Chapter 19: Big Fool

“This way, the public will learn more about you two. There are gains, but also losses.”

Chen Hao didn’t say much more, but both Ruonan and Jiewen understood everything clearly, as if seeing a reflection in a mirror.

Becoming the spokespersons for the convenience store meant publicly associating themselves with Chen Hao. This would bring them more attention and support—but also possibly some hostility.

They had anticipated this risk when they chose to follow Chen Hao.

Every choice in life comes with pros and cons; the key is to weigh which side matters more.

As things stood now, the benefits clearly outweighed the risks—especially since Chen Hao had already expressed his intent to have them take charge of the convenience store’s marketing campaign.

Seeing it was getting late—and the two girls’ arms were sore from giving massages—

Chen Hao waved his hand lightly, signaling the end. He said:

“That’s it for today. Go get some rest. Tomorrow, come find me at Jiashangban Human Resources Company.”

“And on your way out, go to the bar counter and ask A-Liang for the wine.”

This time, Jiewen didn’t protest. She apologized to Ruonan and then quietly left Chen Hao’s office.

Ruonan, however, was a bit disappointed that nothing beyond “just friends” had happened tonight. Even though Chen Hao had promised never to act against her will, she hadn’t even gotten the chance to express how she felt.

Still, she comforted herself—opportunities would come. She’d just have to wait and see.

The two of them left the office together and found bartender A-Liang at the bar, who began talking to them about Chen Hao.

As a loyal and attentive employee to the new boss, it was naturally his duty to understand his superior’s preferences—especially regarding things like the convenience store. For instance, Hongxing members would now enjoy a 50% discount.

Hearing that, Ruonan and Jiewen were stunned. Such generosity was truly rare—it seemed Chen Hao really was someone who spent big without blinking.

Ruonan hugged Jiewen anxiously and said, “The boss is being way too generous. Let’s talk to him tomorrow and try to change his mind.”

Jiewen agreed wholeheartedly.

Then, A-Liang respectfully handed them two bottles of Lafite red wine, carefully packed by Brother Hao himself, and warmly addressed the two women as sister-in-law.

Jiewen blushed slightly when she heard it, but didn’t protest and took the wine. Ruonan, on the other hand, just laughed and praised A-Liang’s sharp judgment.

“You’re smart, kid.”

She laughed as she said it, and A-Liang bowed with a grin. “Take care, Big Sisters.”

The younger guys around them all echoed the greeting.

Surrounded by people calling them “sister-in-law,” the two women felt like they were walking on air, light on their feet like fairies soaring through the clouds.

Watching them walk away with the Lafite wine, A-Liang smiled with satisfaction.

To promote the convenience store and help make this relationship more visible, he had deliberately spread word about the “new women” in Chen Hao’s life.

After all, as the boss’s women, it was only natural that the brothers call them “sister-in-law.”

Letting the boss’s women help manage things would be the perfect way to keep the younger guys in check—after all, none of them wanted to see the boss’s money go to waste.

As they left the bar, Jiewen whispered:

“Is this really, okay? What if the boss gets mad?”

Ruonan rolled her eyes. “Back when they called us sister-in-law, why didn’t you stop them, huh?”

How could Jiewen have not wanted to stop it? Of course, Ruonan knew what she was thinking. They both understood each other without needing to say a word.

Ruonan gave Jiewen’s firm backside a light pat, which made Jiewen yelp:

“Ah! What are you doing? Don’t joke around like that here!”

Ruonan grinned, enjoying the moment. She thought to herself that her bestie really had a nice figure—almost on par with her own.

She continued teasingly, “Alright, I know you’re into the boss too, so stop pretending.”

“No matter how we fight, we’re still sisters. Better to keep the benefits in the family than let them go to outsiders.”

“Let’s focus on tomorrow—figure out how to get the boss to really notice us!”

Hearing Ruonan’s words, Jiewen’s cheerful expression darkened in an instant.

---

Late at night, when the world was quiet, Chen Hao returned home, only to hear a familiar system notification in his ear:

[Ding! Today’s income: 1.3745 million HKD, with a 10x critical bonus—total of 13.745 million HKD. Funds have been deposited to your bank account.]

