Returning to '97, creating a new life

Geely.

Familiar place, familiar people, but a deserted scene.

"Uncle Niu, I never expected this place to be yours."

Niu Dongyang called to invite them to the "Dihao" Performing Arts Plaza.

"Xiao Kai, you're here! Come sit down. I don't really manage it anymore; it's all run by someone else. I saw you sitting downstairs last night, but I didn't call you because I didn't want to disturb you. I hope I'm not bothering you and your girlfriend by calling you at this hour?"

Xu Kai immediately realized the other party had misunderstood, and chuckled, "Uncle Niu, please let me go. If I really stayed out all night with her, would you still be able to see me today?"

The relationship between the two people with an age gap, as represented by the "Uncle Niu" nickname, is less meaningful than sitting together and making a small joke.

"Have some tea."

Niu Dongyang poured Xu Kai a cup of tea.

"Good tea, but Uncle Niu, don't make me explain why it's good, I can't taste it."

"Hahaha... You kid, you always hide your talents, is that fun? Last time in the provincial capital, and last night here, I found that you really don't think much of it. I sent He Dong to learn from you, but he couldn't understand a thing or two. So, I've come to learn from you myself, and you can't keep it from me."

Xu Kai guessed it from the moment He Dong bumped into him at the arcade.

This Mr. Niu started his business in the early days, operating in the gray areas. If you say he didn't get involved in anything shady to get to where he is today, Xu Kai would never believe it.

And this era happens to be the time when the most profitable places are the fringes.

"Don't tell me it's all the same. It's not actually like that at all, what do you think?"

Xu Kai scratched his head and laughed, "Uncle Niu asked me to speak, so of course I have to. Don't mind if I'm right or wrong. It's just some random thoughts of mine that can't stand up to scrutiny. Just listen to what I have to say and have some fun."

Niu Dongyang maintained a smile throughout, his chubby face beaming with laughter, his eyes squinting into mere slits. He picked up a cigar from the table and offered one to Xu Kai.

One action reveals everything.

While it might be considered an impolite probing, given Niu Dongyang's status, wealth, and especially his age, it was far from an equal probing attempt against Xu Kai.

Xu Kai took the cigar cutter and helped Niu Dongyang prepare a cigar. Although Xu Kai did not like smoking cigars, before his rebirth, smoking cigars had become a very popular social activity, and along with drinking tea, it had completely surpassed drinking and discussing business.

Xu Kai, who is not yet twenty years old, smokes cigars and knows the corresponding basic etiquette. Who would believe his wild thoughts and unfounded claims?

Xu Kai's willingness to showcase himself was also aimed at expanding his interpersonal relationships and gaining favors. Before the arrival of the internet boom, no business could avoid "people," and it was all about the game between people. Being able to reach Niu Dongyang's level and gain his recognition of an "uncle-nephew" relationship made him feel indebted to him.

"It's just a game, right? Something you've never played before, never seen before, never eaten before. Last night's performance was good, of course, but it lacked variety. Uncle Niu, have you thought about having the boys perform too? It's obviously fake, just for show. How exciting would that be?"

Niu Dongyang waved his hand, signaling Xu Kai to stop, and picked up the phone on the table: "Have Gangzi and Xiaoyun come up."

Xu Kai remained silent.

Niu Dongyang smiled and apologized: "Uncle Niu apologizes to you here. It's a bad habit of mine in business to always try to test people. I have an entertainment plaza, a bathhouse, and a KTV. I have a lot of people under me, and I can borrow people from outside if needed. Recently, the business competition has been very intense. People are eating and horses are eating. These days, whoever is fresh and attractive, whoever can seize the opportunity, is the one who will win. That kid Yuxuan said you have a quick mind. Uncle Niu will learn a lot from you today. You must tell me everything you know. Uncle will give you a big gift later."

Xu Kai sighed inwardly. It wasn't a limitation of the times, but rather that the other party hadn't yet placed him on an equal footing when discussing issues.

I can understand. If it were me, I would feel the same way. No matter how prodigious the little guy is, he is still just a little guy. How could I expect a successful businessman like Niu Dongyang, who came from the wilderness in the past, to kowtow to me and become a brother and friend despite the age difference?

"Uncle Niu, are we short one person?"

The bald, burly man and the beautiful woman who knocked on the door stood there obediently, waiting for Niu Dongyang's instructions.

On the other hand, for Niu Dongyang, this was the first time he had truly looked at the child in front of him from the bottom of his heart.

He had no resistance or aversion to the concept of "children," nor did he show any disdain, because...

"Yes, yes, yes, how about I take a bus to Songcheng now? You're worried he'll be unhappy? It's okay, I'll make him happy... What do you think? As long as you don't mind, I'm willing to do it for you..."

It was just a fleeting guess, but the more he thought about it, the more he felt that it was the real answer. As the bookshelf behind Niu Dongyang was pushed open, a figure emerged from the dark room behind it. Xu Kai couldn't help but sigh, thinking that he, a reborn person, had finally encountered a giant of the era. He should have just pretended to be stupid, kept a low profile, and not shown his face.

Facing Niu Dongyang, who would later become a famous top figure in the underworld, a wealthy man with a name and reputation, it would be best to show some youthful talent and leave him with a favor.

But this...

Faced with the person in front of him, Xu Kai wanted to leave, not out of fear, but because he didn't want to come into contact with someone far beyond his own capabilities so early on.

What this guy will be like in twenty years depends on Niu Dongyang's attitude when he stands up and on his achievements in twenty years. As long as he doesn't die, what else could he be but a giant behind the scenes in the tide of the times?

She's only a year older than me, how old is she?

