Chapter 0026: Playing Ball!

After dinner, Chen Liuhe and Huang Baiwan swaggered back to the club. Huang Baiwan resumed his post at the entrance, playing doorguard, watching the colorful crowd come and go with tireless enthusiasm.

If someone looked important, he'd sidle up with a fawning grin, chatting them up—a textbook lackey no one could take seriously.

His demeanor invited disdain, but tonight, none of the guards at the door dared cast him a sideways glance.

After last night's chaos, they were convinced this unpolished nobody was a fearless, gutsy wildcard.

Even those who hadn't witnessed the mayhem firsthand had heard whispers. Despite Qin Ruohan's strict orders, sealing every lip was a pipe dream.

Chen Liuhe lounged on a lobby sofa, watching Huang Baiwan's antics for a bit before shaking his head with a wry smile. Then he stood and wandered into the club.

Instead of heading to his office, he roamed around—an unusual move—taking in the hostesses and female guests fluttering about like butterflies. It put him in a damn good mood.

In his own words, he was diligently patrolling, a key leader immersing himself in the masses.

"Evening, Sixth Bro."

"Sixth Bro, you've got time tonight? How about I keep you company with a couple drinks?"

Wherever he went, club staff greeted him with respect—guards, waiters, hostesses alike. His popularity caught even him off guard.

He didn't realize that, after fermenting for a day and night, last night's exploits had spread like wildfire among the staff, turning him into a towering, almost mythical figure in their eyes.

"Well, well, Sixth Bro's here! Want me to call over a couple of fresh girls to entertain you? I swear they're all good ones," said Sister Hong, the hostess manager, as he reached the second-floor KTV area. The middle-aged beauty, still oozing charm, hurried over with eager warmth, practically ready to cling to him.

Faced with such a bold offer, Chen Liuhe, ever the upright leader, sternly declined.

After bantering with Sister Hong, he headed to the third floor.

He'd been at the club two days but hadn't yet checked out the third-floor lounge or fourth-floor spa. It hit him belatedly that he might not be the most diligent senior leader.

Compared to the bustle of the first and second floors, the third was quieter, with soft music playing. The staff here dressed sharp—guys in vests and slacks, girls in high-slit qipaos and sheer stockings.

For Chen Liuhe, a man who'd seen countless women but adored legs and silk, this was a pleasant surprise. He had to hand it to Qin Ruohan—her eye for picking service girls was razor-sharp. Every one of them was above average.

"Sixth Bro."

"Good evening, Sixth Bro."

By now, Chen Liuhe was undeniably the club's biggest celebrity. Everyone knew him, and no one dared disrespect him—not even the third-floor staff who'd missed last night's drama.

The third floor housed tea lounges and mahjong rooms—nothing thrilling. After a quick loop, he found it dull and drifted to the entertainment area.

It had basic setups: pool tables, bowling lanes, and a decently equipped gym.

The gym wasn't huge, maybe a few hundred square meters, taking up a third of the floor. Half-open to the public, it was mostly for staff to unwind during breaks.

Peering in from outside, Chen Liuhe's eyes lit up when he spotted a stunning woman doing yoga, one long leg stretched out in a perfect split.

The sight was gorgeous—ripe for daydreams.

He stopped in his tracks, watching with relish.

After a while, the woman, focused on her yoga, finally noticed him. Seeing Chen Liuhe at the gym door, she didn't snap in annoyance but rolled her eyes with disdain.

"What're you staring at? Never seen a beauty do yoga?" Qin Ruohan rose gracefully, her breathing steady. Her low-cut yoga outfit bared swaths of skin, dazzling in the light.

Who else could it be but Qin Ruohan? In this whole club, only she could spark Chen Liuhe's interest.

Truth be told, she had the goods—ninety out of a hundred for her face, a near-perfect figure. A real stunner. Even Chen Liuhe, no stranger to beauties, silently gave her props. On looks alone, she was top-tier.

"Heh, didn't expect you'd have the mood for yoga right now," Chen Liuhe said, strolling into the gym, his gaze lingering on her flawless form, accentuated by the tight yoga gear.

"Why not? A woman's greatest asset is her beauty—I'm not dumb enough to let that weapon rust," Qin Ruohan replied matter-of-factly, wiping sweat from her face with a towel.

Pausing, she added, "Besides, what do I have to worry about? If something goes down, don't I have you out front taking the heat?"

Chen Liuhe chuckled. "You're pretty chill about it. Think a few scraps of favor will keep me as your workhorse?"

Qin Ruohan blinked. "You said it yourself—take someone's money, solve their problems."

He laughed, caught off guard by her cheeky side. Suddenly curious, he asked, "It's smart to know your best card, but I'm wondering—who're you sharpening this weapon for?"

Qin Ruohan shot him a sidelong glance, blunt as ever. "If you're up for it, I wouldn't mind targeting you."

Chen Liuhe grinned. "Wanna hook me? Keep it simple and direct—that works better."

She smirked coldly. "How do I know you won't ditch me after?"

"It's like investing—there's always risk," he said shamelessly.

"That's a gamble I can't afford to lose," Qin Ruohan countered. "A pure physical deal's pointless. If I'm going for you, I'd want your heart. I like it with feeling."

"No worries—feelings grow over time," Chen Liuhe quipped with a sly grin. He was a pro at playing the game.

Catching his drift, Qin Ruohan's face flushed. She spat, "You're a shameless jerk."

"Still beats a sneaky rat by a mile," he shrugged.

Ignoring him, she grabbed her towel and headed for the changing room. Then she paused, barefoot, and glanced back. "You really not interested at all?"

Chen Liuhe blinked, then said, "You're too high-maintenance—hard to please."

Her eyes flared. "Screw you!"

"Screw you twice!" he fired back, zero chivalry.

Qin Ruohan huffed, exasperated, then asked, "Why're you so free tonight, wandering around like you've finally grown a conscience?"

"I told you, as a leader, I've gotta dive into the masses," he said, deadpan nonsense.

She snorted. "Give you a chance, and you wouldn't dare take it."

He shrugged, unfazed. "Price is too steep. I prefer to dust off and vanish, name untarnished."

"You're just a freeloading sleaze," she shot back, cutting through his act.

Before he could reply, she added, "Wanna play a couple rounds?"

"Play what?" he asked, grinning.

"Ball," Qin Ruohan said.

His eyes gleamed, locked on her. "Oh, I'm in."