"Hello, bosses!"
Just as Huang Yunfei and Fu Yuan were brimming with anticipation, the middle-aged man returned, this time accompanied by six or seven girls. Even Jiang Hai could tell immediately that the quality was a step above the "beer" girls. Not only were their faces attractive, but their makeup was light and natural—unlike the heavy-handed style of the previous group, which often masked their true features. These girls' confidence shone through without the need for excessive cosmetics.
Their figures were also superior, leaving Huang Yunfei and Fu Yuan visibly impressed. Fu Yuan, of course, knew about this place because of his work.
His job involved road inspections—checking roads or bridges and issuing reports. In this line of work, cultivating good relationships with superiors was essential. Otherwise, the officials could easily disqualify him. Making money wasn't just about the salary; well-behaved inspectors often received extra payments from those they inspected. That was how Fu Yuan came to know this particular establishment—it was a client's designated spot.
"Second from the left! First from the right…" Huang Yunfei and Fu Yuan's eyes scanned the girls like trained detectors, quickly selecting their favorites.
"Thank you, boss!" The two chosen girls smiled sweetly and sat beside their respective men.
Finally, only Jiang Hai's "best" remained. Even at this high price point, it was clear the girls were of exceptional caliber. Naturally, the others became curious, eager to see what "top-tier" truly meant.
As the girls arrived, the atmosphere in the room heated up. The men's hands wandered unconsciously, resting on waists and legs, elbows occasionally brushing private areas. The girls didn't flinch—they relaxed and played along, asking questions and building rapport. After all, this wasn't a roadside stall where you just ate and left. Here, interactions were part of the experience. Some girls even went to the karaoke booth, singing and dancing, energizing the room.
Then the middle-aged man returned, this time with four girls. Fu Yuan and the others couldn't help but stare, mesmerized. Twenty thousand yuan clearly bought quality.
By Jiang Hai's standards, these four would all score around 80 out of 100. They could easily be mistaken for third-rate actresses, comparable to Afra and the others at his manor, though one was Western and the rest Chinese.
Jiang Hai's gaze lingered on one of the girls, and he exchanged a glance with Xu Wei, who seemed to recognize her too. The middle-aged man approached and began the introductions.
"Boss, these aren't the main course of our newly launched 20,000 RMB Remy Martin Super Set Meal. These four are our top performers. Don't be fooled by appearances—they're highly skilled. This one graduated from the Imperial Academy of Drama, majoring in acting, with over a dozen outfits to try. This one used to be a model, with arguably the best figure in our shop and a cool, elegant demeanor. This one graduated from the Imperial Conservatory of Music; her voice will make the 20,000 RMB feel well spent. And this one graduated from the Shanghai Academy of Drama, specializing in classical dance—she'll make you feel like a king who never needs to attend court again!"
Jiang Hai's gaze rested firmly on the classical dancer.
"That's her!" he said, pointing.
"Alright, Huanhuan, thank the boss!" the middle-aged man said, smiling.
"Thank you, boss," Huanhuan said, curtsying gracefully. Her classical air was unmistakable.
"Next, we'll select the trainees. Here's what we've prepared, boss," the man said, handing Jiang Hai an iPad.
The iPad contained dozens of artistic portraits of girls in simple attire. Jiang Hai blinked, confused.
"Trainees?" he muttered. "What kind of training is this?"
"That's life," the man chuckled. "No one's born a career woman. Like in some Korean entertainment companies, we categorize our women: S-class, A-class, B-class, etc. Beer-class girls are S-class; liquor-class girls are A or B. Trainees are new girls who haven't reached S-class yet."
Jiang Hai sweated slightly at the explanation.
"How can I choose if I can't see the real person?" he muttered, then examined the photos. Still, it wasn't easy to decide.
"What kind of girl do you like? Innocent? Choose her—she just graduated. Sexy? Choose this one; she has a great figure. My type? Pick this one; she's my junior from school," Huanhuan suggested with a smile.
Jiang Hai raised an eyebrow at her recommendation but ultimately chose her junior.
"Today is truly a happy ending! A miracle—all bosses chose on the first try! I'll arrange it right away!" The man left, awkwardly shuffling downstairs.
Soon, a shy, naive girl appeared outside the door. On Huanhuan's instruction, she sat on the other side of Jiang Hai, remaining quiet. Jiang Hai noted she was indeed quite pretty.
"What's your surname, boss?" Huanhuan asked with a smile, pouring Jiang Hai a glass of wine.
"Uh… Jiang," he replied awkwardly.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang. Where are you making your fortune?" She smiled, curious.
"Uh… abroad. You don't remember me? Cao Peng?" Jiang Hai asked tentatively. The girl paused, clearly trying to place him.
"Hehe, don't worry. I was your high school classmate, not in the same class—you probably don't remember me," Jiang Hai said, smiling.
A sense of nostalgia washed over him. Cao Peng had been a prominent figure in high school, a freshman representative, and on the student council. Jiang Hai vaguely remembered her introducing herself on stage, a confident presence that had left him yawning in the audience alongside Xu Wei.
He'd heard she later went to Shanghai to study dance, performing in stage plays, though he never knew how she ended up here.
"Hehe, it seems we're classmates. A little awkward, but even as classmates, there's no discount!" Cao Peng said, laughing.