Chapter 164: The Worries of the Eldest Sister-in-Law and the Second Sister-in-Law

Watching Joey Wong's aunt and uncle leave, Yan Xu walked over to Joey's bedroom door and knocked on it.

"Knock, knock, knock!" Yan Xu knew that after talking with Joey's aunt and uncle for so long, she must be aware of his arrival.

"Xiaoxian, it's me, open the door!" Yan Xu said, trying to steady himself slightly.

"Xiaoxian, I know you're listening." Yan Xu took a deep breath. He knocked on the door for a long time without getting any response, as if the room was empty, but Yan Xu knew that Joey was definitely listening.

"I admit I've wronged you, and I admit I'm very unfaithful. Before I met you, I already had a girlfriend. You know her too, it's Ah Min. I first met her during the auditions for my second movie. Back then, she was just a rustic little girl, wearing clothes bought from a street stall in Temple Street that didn't cost a hundred dollars in total, and she even wore thick, old-fashioned glasses—the kind of ordinary girl on the street that no one would give a second glance to..." Standing outside the door, Yan Xu talked endlessly about every detail of how he and Vivian Chow met and fell in love, how their affection grew over time, their time in Taiwan, and how they had to dodge the media to meet secretly.

"I like her very much, or rather, I love her," Yan Xu finally said.

"Since you like her, why did you still provoke me? I'm not a toy. Is it enough just for you to play with me?" There was a brief silence in the room before a voice finally came out. Joey was clearly in bad shape; her voice was extremely hoarse and even accompanied by sobs. But she spoke, which was a good thing for Yan Xu.

"I know it sounds greedy of me to say this, but I really like you. It wasn't just for fun. I love her, and I love you too." Yan Xu spoke the absolute truth. He was a lustful man, and he was also a greedy and domineering one.

"The first time I saw you, I still remember it vividly. It was at the company's opening event. You were wearing a black dress and gold high heels. Your flowing long hair gave you a presence that stood out from the crowd. There is no doubt about your beauty. Of course, back then I didn't dare to hope anything would happen between us; I just thought your image was a perfect match for the female lead of my new movie. But during the filming process, I couldn't help developing feelings for you. You must have felt it too. When those feelings arrive, it's so magical; everything just happens uncontrollably."

Yan Xu closed his eyes slightly, as if relishing that feeling, savoring the sweetness between them during that period.

"Everything happened too suddenly. When the feeling comes, there's no way to refuse it. I don't expect your forgiveness, but I needed to express my true thoughts. Even though I deceived you, my feelings for you were genuine. I just wanted to come and tell you in person: I'm sorry." Yan Xu was already satisfied just hearing Joey's voice today. He didn't expect her to accept him right away, but at the very least, he hoped she wouldn't treat him like an enemy or deliberately hide and avoid him.

"Get some good rest. Don't worry about the crew; we'll use a body double for the remaining fight scenes. In a few days, you'll just need to shoot a few close-ups. I know you don't want to see me right now, so I'll leave first. I'll come to see you again in a few days." Yan Xu knew Joey wouldn't see him today, and the fact that she had listened to him say so much was already a miracle.

*************

The filming of A Chinese Ghost Story had basically come to an end, while Dragon Pictures' other major blockbuster, A Better Tomorrow, had also completed shooting and entered post-production. If it were to be released, it would at least be late February.

Yan Xu certainly didn't want this film to get caught in the fierce box office battle of late January and early February during the Lunar New Year. Although Yan Xu knew the immense power of this movie, going up against star-studded productions like Rich and Famous and Millionaires' Express wouldn't yield any advantages. On the other hand, films released after those two would hardly compare to A Better Tomorrow, and by then, its bumper harvest would be guaranteed.

During this time, aside from the final shoots for A Chinese Ghost Story, Yan Xu visited Joey every few days. Though he was still separated by the door, and though cold remarks were still frequently cast his way, the conversations between the two of them were growing increasingly frequent.

Leaving Joey's apartment, Yan Xu was not in a great mood. He had no idea when he would earn Joey's forgiveness. Declining her aunt's warm hospitality, he ate a bowl of instant noodles with luncheon meat and egg at a street-side stall alone. These past few days, weighed down by the situation with the two women, he hadn't been feeling well. Always someone who enjoyed good food, he had been rushing through his meals carelessly for days, and he felt as though he had lost even more weight.

The Tsim Sha Tsui East bar street, located between Granville Road and Mody Road, was one of Hong Kong's five major nightlife districts. Unlike the cultural youth paradise of Lan Kwai Fong in Central, the budget-friendly bars, lounges, and discos of Wan Chai and Causeway Bay, or the saunas and brothels lining Yau Ma Tei and Mong Kok, this area was dominated by Japanese-style night clubs. Prices here were the most expensive among the five nightlife districts, with Big Boss, Metropolis, and the Chinese City standing out as the top establishments.

