《Invincible Young Master in the City》 Chapter 1 - 1 001 Four Years Apart ?1: Chapter 001: Four Years Apart 1: Chapter 001: Four Years Apart Li Zhaojun, Chairman and CEO of Emali Group, the number one beauty of Hua Hai City, with a net worth of over a billion, was decisive and commanding¡ªquite the queenly presence. However, when Ye Fan first laid eyes on this woman, a beauty with brains and the woman of countless men¡¯s dreams, his mood soured instantly. ¡°Remember, even though we are legally married, you live your life, and I¡¯ll live mine¡ªno interference,¡± Li Zhaojun told Ye Fan. She sat on the white leather couch, wearing a light-colored business suit, her slender waist and stunningly beautiful face cold as frost. Ye Fan nodded in total agreement, breathing a sigh of relief as he said, ¡°I couldn¡¯t agree more with that suggestion.¡± As the saying goes, ¡®A woman three years older than you is like a block of gold,¡¯ but when a woman is four years older, it¡¯s a different story altogether. ¡°I live on the second floor, you live on the first, and unless I invite you, you are not to set foot upstairs!¡± Li Zhaojun stated authoritatively, and without waiting for Ye Fan¡¯s response, she rose from the sofa and walked gracefully and elegantly toward the staircase. Ye Fan watched her silhouette, her long hair curled and cascading over her shoulders, her figure stunningly beautiful from behind. Snapping out of it, Ye Fan averted his gaze and shook his head in self-mockery. ¡°If it¡¯s just about the hunt, she indeed is a top-notch catch, but as for a wife¡­ well, I prefer someone a year or two younger than myself.¡± ¡­ ¡­ At five in the morning, Ye Fan suddenly woke up, flipping out of bed with a gaze sharp as a hawk or a tiger, rapidly scanning his surroundings. Slap! He smacked his forehead, relaxing completely, and muttered, ¡°Geez, how could I forget I¡¯m back in the country, not the perilous African continent or the war-torn Middle East. Sleep, back to sleep.¡± Saying this, he yawned, threw himself back onto the bed, and closed his eyes, quickly falling back into a dream where he continued to flirt with the beautiful granddaughter of Lord Zhou. Who would have thought that the fearsome leader of China¡¯s Dragon Group and the ¡®King of Soldier¡¯¡ªBlack Dragon¡ªcould be so young, just reaching China¡¯s legal marriage age of twenty-two, and sleeping so peacefully and quietly at this moment. He slept soundly, a bit longer than usual; when Ye Fan woke again, it was already past nine in the morning. Taking his time washing up and after enjoying the hearty breakfast prepared by Aunt Liao, the housekeeper, Ye Fan then remembered that he had to go to work. Well then, off to work. Ye Fan drove out of his complex in an old Alto he¡¯d picked up from a second-hand market, his car chugging along like a slow old ox. He couldn¡¯t help but notice the strange looks from the security guards. No wonder, though. Yulin Bay was a well-known high-end residential area in Hua Hai City, where every car was either a luxury vehicle or at the very least an Audi Q7 valued at nearly a million. Even if his Alto had been new, it was worth only a little over fifty thousand, not to mention it was second-hand. But Ye Fan just smiled faintly, completely indifferent to the odd looks from the guards. Driving leisurely through the traffic for half an hour, a grand and luxurious building came into view with ¡°Emali Group¡± written in giant gilded letters¡ªvisible from a long distance. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°This woman has quite the head for business, managing to run such a large publicly-traded company,¡± Ye Fan commented indifferently, turning the steering wheel to the right as he exited the flow of traffic, heading toward the underground parking of Emali Group. He had been assigned to work in Li Zhaojun¡¯s company as arranged by their parents, in an attempt to increase their time together to foster a good marital relationship and, eventually, to have children¡­ Taking the elevator straight to the sixth floor, where the Administration and Human Resources Department were located. Soon, he arrived at the sixth floor. Stepping out of the elevator, Ye Fan turned left, walking down the corridor towards his office. ¡°Ye Fan, you¡¯re late again!¡± a crisp, sharp reprimand suddenly came from behind. A lazy smile spread across Ye Fan¡¯s face as he leisurely turned around, seeing an angry pretty girl in an OL (office lady) uniform marching towards him. The girl¡¯s eyes were large and bright, and right now, they were shooting an intimidating glare at the lazy smile on Ye Fan¡¯s face, with a trace of exasperated anger in her eyes. ¡°You¡¯ve only been at work for three days and you¡¯ve been late every single day¡ªand not just slightly late. This time I¡¯m reporting it to Manager Cao, no matter what,¡± the girl said angrily. The first two times, she had given him some well-intentioned advice, seeing that Ye Fan was a veteran who had difficulty finding work, but he had completely disregarded it. This made her feel as if her kindness was being trampled heartlessly. Looking at the girl¡¯s slightly reddened cute face from being angry, Ye Fan thought she looked adorable when angry, and couldn¡¯t help thinking, ¡°If only my wife were her, how great that would be. Even if she didn¡¯t like me to begin with, I would pursue her with all I¡¯ve got.¡± ¡°You¡¯re still smiling, you¡¯re still smiling!¡± the girl fumed, visibly trembling with rage, ¡°Don¡¯t you have any ambition at all?¡± Having enjoyed her indignation enough, Ye Fan quickly put away his smile and pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Xiaoman. I didn¡¯t mean to be late. I left the house at six this morning, but just as I was leaving the complex, my car broke down.¡± ¡°If your car broke down, couldn¡¯t you take a bus or a taxi to work?¡± Lu Xiaoman interrogated, ¡°Excuses!¡± Ye Fan put on a helpless and frustrated expression and said, ¡°That¡¯s what I thought too. But the mechanic told me he could fix it in a few minutes. At the time I thought it was worth the wait, so I waited for the car to be repaired. But it wasn¡¯t fixed until half-past nine.¡± Chapter 2 - 2 001 Four Years Apart_2 ?2: Chapter 001: Four Years Apart_2 2: Chapter 001: Four Years Apart_2 ¡°Xiaoman, please forgive me this one more time; I definitely won¡¯t be late again. I¡¯ll head to work at five o¡¯clock tomorrow morning,¡± he said, patting his chest. ¡°Hmph!¡± Lu Xiaoman snorted disdainfully and blocked Ye Fan¡¯s path. ¡°Do you think I would believe you again? This time I must report you to Manager Cao for handling!¡± ¡°Xiaoman, you can¡¯t do this,¡± Ye Fan immediately put on a pitiful look and said, ¡°I¡¯m just a worthless ex-soldier with no education or diploma; it¡¯s not easy to find a job. If you tell Manager Cao, he will definitely fire me. Please have mercy and let me off just this once.¡± Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s pitiful appearance, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s heart softened somewhat. After thinking it over for a while, her tone softened as she said, ¡°But you can¡¯t be late every day. Even if you can¡¯t manage to be outstanding at work, you should at least be on time, right?¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, you¡¯re absolutely right, Xiaoman. From now on, I¡¯ll definitely be on time, no more being late or leaving early,¡± Ye Fan said quickly, putting on a smile as he followed her lead. In his heart, he laughed secretly, thinking that this girl was too naive and too easy to deceive. He then asked, ¡°So, this time¡­¡± Not in good spirits, Lu Xiaoman waved her hand and said, ¡°I¡¯ll cover for you just this once, but don¡¯t let it happen again!¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you, Xiaoman, you¡¯re really kind. To thank you, can I invite you to dinner tonight?¡± Ye Fan said with a happy smile. Lu Xiaoman smiled reluctantly and said, ¡°We can talk about dinner later. You¡¯ve just started working; you probably even have trouble affording your own meals.¡± ¡°Who says!¡± Ye Fan immediately puffed up his chest, as if he felt insulted and said excitedly, ¡°When I was discharged, the army gave me fifty thousand yuan as discharge pay!¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t hold back a laugh and giggled, her hand covering her mouth. Clearly, she had been amused. She was naturally beautiful, young and vivacious. As she smiled, it was as if she radiated charm, lighting up the entire corridor. Ye Fan was momentarily entranced and praised her, ¡°Xiaoman, you¡¯re really beautiful.¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face turned slightly red; she quickly suppressed her smile and sternly said, ¡°Nonsense. Get back to the office to work.¡± Just then, a voice as grating as a drake¡¯s quacked, ¡°Xiaoman.¡± Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman turned their heads to see a portly bald middle-aged man with a big beer belly walking toward them. His gaze lingered on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s fine figure and delicate face, while Ye Fan was completely ignored. As the bald middle-aged man approached, Lu Xiaoman clasped her hands in front of herself cautiously and greeted, ¡°Hello, Manager He,¡± showing careful caution. He Jiaqiang¡¯s sleazy gaze roamed over Lu Xiaoman¡¯s figure before settling on her face, nodded with some satisfaction, ¡°Hmm.¡± At that moment, Ye Fan called out lazily, ¡°Hello Deputy Manager He.¡± He Jiaqiang¡¯s face darkened immediately, his gaze sharply swept over Ye Fan as he hummed angrily. Ye Fan was not scared at all and deliberately muttered under his breath, ¡°He¡¯s just a deputy manager, I didn¡¯t call it wrong. What¡¯s there to be angry about?¡± His voice was neither too loud nor too soft, just enough for the three people present to hear. Frightened, Lu Xiaoman quickly tugged on Ye Fan¡¯s clothes to keep him from speaking out of turn. He Jiaqiang, seething with rage, pointed a finger at Ye Fan and berated, ¡°Who do you think you are, daring to make up stories about your leaders here!¡± Slap! Ye Fan slapped He Jiaqiang¡¯s finger away and said coldly, ¡°And what are you, a cur?¡± A tangible aura of murderous intent suddenly burst forth from his eyes, enveloping He Jiaqiang. As the former head of China¡¯s Dragon Group, known as Black Dragon, the ¡®King of Soldiers,¡¯ how could he tolerate someone pointing at him and scolding him? For a moment, He Jiaqiang felt frozen to the core, stiff in limbs, his mind blank, as if facing the grim reaper himself. However, in the next instant, Lu Xiaoman quickly pulled Ye Fan behind her, put on a placating smile, and said to He Jiaqiang, ¡°Manager He, please don¡¯t be angry. He¡¯s only been working here for three days and isn¡¯t familiar with the rules. It¡¯s my fault for not coaching him well, so if you want to blame anyone, blame me.¡± It turned out that in the first few days of Ye Fan¡¯s employment, it was Lu Xiaoman who had been guiding him through the work processes and company environment. The murderous aura arrived swiftly and dissipated just as quickly, leaving He Jiaqiang sighing with relief, thinking it had been an illusion. However, he still felt a bit wary of Ye Fan in his heart. Taking advantage of that feeling, He Jiaqiang snorted coldly, and with feigned magnanimity, he said, ¡°Let it go this time, but get back to work now!¡± Of course, in his mind, he was plotting to find a reason to fire Ye Fan later. Hmph, how dare he talk back to a leader! ¡°Thank you for being so magnanimous, Manager He,¡± Lu Xiaoman said, pulling Ye Fan away quickly. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t bear to dismiss Lu Xiaoman¡¯s kindness, so he temporarily endured the situation. Besides, if things really blew up, his identity would have been easily exposed. He had reached a three-chapter agreement with Li Zhaojun, and one of them was not to reveal their relationship within the company. Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t want anyone in her company to know that Ye Fan was her ¡°little husband,¡± and Ye Fan didn¡¯t want anyone to know that Li Zhaojun was his wife. ¡°Wait!¡± He Jiaqiang called out. Lu Xiaoman and Ye Fan stopped in their tracks and turned around. Looking down from his superior position, He Jiaqiang pointed at Ye Fan and commanded, ¡°You go back to work immediately. Xiaoman, come to my office.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Xiaoman responded, her voice trembling slightly as though she was afraid of going to He Jiaqiang¡¯s office. Then, to Ye Fan she said, ¡°Ye Fan, you go back to work first. I¡¯ll go to Manager He¡¯s office and then come back.¡± Ye Fan didn¡¯t think much of it, he agreed and casually walked back to his office. Lu Xiaoman, with trepidation, followed He Jiaqiang into his office. After closing the door, He Jiaqiang sat in his large office chair, arrogantly sticking out his belly as if eight months pregnant, his beady eyes lasciviously scanning Lu Xiaoman¡¯s chest and lovely face. Lu Xiaoman stood in front of the desk, her posture reserved and tense, her head bowed low, not daring to look at He Jiaqiang. After a while, having had his fill of ogling, He Jiaqiang said languidly, ¡°Xiaoman, have you thought it over?¡± ¡°Sorry, I¡­ Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I don¡¯t know what you¡¯re referring to,¡± Lu Xiaoman said nervously. ¡°Ha ha,¡± He Jiaqiang laughed weirdly, ¡°Playing dumb with your brother, huh?¡± He was old enough to be Lu Xiaoman¡¯s father, yet he insisted on calling himself her brother in front of her. He paused, then continued, ¡°Be my mistress, and I guarantee you¡¯ll rise through the ranks in the company. You know, my uncle is the vice president of the group, very powerful. Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for turning my back on you and kicking you out of the company!¡± ¡°Emali Group pays well and provides good benefits, not to mention the opportunities for promotion. Jobs like this are hard to come by. You must have gone through a lot of competition to get it,¡± he added, emphasizing the importance of the job to Lu Xiaoman. ¡°I won¡¯t be your mistress!¡± Although Lu Xiaoman appeared weak, her tone was clear and firm. ¡°Humph!¡± He Jiaqiang snorted displeasedly. Standing up, he walked around the desk to Lu Xiaoman, leaning over her with an intimidating look as he pressed, ¡°You really won¡¯t do it?! Understand that my patience has limits. So many women wish they could be my mistress but can¡¯t, don¡¯t be ungrateful!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t do it!¡± Lu Xiaoman firmly refused again. He Jiaqiang greedily stared at Lu Xiaoman and said, ¡°Just agree, and I promise to promote you within the year.¡± As he said this, he moved closer to Lu Xiaoman with ill intent. Lu Xiaoman, frightened, quickly stepped back and shouted with a warning tone, ¡°Manager He, please respect yourself. If you make another move, I will shout!¡± He Jiaqiang had no choice but to stop, annoyed, he threw up his hands and shamelessly said, ¡°Since you don¡¯t appreciate my kindness, don¡¯t blame me for being ruthless!¡± ¡°You have to persuade those three security guards from the security department to leave within two days. If you haven¡¯t persuaded those three to leave when it¡¯s reported to the higher-ups two days later, heh, prepare to be fired!¡± He Jiaqiang declared. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face turned pale as she said, ¡°You¡¯re driving me into a corner.¡± ¡°Exactly, I am driving you into a corner!¡± He Jiaqiang said with satisfaction, ¡°Either be my mistress or pack up and get out of Emali Group!¡± As it turned out, during a recent security recruitment, the HR department had mistakenly hired three guards from the Sky Wolf Security Company. Sky Wolf Security Company was an organization masquerading as a security provider but was actually a front for a criminal syndicate, extorting protection fees from malls, internet cafes, hotels, and companies. The guards from Sky Wolf Security Company were nothing but thugs and layabouts. The HR department¡¯s blunder of hiring people from Sky Wolf Security Company was a serious dereliction of duty, and they didn¡¯t dare let the group¡¯s upper management find out. They were fully suppressing the matter, hoping to quietly resolve the crisis by getting rid of the three menaces from Sky Wolf Security Company through departmental efforts. Asking a young woman who had just graduated from college and had only been working for a year to persuade members of the criminal syndicate away was practically impossible, and might even endanger herself ¨C how cruel and malicious. Chapter 3 - 3 002 Making a Move ?3: Chapter 002: Making a Move 3: Chapter 002: Making a Move Lu Xiaoman walked out of He Jiaqiang¡¯s office with a pale face, her spirits completely shattered as she returned to her own office. Ye Fan, who was idly browsing the web with his legs crossed, immediately stood up upon noticing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s unusual state and approached with concern, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, what¡¯s wrong? Did that bastard He Jiaqiang bully you?¡± ¡°Wow¡ª¡± Lu Xiaoman could no longer contain her grievances and, sitting down at her desk, buried her face in her arms and began sobbing sadly. The salary and benefits at the Emali Group were very good, and she indeed cared deeply about her job. A few months ago, her mother was diagnosed with breast cancer, and the surgeries and chemotherapy had depleted all the family¡¯s savings. Now, her mother¡¯s breast cancer was still not cured and needed a lot of money for further treatment. However, her father was just an ordinary worker on the brink of retirement, earning only two thousand yuan a month. Thus, the financial burden of treating her mother¡¯s breast cancer mostly fell on her. At this critical juncture, she absolutely could not afford to lose this well-paying job. If she lost this job, finding another one with a comparable salary would be challenging to say the least, not to mention finding one immediately. It could take a month, three months, or even half a year. Without a job, there would be no money. Without money, her mother¡¯s breast cancer treatment could not continue, the condition would worsen, and in the end, her mother would die. Listening to Lu Xiaoman¡¯s helpless cries and seeing her slender shoulders quivering with each sob, so pitiful and helpless, Ye Fan became distressed and felt an urge to protect her. He walked over, gently patted her chiseled delicate shoulders, and asked softly, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, what exactly happened? Tell me, maybe I can help.¡± S§×arch* The novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Upon hearing Ye Fan¡¯s words, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s crying paused, but then she thought that Ye Fan had just joined the company, was even less capable than her; how could he protect her? How could he outfight He Jiaqiang? Moreover, as a former soldier, Ye Fan might be able to handle a couple of gangsters, but how could he stand against an underworld organization like Sky Wolf Security Company? With these thoughts, she resumed her helpless sobbing. Ye Fan, seeing that Lu Xiaoman refused to speak and was crying so sadly, became furious and declared, ¡°I¡¯m going to slaughter that He Jiaqiang right now!¡± With that, he turned and stormed out of the office. Lu Xiaoman, startled, jumped up, casting aside her sorrows and hurriedly grabbed Ye Fan¡¯s hand. ¡°Ye Fan, don¡¯t go, he didn¡¯t really bully me,¡± Lu Xiaoman pleaded, her beautiful eyes swollen and her pretty face stained with tears. Ye Fan halted, still angry, and said, ¡°If he didn¡¯t bully you, then why are you crying after coming from his office? Don¡¯t worry, if I fight him, he won¡¯t dare to even fart!¡± With that, he was intent on confronting He Jiaqiang again. Lu Xiaoman immediately continued to clutch at him, grasping forcefully. ¡°He really didn¡¯t bully me,¡± Lu Xiaoman said hastily, ¡°He just gave me a task, and I became upset because I feel I can¡¯t complete it.¡± ¡°What task? Tell me, maybe I can help,¡± Ye Fan confidently offered. ¡°The task is¡­¡± Lu Xiaoman sniffled, realizing she was crying like a little kitten, which seemed very unladylike, so she turned away and took out a tissue to wipe her tears and compose herself. After a while, Lu Xiaoman turned back to face Ye Fan. Ye Fan could still see the slight redness around her eyes and a trace of sadness lingering under her large eyes, stirring a sense of pity in his heart. Lu Xiaoman managed to squeeze out a faint smile and said, ¡°This task is rather complicated; let¡¯s sit down and talk about it.¡± After they sat down, Lu Xiaoman explained the task to Ye Fan. She dared only reveal to Ye Fan the task that He Jiaqiang was forcing her to do; she didn¡¯t dare tell him about being pressured to become his underground mistress. For one, she didn¡¯t believe Ye Fan had the capability to deal with He Jiaqiang. Secondly, she was worried that if Ye Fan spread the word, and others in the company found out, He Jiaqiang would surely exert all his power to kick her out of the company, leaving her no chance to return. After hearing about the task, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but curse, ¡°He Jiaqiang is really a bastard, making a delicate girl deal with the underworld!¡± ¡°But¡ª¡± he immediately laughed confidently, ¡°The Sky Wolf Security Company is nothing significant, daring to be so brash as to extort protection money from my, uh, our company, that¡¯s intolerable!¡± Finishing his statement, he stood up, ¡°Come on, let¡¯s get those three Sky Wolf Security Company trash out of the company first!¡± ¡°Ye Fan, they¡¯re not just three people,¡± Lu Xiaoman said with hesitation. ¡°Behind them is the Sky Wolf Security Company. They have a large influence, many thugs, and are extremely vicious. Many companies and stores have been forced to pay them protection money and don¡¯t dare speak up against it. If you really fight them, the trouble will be huge. You can only try to reason with them nicely.¡± The HR department had held several meetings to discuss the matter, unanimously believing that the Sky Wolf Security Company was not to be provoked. The only option was to seek outside connections to plead for help and to offer a payoff, so the three guards from Sky Wolf would leave on their own. However, they¡¯d sought many connections, none of whom had any influence. Ye Fan waved her concerns away with unquestionable confidence, ¡°Chairman Mao once said, when the wolves come, we have rifles. How can we be bullied to our doorstep and still try to reason? Just listen to me on this; I can definitely take care of that pack of bitches from Sky Wolf!¡± Seeing the confidence in Ye Fan¡¯s tone, Lu Xiaoman found herself subconsciously believing him a bit, thinking to herself, ¡°Since I can¡¯t persuade the three guards of Sky Wolf Security Company to leave, and neither can HR, and in a couple of days when this can¡¯t be covered up anymore, it will be reported to the corporate higher-ups, they will be furious for sure, and I¡¯ll be pushed out by He Jiaqiang as a scapegoat and dismissed. Might as well let Ye Fan give it a try; there¡¯s at least a glimmer of hope.¡± Chapter 4 - 4 002 Action_2 ?4: Chapter 002 Action_2 4: Chapter 002 Action_2 Thinking of this, she made up her mind and stood up, saying, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll take you to the security department to find those three security guards.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s more like it!¡± Ye Fan laughed heartily, striding out of the office following Lu Xiaoman to the security department in search of Sky Wolf Security Company¡¯s three guards. The security department was on the third floor. Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman took the elevator to the third floor and once they exited, Lu Xiaoman led the way, saying, ¡°They¡¯re usually in office 308.¡± Ye Fan nodded and marched towards office 308. Halfway there, they were met by a middle-aged man in a security uniform coming towards them. The middle-aged man had a burly stature, a straight back, and forceful steps, all of which suggested he had once been a soldier. However, the man no longer carried the imposing air of a soldier, his head hung slightly, dark circles under his eyes, his brows knitted tightly together, clearly preoccupied with heavy thoughts. When he saw Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman approaching, he gathered some energy and managed to muster a smile, greeting, ¡°Xiao Lu.¡± ¡°Captain Zhao,¡± Lu Xiaoman quickened her pace to meet him and replied. ¡°Are you here to persuade those three?¡± asked Zhao Gang. Lu Xiaoman nodded. At that moment, Ye Fan walked up beside Lu Xiaoman and gave Zhao Gang a glance. ¡°Who is this¡­¡± Zhao Gang asked Lu Xiaoman. Lu Xiaoman quickly introduced, ¡°This is Ye Fan from our human resources department. Ye Fan, this is Captain Zhao Gang, the head of the security department.¡± ¡°Hello, Captain Zhao,¡± greeted Ye Fan. Zhao Gang nodded in response, ¡°Hello, Ye Fan.¡± After greeting Ye Fan, Zhao Gang continued to speak to Lu Xiaoman, ¡°You don¡¯t need to work on the minds of those three; they can¡¯t decide anything. The key lies with Sky Wolf Security Company.¡± ¡°Sigh, as if I didn¡¯t know. But the Sky Wolf Security Company is like a den of thieves, and I really dare not enter. So, I can only try with those three.¡± Lu Xiaoman sighed and added, ¡°By the way, have you guys found a way to get a message up through your connections?¡± ¡°No, sigh¡ª¡± Zhao Gang shook his head and sighed deeply. He knew he, Zhao Gang, bore a significant responsibility in the matter of bringing the wolf into the house. If he could no longer cover it up, and the company¡¯s senior management investigated, he would no longer be able to hold his position as captain. He then said, ¡°Sky Wolf Security Company has massive influence; I¡¯ve heard they¡¯re even protected by someone from the police department at the city level. These past few days, I¡¯ve found out that quite a few large companies have been forced to pay protection fees to Sky Wolf Security Company, including Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group.¡± Hearing this, Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but inhale sharply, her beautiful face turning two shades paler, feeling even less confident about persuading Sky Wolf Security Company. ¡°Are the Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group very powerful?¡± Ye Fan interjected. He had recently arrived in Hua Hai and was unfamiliar with the business ecosystem of the city. ¡°Of course, they¡¯re powerful,¡± asserted Zhao Gang, ¡°Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group are the leading enterprises in the Qingyang and Xinyang districts of Hua Hai City. They have been in operation for many years, not only with strong financial resources but also with deep-rooted connections. Our Emali Group, although a listed company, is still a newcomer, and in terms of financial resources and foundations, we can¡¯t compare with Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group.¡± Then, he sighed again and said, ¡°Even if the group¡¯s senior management knows about it, they probably can¡¯t do anything. Sky Wolf Security Company has already decided to collect a protection fee from our group.¡± He paused, then revealed, ¡°Perhaps you don¡¯t know, but behind Sky Wolf Security Company is the Green Wolf Gang.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but cry out in fear, stepping back two steps while her eyes filled with dread. ¡°What¡¯s wrong? Is the Green Wolf Gang that terrifying?¡± Ye Fan asked, frowning. ¡°Extremely terrifying,¡± Zhao Gang said. ¡°The Green Wolf Gang is one of the four major underground organizations in Hua Hai City, with Qingyang District and Xinyang District under their control. The Green Wolf Gang has always been brutal, and no one dares to offend them; even the police have to be extremely cautious.¡± Fearfully, Lu Xiaoman said, ¡°Last year, my cousin had a conflict with someone from the Green Wolf Gang because his girlfriend was harassed. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Unexpectedly, on the third day, my cousin was killed by people from the Green Wolf Gang, and his girlfriend was gang-raped by them. My aunt and uncle were devastated, they reported to the police, but the police couldn¡¯t find any evidence against the Green Wolf Gang, and the case remains unsolved to this day.¡± ¡°Ye Fan, if we can¡¯t complete the task, I¡¯ll just resign. You must not provoke the Green Wolf Gang,¡± Lu Xiaoman pleaded. ¡°How can that be? A sword drawn must not return bloodless!¡± proclaimed Ye Fan, stepping boldly towards office 308. Zhao Gang was shocked, and quickly asked Lu Xiaoman, ¡°What does he mean?¡± ¡°He said he¡¯s going to throw those three men out,¡± Lu Xiaoman replied hastily, as she anxiously chased after Ye Fan, trying to stop him. Zhao Gang¡¯s face changed drastically too, and he immediately took off after Ye Fan while shouting loudly, ¡°Ye Fan, don¡¯t be reckless!¡± But they had all been too late. Ye Fan took two paces in three strides to office 308, and immediately kicked open the office door with a foot. Bang! The office door was kicked open, and Ye Fan saw three astonished and arrogant ugly faces inside. His gaze swept over the room, only to see a complete mess. Several office desks were pushed together, cluttered with over a dozen beer bottles and various leftovers, the tabletops stained with grease. The three men from Sky Wolf Security Company were sitting shirtless on their chairs, legs crossed on the desks, holding chicken drumsticks or kebabs in their hands. Seeing this, Ye Fan¡¯s eyes turned icy, and a murderous intent suddenly rose within him. Damn, daring to run wild in my wife¡¯s company! ¡°Kid, tired of living, huh? Daring to disturb your grandpas here!¡± one of the Sky Wolf security guards reacted, flew into a rage, jumped off his chair, and arrogantly yelled, slapping the table. The other two Sky Wolf security guards also stood up, their expressions arrogant and their gaze directed menacingly at Ye Fan. Ye Fan clenched his fists, ready to knock down these three pieces of trash, when Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang finally caught up. Lu Xiaoman grabbed Ye Fan and started pulling him out while urgently apologizing to the three Sky Wolf guards, ¡°Sorry, sorry, he walked into the wrong office.¡± ¡°Brother Cheng, Brother Jie, Brother Bao, I really apologize. He just joined the company today and walked into the wrong office. Please continue, we won¡¯t bother you,¡± Zhao Gang also said with a sheepish smile. At the same time, he tried to drag Ye Fan out as well. However, no matter how hard Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang tried, as if using all their might, Ye Fan didn¡¯t budge an inch. ¡°Hold on!¡± One of the security guards, who was called Brother Jie, arrogantly shouted, ¡°You think a simple sorry is enough after disrupting our drinking pleasure?¡± ¡°Heh heh, definitely not, certainly not.¡± Zhao Gang, a tall and stern man, was now bowing and chuckling, ¡°I¡¯ll host lunch, and I hope Brother Cheng, Brother Jie, and Brother Bao could do me the honor of joining for a meal, okay?¡± Brother Jie arrogantly said, ¡°Honor my ass!¡± ¡°You!¡± he pointed aggressively at Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Pretty girl, you stay and drink with the brothers, and we¡¯ll generously overlook this time!¡± As he spoke, he reached out to grab Lu Xiaoman¡¯s hand. Just as he was about to grab Lu Xiaoman¡¯s fair, delicate hand, suddenly, he felt his wrist clamped down on by an iron vice, unable to move even slightly. He looked up in panic, only to realize Ye Fan had grabbed his hand. As he tried to speak arrogantly and threaten again, his arm was hit with a sharp pain, and a ¡°crack¡± sound of bones breaking was heard. Ah¡ª Brother Jie couldn¡¯t help but scream out loud. Immediately after, Ye Fan fiercely kicked straight into Brother Jie¡¯s stomach. Brother Jie¡¯s screams came to an abrupt halt, and his entire body was kicked several meters away, slamming forcefully against the wall and falling to the ground, unable to get up again. The other two Sky Wolf security guards didn¡¯t expect Ye Fan to suddenly make a move, and by the time they reacted, their companion Brother Jie had already been sent flying by Ye Fan. They quickly grabbed empty beer bottles and swung them at Ye Fan while yelling fiercely with murderous faces, ¡°Dare to hurt our brother, die!¡± The ferocious and brutal aura frightened Lu Xiaoman into covering her face with her hands and screaming in panic. When Lu Xiaoman removed her hands that had been tightly pressed against her pretty face, she found that all three Sky Wolf security guards were lying on the ground, moaning from severe injuries. Looking back at Ye Fan, he stood in the center of the office, tall and proud, with a calm expression, as if nothing had happened. ¡°This is bad, Ye Fan, you¡¯ve caused a huge problem,¡± Zhao Gang collapsed on the floor, speaking with a face so pale it was devoid of any color, ¡°We¡¯ve hit their people, once the Green Wolf gang retaliates, we won¡¯t die but we¡¯ll be skinned!¡± Lu Xiaoman was also filled with fear. Ye Fan turned around and came back with a relaxed smile, unconcerned, ¡°It¡¯s just a shady gang. What¡¯s there to fear? I¡¯ll go check out their lair right now to see what they can do to me!¡± He bent down and picked up the three Sky Wolf security guards as effortlessly as an eagle catching chicks and said to Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, lead the way. We¡¯re going to the Sky Wolf Security Company.¡± He decided to throw the three Sky Wolf security company trash out of the building, not satisfied with just beating them until they couldn¡¯t get up; they had to be dumped outside the group¡¯s perimeter to be done with them. Chapter 5 - 5 003 Ancient Martial Arts Master ?5: Chapter 003: Ancient Martial Arts Master 5: Chapter 003: Ancient Martial Arts Master Ye Fan, Lu Xiaoman, and Zhao Gang arrived across the street from the Sky Wolf Security Company building. Zhao Gang pointed at the building opposite and said, ¡°Ye Fan, that¡¯s the Sky Wolf Security Company.¡± Ye Fan squinted slightly at the large building in front of him. The single-story building covered an area of nearly one thousand square meters and rose to twenty stories, its fa?ade clad in dark blue tempered glass. Brand new, imposing, and modern¡ªthese were Ye Fan¡¯s first impressions. Such a towering building suggested that the Sky Wolf Security Company must have a large staff, at least several thousand people. Looking at the plaza below the building, about twenty to thirty uniformed, burly men stood rigidly in two rows on guard in front of the entrance. Each of these burly men had a fierce quality, their eyes vicious, like tigers and wolves, exuding an almost tangible murderous aura. Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang felt their legs go weak at just one glance and dared not enter the Sky Wolf Security Company for negotiations¡ªit was simply a den of dragons and a pit of tigers. ¡°Let¡¯s go back, Ye Fan,¡± Zhao Gang said, his face pale, his voice trembling, ¡°Sky Wolf Security Company is too terrifying. If we go in like this, they¡¯ll probably eat us up without leaving any bones behind.¡± Lu Xiaoman chimed in, trying to persuade him as well. Ye Fan smiled and slowly shook his head, ¡°Haha, what¡¯s there to be afraid of? These so-called Sky Wolves are nothing but dead dogs in my eyes. Sister Xiaoman, Captain Zhao, you don¡¯t need to come in. Just wait for my message outside.¡± ¡°You, you¡¯re going in alone?¡± Lu Xiaoman widened her eyes and asked, ¡°That¡¯s too dangerous.¡± Zhao Gang continued to urge, ¡°Yes, Ye Fan, being responsible is good, but you have to consider the situation. We shouldn¡¯t risk our lives for just a few thousand yuan in salary¡­¡± ¡°I¡¯ve made up my mind!¡± Ye Fan waved his hand to cut off Zhao Gang, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, Captain Zhao, just wait outside. If I don¡¯t come out after two hours, then call the police.¡± ¡°Though a million foes stand before me, I shall go forth!¡± With that, Ye Fan strode boldly towards the Sky Wolf Security Company building. Watching Ye Fan walk towards the Sky Wolf Security Company building, his tall and upright figure from behind, Lu Xiaoman suddenly felt a sourness in her nose and something spinning in her eyes. ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t have had to risk such great danger,¡± she thought sorrowfully and touchingly in her heart. Zhao Gang too looked up at Ye Fan¡¯s retreating figure, filled with emotion and shame. ¡°Xiaoman, Ye Fan was ex-military, right?¡± he asked. ¡°Mhm,¡± Lu Xiaoman nodded, her voice choked up. ¡°Alas, Ye Fan is impressive, not bringing shame to us ex-military,¡± Zhao Gang said ashamedly, ¡°It¡¯s just a pity that I, Zhao Gang, have become a disgrace.¡± Over ten years after discharge, the bright city life, along with his wife and children, had eroded his fearless passion from his younger days. Lu Xiaoman didn¡¯t respond; all her attention was fixed on Ye Fan. She saw Ye Fan finally reaching the front of the building, stepping through the rows of fierce and watchful security guards and into the building. Her tears blurred her vision and everything around her, but Ye Fan¡¯s figure, bravely entering the danger on her behalf, became even clearer, more majestic in her eyes, burned deep into her heart, never to be forgotten. As Ye Fan walked past those rows of Sky Wolf security guards, he was nonchalant, even a bit flippant, not taking those guards seriously at all. Seeing Ye Fan not only unafraid but even contemptuously whistling, the two rows of guards were enraged. They were accustomed to everyone trying to enter the Sky Wolf Security Company, trembling as they passed them, hardly daring to breathe, some even getting so frightened that they¡¯d collapse halfway. Now, Ye Fan dared to disregard them completely. How could they not be furious? S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Therefore, the two rows of tiger-like guards were bristling with hostility, their faces vicious, eyes bloodshot, rhythmically slapping their black security batons into their palms with a snap, as if they were about to swing them and tear Ye Fan to shreds the next moment. Ye Fan smirked. He had charged through countless bullets and cannons; a mere twenty or thirty pretentious thugs were like playing with mud and sand to him, child¡¯s play. Entering the building, he found a lavishly decorated lobby, with an array of weapons like machetes, clubs, daggers, and swords displayed on either side. Ye Fan shook his head scornfully. The Sky Wolf Security Company was nothing special after all, just a bunch of trinkets to scare children. If they really had any guts, they¡¯d display a couple of AK47s, Uzi submachine guns, and Barrett sniper rifles, the real deal. At that moment, a vicious-looking, tattooed man who seemed to be a subordinate leader approached him with five or six thug-like security guards. He tilted his head up, snorted disdainfully at Ye Fan, and barked arrogantly, ¡°Kid, which mall, bar, or company sent you here?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s glance turned icy, he suddenly stepped forward, and a slap swift as lightning whizzed out. Slap! An exceptionally crisp sound echoed as the tattooed leader was immediately sent flying. The five or six thug-like security guards behind him were taken aback, frozen in place. They never imagined that someone would have the audacity to come in and strike someone. Everyone who came here would be submissive, acting more obedient than a grandchild, easily manipulated by them. For a moment, they couldn¡¯t react. After knocking the tattooed leader away, Ye Fan leisurely dusted off his hands as if the slap had dirtied them. ¡°Hmph, daring to be arrogant in front of me, they really don¡¯t know what death is!¡± His whole body exuded a presence, a bloody, murderous aura that seemed to crawl out from hell itself, enveloping those five or six thug-like security guards. Chapter 6 - 6 003 Ancient Martial Arts Master_2 ?6: Chapter 003 Ancient Martial Arts Master_2 6: Chapter 003 Ancient Martial Arts Master_2 Those five or six thug-like security guards felt as if they had fallen into an ice cellar; their limbs were stiff, cold sweat soaked their backs, and their faces were pale white as they stepped back. ¡°Don¡¯t provoke this guy! The killing aura on him, who knows how many people he has killed.¡± They warned themselves in terror, feeling that facing Ye Fan was scarier than facing their own boss. ¡°Don¡¯t you call your boss over to see me!¡± Ye Fan¡¯s gaze swept over those five or six securities like a blade. Those guards trembled all over as Ye Fan¡¯s gaze passed over them, and one of them was so frightened that he wet himself. ¡°Ri, right away, right away.¡± They quickly responded in fear and immediately opened their pagers to call their superior. At the same time, such a commotion stirred up the entire first floor, and dozens of thug-like security guards quickly surrounded them. It was the first time someone dared to cause trouble in the Sky Wolf Security Company. These guards were both shocked and apprehensive, merely surrounding Ye Fan without daring to make a move. Although Ye Fan was surrounded by a group of fierce-looking security guards, he wasn¡¯t the least bit nervous, standing proudly with a calm demeanor. Soon, there was a sound from the direction of the lobby¡¯s elevator, and the dozens of guards surrounding Ye Fan started shouting, ¡°Brother Xi is coming, Brother Xi is here.¡± The crowd parted to create a path, and a middle-aged man in a black suit and sunglasses came forward, surrounded by a crowd. The man in sunglasses carried a bit of an imposing manner under the spotlight. Stopping more than two meters away from Ye Fan, the man in sunglasses stared at Ye Fan, neither speaking¡ªthe air suddenly became tense. If it were someone else, they might have been overwhelmed by the pressure exerted by the man in sunglasses, but unfortunately, he was facing Ye Fan. Ye Fan let out a laugh and said sarcastically, ¡°Stop pretending! You must be the boss of Sky Wolf Security, right?¡± ¡°How dare you disrespect Brother Xi!¡± shouted a person standing behind the man in sunglasses to his left. Following the shout, that person stepped forward, an aggressive and fierce aura filling the entire hall. Ye Fan glanced at the man, noting his small stature but exceptionally robust body, his thick and powerful long arms, muscles bulging, his triangular eyes bloodshot with a murderous look. ¡°Eh?