of fruit. "But have you noticed? You’ve been meeting a lot of new people lately."
"Have I?" Zhou Zhuofei thought about it. The most shocking recent event was Du Yu’s run-in with a scumbag. Zhan Zilang was a new intern at work, and Xie Ya was someone she met through Cen Huan.
The only real new acquaintance was Jiang Shen, and they weren’t exactly friends.
"Remember that Tarot card I drew for you last time?"
"You mean the Cup card?"
Du Yu corrected her. "The Two of Cups."
"You’re not hinting that I’m about to start a new romance, are you?" Zhou Zhuofei had looked up the card’s meaning afterward and figured it could just as easily apply to her work.
"I think it could also mean smooth sailing at work. Xiao Zhan and I get along great as new partners, and then there’s Secretary Xiao..."
Zhou Zhuofei suddenly stopped.
Her relationship with Secretary Xiao had indeed progressed. Before, they only talked at the office, but now they’d even strolled through a park together, and he’d given her a thank-you gift. That could easily align with harmonious connections.
But she wasn’t sure how to explain it—this might just be her own wishful thinking. Maybe Secretary Xiao was just naturally kind to all juniors.
She couldn’t let herself assume their relationship had deepened.
"What about Secretary Xiao?" Du Yu asked curiously. "Why’d you stop mid-sentence?"
"Nothing. Just saying my career’s going well."
"‘Career’ sounds so formal." Du Yu laughed. "Fine, I’m just saying it’s a possibility. And honestly, Jiang Shen seems nice—not as bad as you made him out to be."
"Appearances can be deceiving," Zhou Zhuofei insisted. "Secretary Xiao wouldn’t lie to me."
Though Du Yu knew how highly Zhou Zhuofei regarded Xiao Wang, such blind faith seemed excessive.
She couldn’t help retorting, "You really trust him that much?"
"Of course. Logically, there’s no reason for him to deceive me—we have no conflicts of interest. And emotionally, I trust my judgment. He’s a good person. That’s all."
Listening to Zhou Zhuofei’s meticulous reasoning, Du Yu grew increasingly suspicious. "You’re not..."
"Not what?" Zhou Zhuofei cut in before her friend could finish. "I deeply, profoundly respect him."
Du Yu scoffed. "Save the formalities for your coworkers. You think I’d buy that?"
Zhou Zhuofei flushed but didn’t dare argue further, deflecting by picking up a piece of fruit. "Try this mango—it’s really sweet."
Du Yu didn’t press the issue. She knew her friend had always been hesitant about romance.
Plus, Xiao Wang’s reputation as a lifelong bachelor was common knowledge—hardly a match for Zhou Zhuofei. Maybe she was consciously keeping her feelings in check, framing her regard for him as strictly professional?
"Hey, hey, where’d you go just now?"
Zhou Zhuofei tapped the table to snap Du Yu out of her daze. "You dragged me out for drinks, and now you’re zoning out? Not cool!"
"Ah, just got lost in thought."
"About what?"
"Thinking tonight’s forums and social media are gonna blow up." The memory of the evening’s events made Du Yu grin. The outcome had exceeded her expectations—especially seeing Han Chubin’s humiliated expression. She happily downed half her beer in one go.
"Slow down," Zhou Zhuofei chided, refilling her glass. "All this is yours—no one’s fighting you for it."
Watching her friend pour the drink, Du Yu was suddenly overwhelmed with gratitude. Over the years, so many faces had come and gone, but Zhou Zhuofei had always been there, supporting her.
She grabbed Zhou Zhuofei’s hand. "Mumu, you’re the best to me."
"Way too dramatic, pal."
"If we’re both single in the future, let’s just live together!"
"Hard pass." Zhou Zhuofei pulled her hand free. "You’re messy, I’m messy—we’d fight over chores every day."
"We could take turns. One day each."
