The Heiress's Driver Rules the Underworld

Chapter 6 — Three Hundred Thousand for One Night

The check was real.

Xue Hongfei did not look like a woman making a joke.

She stood among tools and disassembled parts without a drop of oil touching her wine-red dress. It was not because she watched every step. People moved things out of her way without realizing they were doing it.

Shen Kaiyue picked up the check.

“Who am I protecting?”

“Me and my club.”

“For how long?”

“Eight tonight until midnight.”

“Midnight won’t work.”

Xue Hongfei lifted one eyebrow. “Too long?”

“I leave at eleven thirty.”

“Another appointment?”

“Yes.”

“Busy man.”

“I just entered the business. Things are going well.”

She laughed.

Her smile was nothing like Luan Zhaowan’s. Zhaowan kept every emotion under control. Xue Hongfei seemed to show hers on purpose, but never more than half.

“South Embankment Salvage Yard?” she asked.

“News travels that quickly?”

“Half the South District was parked on one road last night. It would be harder not to hear.”

She handed him a contract.

“My club is called Twilight Harbor. It’s on the riverfront. Hong Wu wants forty percent of the business. I refused. Tonight he is bringing people to take it.”

“Did you call the police?”

“I did. No one has attacked us yet. As far as the police can see, we are still discussing business. By the time violence starts, all my customers will be gone.”

“What happened to your own security?”

“I had twelve guards. Eight left yesterday. The remaining four can escort customers out, but they can’t stop Hong Wu’s people.”

“Why did the others leave?”

“Hong Wu offered more.”

She made no effort to present herself as helpless.

Shen opened the contract.

The f*e was RMB 300,000, half paid in advance. His duties were to maintain safety, evacuate customers, and stop violence. The agreement did not cover initiating an attack or chasing anyone outside to retaliate.

It was unusually professional.

“Who drafted this?”

“My lawyer.”

“Good terms.”

“When you don’t have enough people, you learn to spend money precisely.”

Shen placed the contract on the workbench. “I don’t have a security company.”

“That’s why I’m hiring you personally.”

“Who carries the liability if something happens?”

“Each party is responsible for its own actions. Every camera stays on, and my lawyer remains on site. You only need to make sure Hong Wu cannot force me to sign a transfer and cannot destroy the club.”

“What if he leaves voluntarily?”

“I add another hundred thousand.”

Luan Xiaoman leaned in. “Sister Hongfei, why didn’t you come to me first?”

“Can you fight?”

“I have cars.”

“My club doesn’t lack cars. It lacks someone who can make people sit down and talk.”

Xue Hongfei returned her attention to Shen.

“Mr. Shen. Are you taking the job?”

“Yes.”

“Wait.”

Luan Zhaowan held out a hand.

Shen passed her the contract.

Xue Hongfei watched them with a deeper smile. “The private driver of Ms. Luan needs approval for outside work too?”

“His working hours belong to me.” Luan Zhaowan glanced over the agreement. “It is 3:17 p.m. He has not clocked out.”

“Then may I borrow him for the night?”

“He isn’t available for loan.”

Xue Hongfei laughed aloud.

Shen leaned against the workbench. “Ladies, I am still standing here.”

“I know.” Luan Zhaowan did not look up. “Add a clause requiring the on-site handover to be completed by eleven fifteen. He leaves Twilight Harbor at eleven thirty.”

Xue Hongfei asked, “Afraid I’ll keep him?”

“Afraid he’ll stretch the job to collect more overtime.”

“That does sound like him.”

The two women had just met, yet they spoke as though they had been discussing him for years.

Shen took the contract back. “I charge three hundred thousand for protection. Commentary costs extra.”

He signed his name.

The RMB 150,000 advance arrived a moment later.

Zheng Kailu studied the bank notification more seriously than Shen did.

“It really arrived?”

“Yes.”

“You don’t even have a company.”

“Still want to join?”

Zheng slung the rag over his shoulder. “Fifteen thousand, social insurance, and pay on time. We agreed yesterday.”

“Tonight is a trial shift.”

“Paid?”