[Assets: increased from 2.929 million to 16.674 million HKD.]

Chen Hao was stunned by the notification.

He had expected today’s income to be impressive—but this was beyond his imagination.

Thinking back carefully, the revenue actually made sense: each restock at the convenience store cost around 100,000 HKD. Since the Hung Hing gang sold at half price, that meant actual daily revenue per restock was roughly 50,000 HKD.

After four major restocks, the massive accumulated return wasn’t all that surprising.

Under normal circumstances, a daily turnover of 5,000 HKD for a convenience store was already considered excellent.

But today’s surge came from the half-price promotion, plus the fact that Liang Kun and Babi—who originally came to stir up trouble—actually helped him make more money instead.

Chen Hao couldn’t help but wonder: what would it look like if Liang Kun and Babi found out they hadn’t ruined him but instead made him richer and more successful?

He could already picture the angry, frustrated look on their faces.

---

Western District.

Early morning.

Bucky was still sound asleep when loud knocking and frantic sobbing startled him awake.

Half-asleep, he opened the door and was shocked to see his old flame, Cuilian, standing there in tears.

“Brother Ji, you… you have to help my brother!” she sobbed.

“He was beaten badly and is in critical condition at the hospital. If anything happens to him, I don’t want to live either…”

She choked on her words as she pictured her brother, Fei Biao, lying there crippled.

Bucky could only sigh helplessly.

He knew Fei Biao all too well. That guy had been riding on Bucky’s coattails because of his relationship with Cuilian, and had used Bucky’s name to act recklessly across Western District—ruining Hung Hing’s reputation.

Some people let it slide out of respect for Bucky, but many knew Fei Biao had nearly gotten himself killed more than once.

Fei Biao wasn’t stupid—he knew that outside of Western District, his name carried no weight. So he dared to act arrogantly only within the territory.

This time, Bucky had no idea who had finally “rid the people of a menace.”

Still, Fei Biao was Cuilian’s blood brother.

Back in the day, Cuilian was Bucky’s “white moonlight”—the woman who had made him feel like a real man.

Unfortunately, fate intervened. Cuilian’s father disapproved of Bucky for being poor, and married her off to a wealthy old man.

After the old man died, Cuilian reunited with Bucky, but their rekindled love didn’t last.

By then, Cuilian had aged and lost her charm. The reunion was more about settling regrets than true passion. Yet Cuilian clung to him like a shadow, which deeply frustrated Bucky.

Waving her off irritably, Bucky said, “Alright, go home for now. Let me figure out what’s going on.”

Cuilian persisted, unwilling to leave. “Brother Ji, he’s my real brother!”

“I know you’ve never liked him, but for the sake of our past, can’t you help him and get revenge?”

At that, Bucky erupted.

“If Fei Biao weren’t your brother, I’d have dealt with him long ago!”

“He goes around abusing my name, acting like a thug—he’s turned me into a joke!”

Seeing Bucky so furious, Cuilian didn’t dare say more. She turned and left in silence.

She knew in her heart that Bucky had long lost interest in her now that she was older and no longer beautiful.

Once, she had married that stubborn old man. After his death, his children had even tried to kick her out without a penny.

Fortunately, Bucky had already become a Hung Hing boss by then. With his influence, she managed to get a portion of the inheritance.

From that moment on, Cuilian realized that in a place like Hong Kong’s underworld, a woman without power could only survive by clinging tightly to someone like Bucky.

Even if Bucky treated her more and more coldly now, she still couldn’t bring herself to let go of their connection.

After sending Cuilian off, Bucky returned to his base, agitated. Just as he walked in, he saw Brother Qiang busy working.

He waved him over.

“Ah Qiang, come here.”

Brother Qiang responded with a smile and walked toward him.

“Ah Qiang, help me look into what happened with Fei Biao last night.”

Bucky didn’t waste time.

Brother Qiang hesitated, a troubled look on his face.

Seeing this, Bucky frowned and asked, “Why aren’t you moving?”

After a moment’s hesitation, Brother Qiang replied, “Brother Ji, I already know what happened.”

Bucky’s eyes lit up. He immediately asked, “Tell me—who took out the trash for us?”