Xu Maotong was cunning, treacherous, and extremely suspicious. Xu Zifan's recent behavior was nothing short of a bluff, making Xu Maotong suspect that he had been tricked by his son all along. Considering the methods Xu Zifan had used to catch his son in the act of adultery, if it was unintentional, it would be considered foolishly exposing a family scandal. But if it was deliberate, then this step-by-step scheming was truly terrifying.
Therefore, he really didn't want Xu Zifan to join the company, and he didn't even want to give Xu Zifan another chance to spread rumors. Although he smashed his phone in anger after being threatened, he still held back. A few hundred million was nothing to him. However, he couldn't tolerate Xu Zifan forcing him into a series of defeats, and he had to think of a way to suppress Xu Zifan.
Soon, rumors, some true and some false, began circulating online, claiming that there was a reason why Xu Zifan was disliked. They said he was not only incompetent but also absurd, spending hundreds of millions in a flash. How could someone like him possibly run a club? He was bound to lose everything in the end. Xu Maotong hadn't said anything, so how could he be accused of not spoiling his son?
Xu Zifan knew Xu Maotong had released the information, but he didn't care. In fact, he fanned the flames, making the news spread even more widely. When had he ever lost money? The more people criticized him for being a spendthrift, the harder he would be slapped in the face in the end. His scumbag father had had a smooth life, and it was the thought of him repeatedly experiencing failure through his good-for-nothing son that Xu Zifan couldn't bear. He was waiting to see him make a fool of himself.
The private club opened quickly. Xu Zifan attended several gatherings before the opening to make his presence known. Many wealthy second-generation heirs came to support him on opening day. After all, the Xu family ranked among the top five in the country, so they had to give him some face. Some wealthy second-generation heirs from other places even flew in to join in the fun after hearing the news. They wanted to establish connections with the second-generation heirs in Beijing, as it would be beneficial to their families.
Several reputable news media outlets were invited by Xu Zifan to take photos and tour the club. The grand gathering of these wealthy second-generation individuals was so impressive that the reporters almost forgot to take pictures. A row of luxury cars was parked in front of the private club, and waiters drove the cars into the underground garage. The opening ribbon-cutting ceremony was attended by popular movie stars, as well as the vice mayor of Beijing. The cannons were fired in unison, creating a magnificent atmosphere and giving the impression of a successful start.
Upon entering the club, the reporters were overwhelmed by the sheer volume of sights, constantly snapping photos. They had visited a couple of other private clubs before, but none compared to Xu Zifan's. The club boasted banquet halls, meeting rooms, restaurants, bars, various sports facilities, a swimming pool, a spa, and more—virtually everything imaginable, all meticulously crafted to the highest standards, ensuring an unparalleled experience of top-tier service. Of course, the membership fee was exorbitant: a five million yuan upfront fee, followed by an annual fee of 180,000 yuan, with expensive drinks and meals charged separately.
Such a high barrier to entry kept many people out, but it also elevated the club's prestige. Many wealthy second-generation individuals came only to make a token appearance, but once they arrived, they had a blast. Some with money on hand immediately became members, generating a significant influx of funds for Xu Zifan. These people naturally spread the word about the club after returning home. Since the majority of their network consisted of wealthy individuals, more and more rich people began to experience Zifan's private club and then become members. This marked the beginning of Xu Zifan's expansion of his network.
The news media reports naturally attracted a large number of netizens. All the photos of the guests showed their backs, protecting their privacy. Many photos also captured the club's luxurious and high-end atmosphere. Netizens commented that it looked like a club that looked luxurious, and they really wanted to go. Previously, some people thought that wealthy people's clubs were just places for reckless behavior, but after seeing the photos, they realized that it was a truly relaxing and reassuring place. Because of the excellent privacy, guest information was not leaked, so business partners could discuss matters in the meeting room without being disturbed. There was also top-notch service, giving the other party the feeling that the cooperation was highly valued.
Other facilities such as gyms, massage parlors, swimming pools, and ball games offer opportunities for relaxation and enjoyment. Celebrities, in particular, can likely relax and have fun without being photographed. There are also several banquet halls of varying sizes, perfect for hosting important celebrations.
Seeing such a high-end club, no one thought Xu Zifan was wasting his time anymore. How could such a nice place not be profitable? Netizens felt they would want to go there themselves if they had the money; Xu Zifan must be serious about building a business. The bills Xu Zifan later posted on Weibo confirmed this view: over 200 million yuan in cash flow had been generated in just a short time after opening, foreshadowing its future success. Those who previously criticized Xu Zifan for being wasteful were proven wrong, and the one who suffered the most was Xu Maotong, who had remained silent until then!
News reports are the best form of publicity; even those who haven't been to the club have a general idea of what it's like inside. When Xu Maotong was discussing cooperation with someone, he was asked why he hadn't gone to his son's club. On another occasion, a potential partner said he was a member of the club and wanted to invite him there to discuss things. Not only did he have to find a suitable reason to refuse, but he also had to smile and say, "That kid is just messing around," like a father who is proud of his son but doesn't praise him casually. Hearing others praise him for raising a good son made him feel incredibly stifled.
