Chapter 118: Yielding

Musashino, a top-tier Japanese restaurant in the Ice City, was a place Su Wenqing had naturally visited before, though never on his own. He was not Japanese, and without an invitation, he would never be able to set foot in such an establishment.

He felt a sense of unease regarding tonight’s dinner. For Kato to suddenly invite him here at such a critical juncture, there was undoubtedly a specific agenda to be discussed.

Following the waiter to a private room on the second floor, he was greeted with recognition. "Please, Mr. Su." The waiter at Musashino knew him; he was, after all, the guest of the Gendarmerie Commander, Kato, tonight.

Su Wenqing gave a slight nod. He removed his leather shoes and overcoat at the entrance, handed them to the waiter, and waited for the door to be opened before stepping inside.

"Ah, Su-kun is here!" Kato, dressed in the uniform of a Japanese army lieutenant colonel, his black collar tabs signifying his status as a Gendarmerie officer, stood up to welcome him. His face was wreathed in smiles. Among Japanese soldiers, he was quite tall, similar in stature to Su Wenqing, and radiated an aura of iron-blooded militarism.

Kato was known to be ruthless and murderous, earning him the nickname "The Devil." The Japanese man had no interest in women, but he loved money and was fond of keeping wolves and dogs. It was rumored he kept an exceptionally fierce German Shepherd, which he allegedly fed with "human flesh"—though the truth of this was anyone's guess.

"Commander Kato, you are too kind," Su Wenqing said as he approached, only to freeze when he noticed another man seated at the side. He glanced at him and his heart skipped a beat: Shibuya Saburo from the Police Headquarters. Why was he here?

Su Wenqing dealt with the Police Headquarters frequently. While he didn't have much interaction with Shibuya Saburo, he certainly recognized him. It was common knowledge that the Gendarmerie and the Police Headquarters were on poor terms, so he hadn't expected to find Shibuya at a dinner hosted by Kato. Was this an attempt to dispel rumors of their discord, or was the "discord" itself a ruse they had deliberately spread?

"Shibuya-kun, let me introduce you. This is Su Wenqing, Su-kun, a prominent businessman and local dignitary of Ice City," Kato said warmly.

"I have long heard of Chairman Su’s reputation. It is a pleasure to finally meet you!" Shibuya Saburo stood up with a hearty laugh.

"Good evening, Mr. Shibuya," Su Wenqing said, bowing hurriedly.

"Come, come, let us sit and talk!" Kato, as the host, gestured for them to be seated. "I have wanted to introduce you two for a long time, but never had the chance. Tonight, the opportunity has finally arrived."

"Thank you, Commander Kato. I have also long admired Mr. Shibuya," Su Wenqing replied. The unease in his heart grew, but he was already there; leaving was impossible. Offending Kato would have consequences he could not afford to bear.

"Chairman Su is too modest. When your daughter became engaged recently, I was busy with official duties and could not attend. Please forgive me. If I am still in Ice City when she holds her wedding, I shall certainly come to offer my congratulations!" Shibuya Saburo said, raising his glass.

"Thank you, Mr. Shibuya. I shall personally invite you when the time comes," Su Wenqing replied, lifting his glass in return.

"Chairman Su, have you heard about the shooting at the Xiaonan Garden yesterday?" Shibuya Saburo set his glass down and asked with a slight smile.

Su Wenqing shuddered, nearly spilling his drink. However, he was a man who had weathered many storms and quickly regained his composure. "I have heard of it."

"The public order in Ice City has always been excellent; large-scale shootings are rare. The better the order, the better business thrives. As a local dignitary and vice-chairman of the Chamber of Commerce, you should understand this, right, Chairman Su?"

"I understand, of course I do. As a businessman, I hope for nothing more than a peaceful life and stable business," Su Wenqing nodded.

"Shibuya-kun, I told you Su-kun is a man who understands the big picture. Your worries were unnecessary," Kato chuckled. "Come, let us finish this glass."

The three of them drank.

"Chairman Su is a friend of Kato-kun, which makes him a friend of mine. So, I will speak plainly," Shibuya Saburo said. "Zhou Sen, an officer at the Nangang Police Station, is my student. I ask that you, Chairman Su, give him some face and stop making things difficult for him."

Su Wenqing’s mind went blank. He was shocked; he had investigated Zhou Sen, so how had he missed the fact that he was Shibuya Saburo’s student?

"Zhou Sen is low-key and dislikes using my name to flaunt his influence. But this time, he has asked for my help, and as his teacher, I cannot simply ignore it, can I?" Shibuya continued. He could not reveal Zhou Sen’s true identity, so this excuse was the most convenient. A teacher intervening for a student was perfectly normal.

Su Wenqing began to weigh the pros and cons. While he desperately wanted Bai Yulan—not just for the sake of his pride, but for other reasons he could tell no one—Shibuya Saburo had now intervened. As the Deputy Chief of Police, Shibuya was one of the most powerful men in Ice City and the entire Binjiang Province. If he forced the issue, both the Su family and the Seven Stars Hall would be destroyed, and the foundation he had spent over a decade building would crumble in an instant.

