Cui Nanan was clearly convinced by Li Chonglou's words and agreed immediately.
"Also, when you practice, don't think about having strong opponents. Anyone you can spar with is fine, and try not to use your full strength in your matches."
Cui Nanan nodded and said, "I understand. I'll get the feel for it first, and then it will become second nature."
Li Chonglou smiled, "Then it's settled. Consider it helping me out. My friend just ran into a bit of trouble."
Cui Nanan finally understood that there was a reason behind it. However, he didn't mind, at least Li Chonglou was upfront with him instead of treating him purely as a tool.
After resolving this matter, Li Chonglou returned to his dorm to sleep.
The next morning, he asked the two of them to go ahead and meet Yu Ke's cousin. Not long after, Chen Pao also came looking for him.
"So early?"
Chen Pao smiled, "I'm used to sleeping and waking up early."
Li Chonglou directly called him out, "I think you're worried I'll hog everything, aren't you? Afraid I'll take the goods for myself?"
"Ahem! What are you saying? Do I seem like that kind of person?"
Li Chonglou rolled his eyes but didn't pay it much mind. If he were in Chen Pao's shoes, he would do the same. They had only known each other for a few days, so there was no real trust between them.
"Have you had breakfast?"
Chen Pao shook his head.
"Then sit here for a while. I'll go buy something delicious."
Li Chonglou still had plans for Chen Pao, so he didn't mind putting in some effort to get closer to him. He borrowed Zhou Tong's car to head to the market.
As Zhou Tong was taking out his keys, he said, "Brother Li, why don't you buy a car yourself?"
Li Chonglou understood what he meant and explained, "I don't have many opportunities to use it, and it's hard to react immediately if something happens while driving."
"I see. I was actually thinking of just giving you this car."
Li Chonglou chuckled, "I think you just want an excuse to buy a new car, don't you?"
Zhou Tong chuckled and said, "You figured me out again. I've been driving this car for several years, and I've wanted to get a new one for a long time."
The company's prospects were vast. In just these past few days, they had received orders worth over a million. Zhou Tong certainly wasn't going to skimp on that money anymore.
Li Chonglou understood this and directly said, "If you want to change it, then change it. We earn money to spend it. Besides, you know I'm looking for more than just this."
Zhou Tong shook his head, "I'm just saying for now. We'll talk about it later. The company's funds are almost depleted."
Orders were orders, but getting paid also took time. Strictly speaking, they were still in a negative asset position in the short term, so saving money where they could was important.
Li Chonglou didn't say any more and drove Zhou Tong's car away from the company alone.
To buy something good to eat, he would at least have to go to a commercial district several kilometers away. However, Li Chonglou's target was a more down-to-earth market, where the truly delicious food was found.
Upon arriving, the first thing he felt was the relaxed atmosphere of the local street. Li Chonglou bought fried dough sticks and soy milk from a shop run by a southern owner, and he also packed some rice noodle rolls, planning to let the others try this southern breakfast as well.
However, while waiting, the conversation between two women eating breakfast caught his attention.
"Are you serious? In this day and age, people are still printing flyers to find men?"
"You're not wrong. But the guy in the photo is quite handsome. You can tell he's a pretty boy at first glance. It's just that the woman is a bit..."
"How do you know? Weren't you at home the past couple of days?"
"My cousin sent it to me. Everyone over there is talking about it. It's quite funny, I think."
As the two women spoke, they mentioned the photo and the word "fat." Li Chonglou immediately felt something was wrong, and he quietly moved behind them. When they opened the photo, he leaned his head over.
The photo was of the flyer the women were talking about. It was filled with red hearts and looked very much like a rural style from twenty years ago. In the center of the flyer were two photos that had been Photoshopped together.
When Li Chonglou saw their faces, he couldn't help but blurt out two words.
"Holy shit!"
The sudden exclamation startled both women. The woman holding the phone asked curiously, "You're a grown man, and you're so gossipy?"
Li Chonglou subconsciously shook his head, but then changed his mind, "Miss, could you send me the photo, and the whole story behind this?"
Upon hearing the word "Miss," a bright smile spread across the woman's face. She readily agreed to Li Chonglou's request. In less than a minute, Li Chonglou's phone received a forwarded chat.
"Thanks, Miss!"
"Don't be so formal, young man. There aren't many people with your discerning taste these days."
Li Chonglou waved his thanks and, after collecting his breakfast, immediately rushed back to the company.
The people in the photo were none other than Xiao Hong and Chen Pao from yesterday! However, Chen Pao's picture was clearly taken from some surveillance footage by her, and it was slightly blurry.
But that didn't dampen Li Chonglou's spirits!
He rushed back to the company, not to tease Chen Pao first, but to find Zhou Tong.
"Help me check this woman out, and make it quick! Preferably find some dirt on her!"
Li Chonglou handed his phone with the photo to Zhou Tong, who, not immediately recognizing Chen Pao in the picture, asked with some confusion, "Who is this? Did she offend you?"
Li Chonglou shook his head and explained the situation.
"So, you want to use this to threaten him into joining us?"
"It's not about threatening, it's about helping him solve a problem! Of course, whether he needs it or not depends on how serious he thinks it is."
Li Chonglou winked at Zhou Tong, who immediately understood.
"I get it!"
Heh heh, Zhou Tong grinned like a sly fox. Li Chonglou patted his shoulder and said meaningfully, "Do a good job. If this works out, we'll have another talented person!"
"Understood!"
Watching Zhou Tong hurry away, Li Chonglou then pretended to know nothing and returned to his dorm to find Chen Pao. He then called Meat Mountain and the others to have a very satisfying breakfast together.
Zhou Tong was quite efficient, and it only took about an hour for him to find some dirt on Xiao Hong.
"Brother Li, don't let this woman's appearance fool you. Although she's just a receptionist, the cars she drives in and out of the company are not cheap. I had someone check her work situation, and apart from this job, she has no other source of income."
"Are you implying she's embezzling at the company or that she's working elsewhere for..."
Li Chonglou only half-finished the latter guess before denying it himself. He didn't think anyone in this world would be so deranged.
Zhou Tong nodded, "It seems likely, but we haven't got concrete evidence yet. The private investigator I hired said it will take a little more time, at least half a day."