Chapter 27: The Black Dog Gang's Provocation

Now, the more Wang Yun looked at Jiang Butong, the more she liked him. Young and accomplished, meticulous in thought—truly a rare and handsome talent.

“What delicious things are you going to treat me to?” Jiang Butong leaned against the doorway, a sly smile tugging at his lips.

Wang Yun moved closer to him, reaching out to tap his chest lightly.

“Little brother, whatever you want to eat, big sister will treat you to it.”

Jiang Butong gazed at Wang Yun’s alluring face, her moist and enchanting eyes captivating him. He teased her, “What I want to eat is you.”

Wang Yun laughed with a crisp, melodious sound, her body slowly leaning in until she was almost touching him, a delicate fragrance drifting between them.

Her red lips drew near to Jiang Butong’s ear, her voice magnetic and soft, laced with irresistible charm.

“So, do you want to come home with big sister?”

Jiang Butong felt the warmth of her breath, and the mature scent she exuded made his heart burn with excitement. He reached out, pulling Wang Yun tightly by the waist so her body pressed close against his chest.

Her waist was delicate and supple, with a hint of softness; even through her clothes, he could sense how smooth her skin must be.

Wang Yun looked at Jiang Butong, a flicker of panic in her eyes. She had only meant to tease him, but never expected him to be even bolder than she was.

Their eyes locked, breaths mingling, the air between them thick with intimacy.

A blush gradually bloomed across Wang Yun’s cheeks, making her skin all the more enticing.

Jiang Butong felt her shapely figure pressed against him, her chest against his own, yet years of experience kept his impulses in check.

Wang Yun was the first to falter, gently pushing Jiang Butong away.

“Hurry up and help me lock the door.”

Jiang Butong gave her a playful smack on her shapely hip, startling her with a shiver.

Consider it interest for all her teasing, he thought.

Wang Yun’s cheeks flushed instantly, and she glared up at Jiang Butong, spitting, “Rogue!”

Jiang Butong locked the door, then hopped onto Wang Yun’s bicycle and headed for the restaurant.

Today, Wang Yun was treating him; he planned to make the most of it.

Wang Yun’s blush had just faded when she leapt onto the back seat.

Jiang Butong suddenly braked sharply, making Wang Yun wobble before she’d settled down, and she quickly wrapped her arms around his waist.

“What are you doing?” Wang Yun steadied herself and lightly slapped his back.

“Someone cut us off. If I hadn’t braked, we’d have crashed.”

“Hmph.”

Wang Yun clearly wasn’t satisfied with that explanation, since she hadn’t seen anyone at all.

They went to the same roast goose shop as last time.

Jiang Butong didn’t hold back, ordering half a roast goose, two orders of rice noodle rolls, and two cold dishes—the same as Wang Yun had ordered before.

After a day at the stall, Jiang Butong was genuinely hungry.

He wasted no time talking, eating voraciously.

Wang Yun watched him, chuckling softly. “Slow down, no one’s going to snatch your food. Be careful not to choke.”

Jiang Butong looked up at her, noticing how elegantly she ate, her lips pursed neatly, touched with a hint of roast duck’s sheen.

“Why are you staring at me? If you keep looking, I’ll dig your eyes out,” Wang Yun glared at him.

“If you’re not looking at me, how do you know I’m looking at you?” Jiang Butong countered.

“You…” Wang Yun, at a loss for words, grabbed a roast goose leg and bit into it fiercely.

In no time, Jiang Butong had eaten his fill and wiped his mouth.

Suddenly Wang Yun remembered something and asked, “Why did you agree to be Zhou Jianliang’s agent for me just now? I hadn’t agreed yet.”

Since they were partners, Jiang Butong felt he should share a bit of insider information.

“In a few years, the cassette recorder market will undergo a major shift. The future is definitely in portable devices.”

“What if it isn’t? What if things keep getting bigger? Like how buildings go higher and cars get larger,” Wang Yun questioned.

Jiang Butong was speechless; this woman’s logic was certainly unusual.

“First, you need to understand demand. Why are buildings taller? Because there’s little land but lots of people,” Jiang Butong patiently explained.

