The Master's Favor
“Afei, you haven't formally studied therapeutic massage, have you?”
“No... Everything I know, I picked up from Little Sister after coming to Shenzhen.”
“No wonder it felt a bit off before... The techniques you're using now are all those wild roadside methods—half real, half fake. At first, I thought they were some special original style you'd invented, but now it seems they're not. That's fine for us, but some clients can be really picky, so you can't keep going like this.”
“Uh...”
“Here's what we'll do. I know an amazing therapist. In a couple days, I'll take you to meet her. She can teach you some proper techniques. Once you master her methods, combined with your unique golden hands, every woman in the world will be putty in your palms!”
“So, she's your former dedicated therapist, then...”
“Pretty much. In Shenzhen, there aren't many noblewomen who don't know of her, but very few actually get to see her. Even Little Lin doesn't qualify, because she's big in the upper circles. Especially her pharmacology expertise—she brews special elixirs for wellness. I've tried them a few times; they do work a bit, but compared to you... well, they're nothing. I'm really curious—how do your hands have such magic?!”
“Heh...”
“Come to think of it, you two would make a great team—you handle the exterior, she the interior. But with her fame now, she probably wouldn't give a young pup like you the time of day... Still, that's fine. Build yourself up slowly, and who knows—there might be collaboration down the line.”
“Then why would she agree to teach me?”
“No worries. She owes me a favor.”
Xie Qin said it casually, then suddenly fixed Chu Fei with a strange look, staring at his hands. “Wait... I remember Little Lin's breasts sagged badly after giving birth, but now there's no sign of it at all. And she did a session here with you... Don't tell me you massaged them back into shape?”
“Cough cough... Yeah.”
“How did you manage that?”
“It's... kind of complicated to explain.”
“I get it!”
Xie Qin nodded firmly. “Afei, that's a good instinct. Remember—never reveal your secrets to anyone. Once it's out there, it loses value! Only when you're the sole master does it become true monopoly! That therapist never teaches her pharmacology to anyone. Little Lin and I are your shareholders now, so we have the right to demand you keep it under wraps—no matter who asks, not even us. Got it?”
“Got it...”
By the time Chu Fei finished massaging Xie Qin, Zhang Lin had finished her hair and was sitting in the lobby chatting with He Peiling. Clearly, He Peiling had no idea yet that she was about to become a shareholder in her own salon. She was sharing funny stories from Chu Fei's childhood, while He Shishi and the others had arrived too—but since He Peiling hadn't opened up, the girls were all hanging out in the private rooms, chatting among themselves.
It wasn't until a good while later that Xie Qin came down. Prepared as always, she'd brought a full change of clothes, plus shampoo and body wash. After the massage, she'd luxuriated in a hot shower upstairs before descending.
“Auntie, was Afei extra diligent with you today?” Zhang Lin shot Xie Qin a playful glance. “Or is he already slacking off now that he's about to be a boss?”
“Not at all.” Xie Qin smiled too, slipping on her sunglasses. “Alright, Little Lin, settle my bill first... Decided where we're eating?”
“Hey, Sis Xie, no need for any bill!” Chu Fei jumped up to block his mom. “You're shareholders now—can't charge for a massage!”
“Afei, that's not right!”
Zhang Lin shook her head slightly. “Even when I shop at my husband's own mall, I pay full price. You can't just comp things because you're the boss—that's terrible business sense. Understand?”
“Exactly, Afei. Remember this: the bigger the boss, the stricter you follow the rules!”
He Peiling was utterly baffled by the exchange. But once she pieced together the full story, she nearly went into shock.
Zhang Lin and the others were investing over two million into her little shop?
Fine, investments happened. But Zhang Lin putting up two million for just 10% shares?
She had zero complaints— the less they took, the more her son Chu Fei got, right?
But... why were they taking such a huge loss?
He Peiling had walked more roads than Chu Fei; naturally, she had to think deeper...