As they drove through the night scene, Song Tianyao couldn't help but find Chu Xiaoxin's pretentious expression amusing.
After the initial amusement, Song Tianyao couldn't help but admire Second Young Master Chu. Although he wasn't a Puritan either, when it came to chasing the wind and moon, he was no match for Second Young Master Chu. For example, when Second Young Master Chu mentioned inviting a jockey to dinner, Song Tianyao couldn't connect finding women with jockeys. There were no female jockeys in Hong Kong now, and even if there were, Song Tianyao didn't think Chu Xiaoxin would be interested in drooling over a woman with muscular legs or calluses on her hips. It was the 1950s; there weren't any high-end skincare products to help female jockeys take care of their skin.
Chen Xingfu drove the car to the Dulles Hotel at Chu Xiaoxin's urging. After Song Tianyao got out of the car, the India security guard greeted him with a smile. Instead of English, he spoke in broken Cantonese, saying "Long time no see" to Song Tianyao. Seeing that Song Tianyao had no luggage, he rubbed his hands awkwardly to the side.
Song Tianyao took out a small bill and handed it to the other person. The security guard rushed to open the hotel door for Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin before the doorman could. Song Tianyao didn't rush in but looked at Chu Xiaoxin, who was telling Chen Xingfu to drive home first. After Chen Xingfu drove away, Chu Xiaoxin walked over with a cigarette in his mouth, put his arm around Song Tianyao's neck, and said excitedly, "Go to the hotel front desk first and call my house. Tell them you're back from Britain and want to invite me to dinner."
Seeing Chu Xiaoxin's lustful and almost out-of-control state, Song Tianyao shook his head speechlessly, followed Chu Xiaoxin to the hotel front desk, and picked up the phone to dial.
The person who answered the phone was Uncle Yan, the old butler of the Chu Family. He was stunned for a moment after hearing that Song Tianyao was calling. After Song Tianyao hung up, the phone was quickly called back. This time it was Chu Yaozong's wife, Peng Xiulian, the mother of the Second Young Master Chu. She asked more detailed questions, such as whether Song Tianyao was tired after returning, whether he had gone home to see his parents, and why he did not come to the Chu Family to have dinner together.
Song Tianyao handled such polite words with ease. Madam Chu clearly trusted Song Tianyao. When Song Tianyao mentioned that he had arranged to meet with Chu Xiaoxin and several business associates, Madam Chu didn't suspect anything. Perhaps her impression of Song Tianyao over the years was that he didn't care for wine, women, or money, and only loved doing business. She advised Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin to drink less. Finally, she gave Song Tianyao a special reminder that Chu Xiaoxin was already married and had a good reputation, so she asked him to help take care of him outside and not let Chu Xiaoxin embarrass himself or become a laughingstock.
"Was that my mom?" Second Young Master Chu said from the side, "It must have been Peiying who made my mom make that call. My fiancée is so sharp, she's not like a pretty girl at all. Every night she comes to my house to have dinner with my mother and chat with her until my mom is sleepy before she says goodbye and goes back to our place to sleep. My mom is like she's under a spell, she's completely obedient to her. Just like now, she made that call, and behind her back, it's probably all Peiying telling my mom what to say. From beginning to end, it's just a mother telling her son not to come home too late and not to drink too much."
Song Tianyao looked at Chu Xiaoxin and nodded thoughtfully. His impression of Lu Peiying deepened. It wasn't that he felt Lu Peiying was watching Chu Xiaoxin too closely. It wasn't that Lu Peiying was jealous or possessive; otherwise, Lu Peiying wouldn't have proactively arranged for two beautiful dancers to accompany Song Tianyao and Chu Xiaoxin when they met at the Silver Moon Dance Hall. It was simply that Lu Peiying knew what she had to do. She was the Lu Family's illegitimate daughter, and her future wealth and glory depended on the Second Young Master Chu. If the Second Young Master Chu to prominence, the Lu Family would support him greatly. But if the Second Young Master Chu was a good-for-nothing, then for the Lu Family, it would only be the loss of an illegitimate daughter, a loss that was negligible.
At this moment, Lu Peiying was doing the same thing as Song Tianyao: trying to save herself and her husband, Chu Xiaoxin.
The fact that Chu Xiaoxin named a blood bank after Lu Peiying suggests, both in public opinion and in reality, that Lu Peiying is unlikely to leave Second Young Master Chu again. She's just a woman hoping her man can be more responsible and not fall back into promiscuity, becoming nothing more than a fleeting star. Lu Peiying can't directly interfere in Chu Xiaoxin's business, so she can only use this roundabout method to try to correct Chu Xiaoxin habits and make him more of a mature man, rather than that dissolute playboy.
Song Tianyao followed Chu Xiaoxin toward the hotel room. As they walked side by side down the corridor, Song Tianyao spoke to Chu Xiaoxin:
"Miss Lu isn't jealous, she's just worried you're seeing other women."
Chu Xiaoxin curled his lip. "When it comes to women, you're no match for me. All women in the world look the same, how could you not be jealous?"
"Even if Miss Lu is jealous, she wouldn't want to completely tie you to her side. She Big Brother you'll be more mature, and even if you're looking for women, you shouldn't go to those kinds of brothels. After all, you're Justice of the Peace now, and those kinds of places aren't good for your status," Song Tianyao said as he saw the waiter leading the way stop in front of a suite to open the door.
Chu Xiaoxin tilted his head towards the suite. "I haven't married her yet, so of course I can't make things too ugly. Otherwise, why do you think I would specifically ask you to cover for me? I really haven't been to those brothels in a long time."
After entering the room, Song Tianyao stood at the door and handed a tip to the waiter. Chu Xiaoxin, familiar with the place, walked into the master bedroom's walk-in closet, opened the wardrobe door, and gestured to Song Tianyao, who was leaning against the doorway lighting a cigarette.
"Have a look."
Song Tianyao looked up at the wardrobe, which contained several brand-new jockey outfits, including riding breeches, riding boots, gloves, and so on.
"You don't need to dress up as a jockey to invite them to dinner, do you? Are those two jockeys your idols? Or Big Brother you staked your entire fortune on them?" Song Tianyao asked curiously.
While a jockey's uniform certainly looks dashing, the problem is that Chu Xiaoxin isn't a jockey, and wearing it won't elevate Second Young Master Chu social status. The JP brooch on his suit lapel is far more practical than the jockey's uniform.