"I’d slack off." Zhou Zhuofei admitted shamelessly. "Yep, that’s just how I am. If I’m the only one who can do it, I’ll do it. But if there’s an option? I’ll dodge responsibility every time."
Zhou Zhuofei was utterly speechless: "…You’re so lazy, it’s unbelievable."
"I think it’s better for us to live separately. At least when we meet, we’re both presentable. Messiness is something to deal with at home." She spoke earnestly, "Let’s keep some dignity between us."
Du Yu waved her hand dismissively, "Alright, alright. I get it—you just don’t want to live with me."
"Hehe~ I didn’t want to lie to you."
"Fine, then. I’ll just keep being a lonely soul. At least you have a cat."
As the two chatted, the performance on stage continued.
However, neither Zhou Zhuofei nor Du Yu was paying much attention to the show. They stood among the crowd, snacking on fruit and sipping drinks. A few people tried to strike up conversations, but both women turned them down without hesitation.
New World, being the top-tier bar in City K, had put effort into every aspect, including security. Burly guards were stationed throughout the venue, ready to intervene at the slightest sign of harassment or conflict.
In other words, causing trouble here would earn you a beating.
It was rare for rejected advances to escalate into altercations, but tonight, Zhou Zhuofei and Du Yu happened to witness just that.
At first, they didn’t know what was happening—only that a commotion had broken out nearby. Everyone instinctively turned toward the source of the noise.
"What’s going on?"
Zhou Zhuofei and Du Yu craned their necks to see. Du Yu even joked, "Every place has its drama. Tonight’s been quite the spectacle."
Zhou Zhuofei, however, seemed to catch something significant in those words. Could it really be such a coincidence?
But no—if this were that kind of scenario, she shouldn’t even be here, right?
As she pondered, snippets of conversation from a nearby table reached her ears—words like "waiter," "customer," and "picking a fight."
Instinctively, she took a step forward, only for Du Yu to grab her arm.
"What are you doing? Don’t go sticking your nose into every bit of drama!"
"No, I just want to check if it’s my neighbor who’s in trouble."
Hearing this, Du Yu immediately let go, though she warned, "Don’t get too close. Just take a quick look."
"Got it. You sound just like my mom."
Zhou Zhuofei squeezed through the crowd until she found a decent vantage point.
Security personnel in uniforms had cordoned off an area spanning two tables. A few men sat in the seats, with fruit platters and liquor bottles scattered across the floor. Nearby stood a visibly shaken waitress—her back turned, but the figure resembled Cen Huan. And facing her was Jiang Shen, now out of his cosplay attire.
It suddenly dawned on Zhou Zhuofei that New World was a Jiang family business. Of course Jiang Shen would be here.
At the moment, he was issuing orders in a tone completely unlike his usual demeanor: "Alright, let’s not disrupt the other guests. Escort these gentlemen to the mediation room."
The lead security guard acknowledged and, with a veneer of politeness, firmly ushered the troublemakers away. The men, realizing they’d crossed a line, quickly backed down and complied.
Zhou Zhuofei tried to get a clearer look at the waitress to confirm if it was Cen Huan, but then Jiang Shen’s gaze swept over the crowd. His smile remained, but his eyes were devoid of warmth—cold and calculating, as if assessing potential threats.
Just that one chilling glance sent a shiver down Zhou Zhuofei’s spine. For the first time, she truly understood Secretary Xiao’s warning.
He hadn’t lied. Jiang Shen was indeed dangerous.
Now, she no longer cared whether the waitress was Cen Huan. All she wanted was to return to her seat and share her discovery with Du Yu.
After all, if Jiang Shen had stepped in, the waitress was clearly unharmed. And since Ling Yu wasn’t around, it meant the plot hadn’t fully unfolded yet.
Back at the table, she recounted everything to Du Yu—not to vindicate Secretary Xiao, but because Du Yu had a favorable impression of Jiang Shen. She needed to know the truth.
After a moment of thought, Du Yu said, "Well, that’s to be expected. Running an entertainment venue and a private investigation business isn’t something ordinary people can manage."
