Chapter 9: The Ma Family’s Schemes

“This way, people outside will get to know you better. You’ll gain something—but also lose something.”

Chen Hao didn’t elaborate, but Ruo Nan and Jie Wen both understood clearly what he meant.

Becoming the spokespersons for the convenience store meant making their connection with Chen Hao public. This would bring them more attention and support—but could also stir up jealousy or hostility.

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

Every decision has its pros and cons. The key lies in weighing which side matters more.

For now, the benefits clearly outweighed the risks—especially since Chen Hao had openly said they would be handling the store’s promotional campaign.

Seeing it was getting late—and the girls’ arms were sore from giving massages—Chen Hao waved his hand to signal the end of the day and said:

“Let’s stop here for today. Go home and rest. Meet me tomorrow at Jiashangban HR Company.”

“And before you leave, remember to get some wine from A-Liang at the bar.”

This time, Jie Wen didn’t object. She apologized to Ruo Nan and then left Chen Hao’s office.

---

Ruo Nan felt a bit disappointed. Nothing had happened tonight that went beyond friendship. Even though Chen Hao had promised not to do anything against her will, she hadn’t even gotten a chance to express how she felt.

Still, she told herself quietly—opportunities would come. One step at a time.

They walked out of the office together and found the bartender, A-Liang, who started talking about Chen Hao.

As a loyal new employee, it was only right for A-Liang to learn the boss’s preferences—especially about the store, including the surprising news that all Hongxing members would get a 50% discount.

Hearing this, Ruo Nan and Jie Wen were too stunned to speak. Such generosity was rare—it really seemed like Chen Hao was a man who spared no expense.

Worried, Ruo Nan hugged Jie Wen and said, “The boss is being way too generous. Let’s talk to him tomorrow and try to convince him otherwise!”

Jie Wen nodded in agreement.

Then A-Liang respectfully handed them two bottles of Château Lafite, packed by Brother Hao himself, and cheerfully called them both “sao-zi” (sister-in-law).

Jie Wen blushed lightly but didn’t argue—she just accepted the wine. Ruo Nan, on the other hand, laughed and praised A-Liang for his sharp instincts.

“You’re really clever, you little rascal.”

She chuckled, and A-Liang bowed with a smile. “Take care, dear sisters-in-law.”

Other young men nearby chimed in with the same call.

Surrounded by the title “sister-in-law,” the two women felt like they were walking on air—light as spirits, gliding freely.

When A-Liang saw them leaving with the bottles of wine, he smiled with satisfaction.

He had deliberately spread news of these two “newcomers” to help promote Chen Hao’s convenience store. After all, among the brothers, calling the boss’s women “sister-in-law” was only natural.

Having the boss’s women oversee their behavior—wasn’t that the best of both worlds? None of them wanted to see the boss’s money wasted for no reason.

As they left the bar, Jie Wen whispered anxiously:

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

Ruo Nan rolled her eyes. “They were calling us ‘sister-in-law,’ and you didn’t stop them?”

Of course Jie Wen had wanted to object, and of course Ruo Nan knew exactly what she was thinking—they both tacitly understood each other.

Ruo Nan gave Jie Wen’s firm butt a playful slap, making her shriek:

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

Ruo Nan grinned mischievously, secretly savoring the feel and thinking her sister’s figure was truly impressive—nearly a match for her own.

Still smiling, she said,

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

“No matter how we compete as sisters, at least we’re keeping the ‘good water’ in the family. Better us than some outsider.”

“Anyway, we should start thinking seriously about tomorrow. How can we get the boss to really notice us?”

Hearing this, Jie Wen’s previously cheerful expression turned into a gloomy cloud of worry.

---

Late at night, when everything was still, Chen Hao returned home. Just as he sat down, a system notification chimed in his ear:

[Ding! Today’s earnings: HK$1.3745 million, with a 10x critical hit bonus totaling HK$13.745 million. The amount has been automatically deposited into your bank account.]

[Assets: Increased from HK$2.929 million to HK$16.674 million.]

