The Secret of the Yoga Club: The Women's Identity is Not Simple

For three days after leaving Bai Jinhai, Lin Feng's life entered a rare period of regularity.

He Qianwen was still dealing with company matters, Yang Ru had gone on a business trip to another city, and Xiao Wei had no classes scheduled.

I took advantage of this free time, searched around on my phone, and signed up for a crash course in Sanda (Chinese kickboxing).

The purplish-blue bruise on my left arm from being cornered by four people in the alley last time hasn't completely faded yet.

If it weren't for the core strength and brute force developed through yoga, the outcome might have been different.

The Sanda gym was located on the second floor of a factory in the old city. The coach was a retired provincial team athlete. In the first lesson, he had Lin Feng practice whip kicks with sandbags tied to his body. Lin Feng didn't know if it was because of his good physical condition or his youth, but he quickly mastered the technique, which laid a solid foundation for his future.

Every morning, I still go for a run with Su Mengya in the small park. She's been watching a palace drama lately, and while we're eating fried dough sticks after our run, she tells him about the plot on her phone.

After running, she would habitually stretch her legs out and place them on his knees so he could massage her calves. Her fair and tender calves would be in his palms beneath her athletic shorts.

Sometimes when I hold her down, she will suddenly pull her legs back; other times she won't, and she will close her eyes.

In the evenings, I chatted with Shen Qianqian and Zhou Mei.

Shen Qianqian was very bored at her maternal grandfather's house, so she sent him photos every day. Today, she was wearing floral pajama bottoms and lying on a bamboo mat, her fair legs dangling over the edge of the bed.

Tomorrow I'll wear a tank top and stand in front of an old electric fan, the skin below my collarbone glistening with sweat.

Hongjie called on the evening of the third day. It was still Biao Ge's voice, but Hongjie had asked him to make the call. She said the matter was settled and asked him to come over.

The revolving doors of Platinum Sea reflected golden light in the evening sunset, and the parking lot in front was still full of luxury cars.

After the major inspection, business here not only wasn't affected, but actually got better. It's probably because several nearby KTVs were found to have problems and closed down, so all the customers flocked here.

Brother Biao was waiting for him on the steps, and this time he led him directly to the fourth floor.

The private room is the same one as last time.

Several delicate cold dishes were laid out on the round table, but not as lavishly as last time. Sister Hong sat behind the table, still dressed the same as before: a black long-sleeved shirt buttoned to the top, black straight-leg trousers, and her black hair flowing down her shoulders.

His pale skin appeared even whiter under the warm yellow light of the private room, and a kraft paper envelope sat in front of him.

"Sit down." She gestured to the seat next to her.

Lin Feng sat down.

Hongjie pushed the kraft paper envelope over. He opened it, and inside were about ten photos, all of them showing Fu Yongwei and a girl who looked to be under eighteen years old in some kind of indecent scene.

The photos also include Wang Qingchen with different women, some of which show obvious coercive actions.

"The photos were anonymously sent to several local newspapers this morning. A copy was also submitted to the online edition." Sister Hong picked up her wine glass, swirling it between her fingers, the surface of the wine gently rippling. "They'd love to have this kind of material. There will be a report by tomorrow afternoon at the latest. Even if the Discipline Inspection Commission doesn't investigate then, public opinion will force them to."

Lin Feng put the photo back into the envelope. "Thank you, Sister Hong."

"No need. This was a transaction to begin with." She put down her wine glass. "Speaking of which, I should thank you. During this major inspection in Xicheng District, more than a dozen mahjong parlors were shut down, but mine remained unscathed. Those individual players are now leaderless, and I plan to take advantage of the situation and seize their territory. I still owe you more in this matter."

He picked up a piece of cold jellyfish salad and put it on Raymond Lam's plate. Then he clapped his hands.

A hidden door on the side of the private room opened silently. Two women stepped out.

They had the same face, the same oval face and almond eyes, and the same light blue cheongsam with a high slit that revealed their fair and slender legs.

One stood to Lin Feng's left, and the other stood to Lin Feng's right.

