Chapter 69: “You Might as Well Give It to Me

Chu Keqing had originally harbored some doubts.

That elder named Chen Yan helping Boss Fang—she could understand that; Boss Fang was generous with money and sociable, always fond of befriending masters of occult arts.

But the three brothers in the internet cafe… Chu Keqing had already had her assistant look into them—they were just three ordinary street thugs, low-level hoodlums who didn’t even qualify as gang members.

How could such a high-level master, one who could cast spells merely by speaking, possibly stand up for three lowly street thugs?

Yet… this question vanished the moment she stepped through the door of the Ultimate Internet Cafe.

Standing at the entrance, feeling the stifling, smoky air inside, Chu Keqing couldn’t help frowning.

Then she saw the female owner behind the counter.

Perhaps it was nearing the New Year, and with her younger brothers finally freed from prison, the owner’s mood had improved greatly.

Today she’d even applied light makeup. The cafe’s air conditioning was strong, so she wore a thin, form-fitting cashmere sweater that accentuated her slender waist and the graceful curves of her upper body.

Combined with her strikingly beautiful face, the blend of youthful innocence and mature allure…

“So that’s how it is…” Chu Keqing sighed.

Then she turned and left.

The situation had changed.

Seeing the owner, Chu Keqing suddenly realized her original gift offering seemed inadequate.

Elder Chen Yan had acted out of rage for a woman—this woman in the cafe must be closely connected to him.

She had assumed the three thugs had merely stumbled into some accidental karmic connection with the elder.

Her original plan had been to drop by, offer a token sum of ten or twenty thousand, and be done with it.

Now it was clear she hadn’t prepared enough.

Chu Keqing left without saying a word; the owner didn’t notice, still staring intently at the game screen.

·

Chu Keqing’s departure took little time. Back in her car, she instructed her assistant to handle matters.

She leaned back in her seat, closing her eyes to rest—she was accustomed to meditation and didn’t find this brief pause difficult.

Just before dusk, the assistant hurried back, handing Chu Keqing an envelope.

“Master Zi, it’s done.”

Chu Keqing took it, opened the envelope, glanced inside, and nodded.

She then stepped out of the car, crossed the street again, and reentered the cafe.

The owner still sat behind the counter, absorbed in a drama on screen, when a soft, slightly nasal voice spoke.

“Hello.”

The owner looked up and saw a woman who took her breath away.

She wore a form-fitting qipao of pale purple fabric, its embroidery clearly hand-stitched and valuable. On her nose sat delicate glasses; her face—how to describe it…

Seductive.

“Hello, are you here to use the internet?” the owner asked, puzzled.

This woman’s attire and bearing didn’t seem like those of a customer who’d frequent a low-end cafe like hers.

“Could I trouble you for a moment? I’d like to speak with you about something.” Chu Keqing’s tone was polite, but seeing the owner’s confusion, she added softly: “I’m a relative of Luo Qing.”

The owner’s expression changed instantly.

“Wasn’t the case already settled? You… are you here for something else…?”

Seeing the owner tense up, Chu Keqing shook her head and smiled: “Please don’t misunderstand—I’m not here to cause trouble. I’ve come for another reason. May I speak with you privately, in a quieter place…?”

The owner bit her lip silently, glanced around the cafe—her three younger brothers weren’t here tonight; they’d said they were going out drinking with friends.

“Fine,” the owner thought for a moment. “There’s a room upstairs—if you don’t mind…”

“I don’t mind,” Chu Keqing smiled.

Two minutes later, in the owner’s third-floor bedroom, the owner sat on a chair, eyes wide with confusion, staring at the woman in purple.

On the small table before her lay a receipt.

“I had the landlord pay three years’ rent for your building—here’s the receipt from him.”

The owner was bewildered.

Three years’ rent? Paid for me?

Her cafe rented this small building; while not large, it was in a university district, so rent was expensive.

Three years’ rent amounted to hundreds of thousands.

“As for Luo Qing,” Chu Keqing said slowly, “he committed the wrongdoing that angered someone. Your brothers were merely caught up in it—it was ultimately Luo Qing’s fault.”

“So they suffered legal trouble, and you endured worry and fear.”

Huh?

The owner froze.

How could anyone say that?

My brothers beat someone up, and now the victim’s family comes to say the victim deserved it?

And… gave me hundreds of thousands?

No.

The owner suddenly remembered how Luo Qing had been overly attentive when she picked up her brothers that day—and now she looked at the receipt…

Could Luo Qing be trying to seduce her, sending money to bribe her?