"Right? That’s what I thought too."
"Still, as long as he hasn’t harmed us and has actually helped us, there’s no harm in staying polite."
Du Yu had interacted with Jiang Shen more and believed she understood him better. He was a man of strong principles—sometimes extreme, but undoubtedly loyal to friends.
Zhou Zhuofei’s wariness was natural, though. As a conventional office worker, she’d never brushed against the city’s underbelly. Seeing Jiang Shen’s street-smart demeanor would unsettle anyone like her.
By now, Du Yu was feeling the alcohol. "It’s getting late," she said. "Let me finish this bottle, and we’ll go."
Zhou Zhuofei agreed readily. She’d never been fond of these settings, and the sooner she got home, the better. Plus, she’d been wearing a wig for hours—thankfully, it wasn’t summer, or her scalp would’ve suffocated.
She discreetly scratched her head while Du Yu wasn’t looking.
Once Du Yu drained the last of her drink, she called for the bill. The two headed for the exit.
Zhou Zhuofei noticed Du Yu swaying slightly and reached out to steady her. "You okay? Hold onto me if you need to."
"It’s not that bad. I’m not drunk."
No sooner had she spoken than Du Yu stumbled. Zhou Zhuofei barely caught her in time—thankful they were roughly the same size. If she’d been any smaller, they both might’ve tumbled.
"Woman, thy name is stubbornness!"
Resigned, Zhou Zhuofei helped Du Yu up. Originally, she’d planned to just see Du Yu into a cab, but now she’d have to escort her all the way home.
Outside, the streets were bustling. Patrons lingered by the curb, waiting for rides or chatting under trees. Zhou Zhuofei considered hailing a cab further away, but Du Yu looked like she’d struggle to walk even a few more steps.
Just then, Jiang Shen’s voice came from behind them: "I thought I saw you earlier, but when I turned around, you were gone."
Zhou Zhuofei and Du Yu turned in unison to see Jiang Shen strolling out leisurely, followed by Ling Yu and Xiao Wang.
So Ling Yu really was a randomly generated NPC!
At the sight of Jiang Shen, Zhou Zhuofei tensed—but spotting Xiao Wang instantly put her at ease. Her eyes locked onto him, silently greeting him with a look.
Jiang Shen said with a grin, "If I'd known you were coming here, I would've called you to join us in our private room earlier. Would’ve been a perfect chance for you to cozy up to your boss, Ling Yu."
The joke fell painfully flat. Zhou Zhuofei forced a stiff smile, her lips twitching slightly.
Even though she knew it made her look like a sycophant, she still greeted Ling Yu.
"President Ling, Secretary Xiao."
Ling Yu remained as impassive as ever, giving a silent nod. Xiao Wang, however, smiled at her and shot her a questioning look, as if asking, "Are you guys okay?"
Zhou Zhuofei pursed her lips, shrugged, and flashed a helpless expression.
Xiao Wang still seemed concerned, but Ling Yu had already started walking away. He had no choice but to follow, though he couldn’t resist glancing back at Zhou Zhuofei a few times with lingering worry.
"Leaving already? Ling Yu?" Jiang Shen called out loudly, using Ling Yu’s full name. If this had happened at Huanyu, it would’ve turned heads, but on a dimly lit street outside a bar late at night, no one cared who Ling Yu was.
Jiang Shen continued shouting, "What kind of heartless employer are you? Using people and then tossing them aside?"
Ling Yu ignored him completely, his tall figure soon disappearing around the corner.
Only then did Jiang Shen turn back to Zhou Zhuofei and Du Yu, sighing dramatically. "See? Not all bosses are as easygoing as you."
Du Yu asked, "So, do you give them discounts?"
"Of course not," Jiang Shen replied without hesitation. "Why go easy on capitalists? Us working-class folks gotta stick together!"
Zhou Zhuofei nearly burst out laughing. You? Working class?
