The Wealthy Tycoon's Game of Life

Chapter 89: Chapter 84 The Muddy Mess

“Golden Palace?”

Zhou Wang was taken aback.

“I… I saw some spending records on Cheng Zhe’s phone, and the amounts weren’t small. The merchant name displayed is ‘Golden Palace.’”

Xu Wenqian explained cautiously, “I don’t know what kind of place it is, and there’s nothing else on his phone, so…”

“Why don’t you just ask him directly?” Zhou Wang asked, puzzled.

...

Xu Wenqian was silent for a moment before speaking, “I’m afraid of causing any needless misunderstandings again. He might be a bit… sensitive lately, and I don’t want to fight with him anymore.”

“Is that so?”

Zhou Wang tapped his fingers on the sofa’s armrest, “Golden Palace… I have heard of such a place, but I’m not sure if it’s the one you’re talking about.”

“You really know it?”

Xu Wenqian’s eyes, with little hope, slightly brightened, and she quickly said, “Is there any way to verify this?”

“There is.”

Zhou Wang answered straightforwardly, though his expression was somewhat peculiar, “But you need to think it over; the truth might not be what you wish it to be.”

Xu Wenqian realized something, her face turning pale, but she soon nodded, her expression becoming resolute.

“I need to know… I don’t want to lose sleep over this anymore.”

“Alright then.”

This matter really was just a small effort for Zhou Wang.

“What’s your boyfriend’s name and occupation?”

But before taking out his phone, Zhou Wang asked.

“His name is Cheng Zhe, and he works in IT at a private company.”

Xu Wenqian hurriedly said.

Zhou Wang nodded, then took out his phone, found a contact, dialed it, and put it on speaker on the table.

“The sunlight is so bright, and I’m in a mud pit… This love, I think it has long decayed, the surging tide is pushing me away…”

The ringtone played, and Xu Wenqian saw the phone screen displaying a contact named “Brother B.”

The call was quickly connected, and a male voice with laughter sounded, “Brother Dog, calling me so early, what can I do for you!”

“Brother B, are you busy? I have something to ask.”

“Go ahead!”

“I remember you telling me last time about your new high-end membership shop, right, the one with Cosplay, is it called ‘Golden Palace’ by any chance?”

“Yeah, it is. What, finally thinking of coming over to try it out?”

Wang Qiaobin chuckled, “Though we’re open 24 hours, it’s really too early now; only a few technicians are on duty. I’m afraid you won’t be satisfied. How about… coming in the afternoon?”

Zhou Wang noticed that when Xu Wenqian heard the word “technicians,” her complexion noticeably turned paler, though her eyes still held a bit of hope.

Zhou Wang could probably guess what she was thinking and replied to Wang Qiaobin, “Maybe next time. I just wanted to confirm with you, is there another Golden Palace in Ming City?”

“If you’re talking about the bathing industry, then definitely not. We’ve registered the trademark. Who would dare counterfeit us?”

Wang Qiaobin sensed Zhou Wang might have another purpose and tentatively asked, “Brother Dog, did something happen?”

“Just a personal matter… Hmm, Brother B, could you do me a favor and check a name, maybe a member at your place?”

Zhou Wang pondered and said, “Of course, if it’s inconvenient, forget it.”

“Heh, since you asked, no hassle at all. I happen to be doing accounts reconciliation at the shop, convenient matter. Give me the name and I’ll check now!”

Wang Qiaobin smiled and then casually asked, “Is the person you’re checking a friend, or…”

“Not a friend, nor in our circle, just an ordinary office worker…”

Zhou Wang vaguely understood what Wang Qiaobin really wanted to ask and smiled.

“Alright, alright, what’s the name?”

“Cheng Zhe, Cheng with the ‘禾’ radical, Zhe from philosophy.”

Zhou Wang looked at the phone Xu Wenqian was holding up.

“Hold on!”

The sound of keyboard typing came from the other end, and soon, Wang Qiaobin’s voice rang out, “Is the phone number ending in 3638?”

Zhou Wang looked at Xu Wenqian, who nodded, and replied with a “Yes,” “That’s him.”

“He is indeed a member at our shop. Let me see… Hmm, the card was made two years ago, considered an old member.”

Xu Wenqian’s body trembled, while Wang Qiaobin’s voice continued.

“To be honest, he’s a loyal customer of our club. Over two years, the spending has accumulated to over 100,000 yuan…”

“How much did you say?”

The pale-faced Xu Wenqian couldn’t hold back anymore and grabbed the phone to ask.

Wang Qiaobin was startled by the sudden woman’s voice but still answered, “The records I can check show more than 110,000, not including cash…”

“How could he have so much money?”

Xu Wenqian asked incredulously, “He doesn’t earn that much per month…”

“Er… Sis, that’s a tough question for me. We’re just shop owners doing business. How would we know where customers’ money comes from… But, there is one interesting point.”

“What?”

Xu Wenqian clutched the phone tightly.

“I skimmed through the details. Most of the times Cheng Zhe topped up his card were around the 15th, especially on the 15th, and the amounts were more or less the same, three or four thousand, sometimes over five thousand.”

“The 15th…”

Xu Wenqian sat limply on the ground, muttering in a daze, “That’s when he gets his paycheck.”

“Is there anything else you want to know?”

Wang Qiaobin asked when he heard no further response.

Xu Wenqian, thinking of something, quickly grabbed the phone again, as if holding onto the last straw.

“Can you… can you tell me what your shop does?”

“…”

This question apparently stumped Wang Qiaobin, who didn’t know how to answer for a moment.

If this call wasn’t from Zhou Wang, Wang Qiaobin would have sworn…

Are you freaking nuts?

Zhou Wang knew Wang Qiaobin’s predicament, so he took the phone from Xu Wenqian’s hand, “Brother B, really appreciate it today. I’ll call you back.”

“No problem, I’ll hang up for now!”

Wang Qiaobin seemed to know that Zhou Wang had other matters to handle, so he didn’t say much and quickly hung up.

Zhou Wang put away his phone, turned to look at Xu Wenqian, who was staring at him intently, unwilling to easily give up. He shook his head.

“Don’t be foolish. You already know, if it were a strictly legitimate shop, he couldn’t spend that much alone.”

Then, Zhou Wang squatted down, got closer to her, and spoke the cruelest truth in the calmest tone right by her ear,

“If you insist on asking me, I can only tell you, it’s… a place that can wring a man dry.”