"Okay, I'm not talking to you anymore, I'm going to book the tickets now." She hung up the phone directly. You would never guess from her face that she was a big shot, but at this moment, she appeared so bluntly.

Xu Kai's face showed a look of bitterness. He raised his hand and lightly slapped himself across the face: "Damn it, serves you right for being so foul-mouthed! Can't you play dumb? Can't you pretend you don't know?"

There were two swivel chairs opposite Niu Dongyang. Xu Kai sat in one of them. Su Xingwan, who came out of the dark room, sat down directly in the chair next to him. She was wearing light-colored jeans, a purple sweater, and Nike sneakers. Her phone was on the table. She leaned back comfortably in the chair. As if that wasn't enough, she swiveled the chair, lifted her feet, and put her legs directly on Xu Kai's legs before she smiled.

"Uncle Niu, you let it slip. You shouldn't have mentioned Hu Yuxuan. That guy isn't interested in business. Even if I thought of it, I wouldn't talk to him about business."

Niu Dongyang sat down again, puffed on his cigar, and gave Xu Kai a thumbs up.

Xu Kai placed the lit cigar on the huge ashtray on the table, glanced at Su Xingwan, and thought that she was a composite version of an angel in body but a devil in mind.

"This doesn't feel right. Would you like to sit on the sofa and I'll give you a massage?"

Since he was already there, he decided to make the best of it. Seeing the bald man and the beautiful woman, Xu Kai's wariness of Su Xingwan lessened somewhat.

He still has some shortcomings due to his age; otherwise, he probably wouldn't have let those two people know about her existence.

"OK."

On the three-seater leather sofa, Xu Kai sat down, and Su Xingwan came over and lay down, putting her legs on his lap, closing her eyes, looking completely indifferent to everything else, as if she was only there to enjoy herself. She showed no signs of wanting to be recognized and valued by Niu Dongyang or to see through his talent.

Xu Kai took off Su Xingwan's sneakers directly, and it was obvious that her body stiffened for a moment when the slippers were removed.

Without opening his eyes, he said leisurely, "Xu Kai, do you know? I grew up in the military. I'm naturally beautiful, and my hands don't have a single callus."

Is it really impossible to tell from this?

With such a delicate body, how could she be a fighting expert?

Xu Kai dared not disbelieve it, otherwise he believed that given this woman's state, she would definitely find an opportunity to beat him up, and do so without holding back, causing enough superficial injuries.

"I'm just worried you'll get my pants dirty with the soles of your shoes."

The people inside the room all felt an urge to hold back, especially the bald man and the beautiful woman, who were completely restrained and dared not even show the slightest hint of a smile.

Niu Dongyang, on the other hand, watched with great interest as the young people exchanged words.

"Huo Gang, manager of Dihao."

"Fang Yun, my capable assistant."

"This is my close friend, Xu Kai, despite the age difference."

Xu Kai nodded to the two of them: "Brother Gang, Sister Yun, I won't shake hands with you like this."

"Hello." The two glanced at Su Xingwan lying on the sofa out of the corner of their eyes. Judging from the way the two were acting, they dared not underestimate this young man.

There are already extraordinary young people like Miss Su, and there are her kind in this world. Their acceptance level is already very high. Even if the person in front of them is not like that, they will not have any thoughts of underestimating her.

While massaging Su Xingwan's calves with both hands, Xu Kai continued the previous topic: "There needs to be an element of performance, which requires certain skills from the actors. The more sensual, the better the effect. Also, since there are performances at the Performing Arts Plaza, have you thought about going to Thailand to invite some special actors over? Once they stand on the stage and the host introduces them, Emperor Mansion will be the only place in Songcheng, or even the provincial capital, to have such an exclusive performance."

Seeing that Su Xingwan was still pretending to sleep with her eyes closed, Xu Kai's wicked sense of humor kicked in. As a reborn person, having already experienced something like rebirth, what other bizarre things in this world could he find unbelievable?

Su Xingwan is a bewitching beauty, delicate and beautiful in public, but a thorny datura in private. Is there a problem with that?

Since I'm here, I might as well make the best of it. I've figured it out; it's all about value. So I'll just throw away the value. Anyway, I probably can't do this kind of business. When I've reached a certain size and can protect this kind of business, I won't bother with similar businesses anymore. At that time, I'll definitely get out of here and never let myself get tainted in any way.

"Imagine someone even more beautiful than a stunning beauty, who, on stage, could subtly reveal their true form, half-concealing their face – what would that be like? Or, after the performance, they could step off the stage, stand behind the guests, and offer their upper body for the guests to lean on or even touch..."

Su Xingwan opened her eyes and kicked Xu Kai, saying, "You're full of filth."

Xu Kai shrugged and said, "Fine, if you mind, I won't say anything more."

Niu Dongyang became interested. At his age, it was time to start enjoying life. He was tired of the usual things. Just from what Xu Kai said, he knew that this thing was very attractive to men with a sense of curiosity. He wondered what the customers would be like.

He stood up, walked a few steps to the single sofa next to him, stopped smoking his cigar, offered him a cigarette, and even took out a lighter to light it for him.

Xu Kai hesitated for a moment and glanced at Su Xingwan.

"Hmph, at least you know how to respect people." She stood up, thinking about what Xu Kai had just said. What kind of brain could come up with that? She was still angry, so she stood on the sofa and kicked him again.

Niu Dongyang handed over a lighter, knowing that Su Xingwan didn't mind the smell of smoke.

Xu Kai smiled wryly. He hadn't expected that the knowledge he was showing to others, which was ahead of its time, would be in this field. Well, if it is, then it is. At least it can be explained in his own way.