Boss Niu left, but Xu Bin didn't feel relieved by his generous promises. Originally, he had planned to rely mainly on himself, with Boss Niu acting only as an intermediary. Now that Boss Niu had taken the reins, Xu Bin actually felt a heavier mental burden.
In today's society, you can owe many things—and most can be repaid—but personal favors are the one debt you should never incur lightly. When it comes time to repay them, you don't get to choose the terms. And the cost is often far greater than expected.
Zhong Yu had been quietly watching. Seeing Xu Bin still so weighed down, she thought Boss Niu hadn't been able to help. She walked over to comfort him, "It's okay. I'll call my dad. There's no problem that can't be solved with the right negotiation."
Xu Bin looked at the partition in the middle of the shop and said, "I think the layout of the store is actually really good. It's just that partition—it messes with the space."
Only then did Zhong Yu realize that Xu Bin had long since made up his mind. She raised her leg and kicked him lightly. "Go to hell." Though her words were harsh, her actions were completely different. Taking advantage of the workers still being present, she paid them a little extra to remove the central partition and glass wall. Instantly, the space became much more open.
Zhong Yu was an old hand here. From the original renovation of the shop to the installation of that partition, it had all been managed by her. She called in a team she had worked with before and rearranged everything—shrinking her own workspace to make room for the cellphone display and home appliance section. Small silver jewelry items were now hung on the wall behind the mobile display. A separate counter was dedicated to more expensive accessories. Her nail station was moved to the front entrance.
They put up some wallpaper, made a few simple decorative touches, and didn't bother with much else. The whole project was completed by midday. For the heavy lifting, they didn't hire anyone either—Old Kong, the tricycle delivery man, was finally put to good use. He had owed Xu Bin a favor for some time, and now he had the chance to repay it.
Xu Bin's injuries had mostly healed, and the wallpaper smell wasn't a concern for the shop. With half the wallpaper installed, the two began moving things back in.
Once the entire layout was set, Xu Bin couldn't stop smiling. Like crossing snow mountains during the Long March, he felt like he was halfway to success.
Walking in, the right-hand side near the entrance was the manicure zone—still warm and colorful, filled with girlish charm. Inside, two display cases held phones and accessories. Near what used to be Zhong Yu's room, computer desks were arranged horizontally facing the store's entrance. From right to left: a silver jewelry display, Zhong Yu's desk, then Xu Bin's desk and repair station.
The central and left areas became the appliance display section. To keep the place neat and clean, Zhong Yu assigned all the repair work to Xu Bin's room—just the way he liked it. It avoided mess and unnecessary explanations. Anything dirty or chaotic was not allowed to appear in the shop.
In essence, the whole setup transformed the previous partitioned space into a small showroom. The mobile counter, once pressed up against the partition, now stood on Zhong Yu's side. The previously closed-off area in front of the bathroom became a shared cash register with their desks side-by-side. Xu Bin's repair station was set off with a separate table and a tea-colored glass divider to hide the mess of tools from outside view.
Without that middle partition, the whole place felt more spacious and open. And for Zhong Yu's existing clients, it didn't really affect them. With Xu Bin's strength, moving things from the entrance to the back room was no issue—meaning no dust buildup from resting items halfway through.
So… was this it? A comfortable life at last?
Xu Bin was thrilled. Because he lacked a sense of security at his core, learning he wasn't his parents' biological child had driven him to seek independence early—leaving home to try his luck in the big city. Having someone willing to accept and embrace him meant the world. Though Zhong Yu wasn't your "traditional good girl"—she couldn't cook, and her housework was limited to basic cleaning (with laundry done entirely by machine)—Xu Bin knew exactly who he was. Having a girl like her willing to be in a relationship with him? There was no reason not to treasure her deeply.
"Let's change the shop sign later. Get a bigger one."
Xu Bin's heart was warm. He also felt a strong sense of responsibility and pride. Zhong Yu had recognized his ability to survive in society and was even willing to rely on him to a certain degree—sacrificing her nail salon and jewelry store signage to help elevate Shuangquan Appliance Store. Even the layout mostly favored his side, cutting into her space.
"Mm."
A beautiful woman's kindness is hard to bear—but he was more than happy to bear it.
Neighbors nearby noticed the renovations and missing partition. They came over to offer congratulations. Some young men even teased them playfully. But Zhong Yu wasn't the type to be verbally bullied—she handled it all with ease. I'm with this guy now. You jealous? You envious? Too bad.
