On the highway, Zhou You really didn't want to sit in the passenger seat—it made him uneasy. According to vehicle accident statistics, the seat behind the driver is the safest, because in a dangerous situation, the driver's first instinct is self-preservation, so the driver's side usually avoids severe impacts. Still, Zhou You didn't want to squeeze in the back with a bunch of rough guys either. This trip was a bit sudden, but it also exposed the lack of vehicles.
"Liang Ge, how's the training center doing lately?" Zhou You asked.
"Not bad, it's been good since last year. Recently, Ina brought in a wave of customers too. Now we have over a million in surplus on the books," Li Houliang replied while driving. In the past, just keeping the place running was a challenge; he never dreamed of turning a profit.
"That's great. When you get back, buy a GL8 business van. It'll make it easier for the brothers to get around, and if something comes up, we'll have room for everyone." Zhou You thought for a moment, then added, "Buy it as soon as you're back!"
Li Houliang grinned. "I've wanted one for a long time, but we never had the money. Now that we do, I'm a bit reluctant. Since you said so, Ge, I'll buy it when I get back."
"The sooner, the better. A bunch of big guys will find it convenient to go anywhere." Zhou You leaned back in his seat and closed his eyes to rest. Seeing him relax, the others also shut their eyes to catch some sleep. They had gotten up too early, and it wouldn't do to look tired.
They set off at six and arrived at eleven, mostly because they were stuck in downtown Shanghai traffic for an hour. Following Zhou You's plan from last night, Xiaobai and her friend were waiting at the mall. Zhou You and the others followed the GPS straight there.
It had been a while since they'd seen each other. When Xiaobai spotted Zhou You, she bounced over and leaped onto him, wrapping her arms around his neck and refusing to let go. Li Houliang and the others were used to it by now and kept their eyes straight ahead. They had long noticed that Ina and Zhou You had a special relationship, and since Wang Fangfang didn't say anything, they certainly wouldn't. Besides, they knew the reason for this trip beforehand—otherwise, why would Zhou You come all this way?
They could only silently envy him, suppressing any inappropriate thoughts. When you eat from someone's bowl, you answer to them. Doing things like badmouthing the hand that feeds you too often ruins your reputation.
"Come on, let's eat first. We're here to have fun, so relax," Zhou You said, noticing they were still a bit tense. First, fill your stomach—only then can you have the energy to work.
They found a restaurant, booked a private room, and ordered some local Shanghai dishes along with a few home-style meals. Alcohol was definitely off the table—it would only cause trouble.
After eating and drinking their fill, the group arrived at the beauty salon's entrance. The salon was in the basement level of the mall, with few people around—no wonder they resorted to shady tactics.
Li Houliang pushed the door open. Zhou You led Xiaobai and her friend inside first, and the rest filed in behind. Seeing this group enter, the staff inside could guess they were there to cause trouble or settle a score, and they had a plan ready.
"Call your manager over," Zhou You said, tapping the front desk before heading to the sofa to sit down. Li Houliang and the others stood around him in a semicircle, shielding him from all sides.
From the back of the shop, a man hurried out. He wore a thick gold chain, had a green dragon tattooed on his arm, and sported a shiny bald head.
"Bro, what's going on? Here for beauty treatments?" he asked, playing nice since he didn't know the situation.
"The day before yesterday, my girlfriend was forced into a purchase here. My demands are simple: first, a refund; second, an apology." To be honest, these demands were quite reasonable. The travel expenses for this trip alone exceeded that amount. This was actually a chance for them—it depended on whether they could seize it.
The bald man, seeing that these people looked like trained fighters and weren't to be messed with, could only placate them: "Bro, a refund is out of the question. It was a normal transaction—no precedent for that. As for an apology, we provide our services, and the customer pays—that's only fair."
He was adamant about not refunding, with a stubborn, unyielding attitude.
"Are you the person in charge? Do your words carry weight? Can you handle the consequences?" Zhou You fired off three questions in a row, his tone calm.
The bald man, intimidated by Zhou You's demeanor, felt uncertain. Shanghai was full of hidden talents—he didn't want to step on a landmine. He wasn't the boss, just a bouncer who usually scared off ordinary folks. When faced with someone with real influence, they didn't care about him at all.
"Please wait a moment. Our manager will be here soon," the bald man said, sweat beading on his forehead.
Damn it, now he knew how those young girls felt when he pressured them. Several burly men staring at you—the psychological pressure was immense. Even though the chances of a fight were slim, who would gamble on it? Lose, and you'd be the one getting beaten.
A few minutes later, a man who looked refined and wore a white lab coat burst through the door in a hurry.
"Who is it? Who's causing trouble here?"
Zhou You smirked. He was just hoping for a tough nut to crack.
"Are you the person in charge? Is the legal representative you?"
"I'm the legal rep. So what? This is a legitimate business. Normal transaction—you pay, you get the service. No refunds." The man opposite him looked arrogant.
His name was Chi Zaomei, a doctor specializing in medical aesthetics. He used to be unknown, scamming money from young girls. But recently, a girl who got double eyelid surgery at his place starred in a movie and became famous—even if she only had a few scenes. That didn't stop him from riding her coattails for publicity. Now, he was riding high.
Based on his years of experience, he figured these people were bluffing, hiring a few gym trainers to act tough and scare honest folks.
Seeing this guy's face, Zhou You was amused despite himself. He said to Xiaobai, "See that? That's the face of a scumbag. You did the right thing last time—when money can solve a problem, don't get yourself caught up in it."
Then he continued to taunt him: "Aren't you afraid I'll trash this shop or expose this whole thing?"
Chi Zaomei flicked his white coat back. "If I were afraid of you, I wouldn't run this shop. People come and go—you're not the first, and you won't be the last. Go ahead and sue me if you want. Trash my shop, and I'll make a profit off it." He was a complete scoundrel.
Even Li Houliang was getting angry, annoyed by this petty man. He couldn't help but say, "Ge, let me hit him. I don't mind spending a few days in jail, or I won't be able to let this go!"
Hearing this, Chi Zaomei flinched and stepped back. "I'm warning you, I have friends in the entertainment industry. If you dare mess with me, I'll have them expose you and ruin your reputation."
Zhou You was curious now and teased him: "Oh? What friends? What have they been in? Tell me, see if I know them."
"I'll have you know, it's the hottest movie right now—*Beijing Meets Seattle*." Chi Zaomei said it loudly, his confidence swelling. He waited to see their stunned expressions.
But as soon as he finished, the group of big men burst into loud laughter.