Chen Hao was momentarily stunned.

He’d expected good earnings today—but not something this insane.

After some thought, it all added up: each restocking of the convenience store cost about HK$100,000. With the 50% discount for Hongxing members, each restock amounted to around HK$50,000 in actual revenue.

After four rounds of large-scale restocking, it wasn’t surprising the profit ballooned.

Normally, a daily turnover of HK$5,000 was already solid for a convenience store.

But today had been exceptional. Not only was everything half price, but the sabotage attempts by Liang Kun and Ba Bi ended up attracting even more business—making Chen Hao richer than ever.

He couldn’t help but chuckle. What would happen if one day Liang Kun and Ba Bi found out that instead of ruining him, their interference had only made him wealthier?

He could already picture their furious faces.

---

Sai Wan.

Early morning.

Ba Ji was still asleep when he was awoken by urgent knocking and the sound of crying.

Half-asleep, he opened the door and was shocked to see his former lover, Cui Lian, crying her eyes out.

“Brother Ji… you—you have to help my brother!”

She sobbed.

“He’s been beaten up badly—he’s in the hospital, barely hanging on.”

“If something happens to him… I don’t want to live either…”

She choked on her tears, thinking of her brother Fei Biao’s broken limbs, unable to speak clearly.

Ba Ji couldn’t help but sigh heavily.

He knew Fei Biao all too well. That punk had long been relying on his relationship with Cui Lian to do whatever he pleased in Sai Wan under Ba Ji’s name, dragging Hongxing’s reputation through the mud.

Some had spared him because of Ba Ji, but everyone knew this guy had almost gotten himself killed multiple times.

Fei Biao wasn’t entirely dumb either. He knew his name didn’t carry much weight outside Sai Wan, so he only acted wildly within home territory.

Whoever took him down this time might have just done everyone a favor.

Still… he was Cui Lian’s younger brother.

Back then, Cui Lian was the “white moonlight” in Ba Ji’s heart—the woman who made him a man.

But fate was cruel. Her father disapproved of Ba Ji’s poverty and married her off to a rich old man.

After the old man died, she reunited with Ba Ji—but it didn’t last.

Now, older and no longer alluring, Cui Lian was little more than a shadow he couldn’t shake. Trying to rekindle their flame was just a way to close the chapter—but she clung to him, and it drove him nuts.

Annoyed, Ba Ji waved his hand impatiently.

“Fine, go home first. Let me figure out what happened.”

Cui Lian was unwilling to let go. “Brother Ji… he’s my real brother!”

“I know you’ve never liked him, but for the sake of what we had—can’t you do this for me? Just help him vent this grievance?”

At that, Ba Ji’s anger flared.

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

“He’s been using my name to run wild out there—he’s almost made me a laughingstock!”

Seeing Ba Ji burst into a rage, Cui Lian dared not say another word. She turned and left quietly.

She knew in her heart—Ba Ji no longer had any interest in an aging woman like her.

She had once married a stubborn old man, and after his death, his children even tried to kick her out with nothing.

Thankfully, Ba Ji had already become a top boss in Hongxing by then. With his backing, she managed to get a portion of the inheritance.

From that moment on, she realized: without power of her own, the only way to survive in Hong Kong’s underworld was to cling tightly to Ba Ji.

Even now, with Ba Ji growing more distant by the day, she still refused to give up on their connection.

---

After sending Cui Lian away, Ba Ji returned to his turf in frustration. As soon as he walked in, he saw Brother Qiang working busily.

He waved him over.

“A-Qiang, come here.”

Brother Qiang smiled and walked toward him.

“A-Qiang, look into what happened to Fei Biao last night.”

Ba Ji asked immediately.

Brother Qiang didn’t move right away—his face looked troubled.

Seeing this hesitation, Ba Ji frowned and asked, “Why aren’t you moving?”

After a brief pause, Qiang finally said, “Brother Ji, I already know what happened.”

Ba Ji’s eyes lit up. He quickly asked, “Well? Who took him down and did us all a favor?”