<h4>Chapter 53: Chapter 53: Whip and Candy</h4><h4></h4>


    At noon, Lin Fan arrived at the entrance of a high-end residentialplex ording to the agreed time.


    And Zhang Caini, who was driving a Porsche, had already been waiting there. Seeing Lin Fan’s arrival, she then stepped out of the car in her high heels.


    "I thought you would’ve been too legless to move, but it seems you’re still alright. The ’First Gold Gun’ really does live up to its reputation."


    Zhang Caini, dressed in a backless outfit and wearing oversized sunsses, smiled and eyed Lin Fan.


    "Sister Cai Ni, stop teasing me... I really drank too muchst night, I don’t remember anything."


    Lin Fan scratched his head awkwardly as he spoke.


    "It’s okay if you don’t remember, I’ll help you recall."


    Zhang Caini smiled as she handed her phone to Lin Fan, whose face froze as he opened the video.


    He saw himself, drunk and half-lying on a sofa, while a group of girls in JK skirts studied his body in a circle, some even climbing on top of him. They took turns, and despite the blurry eyesight, Lin Fan’s resolve remained unwavering and unchallenged. No matter what they tried, he simply wouldn’t fall.


    Such an absurd scene, utterly unbelievable if just spoken of, was clearly captured in the video, including his face and many details, all vividly remembered. The chaotic scene now seemed like a carefullyid, just waiting for Lin Fan to tumble into it.


    "Who filmed this video?"


    Lin Fan closed the phone, but he made no attempt to delete the video, knowing that Zhang Caini holding it meant this was not the only copy. It was akin to the USB drive that Chen Jiayi held, while he himself had be a bargaining chip for Zhu Defu to protect himself.


    "You don’t need to ask who, because this undoubtedly involves Zhu Defu’s intentions, and he even specifically instructed me to let you enjoy it. This is clearly a small warning, a light whip tosh you with. After all, even as Deputy County Magistrate, this video is enough to destroy you. Hence, he wants you to understand that he holds the power over your life and death."


    Zhang Cainiughed as she put the phone back in her purse and then wrapped her arms around Lin Fan’s arm: "You don’t need to worry too much. If you want to mix in these circles, you have to put your fate into someone else’s hands, don’t you? Everyone needs to have some bargaining chips to exchange. It’s normal, and although this little whipping might sting, there will definitely be candy to make you forget the pain."


    "So, you’re that candy?"


    Lin Fan looked at Zhang Caini. Everything was just as Chen Jiayi had said. As women of influence, they seem to be very ustomed to these things. But recalling that Zhao Jiaqi had something on Zhu Defu, he realized he didn’t have much to worry about.


    "Stop it, I can’t just inly offer myself as candy for you, otherwise, you wouldn’t need to go take your post in the town."


    Zhang Caini rolled her eyes and said to Lin Fan, "The candy is inside,e with me."


    As the two entered the high-end residentialplex, Zhang Caini led Lin Fan to a door, and with her key, she opened it, revealing a five-bedroom, one-living-room apartment that was already furnished.


    "Is this your house?"


    Lin Fan looked at the newly renovated house in front of him and asked out of curiosity,


    "It’s your house."


    Zhang Cai Ni smiled and handed the keys directly to Lin Fan before saying, "Didn’t I tell you? After the whipes the candy. Old Zhu knew you were renting outside, so he asked me to give this house to you. From now on, it’s yours."


    "Give away a house just like that?"


    Lin Fan looked at the house in front of him, including bedding which was fully furnished, with an area of at least two hundred square meters. Beyond the huge French windowsy the beautiful cityscape.


    "Of course, the developer couldn’t have advanced smoothly without Old Zhu’swork of connections. It’s only right for him to give away a couple of houses as part of the deal. Of course, for certain reasons, the property can’t be transferred to your name, but rest assured, no one wille to dispute your residency."


    Zhang Cai Ni, noticing Lin Fan’s puzzlement, smiled and exined, "Now you should understand what the true officialdom is like. Every move is strategic; one misstep and it’s all over. Just like Mayor Hou, who’s in deep trouble despite being the top official. As an official, it’s not enough to have connections; you must also be adaptable. But most importantly, self-preservation is key. Only if you survive do you have a chance for revenge."


    "I understand."


    Sitting down heavily on the plush sofa, Lin Fan reached out and took Zhang Cai Ni’s hand, "Thank you for helping me so much and sharing all this with me. I won’t forget the kindness you’ve shown me."


    "You smooth-talker. In the battlefield of officialdom, one wrong step can lead to doom. With Old Zhu protecting you, you should be safe for now. I’ll do my best to influence in your favor from the sidelines, but how you proceed from here on out is up to you."


    Zhang Cai Ni pulled out a slim cigarette, took a puff, then ced it in Lin Fan’s mouth.


    "I will work doubly hard."


    Lin Fan’s hand slipped through the opening of Zhang Cai Ni’s backless dress and grabbed her slender waist, pulling her tender body into his arms.


    "Do you feel like the real world has be a bit unreal these days?"


    Zhang Cai Ni whispered in his ear with a smile, "That only proves that everything you’ve seen before was too well disguised. Thew of the jungle has always been the unchanged rule of the game. If you don’t want to get eaten, you need to strive to be stronger, to prey on the smaller fish. And once you step onto this path, there’s no turning back. Not making an effort, even merely standing still is retreat. At your level now, everyone has a background. How you make your way out of this and prey on others requires brains."


    "Right now, I only want to ’eat’ you."


    Lin Fan looked at Zhang Cai Ni with a teasing smile, and before she could speak, he pinned her down, with his hands wildly kneading her exceptionally full figure.


    In just a few moments, Zhang Cai Ni began to gasp for breath, and gripping Lin Fan’s solid arms, the rock-like sensation made her eyes grow hazy. "You little scoundrel, you still haven’t had your fill of this decadent life. If you had yed your cards earlier, maybe by now you would have be the office director."


    "It’s not toote to y my cards now. You know my depth, and I know your length; isn’t that a match made in heaven?"


    Lin Fan said with a cheeky smile as he spread Zhang Cai Ni’s legs. The redce hardly stopped his advance, and while feeling Zhang Cai Ni melting into a puddle beneath him, Chen Jiayi’s words shed through his mind.


    "Zhang Cai Ni is definitely your best chess piece. Secure her, and you’ll add an extrayer of insurance. If you ever have to turn against Zhu Defu in the future, she might also be a surprise move. Therefore, you need to use your exceptional talents andpletely ’devour’ her!"