¡± Ye Fan was slightly surprised, sensing that this person might be skilled and definitely had blood on his hands. However, he remained undaunted, snorted coldly, ¡°I am talking to your boss, not you! Get back!¡± ¡°Is that so? Hehe¡­¡± The man laughed instead of getting angry, his smile filled with a bloody scent, his open mouth and teeth giving the illusion of a beast baring its fangs, ¡°I, Zheng Hu, want to see what qualifications you have to speak to Brother Xi!¡± With that, he stepped forward aggressively. ¡°Bang¡± a sound echoed, and everyone in the hall could feel the ground shake, those with sharp eyes could see the marble under Zheng Hu¡¯s feet crack like a spider web. Ye Fan¡¯s eyes narrowed, seeing Zheng Hu charging like a ferocious tiger, his fist not yet arrived but the punch¡¯s wind did, the air emitted a ¡°crackling¡± sound like the burst of firecrackers, even causing a sonic boom. ¡°Interesting, he¡¯s actually a master of ancient martial arts,¡± commented Ye Fan with a hint of amusement. Instead of retreating, he advanced, throwing a punch both casual and timely. Boom! A deafening explosion ensued, as if a car tire bigger than a man had suddenly burst. At the same time, centered on Ye Fan and Zheng Hu, the breeze blew fiercely, scraping across the faces of those nearby as if sliced by a knife, making their noses choke up, their bodies involuntarily retreating several steps. Not just that, the wind raged through the entire hall, turning everything in the hall into a mess, even the knives, sticks, and daggers placed on both sides of the hall were blown down, as if a twelfth-level hurricane had passed. Ahh¡ª A scream tore through people¡¯s eardrums, Zheng Hu¡¯s exceptionally stout body was hurled out, knocking down five or six thug-like security guards behind him, yet his body didn¡¯t stop until it finally ¡°banged¡± against a wall six or seven meters away. Everyone in the hall was unbelievably shocked, unable to believe the ferocity of a single punch. Was this a scene from an ancient martial arts movie? Zheng Hu crashed against the wall and fell to the ground, spitting out a mouthful of fresh blood. He looked at Ye Fan, who remained calm, in terror and incredulously asked, ¡°Are you, are you a master of dark energy?¡± Inadvertently, he had switched to a respectful form of address. Ye Fan stood with his arms crossed, enigmatic as he responded, ¡°What do you think?¡± By then, everyone in the hall had snapped out of their shock, gasping in awe and stepping back rapidly as if seeing a monster, distancing themselves from Ye Fan. Brother Xi, wearing sunglasses, completely lost his previous swagger and rushed anxiously to Zheng Hu¡¯s side, asking nervously, ¡°Brother Zheng, are you alright?¡± After being helped up by two security thugs, Zheng Hu pressed his voice and said, ¡°Brother Xi, I¡¯m sorry I¡¯m powerless. You¡¯d better meet all his demands.¡± ¡°What?!¡± Brother Xi was utterly shocked, his complexion wholly changed. Zheng Hu was a top fighter whom he had recruited at great expense. He knew well that not only was Zheng Hu highly skilled in martial arts, but he also had a ferocious nature and was fearless. Now, just a single punch had crushed Zheng Hu¡¯s courage. ¡°No way!¡± Brother Xi protested, ¡°He dares to run wild on my turf. If I cowardly agree to his demands, where will I stand in the future!¡± He paused before adding, ¡°I refuse to believe that with nearly a thousand brothers in this building, we can¡¯t take him down!¡± ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± Zheng Hu sadly shook his head, ¡°Even if you gather three thousand brothers, they won¡¯t be a match for him.¡± ¡°In my office, I have some guns hidden, including two AK47s. I don¡¯t believe he can withstand bullets!¡± Liu Tianxi said with a fierce murderous aura. ¡°It¡¯s useless,¡± Zheng Hu shook his head again, seriously warning, ¡°Brother Xi, do you think someone with my skills would be afraid of guns? For someone like him, unless it¡¯s a fully armed and well-trained battalion, and that too when he¡¯s unprepared.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hearing this, Liu Tianxi¡¯s face fell. Zheng Hu advised, ¡°Brother Xi, you better treat him cautiously. We really can¡¯t afford to provoke him. If he truly decides to kill, hiding in a military camp will be futile.¡± Liu Tianxi came back to his senses, reluctant but forced to swallow his pride, nodding, he said, ¡°Okay.¡± Then, he turned around, removed his sunglasses, squeezed out a smile and approached Ye Fan, saying, ¡°I am Liu Tianxi, the general manager of Sky Wolf Security Company. May I have the honor of knowing your esteemed name?¡± ¡°Ye Fan,¡± Ye Fan said indifferently, not at all surprised by Liu Tianxi¡¯s reaction. ¡°So, it¡¯s Brother Ye, my apologies for not recognizing you sooner, I¡¯ve heard much about you,¡± Liu Tianxi said ingratiatingly. However, Ye Fan suddenly retorted coldly, ¡°Heard much my ass, do you even know who I am? Stop buttering me up.¡± Liu Tianxi was choked up, his face turning red, especially in front of so many of his men, nearly losing face. But remembering Zheng Hu¡¯s description of how formidable Ye Fan was, he had to forcefully suppress his anger. He continued to force a smile, ¡°Haha, Brother Ye jokes. It¡¯s an honor to host you, Brother Ye. Please, allow me to welcome you to my office.¡± Ye Fan wanted to refuse, but then he thought, having just entered and then leaving immediately after settling the issue might make it hard to keep a low profile in the company. So, he said coldly, ¡°Lead the way!¡± ¡°Haha, this way, please,¡± Liu Tianxi said respectfully, making a gesture and leading the way personally. Ye Fan followed proudly. Chapter 7 - 7 004 Earning a Million ?7: Chapter 004: Earning a Million 7: Chapter 004: Earning a Million Ye Fan agreed to speak with Liu Tianxi in the office. Zheng Hu, who had been punched, wiped the blood from his mouth and followed. Approaching Ye Fan, he asked respectfully in a low voice, ¡°May I know from whom Master Ye has learned? I am a disciple of Li Zhunan from the Lingnan Baji Fist school.¡± Ye Fan glanced sideways at Zheng Hu and said flatly, ¡°You are, after all, an expert of visible force, but you deign to fall to the level of a gangster¡¯s henchman.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Zheng Hu¡¯s face turned red with shame. He lowered his head and fell back a few steps, embarrassed to continue walking beside Ye Fan. Entering the luxurious and spacious office and closing the door, with no subordinates around, Liu Tianxi became even more respectful toward Ye Fan. Ye Fan sat lazily on the luxurious office chair belonging to Liu Tianxi, his legs crossed and resting on the desk in a carefree pose. However, Liu Tianxi dared not take issue with it. He eagerly picked up a Cuban cigar and a lighter from the desk and offered them to Ye Fan, saying, ¡°Brother Ye, please enjoy the cigar.¡± ¡°Get that away,¡± Ye Fan waved his hand dismissively, looking impatient. ¡°I don¡¯t smoke that stuff.¡± Liu Tianxi bowed and nodded, saying, ¡°Yes, yes, smoking cigars is bad for one¡¯s health.¡± After setting aside the cigar, Liu Tianxi started making tea. As he boiled water, he respectfully asked Ye Fan, ¡°What tea would Brother Ye prefer? West Lake pre-Qingming Longjing, the finest Anxi Tieguanyin King, century-old Pu¡¯er, or Wuyi Da Hong Pao?¡± ¡°Century-old Pu¡¯er then,¡± Ye Fan replied, showing some interest upon hearing about the century-old Pu¡¯er tea from Liu Tianxi. Unlike other teas, which should not be stored long-term, Pu¡¯er tea is pressed into cakes after a special fermentation process and can be kept for a very long time, with older tea being considered more valuable. Century-old Pu¡¯er tea cakes are extremely rare and can be sold as antiques, making them extremely precious and not always obtainable, even with money. ¡°Of course, of course,¡± Liu Tianxi quickly agreed and started to prepare the tea. If the people of Hua Hai saw the scene of Liu Tianxi attentively making tea for Ye Fan, they would probably drop their jaws to the floor, thinking they must have seen wrong. Although the century-old Pu¡¯er is top-notch among teas, its brewing process is rather complicated. It took half an hour for Liu Tianxi to prepare a cup and bring it to Ye Fan. Ye Fan leisurely took a sip, then placed the cup on the desk and looked at Liu Tianxi. Liu Tianxi instantly felt immense pressure. With sweat forming on his forehead, he forced a smile and said, ¡°May I know what brings Brother Ye to my humble company? I will do anything you ask, even if it costs me my life.¡± ¡°What can I say when you have been collecting protection money even from me?¡± Ye Fan replied ironically. Cold sweat drenched Liu Tianxi¡¯s back as he quickly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I was blind not to recognize the great presence before me. May I ask which company or bar mall does Brother Ye manage?¡± ¡°The Emali Group,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Though it¡¯s not my company, I work there, and I won¡¯t allow you to lay a finger on it!¡± Liu Tianxi knew about the Emali Group, aware that the chairman and CEO of Emali Group was Hua Hai¡¯s most beautiful woman, Li Zhaojun. Within his underground power sphere, the Emali Group wasn¡¯t one of the most powerful companies, but he had never made a move on them, out of consideration for Li Zhaojun¡¯s reputation and fearing the unknown powerful backers among her multitude of admirers. Thus, as soon as Ye Fan mentioned Emali Group, Liu Tianxi immediately assumed Ye Fan was one of Li Zhaojun¡¯s many admirers. Although there was a significant age difference between the two, Liu Tianxi believed that Li Zhaojun¡¯s beauty and charm could completely overshadow the age gap. ¡°Rest assured, I will immediately call my three subordinates back. Additionally, I will send someone to the Emali Group to apologize in person,¡± Liu Tianxi hurriedly said. ¡°I assure you that the Emali Group will recognize Brother Ye¡¯s prestige.¡± As an admirer of Li Zhaojun, isn¡¯t all this effort to impress her? Boasting about you in front of Li Zhaojun should surely satisfy you, shouldn¡¯t it? To his surprise, Ye Fan waved his hand and said, ¡°No need. Just call the Emali Group¡¯s HR department and tell them you will not collect protection money from them. Do not reveal the process.¡± What a joke. If the whole group knew about my prestige, how could I keep a low profile within the company? After all the life and death I¡¯ve faced on the African continent over the years, I finally have the chance to live an ordinary, laid-back life of comfort. Isn¡¯t that hard enough? ¡°Ah!¡± Liu Tianxi was taken aback, then quickly composed himself and said with an obsequious smile, ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll do as you say.¡± With the matter settled, Ye Fan stood up, ready to leave. Liu Tianxi quickly took out a cheque from the office desk drawer and presented it to Ye Fan, ¡°Brother Ye, it¡¯s been a trouble for you to come all this way, my sincerest apologies. This is a small token from me, one million, please accept it.¡± ¡°Your money is too dirty,¡± Ye Fan glanced at the cheque with distaste. Upon hearing this, Liu Tianxi cursed inwardly, happy to save one million if Ye Fan found the money dirty. However, the next moment, he felt the cheque slip from his fingers, now in Ye Fan¡¯s hand. Ye Fan held the cheque in his left hand, flicked it with his right middle finger, and sighed as if he were mourning for humanity, ¡°Nevertheless, money is innocent. We can¡¯t just condemn it outright; we have to give it a chance to redeem itself. So, let me purify it.¡± With that, he seriously tucked the cheque into his pocket. Liu Tianxi couldn¡¯t help wanting to curse in his heart, but he was afraid Ye Fan would notice, so he forcefully held back. Walking out of Sky Wolf Security Company, Ye Fan saw Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang approaching with excited faces. ¡°Ye Fan, are you alright?¡± Lu Xiaoman stood in front of Ye Fan, her pretty face anxious and her beautiful eyes filled with tears as she asked. Ye Fan chuckled and spread his hands, smiling, ¡°Do I look like something¡¯s wrong with me?¡± ¡°As long as you¡¯re fine, I was worried to death.¡± Lu Xiaoman let out a sigh of relief and suddenly felt the impulse to throw herself into Ye Fan¡¯s arms and hug him tightly. If it weren¡¯t for her, why would Ye Fan have stormed into the wolf¡¯s lair alone? However, considering that she wasn¡¯t very close to Ye Fan, she resisted the urge. However, Ye Fan opened his arms and jokingly said, ¡°Heh, you know, the lone hero has returned, shouldn¡¯t there be a big hug?¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face turned red, thinking that Ye Fan had seen through her thoughts. But, she bit her lip slightly, mustered up the courage, and with closed eyes, she threw herself into Ye Fan¡¯s embrace. Ye Fan was stunned on the spot; he had just been joking and had never expected Lu Xiaoman, such a delicate beauty, to really give him a big hug. Despite her beauty and a group of admirers following her since she was young, Lu Xiaoman had never been in a relationship. Let alone hugging a man, she hadn¡¯t even touched one. After a while, when Ye Fan noticed that Lu Xiaoman wasn¡¯t moving in his embrace and had no intention of leaving, he couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, are you sleeping?¡± ¡°Ah¡ª¡± She woke up abruptly, quickly stepped out of Ye Fan¡¯s embrace, her pretty face blushing crimson red, and she didn¡¯t dare to look at Ye Fan. The atmosphere inevitably became a bit awkward. At this point, Zhao Gang tried to smooth things over, saying, ¡°All right, it¡¯s good that Ye Fan is safe. Ye Fan, what was Sky Wolf Security Company¡¯s attitude?¡± ¡°Heh, of course, they realized their mistake and corrected it,¡± Ye Fan said casually, ¡°They are willing to withdraw those three guards and stop collecting protection fees from our group.¡± ¡°What? How¡¯s that possible!¡± Zhao Gang exclaimed, shocked. Disregarding her frustration, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes widened as she looked at Ye Fan in disbelief. Though they had come to ask Sky Wolf Security Company not to collect protection fees from the Emali Group, they had never actually imagined it would be successful. Thinking she had misheard, Lu Xiaoman asked for confirmation, ¡°Sky Wolf Security Company really isn¡¯t going to collect protection fees from our group anymore?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, ¡°After I went in, I met their boss and argued with reason, mentioning the law and the police, but they weren¡¯t afraid. So, I got angry and said, if you dare to collect protection fees from the Emali Group, I¡¯ll go to all the extremes¡ªfile petitions, post online. Once it alarms the central authorities, the whole country, the whole world, Sky Wolf will turn into a dead dog! At that point, they got scared and obediently agreed to withdraw their people and stop collecting fees from our company. They even let go of the fact that I beat up those three pieces of trash.¡± ¡°Is that even possible?¡± Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang were stunned. ¡°So I¡¯m saying, folks, you have to have courage, righteousness, and believe that evil will never triumph over good; the positive energy in society is still strong,¡± Ye Fan bragged without blushing. After digesting Ye Fan¡¯s words for a moment, Lu Xiaoman gratefully said, ¡°Ye Fan, thank you. If it weren¡¯t for you, I really wouldn¡¯t know what to do.¡± Ye Fan grinned and said, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s all in the day¡¯s work. But, do you have any plans to offer yourself in gratitude?¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s expression instantly became quite a picture, and, irritated and itching to retaliate, she threw a pink punch at Ye Fan, chiding, ¡°Go to hell!¡± Ye Fan pretended to cry out in pain. Zhao Gang also expressed his thanks to Ye Fan. ¡°Heh, Captain Zhao, if you¡¯re thinking of offering yourself to me, forget it. But, if you¡¯re willing to be my underling, that I might consider,¡± Ye Fan joked. Zhao Gang chuckled and said, ¡°Ye Fan, your courage and boldness really have impressed me. Privately, I wouldn¡¯t mind calling you ¡®Brother Ye.''¡± Ye Fan quickly waved his hand and said, ¡°Forget it, the thing I hate the most is having underlings; it means endless trouble, no different from babysitting.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and laugh, saying, ¡°How can being a boss be anything like babysitting?¡± ¡°You really know how to joke,¡± Zhao Gang also said disapprovingly. Ye Fan chuckled but didn¡¯t explain. ¡°Haha, now that the issue¡¯s resolved, let¡¯s head back and continue working,¡± Ye Fan changed the subject. ¡°Yeah, back to the company!¡± Lu Xiaoman and Zhao Gang said, their faces full of smiles. Chapter 8 - 8 005 The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun ?8: Chapter 005: The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun 8: Chapter 005: The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun Back at the company building, Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman noticed their colleagues giving them strange looks, whispering and gossiping behind their backs as they passed. As soon as they sat down in the office, the door burst open and He Jiaqiang, his belly protruding, stormed in with a face red with anger. He pointed at Lu Xiaoman and yelled, ¡°Lu Xiaoman, I told you to get rid of the people from Sky Wolf Security Company, but you dared to physically harm their employees. Do you realize the trouble this could bring to the company? Can a mere employee like you afford to take responsibility?¡± ¡°It was me who hit them! What kind of man bullies a woman?¡± Ye Fan retorted nonchalantly while lounging in his office chair. He Jiaqiang turned sharply, glared at Ye Fan, and shouted angrily, ¡°Ye Fan, you¡¯re already fired! Pack your things and get out of Emali Group immediately!¡± ¡°Hahahaha¡­¡± Ye Fan burst out laughing uncontrollably. He Jiaqiang¡¯s face turned from red to purple, and he clenched his teeth in rage. If it were not for Ye Fan¡¯s strong build, He Jiaqiang would have slapped him already. He gritted his teeth and said, ¡°What are you laughing at!¡± Ye Fan shook his head, barely holding back his laughter, and said, ¡°You¡¯re fired, and here I am, still not fired and even climbing up the ranks.¡± Finally, Lu Xiaoman found an opportunity to interject, ¡°Manager He, we¡¯ve already convinced the Sky Wolf Security Company to withdraw, and they¡¯ve agreed to stop charging us any protection fees.¡± ¡°Ha, Lu Xiaoman, even now you¡¯re still lying?¡± He Jiaqiang sneered angrily. ¡°The senior management already knows and is furious. Lu Xiaoman, you¡¯re getting fired too!¡± Before Ye Fan, Lu Xiaoman, and Zhao Gang returned to the office, He Jiaqiang had been severely reprimanded by the senior management and even threatened with a demotion. This made him unleash all his anger on Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman the moment they returned. Ye Fan coldly taunted, ¡°Just because you can¡¯t do it doesn¡¯t mean we can¡¯t.¡± ¡°Humph!¡± He Jiaqiang scoffed derisively, utterly disbelieving that Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman could have truly convinced Sky Wolf Security Company to withdraw. Ye Fan suddenly smiled and said, ¡°He Jiaqiang, how about a bet? If Lu Xiaoman and I really got Sky Wolf Security Company to leave, you must walk around us and say your name backwards whenever you see us. If not, I¡¯ll give you three thousand yuan. How about it?¡± ¡°Stop pretending, you¡¯re on!¡± He Jiaqiang retorted coldly. Just then, as the door was open, there came a knock. sea??h th§× nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan and the others turned to see a young woman in a black office lady uniform standing at the doorway. Ye Fan recognized her; she was Wang Siyan, the secretary assistant of Li Zhaojun. Wang Siyan stepped inside and sternly addressed Ye Fan, ¡°You are Ye Fan, right? The chairman wants to see you, please follow me immediately!¡± Lu Xiaoman and He Jiaqiang were both stunned to hear that the chairman wanted to meet with Ye Fan personally. With the vast hierarchy from the chairman to ordinary employees, it was almost unthinkable for the chairman to personally summon a low-level employee in such a large group like Emali. However, upon recalling that Ye Fan had severely injured three security guards from Sky Wolf Security Company, they somewhat understood. Perhaps the chairman wanted to scold Ye Fan in person for this incident. But Lu Xiaoman, aware that Ye Fan had successfully convinced Sky Wolf Security Company to back down, was not worried. Whereas He Jiaqiang was gleefully imagining Ye Fan getting a humiliating scolding from Li Zhaojun, followed by his immediate dismissal from the Emali Group. Nonchalantly, Ye Fan said, ¡°What¡¯s the rush? I just got back and need to sip some tea and catch my breath.¡± Wang Siyan¡¯s tone was brash, ordering him around, and Ye Fan was slightly annoyed by her. Having said that, he actually picked up a cup of tea and leisurely began sipping it. As soon as these words were spoken, both Lu Xiaoman and He Jiaqiang widened their eyes in disbelief. With a direct summons from the chairman, and his secretary personally delivering the message with an express demand for immediate action, Ye Fan, a mere rank and file employee, was audaciously delaying. In a worried whisper, Lu Xiaoman urgently nudged Ye Fan¡¯s arm and said, ¡°Ye Fan, you should go now. This isn¡¯t the time to act up.¡± ¡°Ye Fan, the chairman wants to meet with you, and yet you dare to stall and make excuses! Trash like you, who show no respect for authority or discipline, should be fired immediately!¡± He Jiaqiang berated loudly. Seizing the opportunity to display his loyalty in front of the chairman¡¯s secretary, he inwardly reveled in schadenfreude: ¡°Hmm, Ye Fan, oh Ye Fan, you¡¯ve defied me time and again before, and now you dare defy the chairman¡ªthe end is near for you. I won¡¯t even need to go through the procedures to fire you, the chairman will send you packing with a single word!¡± Ye Fan glanced indifferently at He Jiaqiang and said dispassionately, ¡°Why are you in such a rush? The chairman¡¯s secretary hasn¡¯t said a word. Are you just seizing the chance to show loyalty? Too bad the chairman isn¡¯t here.¡± ¡°Hmph, just wait to get fired,¡± He Jiaqiang said smugly, displaying an expression indicating he wouldn¡¯t bother to argue because Ye Fan¡¯s dismissal was imminent. Ye Fan retorted, ¡°So, your leadership skill amounts to nothing more than threatening dismissals.¡± ¡°You!¡± He Jiaqiang was fuming with anger. ¡°That¡¯s enough!¡± Wang Siyan, who had been silent until now, finally lost her temper. The office went silent instantly, only the sound of Ye Fan casually sipping his tea with audible gulps could be heard. Although Wang Siyan was young, her demeanor and self-control were clearly superior to He Jiaqiang¡¯s. With Ye Fan stubbornly sitting, sipping his tea and refusing to leave, she did not push him but simply watched him silently, exerting an invisible pressure on him. Chapter 9 - 9 005 The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun_2 ?9: Chapter 005: The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun_2 9: Chapter 005: The First Confrontation with Li Zhaojun_2 Ye Fan took another two sips, thinking to himself, ¡°Well, it¡¯s a summons from my legal wife. I can¡¯t embarrass her too much.¡± So, he put down the tea cup. At this moment, Wang Siyan finally spoke up, ¡°Finished drinking? Once you¡¯re done, please follow me.¡± ¡°Heh, sorry to have kept a beauty waiting,¡± Ye Fan said with a lazy smile, standing up. He said he was sorry, but his expression was anything but apologetic. A flash of anger crossed the depths of Wang Siyan¡¯s eyes. She tried to remain calm as she said, ¡°Please follow me.¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s office was on the second to last floor of the corporate tower. Wang Siyan led Ye Fan to the door of the Chairman¡¯s office and knocked. ¡°Come in,¡± a noble and decisive voice sounded from inside. Wang Siyan pushed the door open, and Ye Fan followed her inside, where he saw Li Zhaojun. At that moment, Li Zhaojun was sitting at her desk, her graceful back straight, looking down as she reviewed documents. She was dressed in a sharp business suit, her long hair gracefully put up, and her stunning face wore a light makeup¡ªprofessional yet radiant¡ªespecially compelling when combined with her focused demeanor. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Wang Siyan walked up to the desk and respectfully said, ¡°Chairman, I¡¯ve brought Ye Fan.¡± ¡°Hmm,¡± Li Zhaojun continued to look down, her pen swiftly making the last notes on the current document. A few seconds later, she put down her pen. As her flawlessly beautiful face lifted, the entire spacious office seemed to brighten several times over, her eyes, naturally seductive, shooting a powerful and sharp gaze. Li Zhaojun gave Ye Fan a brief glance, noticing him with his arms folded, carelessly looking around the office without proper decorum; a faint disgust and contempt flashed from her eyes. She turned her gaze to Wang Siyan and said, ¡°You may leave.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Wang Siyan replied, then exited the office, closing the door behind her. With no one else around, Ye Fan withdrew his wandering gaze and casually remarked, ¡°Your office is nicely arranged, but there are a bit too many photos.¡± Indeed, the office walls, desk surface, and bookshelves were adorned with various photographs and beautiful portraits of Li Zhaojun. Li Zhaojun¡¯s eyebrows furrowed slightly but soon relaxed. She looked at Ye Fan as if he were just another passerby. ¡°Ye Fan, do you know why I called you up here?¡± she said indifferently. She still sat in her luxurious executive chair, chin slightly lifted. Without any pretense, she still exuded an air of superiority. ¡°I don¡¯t know,¡± Ye Fan said directly, then casually sat down on a genuine leather sofa, reclining against the back with his right leg crossed over his left, tapping his lifted foot up and down. ¡°But I do know that it¡¯s definitely not because you missed your husband that you called me here.¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s face turned cold, her beautiful eyes flashing with anger and disgust, giving a cold snort. Her union with Ye Fan was entirely the will of their ancestors and parents. From a young age, she knew she was betrothed, destined to marry a man with the surname Ye. However, she had never taken the marriage arrangement to heart, nor had she ever intended to learn what kind of person this Mr. Ye was, because she believed the marriage arrangements set by the elders could not bind her. Just like many other girls, she freely dreamed of love, fantasizing about her future other half. However, she was too outstanding, too proud. Even though she had countless admirers from all fields since she was young, not a single one had captured her heart. So, when she married Ye Fan at the age of twenty-six, she had never been in love. Her marriage to Ye Fan was less about succumbing to family pressure and more about her disappointment in all men. Only after getting married did she realize that Ye Fan was far inferior to her many suitors, and the more she saw, the less she could stand him, the more she thought about it, the more she detested him. Looking at Ye Fan with his legs crossed in a carefree pose, she took a deep breath and said angrily, ¡°Do you think crossing your legs in the office gives you character? Impetuous! Superficial!¡± ¡°Is that so?¡± Ye Fan laughed indifferently, ¡°But it¡¯s still more comfortable than your constant pretense of sitting up straight and proper.¡± Li Zhaojun snorted disdainfully, her expression showing no desire to argue with Ye Fan, and scolded him coldly, ¡°Ye Fan, I know you¡¯ve been a soldier for a few years, perhaps you can beat one or two street thugs. But do you really think fists are of use in today¡¯s society? Do you know how much pressure you¡¯ve put on the company by seriously injuring the people from Sky Wolf Security Company today? Do you understand the loss you¡¯ll cause the company?¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for your special relationship with me, I would have fired you long ago!¡± ¡°Ye Fan, you¡¯ve given me a very poor impression, slothful, impetuous, superficial, childish, reckless! I hope you won¡¯t give me any other worse impressions! And from now on, if you mess around in my company again¡­¡± Just then, suddenly, the phone on the desk rang loudly. Li Zhaojun glanced at the caller ID; it was a call from the Director of Human Resources¡¯ office. Li Zhaojun had no choice but to interrupt her scolding to answer the call. ¡°This is Li Zhaojun¡­ Ah! What happened?¡± Li Zhaojun said into the phone, her beautiful face showing surprise, ¡°¡­ Oh¡­ Goodbye.¡± The caller hung up, and she slowly placed the phone back on the receiver. During this brief moment, she processed the news she had just received. The irony was that the message from the Director of Human Resources was a slap in the face and it stung. Finally, after putting the phone down, Li Zhaojun turned to Ye Fan, seeing him looking at her with a half-smiling expression. Her heart skipped a beat and she suddenly felt annoyed, ¡°This guy, he already successfully convinced Sky Wolf Security Company to back off, but he kept quiet about it on purpose, letting me make a fool of myself. How infuriating!¡± ¡°But, how should I deal with him now? Admit I was wrong, take back what I said?¡± Her face changed rapidly, ¡°No way! Impossible!¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s vivid changes of expression were all too clear to Ye Fan. He chuckled and stood up, saying in a relaxed tone: ¡°Director Li, if there¡¯s nothing else, I, this humble employee, will take my leave.¡± Although Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t have the phone on speaker, and it was several meters away, Ye Fan¡¯s keen ears had caught every word clearly, naturally knowing the content of the conversation. Li Zhaojun bit her full, sensuous lower lip, remaining silent. Ye Fan didn¡¯t wait for Li Zhaojun¡¯s response; he walked towards the office door, humming a tune cheerfully to himself. Opening the office door, he lifted his right hand without turning back, gave a wave to say goodbye, and then left the office. Watching Ye Fan¡¯s retreating figure, Li Zhaojun frowned slightly and thought, ¡°This infuriating, annoying guy, so frivolous, superficial, childish, and lazy, he¡¯s utterly useless. How did he manage to persuade Sky Wolf Security Company? Sky Wolf Security Company isn¡¯t easy to deal with; they collect protection money from both Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group. If it weren¡¯t for family influence, just on my own, I probably couldn¡¯t avoid paying protection money to Sky Wolf Security Company.¡± At this thought, she couldn¡¯t help but feel a bit curious about Ye Fan. But then, she forcefully dismissed the curiosity, ¡°Hmph, with his nonchalant attitude, not even as good as a spoiled rich brat, just a thug¡¯s appearance, what capabilities could he have? He must be bluffing, relying on the influence of his Ye family!¡± Chapter 10 - 10 006 Shameless and Despicable ?10: Chapter 006 Shameless and Despicable 10: Chapter 006 Shameless and Despicable After Ye Fan and Wang Siyan went to meet Li Zhaojun, He Jiaqiang didn¡¯t leave, instead, he shut the office door. ¡°What, what are you trying to do?¡± Lu Xiaoman said nervously, shrinking back. He Jiaqiang turned around and stepped toward Lu Xiaoman, his sleazy gaze greedily roaming over her delicate body and pretty face. Seeing the greed and lecherousness in He Jiaqiang¡¯s small eyes, Lu Xiaoman took two more steps back and warned, ¡°Manager He, if you come any closer, I¡¯ll scream harassment.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± He Jiaqiang snorted coldly but stopped advancing. S~ea??h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He unabashedly scanned Lu Xiaoman¡¯s entire body and then spoke, ¡°Xiaoman, although you¡¯ve caused a huge mess with Ye Fan, you still have one last chance. If you are willing to be with me, I¡¯ll immediately go and ask my uncle-in-law to keep you safe. Of course, you won¡¯t be able to get promoted this year, all because you were unwilling initially. Regretting now, huh? If you had agreed from the start, you would have been promoted already and wouldn¡¯t be facing the possibility of being fired today.¡± ¡°Manager He, give up on that idea. Even if it kills me, I won¡¯t be your mistress!¡± Lu Xiaoman said decisively. ¡°Haha, really? I doubt it,¡± He Jiaqiang sneered. ¡°Then tell me, why have you put up with me for so long? You could¡¯ve boldly reported this to the company or simply resigned and walked away. But why didn¡¯t you do any of that?¡± Lu Xiaoman was at a loss for words. He Jiaqiang continued smugly, ¡°Because you care about this job, you¡¯re afraid of losing it!!!¡± Hearing this, a wave of panic rose on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face. ¡°Haha, did I hit the mark?¡± He Jiaqiang laughed triumphantly, puffing out his stomach and saying each word emphatically, ¡°Because your mother has breast! cancer!¡± Lu Xiaoman gasped and exclaimed, ¡°You, how did you know that?¡± ¡°Surprised? Hehe, it seems the saying ¡®busty women lack brains¡¯ is right.¡± He Jiaqiang laughed shamelessly. ¡°Since I want you as my mistress, of course, I¡¯ve done my homework on you. How could I not know about your family background?¡± He continued, ¡°Xiaoman, stop resisting. If you become my mistress, not only will I save your job, I¡¯ll also immediately give you one hundred thousand yuan for your mother¡¯s treatment. Otherwise, think about this: your chances of being fired by the group are extremely high, even without my interference.¡± ¡°Without a job, you¡¯ll have no income, and your mother¡¯s breast cancer will go untreated, leading to her death. It wasn¡¯t easy for your mother to raise you through hardships. Can you really bear to watch her die in pain?¡± ¡°Despicable! Shameless!¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes shot an endless loathing and hatred. ¡°Hahaha, despicable is the pass for the despicable,¡± He Jiaqiang laughed shamelessly. ¡°If you submit to me, I can not only save your job but also pay for your mother¡¯s treatment, essentially saving her life. Isn¡¯t that a great act of kindness? As her daughter, isn¡¯t it only right for you to repay me in this way?¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Lu Xiaoman suddenly laughed coldly, ¡°Too bad your plan is flawed! Ye Fan has already convinced Sky Wolf Security Company to back off!¡± ¡°Ahhahaha¡­¡± Even though it was the second time he heard that Ye Fan had convinced the Sky Wolf Security Company to back off, He Jiaqiang still found it to be a huge joke, ¡°Even now, you still spout stubborn lies. You really won¡¯t cry until you see the coffin!¡± He continued scornfully, ¡°As if Ye Fan, that little loser, could convince Sky Wolf Security Company. Unless the sun rises from the west! No, even if the sun rose from the west, it wouldn¡¯t be possible!¡± He didn¡¯t believe that someone as insignificant-looking as Ye Fan could convince Sky Wolf Security Company. The company was simply too terrifying. ¡°Ye Fan convinced Sky Wolf Security Company,¡± Lu Xiaoman insisted. Seeing that Lu Xiaoman kept insisting that Ye Fan had convinced Sky Wolf Security Company, He Jiaqiang became irritated and flung his sleeve, ¡°Hmph, Ye Fan has already been personally fired by the chairman! Just wait to be fired yourself!¡± ¡°Lu Xiaoman, before the end of the workday, you must make a choice. After work, if you don¡¯t comply, don¡¯t blame me for not helping out when you¡¯re in dire need!¡± It was clear he was the one pushing Lu Xiaoman to the brink, yet he spoke as if it had nothing to do with him. Having said his piece, he turned and left. But just as he opened the office door, he suddenly stopped and came back. ¡°What else do you want?¡± Lu Xiaoman said with disgust. He Jiaqiang laughed, ¡°Of course I¡¯m staying to see Ye Fan, that little loser, get personally fired by the chairman and driven out of the group like a dog without a home.¡± ¡°Ye Fan won¡¯t be fired!¡± Lu Xiaoman asserted, then glanced at He Jiaqiang with disdain, ¡°Boring!¡± After a while, the sound of dragging footsteps and self-entertaining whistle could be heard outside, Lu Xiaoman and He Jiaqiang both turned their heads toward the door, the next moment, Ye Fan¡¯s tall figure appeared at the doorway. Seeing He Jiaqiang was still there, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but smile, this guy was actually waiting to be embarrassed. When He Jiaqiang saw Ye Fan looking relaxed and even smiling, he felt a ¡°thud¡± in his heart, suspicion arose: could it be that he actually persuaded Sky Wolf Security Company to withdraw? Impossible! As he was still in shock, Lu Xiaoman had already joyfully approached him, asking, ¡°Ye Fan, the chairman didn¡¯t give you any trouble, did she?¡± ¡°Hehe, not at all. The chairman praised me a lot. If it weren¡¯t for my recent employment, she would have promoted me to manager already,¡± Ye Fan boasted without a filter, ¡°by the way, the chairman is very beautiful.¡± ¡°Just keep bragging!¡± He Jiaqiang hummed in a mocking tone. Turning his face, Ye Fan cheerfully called out, ¡°Qiang Jiahe, remember the bet earlier, from now on whenever you see me and Sister Xiaoman, you better take a detour.¡± He Jiaqiang trembled with anger, his face turning purplish red as he cursed loudly, ¡°Ye Fan, how dare you insult the leader?!¡± ¡°What? Going back on your word?¡± Ye Fan said sternly. He Jiaqiang stubbornly replied, ¡°Who knows if you really persuaded Sky Wolf Security Company.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s too easy. Just call Manager Cao and you¡¯ll know,¡± Ye Fan laughed. Even though Ye Fan said so, He Jiaqiang still didn¡¯t believe him and actually took out his phone to make a call. The call connected quickly, and He Jiaqiang asked, ¡°Manager Cao, has Sky Wolf Security Company withdrawn?¡± ¡°Yes, thanks to Ye Fan and Xiaoman,¡± a relieved voice came through the phone, ¡°otherwise, you and I might have been dismissed.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Even at this moment, He Jiaqiang refused to believe it. How could this be possible? How could this be possible?! Sky Wolf Security Company was notoriously brutal, even powerful and well-established companies like Yuhua Group and Sky Sun Group had to politely pay protection fees, and he and Manager Cao had pleaded and used up all their connections to no avail, how could Ye Fan, a mere nobody, persuade Sky Wolf Security Company to withdraw? There must be some mistake! He said unwillingly, ¡°That can¡¯t be right, could there be a mistake?¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s exactly what happened,¡± Manager Cao laughed loudly on the phone, ¡°the general manager of Sky Wolf Security Company personally called to tell me. So, Ye Fan and Xiaoman are the saviors of the HR department, we really should thank them.¡± ¡°Manager Cao, could it be that Sky Wolf Security Company was already considering our Emali Group¡¯s strength and didn¡¯t plan to charge us protection fees? Maybe Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman just got lucky and it actually had nothing to do with them,¡± He Jiaqiang shamelessly suggested. Even though he had benefited, he still refused to acknowledge Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman¡¯s contributions. Manager Cao¡¯s laughter subdued, and he said, ¡°You shouldn¡¯t say that, I owe them gratitude. Well, that¡¯s all, hanging up.¡± After hanging up, He Jiaqiang¡¯s face was dark and ugly. However, Ye Fan didn¡¯t plan to let him go, mocking, ¡°Qiang Jiahe, are you convinced now?¡± ¡°Humph! Sky Wolf Security Company is not charging the group¡¯s protection fees, but it has nothing to do with you. How could you, a veteran with no status or background, persuade Sky Wolf Security Company? Possible?¡± He Jiaqiang scoffed and then stormed out of the office. Ye Fan was slightly stunned, while Lu Xiaoman muttered scornfully at He Jiaqiang¡¯s retreating figure, ¡°Pah! Shameless wretch!¡± Chapter 11 - 11 007 Rebellious Girl ?11: Chapter 007: Rebellious Girl 11: Chapter 007: Rebellious Girl Night. Hua Hai City did not quiet down with the fall of night; instead, it became more clamorous and lively. Especially since some activities tend to only occur in the late night. Ye Fan sat in the bar, contentedly sipping his drink. He had just arrived in Hua Hai not long ago and had nowhere to go at night, not wanting to stay at home facing Li Zhaojun, so he had to turn to the bar. However, he really enjoyed the relaxed atmosphere of the bar and the comfortable life of an ordinary person. ¡°Hello, may I sit here?¡± A sweet, soft voice asked, followed by a whiff of a woman¡¯s fragrance that invaded his nostrils. Ye Fan looked up and saw a beautiful woman in her mid-twenties standing in front of him, dressed in a slightly conservative white long dress with black long hair draped over her shoulders. The woman in the white dress was holding a wine glass with her jade hands, painted with pink nail polish, containing just a small sip of dark red liquid left. While Ye Fan sized her up, the woman in the white dress stood somewhat restrained, waiting for his reply. ¡°Of course,¡± Ye Fan said with a faint smile, his mouth curling up. The woman in the white dress thanked him and placed her wine glass on the table before sitting down gracefully and demurely. ¡°Is this your first time at a bar?¡± the woman in the white dress asked, her tone somewhat melancholic, like a woman lamenting her confinement. Ye Fan replied, ¡°No.