Home-Cooked Bliss and Deeper Transformations
He Peiling was clearly giving a backhanded compliment, but no one paid her words any mind at that moment. After all, Chu Fei was her son—which mother doesn't sing her boy's praises?
"Wow! Boss lady, I'm so envious of you, turning this young overnight..." Zhang Lin whipped around to glance at Chu Fei. "Fei-zai, once my project's done, will I end up like your mom?"
"Of course not!"
Chu Fei shook his head decisively, leaving both He Peiling and Zhang Lin momentarily stunned.
"I just gave Mom a casual rubdown last night... but you're on the full formal treatment track. How could they be the same?"
"You mean..." Zhang Lin's mouth fell open in shock. "So I'll..."
"Damn right!" Chu Fei lobbed her own words right back at her. "Alright, Sister Zhang, go hop on the scale—let's see how much you dropped today."
"63.5! Wow, down another four kilos!"
Zhang Lin's face lit up with delight. "Eight more sessions at two kilos a pop—that's sixteen kilos total, down to 47? Fei-zai, I'm seriously falling for you!"
"Little Zhang, congrats all around!"
"Boss lady, you don't mind if I steal your son for a meal out, right? Hmm, per your rules, does that count as clocking out? No sweat—I'll foot the bill!"
"Aiya, Little Zhang, what're you on about... Just take him straight out. Charge you for a bite to eat? You rascal, hurry back and change! You seriously planning to head out in that?"
"No worries, no worries..." Zhang Lin sized up the cheap getup Chu Fei had thrown on earlier and let out a light chuckle. "I'm not dragging him to some swanky spot outside—just home for a simple home-cooked meal."
Zhang Lin's place really was close—just a quick turn around the corner and a short elevator ride up. Her home screamed luxury renovation at first glance: top-dollar work, no doubt from a master designer, decked out in a cozy, inviting style. She even kept a live-in maid just to handle the upkeep. So when Zhang Lin led Chu Fei inside, the twenty-seven- or twenty-eight-year-old woman couldn't stop staring at him with open curiosity.
True to her word, it was straightforward home cooking—the lunch was the maid's handiwork, but damn if she didn't have real talent in the kitchen...
Chu Fei also met Zhang Lin's little boy, not even four yet, but with a mouth sweet as honey, calling "big brother" nonstop. He especially loved it when Chu Fei hoisted him up and zoomed him around like an airplane—probably the first time anyone's played with him that way.
Seeing Chu Fei bond so easily with her son put a big smile on Zhang Lin's face. She kept piling his plate high throughout the meal.
After lunch, Chu Fei and Zhang Lin headed back to the shop to pick up her treatment where they'd left off. At her insistence, though, he took it slower this time—starting with targeted spot reduction, drawing out the flab from her little pooch belly. Then came a detox and anti-aging session...
The process was straightforward enough. The human body comes equipped with its own waste disposal system; most toxins flush out through the skin's sweat glands. That's why folks who work out and sweat regularly stay so healthy.
But women's skin tends to be smoother, with tinier pores. Add in their aversion to exercise and all those tightening creams they slather on, and those toxins just build up underneath, refusing to budge.
Chu Fei's job now? Suck every last bit of it right out.
Next up: fat-burning and scar fading. Zhang Lin's skin was fair and flawless aside from a tiny mole on her arm and that stubborn scar low on her belly. Piece of cake for Chu Fei—he didn't need to wipe it all out in one go anyway.
Finally, facial deep clean and whitening. Same drill: he vacuumed up the grime and cosmetic gunk lurking beneath her skin, then zapped those few pesky pimples.
By the time they stepped out together, a handful of women getting their hair done had shown up. They were buzzing with excitement, tugging at He Peiling for details. Word of the new services—and Zhang Lin's live-before-and-after—had them hooked. But one peek at the price sheet, and the hesitation set in.
So no, not everyone got the Zhang Lin special.
Chu Fei paid them no mind, claiming a random seat to close his eyes and unwind. Then suddenly, a pair of small hands landed on his shoulders. The pressure told him right away: not his cousin He Shishi's touch, nor Lin Juan's.
He cracked one eye open. Sure enough, it was another of the shop girls. If memory served, she was the Hunan native—plain looks, but bold and outgoing, the fun-loving type who drew plenty of clients. Du Wenli, that was her name.
The moment he looked up, she flashed a wide grin. "Young Master Fei, you look beat. Let me give you a rubdown."
"Mm."
Chu Fei gave a casual nod. It wasn't surprising, really. He'd already proven himself leagues above the rest, and these girls cozying up made sense—he was the boss now. Plus, once his projects really kicked off, the profits would dwarf their tip-grubbing grind by miles...