He realized it was difficult to make an ordinary person truly grasp the direction of the future market.

“But cassette recorders are different. As the entertainment industry grows, there will be more and more songs. When technology becomes accessible, people will gradually accept these new things.”

Wang Yun understood. “So you plan to sell small cassette recorders ahead of time?”

“That’s right. When the time comes, I’ll handle negotiations with Zhou Jianliang. If he can’t convince the factory director, we’ll just find another manufacturer,” Jiang Butong replied.

“Is it really that urgent?” Wang Yun wondered if it was too soon.

“This market is like a dish on the table. If you don’t eat now, by the time it’s your turn, only the soup will be left,” Jiang Butong said.

Wang Yun found his reasoning sound, especially after seeing his accurate judgment in choosing cassette albums.

She decided to take a gamble with him.

“If we secure the agency rights, we’ll both invest half the money,” Wang Yun said.

She was starting to trust Jiang Butong, but worried about the risk. She wanted to tie him to her, to profit or lose together.

“No problem. You can also ask around at other factories to see if they’re willing to produce them.”

After discussing some details, they finally left the roast goose shop.

Wang Yun looked at Jiang Butong, laughing playfully, “Do you want to come home with me?”

Jiang Butong knew she was only joking and waved her off.

Wang Yun watched his retreating figure, her thoughts swirling.

By the time Jiang Butong returned, it was already past eight in the evening.

He went straight to Chen Sheng’s private kitchen.

As he reached the restaurant door, he could already hear the lively noise inside.

He pushed the door open and entered.

Chen Pan’er was at the cashier, counting money.

Several newly hired waiters bustled back and forth, all familiar with Jiang Butong, so they just greeted him briefly.

“Why are you back so late? Have you eaten?” Chen Pan’er’s eyes lit up when she saw him.

“I have. I went to sell cassette tapes today,” Jiang Butong replied.

“Cassette tapes? At that shop owned by the lady from last time?” Chen Pan’er frowned imperceptibly.

She felt Wang Yun was a bit too worldly, worried Jiang Butong might get caught up in her charm.

“Yes. The tapes are selling like hotcakes. Guess how much I made today?” Jiang Butong said.

“How much?” Chen Pan’er was curious, remembering he’d made over three hundred last time.

“Just under five hundred.” He held up his hand.

“So much?” Chen Pan’er’s mouth dropped in astonishment.

Jiang Butong explained his partnership with Wang Yun, leaving Chen Pan’er surprised. She’d always sold jewelry, working herself to exhaustion for thirty or forty yuan a day, and thought she was already doing well.

“So will you be selling cassette tapes at the stall from now on?” Chen Pan’er asked.

“I could, but I’m planning to open an audio shop instead.”

Jiang Butong outlined his plan: he wanted to open the shop right outside the university. In this era, only college students could embrace new things and spread them.

Chen Pan’er, hearing about renting a storefront, felt the cost might be too high. Stalls were easier.

“You’ll rent a spot near the school?” she asked.

“Yes. Our school’s surrounded by restaurants, but there’s no audio shop. Business should be good. You can help me run the place,” Jiang Butong smiled.

Chen Pan’er tilted her head at him, blinking as if pondering something.

“How much will you pay me?” she asked.

“Talking money hurts feelings,” Jiang Butong feigned heartache.

“Hmph, I won’t work for free,” Chen Pan’er said smugly.

“Don’t worry, I won’t treat you badly. I guarantee you’ll earn more than you do at the stall,” he assured her.

“That’s more like it.”

Chen Pan’er returned to counting money.

“How’s business today?” Jiang Butong looked at the cash in her hands—more than yesterday.

“It’s not closing time yet, but we’ve already made over four thousand. There are still three or four tables left to settle, so it should reach about four thousand five hundred,” Chen Pan’er said, already quite skilled at managing the register.

Seeing there was nothing urgent at the front, Jiang Butong headed to the kitchen.

Chen Sheng and Jiang Dazhuang were busy, the kitchen bustling with activity. Even with two fans running, the sweat on their foreheads didn’t dissipate.