The fact that Shibuya had used Kato to arrange this meeting made it clear that Kato was inclined toward a reconciliation between him and Zhou Sen. Su Wenqing knew full well what was more important: a woman, or the entire Su family and the Seven Stars Hall.

"Mr. Shibuya, I never intended to oppose you. The field of love is like a battlefield, as you know, and I am not one to admit defeat easily. But it seems I have indeed lost," Su Wenqing sighed after weighing his options.

"It is good that you understand, Chairman Su. She is only a woman. Come, I toast you," Shibuya Saburo smiled and raised his glass.

"Thank you."

"Chairman Su, some matters require you to go in person and settle things clearly," Shibuya added.

"I understand." Su Wenqing heard the implication, and a bitter taste filled his mouth.

***

North Sixth Street, Dadi Hotel.

After moving out of the budget inn, Jiang Rou had settled into the only suite in this hotel. With her current income, she could afford it without issue. The rest of the troupe remained at the inn, and Sun Qingkui was searching for a place to settle them as a whole, as staying in hotels was too expensive. If they could rent a suitable house, they could cut their daily expenses by at least half.

Sun Qingkui had been worrying about housing for days. Of course, he wanted to buy a house, but that was even more expensive. He was a gambler—though not a desperate one—and hadn't saved much. Why else would he hold onto Jiang Rou, his cash cow, so tightly? Since they were considering settling down, buying was a necessity; renting was merely a stopgap. He hoped that by buying a house and having Jiang Rou live with him, he could control her more easily and secure his own retirement.

Jiang Rou had returned from the Ningxiang Pavilion and remained in her room. Zhou Sen’s suggestion had truly moved her. She had thought about independence, though she hadn't considered replacing Sun Qingkui. Bai Yulan’s invitation to stay at the Ningxiang Pavilion also seemed like an excellent choice; it would bring her closer to Zhou Sen and provide her with Bai Yulan’s protection against many troubles.

Since becoming an overnight sensation at the New Stage, the trouble had begun. All sorts of people had come knocking, and she knew exactly what they wanted. She would never choose any of them as her refuge. This was a win-win situation.

She didn't like being served, so she lived alone. Sun Qingkui had wanted to find her a maid, but she had refused. With her status, having someone around would be troublesome; she was used to being alone. Sun Qingkui hadn't insisted, as a maid would cost money—money he viewed as his retirement fund.

*Knock, knock.*

A knock startled Jiang Rou from her thoughts. She recognized the sound as her door. She opened it to find Sun Qingkui standing there.

"Godfather, you're here. Please, come in," Jiang Rou said, letting him inside.

"Xiao Rou, have you had dinner?" Sun Qingkui asked as he sat down.

"Not yet. I'll have someone bring a bowl of noodles later," Jiang Rou said, pouring him a cup of tea. She had eaten too much at lunch and wasn't hungry.

"Noodles won't do. I'll make a call and have a restaurant send over some of your favorite dishes..."

"No need, Godfather. Let's keep it light tonight so we can rest; I have to perform tomorrow morning!" Jiang Rou said quickly.

"Very well, if you say so," Sun Qingkui replied, not insisting. Ordering from a restaurant cost money. "Xiao Rou, those people are important figures in Ice City; you can't refuse them all. And those who offer high prices for private performances—one night is worth half a month's income..."

"Godfather, we haven't signed the exclusive contract with the New Stage yet. If we rush to make money elsewhere, what will they think of us? We might as well not sign the contract. Private shows pay well, but they aren't daily. If I perform private shows every day, do you think people will still pay such high prices?" Jiang Rou asked calmly.

"I understand that, but the exclusive agreement isn't easy to get. The New Stage already has a partner troupe. Even if they aren't as popular as us, they have a history in Ice City. It will be very difficult to squeeze them out," Sun Qingkui said.

The owner of the New Stage wasn't a fool. Even though the Ruiqing Troupe was a hit, they were still newcomers. Expecting top-tier treatment immediately, let alone displacing others, was unlikely. Beyond the New Stage, other venues had been making inquiries, but the New Stage was the first to reach out and offer them a residency. If the Ruiqing Troupe abandoned them for another, they would never be able to gain a foothold in Ice City. They were outsiders without the power to choose. Once they betrayed the New Stage, they would be branded, and even if another venue took them in, they would struggle to reach their current heights. Moreover, they would make an enemy of the New Stage.

But as long as the Ruiqing Troupe took root in Ice City, the situation would change. As an old hand in the business, Sun Qingkui understood these rules well. On the surface, he had choices, but in reality, he had very few.

"What are the terms from the New Stage?"

"They require at least one hundred performances a year, a three-year residency agreement, and a split between our repertoire and theirs. We must also introduce new material annually, and there are targets for attendance. If we fail to meet them, our commission will be lowered..." Sun Qingkui listed a series of conditions.

Jiang Rou frowned slightly. It seemed that putting down roots in Ice City would be no easy task.