552 Competitive Environment

Right as he approached the club entrance, Lou Cheng was greeted by a lean and swarthy youth with a side-parted haircut. He began in a thick Guangnan accent,

"Hello, Mr Lou. I'm Huang Bin. The car is ready and waiting for you at the entrance."

"Thank you," said Lou Cheng politely.

"You don't have to be so formal. It's my job," replied Huang Bin, beaming. He turned and led the way, guiding Lou Cheng out of the entrance and into a jet-black multi-purpose vehicle.

Lou Cheng studied his surroundings with perfunctory glances. The interior design was themed around mellow yellow, and the front and rear seats were separated by a curtain and partition. It was more luxurious than the ride he had that morning. Communication was done through walkie-talkies to ensure absolute privacy. At the bar, there was a shelf containing vintage wines. The refrigerator had two layers, one containing cooled drinks and the other containing ice cubes and ice-cream.