“Five hundred.”

“One thousand.”

“Eight hundred and a meal.”

“Deal.”

Luan Xiaoman rolled her eyes. “You recruit people like you’re buying vegetables.”

“Clear accounts save time,” Shen said.

At 7:40 p.m., the black executive van stopped behind Twilight Harbor.

The club stood beside the river. Its exterior was dark gray brick, with no huge neon sign—only a red lamp beside the entrance. Inside, the staff were completing the final evacuation. Servers sealed customers’ bottles for later, while four guards watched the corridor leading to the rear exit.

Xue Hongfei had changed into a black suit and tied back her hair.

She spread a floor plan across the bar.

“Front entrance, rear entrance, fire exit. Every customer will be gone by eight thirty. Hong Wu usually enters through the front. He doesn’t sneak.”

“Very principled,” Zheng said.

“He likes people to see how principled he is.”

Shen studied the plan. “Any blind spots in the cameras?”

“One, on the west stairwell landing upstairs.”

“Place a phone there and record.”

“Already done.”

“Put away all glassware. Move the tables and chairs to the walls. Employees escort customers out and do not stay to watch.”

Xue Hongfei asked, “Where will you be?”

“Main hall.”

“Alone?”

“He’ll be there too.” Shen pointed at Zheng.

Zheng immediately said, “I’m mainly the driver tonight.”

“It’s eight. There’s no driving to do.”

“Then what am I responsible for?”

“Closing the door.”

Zheng opened his mouth, then gave up. “That eight hundred won’t be easy money.”

Shen did not return to the main hall immediately. He walked all three evacuation routes with Zheng.

Six unopened cases of liquor blocked the fire door; he had them moved. A delivery van obstructed half the rear alley; he made the driver leave its key. The lock on the rooftop door was broken; he had it wired so that it could open only from inside.

Four remaining guards were changing in the staff room. The oldest wore an old wrist brace. None of them looked relaxed.

Shen asked, “Who pays if someone is injured tonight?”

All four looked at Xue Hongfei.

“I do,” she said.

“RMB 2,000 hazard pay each after the evacuation. If fighting starts, protect the staff as they leave. Don’t come back to help me.”

Xue Hongfei folded her arms. “That isn’t in the contract.”

“Add it.”

“You’re using my money to buy loyalty?”

“Before anyone takes money for a dangerous job, we decide who should face the danger.” Shen looked at the guards. “Servers shouldn’t block batons for their employer. Neither should these men do it for an ordinary wage.”

No one spoke.

Xue Hongfei studied him for several seconds. Then she took out her phone and had her lawyer add the clause, including the exact amount and payment time.

“I’ll pay,” she said. “The goodwill belongs to you.”

Shen nodded. “Fine. I’ll collect it through the long-term contract later.”

The guards’ shoulders loosened.

Zheng followed behind them, muttering, “Should my eight hundred increase too?”

“You’re closing a door. It isn’t hazardous duty.”

“There will be more than twenty men inside that door.”

“Which is why you hide after locking it.”

“You don’t sound like a lucky employer.”

“You haven’t formally joined. There’s still time to run.”

Zheng checked the trial-pay notification on his phone and put it away. “I already took the money. Running now would be unprofessional.”

At 9:40, the last table of customers left through the rear.

At 9:57, the front doors opened from outside.

More than twenty men entered.

The leader had an old scar across his neck. His hands were empty except for a share-transfer agreement. The men behind him kept theirs hidden inside their jackets.

Xue Hongfei sat at the center of the main hall and poured herself half a glass of wine.

“Where is Hong Wu?”

The scarred man threw the agreement onto the table.

“Fifth Master doesn’t meet people who refuse to understand their position. Boss Xue, sign.”

“And if I don’t?”

He checked his watch.

“You have five minutes. After that, I decide what breaks first.”

Shen, who had been leaning against the bar, lifted his head.

“We won’t need five minutes.”

The scarred man looked at him. “Who are you?”

Shen opened the timer on his phone and pressed Start.

“I mean it won’t take me five minutes to finish all of you.”