It was from this point on that people stopped mentioning Xu Zifeng, the child he had placed so much hope in, and started talking about Xu Zifan, whom he wanted to kill. This made him increasingly irritable. What was most embarrassing was that when people talked about the club, he couldn't say anything and had to carefully cover it up because Xu Zifan had never let him join or invited him to see it. He knew nothing about the services there.
After seeing the bills Xu Zifan posted online, he couldn't help but have his secretary call Xu Zifan and give him a hint. Since it's making money, it could be operated as a branch of the Xu family business, and he should also be invited to take a look, since he is Xu Zifan's father.
After listening to his secretary's words, Xu Zifan smiled casually, "Please tell Chairman Xu that he looked down on my club back then and spread rumors calling me a spendthrift, but I didn't say anything. What happens to my club now has nothing to do with Chairman Xu. As for the Xu family and the club..."
There is absolutely no connection between us now, and there never will be. Chairman Xu is getting old; remember to remind him that this is my private property, and tell him not to covet things that don't belong to him—it's shameful.
Xu Zifan hung up the phone as soon as he finished speaking. When his secretary nervously relayed his words to Xu Maotong, Xu Maotong, with a gloomy face, ordered her to leave. After she left, he couldn't contain his anger and swept everything off the table! His chest heaved. His son, who had been spoiled rotten and was a good-for-nothing all his life, had actually pretended to be weak and dared to try and take advantage of him. He had really gone too far!
Xu Zifan didn't care what Xu Maotong thought; he was just saying that out of spite, and he'd be done with it when he could finally infuriate his scumbag father. After greeting and exchanging pleasantries with the wealthy businessmen and politicians who came to the club, he went to the gym to livestream his workouts and daily weight loss routine. Viewers were always begging him to show them the club, and he would occasionally agree, but only to look at the areas that weren't currently occupied. He was extremely particular about customer satisfaction. Even so, his viewers were satisfied, finding Xu Zifan more down-to-earth. His fanbase continued to grow, making him arguably the only wealthy second-generation heir who was truly beloved by the public.
After finishing his live stream and having dinner, Xu Zifan finally left the club. His bodyguard and driver carefully inspected the vehicle before he got in and drove off. Xu Maotong was a ruthless man who had even killed people, so he dared not relax his vigilance in the slightest when it came to security. This was one of the reasons why he was so eager to get fit, so that at least if he encountered villains, he would have some ability to protect himself.
They had only been driving for five minutes when a car at the intersection suddenly veered across the road, blocking their way. Xu Zifan frowned; his bodyguard had already grabbed his arm. But to their surprise, the person who got out of that car was Xu Lili!
Xu Lili, wearing a trench coat and sunglasses, looked noticeably thinner and paler, appearing quite haggard. She stepped forward and whispered, "Zifan, Zifan, I have something to tell you..."
Xu Zifan rolled down the car window and looked at her calmly. Xu Lili lowered her head uncomfortably and adjusted her trench coat. "Can we talk alone?"
"I have nothing to do with you, there's nothing to say."
"Wait! Zifan, I... I'm so sorry, Zifan. I was deceived by Xu Zifeng. He said so many bad things about you to me. I thought... I thought you were just playing with me, so I... I'm sorry, I really know I was wrong..." She took off her sunglasses, looking at Xu Zifan pleadingly, her eyes glistening with tears. "Zifan, give me another chance. I'll never do anything wrong again. I promise I'll love you properly..."
Xu Zifan raised an eyebrow and glanced at her, then sneered, "Xu Zifeng dumped you? That makes sense. He just likes to steal my things. I don't want you anymore, so naturally he's lost interest in you. Xu Lili, are you saying this because I think you're stupid? Come to think of it, I've been so busy lately that I've forgotten about you. Your reappearance just reminds me that I haven't blacklisted you yet. I'll talk to someone later, and you should prepare to leave the entertainment industry."
Xu Lili was horrified and grabbed the window frame, shouting, "You can't do this! No! Don't blacklist me! I've already suffered enough, please don't do this! I'll apologize, I'll do anything you want, I'll kneel down and kowtow to you, please, Zifan, Zifan..."
Xu Zifan coldly rolled up the car window and said to the front, "Drive."
The driver was already prepared, and with a swerve, he swerved past the car blocking the way. Xu Zifan closed his eyes and thought for a moment. He seemed to lack a senior assistant; he really didn't want to do these trivial things himself, it was a waste of time. With that in mind, he asked his bodyguard to recommend a particularly quick-witted colleague. Not all bodyguards are just skilled; some are also clever and resourceful. Xu Zifan hired such a person as his assistant, someone who could both handle tasks and provide him with an extra layer of security—a win-win situation.
The first thing the newly appointed assistant, Xiao Jiang, did was to blacklist Xu Lili. Xu Lili's reputation was already ruined, and the company, trying to exploit her last remaining value, booked two terrible movies and several low-brow gigs for her while she still had some buzz, squandering her remaining popularity. She sought help from Xu Zifeng, but he turned his back on her and even mocked her. Only then did she regret her poor judgment in coming to Xu Zifan for help. This time, Xiao Jiang also ruined Xu Lili's last remaining jobs, making it clear throughout the entertainment industry that Xu Lili was unusable; she was completely blacklisted.