Seeing the owner lean back, her face tense with suspicion, Chu Keqing, being sharp, guessed part of it and shook her head: “Don’t overthink it. I’m here solely to apologize—no other intentions whatsoever.”

She paused, then pulled out her phone, opened her photo album to the image of Luo Qing’s broken legs, and showed it to the owner.

“I punished Luo Qing severely. This was our fault—I’ve bowed my head completely. I’ve come to show you our sincerity.”

Chu Keqing’s gentle words left the owner utterly bewildered.

It wasn’t that she was foolish—it was just… no one had ever encountered anything like this!

After a long silence, the owner shook her head: “I… I don’t understand. What do you want? What’s your goal?”

“I run just a small internet cafe—I have no wealth.”

“What do you want?”

Chu Keqing paused, frowned at the owner, then sighed and stood up.

“There’s my business card in the envelope. If you ever face any trouble in Jinling, you can find me—I can still help with some matters here.”

She gave a bitter smile: “As for what I want… I’ll be honest.

I ask for nothing else—only that you speak a few kind words about me to Elder Chen Yan in the future.”

With that, Chu Keqing bowed slightly, then politely took her leave.

The owner stood frozen, her mind as if struck by lightning, unable to process anything.

After Chu Keqing left, she stared at the receipt on the table…

What had she just said?

Elder Chen Yan? Xiao Yan?

The owner rushed downstairs, only to see a black car already driving away.

She steadied herself, rushed back behind the counter, and dialed Chen Yan’s number.

The call connected quickly.

“Hello? Boss?” Chen Yan’s voice was gentle.

“…” The owner fell silent.

Was it Xiao Yan who made this happen, so my brothers were released?

And… why did they go to such lengths to apologize?

Who exactly is Xiao Yan?

And…

Why did he go to such trouble for me?

The owner’s face suddenly flushed—she’d just thought of something.

“Hello?” Chen Yan asked again. “Boss, what’s wrong?”

“Um…” The owner took a deep breath, forcing her voice steady and calm: “Just now, a woman named Chu came to the cafe looking for me.”

On the other end, Chen Yan’s tone turned serious: “Go on.”

“She… she said she came to apologize.” The owner carefully recounted everything that had happened.

Finally, she whispered: “So… was it you, Xiao Yan?”

Chen Yan was silent for a moment, then let out that familiar, easy laugh she’d heard for four years.

“Hahaha, yes, it was me.” Chen Yan didn’t deny it, his tone casual: “Oh well, I was trying to keep a normal persona with you, but now I’m revealing it—I’m actually a very powerful rich second-generation.”

The owner: “…………”

“Alright, that woman Chu isn’t here to cause trouble—take the benefits she offered.”

“No, I can’t.” The owner hurriedly said. “That’s not a small amount! They lowered themselves for your sake and paid so much—whether it’s enmity, debt, or favor—it all rests on you. I can’t take this money!”

And… how could you possibly be a rich second-generation?

The owner thought silently.

Do you think I don’t know you after four years? You’ve been broke as a beggar—your free internet use here? I couldn’t count it on both hands.

You’ve mooched meals too.

“Xiao Yan, I’m not joking—I won’t take this money. If I must take it, I’ll give it to you!” The owner spoke firmly.

Chen Yan thought for a moment, then said slowly, “Then consider it my prepaid internet fee.”

Hundreds of thousands? As an internet fee?

You could pay for a yearly subscription until you retire!

“Xiao Yan!” the shop owner’s tone was urgent.

“Alright, I’m busy right now. I’ll think about this and contact you in a couple days to tell you how to fix it.”

“No, put everything else aside—what could possibly be more important than hundreds of thousands?” The shop owner sighed helplessly; this guy was always so unserious!

On the other end, Chen Yan spoke softly: “I’m making a spirit tablet for my real father.”

The shop owner: “...”

After a stunned pause, she said slowly, “Alright... then, you... you go ahead and take care of it.”

Chen Yan hung up the phone.

·

Chen Yan, after hanging up, rolled his eyes in exasperation.

I know you, Zi Lao, are generous with your money!

I know you, Zi Lao, are full of sincerity!

Fine already!

That afternoon, Manager Fang had called to say that Chu Keqing had come to apologize and compensate him with a large sum of money.

And now tonight, the shop owner pulls this stunt.

Come on!

You’re so generous, so willing to spend money...

Why don’t you just give it to me directly!!

I told you not to come bother me—but if you’re coming to hand me cash, I’d throw open the doors and welcome you with open arms!!

“Could it be that I’m acting too much like a senior master, putting on too much of an air?”

·

[Give me some votes]

·