Chapter 36: The Happy Woman

The lights in the dormitory of the Four Beauties stayed on until midnight, only turning off at twelve. Coincidentally, it was just around this time that Chen Erpao and Wang Xuemei, wrapped in each other's arms, finally drifted off to sleep. This was the first time they truly shared a bed, but before that, all they had done was give each other massages in various places—so don’t let your imagination run wild.

It took nearly half an hour after lying down before Chen Erpao finally felt sleepy. Just then, Wang Xuemei suddenly sat up and exclaimed in alarm, "I almost forgot! Tomorrow at eight in the evening, there’s Zhang Xiaoyu’s concert at the Red Hall! Oh no, I haven’t bought tickets yet, and there’s no way I’ll get them tomorrow. My memory is just terrible."

Chen Erpao stared at Wang Xuemei in panic, thinking something serious had happened, but it turned out to be about Zhang Xiaoyu again. He couldn't help but wonder if he really did have some sort of fate with her, considering how often she came up.

"Don’t worry, I’ll get us two tickets tomorrow. We’ll go together," Chen Erpao reassured her.

Wang Xuemei immediately brightened, exclaiming, "Really? Erpao, I absolutely adore you!"

"Heh, then show me just how much you love me," Chen Erpao said with a mischievous grin, suddenly reaching out with a so-called “dragon claw hand.” Caught off guard, Wang Xuemei gasped, her body shivering as if struck by electricity.

No one really knows what level Chen Erpao’s “dragon claw hand” technique had reached, but I can tell you this: when he woke up the next morning, his hand was still in the same place. Such dedication is truly beyond us ordinary folks.

The next day, Chen Erpao called Zeng Fan and asked him to get a few tickets for Zhang Xiaoyu’s concert. Since even the police showed him such respect, he figured this small matter would be nothing at all.

Sure enough, Zeng Fan called back and said he’d only managed to get four top-tier VIP tickets—the kind right at the front, with a table beside them laden with drinks and snacks.

Later, during their call, Zeng Fan suddenly asked if there were a lot of new, unusual-looking students at Lingnan University recently, and whether anything out of the ordinary had happened. Naturally, Chen Erpao thought of the Four Great Clans and told him everything he knew, though, truthfully, nothing particularly noteworthy had occurred.

After meeting Wang Xing, and since he had four tickets and the next day was a holiday, he handed two tickets over to Wang Xing.

“Tonight, bring your charms and let’s go listen to Zhang Xiaoyu’s concert. Didn’t you say you really liked her? See, I’ve helped you fulfill a great wish in life! So, will you devote yourself to me, or how do you plan to thank me?”

“Come on, I’m a proper man. Don’t get any funny ideas about me—I’d rather die than give in,” Wang Xing replied with utmost seriousness, folding his arms across his chest.

“Please, don’t flatter yourself! I wouldn’t want someone like you anyway. Tonight, I’ll just find some madams to take care of you,” Chen Erpao joked.

“Bring it on! I’ll sacrifice myself for justice and never regret it,” Wang Xing declared, with a righteous air, but then added, “Just make sure the madams you find are on the younger side. I do have a bit of an unusual taste, but it’s not that extreme.”

Chen Erpao regarded Wang Xing with utter disdain. Although most men are like this, few can match his level of expertise. He’s practically a role model for all men—everyone should learn from him.

That evening, since the next day was a holiday, both Chen Erpao and Wang Xing left work early. They agreed to meet at the entrance of the Red Hall at 7:20 p.m., intending to have dinner together before heading in.

Chen Erpao drove Wang Xuemei home first. They both needed to shower and get ready—an essential ritual for women, or so Chen Erpao believed.

After showering, Chen Erpao shaved the hint of stubble that had sprouted, then picked out a blue plaid casual shirt to wear, which made him look several years younger. Looking at himself in the mirror, he couldn’t help but sigh in admiration.

Once everything was ready and time was running short, he realized they’d soon have to head out, yet Wang Xuemei was still not done. He opened the door and walked in, only to find Wang Xuemei had abandoned her usual fresh and breezy style for something new—a crisp white button-up shirt and a black knee-length skirt, paired with black high heels, the epitome of professional elegance.

“Uniform temptation, oh my!” Chen Erpao felt blissful. The visual impact was overwhelming, as he experienced two completely different charms from the same woman—truly a delight.

“What’s wrong? Does this outfit not look good?” Wang Xuemei asked, a little puzzled.

Chen Erpao smiled calmly. “Of course it looks good! So good, in fact, that I can’t stop staring. But you’re mine, so only I get to see you like this. No other man is qualified. Remember to fasten your buttons properly—if another man gets a glimpse, I’ll be jealous.” As he spoke, Chen Erpao gently helped fasten a loose button on her shirt, his tenderness carrying an unmistakable authority that was oddly convincing.

Though Wang Xuemei found his words a bit domineering, deep down she was delighted and content. To have a man care so much—what more could a woman want?

“Let’s go! We can’t keep Wang Xing waiting.”

Wang Xuemei’s face glowed with happiness as she took Chen Erpao’s hand like a lovestruck girl. The two of them walked outside, just another ordinary couple among thousands.

As they reached the bottom of the building and headed toward the Mercedes, a string of vulgar curses suddenly rang out nearby. The insults were so harsh that Chen Erpao couldn’t help but stop and look over.

A middle-aged woman in her forties and a young woman of about twenty-two or three, wearing glasses and looking rather refined, were blocking the path of a frail, hunched old woman whose clothes were in tatters. Her face was lined with deep wrinkles, and she carried a large sack full of empty soda bottles—a scavenger eking out a living in the neighborhood.

The middle-aged woman was pointing at the old woman and berating her. From the words she used, Chen Erpao gathered that the old woman had accidentally splashed some soda onto the woman’s shoes and pants while collecting bottles. With his keen eye, Chen Erpao could see there were only a few insignificant drops, barely noticeable. Yet the woman was enraged, hurling insults at an elderly woman likely well into her seventies.

The old woman’s hunched figure stood helplessly, enduring the abuse and scolding. All she could do was apologize repeatedly and offer the only money she had—just over ten yuan. But the middle-aged woman was relentless, demanding two hundred yuan in compensation.