Of course, Yan Xu coming here so late wasn't to visit Big Boss and experience high-end consumption, but rather to check out a night club currently under renovation.

Qinhuai Private Club bore no grand, boastful names like Big Boss or Today's World, but the two words "Qinhuai" could evoke endless fantasies in the minds of men, while the phrase "private club" left some people scratching their heads: was this place a night club or something else entirely? Although it hadn't officially opened yet, it had already caught the eye of passing men, making them pause to watch for a while or even stop people coming out to ask questions.

The name was chosen by Yan Xu. The magnificent scenery of the Ming and Qing dynasties along the Qinhuai River, lined with brothels and gliding painted pleasure boats, had always been an idealized vision in his heart. This club was Yan Xu's attempt to recreate that bygone prosperity, funded by the share of profits he had given to Chicken Feather. Of course, Yan Xu and Ghost East each held a thirty percent stake in it as well.

"Brother Nine! Brother Nine!" Since it hadn't opened yet, the entire club was tightly sealed. To maintain a sense of mystery, Chicken Feather had also followed Yan Xu's advice and stationed his underlings at the entrance to keep idlers out.

"Mmm!" Yan Xu nodded slightly. Chicken Feather had more and more subordinates nowadays, including many unfamiliar faces he had never seen before.

The interior decoration of the club didn't resemble a typical night club. While still extremely lavish, it avoided the tacky aesthetic of night clubs that used lightboxes featuring bikini models right at the entrance. The more mysterious the decor, the better it could pique a man's curiosity.

"I've been waiting for you for so long, you finally decided to show up." As soon as he stepped into the club, Chicken Feather walked over, a constant smile on his face as he watched his night club gradually take shape.

"I've been very busy lately, lots of things to handle!" Yan Xu said, looking at Chicken Feather.

"What's wrong? Something happened?" Chicken Feather had grown up sharing the same pair of pants with Yan Xu, so no change in Yan Xu's expression could fool him. Even though Yan Xu wore a smile, to Chicken Feather, it looked entirely forced.

"Nothing, just a bit busy with work," Yan Xu waved a hand and said.

"Nothing? I know you too well. Work matters are never a big deal to you. Looking like this, something's definitely going on." Chicken Feather threw an arm around Yan Xu's shoulder, pulling his neck in tight. "What on earth is it? Saying it out will make you feel better. Don't tell me you can't even trust an old brother like me."

"Really, nothing. Just had some things happen with Ah Min recently," Yan Xu said.

"With sister-in-law? What happened? Isn't she on a tour in Southeast Asia?" Chicken Feather scrutinized Yan Xu closely. "Did you two fight?"

"She suddenly came back on Christmas Eve and caught me with another woman." Yan Xu didn't hide it. As lifelong friends, they even knew how many moles were on each other's backs.

"Whoa!" Chicken Feather leaped back in shock, staring wide-eyed at Yan Xu. "I never expected a guy like you to go find a second sister-in-law! What does she do? Do I know her?" Chicken Feather's gossipy spirit instantly surged. Gossip knew no bounds of gender, age, or profession.

"You've seen her. The female lead of my new movie."

"A long-legged beauty! I'm only now realizing I need to look at you with new eyes. Ah, I regret it so much! Why didn't I stay longer in the crew with you back then instead of working at that ice room? Otherwise, I'd have entered the entertainment industry too. Surrounded by beauties, and every single one of them is the dream lover of countless men," Chicken Feather said exaggeratedly.

"Come on, I'm going crazy here. You only went to work at the ice room back then because there were so many schoolgirls coming and going," Yan Xu exposed Chicken Feather's past. "Besides, you're doing pretty well now yourself, becoming a big boss with a bunch of underlings following you wherever you go. How majestic! And the young girls around you change batch after batch."

"What's there to go crazy about? Women need to be coaxed. Have a wild time for a few days, throw all your worries aside, and then recharge your batteries before jumping back into the fray. Besides, when it comes to women, I've got plenty of them here. I recently picked up a schoolgirl, she's so pure," Chicken Feather said lewdly.

"A schoolgirl? Then you'd better be careful, don't mess with anyone underage," Yan Xu warned.

"Do you take me for those guys chasing middle schoolers? I'm a big boss now, of course I have standards. Your new sister-in-law is a college student." Chicken Feather wore a very smug smile.

"Whoa?" Yan Xu was also quite surprised. "A college student? You're no pushover, bro. Calling her 'sister-in-law'—this is the first time you've ever used that title. Are you playing for keeps this time?"

"What do you mean 'this time'? When am I ever *not* serious?" Chicken Feather raised his middle finger at Yan Xu.