Chapter 41: Each Harboring Their Own Thoughts

Wang Wenyu immediately realized that her words had been too blunt and had wounded Hao Meng’s pride. Sensing that Hao Meng had misunderstood her, she hurried to explain, “You’re mistaken. I meant nothing else. I just don’t want you to pour your hard-earned money into this hotel, which is nothing but a bottomless pit. I came here only to be your friend.”

“Friend? Someone like me, can I be your friend? Is this connection meant to mock my profession, or to ridicule someone of your status?”

Without superb emotional intelligence, one cannot survive as a madam. Whatever Wang Wenyu’s purpose for coming here, the heart of it was always Jiang Fan. A woman’s sixth sense allowed Hao Meng to guess some of Wang Wenyu’s intentions. Even though she feared Wang Wenyu’s background, she had no intention of getting close to her.

“If you insist on using the word ‘mockery,’ the one being mocked should be me. I came here rashly, thinking of myself as an angel, hoping to do something within my ability for him. In the end, perhaps I’ve become the villain, unintentionally disrupting a bridge of fate. But please believe me, I meant no harm. If I have hurt you, I ask for your forgiveness.”

From Hao Meng’s self-deprecating words, Wang Wenyu detected a hint of jealousy, gently reminding her that she understood her meaning and indirectly expressing her own views.

Speaking always cautiously, fearful of hurting Hao Meng again, Wang Wenyu began to ask herself, “Why do I care so much about the opinions of a woman unrelated to me? Is it truly because I’m fond of that rascal, and is this behavior the result of loving someone and thus loving all that concerns him?” A great question mark formed in her heart.

Wang Wenyu continued to show warmth and sincerity, and the jealousy in Hao Meng’s heart faded somewhat. She couldn’t help but study her closely: taller than 170 centimeters, eyes clear as mountain springs, a straight nose, lips naturally full and red.

No matter the angle, her features were exquisite and flawless, her elegance and confidence radiating an aura difficult for other beautiful women to match. It was obvious she came from a distinguished family.

“I never expected that scoundrel to have such a stunning beauty in his life.” Once supremely confident in her own looks, Hao Meng now marveled privately, feeling herself pale in comparison.

Wang Wenyu’s repeated humility softened Hao Meng’s tone as well. “You misunderstood. He and I are just friends. There’s nothing of that bridge you speak of being broken.”

Seeing Hao Meng’s demeanor much calmer, Wang Wenyu continued, “He told me, without you, he might have starved on the streets. I was moved by your kindness, which is why I ventured to disturb you.”

“I’m not as great as you say. It was merely a gesture of returning a favor. He helped me once, so I helped him in return. Someone like him would never starve no matter where he goes. What’s rare is that he can remain kind at heart in the face of profit. That’s not something everyone can do, so I value him a lot as a friend.”

Speaking of Jiang Fan, Hao Meng’s praise was generous and sincere, revealing her genuine admiration.

She also recalled that last night, Chen Anlong arrived at Family Harmony past ten o’clock. Though he hadn’t booked her a room, he had made sure she went to a room and gave her a tip of fifteen hundred, the most she’d ever received from him without providing special services.

Chen Anlong had also repeatedly praised Jiang Fan, from which Hao Meng learned that Jiang Fan had honored his principles and once shielded Chen Anlong, whom he didn’t like, from trouble.

Wang Wenyu observed Hao Meng’s undisguised admiration for Jiang Fan, considering carefully how to respond without touching the sensitive nerves of her profession. Suddenly, from not far away, Vice Manager Zhang’s impatient voice rang out.

“Hao Mama, Hao Mama, look at the time! The guests who booked rooms are already here, and you’re still dawdling. Are you angling for another fine?”

Hearing Vice Manager Zhang’s reproachful tone, Hao Meng was about to go out and explain when Wang Wenyu stopped her and walked out herself. She addressed the stranger with a cold voice, “Who are you? At your age, you still call a young girl ‘Mama’ and dare to say such things. Can’t you speak politely? If you can’t even use someone’s real name, perhaps you should go home and let your children teach you how to show respect.”

Seeing the breathtaking Wang Wenyu, Vice Manager Zhang ignored her rebuke and simply stared, dumbfounded.

Noticing Vice Manager Zhang’s lecherous gaze on herself, Wang Wenyu snapped, “What are your filthy eyes looking at? If you dare stare again, you’ll regret ever setting foot here.”

She could speak gently to Hao Meng, but to lecherous men, Wang Wenyu, who hated evil with a passion, showed no courtesy.

Hao Meng, recalling Vice Manager Zhang’s past indecent behavior, watched Wang Wenyu put him in his place and felt no need to intervene. In fact, she hoped to see him humiliated.

Madams were the hotel's cash cows, and the hotel cared about their safety. Security guards were stationed in the dorms, but they never interfered with any visitors the madams received.

The security guard on duty, seeing Wang Wenyu rebuke his superior, pointed at her before Vice Manager Zhang could respond, saying, “This is our hotel dormitory. Please mind your manners when speaking here.”

Witnessing the servile attitude, Wang Wenyu retorted, “Try pointing at me again, and I’ll make sure you spend a few days eating nothing but coarse buns in a special place.”

The security guard was intimidated by Wang Wenyu, but Vice Manager Zhang, considering himself second only to the boss in the hotel, began to scheme against Wang Wenyu, smugly declaring, “Here at Family Harmony, no one can make me regret my actions. I’ll stare all I want. What, are you going to eat me?”

“You, whom even dogs would find foul, you think I’d eat you? Don’t overestimate yourself. Remember your words—soon someone will come to settle the score with you.”

With that, Wang Wenyu left the dormitory, went to the convenience store, picked up the phone, hesitated for a moment, and ultimately didn’t call Lu Fuen directly. Deep down, she looked down on Lu Fuen’s opportunism. Instead, she dialed Uncle Liang in distant Guangzhou, determined to escalate the matter.

She was making a mountain out of a molehill not because of Vice Manager Zhang’s leering, but to establish authority—not for herself but for Hao Meng. She wanted to be a pillar of support for Hao Meng, so her career would suffer less harassment, less forced compromise, and fewer things she didn’t wish to do.

In just a few days, Wang Wenyu had gained a deep understanding of the hotel’s unique services and workplace realities, driven by her desire to improve her professional skills.

All kinds of criminals were her ideal subjects for observation, as those who committed crimes often possessed high intelligence—a perfect opportunity for a psychology student to intern.

On her first day of work, Wang Wenyu accompanied a colleague to Niushan Detention Center to interrogate a suspect who had killed a madam, thus learning the tricks and service routines of the hotel, as well as the hardships and helplessness behind the glamorous façade of madams, who could at any moment face harassment, workplace coercion, or be used as someone else’s tool.

It was all to thank Hao Meng on Jiang Fan’s behalf—this was why Wang Wenyu was making such a fuss.

As Wang Wenyu left the dormitory, Vice Manager Zhang, harboring sinister intentions, followed her from a distance, looking for an opportunity to force her to submit and satisfy his desires.

Watching Wang Wenyu finish her call and get into a police car parked outside the convenience store, Vice Manager Zhang didn’t feel alarmed, since Family Harmony regularly paid tribute to many police officials, including Chief Lu Fuen.