Chapter 16: You Know Nothing of Power

After Ni Feihong left the house, she had no intention of driving, since she lived just a short walk away in the detached villa district behind the row houses. The timing was perfect for a stroll.

Her phone rang from time to time; glancing at the screen, she saw it was her "boyfriend" calling.

Ni Feihong answered, saying, "Young Master Zhan, what are you calling me for at this hour? Even though we're engaged, I'm not going to let you sleep with me before we get the marriage certificate."

"Why are you always so neurotic? I never said that. You don't need to keep repeating yourself," he replied, sounding exasperated.

"Fine, then what do you want?" Ni Feihong asked.

"There's actually a real problem," came his voice over the phone. "I heard you publicly humiliated Feng Chenchen today. Ye Gongmin got involved, and specifically called me about it."

Ni Feihong raised an eyebrow. "So what? Stop interfering with my business. Don't try to micromanage me. Feng Chenchen really had reasons to leave, it wasn't a random whim on my part. Some people always look for problems in others when things go wrong. She was eliminated not because I was harsh, but because she was out of place."

He replied, still sounding troubled, "I get it, I get it. Don't keep venting at me, it makes me feel like an idiot. But I have administrative pressure too, always taking the blame for you. Even as CEO, there are times I can't handle it. This time, it's not just Ye Gongmin—there are even more complicated people involved. Listen to me, Honghong. Usually I let you do as you please, but this time, it's serious. Don't be stubborn. Feng Chenchen might have her faults, but she’s still frontline, and doesn't threaten your core interests. Don’t make it look like you can’t tolerate anyone. Write an apology and call her back—that way everyone saves face. Honestly, even if you call her, she might not return; she just wants an explanation."

Ni Feihong couldn't help but feel exasperated, imagining three llamas trotting across her mind.

She shook her head and said, "Impossible. I am never wrong. So it must be her mistake. Why should I apologize if she’s the one at fault? Some rules cannot be broken, or else, mark my words, 'Most Glamorous' will fall from grace within three years."

"You just love making enemies and contradicting me," he said, clearly displeased.

"Didn't 'Most Glamorous' almost get taken down before it made it to the top? I bought a watch last year," Ni Feihong said, hanging up abruptly.

In his mansion, Young Master Zhan said, "Hey, Honghong, what are you talking about? Wasn’t your watch a birthday gift from me the year before last? Why are you saying last year? Are you hiding gifts from me and confusing your lovers? Explain yourself..."

He ranted on before realizing the call had already ended, leaving him furious. He threw his phone to the floor and stomped on it twice, but the thick carpet in his bedroom saved the phone from destruction.

By the window in Zhan Yunfei’s bedroom, a woman of exceptional charm and beauty sat sipping a glass of red wine—it was Feng Chenchen.

"Young Master Zhan, it seems you’re losing control over her. Is anyone listening to you anymore?" Feng Chenchen took a sip of wine, smiling.

Zhan Yunfei knew perfectly well the line between wife and mistress; he wouldn’t be so easily provoked. But after taking two Viagra pills, he thought better than to offend her now—if she left, he'd be miserable.

So Zhan Yunfei smiled. "She’s a bit wild, always thinks she’s number one, that everything goes her way. Actually, without me to shield her, she’d have been pushed out long ago for offending so many people. She takes herself too seriously. There's a saying: a woman's virtue is her lack of talent. Sometimes, temperament is shaped by indulgence. She thinks 'Most Glamorous' is so important, but she doesn't understand administration. Even if it were canceled, it would only be a failed project for the company, barely affecting me."

He spoke without much intention, but Feng Chenchen was taken aback. "Isn't that too much? If 'Most Glamorous' fails, the company’s losses won’t be trivial."

Zhan Yunfei didn’t continue, thinking to himself, you're just a tool, as clueless about power as she is. If it weren’t for 'Most Glamorous' being a decent platform for laundering money, and Ni Feihong’s positive image helping protect the company, and her golden façade keeping everything untouched, she’d have been kicked out long ago.

Of course, these were extreme thoughts. Zhan Yunfei wasn’t muddled; aside from being a bit quirky, Ni Feihong was indeed a breath of fresh air in this city of desire—a woman worth waiting for.

