Chapter 1454 - 1448: Picking a Fight
"I'm exhausted. After not working for a few days, suddenly so many customers came, I really can't take it!" A waitress said as she came out of the massage room after finishing a massage for a customer, filling a cup of water from the water dispenser and taking a sip.
Lin Chuan chuckled sarcastically, "With a 20% discount, it's almost like giving it for free. You guys are physically tired, but I'm the one feeling the heartache of losing money. At this rate, if your boss doesn't get discharged soon, this place might just have to shut down."
"Alright, stop babbling, hurry and take the next customer, otherwise they'll get impatient and leave!" Du Jinglan clapped her hands impatiently.
Lin Chuan put down the cup in his hand and laughed, "Why do you have to say it like that? What do you mean by 'taking customers'? What do you take me for? I think you might as well take over the massage parlor. When Liyong wakes up, you should just..."
It was clear from Lin Chuan's words that since Huang Liyong wasn't married yet, Du Jinglan might as well become his wife.
Du Jinglan glared at Lin Chuan angrily, then turned to a middle-aged man and said with a smile, "Sir, it's your turn." Then she politely said to the two other men, "Gentlemen, please bear with us a little longer!"
Seeing Du Jinglan a bit overwhelmed, Lin Chuan, who was also idle, smiled slightly and said to one of the men, "Sir, how about I give you a massage?"
The man Lin Chuan spoke to rolled his eyes at him, showing displeasure on his face. He then glanced at Du Jinglan's massage room, somewhat unwillingly saying, "I'm not in a hurry. If it's possible, you can attend to them first. I'll wait for a bit since I have nothing else to do right now."
Initially stunned, Lin Chuan looked carefully at the man's expression and finally understood why the man didn't want him to give the massage. Clearly, in this industry, the ladies are more in demand!
"So which of you two gentlemen would like to go first?" Lin Chuan didn't force the man to get a massage, respecting his choice, and instead inquired cheerfully of the other two men.
Upon being asked by Lin Chuan, the two men exchanged woeful looks before turning their eyes towards the first man. One of them grudgingly told Lin Chuan, "Don't you understand 'first come, first serve'? He came first, so why not serve him first? How can us later arrivals go against the rules?"
"Screw the rules, why is it that they only come up now!" Lin Chuan cursed in his heart but managed to keep a cheerful facade, saying, "Why don't the three of you discuss and decide who goes first? I'm not in a hurry!"
Finishing his sentence, Lin Chuan sat on a nearby seat, leisurely sipping water. "If you guys like to wait, then wait, by all means!"
The three men were left stunned, not expecting a massage therapist to speak to them in such a manner. The first guy called upon by Lin Chuan couldn't contain himself. Regardless of being in the wrong, he shouted, "What did you mean by that? Is this how you treat customers? No wonder your business isn't thriving with an attitude like this!"
The two other men also glared angrily at Lin Chuan, choosing to suppress their anger without lashing out.
It seemed these three men really wanted a pretty girl to give them a massage. Damn, they must think this place is a brothel! Lin Chuan cursed inwardly, smiling slightly as he said aloud, "One of you has to go first, otherwise, my massage therapist would be idle!"
Seeing the shop owner speak, the three men fell silent, but the eyes of the two mimicked those of the first man, while Lin Chuan watched the man with an innocent smile.
The man felt embarrassed as everyone's gaze bore into him, turning his large face a shade of red as he was overwhelmed by shyness. He, who had never had a massage before, was drawn in by the cheap price hoping for a pretty girl, only to find a man waiting for him, leaving him utterly disappointed!
"Fine, stop staring, I'll go first!" Finally unable to endure the attention, the man stood up abruptly. He cast a glance at Du Jinglan's massage room, wishing fervently for the door to open and for Du Jinglan to usher in the next guest herself!
Unfortunately, as fate would have it, that didn't happen. Turning back, the man frowned, snapping at Lin Chuan, "What are you dawdling for? Let's go!"
Lin Chuan felt helpless. Who would have thought he'd end up doing massages while dealing with Du Yuwei's issues in East Sea County? And these folks, are they here for a massage or to find a prostitute? If they really wanted to have fun, just go to a brothel directly, stop trying to get a freebie at such places!
The man stormed ahead, opening the door before Lin Chuan, slamming it shut with a bang. Lin Chuan gave a bitter smile and was about to follow when a commotion arose outside the massage shop, followed by a group of people bursting through the door.
An initial shock overtook Lin Chuan, presuming them to be customers, but before he could react, a man grabbed his shoulder, holding him firmly!
"Don't move! We've received reports of misconduct here! You better cooperate!" A policeman in uniform cleared his throat and shouted!
Only then did Lin Chuan realize that these weren't ordinary customers but intruders, and the ridiculousness of them using such an excuse to shut down their shop! Laughable indeed!
Lin Chuan, although restrained by a policeman, remained calm. If they were here to check other things, he might worry, but if it's merely about checking for vice, then if their shop was shut down for this, no massage parlors would remain clean!
"I'm the owner here. Officers, you must be mistaken. We don't engage in such activities here. Our place is as clean as can be!" Lin Chuan tried not to rile the police, turning slightly to smile at the officer restraining him!
"Stay put! Those who are drunk never admit they're drunk. Do you think we'll just take your word for it?" The officer, unaffected by Lin Chuan's claim of ownership, restrained him even tighter, ensuring Lin Chuan wouldn't escape!
The two customers were pale with fear, one trembling uncontrollably, confessing even before the police approached, "I'm innocent! I only came for a massage. Had I known it was illegal, I wouldn't have come! Officer, it's my first time here, please have mercy!"
"Save it and cooperate! Regrets come too late!" The officers, not listening to excuses, stepped forward to restrain the two men, indifferent to their first-time claims.
At that moment, the door to Du Jinglan's massage room was opened by a man stepping out with a grin, oblivious to the situation. Before he knew it, a policeman pinned him to the ground. Just as two officers intended to charge into the room, they were met by Du Jinglan coming out to call the next customer!
"Who are you…?" Du Jinglan, taken aback, wondered if the police also came for massages. Odd, how come two came at once, and in uniforms no less!
Without further ado, the officers seized Du Jinglan, dragging her out forcefully!
"Who are you, and what are you doing?..." Struggling, Du Jinglan ceased resistance when confronted with the lobby's scene, realizing someone set their shop up!
"Hey, are you coming or not? I've been waiting forever, and if my mood shifts, I might not pay you even if you serve me!" A large head popped out from Lin Chuan's massage room, expressing discontent without noticing what was happening outside!
"Wow, not only women sell sex here but men are into each other too!" blurted a young cop unable to resist commenting!
"Xiao Li, what nonsense are you talking!" A stern voice reprimanded from the side!
The young officer who spoke earlier pouted, stealing a glance at the person who scolded him, lowering his head to avoid further admonition.
Lin Chuan found the voice familiar, something about it feeling known. Glancing up slightly, he was shocked. Isn't this the chief from the Chaohua District police station? Did he come personally to oversee this?!
One officer, no words to spare, yanked the man sticking his head out from the massage room, albeit confused but compliant when he recognized the police uniform, moving aside to crouch on the floor. He glanced at Lin Chuan and Du Jinglan with eyes full of resentment!
The two officers scoured the massage room thoroughly, emerging from within minutes later, weariness in their steps!
"Chief, there's no one inside, and no backdoor either, seems it's just this lot!" A young officer reported quietly to Yu Minen!
"Checked thoroughly, did you? Why only these people?" Yu Minen's face grim, wondering about the earlier report of a vice group… was it just one woman in an entire gang?