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± the woman in the white dress responded, not speaking immediately, as if waiting for Ye Fan to ask her in return. Unfortunately, Ye Fan¡¯s attention had already shifted to the neighboring table. A girl was sitting at the table to his left. She appeared to be about sixteen or seventeen, with fair, delicate skin and beautifully delicate features. However, she sported an almost bald buzz cut, a slender neck adorned with a steel necklace as thick as a little finger, and she wore boys¡¯ clothes that seemed too loose on her small frame. Moreover, she wore a pair of black, clunky men¡¯s leather boots. Clearly, she was a rebellious teenager, especially evident in her large, round, bright eyes full of defiance, and her pink lips always tightly pressed together. The rebellious girl seemed unhappy as she kept pouring drink after drink for herself. ¡°Ahem, ahem,¡± the woman in the white dress coughed lightly. Ye Fan turned his head back and asked indifferently, ¡°Did you want to say something?¡± The woman in the white dress was at a loss for a moment but eventually spoke up, her voice laden with sorrow, ¡°Actually, this is my first time at a place like a bar. I thought you looked kind, so I wanted to chat with you, is that okay?¡± Ye Fan nodded noncommittally. ¡°Sigh,¡± the woman in the white dress sighed deeply, like a woman trapped in seclusion, ¡°Actually, I¡¯m a mistress.¡± ¡°Huh?¡± Ye Fan was mildly surprised, showing a bit of interest as he glanced at the woman in the white dress. ¡°He gives me enough money every month, but he only spends time with me twice a month. Sometimes when he¡¯s busy with business, not even once. He just leaves me alone in an empty house,¡± the woman in the white dress said with melancholy. ¡°Actually, before him, I had a boyfriend. My ex wasn¡¯t handsome, even a little ugly, but he was tall and strong like you¡­¡± As she spoke, the woman in the white dress looked at Ye Fan with eyes filled with longing and grievance, then continued, ¡°That man hasn¡¯t come to see me for two months now. I¡¯m about to go crazy staying in that villa, so for the first time, I entered a bar.¡± Unfortunately, Ye Fan didn¡¯t pick up the conversation but just looked at her indifferently, his gaze lingering more on her chest. Seeing that Ye Fan remained silent, the woman in the white dress went on, ¡°I didn¡¯t expect to meet you at the bar. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Do you know? When I first saw you, I mistook you for my ex-boyfriend. However, it¡¯s clear, while you are as tall and strong as my ex-boyfriend, you are much more handsome than he was.¡± ¡°Tonight I just want to get drunk, but I forgot to bring money when I left home. Could you buy me a few drinks? I prefer XO, and one bottle should be enough to get me drunk.¡± As the woman in the white dress spoke, she gathered the black tresses that fell in front of her face, revealing half of her fair and smooth cheek, her wistful gaze making her irresistibly alluring. Ye Fan suddenly smiled and said to the woman in the white dress, ¡°Why don¡¯t you buy me a glass of Erguotou instead? I guarantee you¡¯ll feel heavenly.¡± The woman¡¯s charming and aggrieved face showed a moment of surprise, and she replied with a colder tone, ¡°What do you mean? You want to sleep with me, but you¡¯re asking me to buy you drinks? Are you even a man?¡± ¡°Heh, of course, I¡¯m a man. That¡¯s why I¡¯ve been tolerating you for so long,¡± Ye Fan said leisurely with a smile, ¡°One should know when to advance and when to retreat. You¡¯ve already cost me many chances with other girls, so stop lingering here and find some other sap.¡± ¡°What do you mean? What are you trying to say?¡± the woman in the white dress asked repeatedly, sounding quite angry. Ye Fan shook his head with a smile, ¡°Do you really need me to spell it out? You¡¯re a bar hustler. If it wasn¡¯t for your big chest and okay face, I couldn¡¯t be bothered listening to your whining. A bottle of XO, two to three thousand, you really think I¡¯m some big sugar daddy?¡± ¡°You¡¯re the hustler, your whole family are hustlers! Hmph, if you¡¯re not buying me drinks then forget it, there are plenty of others who will!¡± The woman in the white dress snapped, standing up in anger and storming off. Once the woman had left, Ye Fan turned to glance at the neighboring table to his left and noticed that the rebellious girl was gone. ¡°Huh, she left? That¡¯s good. A place like this isn¡¯t where she should be anyway.¡± Withdrawing his gaze, Ye Fan slowly sipped his drink, and as his eyes unintentionally glanced towards the direction of the restroom, he saw a girl with an almost bald head stumbling out. It was the rebellious girl who had been sitting at the table next to him. The rebellious girl had flushed cheeks, and her steps were unstable¡ªher condition was clearly off. After bursting out of the restroom, she headed straight for the bar¡¯s exit. Just as she almost made it to the door, suddenly an arrogant voice called out, ¡°Stop her, she¡¯s my prey!¡± The two security guards at the door immediately stretched out their hands to block the rebellious girl, pushing her back inside. The girl staggered back three or four meters, her figure swaying, nearly falling over. At that moment, a youth wearing a tank top with one eye walked briskly over, blocking the rebellious girl¡¯s path. Behind him followed three or four punk-looking thugs. Several men in the bar who seemed inclined to play the hero upon seeing the one-eyed youth and his gang showed hesitation on their faces and sat back down, not daring to meddle further. ¡°The little Miss is pretty good-looking, and even sports a buzz cut¡ªquite stylish, Dragon Bro likes it!¡± The one-eyed youth chuckled gleefully, ¡°Come with big brother tonight, and I promise you¡¯ll be on cloud nine.¡± His four punk followers also broke into snickering laughter. ¡°Get lost!¡± the rebellious girl shouted defiantly, ¡°I¡¯m a black belt second dan in Taekwondo. If you don¡¯t want to die, back off!¡± Unfortunately, her condition made her voice weak and lacking any deterrent power. ¡°Ha-ha, so you¡¯ve learned Taekwondo, no wonder your legs are so long, they must feel great wrapped around someone in bed,¡± the one-eyed youth laughed brazenly and moved forward to grab the rebellious girl. The girl retaliated instantly with a high kick toward the one-eyed youth¡¯s head, but due to her weakened state, the kick only reached his chest. The one-eyed youth neither dodged nor blocked but intentionally stepped forward. The girl¡¯s kick hit the one-eyed youth¡¯s chest without affecting him, but she staggered back several steps unsteadily, bumping into the sturdy and broad chest of a man. Ye Fan caught the rebellious girl in his arms and instantly felt her body burning hot. Looking at her flushed face as red as blood and her dazed eyes, he realized she must have been drugged. Chapter 12 - 12 008 Auntie ?12: Chapter 008 ¡°Auntie 12: Chapter 008 ¡°Auntie ¡°Kid, let go of her!¡± the one-eyed young man threatened as he pointed at Ye Fan. Ye Fan held the rebellious girl with one arm. She desperately tried to break free, but couldn¡¯t push his arm away at all. ¡°She bumped into my arms, now she¡¯s mine,¡± Ye Fan said calmly, picking up his glass and finishing the last sip of Erguotou. Enraged, the one-eyed young shouted, ¡°You¡¯re seeking death!¡± As he shouted, he pulled out a shimmering dagger and fiercely lunged forward. Ye Fan¡¯s eyes turned cold, and he kicked out as fast as lightning, hitting the same spot the rebellious girl had kicked earlier. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± The one-eyed young man screamed in agony, flew sideways, and fell into the dance floor three to four meters away, vomiting a mouthful of blood, unable to get up again. For a moment, everyone fell silent, mouths agape in disbelief. The four bleached-blond punks who followed the one-eyed young man didn¡¯t dare rush forward and quietly retreated into the crowd. Holding the rebellious girl, Ye Fan stepped toward the one-eyed young man, his eyes flashing coldly. He stomped on the hand that had just held the dagger and then forcefully twisted it back and forth. Ah¡ª The one-eyed young man screamed hysterically and eventually passed out from the pain. Ye Fan looked unaffected as he withdrew his foot, revealing the one-eyed young man¡¯s mangled, bloodied hand, then carried the rebellious girl and strode out of the bar. After putting the rebellious girl in the passenger seat, Ye Fan had just sat in the driver¡¯s seat when the girl immediately flung herself at him. The drug was potent, and now that it had fully taken effect, the rebellious girl had lost her sanity, driven by boundless desire. Ye Fan tried several times to push the girl back onto the passenger seat but failed each time. Left with no choice, he knocked her out with a chop of his hand, finally bringing some peace. After properly dressing the girl in her upper clothes, Ye Fan took a deep breath to calm his stirring emotions, then started the car and sped toward Ren Dong Hospital. Ye Fan never considered himself a righteous man, but he had his principles and boundaries, such as not taking advantage of someone in a vulnerable state. After admitting the girl to the hospital and pushing her into the ER, Ye Fan grabbed her phone to check the contacts, planning to call her parents to come and pick her up. Unfortunately, after scrolling through the contacts twice, he couldn¡¯t find any entry labeled ¡®Dad¡¯ or ¡®Mom.¡¯ The closest contact was her aunt. Having no other option, Ye Fan called the girl¡¯s aunt. The phone rang twice and was quickly answered. ¡°Yaoyao, what do you need from your auntie?¡± a dignified and slightly seductive voice answered the phone, sounding quite pleasant. ¡°Hello, are you this phone¡¯s owner¡¯s aunt?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°Who are you? Why do you have Yaoyao¡¯s phone?!¡± the voice immediately became stern and authoritative, such that even through the phone, Ye Fan could feel the imposing presence of the speaker. However, no matter how menacing the presence, Ye Fan merely took it as a light breeze on his face. He smirked slightly and responded indifferently, ¡°Who I am doesn¡¯t matter. The important thing is, she¡¯s now in Ren Dong Hospital. You should come and pick her up.¡± Sear?h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°I¡¯ll be right there!¡± the aunt said quickly. Within minutes, a black Audi rushed in and screeched to a halt in front of the emergency department. A woman, who bore a slight resemblance to the rebellious girl, got out. She was stunning, in her early thirties, with an elegant demeanor. Tall and shapely, her creamy, fair skin contrasted with her curly hair falling on her fragrant shoulders. She carried a white LV handbag, wore a sharp black ladies¡¯ suit jacket paired with a knee-length skirt, and long, slender legs clothed in flesh-colored stockings finished in a pair of red stilettos. The woman hurried into the emergency building. ¡°What a breathtaking woman! Absolutely exquisite!¡± Ye Fan swallowed hard and approached her, asking, ¡°Are you ¡®Yaoyao¡¯s¡¯ aunt?¡± The woman stopped, and her narrow charming phoenix eyes suddenly shot out a sharp glare, instantly showing an aura of authority. ¡°Are you the one who called me? How is Yaoyao?¡± ¡°Yes, that was me,¡± Ye Fan smelled the mature woman¡¯s fragrance which was quite appealing. He boldly admired ¡®the aunt¡¯ for a moment, then added, ¡°As for her condition, you¡¯ll know if you come with me.¡± With that, he turned and walked inside. ¡®The aunt¡¯ frowned slightly, her eyebrows arching beautifully. Ye Fan¡¯s casual demeanor reminded her of Yaoyao¡¯s unreliable friends, which was why she had been brusque upon meeting Ye Fan. Moreover, she anticipated that Yaoyao might be seriously injured, otherwise, Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t have called on her behalf. Suppressing her concerns, she composed herself and followed Ye Fan. They arrived at an emergency room door, and Ye Fan turned to face ¡°the aunt,¡± pointing at the door, ¡°She¡¯s inside. Oh, she was drugged in the bar.¡± As he finished speaking, the door to the emergency room opened, and doctors and nurses came out. They looked at YeFan and ¡°the aunt¡± and said, ¡°You must be family, right? She is stable for now, but you need to help push her to Room 302, Bed 65 for observation for a couple of hours.¡± ¡°The aunt¡± hurried inside, and Ye Fan followed at a more leisurely pace. ¡°Yaoyao, how are you?¡± ¡°The aunt¡± went up to the mobile bed, asked in a soft voice, and took Yaoyao¡¯s small hand. ¡°Auntie,¡± Yaoyao¡¯s voice was weak. At this point, a nurse already pushing to move on interrupted, ¡°You can talk more in her room. Please hurry and take her to the room now.¡± Once the girl had been admitted to Room 302, Ye Fan hesitated at the door. Typically, he would not follow inside and would instead quietly slip away. But, looking at ¡°the aunt¡¯s¡± enticing back, he decided to go in after all. Well, getting to know her wouldn¡¯t hurt. Chapter 13 - 13 009 Revelation ?13: Chapter 009 Revelation 13: Chapter 009 Revelation The rebellious girl had recovered on the hospital bed, when ¡°Auntie¡± leaned down to speak softly with the rebellious girl, and only then did she realize that Ye Fan wasn¡¯t just some bad influence on her niece but actually the great hero who saved Yaoyao. Thinking of how she had actually given Ye Fan, the benefactor, a hard look just earlier, her pretty face started to feel a bit feverish. Standing straight with a voluptuous figure, she turned to face Ye Fan and compensated by giving him an elegantly charming smile. ¡°Thank you, young man. If it hadn¡¯t been for your righteous intervention, the consequences would have been unthinkable,¡± ¡°Auntie¡± said softly, her voice smooth and elegant, with a sweet resistance and charm that relaxed one completely. Young man? Am I that young, or are you that old? Ye Fan felt a bit downcast, but still chuckled and said, ¡°You¡¯re welcome.¡± ¡°Young man, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Auntie¡± asked with a smile, ¡°Uh, my name is Tantai Wanrong, you can call me Aunt Wanrong. Here¡¯s my business card.¡± She clearly placed herself above Ye Fan in terms of seniority. As she spoke, she took out a business card from her LV bag and handed it to Ye Fan. Ye Fan took the business card and glanced at it, realizing that it was simple yet not so simple. The card had only Tantai Wanrong¡¯s name and phone number on it and lacked any other information such as a company position or title. However, the material of the card was exceptional gold-leaf paper. Such cards were often used by people of extraordinary status or those with sensitive identities when making friends in private. ¡°My name is Ye Fan, the ¡®Ye¡¯ from Ye Gucheng and the ¡®Fan¡¯ from ¡®extraordinary,''¡± Ye Fan said, puffing out his chest, his stance neither servile nor overbearing as he opened his hands and continued, ¡°However, I don¡¯t have a business card to give you.¡± Tantai Wanrong raised a mesmerizing smile on her beautiful face and said, ¡°Ye Fan? That¡¯s a nice name.¡± Then she turned to the girl and said, ¡°Yaoyao, aren¡¯t you going to thank Brother Ye for saving you?¡± Before the girl could speak, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but interject, ¡°Call me Uncle Ye.¡± He felt he needed to assert himself, not to be placed a generation below Tantai Wanrong. Unexpectedly, the girl¡¯s pretty face showed apparent unwillingness, her attitude rebelliously snorting, ¡°Pfft, you¡¯re only a few years older than me, why should I call you uncle?!¡± ¡°Eh?¡± Ye Fan was taken aback, Is this how one treats a benefactor? If he had known earlier, he might have let those gangsters take you away for a round of bullying. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Got nothing to say now?¡± The girl, seeing Ye Fan didn¡¯t immediately retort, proudly pouted her pretty pink lips. Tantai Wanrong¡¯s beautiful eyebrows furrowed slightly as she gently scolded, ¡°Yaoyao, what kind of attitude is that?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s okay, Sister Wanrong,¡± Ye Fan snapped back to his senses, adopting an attitude of a grown-up not stooping to a child¡¯s level, then smiled at the girl, ¡°There¡¯s a gulf of difference every three years, a river¡¯s spread every six. You must be sixteen or seventeen years old now, right? Your Uncle Ye here is definitely six or seven years older than you. Calling me uncle won¡¯t wrong you.¡± Alright, he shamelessly added an extra year to his age. Before Yaoyao could retort, Tantai Wanrong on the side couldn¡¯t help but giggle, covering her enticing red lips with her fair, delicate hand, truly a jade-like beauty. Ye Fan stared until his eyes nearly popped, but not daring to look too long, he quickly averted his gaze. Then Tantai Wanrong said with a smile, ¡°I¡¯m even more than seven years older than you, so why do you insist on calling me sister?¡± After saying this, she held a corner of her mouth, her eyes filled with allure as they seemed to laugh but not laugh at Ye Fan, as if peering through Ye Fan¡¯s eyes and seeing right through his little schemes. Feeling scrutinized by Tantai Wanrong, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but become anxious, his usually thick-skinned face heating up involuntarily. ¡°Ahem, ahem,¡± Ye Fan coughed awkwardly, quickly following up with an exaggerated tone, ¡°No way! You¡¯re so young, how could you possibly be seven years older than me? At most, you¡¯re two or three years older!¡± ¡°Giggle giggle giggle¡­¡± Tantai Wanrong let out a delighted laugh. Ye Fan thought he had successfully defused the awkwardness when suddenly Yaoyao exclaimed loudly, ¡°I get it now!¡± Both Ye Fan and Tantai Wanrong jumped in surprise, instinctively turning their heads to look at Yaoyao. Yaoyao looked at Ye Fan and humphed twice, pointing at him and saying, ¡°You want to hit on my aunt!¡± ¡°Humph, don¡¯t you even look in the mirror¡ªdo you think you¡¯re worthy of my beautiful and noble aunt?!¡± Her pretty face was full of disdain and contempt before she even finished speaking. Dressed in cheap street clothes, similar to a construction worker, Ye Fan¡¯s image was admittedly rather shabby. Aside Tantai Wanrong, he indeed painted a picture akin to a flower next to cow dung, or a toad alongside a white swan. Having his little schemes pointed out so bluntly by a young girl, Ye Fan felt his usually thick skin wasn¡¯t quite up to par this time, his old face flushing red. ¡°Yaoyao, don¡¯t talk nonsense,¡± Tantai Wanrong, ever the empath, came to his rescue. Her pretty face showed no surprise; she obviously had sensed it long ago. In fact, recognizing Ye Fan¡¯s intentions wasn¡¯t hard for her because too many men, regardless of age, would seek to develop something with her upon meeting her. ¡°Ha ha, you¡¯re right, kid,¡± Ye Fan suddenly burst out laughing, slipping back into his carefree demeanor, and then turned to directly gaze into Tantai Wanrong¡¯s maturely charming face, ¡°Tantai Wanrong, you¡¯re very beautiful and enchanting, and I do have some thoughts about you. But now that the cat¡¯s out of the bag by a little girl, any further interactions would be just awkward, so let¡¯s forget it.¡± ¡°I¡¯m leaving, goodbye.¡± With that, Ye Fan left the hospital room nonchalantly. Suddenly remembering something, Tantai Wanrong called out from behind him, ¡°Wait, you haven¡¯t given me your phone number yet! You saved Yaoyao, I should at least take you out for a meal to show my gratitude.¡± Ye Fan stopped in his tracks, but didn¡¯t turn back. He raised his right hand, waving over his shoulder at Tantai Wanrong, saying coolly, ¡°No need. I¡¯m Lei Feng, devoted to serving the people without asking for anything in return.¡± With that, he exited the hospital room. ¡°Don¡¯t go,¡± Tantai Wanrong called out, wanting to chase after Ye Fan, but she was held back by the young Yaoyao. ¡°Auntie, why bother with him? He clearly has dubious intentions towards you,¡± complained young Yaoyao, pouting. ¡°This trick of his is ¡®playing hard to get.¡¯ I¡¯ve seen it a lot. Don¡¯t believe me? He¡¯s definitely still lingering by the door waiting for you to chase after him.¡± Tantai Wanrong responded seriously, ¡°Yaoyao, how can you talk like that? He¡¯s your savior. Instead of thinking of a way to repay him, you mock and scorn him. Is this how your aunt has taught you?!¡± At the end of her scolding, Tantai Wanrong¡¯s tone had become fierce. Girl Yaoyao let go of Tantai Wanrong¡¯s hand, bowed her head in shame, and murmured softly, ¡°I know I¡¯m wrong.¡± Without further admonishing the young Yaoyao, Tantai Wanrong quickly left the hospital room in search of Ye Fan. However, there was no sign of him to be found. Sitting in his second-hand Alto, Ye Fan buckled his seatbelt and took out Tantai Wanrong¡¯s business card to look at it. He shook his head in self-mockery, tore the card into pieces, and, without any civic-mindedness, threw it out of the car window. He did have a slight interest in Tantai Wanrong, but it was just that¡ªslight. His legal wife, Li Zhaojun, was in no way inferior to Tantai Wanrong. Sear?h the nov§×lF~ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. His departure wasn¡¯t out of spite, but because he didn¡¯t like the awkward atmosphere. He only enjoyed light-hearted, pressure-free relationships. Chapter 14 - 14 010 Ancient Martial Arts Practice ?14: Chapter 010 Ancient Martial Arts Practice 14: Chapter 010 Ancient Martial Arts Practice The night was deep, and the hustle and bustle of Hua Hai city had slightly subsided, but it was far from gone. Hua Hai¡¯s prosperity destined it to be a city that never sleeps. The Imperial Bay Villa community was a haven of tranquility. In his spacious bedroom, Ye Fan stood with a solemn face, in a strange stance that resembled a dragon ascending to the heavens. A powerful aura emanated from his body, faintly accompanied by the sound of dragon chants. Had any ancient martial arts masters seen this, they would have been shocked, for Ye Fan was practicing the long-lost Rising Dragon Stance. Ye Fan was fully concentrated, circulating his mental technique. His strong Qi-Blood followed a predetermined route, his blood as dense as mercury rushing through his veins like the mighty Yangtze River, the sound of its flow merging into a chorus like the droning of dragons. After a full two hours of training, Ye Fan stopped. Feet together, he lowered his palms slowly to the height of his eyebrows, then down to his navel. Opening his mouth, he exhaled a long stream of white breath which shot out, yet did not disperse, extending two meters away. Feeling his Qi-Blood had become more vigorous, Ye Fan cracked a smile and said to himself, ¡°Right now, my cultivation is at the mid-phase of ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯. I should kick it up a notch and strive to enter the late phase of ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯ within this year, and then reach ¡®Transformed Strength¡¯ within three years.¡± Ancient martial arts cultivation was divided into four levels: ¡®Visible Strength¡¯, ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯, ¡®Transformed Strength¡¯, and ¡®Dan Strength¡¯. The most obvious sign of ¡®Visible Strength¡¯ was the ability to twist all the muscles in the body into a single force. With each punch and kick, one could explode the air and produce an audible crack akin to firecrackers, possessing the strength to tear apart tigers and leopards. As for ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯, its hallmark was cultivating the legendary Inner Strength. Cultivating ancient martial arts required immense talent, comprehension, and perseverance. Those lacking in talent and comprehension, no matter how diligently they practiced, could never reach ¡®Visible Strength¡¯. Many ancient martial arts experts spent their whole lives practicing without advancing past ¡®Visible Strength¡¯. Only a few with exceptional talent, comprehension, and the necessary perseverance might reach ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯. As for ¡®Transformed Strength¡¯, perhaps one in dozens of ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯ masters might achieve it after painstaking cultivation. ¡®Dan Strength¡¯ was a mysterious and unpredictable realm, referred to as the presence of earthly immortals. Throughout the ancient martial world¡¯s many years, the total number of individuals who had achieved ¡®Dan Strength¡¯ could be counted on two hands. Ye Fan, merely twenty-two, had already reached the mid-phase of ¡®Hidden Strength¡¯, which could be said to be a genius among geniuses in the ancient martial world. The next morning, close to ten o¡¯clock, Ye Fan leisurely drove his used Alto to the Emali Group building. As he stepped out of the elevator, a slender and graceful figure in the hallway to his left hurried towards him. ¡°Ye Fan, how could you be late again?¡± Lu Xiaoman called out in a suppressed voice, iron not turning into steel, her tone laced with anxiety. Ye Fan spread his hands in a helpless gesture and feigned a sigh, ¡°No way around it, I got stuck in traffic.¡± Lu Xiaoman obviously wasn¡¯t in the mood to dispute the validity of Ye Fan¡¯s excuse. She said with a face full of worry and urgency, ¡°He Jiaqiang knows you¡¯re late. He¡¯s waiting for you in our office right now. You offended him yesterday, and he¡¯ll definitely take this opportunity to fire you.¡± ¡°Hehe, no worries,¡± Ye Fan replied with a relaxed smile. While walking, he said, ¡°He Jiaqiang really stooped low, not only did he not take a detour around us, but he also came straight to our office.¡± ¡°Ye Fan!¡± Lu Xiaoman suddenly called out in anger. Startled, Ye Fan halted in his steps and turned to look at Lu Xiaoman. He saw anger spread across Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face, her beautiful eyes wide open, her nostrils flared¡ªshe was clearly very angry. ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Ye Fan replied, restoring his nonchalant grin, with a teasing tone, ¡°Who has upset our beautiful and adorable Sister Xiaoman?¡± Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan¡¯s carefree smile and felt a surge of grievance, angrily saying, ¡°Why do you always look so lackadaisical? I¡¯ve been worried sick about you, yet you don¡¯t seem to care at all!¡± Speaking these words, her beautiful eyes brimmed with tears. Ye Fan was deeply moved and sincerely apologized, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡­thank you for your concern.¡± ¡°Who¡¯s concerned about you? I couldn¡¯t care less. It would be best if you got fired!¡± After saying this, Lu Xiaoman forcefully turned her pretty face away so that Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t see her crying, and she sniffled. Seeing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s petulant and sad expression, Ye Fan felt his heart being tenderly struck. He stepped forward, reached out with both hands to grasp Lu Xiaoman¡¯s shoulders, so they were face-to-face, and then softly said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, it¡¯s my fault for making you worry and angry. I¡¯ll never be late for work again, okay?¡± Pausing, he continued, ¡°As for He Jiaqiang finding out I was late, it¡¯s really not a big deal. The labor contract law doesn¡¯t allow an employee to be fired for being late just once.¡± Upon hearing Ye Fan¡¯s sincere apology, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s anger had already dissipated by half. Her heart was still tense for Ye Fan. She quickly wiped away her tears, turned her head, and said with concern, ¡°But you¡¯re still on probation, not a formal employee. The group can fire you at any time.¡± ¡°Heh, who said I¡¯m a trainee? I signed a full-time employee contract with no probation period,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile. S~ea??h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°You¡¯re saying you¡¯re already a full-time employee now?¡± Lu Xiaoman asked in mild surprise. Ye Fan nodded with a smile. Lu Xiaoman visibly relaxed, then lightly punched Ye Fan¡¯s chest with some reproach, ¡°Why didn¡¯t you tell me earlier? You had me worried for nothing.¡± ¡°Heh, sorry about that,¡± Ye Fan replied with a laugh, retracting his hands, ¡°To show my apology, how about I take you out for dinner tonight, okay?¡± Feeling Ye Fan¡¯s hands leave her shoulders, Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but feel a tinge of loss inside. However, upon hearing his offer to take her out for dinner, she immediately brightened up, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you a chance to apologize!¡± After speaking, she felt her cheeks warm, wondering if she had agreed a bit too eagerly. At that moment, Ye Fan, with a joyous laugh, gestured forward as if a general leading his troops into battle, and said exuberantly, ¡°Haha, let¡¯s go and meet He Jiaqiang¡ªno, I mean Qiang Jiahe!¡± Lu Xiaoman followed to Ye Fan¡¯s left and behind, looking at his upright posture as he walked forward and the firm lines of his profile, her eyes filled with a layer of infatuation and fantasy as if seeing the scene from yesterday when Ye Fan single-handedly faced the Sky Wolf Security Company for her. Pushing open the office door, Ye Fan saw the portly He Jiaqiang sitting in his office chair, squeezing the poor chair until it creaked and groaned. ¡°Hey, Qiang Jiahe, you¡¯re so bulky; you must weigh at least a few tons. You¡¯re going to break my chair,¡± Ye Fan strode into the office and called out to He Jiaqiang without any courtesy. He Jiaqiang had thought he caught Ye Fan on a sore spot with the tardiness issue, waiting just to lash out at Ye Fan with a torrent of scolding the moment he entered the office to avenge the previous day¡¯s humiliation. He hadn¡¯t expected Ye Fan to show zero shame about his tardiness, and before he could open his mouth, Ye Fan had already belittled his weight, accused him of breaking the chair, and dared to reverse the syllables of his name. He Jiaqiang¡¯s well-thought-out tirade and the momentum he had mustered were instantly thrown off, leaving him red-faced with rage and managing only to scold, ¡°Ye Fan, you have no respect for leadership! You, you¡­¡± In an attempt to bolster the force of his scolding, he pressed his hands onto the arms of the chair and violently attempted to stand, continuing his tirade. Whether it was because he was simply too heavy or the chair¡¯s quality was lacking, as he tried to rise forcefully, the chair collapsed with a snap. The unfortunate He Jiaqiang let out a pained cry as he toppled backward onto the hard floor. ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Ye Fan hadn¡¯t expected He Jiaqiang to actually break the chair, and after a moment of astonishment, he burst into boisterous laughter, ¡°Serves you right! Ahahaha¡­¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth to hide her giggles, secretly reveling in schadenfreude. Chapter 15 - 15 011 Trap ?15: Chapter 011 Trap 15: Chapter 011 Trap He Jiaqiang fell to the ground from a broken chair, and the pain in his buttocks was one thing, but the major issue was the embarrassment in front of Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman¡ªit would be even harder to maintain his authority as a leader now. Not to mention the far-reaching implications, the immediate effect of his outburst at Ye Fan for being late was hugely discounted. He clumsily struggled to his feet, his chubby face red and purpling, while the laughter of Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman reached his ears, grating like a slap to his face. ¡°Shut up! Don¡¯t laugh!¡± he bellowed in fury. However, because he screamed too high-pitched, his voice cracked on the last word, and his imposing manner drastically decreased. Lu Xiaoman was so frightened that she quickly stopped laughing. Ye Fan, on the other hand, didn¡¯t care and continued laughing while innocently saying, ¡°I don¡¯t want to laugh, but it¡¯s just too funny, hahaha¡­ Laughing can¡¯t be held back; otherwise, it could kill you. You do not want us to laugh; are you trying to murder us? Hahaha¡­¡± Enraged, He Jiaqiang¡¯s face contorted horribly. His eyes, filled with hatred and resentment, were fixed on Ye Fan. Were it not for Ye Fan¡¯s tall and robust stature, being an ex-soldier, he would have pounced on him and torn him apart. After a while, Ye Fan¡¯s laughter eventually subsided. ¡°Ye Fan, you were late for work¡­¡± He Jiaqiang said through gritted teeth. Ye Fan interrupted him, nonchalantly saying, ¡°I know, you don¡¯t need to tell me that.¡± ¡°You!¡± Stopped in his tracks, He Jiaqiang was flustered again, and it took him a while to regain his composure and bitterly said, ¡°You have just started working and you¡¯re already late. I¡¯m going to write a report to fire you!¡± Ye Fan chuckled, pulled over a chair, sat down, crossed his legs in a carefree manner, and spread his hands, ¡°Then go write that report.¡± ¡°I¡­ Humph!¡± Seeing that Ye Fan was not scared, He Jiaqiang huffed loudly. He knew in his heart that just being late once wouldn¡¯t be enough to fire Ye Fan, especially since Ye Fan had accomplished a significant feat for the corporation yesterday, although he believed it was only due to Ye Fan¡¯s good luck, like a blind cat finding a dead rat. He Jiaqiang took a couple of deep breaths, trying to calm himself down. He couldn¡¯t believe he, a prominent leader, couldn¡¯t handle a new employee. ¡°Ye Fan, you have been at the job for several days now and are familiar with the workflow. Now it¡¯s time to officially start working for the corporation. You can¡¯t just take your salary and do nothing,¡± He Jiaqiang steadied himself and put on an official air, ¡°Now I have an important recruitment task for you, and you must handle it well!¡± Lu Xiaoman panicked when she heard He Jiaqiang assigning Ye Fan a task, because in the few days since Ye Fan had joined the corporation, half of the time he was either late or left early. He had also visited the Sky Wolf Security Company yesterday and hardly spent any time learning the workflow with her. Especially since He Jiaqiang was giving Ye Fan a task now, it was definitely a tough one. ¡°Manager He, Ye Fan is still not familiar with the work processes,¡± she said. ¡°It¡¯s my fault for being preoccupied with my own tasks and not teaching him properly.¡± He Jiaqiang glared at Lu Xiaoman displeasedly and scolded, ¡°When a leader is speaking, why are you interrupting? He¡¯s been in the corporation for four days now; how could he still not learn such simple work processes? If he is that incompetent, he should just get out of the company. We don¡¯t entertain deadbeats here!¡± ¡°But¡­¡± Lu Xiaoman said anxiously. At this, Ye Fan waved his hand to Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, Sister Man,¡± then turned to He Jiaqiang, ¡°What¡¯s the recruitment task?¡± He Jiaqiang snatched a folder from the desk and tossed it to Ye Fan, but unfortunately, his aim and strength were off, and it landed far away. Sear?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. However, Ye Fan reached out and effortlessly caught the folder, then opened it to check the documents inside. Lu Xiaoman also came over to look. ¡°This talent is urgently needed by our corporation for important recruitment; it relates to the future development plans of the corporation. Our HR department has already had several deep conversations with him, and he is very willing to jump ship to our corporation, just missing the official signing of the contract,¡± He Jiaqiang said. ¡°Your task is to go and get him to sign the contract. I have already arranged to meet with him at noon today at Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road. The corporate seal and HR department seal have already been applied on the contract, just waiting for his signature.¡± ¡°You can¡¯t mess up such a simple errand job,¡± He Jiaqiang said. ¡°Remember, this person is extremely important. If you screw it up, the group will definitely fire you!¡± ¡°Is it really that simple?¡± Ye Fan asked incredulously. He Jiaqiang glared with his small eyes, slightly angered, ¡°How dare you question the leader¡¯s words?¡± Ye Fan waved his hand nonchalantly and said casually, ¡°Alright, stop putting on airs in front of me. I¡¯ll take the task. Anyway, I know you¡¯re up to no good.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± He Jiaqiang huffed loudly but said no more, walking out of the office. He indeed had ill intentions. The recruitment task he had given Ye Fan was a vicious plan he had come up with the night before. Ye Fan had not only talked back but had also embarrassed him and, worst of all, had interfered with his plans. If it weren¡¯t for Ye Fan, he might have already had his way with Lu Xiaoman, who he had long coveted, last night. Thus, Ye Fan was a thorn in his side, one that needed to be removed promptly. The talent He Jiaqiang had asked Ye Fan to contact was named Gao Feng, indeed an important talent urgently needed by the Emali Group. He had previously been in touch with Gao Feng, using every trick in the book, but had never managed to seal the deal; Gao Feng didn¡¯t even want to switch jobs. To set a trap for Ye Fan, he had deliberately called Gao Feng last night, saying some harsh words and setting up a final negotiation. Gao Feng, annoyed by his persistence, agreed to one last talk. One could imagine, with negotiations already unsuccessful, and now setting up one final talk but He Jiaqiang himself failing to show up, sending a mere junior staff instead, Gao Feng would undoubtedly be furious, and talks would certainly break down. After He Jiaqiang left, Lu Xiaoman said worriedly, ¡°Ye Fan, the task He Jiaqiang has given you is definitely not that simple.¡± She knew all too well how sinister He Jiaqiang was. ¡°Heh, that¡¯s for sure. I¡¯ll just roll with the punches,¡± Ye Fan said with a relaxed expression, ¡°After all, I¡¯ve been working here for a few days now; it¡¯s time to do some real work.¡± Lu Xiaoman, still very concerned, said, ¡°But He Jiaqiang is clearly looking for an excuse to fire you. How about I go with you at noon?¡± Ye Fan felt a warmth in his heart from Lu Xiaoman¡¯s consideration. Just as he was about to agree, the office door was suddenly pushed open, and He Jiaqiang returned. He Jiaqiang, portly and assertive, walked into the office and directly said to Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Lu Xiaoman, around eleven o¡¯clock this afternoon, teachers and students from Hua Hai University will come to our group for an inspection. You are to accompany them. You need to start preparing immediately. Hua Hai University is our group¡¯s main source of talent. If there are any slip-ups, well, you know the consequences!¡± Originally, Lu Xiaoman was not supposed to receive the teachers and students from Hua Hai University, but just as He Jiaqiang was heading back to his office, he suddenly thought Lu Xiaoman might help Ye Fan. To eliminate any chance for Ye Fan to complete his task, he immediately came back and assigned this last-minute task to Lu Xiaoman. ¡°I understand, I¡¯ll prepare thoroughly,¡± Lu Xiaoman replied nervously. Seeing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face filled with nervousness and seriousness, her eyes hiding a ¡°respect¡± for him, He Jiaqiang felt very satisfied inside. His gaze unintentionally drifted down, lingering on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s exquisite figure. ¡°Hey, Qiang Jiahe, what are you leering at Manman for?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s lax voice rang out inappropriately. Lu Xiaoman let out a small shriek, crossing her arms over her chest and stepping back. He Jiaqiang withdrew his gaze and turned to glare fiercely at Ye Fan. Ye Fan, fearless, met He Jiaqiang¡¯s gaze with a lazy smile. ¡°Hmph!¡± He Jiaqiang huffed heavily and turned to slam the door as he left. Chapter 16 - 16 012 Difficult Problem ?16: Chapter 012 Difficult Problem 16: Chapter 012 Difficult Problem After He Jiaqiang slammed the door and left, Lu Xiaoman looked helplessly at Ye Fan with an expression of frustration and said, ¡°Ye Fan, I¡­¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s alright,¡± Ye Fan said with a comforting smile, waving his hand. ¡°You just focus on your work so He Jiaqiang doesn¡¯t take the chance to pick on you again. I can handle this alone. You have to believe in my ability.¡± Lu Xiaoman hung her head in distress and helplessness, knowing all too well that He Jiaqiang¡¯s targeting of Ye Fan had a lot to do with her, in addition to Ye Fan¡¯s intractable nature. She couldn¡¯t help but feel guilty towards Ye Fan. ¡°Alright, it¡¯s after ten o¡¯clock now. I need to hurry up and check the information on that talent and think of a strategy,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°You need to make haste in your prep work as well.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Xiaoman replied. Ye Fan walked to his desk, and since the chair was broken by He Jiaqiang, he temporarily moved the damaged chair aside, brought over another chair to sit in, and then began to look at documents while turning on his computer. Five or six minutes later, a cold smirk emerged at the corner of Ye Fan¡¯s mouth: He Jiaqiang really had no good intentions. Through reading documents and searching online, he had finally figured out the deal with the talent Emali Group wanted to poach. The talent, named Gao Feng, had some fame in his field and currently worked for Yuhe Group. Although Emali Group was offering a salary package slightly better by twenty percent, Yuhe Group was no worse than Emali Group. Moreover, Gao Feng had been with Yuhe Group for seven years and now held a fairly important position there, with clear upward mobility. The reason Emali Group wanted to poach Gao Feng was for a talent reserve for a major upcoming project. Admittedly, the prospects for Gao Feng moving to Emali Group existed, and if the big project succeeded, he would be one of the project¡¯s founding members and contributors, with a future that promised more than staying at Yuhe Group. But what if the project failed? Or what if it was aborted before even getting off the ground? One must understand that for talents at Gao Feng¡¯s level, even though other companies might offer high salaries to poach him, it was quite difficult for him to proactively look for a job and switch one on his own. The positions he needed were like vegetables to their holes; unless someone else left or a company launched a new project related to his expertise, he would have little opportunity. If he was unfortunate, it might take two years to find a job. And being off the job for a long period meant losing touch with the latest industry trends, significantly diminishing his value. So, for Gao Feng, the risk was substantial. Especially considering Gao Feng was a forty-two-year-old man with elderly parents in their seventies to support and children¡¯s university tuition to pay for. Therefore, as long as Gao Feng wasn¡¯t an extreme risk-taker and hadn¡¯t lost his senses, he was unlikely to switch to Emali Group. ¡°Sister Xiaoman, what exactly is the ¡®Biomedical Project¡¯ that the Group is preparing?