Xu Bin could only keep grinning like a fool. All he asked was that if he was ever out, the neighbors keep an eye on Zhong Yu. He handed out a whole carton of Chunghwa cigarettes to everyone, not realizing that Zhong Yu had been managing the shop alone all this time just fine. She didn't need him to do any of this. But still, the feeling was something she enjoyed. Even if unnecessary, gestures made out of care and love always brought happiness.
The day passed quickly in a flurry of activity. No one else knew what had happened the night before. Zhong Yu, still a little worried, kept looking at Xu Bin—concerned for his safety at the dinner that night. She offered multiple times to go with him, but he firmly refused. A little old-fashioned masculinity didn't harm their relationship—in fact, it gave her a feeling of being protected.
Boss Niu was very thoughtful. That evening, he had his driver personally pick up Xu Bin. The dinner wasn't at some fancy spot, just an old hotpot restaurant. Though not yet dinner rush, the first floor was already 80% full. Upstairs, most private rooms were occupied, with servers standing at the ready.
The driver led Xu Bin straight to a room with a window. Inside were three people: two sitting and one standing. Boss Niu sat with a man in his thirties—round head, short hair, small eyes—ordinary-looking. The standing man was clearly his henchman, pouring tea and fetching things. Ironically, he looked more like a gangster: fierce face, tattoo peeking from his sleeve, cigarette burns on his skin, and a scar across his forehead. He stood silently behind the short-eyed man, gaze fixed forward.
"Xu, come—this is Zhang Yi," Boss Niu gestured toward the small-eyed man.
Xu Bin quickly stepped forward, bowed slightly, and called out, "Brother Yi." He wasn't sure about the etiquette—should he offer a handshake?
Brother Yi barely lifted his eyes. "Sit."
Xu Bin sat, then decided to stick to his original plan. He took out a pack of cigarettes, offering them to Boss Niu and Brother Yi. Both accepted. As he reached to light his own, the driver and the fierce-looking man instinctively moved—lighting the others' cigarettes first. Xu Bin had to light his own.
"Pour him some tea," Brother Yi said, which finally made Xu Bin relax. Whatever debts he now owed, at least he didn't have to leave the city or fight real underworld types.
"No need, I can do it—" he tried to stop them, but the henchman was already pouring. Glancing at Xu Bin, he muttered, "Tough hands, huh? Each of those guys took a few stabs."
Xu Bin paused, said nothing, just smiled sheepishly. You'd never guess this was the same man who fought off five attackers last night.
Still, Xu Bin took out two bank cards, each with 10,000 yuan, and respectfully pushed them toward Brother Yi.
"Brother Yi, I'm just trying to make a living. I don't know the rules. I'm grateful Boss Niu gave me this chance to meet you. Please be generous and let this go. This is all the money I have—just some medical compensation for the brothers."
He finished speaking. Boss Niu chuckled warmly, and Brother Yi glanced sideways. The henchman took the cards, looked at them, then placed them back in front of Xu Bin.
"I'm aware of the situation. Even if I didn't care about you, I care about Brother Niu. Forget it—I don't need your small change. You're a bit of a hidden dragon, huh? What do you think, Brother Niu?"
Boss Niu nodded with a smile. "I saw those guys—really took a beating. Xu is trying to make a life, and he's a real man. Protecting a woman? You need to be willing to fight for it. Otherwise, how could a girl like that fall for you?"
Brother Yi smiled slightly but never looked directly at Xu Bin. He tilted his head. "This is Dongzi. If anything comes up, call him."
Dongzi, the fierce henchman, handed Xu Bin a blank card with a phone number and the name Liu Dong scribbled on it.
Xu Bin accepted it respectfully. The driver opened the door and gestured for him to leave.
Xu Bin stood up and bowed slightly. "Thank you, Boss Niu. Thank you, Brother Yi."
"Mm." Boss Niu smiled and nodded.
Brother Yi merely nodded back. If Boss Niu hadn't stepped in, and his guys had been beaten like that, he would've either taken Xu Bin down or recruited him as a fighter. In the world of real power, a loyal brother's value always comes second to someone with potential.
"Brother Niu, this kid…"
"Heh, a smiling tiger. Let's keep him on the line. I want to see what he's really capable of. If he turns out useful—he's family. If not…"
Boss Niu didn't finish the sentence. But Brother Yi understood well: If you want to settle the score later, fine—wait until I'm done using him.