Rich second-generations were plentiful, and there were also a fair number of official second-generations, like Xiao Tang and his two peers. They had family elders with real power, which, to businessmen, was an invaluable resource. Even a slight slip of these connections could rake in a windfall for them.

Collusion between government and business, a phenomenon that has never been extinguished since ancient times, had simply morphed into a modern form called "cooperation."

Businessmen have money and can invest it liberally to boost the political achievements of officials, while officials can secure benefits for businessmen. They cooperate with each other, complementing one another's needs. Officials gain achievements that lead to promotions, and businessmen find doors opened to wealth-building opportunities...

If the two sides were to unite through matrimonial ties, then the mutual benefits would be even greater. That's why many businessmen are willing to marry their daughters to sons of officials or take daughters of high-ranking officials as brides for their sons...

Without a doubt, Yun's Father was planning just that.

The couple had similar personalities; the man hoped his daughter would marry into a powerful official's family to seek influence, while the woman hoped her daughter would marry into a wealthy business family to seek money... No wonder they came together and had a daughter like Yun Xiaoxi, who was even more of a chip off the old block.

"I was the one who brought her here, they've been childhood friends..."

Qin Fang chuckled wryly. He hadn't known Yun Xiaoxi before this or, more to the point, if he had known that he would run into a nonsensical girl like Yun Xiaoxi here, he would have probably dumped Ding Chuchu in the middle of the road and bolted early on.

"So that's how it is! Anyway, we're not very close to her, Young Master Qin. How about we just take off? The hot springs at Spring Clubhouse are really nice. Shall we go for a soak?"

Xiao Tang and his peers did know Yun Xiaoxi and actually wanted to enjoy the hot springs, but this little girl was more interested in money, hence keener on those rich second-generations, showing much less enthusiasm for these official second-generations.

They weren't the type to shamelessly suck up to someone. If she had been extremely beautiful, it would have been another story, but clearly, Yun Xiaoxi didn't reach that level of attractiveness, so their enthusiasm was significantly low.

The only reason they had attended this birthday party was that they happened to be in the area for some fun, and since there were some of their usual friends here, they stayed out of courtesy.

"Hot springs?"

Qin Fang frowned. Maple Valley's reputation was a bit too raucous, with all sorts of stories, some so messy they even overshadowed its fame as a hot spring resort.

The moment Xiao Tang mentioned going to the hot springs, Qin Fang felt his skin crawl. Although the Spring Clubhouse was upscale, it couldn't guarantee that the hot spring waters hadn't been tampered with... especially since the Spring Clubhouse offered special services, which Qin Fang was really not fond of.

"Young Master Qin, please don't misunderstand... It's just a simple soak. I'll arrange a private room for you, very quiet. It's very comfortable to soak there, and it has an excellent effect in relieving bodily fatigue..."

Seeing Qin Fang's expression, Xiao Tang immediately knew what Qin Fang was thinking. With Ding Chuchu glaring fiercely at him on the side, he hurriedly explained to Qin Fang.

The hot springs actually did have excellent effects. The right temperature can indeed benefit the body, relieving fatigue and soothing the spirit...

"This..."

Qin Fang was initially hesitant; he really wanted to leave this place. Just as he was about to decline Xiao Tang's kind offer, he spotted Yun Xiaoxi across the way, holding a glass of wine, her steps buoyant, as she sashayed her delicate little rear towards Qin Fang...

The words that had reached the tip of Qin Fang's tongue immediately retreated, and he changed his tune, "Alright then, let's give it a soak..."

"I want to go too..."

What surprised Qin Fang was that Ding Chuchu actually grabbed his arm and, with an unsatisfied smile on her face, pouted her charming, alluring lips and said.

"A bunch of us guys are going to the hot springs, why are you tagging along! Look, your childhood friend is here, why don't you go and keep her company..."

Ding Chuchu, this little sorceress, was too much to handle, and Qin Fang did not wish for her to stay by his side for even a moment, for who knew how much trouble she would cause? He immediately patted Ding Chuchu's shoulder and pointed towards Yun Xiaoxi, who was walking over.

Then, before Ding Chuchu could figure out what was happening, he made a signal with his eyes to Xiao Tang and the other two, and the four of them quickly vanished, heading directly to the hot springs area behind the Spring Clubhouse.

The hot springs area of the Spring Clubhouse was quite large, much larger than the clubhouse section in front, mainly because these hot spring pools were scattered around. Only a few of them were relatively large, but most of these were public hot spring pools, which meant any guest of the clubhouse could use them once they entered.

The remaining smaller pools, which could only accommodate a few people at most, had been converted into hot springs private rooms, accessible only to the clubhouse's high-level members.

By rights, a guest like Qin Fang, who didn't even have a membership card, was not eligible to use these private rooms, but Xiao Tang and his friends could. Although they were minor nobility in Ninghai, often bowing their heads at Elite Salon and Bihai Pavilion, their status automatically elevated here, and with the power of their elders as a backing, they naturally could enjoy the best treatment.

So, occupying such a private room wasn't too much of a problem...

However, the number of such private rooms was actually not very high. According to Xiao Tang and his friends, there seemed to be only twelve, which generally had regular customers.

To say there were few of these twelve would not be accurate, but to say there were many would not be true either.

Looking at the luxury cars parked outside the Spring Clubhouse, there were as many as five parking lots, and Qin Fang's Audi, worth over two million, could only be parked in the third parking lot.

The second parking lot housed dozens of luxury vehicles, and if Qin Fang remembered correctly, it seemed there were thirteen in the first parking lot...

This meant, there were roughly thirteen people with substantial wealth, otherwise, they wouldn't be driving cars worth tens of millions. These people might not necessarily go to the hot springs at this time, but if a few of them did, without a doubt, they would directly enter a private room and not share a public pool with others.

In addition to people like Xiao Tang and his friends, who were the second-generation officials, their cars might not be able to enter the first parking lot, but they were also entitled to use the private rooms, so several were taken by them.

Thus, when Qin Fang and his friends arrived at the hot springs area, they were dismayed to find that eleven of the twelve private rooms were occupied, leaving only the best one still vacant.

"I'm sorry, sir, this room has also been reserved, and the guest will be arriving soon..."

And it just so happened that the last room had already been taken, causing Xiao Tang and the other two's faces to turn very ugly... This was practically a slap in their face, making it impossible for them to step down.

They weren't among the top elite in Ninghai, but they counted for something here, holding gold cards from the Spring Clubhouse second only to the top-level Platinum Card, yet they hadn't expected to drop the ball at the very moment they truly wanted to impress Qin Fang, losing face to a considerable degree...

Snap~~

"I'm not going to waste words with you. Since there's one room left, that's the one. Hurry up with the key card..."

Among the three friends, Xiao Gu had the most volatile temper. Usually, it was Xiao Tang who did most of the talking in front of Qin Fang, but that didn't mean Xiao Gu was someone without a temper. On the contrary, his temper was the most explosive, and he couldn't hold back anymore, slamming the table in front of the beautiful waitress. (To be continued. If you like this work, you are welcome to vote for it on Qidian (qidian.com). Your support is my greatest motivation.)

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