¡± Ye Fan looked up and asked Lu Xiaoman. Biomedical, also known as biotechnology and new medicine, refers to the industry that applies modern biotechnology, such as genetic engineering, cell engineering, fermentation engineering, and enzyme engineering, to pharmaceutical production, belonging to the high-tech industry. This industry had incredibly high risks and required substantial investment; it could make a fortune if well-managed, but if nothing came of it, all the invested capital could be lost, resulting in a total loss. Lu Xiaoman paused her work and looked up at Ye Fan, saying, ¡°I¡¯m not very sure myself. I¡¯ve only heard that it was a new project personally proposed by the chairman at the annual shareholders meeting at the end of last year. However, there are rumors that several major shareholders are not very agreeable to it because of the huge investment and high risks.¡± She paused, then added, ¡°He Jiaqiang should know more about it.¡± ¡°Oh. Carry on with your work,¡± Ye Fan responded. ¡°Okay,¡± Lu Xiaoman went back to her work. Ye Fan picked up a pen, wrote ¡°Biomedical Project¡± on a piece of paper, and then fell into deep thought. Although he knew that the task of poaching someone was a trap He Jiaqiang set for him, and he understood from an objective standpoint that the chances of Gao Feng agreeing to switch were very slim, since he had taken on the task, he intended to do it wholeheartedly and conscientiously. That was always his principle of conduct. How to persuade Gao Feng involved starting with the new project, ¡°Biomedical Project¡±; he had to have a thorough understanding of this new project. Go to He Jiaqiang for the details of the new project? Impossible! Not only would He Jiaqiang not disclose it, but he was also unwilling to lower himself to ask He Jiaqiang. ¡°Uh, who should I ask about the details of the new project?¡± Ye Fan pondered. He had only joined Emali Group a few days ago, and since he was lazy and inactive, he knew very few people in the group. ¡°Ask her?¡± he thought to himself and immediately shook his head in dismissal. He really didn¡¯t want to deal with Li Zhaojun; he couldn¡¯t stand her pretentious, condescending demeanor, nor her disdainful and scornful looks when she saw him. He thought a bit longer, and suddenly his eyes lit up with an idea. Ye Fan left his office and walked to the door of the Human Resources manager¡¯s office on the same floor. Since the deputy manager He Jiaqiang was aware of the new project details, wouldn¡¯t manager Cao, the head manager, know even more? Manager Cao was the leader of his department; it was within the scope of his job to inquire about work-related information from him. The door to the Human Resources manager¡¯s office was open, and Cao Guoqiang was sitting at his desk focusing on paperwork. Ye Fan knocked on the open door, and Cao Guoqiang looked up, saw Ye Fan standing at the door, and immediately greeted him with a smile, ¡°Xiao Ye, come in.¡± ¡°Manager Cao,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile as he walked in. Cao Guoqiang stood up, walked around his desk, and said in a friendly tone, ¡°Hehe, take a seat and we¡¯ll talk.¡± He pointed with his right hand to the sofa near the coffee table. After sitting down on the sofa, Cao Guoqiang praised Ye Fan for how he had persuaded Sky Wolf Security Company to withdraw the day before and then asked, ¡°What can I do for you? Just tell me.¡± ¡°I¡¯d like to learn about the details of our group¡¯s new ¡®biomedical project¡¯,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Eh?¡± Cao Guoqiang was slightly surprised and asked, ¡°Why are you interested in learning about the new project?¡± The biomedical project was a high-level group discussion and semi-confidential. Although it was generally known within the group that they were preparing to launch this new project, the specifics were company secrets and could not be disclosed indiscriminately. Ye Fan was just a new employee and was not qualified to know the details. Ye Fan said, ¡°I am currently taking over the recruitment work for the biomedical project and feel that it¡¯s appropriate to know some details, as it would benefit my work.¡± ¡°I see,¡± Cao Guoqiang pondered for a moment and then said honestly, ¡°I can¡¯t tell you too much, but I¡¯ll give you a brief rundown.¡± Cao Guoqiang thought for a moment, then carefully said, ¡°This new project was proposed by the chairman at the shareholders¡¯ year-end meeting last year, and it¡¯s still in the discussion phase. Of course, the chairman is pushing it forward. The investment is about four billion yuan, split into two phases¡ªfifteen billion for the first phase and twenty-five billion for the second phase. The first phase mainly involves establishing a production base and purchasing one or two patents from universities and research institutes for production. Once the project gets underway, the group will set up a wholly-owned subsidiary. ¡­That¡¯s all I can tell you.¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you,¡± said Ye Fan. Cao Guoqiang laughed heartily, ¡°No need to be so formal, it¡¯s all part of the job.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you any longer,¡± Ye Fan prepared to say goodbye. ¡°Wait a minute. Let¡¯s go for dinner after work,¡± Cao Guoqiang said. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He appreciated how Ye Fan had dealt with Sky Wolf Security Company and saw it as an opportunity to invite Ye Fan for a meal. Ye Fan¡¯s face showed a hint of embarrassment, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I have a date with a lovely lady tonight.¡± ¡°Oh¡ª¡± Cao Guoqiang drew out his voice, then laughed aloud, ¡°Haha, spending time with your girlfriend is important. Let¡¯s do it another day then.¡± Ye Fan did not want to explain; he just nodded and replied, ¡°Alright.¡± After returning to his office, Ye Fan reviewed Gao Feng¡¯s information and the details about Yuhe Group again, combining them with the new project details and contemplating a strategy on how to persuade Gao Feng. At around eleven, he left the Emali Group and drove towards Xujiahui. [Finally got it changed to a signed A status, so everyone can rest assured and keep reading without fear of an unfinished story. Starting today, the update speed is increasing, with at least two updates guaranteed every day, and more to come when possible. Please support with favorites, recommendations, rewards, and so on. The new book is like a young seedling and needs your support. Thank you very much.] Chapter 17 - 17 013 Saving Tantai Wanrong ?17: Chapter 013: Saving Tantai Wanrong 17: Chapter 013: Saving Tantai Wanrong Tianyuan Road in the Xuhui District was quite far from Emali Group, with the Yuning District of the city administrative center in between. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he had not been in Hua Hai City for long, he was quite familiar with the overall layout and roads of Hua Hai City, mainly out of years of habitual instinct. Before he even entered Hua Hai City, he had studied the city map of Hua Hai for a long time, and after arriving, he had spent two days driving around in a second-hand Alto. To avoid the congested roads, Ye Fan deliberately took a detour via Wende Road and Xiuning Road. Around 11:40, on East Wende Road, as Ye Fan was about to pass through a T-intersection, he suddenly saw the traffic light turn red and stopped the car. Lazily leaning back in his seat, he rested his right hand on the steering wheel, tapping lightly with his index and middle fingers, casually watching the pedestrians crossing the intersection in front of him. The area around Wende Road was primarily government functional units with tall buildings, lacking enterprises, markets, and even supermarkets and hotels, making it quieter and sparser in terms of vehicles and pedestrians compared to other bustling areas of Hua Hai City. There weren¡¯t many pedestrians crossing the street, just a sparse group of seven or eight. Suddenly, a mature and attractive figure caught Ye Fan¡¯s attention. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but sit up straight and looked more intently, realizing it was someone he knew. The mature figure was tall and voluptuous, emanating an air of nobility and grace, wearing black pointed stilettos and holding a black briefcase, accompanied by a woman who looked like a secretary. ¡°Eh, isn¡¯t that Tantai Wanrong?¡± Ye Fan was somewhat surprised. ¡°Judging by her appearance, she seems to work in the city government.¡± Since he was looking from the side, he had a clear view of Tantai Wanrong¡¯s curvaceous figure. Just then, Ye Fan suddenly heard a chorus of screams. His gaze rushed across the entire intersection and saw a white JAC truck bursting from a road on the right, heading straight towards Tantai Wanrong in the middle of the intersection, accelerating as it went. Damn it! Ye Fan cursed angrily, a powerful aura exuding from him. He quickly grabbed the seatbelt with his right hand and pulled it fiercely, breaking it off. At the same time, he opened the car door with his left hand, and his entire body exited the car unbelievably fast. Then, he pushed off the ground with force, causing the tough concrete road surface to crack, and his body shot towards Tantai Wanrong like a bullet. Tantai Wanrong, seeing the truck accelerating towards her, had no time to dodge and instinctively closed her eyes and screamed, believing she was doomed. However, at that moment, Ye Fan lunged forward, pushed Tantai Wanrong with both hands, sending her flying several meters away, crashing into the flowerbed by the roadside. When Ye Fan attempted to push away the secretary-like woman following Tantai Wanrong, a strong gust from the side hit him as the truck bore down on him. In a split second, Ye Fan had no choice but to give up on continuing the rescue. He kicked against the oncoming truck¡¯s hood, then used the momentum to leap away, soaring like a giant bird. With a loud ¡°bang,¡± the scream of the secretary-like woman abruptly halted. She was thrown more than ten meters away, tumbling six or seven meters across the concrete surface, ending up a bloody mess, with blood strewn all over the ground. No sooner had Ye Fan landed than he heard a screech of brakes. He quickly looked up to see the white truck leaving black scorched marks on the tough concrete surface as it rapidly swung its front around, maliciously accelerating again towards Tantai Wanrong, who had fallen in the flowerbed. ¡°Fuck you!¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but roar, dashing over as fast as lightning. Unlike just now, when he only had time to push Tantai Wanrong away, this time he was closer to her than the white truck, which had to accelerate from a standstill. He reached her before the truck could hit, picked up the unconscious Tantai Wanrong, utilized qinggong, his legs moving like wheels, and quickly dodged the white truck¡¯s onslaught, taking refuge behind a sedan parked by the pedestrian walkway of the intersection. With these sedans serving as barriers, the white truck, however vicious, could not plow through so many cars to continue its rampage. Sure enough, seeing that it could no longer kill Tantai Wanrong, the white truck immediately turned around to flee. A woman, petrified with shock, failed to dodge and was struck dead on the spot by the white truck. Phew¡ª Ye Fan exhaled turbid air, gritting his teeth as he watched the white truck¡¯s taillights fade into the distance. To kill Tantai Wanrong, the killer deemed human lives as insignificant, running over two innocent women. He shifted his gaze back to Tantai Wanrong in his arms, noticing her blood-stained clothes, her pale face as white as paper, and her eyes tightly shut. He gently laid Tantai Wanrong down on the ground and quickly examined her, finding that her injuries were not severe; she was mostly knocked unconscious. Well, some shifting of her internal organs was certain. He pressed on an acupoint on Tantai Wanrong¡¯s face, and she groaned, slowly waking up and opening her beautiful eyes. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re awake. You¡¯re not badly hurt, no missing limbs, and your face isn¡¯t disfigured,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile to comfort her. Tantai Wanrong took a moment to regain full consciousness, and looking at Ye Fan¡¯s face, she said weakly, ¡°Ye Fan, thank you.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t mention it. I just happened to be here, and who says I¡¯m not a good Samaritan?¡± Ye Fan said with a light smile, ¡°The police and ambulance should be arriving soon, and since your injuries aren¡¯t serious, I must leave; I have urgent matters to attend to.¡± Saying this, he stood up to leave. With some time already lost, he hoped he could still make it and not keep Gao Feng waiting. Suddenly, Tantai Wanrong grabbed his hand, pleading, ¡°Please don¡¯t go. I¡¯m scared.¡± Seeing the beautiful yet terrified expression on Tantai Wanrong¡¯s face, Ye Fan softened and squatted down again, smiling gently, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± said Tantai Wanrong gratefully. Ye Fan just laughed nonchalantly. Sometime later, the sound of sirens wailed from a distance. Accompanying the police were, of course, the ambulances. As the nurses lifted Tantai Wanrong into the ambulance, she tightly clutched Ye Fan¡¯s hand, refusing to let go. Left with no choice, Ye Fan had to follow her into the ambulance. As the doors closed, the ambulance sped towards the hospital. Inside the ambulance, besides Ye Fan and Tantai Wanrong, there were two nurses. Since Tantai Wanrong¡¯s injuries weren¡¯t severe, the nurses were not overly anxious. One of the nurses, after a long gaze at Tantai Wanrong¡¯s beautiful face, carefully asked, ¡°Excuse me, are you the mayor of Tantai?¡± ¡°Mayor?¡± Ye Fan was surprised, turning towards Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong managed a slight smile with her pale face and replied, ¡°Yes, I am Tantai Wanrong, the Deputy Mayor of Hua Hai. Hello, and thank you.¡± Hearing this, the two nurses expressed their admiration and repeatedly assured her that it was their duty. Tantai Wanrong slightly turned her head, saw the surprise on Ye Fan¡¯s face, and smiled, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect that, did you?¡± ¡°Hehe, indeed, I did not,¡± Ye Fan chuckled, glancing at the delicate white hand holding his. Hehe, the thought of a beautiful, noble, mature, and sexy female mayor tightly holding his hand was a bit thrilling. Haha, this would be great bragging material for the future. Chapter 18 - 18 014 The Beautiful Mayor Asks for a Phone Number ?18: Chapter 014 The Beautiful Mayor Asks for a Phone Number 18: Chapter 014 The Beautiful Mayor Asks for a Phone Number Lost in his thoughts, Tantai Wanrong¡¯s soft and weak voice came through, ¡°Ye Fan, what¡¯s your mobile number?¡± Ye Fan came back to his senses and shook his head with a faint smile, ¡°Hehe, there¡¯s no need for that.¡± The awkwardness of last evening made him feel that even though he had saved Tantai Wanrong¡¯s life this time, future interactions would still be uncomfortable. Especially if he continued to have thoughts about Tantai Wanrong, wouldn¡¯t that be like trying to gain favor through obligation? So, he felt it was better to have met as strangers, with no need to leave anything complicated behind. The two nurses, hearing Ye Fan actually refuse to give his mobile number to Tantai Wanrong, couldn¡¯t help but stare at him in amazement. Everyone knew Tantai Wanrong was not only beautiful, sexy, and noble but also the deputy mayor of Hua Hai City with great power and a promising future. Countless people coveted her mobile number in vain. This man actually refused to give his number to Tantai Wanrong¡ªit was unbelievable! ¡°It¡¯s a must,¡± Tantai Wanrong said firmly. Last night, her niece Yaoyao had angered Ye Fan away, and she hadn¡¯t been able to get Ye Fan¡¯s contact details to repay him in the future. She already felt a sense of regret and shame. Now that Ye Fan had saved her life, if she still couldn¡¯t keep in touch with Ye Fan to repay him, she would be restless for the rest of her life. Worried that Ye Fan would leave immediately after taking her to the hospital, she put aside her injuries and weakness and insisted on getting Ye Fan¡¯s contact information first. ¡°Please tell me, okay?¡± Realizing her tone was too harsh, Tantai Wanrong immediately switched to a pleading tone. Her fragile and stunning appearance was extremely pitiful, almost impossible for even a saint to refuse. The two nurses were taken aback, the beautiful deputy mayor was actually continuing to beg for Ye Fan¡¯s number after he had refused. ¡°Did we hear that correctly?¡± they marveled inwardly, both turning their heads to stare intently at Ye Fan. Ye Fan reluctantly said, ¡°Alright, Auntie Wanrong. My number is 13XXXXXXXXX.¡± He intentionally addressed Tantai Wanrong as Auntie Wanrong to make it clear he no longer harbored any thoughts toward her. Seeing Ye Fan finally willing to tell her his mobile number, Tantai Wanrong felt delighted. However, when she heard Ye Fan deliberately call her Auntie Wanrong, her gaze became teasing as she looked into Ye Fan¡¯s eyes. S§×arch* The n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her slightly raised, sexy lips curved with a hint of a smile; in that moment, she was incredibly seductive, and the whole car seemed to light up tenfold. Ye Fan¡¯s heart uncooperatively sped up its beats, silently exclaiming, ¡°Damn, she¡¯s still so seductive with only half a life left. Was she a nation-wrecking seductress like Daji, Bao Si, or Yang Guifei in her past life?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t remember it now, could you help me save it to my phone?¡± Tantai Wanrong said somewhat embarrassed. ¡°Sure,¡± Ye Fan replied. He had brought Tantai Wanrong¡¯s briefcase with him, so he took out her phone from it and entered a fake mobile number. After saving the number, Ye Fan showed Tantai Wanrong the screen briefly before switching it off and putting the phone back in her bag. In about seven or eight minutes, they had arrived at the First People¡¯s Hospital of Hua Hai City. After sending Tantai Wanrong to the emergency examination room, Ye Fan immediately left the hospital. ¡­ ¡­ Meanwhile, Gao Feng waited impatiently at Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road for He Jiaqiang to show up and couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of anger, ¡°He Jiaqiang, it was you who begged me insistently to talk to you one last time, and now you¡¯ve made me wait by being late. What do you mean by this?!¡± By 12:10 PM, Gao Feng couldn¡¯t wait any longer and, unable to contain his anger, took out his phone and made a call. Before long, the call connected. Gao Feng began berating over the phone, ¡°He Jiaqiang, what do you mean by this? You asked me to meet you at twelve o¡¯clock, and now it¡¯s ten past twelve. You¡¯re not only not here but didn¡¯t even make a call! What do you mean by this, huh?¡± He Jiaqiang was initially stunned by Gao Feng¡¯s barrage of angry questions, but his heart soon leapt with joy: Ha ha, Ye Fan, oh Ye Fan, you little wretch, truly a leopard can¡¯t change its spots! I can¡¯t believe you were not only late for work but also so lazy when it comes to doing your job, daring to be late to a meeting with an important talent acquisition. Great, I¡¯ll just add fuel to the fire, to make sure you completely fail your task! So, he intentionally sneered in a mocking tone, ¡°What do you mean? This is exactly what I mean!¡± After that, he hung up the phone directly. Gao Feng on the other end was instantly so angry that his whole body trembled, almost smashing his phone on the spot, ¡°Great, He Jiaqiang, you¡¯re playing me! Damn, some shitty Emali Group, spit on it! Even if you beg me with an annual salary of a hundred million, I, Gao Feng, won¡¯t give it another glance!¡± After hanging up the phone, He Jiaqiang laughed uproariously, then found Ye Fan¡¯s mobile number and dialed it. Ye Fan hadn¡¯t left the hospital yet, and when he heard the loud ringtone of his cellphone, he took it out and saw an unfamiliar number. He waited a moment to confirm it was for him and then picked up. ¡°Ye Fan, hello there!¡± A furious rant from He Jiaqiang came through the phone, ¡°I asked you to recruit important talent, and you dare to be late, not even making a call. Now Gao Feng is completely enraged, rejecting a move to our group! All the efforts made by the department before were in vain because of your sluggard tardiness, costing us the important talent of Gao Feng! It¡¯s impacted the big picture of the group¡¯s development! The group has suffered a huge loss!¡± ¡°Ye Fan, don¡¯t bother coming to the company anymore, because you¡¯re fired!!!¡± He Jiaqiang was wallowing in his scolding tirade, when suddenly, he heard the ¡°du du¡± busy signal in his ear, as he¡¯d been hung up on by Ye Fan. He felt annoyed inside, but soon smirked in self-satisfaction. This time he had definitely won, as he planned to immediately file a report and apply for Ye Fan¡¯s termination once the afternoon shift started. ¡°Hmph, dare to oppose me, I took you out with just a little trick! Without this little twerp around, heh heh, Zhou Xiaoman, that cheap woman, is going to obediently be my mistress!¡± He Jiaqiang thought smugly, ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± After Ye Fan hung up on He Jiaqiang¡¯s call, he wasn¡¯t flustered at all, instead revealing a mocking cold smile. To prevent He Jiaqiang from taking the chance to call and curse at him again, he simply turned off his cellphone. As for Gao Feng, he didn¡¯t plan to call and explain right away, guessing Gao Feng was probably still fuming, and it surely wouldn¡¯t be clear over the phone. ¡°Eh, better get the car back first.¡± Ye Fan thought, sauntering out of the hospital. Taking a taxi back to the scene of the incident, he found the road blocked off with police tape, surrounded by many people, with police and traffic officers inside doing measurements and taking pictures to preserve evidence. After getting out of the taxi, Ye Fan squeezed into the crowd and saw his second-hand Alto inside the police cordon. ¡°Ah, it¡¯s bound to be a hassle. Definitely going to be asked to give a statement at the police station.¡± He shrugged helplessly and walked towards his car. When he got to the cordon, a police officer immediately stopped him, saying loudly, ¡°Unauthorized persons are not allowed to cross the police line!¡± ¡°Heh, I¡¯m here to get my car.¡± Ye Fan said with a light smile, pointing at the Alto within the cordon. His Alto was parked there, lonely, with the car door still open from when he had saved someone. ¡°You are the owner of that car?¡± The officer looked at Ye Fan in surprise. He knew that it was the owner of that Alto who had rescued Deputy Mayor Tantai Wanrong with an unimaginable speed. Ye Fan smiled lightly, ¡°No mistaking it.¡± The officer¡¯s attitude immediately softened, lifting the tape to let Ye Fan in. ¡°Follow me,¡± the officer said to Ye Fan. Ye Fan nodded slightly and followed the officer towards a group of police officers discussing an issue toward the front left of the scene. Among them was a tall female officer with a smart ponytail. ¡°Reporting!¡± the officer called out loudly. The few officers stopped their discussion and turned to look. With the female officer turning around, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but be taken aback by what he saw. He saw the female officer, around twenty-five or twenty-six years old, good-looking, with bright eyes, white teeth, and a pair of slender jet-black eyebrows that conveyed a compelling heroism. Chapter 19 - 19 015 The Beautiful Police Officer ?19: Chapter 015: The Beautiful Police Officer 19: Chapter 015: The Beautiful Police Officer The beautiful and energetic policewoman turned around, bringing Ye Fan over and pointing to him, she said, ¡°Commander Zhao, this gentleman claims he is the owner of the Alto.¡± Policewoman Zhao Lina shifted her gaze to Ye Fan, who appeared nonchalant and lazy, her beautiful eyes slightly puzzled. In her mind, the daring anti-crime hero could be short, poor, and ugly, tall, rich, and handsome, a laborer, a white-collar, a student, or a veteran, but how could he be a slovenly man? ¡°Are you the owner of the Alto?¡± Zhao Lina asked bluntly, suspecting Ye Fan was a crook, ¡°Show me your registration document.¡± The registration document differed from a driver¡¯s license as it contained vehicle information. ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it,¡± Ye Fan said, spreading his hands. Zhao Lina coldly asked, ¡°Then how can you prove the car is yours?¡± Ye Fan frowned slightly, sensing the policewoman¡¯s suspicion and felt somewhat upset. ¡ª Brother is a returning hero; instead of a warm embrace from this policewoman, she suspects me of being a fraudster. Humph, Brother even suspects your big breasts are fake! ¡°There are two packs of Yuxi cigarettes in the car, one pack is half-smoked, and the other has one cigarette missing,¡± Ye Fan said helplessly, ¡°The first song in the music player is ¡®See You Again¡¯.¡± Zhao Lina turned to the policeman who had brought Ye Fan over, ¡°Xiao Hua, go check if this is true.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± the policeman turned and headed towards the Alto. Zhao Lina turned back, and said, ¡°Give me your ID card.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring it,¡± Ye Fan said again, spreading his hands. ¡°Driver¡¯s license.¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t bring that either.¡± Zhao Lina¡¯s pretty face hardened completely. Ye Fan got annoyed; although he never expected to appear gloriously on TV or in the newspapers, he really couldn¡¯t tolerate being doubted so much. He snorted, ¡°I mean, what kind of fraudster would be bold enough to pull a scam at a murder scene? Especially just to steal an old Alto worth less than 20,000 yuan. Think about it, will you?¡± At last, he purposefully glanced at Zhao Lina and muttered softly, ¡°No wonder some say women with big chests are brainless.¡± The volume was just right for Zhao Lina to hear. Hearing this, Zhao Lina¡¯s eyes widened, her slender eyebrows shot up in an instant, and an intimidating aura radiated from her. With a piercing look fixated on Ye Fan, a pair of handcuffs appeared in her hand as she coldly said, ¡°I suspect you have something to do with this murder case; I am going to arrest you!¡± ¡°Stop bluffing,¡± Ye Fan scoffed dismissively, ¡°You can take me to the station for questioning, but you have no right to handcuff me. Don¡¯t think Brother doesn¡¯t know the law.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhao Lina snorted heavily, retracting the handcuffs and disdained Ye Fan even more. At that moment, the policeman who had checked the car came back and said to Zhao Lina, ¡°Commander Zhao, this gentleman was right; the car really belongs to him.¡± This policeman didn¡¯t realize that Zhao Lina had already gotten angry with Ye Fan. After reporting, he turned and clapped Ye Fan on the shoulder, admiringly saying, ¡°Bro, nice! Not only are you skilled, but your courage is exceptional, daring to save someone in a car crash.¡± In the end, he even gave Ye Fan a thumbs-up. ¡°Hehe, Officer, you flatter me,¡± Ye Fan modestly responded with a faint smile. However, the next moment, he turned his face toward Zhao Lina and grinned mockingly, casting a scornful look. Zhao Lina¡¯s pretty face turned dark in an instant. She wanted to erupt but couldn¡¯t find a way to, feeling extremely stifled, with her chest heaving in frustration. ¡± Humph!¡± She snorted heavily, turned around, and walked away while thinking to herself, ¡°You despicable boy, you better not mess under my watch!¡± Seeing the arrogant policewoman storm off, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly thrilled: Haha, what a look, and she calls herself the squadron leader, yet she can¡¯t even recognize a hero among her subordinates. Embarrassing, isn¡¯t it? S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The policeman was puzzled by Zhao Lina¡¯s sudden angry departure, thinking she was displeased with him, although he felt he hadn¡¯t done anything wrong. ¡°Officer, may I go ahead and drive my car now?¡± Ye Fan asked the policeman. The policeman suppressed his confusion and smiled at Ye Fan, ¡°Of course. However, as you are also involved in this matter, you¡¯ll need to help us by giving a statement.¡± ¡°That¡¯s fine. But I do need to get to work, so I hope it can be quick,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry, we¡¯ll make it as convenient for you as possible,¡± the policeman laughed, ¡°I¡¯ll go and ask the squadron leader now.¡± After speaking, he quickly walked over to Zhao Lina to ask for instructions, then came back and said to Ye Fan, ¡°Brother, drive your car and follow me back to the police station to record your statement.¡± ¡­ After recording his statement at the police station and leisurely having lunch, Ye Fan looked at the time, and it was already past three in the afternoon, making him late for work again. However, Ye Fan wasn¡¯t in a hurry at all, driving his second-hand Alto at an unhurried pace to Emali Group. Meanwhile, at Emali Group, in the HR Manager¡¯s office, He Jiaqiang and Cao Guoqiang were having an argument over Ye Fan. It turned out, right after work resumed in the afternoon, He Jiaqiang couldn¡¯t wait to draft a report for Ye Fan¡¯s dismissal and hurriedly submitted it to Cao Guoqiang. Cao Guoqiang was taken aback when he received the report; he had just mentioned wanting to invite Ye Fan for a meal that morning, and now He Jiaqiang was already writing a report to dismiss him in the afternoon. ¡°Manager He, is there a misunderstanding here?¡± Cao Guoqiang asked with a slight frown. He Jiaqiang immediately said loudly, ¡°There¡¯s no misunderstanding. Ye Fan always slacks off, has a sloppy work attitude, arrives late, and talks back to the leadership. You also know about Gao Feng, this key talent. It took me a lot of effort to finally persuade him to consider switching to our group, just short of formally signing the contract. This morning, because I had an urgent matter and couldn¡¯t leave, I asked him to take my place at the meeting with Gao Feng to finalize the contract signing.¡± ¡°When I assigned him the task, I already emphasized the importance of the mission and instructed him to make sure it was completed. But he still didn¡¯t take it seriously, his work attitude was lax to the extreme, and he didn¡¯t even go to meet with Gao Feng to sign the contract. Gao Feng waited left and right, and after half an hour, he became very angry, thinking that we lacked sincerity, and ultimately refused to switch to our group.¡± ¡°Because of his extremely sloppy work, we failed to secure this key talent, Gao Feng, which then affected the progress of the new project pushed by the chairman, impacting the group¡¯s major development plans, creating an extremely adverse effect. How can we manage the team if we don¡¯t dismiss him?¡± Cao Guoqiang was still unwilling to sign, saying, ¡°Perhaps he encountered some emergency on his way to meet Gao Feng, which prevented him from keeping the appointment on time.¡± ¡°What emergency could there be? It¡¯s surely because he was too sloppy in his work attitude, took the opportunity to drive out for fun, and forgot the time,¡± He Jiaqiang said, ¡°Manager Cao, just sign it. He¡¯s just a new employee; why bother so much about him?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not a good way to put it,¡± Cao Guoqiang shook his head, ¡°We must ask him face-to-face and clear things up before deciding.¡± ¡°Humph, then you wait,¡± He Jiaqiang scoffed twice, ¡°He hasn¡¯t returned to the group yet!¡± ¡°Perhaps he really encountered some emergency,¡± Cao Guoqiang spoke up for Ye Fan. Seeing that Cao Guoqiang firmly refused to sign, He Jiaqiang had no choice but to temporarily return to his own office. Chapter 20 - 20 016 The First Time Lying for Ye Fan ?20: Chapter 016 The First Time Lying for Ye Fan 20: Chapter 016 The First Time Lying for Ye Fan After He Jiaqiang left, Cao Guoqiang pondered for a moment, feeling that He Jiaqiang seemed to be acting officially, but his attitude appeared to be targeting Ye Fan. Thus, he picked up the phone and called Lu Xiaoman¡¯s office. Lu Xiaoman sat at her desk; her computer was on, and there was a document on the desk, but she was distracted, frequently looking up at the office door. ¡°Ye Fan, why haven¡¯t you come to work yet? It¡¯s already past three o¡¯clock.¡± She murmured anxiously and worriedly in a low voice, ¡°I don¡¯t even know if he has completed the recruitment task. His phone is turned off too. I¡¯m so worried. If he hasn¡¯t finished it, He Jiaqiang will definitely take the opportunity to flare up. What should I do? It¡¯s all my fault.¡± Just then, the office phone suddenly rang loudly, startling her. Patting her chest, Lu Xiaoman looked at the caller ID and saw it was from the HR Manager¡¯s office, her heart suddenly tightened. Still, she had to answer it. ¡°Hello, Manager Cao, this is Lu Xiaoman.¡± Lu Xiaoman said cautiously, ¡°What can I do for you?¡± ¡°Xiaoman, is Ye Fan there?¡± Cao Guoqiang¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiaoman exclaimed in shock, fearing exactly what was happening, ¡°He, he, he¡­¡± ¡°Is he there or not?¡± ¡°¡­He¡¯s not here.¡± Lu Xiaoman didn¡¯t dare to lie, answering softly, then quickly explained, ¡°He went out at noon because of the recruitment task. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Maybe he hasn¡¯t come back because it¡¯s not finished yet.¡± ¡°Um.¡± Cao Guoqiang responded, saying, ¡°Come to my office.¡± ¡°Yes.¡± After hanging up, Lu Xiaoman left her office and headed to Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office. As Lu Xiaoman entered, Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°Close the door.¡± ¡°Oh.¡± Lu Xiaoman responded and turned to close the door. Cao Guoqiang walked out of his desk, sat down on the sofa in front of the coffee table, and gestured for the door-closing Lu Xiaoman to sit down. ¡°Xiaoman, Ye Fan has been under your supervision since he joined. How has his performance been?¡± Cao Guoqiang asked straightforwardly. Lu Xiaoman cautiously replied, ¡°It¡¯s, it¡¯s okay.¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard he was late for work,¡± Cao Guoqiang stated. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s heart thudded, and she replied somewhat frantically, ¡°Yes, he was late once, this morning. He said it was because of traffic.¡± Cao Guoqiang did not further probe into Ye Fan¡¯s tardiness. After pondering for a while, he asked, ¡°Does Manager He pay attention to Ye Fan usually?¡± Lu Xiaoman didn¡¯t answer immediately, quickly considering why Cao Guoqiang was asking this. ¡°Could it be that He Jiaqiang has really made a report to fire Ye Fan?¡± she thought nervously. With this thought, she gritted her teeth and said, ¡°Manager Cao, there are some things I¡¯m not sure if I should say.¡± ¡°Say it,¡± Cao Guoqiang responded. Lu Xiaoman took a deep breath and said, ¡°I don¡¯t know why, but Manager He has a poor attitude towards Ye Fan, frequently criticizing his work. This morning, Manager He even specifically assigned Ye Fan a task to go out and recruit. At that time, I thought that Ye Fan, having just joined a few days ago, was not yet fully familiar with the work process and temporarily unsuitable for the task. But Manager He insisted on Ye Fan doing it.¡± ¡°Um¡ª,¡± Cao Guoqiang hummed a long response without revealing any attitude. After finishing speaking, Lu Xiaoman didn¡¯t dare to look at Cao Guoqiang, nervously clenching her two pale small hands together under the coffee table. Cao Guoqiang noticed that Lu Xiaoman had nothing more to say, so he said, ¡°Go back to your work. If Ye Fan comes back, have him come see me.¡± ¡°Yes,¡± Lu Xiaoman stood up. ¡°Goodbye, Manager Cao.¡± Walking out of Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office, Lu Xiaoman felt her legs weaken and her back was drenched in cold sweat. Her heart pounded wildly, almost leaping out of her chest. It was the first time in her life she had spoken ill behind someone¡¯s back, and she had even lied. If it weren¡¯t for Ye Fan, she would never have had the courage to do such a thing. Returning to her own office, she immediately started worrying about Ye Fan. She wasn¡¯t stupid; she had already guessed that He Jiaqiang had submitted a report to Cao Guoqiang requesting Ye Fan¡¯s dismissal. And the fact that He Jiaqiang dared to submit the report before Ye Fan had returned indicated that he knew the recruitment task had failed. ¡°What should I do? If Ye Fan gets fired because of this, I¡­¡± Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help feeling very sad and guilty about Ye Fan. Nearly four o¡¯clock, Ye Fan finally returned to the office. As soon as Ye Fan appeared at the office door, Lu Xiaoman quickly went up to him, without saying a word, hurriedly closed the door, then grabbed Ye Fan¡¯s hand anxiously and led him into the office. Being grabbed by Lu Xiaoman¡¯s soft and smooth hand, Ye Fan felt a soft, slippery sensation and unwittingly felt a stir in his heart. He instinctively took Lu Xiaoman¡¯s small hand in his, carefully feeling its delicate smoothness and boneless softness. Lu Xiaoman hadn¡¯t expected Ye Fan to grab her hand in return, and she felt embarrassed and reflexively tried to pull her hand away. But Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t let go so easily and held on a bit more tightly. After struggling a few times without success in retrieving her hand, and realizing she had been terribly worried about Ye Fan¡¯s situation while he seemed to still have the inclination to take advantage of her, she felt overcome by grief and suddenly her tears came flooding out. Seeing Lu Xiaoman crying, Ye Fan was frightened and quickly let go, hurriedly apologizing, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, it was my fault. Please don¡¯t cry, okay? Xiaoman sister.¡± Lu Xiaoman eventually softened her heart and didn¡¯t want to stay mad at Ye Fan. She turned away, sniffed, and wiped her tears with a tissue she carried with her. Seeing that Lu Xiaoman had stopped crying, Ye Fan grinned sheepishly, trying to appease her, ¡°Haha, Xiaoman sister, why did you rush to pull me in? What do you need? Please just say it, I¡¯ll definitely do my best to fulfill it.¡± Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan with slightly reddened eyes for a while and said, ¡°At least you still have some conscience.¡± ¡°Haha, Xiaoman sister¡¯s gaze is indeed sharp, seeing right through to my true nature,¡± Ye Fan boasted, patting his proudly puffed chest and bragging, ¡°I may lack many things, but I definitely have a big heart!¡± ¡°Phf¡ª¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and giggle, the sadness and oppression in her heart dissipating substantially. Ye Fan, looking at Lu Xiaoman breaking into laughter, found her incredibly beautiful, lighting up the office considerably. He couldn¡¯t help but compliment, ¡°Xiaoman sister, you look really pretty.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Lu Xiaoman blushed instantly, slightly indignant, ¡°You just admitted your mistake, and now you¡¯re flirting with me!¡± Ye Fan chuckled, ¡°I really meant it.¡± ¡°Even if it¡¯s false!¡± Lu Xiaoman glared at him with her lovely eyes, then changed the subject, ¡°Ye Fan, did you complete the recruitment task He Jiaqiang assigned you?¡± At this point, she still held a glimmer of hope. Ye Fan smiled lightly, ¡°I haven¡¯t even met Gao Feng.¡± ¡°Why? Is it because you don¡¯t know the way or couldn¡¯t find the place? Or did He Jiaqiang purposefully mislead you with the wrong time and location?¡± Lu Xiaoman asked nervously. Ye Fan answered, ¡°Neither. I happened to come across a murder case on the road. The murderer was purposefully hitting someone with a small truck. I got involved and couldn¡¯t get away. It wasn¡¯t until after three o¡¯clock that I was finally done giving my statement at the police station.¡± Hearing that Ye Fan¡¯s failure to complete the task was due to an irresistible emergency rather than his own work mistake or fault, Lu Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief, placing her hand on her chest and gently patting, ¡°That¡¯s good, that¡¯s good. Since it¡¯s not your fault, He Jiaqiang can¡¯t use this opportunity to file a report to fire you.¡± Lu Xiaoman didn¡¯t hear Ye Fan¡¯s answer and looked up only to find him staring intently at her. Her pretty face instantly turned as red as if bleeding, and she quickly retracted her hand that had been lightly patting her chest. Her head bowed, her small, cute chin resting against her chest, she felt embarrassed, yet there was a hidden joy inside, not disliking at all the way Ye Fan was looking at her. Chapter 21 - 21 017 Dispute ?21: Chapter 017: Dispute 21: Chapter 017: Dispute ¡°By the way, Manager Cao would like you to come to his office as soon as you get back,¡± Lu Xiaoman said after a moment. Ye Fan withdrew his gaze and nodded, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll go now.¡± With that, he turned to head for Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office. Lu Xiaoman called out in a hurry, ¡°Wait, there¡¯s something I haven¡¯t finished telling you.¡± ¡°What is it?¡± Ye Fan turned back and asked. Lu Xiaoman spoke seriously, ¡°Before you got back, Manager Cao asked me about your relationship with He Jiaqiang. I told him there was tension between you and He Jiaqiang was targeting you at every turn. Oh, I suspect Manager Cao asked because He Jiaqiang must have already reported you for not completing the recruitment task and might be seeking to have you dismissed. So, you must be very careful.¡± ¡°Hmm, thank you,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile and then confidently added, ¡°But don¡¯t worry, even if He Jiaqiang files a thousand or ten thousand reports, he won¡¯t be able to dismiss me.