Chapter 33: The Still-Charming Auntie

Darkness. Pitch black. Absolute darkness.

When Chu Feng regained consciousness, he found himself in a windowless room. The only light filtered through the slats of an exhaust fan, which emitted a dull, rhythmic thud with every rotation.

"Where am I?" Chu Feng tried to rise, only to discover his hands and feet were bound to a chair.

*Click! Click! Click!*

Three lights suddenly flickered to life, illuminating the entire space. The blinding glare, hitting him just as his eyes had adjusted to the dark, made it nearly impossible to keep them open. Through his squinting, he caught a vague glimpse of red high heels and a pair of long legs clad in black silk, crossed elegantly.

"Look at this, isn't this the formidable Chu Feng? I heard you took on three men at once and even taught our Shi Fei a lesson," a sultry woman's voice drifted toward him.

As his vision cleared, Chu Feng saw a middle-aged woman with short, wavy hair, wearing a mini-skirt and a mink stole. She appeared to be in her mid-thirties and was clearly well-maintained. Her features were as refined as carved jade, though the years had left faint crow's feet at the corners of her eyes. Her phoenix eyes were striking, and her voice was bewitchingly seductive.

"Who are you?" Chu Feng asked.

"Mind your manners!" A man in a black suit stepped behind him, grabbed his hair, and yanked his head back.

Chu Feng endured the pain, his expression remaining composed. "What a desperate old tart. At your age, still wearing black lace?"

"You're courting death!" The woman stepped forward and slapped him across the mouth. "Say something so flippant again, and I’ll cut out your tongue!"

Up close, Chu Feng could see the details of her face, including a seductive beauty mark on her chin. His mind raced as he searched for her identity. He quickly found the answer: this must be Shi Fei’s mother, Zheng Shuting, the proprietress of the Emperor Nightclub.

"So that’s who it is! It’s that brat Shi Fei. He couldn't beat me himself, so he ran home to cry to his mommy! What a 'man' he is," Chu Feng taunted.

Zheng Shuting was surprised that he recognized her. She waved her hand, signaling her subordinate to step back. "You’ve crossed my son. Tell me, which hand do you want to keep?" She lit a cigarette and added, "I think the right one should stay. After all, losing a left hand is manageable, but without your right, you won't even be able to pleasure yourself."

"Ha! I truly thank you for your 'mercy,' Sister Zheng! Let me guess—you had that spineless worm Shi Fei pursue Zhang Yanran just to get in good with Zhang Fuqiang, right? You wanted to turn Shi Fei into a son-in-law for the Zhang family so you could expand the Emperor's territory," Chu Feng sneered.

Zheng Shuting blew a plume of smoke and ground the cigarette out on Chu Feng’s thigh. He winced, his brow twitching, but he didn't utter a single plea for mercy.

"You’re a tough one, certainly more imposing than my son! But what right does a person like you have to talk about our business?" she asked.

"I’m just saying, your plans are doomed," Chu Feng stared at her defiantly. "You probably don't know this, but Zhang Yanran is my girlfriend now. Your son has no hope."

"What?" Zheng Shuting looked toward the shadows.

A bruised and battered Shi Fei emerged, looking sheepish.

"Fei, is what he said true?" Zheng Shuting demanded.

"They... they kissed," Shi Fei muttered, his eyes filled with hatred.

*Slap!*

This time, Zheng Shuting struck her son. Shi Fei was stunned. She glared at him, her eyes burning with fury. "So you were jealous, you brought men to jump him, and the three of you still couldn't beat him alone!"

"But Mom..." Shi Fei whined.

"You make a mess and expect me to clean it up? Your father is a vegetable in a hospital bed, and you've turned into a giant, useless infant?" she scolded. As the current head of the Emperor, with a comatose husband and a playboy son, she was buckling under the weight of it all. She had thought her son was the victim, but it turned out he had instigated the whole thing—and to make matters worse, the girl he was supposed to secure had been snatched away by someone else. Her pride as a powerhouse in the city was severely wounded.

"Go!" She dismissed Shi Fei.

Chu Feng watched as Shi Fei left, casting a venomous glare in his direction. Zheng Shuting then ordered his restraints to be cut. As he rubbed his wrists, Chu Feng realized the dire straits the Emperor Nightclub must be in; they had resorted to using Shi Fei to manipulate Zhang Yanran out of pure desperation.

"If you let me walk away like this, aren't you afraid I'll tell Zhang Fuqiang everything?" Chu Feng asked.

Zheng Shuting sneered. "You’re just a kid. So what if you can fight? You come from nothing. Do you really think that once Zhang Fuqiang finds out about you and his daughter, he’ll allow his precious pearl to associate with you?"

"Are you so sure of your own prediction?"

"Why wouldn't I be? Do you actually believe in those fairy tales where a sparrow becomes a phoenix? Let me tell you, love is complete nonsense in this society; social standing is the only truth. My son might not be as good at wooing women as you, but the Emperor Nightclub still carries weight in Jiangcheng." She clearly wanted to end the conversation, convinced that a college student wouldn't dare oppose her. The Emperor might be fading, but it was still a formidable force.

However, Chu Feng knew the future. He knew that when the anti-organized crime crackdowns began, the Emperor would be the first to fall.

"Shi Fei couldn't win over Zhang Yanran, but I can... If I were to help you, perhaps the Emperor's troubles would be solved?" Chu Feng whispered as he brushed past her.

Zheng Shuting’s pupils constricted. "Boy, are you telling the truth?"

"I didn't say a thing," Chu Feng shrugged.

Zheng Shuting’s tense face instantly relaxed into a smile as she hooked her arm through his. *This woman changes faster than a book,* Chu Feng thought to himself. A moment ago, she was a cold-blooded crime boss; now, she was a charming, seductive sister.

"You haven't eaten, have you? Let me treat you to a meal as an apology for A-Fei’s behavior," she suggested.

Chu Feng grinned. "Of course. I’d love to chat with a beautiful lady. Who knows, I might even tell you, 'Auntie, I don't want to work hard anymore.'"

"You really are an interesting boy," she laughed, playfully rebuking him.