Li Qianfan, upon entering the foot massage parlor, caught sight of the subtle gestures between Mo Hongti and Zhang Bao through the glass doors of the lobby.
He immediately realized this woman was up to her old tricks again.
In fact,
When Li Qianfan saw that Hongti Foot Massage was situated in a prime location,
The scale of the establishment wasn't the largest, but it was by no means small. The dozens of female masseuses lined up to welcome them were of top-tier quality in all of Sijiu. He couldn't help but wonder.
Given Mo Hongti's ability to even make Young Master Du Tian from Tian Dong fearful, how could she open such a foot massage parlor in Sijiu without attracting unwanted attention?
Recalling her persistent insistence that he accompany her here, Li Qianfan guessed that she might be planning to leverage his reputation to resolve some issues.
Li Qianfan found Mo Hongti's subtle machinations quite irritating.
If Mo Hongti had simply asked for his help in resolving the current troubles facing her foot massage parlor, Li Qianfan would have held her in higher regard.
"Never mind. For the sake of her being a fellow villager from Qingyun, along with Zi Yu, I won't fuss over these details with her."
Thinking of Su Zi Yu, Li Qianfan's mood inexplicably improved.
He walked into the changing room, changed into a white bathrobe, and returned to his leather seat, taking out his phone.
He typed: "Wife, what are you doing now?"
Su Zi Yu replied instantly: "Having lunch with a pretty boy."
"Who is the pretty boy?"
"I'm not telling you."
"Is he handsomer than me?"
"Ten thousand times handsomer than you!"
"Tch, got any pictures to prove it?"
Li Qianfan scoffed.
*Ding.*
A photo arrived.
It was a pair of slender legs in black stockings, hidden beneath a table, with a hand resting on them, gently stroking.
Seeing that delicate, pale hand, Li Qianfan flew into a rage: "Whose ghost claw is that? I'll chop it off and braise it!"
"I'll kick you to death."
Su Zi Yu threatened, then typed: "The appraiser encountered some trouble while shooting for Pāipāi Fashion today."
It was quite normal for the appraisers Su Zi Yu hired to encounter difficulties at Pāipāi Fashion.
Li Qianfan replied: "Zhao Lianjin is behind this."
Su Zi Yu replied: "I tried calling Dai Pāipāi, but her phone was off. It seems she's completely lost control over Pāipāi Fashion. Oh, don't tell her I said that, she'll be sad. I'll find a way to ensure the appraisal work proceeds smoothly."
The boss of Pāipāi's phone was off?
Thank heavens.
Fortunately, her phone was off, otherwise my lie about accompanying her to Sijiu for business would surely be exposed.
Li Qianfan realized this and inwardly thanked his luck.
Because he disliked Dai Pāipāi's lack of self-respect, he couldn't be bothered to deal with her any further.
Otherwise, Li Qianfan would have called her this morning and instructed her to say she was in Sijiu with him if Su Zi Yu called.
After a few more pleasantries with Su Zi Yu, urging her to take a nap after lunch, Li Qianfan began calling Dai Pāipāi.
Phone off.
Li Qianfan didn't want to dwell on why Dai Pāipāi's phone was off.
He had more pressing matters to attend to.
One.
Li Qianfan wasn't rushing to Li Family Village for fear that his mother would be waiting there to give him a good scolding.
Two.
He wanted to wait for Du Jun Lin's arrival outside Li Family Village (if she indeed came to Sijiu) and try to resolve their conflict on his own.
Otherwise.
Why would Li Qianfan give Mo Hongti face and be dragged by her to Hongti Foot Massage?
And why else?
When he keenly observed Mo Hongti and Zhang Bao's subtle movements through the glass, realizing he might be used as a pawn, why did he so easily forgive her?
The door to the private room opened.
Mo Hongti, already changed into a white robe (uniform), wearing slippers, walked in with two waitresses.
The two waitresses pushed a meal cart.
The cart held fine wine and delicious dishes that were both visually appealing and aromatic.
"Madam Mo, Young Master Li, please enjoy."
After the waitresses placed the food and wine on the table to Li Qianfan's left, they bowed and left.
"Little brother, I'm not hungry, you eat."
Mo Hongti said in a sweet voice, picking up a remote control.
With a slight press of her finger.
Hot water began to flow down from above a wooden basin.
Various foot bath herbs were already placed in the calf-high wooden basin.
Li Qianfan didn't stand on ceremony; he poured himself a glass of wine and picked up his chopsticks.
The dishes looked exquisite, and their taste was also quite good.
When the water in the wooden basin was seven-tenths full, the supply stopped.
Mo Hongti tested the temperature with her hand. It was hot, but just right.
"Can you really handle the job of a foot massage technician?"
Li Qianfan raised his wine glass and asked Mo Hongti.
A qualified technician needed to be proficient in foot baths, foot massages, pedicure, foot cupping, full body massage, and even back cupping.
Mo Hongti countered: "What do you think?"
Li Qianfan shook his head.
Despite her wearing a uniform and looking like a technician.
She was merely using a pretense, a facade.
"But what I can do, they might not be able to."
Mo Hongti smiled flirtatiously, gripped the hem of her white robe, and lifted it up, revealing her fair legs to Li Qianfan's sight.
Beside the wooden basin, there was a brocade stool.
It was specifically for technicians to sit in front of the basin and wash guests' feet.
But Mo Hongti directly knelt down before the basin, scooped up Li Qianfan's left foot, and slowly placed it in the water.
If the elders and fellow villagers of Qingyun saw the Queen of Hongti, renowned in Qingyun's underworld, kneeling to wash someone's feet, they would surely be astonished.
Not only that!
After Mo Hongti slowly placed both of Li Qianfan's feet into the wooden basin, she tugged at her sash with her left hand.
The front of the white robe, no longer held by the sash, immediately opened to the sides.
Li Qianfan looked at Mo Hongti and sighed: "Sigh. Mo Hongti, must you debase your own dignity to use and test me? You are, after all, the eldest daughter of the Mo family in Qingyun. The boss of Victoria, the queen of Qingyun's underworld."
Hearing Li Qianfan frankly state that she was using and testing him, Mo Hongti's delicate body trembled slightly.
But she hid her surprise in her heart.
She looked up, feigning bewilderment: "Little brother, what are you talking about? Sister just wants to open her heart to you and let you understand my determination to follow you. How could I possibly use you? As for my status as the Mo family's eldest daughter and the leader of Qingyun's underworld, those are like nothing in your eyes."
Li Qianfan smiled and said no more.
They were both intelligent people, and a hint was enough.
He ate and drank.
She knelt on the ground and washed his feet.
When Li Qianfan had eaten his fill, his left foot, which had been soaking in hot water, was placed in Mo Hongti's embrace.
Was this also a skill that other technicians didn't possess?
No wonder his brother-in-law was so obsessed with foot soaks.
It felt really good—
Li Qianfan withdrew his foot and asked in a flat tone: "Tell me, who is coming to your foot massage parlor to cause trouble?"
Mo Hongti immediately replied: "Little brother, what are you talking about? Who would dare to come to my foot massage parlor to cause trouble?"
Before she could finish speaking—
The door to the private room was kicked open!
*Bang.*
As the door slammed heavily against the wall, a man's laughter echoed from outside the room: "I'd like to see who this master is! To dare have a woman I've marked personally wash his feet."