¡± S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. What a joke, Chairman Li Zhaojun is my wife. To fire me, he¡¯d first have to get her approval. He Jiaqiang is just a middle manager; Li Zhaojun probably doesn¡¯t even recognize him. Seeing how confident Ye Fan was, Lu Xiaoman felt much more at ease, even though she didn¡¯t know where his confidence came from, but she intuitively knew that Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t bluff or deceive her. When he entered Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office, Cao Guoqiang asked Ye Fan why he was late for the meeting to sign the contract with Gao Feng, and Ye Fan explained the situation in detail. Of course, Ye Fan did not reveal the fact that he had saved someone from a car crash. Such a heroic tale, if told, would become well-known throughout the corporation, ruining any chance for him to keep a low profile. ¡°So that¡¯s what happened,¡± Cao Guoqiang said after listening, ¡°This means that the recruitment task¡¯s failure isn¡¯t entirely your fault; indeed, there were uncontrollable circumstances.¡± Cao Guoqiang had heard about the murder case on Wendelu Road before his afternoon shift at 2 PM. The intended victim was said to be the Deputy Mayor Tantai Wanrong¡ªa sensational news story in Huahai City. Next, he picked up the office landline to call He Jiaqiang, asking him to come over. Before long, He Jiaqiang entered the office and upon seeing Ye Fan, immediately started to accuse him. Cao Guoqiang frowned and gave a pretend cough, and that momentarily silenced He Jiaqiang. Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°Manager He, I¡¯ve learned about the reason Ye Fan was late to meet Gao Feng and sign the contract. It was because he happened to be involved in the deliberate vehicular homicide that occurred on Wendelu Road at midday and couldn¡¯t get away, thus causing his delay. The fault isn¡¯t entirely on him, so he shouldn¡¯t bear full responsibility for the failure to recruit Gao Feng.¡± ¡°That¡¯s too coincidental, I don¡¯t believe it,¡± He Jiaqiang said skeptically, ¡°To get to Tianyuan Road from the corporation, you clearly pass Fu¡¯an Road and Qixing Road, whereas Wendelu Road is in the opposite direction. How could he possibly have been on Wendelu Road and just happened to be at the scene of the crime?¡± Then, turning to Ye Fan, he stared and snorted coldly, ¡°Ye Fan, I know you¡¯re cunning and slippery. Don¡¯t think you can fool me!¡± ¡°I took a detour through Wendelu Road to avoid traffic on Fu¡¯an and Qixing Road, what¡¯s wrong with that?¡± Ye Fan retorted with a disdainful jibe, ¡°You can go to the police station now and verify it; they have my recorded statement.¡± He Jiaqiang was lost for words, thinking to himself that Ye Fan¡¯s steadfast tone surely meant his story was true. However, such a rare opportunity to act against Ye Fan was not something he could pass up ¨C he had to push for Ye Fan¡¯s dismissal at all costs! With that in mind, he turned to Cao Guoqiang and said, ¡°Manager Cao, while there are indeed some objective reasons, the cold hard fact is that the recruitment effort for a crucial talent like Gao Feng has failed miserably due to Ye Fan. Gao Feng wasn¡¯t easy to persuade; it took immense effort to get him to consider joining our corporation. His addition was vital for the ¡®Biomedical¡¯ project strongly advocated by the chairman; it¡¯s a matter of the corporation¡¯s future development. Now, with Gao Feng fully rejecting the switch to our corporation due to Ye Fan¡¯s tardiness, the loss is huge, and Ye Fan must take responsibility!¡± ¡°Moreover, it was Ye Fan who chose not to take the shortcut, leading to this outcome.¡± ¡°I strongly request his dismissal!¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but retort, ¡°Oh, so whichever route I take is somehow my fault. How come you didn¡¯t specify which route to take or which intersections to pass through at what time this morning? Besides, if Gao Feng was really willing to make the move, how could something this crucial be canceled just because of my delay? He clearly had no intention of switching!¡± ¡°Hmph, no matter your excuses, it doesn¡¯t change the undeniable fact that your lateness caused the recruitment to fail!¡± He Jiaqiang coldly huffed. Cao Guoqiang spoke up, ¡°Enough, both of you stop arguing, this isn¡¯t a marketplace! Ye Fan certainly bears some responsibility for this matter, but it¡¯s not severe enough to merit dismissal.¡± ¡°Manager Cao, you¡¯re covering for Ye Fan!¡± He Jiaqiang¡¯s face darkened, and he bluntly said, ¡°I¡¯ll report this to Vice President Lu. I advise you to think it over carefully.¡± Vice President Lu was none other than He Jiaqiang¡¯s uncle by marriage, the Vice General Manager of Emali Corporation, Lu Yuansheng. Cao Guoqiang¡¯s complexion instantly turned sour, but he didn¡¯t dare to lash out, nor did he dare to insist on his earlier decision. He pondered whether he should really go out of his way for Ye Fan, whom he had only met three times. Ye Fan saw the expression on Cao Guoqiang¡¯s face and didn¡¯t want to put Cao in a tough spot, so he scoffed at He Jiaqiang, ¡°He Jiaqiang, do you really think the recruitment task has failed? Not necessarily!¡± ¡°Ye Fan, even at this stage, you continue to feign confidence with your arguments,¡± He Jiaqiang, believing he had the upper hand and feeling smug, ridiculed Ye Fan, ¡°Gao Feng personally called me to say he¡¯d rather die than switch to Emali Corporation.¡± Ye Fan raised a finger to He Jiaqiang, saying, ¡°Your incompetence doesn¡¯t mean everyone else is. Within three days, I guarantee that Gao Feng will sign a contract and join our corporation. If it takes one day longer, I will leave the corporation myself!¡± He Jiaqiang¡¯s face darkened and he huffed heavily, ¡°You said it! If you fail, leave the corporation immediately!¡± Cao Guoqiang looked up at Ye Fan in surprise; it was clear now that He Jiaqiang had sent Ye Fan to Gao Feng as a trap. He guessed maybe just as Ye Fan had said, Gao Feng never intended to join Emali Corporation, and perhaps He Jiaqiang had even maliciously sabotaged Gao Feng¡¯s impression of Emali. Now, Ye Fan was promising to secure Gao Feng within three days. ¡°Ye Fan, make sure you¡¯ve thought this through,¡± he warned with concern. Ye Fan smiled lightly, ¡°Of course, I¡¯ve thought it through. It¡¯s just Gao Feng after all; he¡¯s within easy reach. Thank you for your concern.¡± Chapter 22 - 22 018 The Three-Day Promise ?22: Chapter 018 The Three-Day Promise 22: Chapter 018 The Three-Day Promise Returning to his office, Lu Xiaoman immediately came up with a slightly tense face and asked, ¡°Ye Fan, you were gone for so long, is everything alright?¡± ¡°Hehe, of course, it¡¯s alright,¡± Ye Fan said with a lazy smile, spreading his hands, ¡°If something was wrong, do you think I could still smile so brilliantly?¡± ¡°That¡¯s good to hear,¡± Lu Xiaoman visibly sighed with relief. Suddenly, the office door was slammed open. Lu Xiaoman jumped, and together with Ye Fan, they both turned to look. There stood He Jiaqiang, with his big belly thrust forward, strutting in with a look of arrogant triumph on his face. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face noticeably tightened, and her eyes showed a bit of fear. Ye Fan turned around, lazily crossing his arms over his chest, and said with a cold, mocking tone, ¡°I was wondering who could be so rude. It turns out to be Qiang Jiahe.¡± Having his name called out backward by Ye Fan immediately soured He Jiaqiang¡¯s good mood, and he huffed, ¡°Ye Fan, you¡¯re being arrogant and putting on airs even when death is staring you in the face! In three days, you¡¯ll tuck your tail between your legs like a homeless dog and crawl out of the company! It¡¯s impossible to persuade Gao Feng to change sides and join Emali Group within three days!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid to tell you, Gao Feng called me today, and he couldn¡¯t have been more furious.¡± He paused, then let out a strange laugh, ¡°Hehe, I bet he smashed his phone after hanging up. Hahaha¡­¡± Hearing all this, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face instantly turned pale, her delicate body shook, and she nearly couldn¡¯t stand steady. She turned to Ye Fan, overwhelmed with guilt. ¡°So, he was forced into making a military order to get Gao Feng to sign a contract and defect to our company within three days. But he just lied to me and said nothing was wrong? Given He Jiaqiang¡¯s cunning, he must have sabotaged the task, how could Ye Fan possibly complete it?¡± She wept inside, ¡°Sob, sob, it¡¯s my fault he lost such a good job. Sob, sob¡­¡± With calm mockery, Ye Fan said, ¡°I knew about your trickery all along, it was to be expected.¡± Seeing that Ye Fan wasn¡¯t at all worried and didn¡¯t show the deep concern he was hoping to see, He Jiaqiang felt somewhat deflated. He forced a laugh and said, ¡°Ye Fan, keep showing your sharp tongue, but I hope your real ability is even one-tenth of your mouth. Hahaha¡­¡± He left with a triumphant laugh. Unless the sun rose from the west, there was no way Ye Fan could get Gao Feng to defect to the company. No, even if the sun rose from the west, this little scoundrel didn¡¯t have the capability! He Jiaqiang thought smugly to himself. After He Jiaqiang left, Ye Fan turned to look at Lu Xiaoman, who was pale with tearful eyes, and he asked anxiously, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, what¡¯s wrong?¡± ¡°Ye Fan, I¡¯m sorry,¡± Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan guilt-ridden and said, ¡°If it weren¡¯t for me, He Jiaqiang wouldn¡¯t have targeted you, wouldn¡¯t have set a trap to drive you out of the company and made you lose your good job.¡± Ye Fan waved his hand and laughed, ¡°It has nothing to do with you. I couldn¡¯t stand him anyway. So ugly and sleazy-looking, and on top of that, he keeps leering at you. No, I have to find a way to get him out of the company.¡± Hearing Ye Fan talk about getting He Jiaqiang out of Emali Group made Lu Xiaoman widen her eyes in disbelief. Ye Fan continued to reassure Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, don¡¯t worry, if I said I would get Gao Feng to sign a contract and switch to our company within three days, then I¡¯ll make it happen!¡± Lu Xiaoman bowed her head, feeling it was absolutely impossible. It wasn¡¯t that she didn¡¯t believe in Ye Fan¡¯s abilities, but realistically, Ye Fan was just a newly employed junior worker; recruiting an important talent within three days was difficult enough, let alone with He Jiaqiang¡¯s sabotage, and Gao Feng¡¯s aversion to Emali Group. She couldn¡¯t see a glimmer of hope. Seeing Lu Xiaoman was still worried, Ye Fan continued, ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t frown like that, you¡¯ll turn ugly. Besides, even if I leave Emali Group, the sky won¡¯t fall. Where one door shuts, another opens. Maybe I could end up as a general manager in another company.¡± Comforted by Ye Fan, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s gloom lifted a bit, and looking up to see Ye Fan grinning cheekily, her heart felt both love and annoyance as she glared at him and scolded, ¡°You always talk big, can you be a bit more reliable? If you can be a general manager, then I could be a chairman.¡± ¡°Hehe,¡± Ye Fan laughed without argument, thinking to himself, ¡°Mom has seven or eight big companies under her thumb waiting for me to be the general manager. But I really can¡¯t be bothered with the hassle.¡± ¡­ ¡­ Finally, six o¡¯clock arrived, and Ye Fan could hardly wait. ¡°Lu Xiaoman, you promised to let me take you out to dinner as an apology tonight. You can¡¯t back out now,¡± he walked up to Lu Xiaoman¡¯s desk and, looking down at her upturned pretty face, said. Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s eager, expectant eyes, Lu Xiaoman felt a secret joy. She pursed her lips, smiling, and joked, ¡°Okay, I¡¯ll give you a chance. I want to eat abalone, I want lobster, I want a full Manchu Han Imperial Feast¡­ I¡¯ll eat you into poverty!¡± But to her surprise, Ye Fan displayed a gloomy expression and said weakly, ¡°I¡¯m already very poor. You see, my entire outfit doesn¡¯t even add up to a hundred bucks. So, let me clarify upfront, I can¡¯t afford to treat you to a feast of abalone and lobster.¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face registered shock. Wasn¡¯t it common for guys to puff themselves up and take a girl to the fanciest restaurant they could afford when inviting her out? Sure, her demand for abalone and lobster was just a joke. Even if they were really heading to a high-end place, she would firmly refuse, but she never expected him to flatly refuse her. This was infuriating! Absolutely detestable! ¡°Stingy!¡± Lu Xiaoman grit her teeth in frustration. This was the first time she was accepting a dinner invitation from a guy, and this was the treatment she got. She was on the verge of tears! ¡°The stingy man knows how to live and manage a household,¡± Ye Fan said with a grin. Lu Xiaoman could only roll her eyes, too annoyed to deal with Ye Fan. Nevertheless, after work, she followed Ye Fan to the elevator down to the underground parking lot and got into his second-hand Alto. Driving away from Emali Group, Ye Fan was searching for a restaurant, but since he hadn¡¯t been in Hua Hai City for long, he had no idea where to take her for a suitable meal. Seeing Ye Fan driving around aimlessly like a headless fly, Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t take it anymore and said, ¡°There are plenty of restaurants on Chaoyang Road. Don¡¯t worry, the cost there won¡¯t bankrupt you!¡± Her tone bore a clear edge of grudge as she spat out the last sentence, indicating how much it was bothering her. Ye Fan pretended not to notice and smiled, ¡°Okay, let¡¯s head to Chaoyang Road.¡± With that, he activated the GPS and steered towards Chaoyang Road. Upon arriving, indeed, most of the street was lined with eateries. Most were unassuming small diners, skewer stalls, and fast-food joints, with the occasional restaurant that had a barely acceptable environment. Ye Fan drove from one end of Chaoyang Road to the other, then made a U-turn to come back, finally picking what he thought was the best-looking restaurant. After parking, Ye Fan was unbuckling his seatbelt and said to Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Let¡¯s eat here at this restaurant. Mingxuan Pavilion, sounds decent.¡± ¡°Um, okay,¡± Lu Xiaoman answered with a smile, her pretty face now free of any look of disdain. They entered the restaurant and despite it not being upscale, the interior was reasonably elegant. They settled at a clean table near the glass wall, and a waiter immediately brought the menu. ¡°You order,¡± Ye Fan handed the menu to Lu Xiaoman. Lu Xiaoman took the menu, glanced at the prices, then chose two dishes, one a simple stir-fried pork with vegetables, and the other a seasonal green vegetable. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°That¡¯s it? Just two?¡± Ye Fan asked as he looked at Lu Xiaoman. Lu Xiaoman replied, ¡°You order a soup. It¡¯s just the two of us, ordering more would be a waste if we can¡¯t finish it.¡± Ye Fan shook his head and said, ¡°Even though I can¡¯t afford to treat you to abalone and lobster, I can¡¯t let our first meal together be so modest.¡± ¡°Giggle,¡± Lu Xiaoman smiled beautifully, teasingly said, ¡°I was just teasing you in the office. You¡¯re new to work and without support in Hua Hai City; life must be tight. How could I really expect you to treat me to a big meal? Hurry up and choose a soup, the waiter is getting anxious.¡± ¡°Beef stir-fried with green chili, tofu soup with fish head,¡± Ye Fan quickly ordered two more dishes, then passed the menu back to the waiter. Lu Xiaoman protested, ¡°That¡¯s more than we need.¡± Ye Fan laughed, ¡°You may not eat much, but I have a big appetite. I need this much to be full.¡± After that, he turned to the waiter and said, ¡°That¡¯ll be all, please start serving the food.¡± Chapter 23 - 23 019 Dinner Date ?23: Chapter 019: Dinner Date 23: Chapter 019: Dinner Date After the waiter left, the atmosphere suddenly quieted down. They were not seated at a large round table but at a delicate rectangular one, which could only accommodate four people dining together. Sitting face to face, they could see each other very clearly. S§×ar?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan stared intently at Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face, closely observing her bright eyes, her delicate and straight nose, her soft and tender red lips, her small and exquisite chin, and her tender, fair melon-seed-shaped face¡­ Feeling Ye Fan¡¯s burning gaze, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s heart uncooperatively started pounding rapidly. She lowered her head and let her eyelids fall, not daring to meet Ye Fan¡¯s eyes. ¡°¡­Why are you staring at someone like that?¡± she said softly, her bashfulness making her voice quiet, feeling her pretty face getting hotter and hotter, ¡°Stop it.¡± However, she wasn¡¯t angry at all; instead, she secretly took delight in it. Seeing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s bashful look, a wonderfully happy feeling rose in Ye Fan¡¯s heart, thinking she was just too beautiful. He said with a playful grin, ¡°Because you¡¯re too pretty.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t talk nonsense!¡± Lu Xiaoman suddenly looked up, shooting Ye Fan a quick glare, and chided coquettishly. ¡°Ha ha,¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, and then he suddenly blurted out, ¡°You were right when you said we shouldn¡¯t have ordered those extra dishes earlier.¡± Lu Xiaoman was slightly stunned, feeling Ye Fan¡¯s thought process was quite erratic, but she still replied, ¡°Better to realize now. How much can two people eat? You just started working, so you can¡¯t develop the bad habit of overspending.¡± Ye Fan shook his head with a smile and said, ¡°The ancients said, ¡®Beauty is feast enough.¡¯ With such unrivaled beauty before me, I am satiated just by looking at you, how can I have any appetite left for more food?¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiaoman couldn¡¯t hold back her surprise, her face flushed a bright red, a mix of shyness and joy. However, out of modesty and shyness, she couldn¡¯t help but glare and chide him, ¡°You¡¯re behaving like a rascal, I won¡¯t talk to you anymore! Humph!¡± With that, she turned her pretty face away, hiding her expression from Ye Fan. Ye Fan laughed heartily, noticing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s tender white hand on the table, he reached over to gently grasp it. At the touch of her tender hand, he saw Lu Xiaoman visibly shudder, her hand instinctively retracting, but he wouldn¡¯t let her pull away and firmly held on. After struggling for a bit, Lu Xiaoman gave up, letting Ye Fan gently hold her soft hand. She kept her face turned towards the wall to her left, her head slightly lowered, her cheeks blushing so intensely they could drip blood, even the slender white of her neck was flushed, as were her delicate ears. However, the pleasant moment didn¡¯t last long. It wasn¡¯t much later that the waiter came over with a plate of sauteed pork with vegetables. When Lu Xiaoman heard footsteps approaching, her hand retracted like lightning, too quick for Ye Fan to catch. Interrupted just when he was getting into it, Ye Fan felt disappointed. He turned his head and stared at the approaching waiter, scaring him so much that he almost ran away after setting down the dish. The meal turned out to be quite prolonged, lasting over an hour, with both enjoying a lively conversation. Despite that, Ye Fan was inwardly vexed as he had no further chance to hold Lu Xiaoman¡¯s tender hand. As they were about to settle the bill and leave, Ye Fan, seizing the moment, suggested, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, how about we go watch a movie or take a walk at the riverside square after this?¡± ¡°Sorry, it¡¯s almost eight o¡¯clock now, I really need to hurry back,¡± Lu Xiaoman said apologetically, ¡°I have things to take care of at home.¡± She had to rush back to look after her mother, who was suffering from breast cancer, and to do housework. Initially, she only planned to have dinner with Ye Fan until seven o¡¯clock before heading home. But to her surprise, she had such a good time chatting with Ye Fan that she completely lost track of time, and it was almost eight. Now, she felt guilty for dining too long and was definitely not inclined to go for a walk or watch a movie. Saying so, she quickly grabbed her handbag and stood up. Seeing the urgency in Lu Xiaoman¡¯s expression, Ye Fan guessed there was indeed something urgent at her home, so he didn¡¯t insist any further. After paying, they got in the car, and Ye Fan started the engine while asking Lu Xiaoman, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, where do you live?¡± He intended to drive Lu Xiaoman home. ¡°Just drop me off near the subway station,¡± Lu Xiaoman hesitated before saying, ¡°That way you won¡¯t waste your time.¡± She wasn¡¯t yet prepared for the prospect of being Ye Fan¡¯s girlfriend. If he took her home, it would feel like things were moving too fast, and she wasn¡¯t quite ready to accept that. Especially since her mother was battling breast cancer, she didn¡¯t have the heart or the time to truly engage in a romantic relationship. ¡°No bother. I have plenty of time,¡± Ye Fan said. Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan, her beautiful eyes pleading, insisting, ¡°Really, just to the subway station will do.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ye Fan agreed. ¡°Thank you.¡± At nine o¡¯clock in the evening, Ye Fan drove back to the Imperial Bay Villa Complex. As soon as he entered, he noticed the bright lights in the living room. On taking a closer look, he found an additional mature, enticing, and beautiful silhouette seated on the sofa. Li Zhaojun was sitting on the couch, dressed in a light-purple silk house dress, with her back straight, her slender and graceful neck erect, and her slightly damp hair casually draped over her shoulders, unspeakably elegant and noble. Ye Fan was taken aback, wondering why Zhao Jun was sitting in the downstairs living room watching TV, as she seldom stayed on the first floor. Coming back to his senses, Ye Fan walked over while pretending to cough twice. Regrettably, Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t even turn to look at him, still focused on the TV news. Seeing that Li Zhaojun wasn¡¯t responding, Ye Fan was not upset; he sat down on another sofa, crossed his legs comfortably, leaned back, and casually asked, ¡°So, what brings you here waiting for me?¡± Finally, Li Zhaojun showed a hint of response. She slightly turned her gorgeous face and glanced at Ye Fan with her narrow, seductive eyes. Seeing such a carefree posture from Ye Fan, she immediately scowled, her face filled with scorn and contempt, and haughtily huffed, ¡°Shallow! Childish!¡± ¡°You knew that from the start. If I weren¡¯t shallow, how would that prove your keen insight and shrewd judgement?¡± Ye Fan replied with an indifferent smile. ¡°Shameless!¡± Li Zhaojun said Coldly, with disgust. Ye Fan laughed, ¡°Thank you, that¡¯s the highest compliment for me. Anything else?¡± ¡°¡­Humph!¡± ¡°Hahaha¡­¡± Chapter 24 - 24 020 Meeting Gao Feng ?24: Chapter 020: Meeting Gao Feng 24: Chapter 020: Meeting Gao Feng The two faced each other, eyes locked in mutual defiance. Li Zhaojun scoffed disdainfully, turned her pretty face away, and arrogantly lifted her polished, delicate chin like a peacock spreading its feathers. Ye Fan also shifted his gaze and settled into a more comfortable position, lazily stating, ¡°Just speak your mind, we are both uncomfortable sitting here anyway.¡± ¡°Meet my grandfather tomorrow at five in the afternoon,¡± Li Zhaojun said, her voice calm and aloof. ¡°Don¡¯t be missing when the time comes.¡± Tomorrow was Saturday, and she was worried Ye Fan might wander off somewhere and be unreachable, so she had to mention it a day early. ¡°Meet the old man?¡± Ye Fan responded, ¡°No problem.¡± Li Zhaojun slightly turned her head, her gaze sweeping over Ye Fan, and said coolly, ¡°Please clean yourself up when you meet grandfather, don¡¯t look like a refugee. It¡¯s embarrassing!¡± Ye Fan straightened up immediately and retorted, ¡°What refugee? I¡¯m just low-key and frugal! The old man will be too busy praising my simplicity to say anything else. If you¡¯re so capable, try wearing your usual clothes and see if he even lets you in the door tomorrow!¡± Li Zhaojun was momentarily at a loss for words and huffed, ¡°Flatterer!¡± With that, she stood up and headed towards the stairs. Ye Fan, unable to tolerate Li Zhaojun¡¯s attitude, vengefully stared at her graceful departing figure. Gulp¡ª S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but swallow his saliva, then suddenly came to his senses, slapped himself, and cursed under his breath, ¡°What am I debasing myself for? The world is full of beautiful women, like Sister Man, who¡¯s quite nice. Hmm, Tantai Wanrong is quite appealing too.¡± ¡­ ¡­ The next morning, Ye Fan indulged in a luxurious lie-in, only dragging himself out of bed after nine o¡¯clock. Thankfully, it was Saturday, so he didn¡¯t have to go to work and worry about being late. After washing up and enjoying a hearty breakfast, Ye Fan took his cellphone to the living room couch and made a call. The phone rang a few times before the person on the other end finally answered. ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± A deep, middle-aged man¡¯s voice came from the phone. Ye Fan smiled into the phone and said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Gao Feng, I am Ye Fan from the HR department of Emali Group¡­¡± Before he could finish, he heard the phone disconnect with a beep. ¡°Uh? Seems like Mr. Gao Feng has a rather large grievance against Emali Group,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, not upset in the slightest, ¡°But it¡¯s as I expected, definitely He Jiaqiang¡¯s doing.¡± Continuing to smile lightly, Ye Fan redialed Gao Feng¡¯s number. The phone rang several times, but Gao Feng didn¡¯t answer. Ye Fan crossed his legs and dialed again. This time, as soon as the call connected, Gao Feng cut it off immediately. Ye Fan didn¡¯t give up and kept calling. After a couple more attempts, Gao Feng, now thoroughly annoyed, answered the phone and snapped, ¡°Emali Group, haven¡¯t you had enough?!¡± ¡°Hehe, Mr. Gao Feng, please be patient,¡± Ye Fan said with a light chuckle, ¡°I¡¯m not the same kind of person as He Jiaqiang.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t care about your differences; I just don¡¯t want any contact with you Emali Group people!¡± Gao Feng said. ¡°That won¡¯t do. I still want to arrange a meeting with you,¡± Ye Fan maintained his light tone. ¡°Impossible. Forget about it,¡± Gao Feng flatly refused. Ye Fan laughed, ¡°It seems a phone call isn¡¯t enough sincerity. Alright, to show my sincerity, I¡¯ll come in person to Yuhe Group to find you.¡± ¡°No!¡± Gao Feng sounded a bit panicked. As an HR staff member of Emali Group, Ye Fan visiting Yuhe Group personally to find people meant revealing to Yuhe Group¡¯s leaders that Emali Group was headhunting Gao Feng. If Ye Fan was indiscreet, Gao Feng could face a difficult time at Yuhe Group under the suspicion of its upper management. Ye Fan, legs still crossed, casually smiling, said calmly, ¡°So, let¡¯s still meet up. Some things are better discussed face-to-face.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll meet you once,¡± Gao Feng said helplessly, ¡°but just this once. If you bother me again after this meeting, I¡¯ll let the group know and I¡¯ll never deal with you again!¡± ¡°Good,¡± Ye Fan smiled, ¡°Twelve o¡¯clock, same place at Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road, don¡¯t be late.¡± After saying this, without waiting for Gao Feng¡¯s approval, he hung up the phone. ¡°Humph, hanging up on me like that, I¡¯ll just hang up on you too,¡± Ye Fan said smugly, then kicked up his legs and hummed a little tune contentedly. ¡­ ¡­ At twelve o¡¯clock, at the Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road in Liu Jiahui, Ye Fan finally met Gao Feng. Gao Feng was average-looking, wearing a pair of black half-frame glasses, his forehead slightly shiny, of medium height, with a slightly protruding belly. His face was grim, clearly showing he did not intend to give Ye Fan a warm welcome. Seeing Ye Fan made his face even more sullen. Previously, the person contacting him from Emali Group had been an assistant manager; now, Emali Group had let some shabbily dressed, frivolous young guy contact him. ¡°Emali Group, you¡¯re pushing too far!¡± Gao Feng thought bitterly. He had some renown in the industry and was considered a senior talent; to recruit him, at least a vice president should have made the offer. After sitting face-to-face, Ye Fan introduced himself, then got straight to the point, ¡°Mr. Gao Feng, I suppose you already know the benefits of switching to our group, and you¡¯ve thought it over carefully, but I still want to emphasize it once more.¡± He repeated Emali Group¡¯s high regard for the new project, ¡®Biomedical Project,¡¯ disclosing the scale of investment, and then he analyzed the benefits and prospects of Gao Feng switching to Emali Group. These points had already been mentioned several times by He Jiaqiang. Gao Feng had thought them over thoroughly. Ye Fan repeated them in order to strengthen Gao Feng¡¯s internal desire and to lay the groundwork for the persuasion to follow. Indeed, when it came to such career-critical matters, Gao Feng patiently listened, and during the listening process, his expression gradually softened and was no longer utterly antagonistic. After analyzing the benefits and prospects of Gao Feng switching to Emali Group, Ye Fan smiled and said, ¡°Before meeting you, I put myself in your shoes and considered it carefully. You¡¯re forty-two years old, with elderly parents to support, and children to put through university. The pressure is enormous. Though our group has offered you better pay and brighter prospects, the pressure from your family makes you hesitant to take risks.¡± Gao Feng couldn¡¯t help but nod, sighing, ¡°You¡¯re not wrong.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I wanted to meet you today, to help resolve your worries,¡± Ye Fan said, and then took out a check from his briefcase, continuing, ¡°This is one million.¡± Saying that, he handed the check to Gao Feng. Gao Feng¡¯s face visibly shocked, he took the check and scrutinized it carefully, and it appeared genuine, at least he couldn¡¯t spot anything fake about it. He looked up and asked Ye Fan, ¡°Are you saying your group is willing to advance me one million?¡± ¡°No,¡± Ye Fan smiled and shook his head lightly, ¡°This check is mine.¡± That check was indeed what Liu Tianxi, the general manager of Sky Wolf Security Company, had given him as an apology. ¡°Ah!¡± Gao Feng exclaimed in surprise, looking incredulously at Ye Fan. Ye Fan, dressed in cheap street market clothes, barely in his early twenties, how could he possibly possess a million? ¡°How about it? Don¡¯t believe it? You can take it to the bank and check,¡± Ye Fan said with a light smile. Gao Feng took this lead, silently handed the check back to Ye Fan, and asked, ¡°What do you mean?¡± ¡°It¡¯s simple, I want to make a bet with you. You switch to our group, I¡¯ll give you one million. Within three years, if our biomedical project succeeds, you return this one million to me. If the project fails and you are forced to leave, the one million is yours.¡± ¡°Are you sure?¡± Gao Feng was instantly tempted. With this one million as security, and the salary 20 percent higher than what Yuhe Group offers, what concerns could he still have? Moreover, switching to Emali Group would give him a brighter career prospect. It seemed like a good deal all around. ¡°Of course I¡¯m sure,¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°I will sign a bet contract with you, to be notarized at a law firm, protected by law.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Gao Feng hesitated, ¡°Let me think about it.¡± ¡°Of course, you may. However, you only have one day to decide. By tomorrow morning ten o¡¯clock, I need a definitive answer from you, or the deal is off!¡± Ye Fan said, pausing slightly. He then added, ¡°For now, come with me to the bank to verify the authenticity of the check. I see you don¡¯t quite believe it¡¯s real.¡± ¡°Heh,¡± Gao Feng gave an embarrassed smile, stood up, and followed Ye Fan out of the coffee house. Chapter 25 - 25 021 Crisis ?25: Chapter 021 Crisis 25: Chapter 021 Crisis After verifying the authenticity of the check at the bank, Ye Fan left Gao Feng behind and drove away in his second-hand Alto. Gao Feng stood outside the bank entrance, watching Ye Fan¡¯s second-hand Alto disappearing into the distance. He then glanced at his own black Volkswagen worth over a hundred thousand US Dollars and felt this world was a bit mad and unreal. After finishing his business, Ye Fan didn¡¯t go anywhere else; he went straight back to his villa and had a pleasant nap. Then, dressed in loose beach shorts and a tank top, he sat on the sofa in the living room watching TV, laughing loudly from time to time when he was amused. Such a weekend of staying home watching TV instead of going out and socializing might seem decadent to many men, but Ye Fan immensely enjoyed it. However, around four in the afternoon, an annoying matter came up. He glanced at the phone and answered an unfamiliar call, ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± ¡°Boss, it¡¯s me.¡± A cold, slightly husky female voice came through the phone, memorable to anyone who heard it. ¡°Uh?¡± Hearing this voice, Ye Fan suddenly sat up straight from his slouch, his back as stiff as a rod, his face turned stern and resolute, his gaze sharp as a falcon, emitting a terrifying aura. The TV volume in the living room was now muted, the air in the hall seemed to freeze, making it hard for anyone to even breathe. ¡°What¡¯s the matter? Speak!¡± Ye Fan demanded coldly. That cold-toned female voice replied, ¡°I just received news that someone has secretly placed a bounty of three hundred million US Dollars on your head in the international assassin market. Nehemiah Bailey who ranks fifth globally, Shiro Yamamoto who is seventh, and Eagle Bonnie who is eighth have teamed up for this job and have already infiltrated China with their assistants. You must be very careful.¡± Ye Fan¡¯s eyes hardened, shooting a fearsome look, then he suddenly burst into a loud laugh, ¡°Not bad, I have only been gone for over a month, and someone already wants my head! Mo Shang, as one of the top hackers globally, help me check who issued this bounty.¡± ¡°I¡¯m looking into it with all my might,¡± the other side responded. Ye Fan nodded and then relaxed back into his slouchy demeanor, leaning against the soft back of the sofa, legs crossed, as he disabled the TV¡¯s mute. He casually chuckled, ¡°As for Nehemiah Bailey, Shiro Yamamoto, and Eagle Bonnie, if these three stooges dare to come after me, I¡¯ll take it as doing a public service by dealing with them.¡± Mo Shang, hearing Ye Fan¡¯s lack of concern about the three assassins, wasn¡¯t surprised at all and didn¡¯t bother to urge caution. She had an almost blindly worshipful confidence in Ye Fan. After a brief silence, seeing that Mo Shang wasn¡¯t speaking, Ye Fan said, ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, I¡¯m hanging up.¡± ¡°Wait!¡± Mo Shang hurriedly called out. ¡°Yes, what else?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°¡­Boss, I miss you.¡± A cold voice tinged with a bit of shyness came through, ¡°How are you doing in China?¡± The cold, husky, and shy voice mixed together like a cocktail, creating an indescribable seductive charm. Unfortunately, it seemed Ye Fan didn¡¯t catch on. He grinned, ¡°Haha, I miss you guys too. I¡¯m, of course, doing well in China, living a carefree and relaxed life. Whether you are on a mission or resting overseas, be careful about your safety.¡± ¡°Understood,¡± Mo Shang replied. ¡°Then I¡¯m hanging up,¡± Ye Fan said, then hung up the phone and casually threw it on the sofa, continuing to watch TV heedlessly. ¡­ ¡­ At four-thirty, Li Zhaojun returned from the Emali Group, looking at Ye Fan who was lounging on the sofa watching TV in a very unflattering pose. Her pretty face instantly turned cold, and her beautiful eyes flickered with various disdainful expressions. ¡°Change clothes, come with me to see Grandfather,¡± she coldly said. After saying that, she didn¡¯t look at Ye Fan again and walked straight to the stairs, heading to the second floor. Ye Fan pursed his lips but nonetheless stood up to go change his clothes. A few minutes later, Ye Fan got into the passenger seat of Li Zhaojun¡¯s Maserati President. He glanced at Li Zhaojun who was starting the car. This woman had obviously changed out of her earlier glamorous clothes into simple casual attire. The wavy hair that usually hung over her shoulders was now tied up into a ponytail, and even the light makeup on her pretty face was washed clean, presenting a pure, natural, girl-next-door appearance. Ye Fan wanted to mock her for saying last night that he was sycophantic, but he held back. Ah, he¡¯s a man; he won¡¯t quibble with her over this. ¡­ Li¡¯s old master didn¡¯t live in a residential house but in a high-end retirement community for senior retired officers in Hua Hai¡¯s military district. Although Li¡¯s old master had been away from the national center of power for many years, as a founding elder and one who had considerable achievements in building the country, he couldn¡¯t live the carefree life of an ordinary retiree. If he insisted on living alone like other elderly people, the state must send a considerable number of guards to ensure his safety at all times. Of course, the military district was also a heavily guarded place. After passing through three very strict security checkpoints, they finally made their way into the inner parts of the military district and entered the senior officers¡¯ retirement community. Getting out of the car in the parking lot, Ye Fan took a brief look around the environment. The buildings around weren¡¯t very tall, exuding a sense of modesty and neatness everywhere. The community itself was quite spacious and secluded, with several red-wall buildings standing tall among the shaded woods. Li Zhaojun also got out of the car and took two bags of fruit from the trunk and handed them to Ye Fan, then spoke sternly, ¡°I don¡¯t care how you show off your personality at home or in the corporation, but here, you must rein it in.¡± ¡°Do you even need to say that?¡± Ye Fan replied with a grimace. ¡°It¡¯s best if I don¡¯t need to remind you,¡± Li Zhaojun said, pausing for a moment before adding, ¡°Also, in front of Grandpa, you can¡¯t act too distant with me.¡± ¡°Haha, understood, understood,¡± Ye Fan laughed, then glanced at Li Zhaojun¡¯s naturally stunning face without makeup and said cheekily, ¡°Wife, should we hold hands when we see Grandpa and show off a bit of our loving married life?¡± Saying this, he reached out to grab Li Zhaojun¡¯s fair, delicate hand. Li Zhaojun immediately stepped back, dodging Ye Fan¡¯s hand, her eyes fierce as she shot a sharp glance at him and said in a low voice, full of momentum, ¡°You dare?¡± Ye Fan spread his hands, making an indifferent expression, and said, ¡°Okay, I dare not. But if Grandfather notices something, don¡¯t blame me. I¡¯m innocuous here, he is your grandfather, not mine.¡± Li Zhaojun pondered for a few seconds, then reluctantly said, ¡°Holding hands is fine, but we can¡¯t do it now. Wait until we are downstairs.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Ye Fan replied with a beaming face. Li Zhaojun huffed arrogantly and walked toward a red-wall small building. As they arrived at the building, Li Zhaojun paused, her voice emotionless as she said, ¡°Hold my hand.¡± Ye Fan chuckled and immediately extended his hand, grasping Li Zhaojun¡¯s. The moment he held her hand, he distinctly felt Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand tremble slightly, and it was rather stiff. The next moment, her palm even started to sweat. ¡°Eh?¡± he exclaimed in surprise, then observing Li Zhaojun¡¯s entire body, he found her posture stiff and unnatural, her beautiful profile slightly blushing. He couldn¡¯t help but ask, ¡°Haven¡¯t you ever been held by a man before?¡± Such a beautiful and smart woman, mature and attractive in shape, plus she was already thirty and very assertive ¨C he thought Li Zhaojun had been in a relationship at least once, and even assumed she was no longer a virgin. That was one of his main reasons for always disliking her. ¡°Mind your own business!¡± Li Zhaojun responded irritably, quickly stepping forward, nearly pulling her hand away from Ye Fan¡¯s grasp. ¡°Hey, hey, don¡¯t rush like that; it will reveal more discrepancies,¡± Ye Fan quickened his step to walk beside Li Zhaojun. Li Zhaojun couldn¡¯t help but slow down. Ye Fan chuckled and squeezed Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand a little harder, feeling how soft and boneless it seemed, with extremely smooth and delicate skin ¨C an excellent touch. ¡°Haha, acting all tough last night, and now look, you¡¯re letting me hold your hand obediently?¡± he thought smugly. In his delight, he playfully scratched her palm a couple of times. ¡°Ying¡ª¡± Li Zhaojun involuntarily let out a soft moan, and her body stiffened instantly. Sear?h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. She stopped walking, turned her head, and glared angrily at Ye Fan. Chapter 26 - 26 022 Old Master Li ?26: Chapter 022 Old Master Li 26: Chapter 022 Old Master Li Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun ¡°held hands¡± as they went upstairs to the second floor, and then turned into a somewhat dimly lit corridor. This small red-walled building had a distinctive pre-Soviet architectural style. The corridor was in the middle, the walls were very thick¡ªthree to four times the thickness of a normal building¡¯s walls¡ªand each floor was quite high, making the interior of the entire building appear very rugged. Most buildings in this pre-Soviet architectural style were constructed in that era. The advantage was that they were solid and durable, cool in the summer and warm in the winter, comfortable to live in. Of course, there were disadvantages, such as high construction costs and insufficient lighting. Old Master Li lived in the suite at the end of the corridor on the right. When they reached the door, which was open, they saw a not too large, not too small living room. The room contained a set of wooden furniture that had some signs of peeling paint. An old black-and-white TV set rested on a wooden table with drawers against the wall. Ye Fan, who had excellent vision, also saw the brand label in the middle under the black-and-white screen of the TV¡ªit was a ¡°PANDA¡± brand, a once dominant force in the Chinese TV market. Although the living room was simple, it was very neat. There seemed to be nobody in the living room. Li Zhaojun knocked on the open wooden door and called inside, ¡°Grandpa, Grandpa.