The manager thought he'd misheard. What kind of situation was this?
Was Technician No. 13 really that good at her job?
Still, how could he not recognize Xu Mu's name? In Jiang City, that notorious young master's reputation preceded him. Even the owner wouldn't dare offend him, let alone a mere manager.
Since the man had come to spend money, the only thing to do was treat him like royalty.
"Of course, Brother Xu—please, this way. I'll arrange the largest private room for your group right away."
The manager quickly gave some instructions at the front desk, then led Xu Mu and his men upstairs.
The burly men following behind Xu Mu were all grinning. They'd thought they were coming for a fight, but apparently, they were here for foot baths.
Well, that was fine too. They were used to this kind of thing.
For all of Xu Mu's flaws, he had his virtues—chief among them, his generosity.
Under the manager's lead, they arrived at a "large" private room—though in truth, it only seated eight.
"Brother Xu, this is the biggest room we've got. Shall I get you a few more?" the manager asked, smiling obsequiously.
"No need," Xu Mu said mildly. "We can stand and line up."
"Understood. Then I'll step out. Technician No. 13 will arrive shortly."
The manager hurried off, but as he reached the stairs, he saw a permed woman in uniform approaching.
It was none other than Wang Biao's former blind date—Li Shuang.
"Manager Wu," she greeted with a flattering smile.
"There's a VIP inside. Serve them well," Manager Wu warned. "Or you'll regret it."
Li Shuang quickly nodded, smiling even wider. If she could cozy up to a real big shot, she'd never have to keep doing this kind of work.
Standing at the door, she straightened her clothes, forced a charming smile, and stepped inside.
"Good evening, sirs. I'm Technician No. 13, Xiao Shuang—"
She stopped mid-sentence. The room was packed—filled wall to wall with hulking men.
At the very back sat Xu Mu and Wang Biao.
The instant Wang Biao saw her, his eyes went round as saucers.
Now he finally understood why Xu Mu had gathered so many people tonight.
Back at lunch, Xu Mu must have secretly investigated her background—and that explained his anger in the car.
[Favorability +10]
Above Wang Biao's head, dark text appeared. He'd always been a simple man. Most of what Xu Mu did, he hadn't liked, but he obeyed nonetheless—for Xu Shou, the man who had spent a fortune saving his grandmother's life.
He'd sworn his life to Xu Shou, and protecting Xu Mu had just been part of that vow.
But seeing this now, and recalling what had happened before, he realized something: Xu Mu might be ruthless to others, but toward him, he'd always been good.
"Good evening, gentlemen. Which of you requested my service?" Li Shuang asked.
Then her face froze—and turned deathly pale.
She'd spotted Wang Biao.
"All of us did," Xu Mu said, stepping forward with a smile. "Lunch must've cost you quite a bit today, right? We're here to help you meet your quota. Start by serving Old Wang."
Li Shuang's face darkened. She hadn't expected them to track down where she worked so quickly.
"What's wrong? Why aren't you moving?" Xu Mu prompted.
She wished the floor would swallow her whole.
"Old Wang, let me tell you the truth," Xu Mu said with a chuckle. "If you married her for that three-hundred-eighty-thousand bride price, she might not even wash your feet. But now, for just three-hundred-eighty, you can experience it firsthand."
Wang Biao sighed. Without Xu Mu's help, he might still be in the dark.
"Wang Biao! You… you're doing this on purpose, to humiliate me!" Li Shuang's face went ghost-white. Every word from Xu Mu felt like a slap.
"Quit whining and get to work," Wang Biao said coldly.
"I won't!" she snapped. She still had some pride left; this kind of humiliation was unbearable.
Just then, the door swung open, and a bald man in a suit stooped in.
"Brother Xu, I heard some commotion. Is there a problem?"
Manager Wu had called him over and made it clear the guests were VIPs who had to be treated with utmost care.
"What's wrong with your technician? Why isn't she serving us?" Xu Mu said icily. "We didn't ask for anything improper—just a foot bath. She won't even do that?"
The bald man's expression darkened. He turned to Li Shuang. "What's your problem?"
"They—they're doing this on purpose," she stammered. "They want to embarrass me—make me wash the feet of all these men."
The bald man sneered. "They're bringing you business, aren't they? You earn one-fifty commission per customer. Thirty customers—that's good money. What, been taken out too many times lately? You too good for small change now?"
"N-no," she said, glancing nervously at Wang Biao.
"Oh?" Xu Mu said lightly. "So she can be taken out? What's the rate?"
"Brother Xu," the bald man replied carefully, "we're a legitimate establishment—we don't provide that kind of service. But… I hear lately her price has gone up to two thousand."
"Lately? Meaning what?" Xu Mu asked.
"She used to be cheaper," the bald man explained, not daring to hide anything. "Then she had plastic surgery—bone shaving and all that. Now that she looks better, naturally, the price went up."
By now, both Li Shuang and Wang Biao looked stricken.
Her dignity was being crushed piece by piece.
And Wang Biao realized the twenty-thousand he'd spent might as well have gone to the dogs—he could've taken her out ten times for that.
His gratitude toward Xu Mu surged like a flood.
[Favorability +30]
"We're all decent folk," Xu Mu said. "We just came for foot baths. Have your people start—we're on a schedule."
"Yes, Brother Xu." The bald man turned, barking, "Get to work! Or are you done here?"
Terrified, Li Shuang nodded and fetched a wooden basin. She knelt before Wang Biao and began washing his feet with her head down.
He looked at her—no longer arrogant, even a bit pitiful. But pitiful or not, she'd brought it on herself.
Such a woman, daring to demand so much—he actually pitied the poor fool who'd marry her one day.
"Brother Xu, I'm done," Wang Biao said quietly. He didn't want to stay any longer.
"Alright. The rest of you, line up. Tonight's on me," Xu Mu announced.
"Thanks, Brother Xu!" the others chorused with grins.
As Xu Mu and Wang Biao walked out, the group called after them: "Goodbye, Brother Xu! Goodbye, Brother Biao!"
Hearing that, Li Shuang's eyes lit up suddenly.
Wait—what?
Could Wang Biao have been hiding his identity all along? Was he actually someone powerful?
…