Then Sister Hong bent down and pulled out a silver metal money box from under the table, placed it on the table, and opened it with a snap.

Inside, stacks of red banknotes were neatly stacked, gleaming under the private room lights. "Here's five hundred thousand. The twins behind them are still virgins."

Lin Feng looked at the cash box. To be honest, this was the first time in his life he had ever seen so much cash.

Five hundred thousand.

His father carries cement on construction sites, earning 4,500 yuan a month. He would have to work for ten years without eating or drinking.

He reached out and touched the banknotes in the cash box.

The bills were crisp and new, making a soft rustling sound as I ran my fingers over them. "To be honest, this is the first time I've ever seen so much money." He withdrew his hand from the money box. "But I can't accept it. You helped me, and I helped you. We're even. I can't accept this."

Hongjie's finger stopped at the rim of the wine glass.

Her gaze lingered on that young face for a few seconds. She had seen too many people change their tune in front of money—saying they wouldn't accept it, but their eyes were glued to the cash box.

But this boy wasn't.

He gestured with his hand. The twin sisters silently retreated into the hidden door, which closed behind them. He tapped lightly twice on the lid of the money box, then shut it. The sound of the metal clasp clicking shut was crisp in the quiet private room.

"I don't like beating around the bush." ​​Sister Hong put her wine glass aside, leaned forward slightly, and placed her hands folded on the table. "I value your abilities. Your help to me isn't just a favor. You can speak with Ye Qinghan. I have a need for that kind of relationship."

Lin Feng picked up the teacup on the table and took a sip. The taste was refreshing and elegant!

"Besides this Baijinhai business, I also own seven or eight card and mahjong parlors and an arcade. In our line of work, to make money, you have to find loopholes in the law. Without connections, you'll be swallowed up sooner or later. Right now, the only person I can rely on is the deputy director in charge of the Xicheng branch, who's not even in the same league as the executive deputy director of the Municipal Public Security Bureau. And he's about to retire early and doesn't want to get involved in my affairs anymore." She paused, "These businesses were left to me by my father. I have to protect this family business."

Lin Feng put down his teacup. "So that's why you wanted to get in touch with Ye Qinghan through me."

"That's right. As long as you can help me make the connection, you can name your terms."

Lin Feng traced the rim of the teacup with his fingers. He looked at Sister Hong, her face pale, her expression cold, and her clothes wrapped tightly in black.

Suddenly, she asked, her tone slightly probing, "Any conditions are acceptable?"

Hong Jie's eyebrows twitched slightly, and then she nodded.

What if I said I wanted you?

The private room was silent for about three or four seconds.

Hongjie's icy expression finally softened slightly. It wasn't anger, but more like surprise.

He picked up the wine glass and put it down again, tracing his name lightly along the rim with his finger. "If you don't find me boring, that's perfectly fine."

Lin Feng looked at her.

He answered without the slightest hesitation. He had only intended to test her limits, but it turned out there were almost none. "I'll think about it. But before I do, you have to tell me one thing—why are you so desperate for a backer?"

Sister Hong leaned back in her chair.

She paused for a moment, then spoke again, her voice a little lower than before. "As I said before, those businesses were left to me by my father. He built them all from scratch, in just over ten years, from a small mahjong parlor to the largest chain of card and chess rooms in Xicheng, and this Baijinhai. Later, he was reported because he had no connections, and he spent five years in jail. After he came out, his health collapsed, and he passed away last year. When he handed all this over to me, it was only with the help of a group of uncles that we barely managed to keep it afloat." She picked up her glass of red wine and downed it in one gulp. "Since you've chosen this path, you have to find a stronger backer. Otherwise, it won't be long before you're either swallowed up by your competitors or follow in his footsteps."

She put down her wine glass. A self-deprecating smile played on her lips. "Alright, I've said what I needed to say. You can go back and think about it."

Lin Feng stood up. As he walked to the door, he turned his head. "Sister Hong, I'll give you an answer once I've thought it through."

Brother Biao escorted him down the elevator and through the magnificent lobby. Night had fallen over the river, and the wind on the river carried the distinctive fishy smell of the water.