¡± At this moment, a healthy-looking old man with white hair emerged from the kitchen. Seeing Li Zhaojun and Ye Fan, he immediately greeted them with a smile on his face, ¡°Hehe, little Zhaojun, little Fan, you¡¯re here. Please come in quickly.¡± ¡°Grandpa Liu, hello,¡± Li Zhaojun and Ye Fan greeted him respectfully, both with smiles on their faces. It turned out that the old man was not Old Master Li but instead Liu Tiezhu, who had always been a personal bodyguard to Old Master Li. Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun¡¯s act of pretending to be a loving couple was almost a wasted effort. Liu Tiezhu took the two bags of fruit from Ye Fan¡¯s hand and, while placing them on the table, said, ¡°The old chief was just reading in the study and got tired. He¡¯s now resting in the bedroom.¡± After setting down the fruits, Liu Tiezhu poured two cups of tea for Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun, then said, ¡°You two sit in the living room for a while, watch some TV. I need to cook.¡± ¡°Okay, Grandpa Liu, you go ahead, don¡¯t mind us,¡± Li Zhaojun said with a smile, completely devoid of her usual aloof demeanor at the corporation, her smile full of commonality and her laughter joyful. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but sneer internally: She¡¯s really good at pretending. It¡¯s a shame not to go for an Oscar with acting like that. After Liu Tiezhu returned to the kitchen to continue cooking, only Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun were left in the living room, eyeing each other. With Old Master Li resting, it was not possible to turn on the living room television, and since Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun weren¡¯t on good terms, there was no conversation, hence the room was eerily quiet. Due to the architectural style, little light entered through the corridor door, and the windows at the back of the living room were old-fashioned and small. With limited light entering and electricity being conserved by not using the living room lights, the room was rather gloomy. Sitting in silence and unwilling to speak, the living room became even more silent and shadowy, and Ye Fan could even hear his own breathing and heartbeat. Fortunately, the time passed quickly, and after about fifteen minutes, a series of violent coughing sounds came from one of the rooms. Li Zhaojun sprang up suddenly, all grace forgotten, and dashed into the room. Ye Fan, a step slower, followed her in. Inside, he saw Li Zhaojun carefully helping an old man with a thin frame, sparse white hair, and many age spots on his face, scalp, and backs of his hands. The old man wore a faded military uniform with several patches. Although he was now sitting up, he continued to cough violently as if trying to expel his very insides, his forehead veins bulging, and his face, neck, and scalp turning red and purple with evident agony. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Li Zhaojun, her pretty face tense, tenderly stroked and patted the old man¡¯s back to ease his discomfort and stop the coughing, but it was ineffective. Desperation made her tear up, nearly breaking into cries, a stark departure from her usual strong woman demeanor. Ye Fan frowned slightly and stepped forward. Channeling his Inner Strength, he massaged two pressure points on the old man¡¯s body. Almost instantaneously, the old man managed to stop coughing and took a weak breath. Seeing that Ye Fan had stopped the old man¡¯s coughing, a wave of gratitude surged in Li Zhaojun¡¯s heart. Ye Fan, supporting the old man, quickly instructed Li Zhaojun, ¡°Quick, get Grandpa a cup of warm water.¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Li Zhaojun responded somewhat flusteredly, hurriedly taking a thermos from beside the bed, poured a cup of warm water, then carefully helped the old man drink. Liu Tiezhu, who had been cooking in the kitchen and heard the coughing, had also rushed over, and together they supported the frail old man. After drinking a couple of sips of warm water, the old man didn¡¯t drink anymore. He took a long breath and said, ¡°I¡¯m fine now.¡± ¡°Grandpa¡­¡± Li Zhaojun called, her beautiful eyes brimming with tears, her voice quavering. The old man lifted his eyelids, looked at Li Zhaojun, and smiled, ¡°Girl, why are you crying? It¡¯s just a cough. I¡¯m not dying.¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Li Zhaojun nodded vigorously, holding back her tears. The elder then turned to Ye Fan, smiling kindly, ¡°Little Fan, you¡¯ve come to see this old man.¡± ¡°Haha, Grandpa.¡± Ye Fan called out with a smile. ¡°Let¡¯s sit in the living room,¡± said Old Master Li. The others naturally followed. As they sat down on the wooden sofa in the living room, Old Master Li seemed to regain a lot of energy. Though his face was covered in wrinkles, it looked lean and his eyes were not as cloudy as those of most elderly people. ¡°Grandpa, you were coughing so badly just now, are you sick? Should we go to the hospital for a check-up and treatment?¡± Li Zhaojun asked worriedly. Old Master Li waved his hand, smiling, ¡°No need. It¡¯s just part of getting old.¡± Liu Tiezhu hesitated for a moment before saying, ¡°Zhao Jun, actually the old chief¡¯s cough has been going on for a while now and it¡¯s getting more serious¡­¡± ¡°Tiezhu!¡± Old Master Li suddenly called out with authority. Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun both felt a powerful and dignified presence. Liu Tiezhu shrank back in fright, but then plucked up the courage to say, ¡°Old Chief, even if you criticize or punish me afterwards, I have to say it today, your illness can¡¯t be delayed any longer.¡± He then told Li Zhaojun about the medical check-ups performed by the healthcare doctor that revealed Old Master Li¡¯s condition. After hearing this, Li Zhaojun became very anxious and, holding Old Master Li¡¯s arm, pleaded, ¡°Grandpa, let¡¯s go to the hospital for treatment right now. It¡¯s still not too late.¡± Old Master Li, however, shook his head firmly, refusing, ¡°It¡¯s useless. When one gets old, the body declines, and various diseases appear. It¡¯s a natural physiological phenomenon. Even if the cough is cured, other ailments will keep arising.¡± ¡°Grandpa is over ninety years old and is already in his twilight years. If I don¡¯t open my eyes one day, there¡¯s nothing to be sad about, let nature take its course.¡± He spoke very openly, ¡°Going to the hospital to prolong life, not only would I suffer, but it would also be a waste of the nation¡¯s money.¡± ¡°If I die, I die. Why bother using up a lot of national resources and finances unnecessarily!¡± He emphasized. He was a senior retired official of the state, enjoying lifetime free healthcare. Old Master Li held absolute authority in the Li family, imposing and commanding. Li Zhaojun wanted to persuade him further, but one stern look from Old Master Li immediately deterred her, leaving her only able to worry silently. Suddenly, Ye Fan said, ¡°Grandpa, I have a way to relieve your cough without going to the hospital or taking medications.¡± ¡°What way?¡± Liu Tiezhu asked eagerly. Li Zhaojun also turned to look at Ye Fan, her eyes full of hope. Earlier, when Old Master Li was coughing severely, although she was panicked, she clearly saw Ye Fan rub two spots on Old Master Li¡¯s body, immediately stopping the cough. ¡°Hehe, the method is very simple, just massage a few acupoints every morning and evening,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile. He was a master of ancient martial arts and his level had reached the mid-stage of Inner Strength, naturally knowing all of the human body¡¯s meridians and acupoints like the back of his hand. Old Master Li¡¯s eyes lit up, asking, ¡°Which acupoints? Teach this old man.¡± Earlier, when he was nearly out of breath from coughing, he distinctly felt Ye Fan press on his body twice, and the effect was immediate, so he believed Ye Fan was not just talking casually. ¡°Liu Grandpa, please remember these acupoints,¡± Ye Fan said as he pointed out the acupoints on Old Master Li¡¯s body, continuing, ¡°Massage these acupoints in the order I showed you every morning and evening until the area feels sore and swollen.¡± Liu Tiezhu watched intently, memorizing them, and Li Zhaojun also paid close attention to remember them. ¡°If Grandpa¡¯s cough becomes severe, apply some pressure and rub these two acupoints,¡± Ye Fan continued, pressing on the two acupoints he had manipulated earlier in the room. After a while, Liu Tiezhu remembered them and said gratefully, ¡°Xiao Fan, thank you.¡± ¡°Thank you, Ye Fan,¡± Li Zhaojun also said gratefully. Ye Fan turned to Li Zhaojun and said with a smile, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank me for? Grandpa is my grandpa too.¡± Li Zhaojun nodded, thinking to herself, ¡°This annoying guy, although lazy, superficial, childish, and shameless, is not entirely useless.¡± ¡°Eh, how does he know all this stuff?¡± Curiosity arose in her heart. (This chapter is added to congratulate Lanshengsan on becoming the helmsman of this book.) Chapter 27 - 27 023 Past Engagement ?27: Chapter 023 Past Engagement 27: Chapter 023 Past Engagement After dinner, Liu Tiezhu cleaned up the bowls and chopsticks and headed into the kitchen to wash the dishes, while Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun sat on the wooden chairs in the living room, chatting with the old master. Old Master Li looked at Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun, who appeared distant in body and soul, and said with concern, ¡°Girl, Xiao Fan, now that you¡¯re married, you¡¯re a couple bound by destiny. You must understand and support each other.¡± ¡°Grandpa, we understand. Ye Fan and I are growing closer,¡± Li Zhaojun quickly said, and then swiftly exchanged a glance with Ye Fan. Catching Li Zhaojun¡¯s signal, Ye Fan immediately obliged with a smile and said, ¡°That¡¯s right, our feelings are growing stronger. We hope to have a big, chubby boy to show you by this time next year.¡± ¡°Why not a daughter?!¡± Li Zhaojun couldn¡¯t help but retort. Ye Fan, not willing to back down, said, ¡°Because I have a feeling it¡¯ll be a son.¡± ¡°Preference for boys over girls, such feudal thinking!¡± Li Zhaojun huffed. The two of them went back and forth, and their tempers began to flare. Old Master Li coughed twice, and Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun snapped out of it, quickly suppressing their anger. ¡°Haha, actually, whether it¡¯s a boy or a girl doesn¡¯t matter. Daughters are more adorable, after all. It¡¯s said that a daughter is her daddy¡¯s lover from a past life.¡± Ye Fan changed tack with a smile and even intentionally reached over to gently hold Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand. Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand stiffened momentarily, but she quickly forced a smile and said, ¡°A son is very good too.¡± Old Master Li could see through Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun¡¯s act, but at least they knew to play nice in front of him, which meant there was still hope. ¡°You two,¡± Old Master Li said with a sigh, shaking his head. Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun simultaneously gave Old Master Li an ingratiating smile to keep the old man from worrying. Old Master Li began reminiscing and said, ¡°You two have a bit of an age gap, but that¡¯s fate. Back in the day, Zhao Jun¡¯s mother and Xiao Fan¡¯s mother were pregnant at the same time¡­¡± ¡°Hold on, Grandpa. How could my mom be pregnant at the same time as her mom? Aren¡¯t you mistaken?¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but interrupt Old Master Li. He didn¡¯t have any older brothers or sisters, just one son. Old Master Li shook his head and said, ¡°I¡¯m not senile yet. Your mother did indeed get pregnant at the same time as the girl¡¯s mother. Your dad and the girl¡¯s dad were very good friends; of course, your grandfather and I also came out of the same trench. Back then, an old Chinese medicine doctor took their pulses and found out that your mother was carrying a boy, and the girl¡¯s mother was carrying a girl, so they arranged a marriage for you two.¡± ¡°No way! So you¡¯re telling me I stayed in my mom¡¯s belly for four years!¡± Ye Fan found this unbelievable. Old Master Li couldn¡¯t help but laugh, scolding, ¡°You think you¡¯re Nezha? Staying in your mother¡¯s womb for four years! That¡¯s because later on, your mother had an accident and miscarried.¡± ¡°Oh, I see. But I¡¯ve never heard my mom talk about this,¡± Ye Fan suddenly realized. S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Old Master Li continued, ¡°Four years later, you were born. After your birth, your grandfather and your dad immediately came to me and said to continue with the earlier marriage arrangement, which is why you ended up marrying Zhao Jun.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Ye Fan replied, but deep down, he felt some resentment towards his grandfather and father: This marriage arrangement had nothing to do with me, yet they forced it upon me. Didn¡¯t they consider how I felt? A four-year age difference! After discussing the marriage arrangement, they moved on to other topics. It was a little past eight in the evening when Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun were preparing to leave, and the old Master Li called Li Zhaojun into his study for a private talk. In the study, it was obvious that the old Master Li was somewhat lacking in energy. He said to Li Zhaojun, ¡°Girl, your father died young; he was lost to us when you were two years old during the Self-Defense Counter-Attack against Vietnam. Out of all my grandchildren, I put the most thought into looking after you. And you¡¯ve made me proud, never letting the family down, and now you¡¯ve even achieved a measure of success in business.¡± ¡°Your mother has limited abilities, and being a girl, you have always been marginalized by your uncles and male cousins in the family. Now, the Li family tree has indeed grown large and deeply rooted, yet you rarely received help from it,¡± he continued. ¡°Now that I¡¯m not well, and once I¡¯m gone, there will be even fewer people to look after you.¡± ¡°Fortunately, the Ye family is honorable and has allowed Ye Fan to renew the marriage arrangement that should have ended. Knowing that Ye Fan will take care of you allows me to leave this world with peace of mind.¡± Li Zhaojun bit her lower lip slightly and responded with a touch of defiance, ¡°Grandfather, I can take care of myself.¡± Ye Fan take care of me? With what he¡¯s capable of? I¡¯d have to divide my attention to take care of him, that¡¯s the truth! She thought bitterly to herself. Old Master Li shook his head and said, ¡°Society is complex, not as wonderful as you think. If you were an ordinary person, you could live a passable life under the shadow of the Li family, though not necessarily a glorious one.¡± ¡°However, you are competitive and strong-willed, and truly outstanding, which inevitably means that you face far greater and more numerous problems than the average woman.¡± ¡°Granted, you practically started from scratch and built up the Emali Group, so your capabilities speak for themselves. But you ought to realize that the Li family has deterred many villains on your behalf,¡± the old man said. Li Zhaojun fell silent. She did acknowledge that the influence of the Li family had sheltered her for twenty-six years. Having been crowned the most beautiful woman in Hua Hai, she was strong, prominent, and many men coveted her beauty in secret. Yet because she was from the Li family, those lustful men only dared to pursue her through normal means, never resorting to force or schemes. Without the Li family¡¯s protection, all the covetous wolves in the shadows would come out in the open, threatening, coercing, or setting traps, leaving her with nothing in the end. Old Master Li didn¡¯t rush her, allowing Li Zhaojun a moment of reflection. After two or three minutes, Old Master Li asked, ¡°Girl, it seems you look down on Ye Fan?¡± ¡°I¡­¡± Li Zhaojun lowered her head, indicating tacit agreement. Old Master Li said seriously, ¡°Ye Fan is completely worthy of you, and more than capable. Even without considering his family background, his own abilities make him a suitable match. He is a man capable of protecting you. To be honest, in this marriage, we are the ones gaining the advantage. So, you should curb your temper and be nicer to him.¡± Li Zhaojun bit her delicate, soft lower lip, struggling to hold back her words, feeling extremely unconvinced and even starting to wonder if her grandfather was really getting too old. ¡°Protect me? Lazy, superficial, immature, frivolous, shameless, and lascivious, a total wastrel, not even as good as a spoiled brat, how can he be a match for me? Without the Ye family¡¯s power, he¡¯s not even worthy of one of my fingers!¡± she fumed silently. ¡­ ¡­ Returning to the villa, Li Zhaojun did not immediately go upstairs but instead stared coldly at Ye Fan. She was curious to see what was so exceptional about him, whether he had some unique qualities that made her grandfather think she didn¡¯t match up to him. ¡°Hey, why are you staring at me like that?¡± Ye Fan deliberately posed in what he believed was his most handsome posture, a smug grin on his face, ¡°Have you suddenly realized how handsome and manly your husband is, haha, don¡¯t worry, we live under the same roof, you¡¯ll have plenty of chances to admire my handsome face and my tall and suave figure. Hahaha¡­¡± Li Zhaojun held back her disgust, barely keeping the dinner she had eaten from coming back up. ¡°Boring! Childish!¡± She scoffed disdainfully and turned arrogantly toward the stairs, leaving him behind. Chapter 28 - 28 024 Tantai Wanrongs Phone Call ?28: Chapter 024: Tantai Wanrong¡¯s Phone Call 28: Chapter 024: Tantai Wanrong¡¯s Phone Call The next day, Sunday, a little past nine in the morning, Ye Fan was still lazing in bed when his phone rang. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± Holding his phone, Ye Fan yawned and said, ¡°It¡¯s so early, I¡¯m sleepy.¡± Sear?h the NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. On the other end of the phone, Gao Feng couldn¡¯t help but show a strange expression. It was past nine, the sun was already high in the sky, and yet it was still considered early morning. He knew that in Hua Hai, located on the eastern coast of China, the day starts earlier than many other places. ¡°It¡¯s Gao Feng,¡± Gao Feng said. Ye Fan hummed and hawed, ¡°Oh, what¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Uh¡­¡± Gao Feng was momentarily speechless, realizing that he might have called too early since the other party was still groggy. However, since he had already made the call, he decided to proceed with the matter. So, he said, ¡°About the job switch to your company, I¡¯ve decided to accept. When do we sign the contract?¡± ¡°Oh. That¡¯s right. Tomorrow morning. Today is Sunday, and the notary office is closed. We¡¯ll talk more tomorrow. I¡¯m really sleepy, gonna hang up now.¡± After saying this, Ye Fan hung up the phone, tossed it beside his bed, and continued to sleep. It wasn¡¯t until after ten that Ye Fan got out of bed, stretched lazily, and smiled with a face full of content and laziness, ¡°Sleeping in is just so comfortable.¡± By half-past ten, Ye Fan had finished washing up and leisurely started eating breakfast. At that moment, Li Zhaojun, dressed in a sharp and professional suit, rushed back home holding a document bag. Due to her push on the new Biomedical project, she had been working overtime constantly, not even taking a break over the weekend, and had left home early in the morning at six. She entered the lobby on the first floor and unintentionally saw Ye Fan sitting in the dining room eating breakfast slowly, which made her pause for a moment. ¡°Is this the man who¡¯s supposed to protect me in the future? Grandpa, could you have been wrong?¡± she thought sadly. Last night, after returning home, she had reflected all night, realizing that her grandfather didn¡¯t have much time left. Once he was gone, the Li family would definitely ostracize her completely, no longer protecting her. Ye Fan might truly be her future support. But looking at this man now, so lethargic and unambitious, how could he seem like a man worthy of reliance? She took a deep breath, shifted her gaze away, and hurried upstairs to fetch something. A few minutes later, Li Zhaojun found what she was looking for, hurried downstairs, and as she walked out of the lobby, she couldn¡¯t help but glance back at Ye Fan, who was still leisurely eating his breakfast. She didn¡¯t stop, continuing to walk out of the lobby. However, after stepping out of the front door, she clenched her teeth tightly, gripped her document bag firmly, and thought to herself, ¡°Who cares if there¡¯s no support or protection? I, Li Zhaojun, with my own ability, can still live a good life!¡± As she got into her Maserati, she slammed the accelerator all the way down, and the car immediately ¡°whooshed¡± out of the villa¡¯s front yard. Her hand swiftly turned the steering wheel, executing a spectacular drift to adjust the direction. She stomped on the accelerator again, and the car sped off like an arrow, disappearing in an instant. ¡­ ¡­ At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Ye Fan was enjoying watching TV in the living room on the first floor when suddenly his phone rang. He lazily picked it up, seeing an unfamiliar number from Hua Hai. ¡°Hello, who is it?¡± After pressing the answer button, he asked carelessly. ¡°Guess who?¡± A sweet voice with a hint of playful reprimand came through the phone, filled with infinite allure. Ye Fan¡¯s hand shook as he held the phone, his face dropping. In his mind, an image appeared of a mature, alluring face and a tall, voluptuous figure with boundless charm. ¡°Hehe, so it¡¯s Auntie Rong,¡± he hastily joked. ¡°Are you healed? Have you been discharged?¡± ¡°Hmph, so you still remember to pretend to care,¡± Tantai Wanrong snorted, then chided with a laugh, ¡°You little slicker, daring to give Auntie Rong a fake phone number. If it weren¡¯t for the fact that you had just been at the police station giving your statement, leaving your phone number and address, how long would it have taken me to find you?¡± ¡°You¡¯re too mean!¡± she exclaimed softly. Ye Fan hastened to appease her, ¡°Is that so? That can¡¯t be. I clearly gave you my real phone number. It must have been a mistake while saving it.¡± He was secretly frustrated, wondering how he had forgotten about leaving his phone number at the police station. Otherwise, with over twenty million people in Hua Hai, even though Tantai Wanrong was the vice mayor, finding him wouldn¡¯t have been easy. Now, great, he had left a fake number, and then his real number was found so quickly, how embarrassing. ¡°Really? Why do I see the number you left me completely different from your actual number?¡± Tantai Wanrong exposed on the spot, visibly irritated. Ye Fan hadn¡¯t expected Tantai Wanrong to be so straightforward, and awkwardly replied, ¡°Oh, I just remembered. That day I accidentally left an old phone number. Hehe, sorry, sorry, got it mixed up.¡± Tantai Wanrong hummed twice, clearly disbelieving. After a pause, she said, ¡°Shouldn¡¯t you confess to me in person? I¡¯m now at Hua Hai City First People¡¯s Hospital, special care room number one. If you don¡¯t come, I¡¯ll discharge myself and go thank you at your home for saving my life.¡± She emphasized the last part heavily. ¡°No, no, I¡¯ll come visit you,¡± Ye Fan called out. Tantai Wanrong let out a flirtatious laugh, sounding slightly triumphant. ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Hurry up over here.¡± After hanging up, Ye Fan sulked; he really didn¡¯t want to see Tantai Wanrong because he had massively embarrassed himself in front of her. Can¡¯t I be a Lei Feng, doing good deeds anonymously? As a noble vice mayor, you should be supporting this, not doing the opposite! Despite this, Ye Fan turned off the TV, went into his room to change his clothes, and then drove his second-hand Alto to the city¡¯s First People¡¯s Hospital. Upon arriving at the First People¡¯s Hospital, Ye Fan asked several nurses before finding where the special care ward was. Those special care wards weren¡¯t located with the regular wards at all. If not explicitly searching, ordinary people wouldn¡¯t even know of their existence. Taking the dedicated elevator up to the special care ward floor, he was immediately confronted by two brawny security guards. The guards, holding black batons and wearing wary expressions, stared at Ye Fan, one of them asking, ¡°Who are you? Who are you looking for?¡± ¡°I¡¯m here to visit Tantai Wanrong in Special Care room number one,¡± Ye Fan said calmly, ¡°My name is Ye Fan.¡± ¡°Please wait a moment.¡± The guard spoke to Ye Fan, then turned to a young nurse in a white uniform sitting at a visitor registration desk, ¡°Xiao Lan, go to room number one and ask if the patient agrees to see him.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The young nurse responded and walked away from the visitor registration desk to special care room number one. After the young nurse left, Ye Fan noticed the guards were still quite wary of him, their eyes scanning him all over as if they were worried he might force his way in. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but look down at his outfit, finally understanding the issue. Turns out his bargain-bin clothes made him look like a penniless nobody, while anyone who could afford a special care room was either wealthy or influential ¨C hardly the type to have connections with a poor loser. After a while, the young nurse returned, saying, ¡°The patient in room number one agrees to see him.¡± The guards stepped aside, and Ye Fan could finally proceed. After registering his visit, Ye Fan shook his head, carrying two bags of fruit towards special care room number one. Chapter 29 - 29 025 Visiting Tantai Wanrong ?29: Chapter 025: Visiting Tantai Wanrong 29: Chapter 025: Visiting Tantai Wanrong Ye Fan knocked on the door of special care ward number one, and immediately, a soft and pleasant voice came from inside, ¡°Come in.¡± Pushing open the door, the sight that greeted him was a neat and snow-white spacious ward, the air conditioning breezing out comfortably. Ye Fan¡¯s gaze fell on the one-eight-meter wide hospital bed, watching Tantai Wanrong sitting against the head of the bed with a pillow behind her back, a smile playing on her lips as she looked at him. ¡°Hehe, Auntie Wanrong,¡± he forced a smile and called out, then walked in and casually shut the door. ¡°Mm, Ye.¡± Tantai Wanrong said with a smile, ¡°Giggle, thank you for coming to visit this injured person.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s what I should do,¡± Ye Fan said somewhat awkwardly. Approaching the bed, he noticed white gauze bandaged around Tantai Wanrong¡¯s head and asked in surprise, ¡°You hurt your head?¡± He clearly remembered that Tantai Wanrong hadn¡¯t been injured at the time, especially not her head; even the scalp was intact. ¡°Not at all,¡± Tantai Wanrong said with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s just that during the check-up, the hospital said I had a slight concussion and insisted on treatment. But honestly, I don¡¯t feel anything wrong with my head at all.¡± ¡°Oh, that¡¯s good then,¡± Ye Fan said, his gaze involuntarily sweeping over Tantai Wanrong. Although Tantai Wanrong¡¯s head was wrapped in white gauze, it didn¡¯t diminish her mature and alluring beauty in the slightest. Her body, despite being draped in the loose and plain hospital gown, couldn¡¯t conceal her ample figure. Instead, sitting against the headboard, she exuded an air of a beauty¡¯s indolent charm, causing Ye Fan¡¯s heart to speed up a little. ¡°Hehe, are you staring?¡± Tantai Wanrong teased with a laugh. ¡°Hehe, a bit,¡± Ye Fan replied candidly, looking away. After all, he had outright called her beautiful to her face before. Then, he turned around to put the fruit in order. However, the table was already filled with many fruits, flowers, and various high-end nutritional products. There was really no space left, so he had to simply stack the fruit on top of the others. After arranging the fruit, Ye Fan looked carefully around the entire ward and realized that it was very luxurious. Not only was it spacious, but it even came with a small living room and a private bathroom. As for the forty-seven-inch LCD TV, computer, fridge, washing machine, water dispenser, coffee table, leather sofa¡­ it had everything one could need, almost no different from being at home. ¡°This ward is nice; even without being sick, one would want to move in,¡± Ye Fan turned back and said to Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong just watched him with a smile, without picking up the conversation. Ye Fan, making himself at home, moved a chair over and sat down in front of the bed, asking, ¡°Did they catch the culprit?¡± ¡°They caught him,¡± Tantai Wanrong said with a residual fear, ¡°That person was the owner of a corrupt factory that Auntie Wanrong had ordered to be shut down a few months ago. I heard he owed several millions in high-interest debts¡­¡± Ye Fan nodded, understanding. Tantai Wanrong sighed sorrowfully, ¡°I just didn¡¯t expect that it would lead to my secretary being brutally run over to death, as well as an innocent bystander.¡± ¡°¡­ Too brutal and evil!¡± she shook her head and said. ¡°Are you scared?¡± Ye Fan asked. Tantai Wanrong looked up at the snow-white ceiling, then met Ye Fan¡¯s gaze, ¡°Of course, I¡¯m scared. But! If I¡¯m sitting in this position, I have to take the corresponding responsibility. If it happens again, I would still shut down that corrupt factory without any hesitation!¡± ¡°Wow- heroism doesn¡¯t let one yield to men!¡± Ye Fan exclaimed with a thumbs-up. Tantai Wanrong let out a ¡°Pfft¡± of laughter, glancing coquettishly at Ye Fan, and playfully scolded, ¡°Stop sucking up.¡± ¡°Ah, so Auntie Wanrong doesn¡¯t like flattery? My mistake,¡± Ye Fan feigned a smile. ¡°Who said?¡± Tantai Wanrong immediately protested, ¡°Auntie Wanrong loves it when you flatter me. Flatter me some more, and if I¡¯m happy, I¡¯ll introduce a beautiful girlfriend to you.¡± ¡°Flatter you more?¡± Ye Fan looked meaningfully towards Tantai Wanrong¡¯s hips. ¡°Where are your eyes looking!¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s face flushed a subtle red, her tone taking on that of an elder chiding a younger, ¡°I¡¯ll cut you off.¡± Saying so, she raised her hand in a mock hit. Ye Fan looked away, smiling but secretly regretting in his heart that he already called her Auntie Wanrong, eliminating any possibility of a further relationship. So, he intentionally shifted the topic, ¡°Auntie Wanrong, about introducing me to a pretty girlfriend, were you serious?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true.¡± Tantai Wanrong withdrew her jade hand and assumed a more comfortable and elegant sitting posture, giving Ye Fan a flirtatious sidelong glance. ¡°However, that depends on whether you can please Aunt Wanrong.¡± Ye Fan immediately flashed an ingratiating smile, ¡°Aunt Wanrong, you¡¯re truly beautiful, not even the fairies in heaven can compare to you¡­¡± ¡°Too clich¨¦.¡± Tantai Wanrong looked up at the ceiling, clearly not satisfied with Ye Fan¡¯s performance. ¡°Come up with something new.¡± ¡°Aunt Wanrong, you must be tired, right? Let me give you a back massage.¡± As Ye Fan spoke, he was about to rise from his seat. Tantai Wanrong immediately exclaimed, ¡°Stop! Are you trying to please Aunt Wanrong, or are you looking for an excuse to get fresh with her?¡± Ye Fan had no choice but to sit back down, spreading his hands in a helpless gesture, ¡°Then there¡¯s nothing I can do, it seems I can¡¯t please you.¡± Tantai Wanrong huffed in annoyance, seeing that Ye Fan obviously had no intention of pleasing her. If it were someone else, they wouldn¡¯t even have the chance to try and make her happy. Nevertheless, she sat up straight, crossing her jade arms in front of her chest, tilting her pretty face up slightly, and deliberately clearing her throat twice, deliberately avoiding looking at Ye Fan. ¡°Oh, I¡¯ve been talking so much, my throat feels a bit dry, doesn¡¯t it?¡± In the end, she stole a glance at Ye Fan from the corner of her eye. The message couldn¡¯t have been clearer, leaving Ye Fan no choice but to stand up, get a cup of warm water from the dispenser, and bring it to her. ¡°Aunt Wanrong, here¡¯s some water for you.¡± Ye Fan managed a smile. Tantai Wanrong raised her sexy mouth corners with a small sense of triumph, turning around to reach out both hands to take the water. She elegantly took two small sips of the warm water and then stopped drinking, holding the cup in her right hand and presenting it to Ye Fan without a word, but clearly indicating for him to put the cup away. Ye Fan had no choice but to accept the cup and turn around to set it down properly. When he turned back, he saw Tantai Wanrong¡¯s jade hand resting on her stomach, making circling motions, while her beautiful eyes looked at him with a look that was both smiling and not smiling. What does that mean? Stomachache? Pregnant? Oh, she¡¯s hungry! ¡°Aunt Wanrong, you must be hungry. S~ea??h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I¡¯ll peel an apple for you.¡± Ye Fan followed Tantai Wanrong¡¯s cue. Tantai Wanrong immediately laughed without reserve. ¡°Okay.¡± Consequently, Ye Fan took a big red apple from the table, then went to the washroom to wash it. Once inside the washroom, he realized it was quite spacious, at least seven or eight square meters, almost the size of a small room. It goes without saying that the washroom was spotlessly clean, and it even had two toilets, one western-style and one urinal for men. Furthermore, at the back, a superior fabric curtain was drawn halfway, and behind it along the wall laid a gold-plated bathtub big enough for two people to bathe together. At the tail end of the gold bathtub was a space about 1.2 meters wide, with a stainless steel showerhead installed on the wall for standing showers. Ye Fan shook his head, washed the apple clean at the sink, and then came out to sit at the end of the bed and started peeling the apple. Tantai Wanrong watched Ye Fan peel the apple for her with a beaming smile, clearly enjoying herself. Soon, she noticed that Ye Fan had a high level of skill in apple peeling. The apple peel strips he produced were not only evenly thick but also uniform in size, like a ribbon. ¡°Huh, you¡¯re quite good at peeling apples, huh?¡± she praised. While maintaining his speed at peeling the apple, Ye Fan responded proudly, ¡°Of course! Who do you think I am? I dare say there aren¡¯t many in the world who can peel an apple skin like this.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t brag. Saying you¡¯re not breathless when called fat, yet you claim to be the best in the world at peeling an apple skin,¡± Tantai Wanrong said with a teasing laugh. Ye Fan let out a chuckle, not arguing against her. In fact, he really wasn¡¯t boasting because apple peeling involves delicate control of strength and wrist stability. How could an ordinary person have a wrist as steady as a rock and strength control as fine as silk like a master of internal strength? And masters of internal strength were certainly rare in the world. The apple was quickly peeled. As Ye Fan was cutting the peeled apple on the fruit plate, the doorbell suddenly rang, and he involuntarily turned to look. ¡°Come in,¡± Tantai Wanrong called out. The door opened, and the first thing to catch the eye was a strikingly neat and pretty buzz-cut, belonging to the rebellious girl, Yaoyao. Chapter 30 - 30 026 Teaching He Jiaqiang a Lesson ?30: Chapter 026: Teaching He Jiaqiang a Lesson 30: Chapter 026: Teaching He Jiaqiang a Lesson The rebellious girl Yaoyao was dressed more reliably this time, but she still flaunted her ¡°individuality.¡± She wore a pair of blue canvas shoes, and a very loose black long T-shirt that almost covered her knees. As for what pants she was wearing, it was utterly invisible, perhaps a pair of ultra-short denim shorts. Upon seeing Ye Fan, she visibly froze, then turned to glance at Tantai Wanrong, then back at Ye Fan, her gaze distinctly unfriendly. Ye Fan knew why her gaze was unfriendly, and he silently smiled at her, revealing a row of pearly white, neatly aligned teeth. Tantai Wanrong had already called out, ¡°Yaoyao, what are you dawdling at the door for? Come in and say hello to your Brother Ye.¡± ¡°Oh,¡± she responded and walked in, closing the door behind her. She walked up to Tantai Wanrong¡¯s hospital bed, sat down at the edge, and asked, ¡°Auntie, are you feeling better now?¡± Tantai Wanrong, however, looked displeased and said sternly, ¡°Yaoyao, why didn¡¯t you greet your Brother Ye? How have I taught you all this time?¡± ¡°I know,¡± she said reluctantly and stood up. She walked over to Ye Fan and said, ¡°Brother Ye, hello. Thank you for saving my aunt. I¡¯m very grateful to you.¡± ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t mention it, it¡¯s only right,¡± said Ye Fan with a light smile. From behind, Tantai Wanrong asked, ¡°And?¡± ¡°Thank you for saving me,¡± said Yaoyao. Ye Fan nodded with a smile. Yaoyao walked back to the bed, sat down, and clenched her fist lightly to rub Tantai Wanrong¡¯s legs. Ye Fan also finished cutting the fruit and brought it over to Tantai Wanrong. Yaoyao instantly stood up to take the fruit plate and used her body to block Ye Fan, intentionally or unintentionally preventing him from getting close to Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong elegantly chewed on a small piece of apple she had picked up with a toothpick, chewed it five or six times, then swallowed. She turned her head and sighed to Ye Fan, ¡°Yaoyao was a very polite and sensible child when she was young, but these past two or three years, she has become more and more rebellious. Her parents divorced early and neither paid much attention to her. Little Fan, you have to be patient with her.¡± ¡°Auntie, how can you talk about me in front of strangers?¡± protested Yaoyao, pouting unhappily. Tantai Wanrong¡¯s beautiful eyes flared as she said, ¡°What strangers? Little Fan is family. He saved you and also saved me; is he still an outsider?¡± Yaoyao lowered her head. Ye Fan lightened the mood with a laugh, ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t worry, Aunt Rong, I will be patient with her.¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Tantai Wanrong nodded and said, ¡°Perhaps I¡¯ve been too busy with work these past two or three years, not having the time to care for her. Little Fan, if you have the time, could you help Aunt Rong keep an eye on her, to prevent her from getting too wild and getting into trouble.¡± ¡°Hehe, sure,¡± Ye Fan replied perfunctorily. Yaoyao wasn¡¯t at all to his liking, and he had no interest in meddling in this unnecessary affair. Moreover, Yaoyao clearly didn¡¯t like him either; getting involved with her was purely thankless and laborious. A smile appeared on Tantai Wanrong¡¯s pretty face as she said, ¡°By the way, Yaoyao¡¯s full name is Tai Mengyao.¡± After a few more words, with Tai Mengyao¡¯s hostile eyes upon him, Ye Fan felt that the conversation couldn¡¯t be cheerful, so he took his leave. As for introducing a girlfriend, he didn¡¯t take it seriously at all, and Tantai Wanrong didn¡¯t want to bring it up in front of her niece. ¡­ ¡­ The next day, Ye Fan uncommonly rose early, driving out just after seven. S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He had promised Lu Xiaoman that he would no longer be late for work; he couldn¡¯t forget so soon. At 8:53 AM, Ye Fan entered the office and immediately called out, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, I¡¯m not late this time, am I?¡± Lu Xiaoman, seeing the smug, triumphant look on Ye Fan¡¯s face, couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and giggle, a sweet feeling rising in her heart because Ye Fan cared about what she said. ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± Ye Fan looked at Lu Xiaoman with a puzzled face, then looked down at his entire body, finding nothing amiss. Lu Xiaoman stopped giggling and said with a smile, ¡°Well noted. Keep it up.¡± ¡°Hehe, is there a reward?¡± Ye Fan asked with a greasy smile. Lu Xiaoman gave him a disapproving glare and said, ¡°Being punctual is your duty. Are you suggesting that being late to work is normal for you?¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it?¡± Ye Fan stated righteously. Lu Xiaoman huffed, ¡°The day you get fired will certainly not be an injustice.¡± Ye Fan walked over and sat on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s desk, starting to chat and joke with her. After a while, the office door was pushed open. Ye Fan turned his head and saw He Jiaqiang walk in with his big belly protruding. Lu Xiaoman also heard the noise and looked up to see it was He Jiaqiang. Forgetting her shyness, she quickly stood up. He Jiaqiang saw Ye Fan sitting on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s desk, and Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face flushed with embarrassment. Even a fool would know that Ye Fan was flirting with Lu Xiaoman. A rush of anger shot straight to his forehead. Lu Xiaoman was his forbidden fruit; how could he allow Ye Fan, this brat, to lay a finger on her! In an uncontrollable rage, He Jiaqiang pointed at Ye Fan and bellowed, ¡°Ye Fan! You¡¯re not working seriously during work hours and even dare to flirt with a female colleague! You¡¯re fired, I¡¯m reporting this immediately!!!¡± ¡°Give it a rest,¡± Ye Fan, still sitting on the desk, said casually with a lazy look, glancing sideways at He Jiaqiang, ¡°You¡¯ve said you¡¯re firing me probably more than ten times now, and yet here I am, still sitting here.¡± ¡°You, you, you¡­¡± He Jiaqiang was so enraged that his face turned red and his chest heaved violently. Lu Xiaoman said softly, ¡°Manager He, Ye Fan didn¡¯t harass me.