"Young Master Zhan, you seem especially pensive tonight. Distracted?" Feng Chenchen crossed her legs with even more elegance and took another sip.

Zhan Yunfei said pointedly, "You know nothing about power. I'm telling you, this time you've gone too far. There's a balance to things—if you stir up trouble too much, you’ll annoy those in power, and that's bad news."

Feng Chenchen thought, the only reason she could stir up trouble among men was her matching allure. As long as she still had that, no one would be bothered. But that allure would fade with time; not making enough profit while she still had it would be foolish. In a few years, taking a hundred million to the countryside and finding an honest man—that would be real bragging rights. Only a fool would think people in this circle could live happily ever after together. Three or four partners? They’d probably want even more.

Having finished her daydream, Feng Chenchen’s phone buzzed—it was a photo. She stood up and showed it to Zhan Yunfei. "Young Master Zhan, you know nothing about Ni Feihong. Look at the time stamp, look at the address. It's late, yet Feihong’s Lamborghini is parked outside someone’s door, despite her early bedtime habits."

Zhan Yunfei’s expression changed. "You were tailing her?"

Feng Chenchen hurriedly shook her head. "Don’t misunderstand. I was humiliated by a few rookies, so I had someone follow them to find out who they were. While keeping an eye on them, I just happened to spot where Ni Feihong’s Lamborghini was parked."

Zhan Yunfei said nothing, taking the phone to look at the image.

After a moment, his face was dark. "The man living there—is he the loser Feihong wants on the cover?"

"Seems so," Feng Chenchen smiled, twirling his tie playfully.

A moment later, she was pinned to the floor—Zhan Yunfei’s pills had taken effect. Despite the annoying business, he found pleasure in bedding Ye Gongmin’s girlfriend...

After Ni Feihong left, Pony came downstairs to make his presence known to Chen Xiao and Tao Zi.

He still felt somewhat schizophrenic—the Demon King's body wanted nothing to do with these two losers, but Pony himself saw it as a chance to show off. After all, Feihong had come to visit him personally. Even if Pony wasn’t entering the industry, it was enough to awe these two vixens.

Tao Zi was awkward—under normal circumstances, she’d chat with Pony, but now she was too embarrassed, unwilling to look at his smug, eccentric manner.

Chen Xiao, less concerned, walked over and bumped Pony with her hip, laughing, "Kid, you’ve really made it. Saved yourself years of struggle. The cover might not mean much money, but if you’ve got talent and work hard, the road ahead is wide open. So many people chase this opportunity and never get it."

"You know nothing about power," Pony said, growing smug. He searched his pockets for cigarettes, came up empty, and had to ask Chen Xiao for a Chinese cigarette. He lit it, thinking, only the poor smoke these now.

Seeing his cocky demeanor, Chen Xiao punched him. "Get lost! Hope your cover flops and every industry blacklists you. And after bumming my smoke, you look at me like that?"

Pony grinned. "All beneath the Demon King are ants. The Demon King doesn’t bother with ants. If I ever offend you, it’s by accident, not intent."

Chen Xiao doubled over, laughing on the sofa. "Damn, I just love how seriously you spout nonsense."

Tao Zi didn’t like their swagger, got up annoyed, and said before heading upstairs, "Ma Weimin, since you paid the rent this month, fine. But after this month, move out. I’ve considered it—you have no ID, I don’t even know who you are. Not safe."

She didn’t wait for a response, just went upstairs to her room.

Chen Xiao muttered quietly, "Is that necessary..."

After a moment's hesitation, she smiled, "Brother Pony, since you’ve got the guts to pose for a cover, that proves you’re not a wanted man. So I’m feeling brave enough to make you an offer. You pay, I provide the ID, we’ll rent a smaller apartment together. You invite me to live with you, let me be your eye candy. And if I make it big, I’ll pay you back. Besides eye candy, I’ll be ear candy too—invite me to live with you, and I’ll say sweet things every day. Of course, if you ever get handsy, I’ll smash your head with a hammer."

Pony said, "If I get handsy, you can just call the police. Is there any need to solve it violently with a hammer? Are you possessed by Ma Jiajue?"

Chen Xiao liked this innocent type—handsome, generous, easy to fool, with a great temperament.

And so the night deepened.