Chapter 42: I Want to Rely on Myself

The next day, the “Beauty’s Embrace” posted a notice: This establishment has changed ownership and is undergoing renovations. Soon, it will reopen with a brand-new look to welcome everyone. Please stay tuned—unexpected surprises await you!

No one knew who had purchased the brothel, only that it was a young gentleman acquainted with Lord Mo. The townsfolk buzzed with speculation about what the extensive renovations might signify.

Within the Mo Residence, after Yuan Qian’er introduced Su Qingcheng to everyone, she took her to the Qing Mo Pavilion.

“Qian’er, what are your plans for buying the brothel?” Mo Yiran asked with genuine curiosity.

“Well,” Yuan Qian’er began, “I want to open a nightclub—a more upscale venue than a brothel. It will have a dance floor where guests can unwind and dance, open to both men and women. We’ll feature special performances at certain times to attract crowds. Food will be served only after payment at the counter to facilitate management. I plan to commission exclusive VIP cards for the club, with tiered privileges based on spending. The wealthy in this era love to show off; this nightclub will satisfy their vanity perfectly. With this strategy, I guarantee we’ll make a fortune.” She shared the broad strokes of her idea, leaving out some details she feared Mo Yiran wouldn’t grasp.

Su Qingcheng chimed in, “Hey, we could also introduce a system of emperors, maids, and even a third-gender option!”

“Uh, Qingcheng, your ideas jump all over the place. Did third genders even exist in this era?” Mo Yiran questioned.

“If not, then a dominant-submissive system would work—roles can switch. Isn’t that popular nowadays?” Su Qingcheng replied.

Yuan Qian’er rolled her eyes at her, thinking she was hopeless.

After a moment of thought, Mo Yiran said, “Qian’er, your idea isn’t bad. Brothels have always been the fastest source of information. We could even establish a secret intelligence network within the club to gather valuable information for Bing Qinghua, and quietly cultivate some influence for emergencies.”

“Great! Since you approve, let’s settle on opening the nightclub. Qingcheng, you’ll be in charge of selecting some beautiful women willing to accompany guests for drinks. Mo Yiran, how many women are in your Kuang Mo group?”

“About a hundred or so. That should be enough for you to manage,” he replied.

“Excellent. Please call them all here. I want to see if they’d be willing to work at the nightclub. Don’t worry, it’s not about entertaining guests in that way—just teaching them to dance. Having Kuang Mo members working inside will give us peace of mind.”

...

Over the next two weeks, everyone was busy. Each morning, a group of Kuang Mo women practiced energetic dances at Qing Mo Pavilion. Su Qingcheng and Yuan Qian’er dressed as men to frequent the brothel, overseeing renovations—designing the layout, tables, chairs, the runway, costumes, props, sound systems… They personally designed everything, hired the finest craftsmen, and supervised every detail.

As for Mo Yiran, he spent his days selecting and training candidates one by one, preparing them to work as assistants in the nightclub and to protect it.

One day, Mo Yiran asked Yuan Qian’er, “Why push yourself so hard? The Mo Residence can easily support you.”

Yuan Qian’er answered, “I want to make myself strong. To be strong, one must have money. With money, you can travel anywhere; without it, you can’t take a single step. I want to rely on myself.”