¡± He Jiaqiang whirled to look at Lu Xiaoman, his anger spilling over onto her as he cursed, ¡°You have no shame! No decency! Bitch! ¡­¡± He was in mid-tirade, his voice suddenly cut off as if someone had grabbed a duck¡¯s throat tightly. Ye Fan¡¯s hand was seen gripping He Jiaqiang¡¯s neck, slowly lifting him into the air. He emanated a terrifying aura, his gaze cold, bloodthirsty, and ruthless. He Jiaqiang¡¯s hands clawed desperately at Ye Fan¡¯s grip, his hefty body struggling in vain, but he couldn¡¯t break free at all. His entire face quickly turned purple, his mouth opening and closing without a sound. Lu Xiaoman was shocked by the scene, and it took her several seconds to react. She hurried over, tugging at Ye Fan¡¯s hand, and cried out, ¡°Ye Fan, let go, you¡¯re going to kill him¡­¡± Ye Fan ignored Lu Xiaoman, his gaze fixed on He Jiaqiang, and said coldly, ¡°Keep your mouth clean in the future! Or else, hmph!¡± He Jiaqiang nodded frantically, filled with fear. Only then did Ye Fan let go, dropping He Jiaqiang. He Jiaqiang bent over, gasping for air, coughing violently due to the forceful breathing. Lu Xiaoman breathed a sigh of relief, looking at the cool Ye Fan, feeling that he was like a mountain, protecting her, giving her an unprecedented sense of security. After a while, He Jiaqiang finally recovered. He glanced at Ye Fan with residual fear, then quickly looked away, not daring to scold him even in the slightest. Without daring to even leave with a courtesy, he slinked out of the office. As for his original plan to reprimand Ye Fan and arrange a contract with Gao Feng for a job switch, that thought didn¡¯t dare surface anymore. Chapter 31 - 31 027 Slap in the Face ?31: Chapter 027: Slap in the Face 31: Chapter 027: Slap in the Face After He Jiaqiang left, Ye Fan turned around and saw Lu Xiaoman looking up at him, her gaze filled with gratitude and tenderness. S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ye Fan, thank you,¡± Lu Xiaoman said softly. Ye Fan chuckled and spread his hands. ¡°Thank me for what? People like He Jiaqiang are bullies who are cowards at heart. The more you fear him, the more he thinks he¡¯s the supreme ruler. You shouldn¡¯t be polite to him.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lu Xiaoman responded, then lowered her head, pondering whether to tell Ye Fan about He Jiaqiang forcing her to be his mistress. However, considering Ye Fan was just a new employee without any power or influence, she dismissed the idea. She knew that given Ye Fan¡¯s personality, once he learned about it, he would definitely make a scene and the entire Emali Group would find out. Even if she was completely justified, He Jiaqiang was not only the assistant manager but his uncle by marriage, Lu Yuansheng, was also the group¡¯s deputy general manager. To quickly eradicate any negative impact, the group would surely fire her and Ye Fan. Her mother urgently needed a lot of money for chemotherapy for breast cancer, so she dared not risk getting fired. Seeing Lu Xiaoman silent and seemingly deep in thought, Ye Fan asked, ¡°What are you thinking about? You seem so lost.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiaoman came back to her senses with a start, somewhat flustered, and said, ¡°Nothing, nothing at all.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Ye Fan asked with a smile. ¡°Really,¡± Lu Xiaoman diverted the topic, ¡°How¡¯s your headhunting of Gao Feng going?¡± ¡°Hehe, of course, it¡¯s settled. Who do you think took care of it?¡± Ye Fan laughed. ¡°I signed the contract this morning.¡± As he spoke, he checked the time and realized it was already past nine. ¡°Uh, it¡¯s past nine, I need to contact him to sign the contract,¡± he added. Lu Xiaoman sighed with relief, ¡°That¡¯s good. You go ahead, don¡¯t keep him waiting too long and change his mind.¡± ¡°Hehe, how could he change his mind on such an important matter? Even if I made him wait a few days, he¡¯d still sign the contract obediently,¡± Ye Fan confidently stated. ¡­ ¡­ By ten, Ye Fan and Gao Feng had entered the Hua Hai public notary office and signed the wager contract. After signing the contract, they found a cafe to sit down, where Ye Fan handed over a check to Gao Feng before making him sign Emali Group¡¯s job-switching contract. After signing the contract, Gao Feng stood up, extended his hand to Ye Fan with a somewhat ingratiating smile, ¡°Ye Fan, we¡¯re colleagues now, please take good care of me.¡± Although Ye Fan claimed he was just a minor employee at Emali Group, Gao Feng didn¡¯t believe it. Who, being a minor employee, would bet one million out of their own pocket on getting him to sign a contract without even batting an eyelid? ¡°Hehe, don¡¯t mention it,¡± Ye Fan stood up and shook hands with Gao Feng, ¡°By the way, about our wager, please don¡¯t mention it to anyone.¡± ¡°Got it, got it,¡± Gao Feng nodded repeatedly. Then, Ye Fan took the freshly signed contract and drove his second-hand Alto back to Emali Group. Gao Feng also drove back to Yuhe Group to submit his resignation. Of course, Gao Feng wouldn¡¯t start at Emali Group the next day. For a high-level talent like him, the shortest notice period was one month, but it could be three months or even half a year. Emali Group wasn¡¯t in a rush for Gao Feng to start either, as the group hadn¡¯t officially approved the new biomedicine project internally. While driving leisurely back, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but ponder the new biomedicine project. Only a fool would throw away a million yuan for nothing. Even though he wasn¡¯t worried about the million, he was clearly not a fool. ¡°From what Sister Xiaoman and Manager Cao revealed, it seems this new project might not even get off the ground,¡± Ye Fan thought to himself, ¡°I need to quietly follow up on this new project; it¡¯s related to my million.¡± ¡­ ¡­ After He Jiaqiang scurried back to his office, he downed two cups of tea to calm his nerves and took over half an hour to recover. Thinking about how Ye Fan had grabbed him by the neck and threatened him mid-air, he couldn¡¯t help but feel a surge of rage and venom. He was a leader, yet he had been openly threatened by a mere employee. Moreover, he hadn¡¯t dared to retaliate or even drop a pretense of resistance. The more he thought about it, the more annoyed he became, and his hatred for Ye Fan deepened to the point of being irreconcilable. He wanted to go back and verbally lash out at Ye Fan using his authority to reclaim his dignity, but he was too apprehensive to act. Slap! He suddenly slammed the desk with all his strength, his face twisting ferociously, his eyes full of spite and rage as he gritted his teeth and shouted, ¡°Ye Fan, if I don¡¯t kick you out of Emali Group, I no longer carry the He surname!¡± He paused, then added hatefully, ¡°Cao Guoqiang, if you dare to cover for Ye Fan again, I¡¯ll eliminate you too!¡± ¡°Hmph, today is the last day, that barbaric brute Ye Fan will never manage to poach Gao Feng!¡± ¡­ ¡­ At about eleven forty, just minutes before the lunch break, suddenly the phone rang. ¡°Manager He, please come to my office,¡± Cao Guoqiang¡¯s voice came through the phone. ¡°Got it.¡± After hanging up, He Jiaqiang left his office and headed to Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office. Just as he reached Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office door, he immediately saw Ye Fan also present, sitting on the sofa talking with Cao Guoqiang. Seeing Ye Fan, his eyes immediately flashed with deep-seated spite, but he couldn¡¯t help feeling frustrated internally, quickly hiding his spiteful gaze. He knocked on the open office door, and Cao Guoqiang stopped talking to Ye Fan, turned his head, and smilingly called out, ¡°Manager He, come in and talk.¡± He Jiaqiang walked in and sat down on another sofa. ¡°Manager He, last Friday Ye Fan said he would get Gao Feng to sign a contract and switch over to our group within three days,¡± Cao Guoqiang chuckled and handed a document from the coffee table to He Jiaqiang, then continued, ¡°This is the employment contract Gao Feng signed with our group, take a look.¡± Holding the A4-sized printed contract in his hands, He Jiaqiang thought he had heard wrong. He quickly flipped through the contract, only to find that it indeed bore a signature. ¡°Impossible!!!¡± Thinking he had victory in his grasp, he angrily slapped the contract onto the coffee table and exclaimed, ¡°Gao Feng could never switch to Emali Group!¡± How could this be? How could this be? It¡¯s as impossible as the sun rising from the west! I¡¯ve talked to Gao Feng so many times; he always refused, didn¡¯t even want to discuss it, not to mention last Friday, I deliberately provoked him! The contract must be fake; Gao Feng never signed it, it must be that punk Ye Fan faking Gao Feng¡¯s signature because he couldn¡¯t complete the task and was afraid of being fired. Yes, that must be it! Thinking this, he suddenly felt elated and immediately said to Cao Guoqiang, ¡°This contract is fake. Gao Feng never signed it!¡± Cao Guoqiang frowned and asked, ¡°Manager He, why are you so certain Gao Feng did not sign? The contract clearly has Gao Feng¡¯s signature.¡± ¡°This¡­¡± He Jiaqiang was at a loss for words. Ye Fan mocked coldly, ¡°Of course he¡¯s certain. Because he¡¯s been tampering with the attempt to poach Gao Feng.¡± ¡°Ye Fan, don¡¯t talk nonsense without evidence!¡± He Jiaqiang huffed. Ye Fan was too lazy to argue with such a person and simply said, ¡°If you think it¡¯s fake, just call Gao Feng and verify it yourself.¡± ¡°Fine, I will!¡± He Jiaqiang shouted, immediately pulling out his phone to make the call. He didn¡¯t believe for a second that Ye Fan could have convinced Gao Feng to switch to Emali Group in three days. The call connected quickly. ¡°Gao Feng, did you sign a contract to switch to Emali Group?¡± he asked directly. ¡°That¡¯s right,¡± came the reply from the phone. ¡°What?¡± He Jiaqiang jumped up, thinking he had misheard, and said excitedly, ¡°You, you really signed a contract with Ye Fan? Impossible! Are you sure you heard my question right?¡± On the phone, Gao Feng answered coldly, ¡°I heard you perfectly clear. I¡¯ve already signed a contract with Ye Fan to switch to Emali Group.¡± With that, he immediately hung up the phone. He Jiaqiang had been involved in the corporate world for many years; he could vaguely guess the dirty tricks between Ye Fan and He Jiaqiang. Plus, he really despised He Jiaqiang. Phone still pressed to his ear, the beeping tone of the ended call resounded, an outcome he just couldn¡¯t accept. ¡°How can this be? How can this be?¡± he muttered to himself unconsciously. [Many thanks to the readers 1144002184 and Bing Fa Chao Ge for their rewards. During the release of this new book, I sincerely seek all readers¡¯ support. Please collect, reward, and recommend.] Chapter 32 - 32 028 The Presence is Strong ?32: Chapter 028 The Presence is Strong 32: Chapter 028 The Presence is Strong Slap! Suddenly, Cao Guoqiang forcefully slapped the coffee table, causing the teawares on the table to clink and jump. He Jiaqiang woke with a start and saw Cao Guoqiang with a dark face, his eyebrows raised in anger as he stared at him intently, making He involuntarily shrink his neck out of guilt. ¡°He Jiaqiang,¡± Cao Guoqiang said angrily, ¡°Ye Fan successfully recruited the important talent, Gao Feng, yet you insisted it was fake.¡± ¡°Could it be that you knew beforehand that Gao Feng would never transfer to our group?¡± ¡°Hehe, no, no,¡± He Jiaqiang hurriedly laughed and denied it. ¡°No? Hmph, you think I¡¯m blind? You clearly set a trap to frame Ye Fan, then used it as an excuse to fire him!¡± Cao Guoqiang said angrily, ¡°Emali Group isn¡¯t your family¡¯s; you don¡¯t get to do whatever you want!¡± ¡°As long as I am still the HR manager and you are the assistant manager, I will never allow you to deliberately make things difficult for Ye Fan! Otherwise, don¡¯t blame me for reporting this to the higher-ups!¡± Overwhelmed by Cao Guoqiang and feeling guilty, He Jiaqiang¡¯s face grew red, and he dared not retort. After a pause, Cao Guoqiang turned his face and in a softer tone, said to Ye Fan, ¡°Ye Fan, rest assured, if he assigns you tasks that you think are purposely troublesome, you can refuse them. If he insists on pushing you, come to me.¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you, Manager Cao,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, then turned his face to silently sneer at He Jiaqiang. He Jiaqiang was so angry he felt like his chest would explode. Finally, Cao Guoqiang had He Jiaqiang leave. After He Jiaqiang left, Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°He Jiaqiang acts arrogant because his uncle is the deputy director of the group, but you don¡¯t need to be afraid of him. There are rules for everything.¡± ¡°Uh, thank you, Manager Cao,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, ¡°Are you free tonight? I would like to invite you to dinner.¡± Inviting Cao Guoqiang to dinner was partly to thank him for standing up for him, although even without Cao Guoqiang, He Jiaqiang would never have been able to fire him; secondly, he planned to use the dinner to gather more detailed information on the new Biomedical project. ¡°Dinner, sure. But, I¡¯ll be the one treating,¡± Cao Guoqiang said with a hearty laugh. Being able to confront He Jiaqiang in person made him quite happy. He Jiaqiang¡¯s backer in the group was the deputy director Lu Yuansheng, and he also faced significant pressure. Sometimes, when He Jiaqiang disrespected him on certain things, he had no way to deal with him. ¡°How could that be? I must be the one treating,¡± Ye Fan said. Cao Guoqiang shook his head, insisting, ¡°No no, I will host this time. Don¡¯t argue about it.¡± sea??h th§× N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan was not one to fuss, and besides, there was no need to please Cao Guoqiang, so he replied, ¡°Alright.¡± ¡°Haha, that¡¯s more like it,¡± Cao Guoqiang said with a loud laugh, patting Ye Fan¡¯s shoulder, ¡°Do well and I¡¯ll support you fully.¡± ¡­ ¡­ After leaving Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office, it was already past twelve, the middle-aged staff¡¯s quitting time. However, when he returned to the office to put down his car keys, he found that Lu Xiaoman was still there. Seeing Ye Fan, Lu Xiaoman immediately approached and asked, ¡°Ye Fan, is the contract signed?¡± Clearly, she had stayed back to wait for Ye Fan. Ye Fan felt touched and laughed, ¡°Of course the signing went well, I¡¯ve already successfully completed it.¡± ¡°Hehe, now you believe what I said, right? When I say I¡¯ll do it, I absolutely do it.¡± He bragged smugly. Lu Xiaoman nodded vigorously, her beautiful eyes looking up at Ye Fan with admiration, ¡°Hmm! Ye Fan, you¡¯re really amazing! He Jiaqiang must have tampered a lot with the task, but you still managed to handle it in three days. You¡¯re too awesome!¡± At the end, she gave Ye Fan a thumbs up. Ye Fan laughed heartily, humbly saying, ¡°Hehe, just ordinarily awesome, just ordinarily awesome.¡± The two were happy for a while and went to the company cafeteria to have lunch together. Since they went late, after they got their meals, they found the cafeteria was almost fully occupied, except for two tables beside the central aisle and some vacant seats in the small restaurant reserved for the high-level executives at the end of the area, separated by glass. So, with no other choice, Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman had to sit down at an empty table by the central aisle. Sitting by the central aisle was inconvenient for private conversations, but they had to make do. Just two minutes after they sat down, before they could have a few bites of food and a few words of conversation, Ye Fan suddenly felt the originally noisy cafeteria quiet down. He saw many people lifting their heads and looking towards the restaurant door behind him, especially the men, whose eyes hid an excited fervor. At the same time, he heard from behind the rhythmic ¡°tap tap¡± sounds of heels striking the tile floor. ¡°Which woman has such a presence?¡± he couldn¡¯t help but think to himself, curiously turning his head back to look, and saw a tall and slender figure stepping into the cafeteria from the entrance in a pair of red pointed high heels. When he saw the woman¡¯s face clearly, he immediately pouted. It turned out that the beautiful figure was none other than his wife, Li Zhaojun. Li Zhaojun¡¯s long slender legs were encased in flesh-colored stockings, and her azure blue business suit was impeccably tailored, sleek and highlighting her tall, sexy figure. Her shoulders were sharp like sculpted stone, her long hair waved like a swan¡¯s majestic neck, beautifully arched and snow-white. Her delicate, stunning face, especially her beautiful eyes, bright and dreamy, with narrow corners naturally carrying a hint of seductiveness. She exuded an aura of noble, cold elegance, her stride revealing a queen-like decisiveness. Gulp¡ª Ye Fan distinctly heard a wave of swallowing sounds in the cafeteria. When Ye Fan turned his head to look at Li Zhaojun, she unintentionally also saw Ye Fan. Her beautiful eyes paused momentarily on Ye Fan¡¯s face, then quickly shifted to Lu Xiaoman sitting next to him. Seeing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s young and pretty face, Li Zhaojun¡¯s eyes flickered with a barely perceptible disdain toward Ye Fan, then quickly moved away, continuing her walk through the central aisle past the tables where Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman were sitting, towards the small restaurant reserved for high-level executives. After Li Zhaojun entered the small restaurant for the high-level executives, noise resumed in the cafeteria, although the volume of talking was noticeably quieter than before. ¡°Director Li is really beautiful,¡± Lu Xiaoman said with an envious voice, ¡°and so capable too. I wish I had a tenth of her beauty and talent.¡± Ye Fan scoffed, dismissively saying, ¡°She¡¯s not as good as you say. You¡¯re also very beautiful and in no way inferior to her, plus you¡¯re younger. As for capability, give yourself a few more years of experience, and you¡¯ll definitely catch up to her.¡± ¡°Where am I as good as you say?¡± Lu Xiaoman replied, her cheeks slightly blushing, feeling sweet inside. Ye Fan laughed, ¡°You are indeed very good, you should have confidence in yourself.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lu Xiaoman responded. After a pause, she added, ¡°But still, Director Li built up the Emali Group from scratch in just a few years, it¡¯s really impressive. I definitely can¡¯t compare to her.¡± Chapter 33 - 33 029 The Filth Among the Corporate Executives ?33: Chapter 029: The Filth Among the Corporate Executives 33: Chapter 029: The Filth Among the Corporate Executives Around seven or eight in the evening, Ye Fan and Cao Guoqiang were pushing cups and changing goblets at a middle-grade Chinese restaurant. Cao Guoqiang could hold his liquor, but Ye Fan¡¯s capacity was even better. As a master of internal energy with robust Qi and Blood like a dragon and tiger, the alcohol he consumed was covertly metabolized into sweat or urine and excreted almost immediately. When they had drunk quite a bit, Ye Fan began to extract more detailed information about the new biomedical project. Cao Guoqiang, who was originally unguarded against Ye Fan and considering that the details of the biomedical project were not entirely secret, spilled everything as soon as Ye Fan broached the topic. It turned out that after years of rapid development, Emali Group had gradually hit a development bottleneck since the second half of the previous year and needed a large new project to sustain its growth. Against this backdrop, Li Zhaojun, who was the chairman and president, strongly promoted the biomedical project. However, the investment in the biomedical project was massive, and the risks were high. Particularly, the first phase of investment almost drained Emali Group¡¯s financial resources. Therefore, the other shareholders, led by the second and third largest shareholders, Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, were fundamentally opposed to this new project. Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan together proposed launching a real estate project, which Li Zhaojun strongly opposed. In the midst of this, Cao Guoqiang also revealed the relationships among the group¡¯s executives. The hierarchy within Emali Group was not so harmonious; although Li Zhaojun controlled the overall situation, Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan constantly looked for ways to weaken her influence. The other small and medium shareholders also collaborated with Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, either intentionally or unintentionally. Li Zhaojun was under considerable pressure. ¡°How many shares does Director Li actually have in Emali Group?¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but ask. Cao Guoqiang, with a slurred speech, said, ¡°34.6%.¡± ¡°That little?¡± Ye Fan said, frowning. Cao Guoqiang chuckled and said, ¡°That¡¯s actually quite a bit. Though she started from scratch, how could Emali Group develop so swiftly without financing and bringing in a significant amount of capital? The faster Emali Group grew, the larger its scale, the more her shares were diluted.¡± ¡°And how many shares do Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan each have?¡± Ye Fan asked. Upon learning that Li Zhaojun was being ganged up on, he felt somewhat angered. Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°Vice Chairman Gong holds 16.8% and Vice Chairman Sun holds 11.2%. However, they have several sycophantic small and medium shareholders backing them. So together, they could control about thirty-four percent of the shares. If it weren¡¯t for Director Li also serving as the president, Emali Group really wouldn¡¯t be hers to dictate.¡± Listening to this, Ye Fan thought to himself, ¡°Given this trend, the biomedical project will likely be aborted. No, my one million can¡¯t be wasted like this!¡± Thinking this, he asked, ¡°What¡¯s the main excuse Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan use to oppose Director Li¡¯s proposal for the biomedical project?¡± ¡°Of course, it¡¯s the financial issue,¡± Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°With a total investment of 3.5 billion, the first phase itself is 1.5 billion. Even if they take loans from banks, the input is still too large. If the project fails, it could very likely drag the entire Emali Group into bankruptcy. Although Director Li has done a lot of preparatory work on the biomedical project to ensure its success as much as possible, she still can¡¯t convince other neutral shareholders.¡± He paused for a moment, then continued, ¡°The positions of the small and medium shareholders often do not fully align with those of the major shareholders. Most of them prefer to receive dividends peacefully rather than take risks.¡± ¡­ Around eleven o¡¯clock at night, Ye Fan drove back to his villa. The first floor of the villa was quiet, but there was light coming down the stairs from the second floor which probably meant Li Zhaojun hadn¡¯t slept yet. After closing the front door, Ye Fan didn¡¯t immediately turn on the lights. He looked up at the staircase leading to the second floor. Thinking of the information Cao Guoqiang revealed, he couldn¡¯t help but wonder, ¡°She¡¯s still awake at this hour. Could she be working overtime on the biomedical project?¡± However, immediately, the image of Li Zhaojun¡¯s haughty expression and her disdainful, contemptuous glance toward him surfaced in his mind. ¡°Ha, she¡¯s a strong independent woman, full of pride. Why should I care?¡± he mocked himself, turned on the light, and then went to take a bath and get ready for bed. Before falling asleep, he suddenly thought, ¡°However, the biomedical project relates to my one million, I can¡¯t just ignore and lose that. I must find a way to ensure the project successfully kicks off, even if it means giving her a hand on the side.¡± The next day, Ye Fan arrived at work on time. Lu Xiaoman saw that he wasn¡¯t late and gave him a gentle, sweet smile as a reward. Although he wasn¡¯t late, he had nothing to do sitting in the office. So, he started thinking about how to ensure the biomedical project got off the ground. From the information Cao Guoqiang had shared last night, the biomedical project couldn¡¯t pass through the shareholders¡¯ meeting resolution, mainly because Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan were deliberately obstructing it, but also because the investment was too huge, and the small and medium shareholders were unwilling to take on such a big risk. ¡°Uh, how high exactly is the risk?¡± Ye Fan felt it was necessary to understand more. Of course, this wasn¡¯t his area of expertise, so he left the task of assessing the risks to a risk assessment company. Then, he turned on his computer and rapidly wrote a report based on the information he had about the biomedical project. However, he got stuck halfway through. ¡°The new project involves buying a rather mature biomedical patent from a university research institute, but what exactly is this patent, and from which university research institute?¡± Cao Guoqiang mentioned last night that he wasn¡¯t too clear either. ¡°This issue is too important. Most of the risk comes from here.¡± He scratched his head in distress, feeling that even the most brilliant risk assessment company in the world couldn¡¯t help him analyze and assess based on the little he knew. ¡°Ye Fan, what are you worrying about?¡± Suddenly, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s voice reached him. Ye Fan looked up, switched to a lazy smile, and responded, ¡°Hmm, really worrying indeed.¡± ¡°What exactly are you worrying about? Tell me, I might be able to help,¡± Lu Xiaoman said with concern. Ye Fan looked at Lu Xiaoman¡¯s beautiful, charming face and teasingly laughed, ¡°I¡¯m worrying about how I can pursue you.¡± Lu Xiaoman was initially stunned, then her cheeks flushed with embarrassment as she rolled her eyes at Ye Fan playfully and pouted, ¡°You¡¯re talking nonsense again! If you keep this up, I¡¯ll get angry!¡± She said she was angry, but the blush and delight that involuntarily appeared on her face betrayed her completely. ¡°It¡¯s true,¡± Ye Fan said, feigning distress, ¡°You don¡¯t know, I¡¯m a pure little guy who has never dated before. I have no idea how to pursue you and am filled with anxiety. I didn¡¯t sleep last night or the night before.¡± ¡°I don¡¯t believe you. With your slick mouth, you must have tricked countless girls!¡± Lu Xiaoman said with a disbelieving expression, but her heart completely believed it and she was secretly overjoyed. However, discussing such matters to her face seemed too indiscreet. sea??h th§× N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. So, she changed the subject, ¡°Ye Fan, let me tell you something funny. Last night, there was a thief in my neighbor¡¯s house.¡± ¡°Uh? A burglar at your neighbor¡¯s, and it¡¯s funny?¡± Ye Fan asked. Lu Xiaoman barely held back a smile as she said, ¡°It¡¯s indeed funny. The thief was so dumb. After entering my neighbor¡¯s house and rummaging for cash totaling a few thousand dollars, he didn¡¯t immediately flee but instead opened the fridge to find beer to drink. There happened to be about five or six beers in the fridge. The thief stood beside the refrigerator and drank three beers. As a result, he got drunk, leaned on the fridge, and fell asleep. Giggles¡­¡± By the end, she couldn¡¯t hold back her laughter any longer. ¡°Hahaha, that really is funny.¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°That thief is truly dumb¡­ Oh, I¡¯ve got it!¡± He was laughing, and then suddenly, inspiration struck, and he couldn¡¯t help but cry out with joy. ¡°What have you thought of?¡± Lu Xiaoman asked puzzledly. Ye Fan grinningly said, ¡°Nothing, nothing. I have to go home for a bit, if anyone comes looking for me, help cover for me.¡± After saying that, he stood up and left the office. (Thanks to book friends 1144002184 and ±ø·¢³¯¸è for their rewards. During the launch of this new book, please help with collecting, recommending votes, and rewards. Thank you.) Chapter 34 - 34 030 The Trap Ahead ?34: Chapter 030 The Trap Ahead 34: Chapter 030 The Trap Ahead Driving back to the villa, Ye Fan opened the front door to find the house so silent that even Aunt Liao, the nanny, wasn¡¯t there. ¡°Heh heh, I¡¯m just too clever,¡± Ye Fan said with a grin as he closed the front door and headed for the stairs to the second floor. Reaching the top, he was greeted by a palette of serene and elegant colors, along with several pots of lush, vibrant houseplants, their gentle fragrance filling the upstairs. The living room here was clearly more cozy and refined than the one downstairs. Ye Fan didn¡¯t waste time admiring these; his gaze swept across the area and noted one bathroom and a total of four rooms. ¡°Uh, which one is her study?¡± he wondered. He approached the nearest door, placing his hand on the doorknob and applying a slight downward force. With a ¡°click,¡± the door opened, and Ye Fan peeked inside to find an empty guest room. Closing that door, he moved on to the second, discovering a storage and gift room. The third door wouldn¡¯t open. Upon opening the fourth, a delightful blend of scents wafted out. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but take a deep breath¡ªit was laced with Li Zhaojun¡¯s body fragrance. Without needing to look, he was sure this was Li Zhaojun¡¯s bedroom. Nevertheless, he couldn¡¯t resist taking a few peeks inside. The room was cast in shades of pink, with light purple mosquito netting draped over the bed, which was neatly made. On either side of the large bed stood nightstands, followed by an intricately crafted vanity table, with a six-doored wardrobe further along, and opposite the foot of the bed a 52-inch LCD television on the wall. As expected of the master bedroom, an en suite bathroom was a given. Beyond these, there were full-length mirrors and photographs hanging on the walls and set upon surfaces. ¡°She might have put her computer in the bedroom,¡± Ye Fan reasoned, giving himself an excuse to enter Li Zhaojun¡¯s bedroom and have a closer look. ¡°Smells so good,¡± he mused as he walked in, taking in the air forcefully and then his eyes instinctively landed on a life-sized portrait of Li Zhaojun on the wall. The portrait was large, a third larger than Li Zhaojun herself, showcasing her stunningly attractive figure and exquisitely beautiful face in full detail. In the photo, Li Zhaojun¡¯s demeanor was different from her usual cold and haughty appearance¡ªshe wore a genuine, carefree smile. That smile was so sweet, and those eyes so bright and innocent. Ye Fan stared for a few seconds, then quickly turned his head away for fear that he might fall for this woman if he kept looking. Turning around, Ye Fan ¡°searched¡± the bedroom for a while, of course not finding a computer, then his attention was drawn to the large wardrobe. ¡°Um, it¡¯s very likely she hid her laptop in the wardrobe, so I need to take a careful look,¡± he told himself, approaching and opening each pair of wardrobe doors. ¡°Just some suits and dresses, no computer.¡± He then opened the second pair of doors. ¡°Just some T-shirts and casual pants, no computer.¡± He promptly moved on to the last pair. Opening these doors greeted him with a scent unmistakably belonging to Li Zhaojun, and Ye Fan breathed it in, intoxicated: ¡°So fragrant.¡± As he looked inside, his excitement piqued; it was full of Li Zhaojun¡¯s personal clothing. After gazing intently and ¡°searching¡± for a while, Ye Fan regretfully confirmed there was no laptop hidden there. He left Li Zhaojun¡¯s bedroom and went back to the third door. This door was locked¡ªdefinitely the study. ¡°Heh heh, just a door; it¡¯s no match for me,¡± he said, pulling out a set of keys. Among them was a particularly special key¡ªan iron wire made of a tin-aluminum alloy, coiled up. Straightening the tin-aluminum alloy wire and inserting it into the keyhole, he pressed his ear against the lock, carefully twirling the wire. In no time, he wore a smug smile, stood up, and pulled out the wire. As he coiled the wire back up, he murmured to himself with delight, ¡°Haha, haven¡¯t used this technique in at least a year, and still, I¡¯m so skillful.¡± He tucked away the keys, grasped the doorknob, turned it, and the door swung open promptly. Entering, he found himself indeed in Li Zhaojun¡¯s study. The room was simply furnished: on the left side against the wall stood a large bookshelf filled to the brim with books, and below it were two desks joined together. Each desk had a computer on it¡ªone a Lenovo desktop and the other a pink Apple laptop. Ye Fan walked over and booted up both computers. The Apple laptop didn¡¯t have a startup password, so it booted up smoothly. The desktop Lenovo computer, on the other hand, required a startup password. However, this didn¡¯t pose a problem for him. Although he wasn¡¯t a hacker, cracking a simple startup password was easy for him. Soon enough, the desktop Lenovo computer turned on. Anticipating that Li Zhaojun might use the desktop Lenovo computer for work at home, Ye Fan directly searched through the files on that computer. Before long, Ye Fan located a folder about the Biomedical New Project on the E drive. Upon opening the folder, he found a Microsoft Word document titled ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning.¡± ¡°Haha, found it!¡± Ye Fan laughed joyfully as he clicked to open the document to confirm it was the file he was looking for. ¡°Ding!¡± A password prompt appeared. ¡°Ugh? Another password,¡± he grumbled. ¡°Does she feel exceptionally insecure or something? At her own home, she locks her study, separates her work and personal computers, requires a password to boot the computer, and even a Word document needs a password!¡± However, a mere password-protected Word document wasn¡¯t going to stop him. After fiddling around for a bit, he successfully cracked the file password. Upon opening the document, Ye Fan quickly skimmed through its content and discovered that this was indeed the file he was looking for. Without hesitation, he took out his USB flash drive and copied the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning¡± onto it. Having successfully obtained the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning,¡± Ye Fan immediately shut down the computer and restored everything in the study to its original state before exiting the room. He then relocked the study door with the aluminum-iron wire¡­ ¡­ After Ye Fan left the office, Lu Xiaoman sat restlessly, worried that He Jiaqiang might suddenly arrive. You see, the conflict between Ye Fan and He Jiaqiang was escalating. If He Jiaqiang found out that Ye Fan had left the company for personal matters midway, there would definitely be trouble. However, it¡¯s said that what you fear usually happens. After ten o¡¯clock, He Jiaqiang indeed entered the office. He Jiaqiang walked in, his belly protruding, and upon seeing Ye Fan absent, immediately asked, ¡°Xiaoman, where¡¯s Ye Fan? Isn¡¯t he so late that he hasn¡¯t arrived yet?¡± ¡°No, no, that¡¯s not it,¡± Lu Xiaoman tried hard to suppress her anxiousness and guilt but stuttered a bit and couldn¡¯t dare to look He Jiaqiang in the eye. ¡°He was on time for work today. Just now¡­ he had diarrhea and went to the restroom.¡± ¡°Hmph, the lazier one is, the more they poop and pee!¡± He Jiaqiang snorted coldly. Lu Xiaoman hurriedly diverted He Jiaqiang¡¯s attention, ¡°Manager He, do you need me for something?¡± ¡°I have a recruitment task.¡± Despite Lu Xiaoman¡¯s glaring blunder, He Jiaqiang uncharacteristically did not press further. He walked over, tossed a file onto Lu Xiaoman¡¯s desk, and continued, ¡°Tomorrow afternoon at seven o¡¯clock, you¡¯ll accompany me to meet with an important candidate.¡± ¡°Seven in the evening?¡± Lu Xiaoman frowned and said, ¡°That¡¯s after work hours.¡± He Jiaqiang immediately retorted sharply, ¡°Of course I know it¡¯s after work hours. If it weren¡¯t for after hours, when would people have time to talk with us? Do you think you can do a good job just by sitting in the office from nine to five, enjoying the air conditioning? Without a bit of dedication, why should the company pay you so much every month?!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I know I was wrong,¡± Lu Xiaoman said with her head lowered. He Jiaqiang didn¡¯t scold her further but changed to a milder tone, ¡°Don¡¯t worry, you won¡¯t be working for nothing, I¡¯ll count a half day of overtime for you and you¡¯ll get paid for it.¡± S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Make sure you review the materials thoroughly, we can¡¯t afford any slip-ups during the meeting.¡± After he finished speaking, his eyes, full of lewdness and greed, swept over Lu Xiaoman¡¯s ample bosom before he turned and left. He Jiaqiang returned to his own office and shut the door. Immediately, he raised his fists and shook them vigorously, his face filled with excitement and anticipation, his sleazy little eyes brimming with avarice. ¡°Lu Xiaoman, Lu Xiaoman, you¡¯ll never escape my Five-finger Mountain! Tomorrow night, I¡¯ll ***** her!¡± It turned out that because of Ye Fan¡¯s appearance, He Jiaqiang felt that merely threatening and coercing Lu Xiaoman at work was not enough to subdue her. Moreover, he noticed that Lu Xiaoman¡¯s relationship with Ye Fan was getting closer. He was worried that if Lu Xiaoman and Ye Fan became too close, she would tell Ye Fan about him forcing her to be his mistress. Thus, he needed to take control of Lu Xiaoman as quickly as possible. He had already set a trap, planning to drug Lu Xiaoman the following evening. ¡°Hmph, even if I force myself on her, as long as I discuss the stakes with her afterwards, she will surely break and submit to me!¡± he thought smugly. ¡°Considering how much she cares about her mother¡¯s life and death and her own weak-willed nature, I¡¯ll just give her another hundred thousand, threaten and entice her, and she wouldn¡¯t dare call the police. Then she¡¯ll become my forbidden fruit! Hahahaha¡­¡± Chapter 35 - 35 031 Ye Fans Mother ?35: Chapter 031 Ye Fan¡¯s Mother 35: Chapter 031 Ye Fan¡¯s Mother It was after eleven when Ye Fan returned to the office. ¡°Lu Xiaoman, nobody came looking for me, did they?¡± As he entered the office, Ye Fan asked with a grin on his face. Lu Xiaoman paused her review of the resources and said, ¡°He Jiaqiang did come over, but he didn¡¯t notice you were out of the company.¡± ¡°Mm, thank you, Lu Xiaoman,¡± said Ye Fan with a smile, then he teased Lu Xiaoman a few words, turning her pretty face beet red with embarrassment, prompting her to pout and ignore him. Ye Fan sat down at his desk, plugged the USB flash drive into the computer, and opened the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning.¡± He meticulously read through the content. The plan was exceptionally well-prepared. It was detailed and factual, and the various survey data and argumentative analysis made Ye Fan feel that the project had a high chance of success if carried out according to the plan. At the same time, Ye Fan finally learned that the new project wasn¡¯t just about acquiring a single patent but rather a set of collective patents from Hua Hai University Biomedical Research Institute, totaling thirty-four sub-patents. ¡°Bleomycin intermediate¡± production patent, ¡°Amorolfin intermediate¡± production patent, ¡°1,7-dihydro-D-sorbitol¡± synthesis patent, ¡°Dimethylketone-S-allylglucose¡± synthesis patent, ¡°N-octyl-¦Â-D-thiopyranoside¡± synthesis patent¡­ and so on, these professional terms made his head spin as if he was trying to read an arcane text. After staring at it for a while, he finally understood that this suite of biomedical patents was for producing a lung cancer medication called ¡°Ji Fei Qing Hua Tablets.¡± ¡°Lung cancer medication? Seems promising. Not to mention globally, there are already so many lung cancer patients in Hua Hai alone. Smoking, industrial air pollution, dust and smog, these all contribute to lung cancer,¡± pondered Ye Fan. It took him half an hour to finish reading through the forty-thousand-word project plan. After closing the document ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning,¡± Ye Fan pondered for a while and felt that although biomedical projects were risky, Li Zhaojun¡¯s project plan had significantly reduced that risk, and the project¡¯s success seemed very likely. However, he was aware of his limitations and knew that risks couldn¡¯t be judged by intuition alone. ¡°He who holds the gold makes no headway in a hall that may collapse. Ancient wise kings always ruled effortlessly by remaining in the background. It¡¯s better to leave the professional matters to the professionals. I can¡¯t be bothered to think that much!¡± With this thought, he shook off the worries about the project risks from his head. ¡°What are you thinking about? You¡¯re so absorbed. It¡¯s lunchtime,¡± Lu Xiaoman approached and said with a smile. As she drew closer, a faint fragrance wafted over, prompting Ye Fan to sniff in appreciation and chuckle, ¡°That smells great!¡± ¡°What nonsense!¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face turned a cute shade of red as she sputtered, ¡°I¡¯m going to have lunch, join me if you want!¡± She finished speaking, turned her graceful and slender body, and walked towards the office door with a swaying figure full of allure. Ye Fan laughed heartily, stood up, and followed Lu Xiaoman. They walked side by side to the company cafeteria. Arriving early this time, Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman got their food and found a wall-side table, a convenient spot for eating and chatting. About halfway through their meal, he noticed the bustling cafeteria suddenly quiet down. Lifting his head to glance at the entrance, he saw Li Zhaojun making her way in with a commanding presence. sea??h th§× Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. As Li Zhaojun entered the cafeteria, her mind inexplicably flashed back to the scene from the previous noon when she saw Ye Fan eating with a young and pretty girl. She couldn¡¯t help but let her gaze sweep across the cafeteria, and sure enough, she spotted Ye Fan and that beautiful girl sitting across from each other at a table by the wall. ¡°Hmph!¡± A barely audible snort came from her nostrils, and she quickly averted her gaze, staring straight ahead as she walked forward without pause. ¡­ ¡­ In the afternoon, taking advantage of a lull, Ye Fan left the office and walked to the safety staircase at the end of the hallway to make a phone call. The phone was answered after two rings. ¡°Giggle, my good son, missing your mom?¡± A cheerful and pleasing female voice came through the phone. Black lines appeared on the back of Ye Fan¡¯s head. How old was he? He was already married! Why was his mom still talking to him like he was a little boy? The voice on the other end didn¡¯t care for his thoughts, rattling off questions like a machine gun: ¡°Are you settling in well in Hua Hai? Any issues adjusting? How are things between you and Zhao Jun? When will you give your mother a grandchild to hold? Are you getting used to working at Zhao Jun¡¯s company?¡­¡± ¡°Stop, stop, stop!¡± Ye Fan had to interrupt loudly. ¡°You¡¯ve asked so many questions at once, how can I answer them all? I¡¯m doing well in Hua Hai, and things are okay with her.¡± ¡°That¡¯s good,¡± said Ye Fan¡¯s mother. ¡°If you¡¯re not comfortable living in Hua Hai, you can come back to the Forty-Nine City and stay with your mom.¡± ¡°Thanks, Mom, but I¡¯m no longer a child,¡± said Ye Fan. Fearing his mother would start nagging again, he hurriedly added, ¡°Mom, I¡¯m calling you about something.¡± ¡°What is it? Just say it, I¡¯ll definitely help you,¡± his mother said dotingly. It¡¯s no wonder she was so doting; after all, she had miscarried her first child and then struggled for four years before finally conceiving Ye Fan, treating him as the apple of her eye. It was also for this reason that Ye Fan¡¯s father and grandfather were worried he would be spoiled, so they sent him to the military early on. While others were still in university, Ye Fan had already spent years in the military amidst gunfire and shrapnel and had led the Hua Hai Dragon Group to make sweeping accomplishments across Africa and the Middle East. ¡°Mom, do you happen to manage a risk investment company called Hua Chang Investment Fund under your command? There should be a professional project evaluation team in there, right?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°Right,¡± responded Ye Fan¡¯s mother. ¡°I have a project planning in my hands, and I¡¯m hoping you can help me assess its risk,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Sure, a small matter,¡± his mother answered promptly. ¡°But the assessment process will take some time, and I won¡¯t be able to give you an immediate answer, so don¡¯t be too anxious.¡± ¡°I understand,¡± replied Ye Fan. ¡°Then send the project planning document over by E-mail now; I¡¯m right at the computer,¡± his mother said. ¡°Alright. Goodbye, Mom.¡± After hanging up, Ye Fan went back to the office and sent the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning¡± over. Not long after, his phone rang; it was his mom¡¯s call. ¡°Son, is this project related to your wife¡¯s company?¡± his mother inquired. Because he was in the office, Ye Fan spoke softly, ¡°Yes, but you don¡¯t need to worry about that, just assess it objectively.¡± ¡°Okay, don¡¯t worry. With such a huge investment involved, your mother knows the stakes,¡± his mother assured. Chapter 36 - 36 032 Jealousy ?36: Chapter 032 Jealousy 36: Chapter 032 Jealousy After handing over the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning¡± to his mother for evaluation by Huachang Investment Fund, Ye Fan had nothing else to do. He idly browsed the internet for a while, then read some news before looking up at Lu Xiaoman. Lu Xiaoman was engrossed in her work, entering a list into the computer and producing a series of rapid keyboard clicks. She was naturally beautiful with a delicately fair and tender face, bright eyes, a small refined nose, and crimson lips. Particularly, her focused expression added a unique charm to her, making her even more attractive. After watching her for a while, Ye Fan felt pleased and left his chair to walk over to her. It was not until he reached her desk that Lu Xiaoman noticed and looked up suddenly, only to startle and let out a soft cry when she saw Ye Fan standing there. ¡°Ye Fan, you scared me to death!¡± Lu Xiaoman said, lightly patting her chest to calm down, while slightly chiding him. Ye Fan chuckled and replied innocently, ¡°I didn¡¯t mean to shout and scare you, it¡¯s just that you were too focused. You can¡¯t blame me.¡± ¡°It¡¯s your fault!¡± Lu Xiaoman retorted playfully, with a hint of coquetry. Ye Fan laughed heartily and said, ¡°Yes, yes, my fault. Are we good now?¡± ¡°Giggle.¡± Lu Xiaoman smiled happily and said, ¡°Actually, you can¡¯t be blamed. What brought you here?¡± ¡°Lil¡¯ Man,¡± after a pause, Ye Fan said, ¡°How about we have dinner together after work?¡± ¡°Sure,¡± Lu Xiaoman blurted out, and then her face turned red. ¡°Oh Lu Xiaoman, how could you just agree so easily when he asked? Reserve! Reserve! A girl must be reserved. Next time, definitely don¡¯t rush to agree,¡± she scolded herself silently. At six o¡¯clock, Lu Xiaoman got into Ye Fan¡¯s Alto, and then Ye Fan drove directly to the same restaurant they dined at last time. However, on the way, Lu Xiaoman said in advance, ¡°Ye Fan, we can¡¯t spend too much time having dinner. I need to be home before seven.¡± ¡°Hehe, sure, no problem,¡± Ye Fan responded with a smile. A few minutes later, at Mingxuan Pavilion on Chaoyang Road. They entered the restaurant and sat down at a table by the wall. After ordering, the waiter left, and Ye Fan gazed intently at Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face. Feeling a bit overwhelmed, Lu Xiaoman whispered, ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± ¡°Hehe, because you¡¯re beautiful,¡± Ye Fan chuckled, ¡°Lil¡¯ Man, slide your hand under the table.¡± ¡°What for?¡± Lu Xiaoman asked, heart racing, feeling from Ye Fan¡¯s gaze that he was up to no good. Still, she slightly bit her soft lower lip and stretched her hand under the table. Ye Fan chuckled softly, and his hand quickly reached out to grasp Lu Xiaoman¡¯s soft, boneless hand. Lu Xiaoman felt her hand being held, first stiffened but did not struggle, and then relaxed, letting Ye Fan hold it. She just bit her soft red lips lightly, her face completely flushed, and modestly lowered her head, avoiding Ye Fan¡¯s gaze. While observing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s shy and adorable demeanor, Ye Fan gently held her smooth hand under the table. Sadly, beautiful moments are always fleeting, and about six or seven minutes later, the waiter brought the first dish, causing Lu Xiaoman to withdraw her hand, leaving Ye Fan feeling somewhat wistful. At seven o¡¯clock, Lu Xiaoman still did not want Ye Fan to drive her home, so Ye Fan had no choice but to drive her to the subway station entrance. The next morning, Ye Fan arrived at work on time, without being late. After a night apart, upon seeing Lu Xiaoman again, Ye Fan found her even more beautiful and captivating, her skin glowing and her beautiful eyes shimmering dreamily, soft and affectionate as they gazed at him. Clearly, she was flourishing from the nourishment of love. During lunch, Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman still sat together to eat. When Li Zhaojun entered the cafeteria, she saw them sitting opposite each other, talking and laughing, which made her frown slightly. She suddenly remembered that Ye Fan had not come home for dinner for two consecutive days. ¡°He hasn¡¯t come home for dinner for two days. Could he be dating that woman?¡± Li Zhaojun thought, feeling inexplicably uncomfortable. Although she had previously declared that they should live separate lives and not interfere with each other, and she even looked down on Ye Fan, the discomfort in the depths of her heart was real. Then, she thought about how she had been frantically busy pushing the Biomedical New Project Planning recently, exhausting both mentally and physically. Especially since Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, in conjunction with other small and medium shareholders, had opposed her, hampered her, and she couldn¡¯t freely implement her own concepts and ideas in the group she had founded herself, which annoyed her greatly. And Ye Fan? He was loafing around every day, frivolously flirting with women under her very nose! Thinking this, she couldn¡¯t help but resent Ye Fan: his own wife was being bullied by others, yet he was oblivious and still womanizing! However, her self-control was extremely strong; her strikingly beautiful face betrayed nothing. She continued walking with a cold, aloof expression and unwavering steps, entering the exclusive snack bar for senior executives of the group. In the afternoon, Ye Fan had planned to strike while the iron was hot and continue his dinner date with Lu Xiaoman after work, but at four o¡¯clock, a call from Li Zhaojun disrupted his plans. ¡°Come to my office,¡± she said coldly on the phone, her tone commanding. Ye Fan was immediately unhappy and responded, ¡°Can¡¯t you just say what it¡¯s about over the phone?¡± ¡°Ye Fan, I am now commanding you as the chairman to come to my office immediately!¡± Li Zhaojun snapped. ¡°Alright, alright, I get it,¡± Ye Fan reluctantly replied. After hanging up the phone, Ye Fan didn¡¯t immediately head up; instead, he leisurely drank a glass of water before finally making his way. S§×ar?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He took the elevator to the penultimate floor, then walked to the chairman¡¯s office door and knocked. ¡°Come in,¡± came Li Zhaojun¡¯s decisive and clear voice from inside. Pushing the door open, Ye Fan saw Li Zhaojun sitting at her desk, instructing her secretary Wang Siyan. Upon Ye Fan¡¯s entry, Li Zhaojun broke off her instructions and said to Wang Siyan, ¡°Okay, you can go back. Refine the details according to my thoughts.¡± ¡°Alright,¡± Wang Siyan replied, taking her folder and leaving. However, as she passed by Ye Fan, a strange expression crossed her face. She remembered Ye Fan very clearly: a newly joined HR department employee, always casual and trying to act cool. She couldn¡¯t understand why the high and mighty chairman would want to see him alone, and as soon as he arrived, she was sent away. ¡°Could Ye Fan be related to Director Li?¡± she couldn¡¯t help but speculate. No matter how much she guessed, she could never imagine that Ye Fan and Li Zhaojun were married. She exited the office and closed the door behind her. With no outsiders present, Ye Fan casually sat on the sofa, propping up his legs, and said, ¡°So, what is it? I assume, as a mere low-level employee, you, the lofty chairman, wouldn¡¯t have a work task specifically for me that bypasses so many levels.¡± Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s flippant and untidy demeanor, Li Zhaojun¡¯s pretty face immediately turned cold, her gaze filled with contempt and disgust. Yet Ye Fan completely ignored that kind of gaze; she always looked at him that way, after all. After a while, she finally spoke, ¡°After work, you¡¯re coming home for dinner.¡± ¡°Why?¡± Ye Fan straightened and asked. ¡°Why? Do I need a reason to come home for dinner?¡± Li Zhaojun retorted sarcastically. Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s clearly unhappy face, she immediately guessed that he had planned to meet that woman tonight. Ye Fan was speechless, nodding his head. Coming home for dinner indeed needed no reason. Although he and Li Zhaojun had clearly decided to live separate lives, now that she had openly asked him to come home for dinner, he had to give her face. So, he replied listlessly, ¡°Got it.¡± ¡°That¡¯s all, you can go back,¡± Li Zhaojun said. Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s dejected appearance, she felt an inexplicable surge of satisfaction. Ye Fan became even more depressed and said, ¡°Really, that¡¯s it? Couldn¡¯t you have said such a simple thing over the phone? It¡¯s hard for me to climb up and down like this.¡± ¡°I wanted to!¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s sensual lips curved slightly, a sense of revenge bringing a surge of relief to her, easing her recent repression. (Seeking favorites, recommendation tickets, and rewards for support. Readers of this book can join QQ group: 392346004. Join us for the latest news about the book, to chat, and discuss the plot. Group verification includes the protagonist¡¯s name ¡°Ye Fan¡± or the author¡¯s name.) Chapter 37 - 37 33 Calling for Help ?37: Chapter 33: Calling for Help 37: Chapter 33: Calling for Help After work, Ye Fan, of course, failed to ask Lu Xiaoman out for dinner and drove home on his own. Upon arriving home, the well-decorated dining room already had five or six dishes on the table that were a feast for the senses. Unsurprisingly, these dishes weren¡¯t made by the nanny, Aunt Liao, but by a full-time chef. This chef only needed to cook one dinner a day, yet Li Zhaojun paid him 8,000 yuan a month. After washing his hands and face, Ye Fan came out, and so did Li Zhaojun. The two of them sat at the dining table. Ye Fan had thought that she had specifically asked him to come home for dinner to discuss something, to at least have some interaction. Unexpectedly, Zhao Jun was preoccupied with eating the whole time, not uttering a single word. Whenever he made a bit too much noise while eating, she would immediately sweep a look of disgust and disdain his way. Thus, dinner was a gloomy affair for him. Even though the dishes were exquisite and upscale, they couldn¡¯t compare to the homely deliciousness of a simple stir-fried peasant dish at Mingxuan Pavilion. After dinner, instead of going out to a bar, Ye Fan rested at home for a while, took a bath, and then sat down on the living room sofa on the first floor to watch TV. It was a little after nine in the evening, and Ye Fan was engrossed in the television when his mobile phone, left on the sofa, suddenly rang loudly. While watching TV, he reached out unhurriedly to pick it up. Upon seeing the caller ID, it was actually Lu Xiaoman. ¡°Haha, could Sister Xiaoman be missing me?¡± he thought with some satisfaction as he answered the call. ¡°Sister Xiaoman¡­¡± he called out with a smile. To his surprise, a weak voice came from the other end, ¡°¡­ Ye Fan, save me¡­ I¡¯m at the Jinwang Night Club on Seven Happiness Road¡­ in the Peach Blossom Land private room¡­ I¡¯m so drowsy¡­ might have been drugged by He Jiaqiang¡­¡± Immediately after, there was the sound of a phone dropping to the ground. Ye Fan¡¯s heart leapt to his throat as he shouted anxiously, ¡°Sister Xiaoman?! Sister Xiaoman?!¡± But there was no response from the phone. ¡°It¡¯s bad! Sister Xiaoman must have passed out. How could she be at the nightclub with He Jiaqiang?¡± Ye Fan tensed up, a murderous aura spreading around him, ¡°Damn it! If that bastard He Jiaqiang dares to touch a hair on Sister Xiaoman, I¡¯ll make sure he has no grave to be buried in!¡± With this in mind, he didn¡¯t completely panic. The more urgent the situation, the more he needed to stay calm. He disconnected the call with Lu Xiaoman and quickly retrieved He Jiaqiang¡¯s mobile number. S~ea??h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Although he was not there in person, a phone warning to He Jiaqiang¡ªletting him know that he was aware of the drugging¡ªwould make Jiaqiang hesitant to mess with Lu Xiaoman, knowing that it would certainly result in a sure conviction and jail time. But unexpectedly, as soon as the call went through, it was immediately cut off. When he tried again, he got a message that the other party had switched off their phone. He Jiaqiang, a little drunk, was in the midst of a conversation with someone he had arranged to meet. Though he had dosed Lu Xiaoman, he hadn¡¯t realized how quickly the drug would take effect, and at the time Xiaoman made the call, she had locked herself inside the restroom. So, when Ye Fan tried to call, Jiaqiang thought nothing of it and just hung up. Then, excited by the prospect of having the long-desired Lu Xiaoman to himself that night, he turned off his phone altogether to prevent any interruptions that could spoil his mood. ¡°Damn it, He Jiaqiang, you¡¯ve got some nerve!¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but roar with fury as he grabbed his keys and dashed out of the house, driving like a man possessed out of the villa¡¯s courtyard, desperate to reach Seven Happiness Road. Meanwhile, seven or eight kilometers away from the Royal Bay villa complex, a blue-eyed blonde hacker sits before a high-end computer, monitoring Ye Fan¡¯s mobile phone. Suddenly, he excitedly removes his headphones and turns to shout, ¡°Mr. Bailey, the opportunity has arisen!!!¡± The two Caucasians seated in the living room leapt up and ran over. ¡°Black Dragon¡¯s beloved woman just called him, saying she¡¯s been drugged by her boss at the nightclub,¡± the blue-eyed blonde hacker reported quickly. ¡°Black Dragon is bound to be in a hurry to save his woman!¡± ¡°Where? Open up the map, quick!¡± Nehemiah Bailey, ranked fifth in the global hitman rankings, said excitedly. He then quickly instructed the other Caucasian, ¡°Call Yamamoto Shirou and Eagle Bonnie immediately, and tell them to get ready to strike!¡± The hacker swiftly brought up the digital map, his fingers typing rapidly on the keyboard, clattering away as he spoke, ¡°The location is Jinwang Night Club on Seven Happiness Road in Xinyang District. Leaving from Royal Bay, there are three routes to get to Seven Happiness Road, two of which pass through the bustling Baiyun Road and Xiangzhu Avenue. Desperate to save his woman, Black Dragon will surely take the third route, where there are few people and cars. Shibaling Boulevard and Xingle Intersection is our best ambush point!¡± Bailey had been focused on the digital map, and as soon as the hacker finished speaking, he immediately turned to the other man and said, ¡°Tell them, the ambush point is at Shibaling Boulevard, Xingle Intersection!¡± After speaking, he rushed from the living room to a parked car in front of the villa, flung open the door, and got in, starting the vehicle. The white man who had been on the phone raced out, running to the villa gate and quickly opening it. By this point, Nehemiah Bailey had already driven out of the gate, made a sharp brake, spun the steering wheel to the left, tail swinging, and turned the car ninety degrees. As the car slowed for two seconds, his partner had already pulled open the front passenger door, jumped in, and slammed it shut. Nehemiah Bailey, without pausing, slammed down the accelerator, and the car shot off toward Shibaling Boulevard, Xingle Intersection. As for guns, grenades, and other weapons, they had already been placed in the car. From the moment the hacker heard Ye Fan¡¯s phone call to the time Bailey drove out of the villa, only 57 seconds had passed!!! After Ye Fan raced out of the villa complex, he floored the accelerator and headed for Seven Happiness Road. ¡°Sister Xiaoman, please hang in there; I¡¯m on my way!¡± he called out in agitation as he sped along. Normally, it took him more than half an hour to get to the Emily Group¡¯s office located in Qingyang District, but Seven Happiness Road was in Xinyang District, another district away, even farther. Even driving at full speed, it would take him over a dozen minutes to get there, and Lu Xiaoman had already been unconscious when she called him. How could he not be frantic with worry? While he was unfamiliar with Huahai City, out of professional habit, he knew the city¡¯s traffic layout by heart, so when he drove out of the villa complex, he indeed chose the third route marked by the hacker on the electronic map. This route, leaning towards the suburbs and passing through Shibaling Boulevard, was a bit longer, but with less traffic and fewer traffic lights allowed him to drive at full speed, it was actually faster to get to Seven Happiness Road. Chapter 38 - 38 034 Sniper ?38: Chapter 034 Sniper 38: Chapter 034 Sniper On the third route to Seven Happiness Road, Ye Fan drove the sedan at full speed, overtaking other cars madly like an incredibly agile marlin swimming through the depths. After passing Jian Nan Road, where traffic was relatively heavy, the flow of vehicles on the following Xiu Ning Road had significantly decreased, allowing Ye Fan to race straight ahead at top speed. Entering Shi Zi Ling Avenue via Xiu Ning Road, he found even less traffic, and since it was night, there were hardly any cars at all. ¡°Xiaoman, you have to wait for me. I¡¯m just a little less than halfway there!¡± Ye Fan pressed down hard on the gas pedal, anxiously muttering to himself. He had originally thought he was just teasing Lu Xiaoman for fun and relaxation, occasionally taking advantage of her, feeling nothing more than a liking for her. Now he realized he had fallen for Lu Xiaoman. The thought that Lu Xiaoman might be bewitched and harmed by He Jiaqiang made him want to roar furiously at the sky, wishing he could fly over there and tear He Jiaqiang into a thousand pieces. Just then, a sudden chill rose from deep within him, and an overwhelming sense of crisis engulfed him. He quickly turned his head and saw, about twenty or thirty meters ahead at the intersection, a large black off-road sedan barreling towards him without its lights on from a transverse road. The approaching SUV¡¯s speed and timing were too cunning. In the next second, it was set to T-bone his second-hand Alto right in the middle. The Alto itself was a very low-end sedan, brand new it was only worth slightly over fifty thousand yuan, with not only an engine quality that was worse than average mid-range sedans, but also a flimsy body that was light and flimsy. If hit by the clearly heavy off-road sedan at high speed, it would undoubtedly result in a total wreck. With the gas pedal already floored, reaching maximum speed, it would be impossible to suddenly accelerate past the intersection before getting hit by the black off-road sedan. Suddenly, Ye Fan stomped on the brake and yanked the steering wheel hard to the right. Screech¡ª A piercing, sharp squeal of tires braking hard filled the air, with long black scorched marks etched into the ground by the tires, and the air was thick with the acrid smell of burning rubber. However, due to the excessive speed and short distance, Ye Fan¡¯s car still smashed into the flower bed on the side, instantly scattering various parts, and the engine stalled. The tremendous force of inertia caused Ye Fan¡¯s qi-blood to boil, his vision to blacken, and stars to burst before his eyes. Fortunately, Ye Fan was no ordinary person. He was an expert in inner strength and quickly began to regulate his breathing, promptly regaining his sight. As soon as his vision cleared, he immediately yanked off his seatbelt and reached to open the car door, only to find it was jammed shut. Bang! Without hesitation, Ye Fan kicked the car door open and then rolled out of the vehicle. Though it seems slow to describe, it all happened quickly; the time between the car hitting the flower bed and him rolling out was only a second. Dadada¡­ Several AK47 machine guns fired, with countless bullets raining down like a deluge. Ye Fan lay on the ground, moving his limbs in unison, utilizing the Wall-climbing Skill, and like a gecko, he rapidly crawled over ten meters along the edge of the flower bed¡¯s concrete pool, leaving behind the ground riddled with bullet holes. It was night-time, and with the flower beds providing cover, Nehemiah Bailey and his cohorts, who were aiming at him, couldn¡¯t spot Ye Fan for a moment. However, as professional assassins ranked among the top ten globally, they had anticipated such things. Three strong beams of light shot towards him from different directions, searching for Ye Fan. As the bright light approached, Ye Fan cursed to himself and immediately summoned his inner strength, slapping his left hand onto the ground. Without a sound, the sturdy twenty-centimeter-thick concrete road surface instantly cracked, and under his palm, the concrete crumbled into pieces. Just as a strong light was about to shine on him, Ye Fan flicked several pieces of gravel with his hand, rapidly rolled to the left, and at the same time, three stones shot out in different directions. Crack! Crack! Crack! Three sounds of breaking glass erupted almost simultaneously, followed by the disappearance of the three light sources. Da Da Da¡­ The opposition reacted quickly¡ªfive AK47s immediately began to spray bullets wildly. Ye Fan had no time to get up and could only continue to use his hands and feet in unison, exhibiting the Wall-climbing Skill, zipping to the median flowerbed in the center of the road like lightning, and then flipping over it. As he flipped over, he struck again, and on the left side of the highway, a hundred meters away, two screams abruptly came to a halt. Da Da Da¡­ Three more AK47s directed their fire toward him. Ye Fan didn¡¯t pause; he clung close to the flowerbed¡¯s cement barrier and crawled rapidly, covering more than ten meters in the blink of an eye, then suddenly shifted direction, scurrying toward the flowerbed on the far left, swift as lightning. Making contact with the outermost flowerbed, he quickly flipped over it. And during this whole process, three AK47s chased after him, firing wildly. But his speed was so fast that the three assassins couldn¡¯t lift their gun muzzles quickly enough to catch up with his pace on the ground, blasting countless bullet pits where he had crawled. Flipping to the flowerbed on the far left, he was essentially safe under the cover of the flowerbed¡¯s cement barrier, especially since the two assassins lying in ambush on the left had already been killed by him. He quickly crawled along the flowerbed for a few seconds, distancing himself by several dozen meters from the intersection, and turned his head to look in the direction of the assassins. However, he didn¡¯t dare to expose himself for now. Those lying in ambush at the intersection, aiming to kill him, were the assassins ranked fifth, seventh, and eighth in the world¡ªextremely quick to react and incomparable to ordinary soldiers. Not only that, but he also knew that among the assassins targeting him, one trump card had yet to make a move. Nehemiah Bailey, the fifth-ranked assassin globally, specialized in various sniper rifles and was renowned as a sniper rifle prodigy. It had appeared as if several AK47s were spraying bullets frantically from different directions, but there had been no sound of sniper rifles, meaning Nehemiah Bailey had not yet taken action, lurking in some dark corner, waiting for a chance to deliver a fatal blow to him, Ye Fan. He wasn¡¯t worried about the remaining three AK47s; the only pressure he felt was from Nehemiah Bailey¡¯s sniper rifle. Being a master of Inner Strength, he had a strong intuition for danger; he could immediately sense when a gun was aimed at him and discern its position. However, Nehemiah Bailey obviously knew about his superhuman sensing abilities, so he had not directly aimed at him. Invisible danger was the greatest danger. Of course, now that he had crawled tens of meters along the flowerbed, he could continue to crawl rapidly for a hundred meters, two hundred meters, or even a kilometer, to completely escape danger before returning to kill Nehemiah Bailey and the other assassins. But doing so would take a lot of time, and he was in a hurry to rescue Lu Xiaoman at the Seven Happiness Road Jinwang Night Club; he couldn¡¯t afford any delay. ¡°Xiaoman!¡± Ye Fan clenched his fists, his eyebrows tightly knit, filled with urgency. He couldn¡¯t help but picture Lu Xiaoman¡¯s lovely and kind visage in his mind¡ªso thoughtful, her affectionate eyes so touching, her shy, coquettish demeanor so heart-stirring. sea??h th§× Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Her soft hands were so smooth, tender, and supple; holding them felt like a comforting, tingling current¡­ If Lu Xiaoman was indeed defiled by He Jiaqiang, even if he tore He Jiaqiang to pieces, he would never forgive himself. ¡°I¡¯m going all out!¡± With gritted teeth, Ye Fan slapped the pavement, causing it to crack, and with a grab, he pulled out several pebbles. Chapter 39 - 39 35 A Step Too Late ?39: Chapter 35: A Step Too Late? 39: Chapter 35: A Step Too Late? Ye Fan clenched a few pebbles, flipped over, and then quickly dashed towards the intersection. His speed was too fast, making it impossible for the assassin to lock on him. Dada dada¡­ Three AK47s once again unleashed a frenzied burst of fire at him. However, in the next moment, those three AK47s jammed, followed by three short screams. It turned out that Ye Fan had lured the three assassins out by exposing himself to their fire before killing them with the stones. With those three assassins dead, Nehemiah Bailey finally could no longer keep still. The other assassins were killed, leaving only him, a sniper, who stood no chance against Ye Fan. Bang¡ª A loud sniper shot tore through the night sky. Even before the sound of the mighty sniper shot reached Ye Fan¡¯s ears, he felt an intense sense of impending danger surge in his heart, causing his hair to stand on end as if he had been electrocuted. Moreover, the pores all over his body contracted, raising goosebumps as hard as copper beads. Unlike ordinary firearms, a sniper rifle¡¯s bullets are the fastest, with muzzle velocities close to 1000 meters per second, much faster than the speed of sound. While Ye Fan could easily dodge bullets from ordinary guns, it was much harder to evade those from a sniper rifle. At the critical moment of life and death, the vigorous Qi-Blood in Ye Fan¡¯s body suddenly surged to his heart and then ¡°popped¡± explosively, unleashing a terrifying force. S§×arch* The N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan stomped his right foot fiercely, and with a ¡°bang!¡±, a thick layer of steel-reinforced concrete crumbled widely under the intense impact. The tremendous force generated by the stomp radically altered his forward momentum, shifting him sideways by seven or eight meters. Whoosh¡ª As he moved to the side, Ye Fan felt a searing bullet graze his right arm, scorching the skin painfully with its hot airflow. ¡°Here!!!¡± Ye Fan had pinpointed Nehemiah Bailey¡¯s location and flung a hard stone from his right hand. Just as Nehemiah Bailey was swiftly aiming at Ye Fan, preparing to fire a second shot, a sudden sharp pain erupted on his forehead, then his vision blurred, and he lost consciousness. It happened that the pebble had shattered his skull and penetrated deep into his brain. Having killed Nehemiah Bailey, Ye Fan no longer sensed any danger and stopped. Huff¡ªInhale¡ª His chest heaved violently, sweat poured down his forehead, and a white mist arose from his entire body. That had been truly dangerous to the extreme; had his reaction and strength not been enough, he would not have been able to dodge the sniper bullet that Bailey fired. However, this was not the time to relax, and Ye Fan immediately regulated his breathing to calm his heavy panting. The car crashing into the flower bed at such a high speed was mostly likely totaled. But there was still a decent distance to Seven Happiness Road Jinwang Night Club, seven to eight thousand meters. Should he take the car of Nehemiah Bailey and the other assassins? Whoo-hoo¡ªwhoo-hoo¡ª In the distance, the wail of police sirens grew closer. The recent gunfire had drawn the attention of the police, and countless patrol cars and armed police vehicles were rushing to the scene. The road ahead was definitely blocked. This meant that even if he found the cars of Bailey and the other assassins, he would not be able to break through the police cordon to reach Seven Happiness Road Jinwang Night Club and rescue Lu Xiaoman. Ye Fan looked up, scanning the environment ahead, then took a deep breath. With a forceful push from his feet, he shot out like an arrow. His form resembled ¡°Great Roc Spreading Its Wings,¡± legs whirling like wheels, body surging forward as a roc taking flight, muscles in his back stretching out to beat the air, clapping with a sound that crackled like lightning. Ye Fan deployed the ¡°Great Roc Spreading Its Wings¡± qinggong and dashed out of the road. With a flicker, he vanished into the cluster of low buildings alongside. Instead of running through the alleys of the low buildings, whenever he encountered a wall, he would push off it with his right foot in a swallow flip, propelling himself meters into the air, then kick off the wall again, performing a swift ¡°Swallow Swoops Through the Sky,¡± scaling a three-story wall in the blink of an eye. Reaching the top of the single-story houses, Ye Fan pinpointed his direction and deployed the ¡°Great Roc Spreading Its Wings¡± qinggong to sprint across the rooftops. His running speed was incredibly fast, rivaling that of a car. Although it was nighttime, Hua Hai city was radiant with lights everywhere. Almost no one was asleep at this hour; some were out having fun, some were watching TV at home, while others stood on their balconies to enjoy the cool breeze. But not a single person noticed Ye Fan speeding past them. Even if someone did catch a fleeting shadow, they would simply think it was their eyes playing tricks or that they had seen a ghost. Out of professional habit, Ye Fan was well-versed in Hua Hai city¡¯s traffic, with the entire city traffic map etched in his mind. While running, he chose a straight path, darting towards Seven Happiness Road, swift as the wind and lightning. Minutes later, he reached the Seven Happiness Road Jinwang Night Club. Ye Fan strode into the Jinwang Night Club, and as he entered the welcome hall on the first floor, a man in a coffee-colored vest came to greet him. Without waiting for the male waiter to speak, Ye Fan commanded with an imposing presence, ¡°Take me to the ¡®Peach Blossom Land¡¯ private room, quick!¡± Meeting Ye Fan¡¯s deadly gaze, the waiter trembled all over, not daring to utter any nonsense, and quickly replied in a quivering voice, ¡°Yes.¡± Then he turned to lead the way for Ye Fan. Soon, on the third floor, guided by the male waiter, Ye Fan arrived at the door of the ¡®Peach Blossom Land¡¯ private room. Ye Fan saw that the door to the private room was open, with two female attendants inside cleaning up. ¡°Damn it, Sister Xiaoman¡¯s been taken away by that bastard He Jiaqiang!¡± Ye Fan¡¯s heart clenched tightly, and he quickly stepped into the private room, asking the two female attendants urgently, ¡°Who was here before? How long ago did they leave? Was there a twenty-three or twenty-four-year-old girl among them, very pretty, about one meter sixty-eight tall?¡± ¡°Yes, that girl was drunk and unconscious in the restroom. Just now, her companion had security break down the restroom door, and then her companion carried her off,¡± one of the female attendants said. ¡°How long ago did they leave?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s brows furrowed with urgency. ¡°Probably about four or five minutes.¡± Ye Fan had already turned and sprinted toward the staircase before the attendant had finished speaking. Racing downstairs, he ran to the night club¡¯s parking lot. He quickly scanned the entire lot but only saw cars entering; none were ready to leave. Aaaaaah¡ª Ye Fan clenched his fists, his face twisted as he roared silently in his heart. ¡°I¡¯m one step behind! Sister Xiaoman has already been taken away by that son of a bitch, He Jiaqiang! I¡¯m so angry! So angry! So angry!¡­¡± ¡°¡­Wait! Never give up until the last moment! Stay calm! Calm! I need to stay calm!¡± Ye Fan forced himself to regain his composure. ¡°He Jiaqiang took Sister Xiaoman out of the private room just four or five minutes ago. If they moved at a normal speed, it would take them more than three minutes to reach the parking lot from the private room, which means He Jiaqiang could have driven away from here no more than three minutes ago!¡± ¡°In these three minutes, he couldn¡¯t possibly have found a hotel, checked in, and carried the unconscious Xiaoman into a room to do his dirty work!¡± ¡°There¡¯s still a glimmer of hope!¡± ¡°I must figure out which hotel He Jiaqiang went to!¡± However, in this bustling city with countless hotels, heavy traffic, and the cover of night, finding He Jiaqiang and Lu Xiaoman in just a few short minutes seemed nearly impossible! The new week has begun, and your support is very, very important to me. Please consider adding this to your favorites, voting, and rewarding. Chapter 40 - 40 036 Torturing He Jiaqiang ?40: Chapter 036: Torturing He Jiaqiang 40: Chapter 036: Torturing He Jiaqiang How could he locate He Jiaqiang in the vast city within just two or three minutes? Ye Fan¡¯s mind raced, and the next moment he had an idea. He quickly took out his phone and dialed a number. The phone rang for only half a ring before it was answered. ¡°Boss,¡± a voice with a slight hoarseness and a cold tone came through, barely concealing a hint of excited anticipation. ¡°Are you sitting in front of a computer?¡± Ye Fan asked swiftly. ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Immediately find the location of the phone with the number 18XXXXXXXXX and send me the satellite images on my phone,¡± Ye Fan said quickly. ¡°Got it!¡± Mo Shang responded crisply. Mo Shang was one of the top hackers in the world, hacking into the GPS system as easy as flipping his hand. Using the phone number to locate Lu Xiaoman¡¯s phone would be a piece of cake. He Jiaqiang had already turned off his phone, but Lu Xiaoman¡¯s probably hadn¡¯t. In a moment, a message alert sounded on the phone, and Ye Fan immediately opened it to check. It was an MMS with a satellite snapshot, which clearly marked the location of the target. Upon closer inspection, Ye Fan saw that Lu Xiaoman¡¯s phone was still on Qixi Road, but quite far from the Jinwang Night Club, almost at the end of Qixi Road. Realizing that Lu Xiaoman hadn¡¯t been despoiled by He Jiaqiang yet, Ye Fan was elated. He immediately called Mo Shang and said, ¡°Keep tracking the target. If its route changes, send me the satellite map right away. And, the target¡¯s destination is a hotel.¡± After hanging up, he pocketed his phone and dashed out of the parking lot, sprinting along the sidewalk on Qixi Road in pursuit of He Jiaqiang¡¯s car. He Jiaqiang¡¯s car had reached the end of Qixi Road, quite the distance from here. It was impossible to catch up by hailing a taxi now, so he had to rely on his legs. Although running at such speed was shocking, he had no choice. Fortunately, the cover of night hid him well, car drivers and pedestrians couldn¡¯t see clearly, only noticing a fleeting shadow. In truth, in this area dense with traffic and plentiful traffic lights, he was much faster on foot. In less than two minutes, Ye Fan reached the end of Qixi Road. He took out his phone and saw an unread MMS. He opened it quickly and saw that He Jiaqiang¡¯s car had turned onto Swan Road, and he was now not far behind. At that moment, the phone rang, and Ye Fan immediately answered. ¡°Boss, the target has turned onto Swan Road. There are seven hotels on this road, five of which are not star-rated, one three-star, and one four-star. The three-star hotel is called Jiahe Hotel, and the four-star hotel is called Kaidi Hotel.¡± ¡°Good! Continue tracking the target.¡± Hang up, pocket his phone, Ye Fan turned into Swan Road, then dashed straight ahead. After about two minutes, Ye Fan saw He Jiaqiang¡¯s car moving in the vehicle lane. However, he didn¡¯t leap over to intercept right away; instead, he kept sprinting forward until he reached the Kaidi Hotel and stopped. He was convinced that He Jiaqiang would enter the Kaidi Hotel. Stopping in front of the Kaidi Hotel¡¯s main entrance, Ye Fan took a deep breath and then stepped into the Kaidi Hotel parking lot. Two minutes later, Ye Fan saw He Jiaqiang¡¯s car slowly drive into the Kaidi Hotel and then head to park. After parking the car, while unbuckling his seat belt, He Jiaqiang looked at the unconscious yet still stunningly beautiful Lu Xiaoman, his whole body trembling with excitement. ¡°Ha ha ha, Lu Xiaoman, Lu Xiaoman, tonight you are mine! And after tonight, you¡¯ll become my secret mistress! I¡¯ll make sure to train you properly and turn you into a woman who is utterly loyal to me!¡± He was eagerly fantasizing as he reached out and opened the car door. The moment he opened the door, suddenly, a strong hand reached in from outside, grabbed his collar, and violently yanked him out of the driver¡¯s seat. ¡°Smack!¡± Before he could struggle or cry for help, a resounding slap rang out, swelling one side of his face so much that it seemed to reach the sky, blood spurted from the corner of his mouth, and two yellow teeth were knocked out. Fortunately, the assailant didn¡¯t continue slapping him, and He Jiaqiang finally had the chance to see who it was. The moment he saw Ye Fan¡¯s face filled with murderous intent, he was so terrified that he lost control of his bowels and bladder. ¡°How¡­ how could he be here? Is he some kind of deity, a ¡®Prophet¡¯ able to foresee and wait for me here?¡± When he left Jinwang Night Club, he hadn¡¯t even decided which hotel to go to. It was only upon reaching Swan Road and seeing the Kaidi Hotel that he impulsively decided to book a room there to drug and assault Lu Xiaoman. To him, it seemed Ye Fan had known he was going to enter the Kaidi Hotel even before he did himself. It was horrifying. After this thought flashed through his mind, he lost the ability to think the next moment. Ye Fan punched He Jiaqiang in the stomach, then kicked him several meters away, sending him crashing into a silver Toyota and tumbling down. Ye Fan, seething with killing intent, strode over and kicked He Jiaqiang another meter or two. He then walked up, stomped fiercely on He Jiaqiang¡¯s groin, grinding it back and forth until he had turned He Jiaqiang¡¯s hideous instrument of crime to minced meat. Ahhhh¡ª He Jiaqiang screamed hysterically. Unfortunately for him, Ye Fan¡¯s face was cold and merciless. After mashing He Jiaqiang¡¯s repulsive part into a pulp, Ye Fan didn¡¯t stop. If this wasn¡¯t within Huaxia¡¯s borders, He Jiaqiang would have been dead already. He lifted his foot and viciously stomped on the kneecap of He Jiaqiang¡¯s right leg. ¡°Crack!¡± The clear sound of a bone shattering rang out, and He Jiaqiang¡¯s right leg was completely destroyed for life. Ahhhh¡ª S~ea??h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He Jiaqiang screamed in agony once again. But Ye Fan didn¡¯t stop, lifting his foot again and stomping down forcefully on the knee of He Jiaqiang¡¯s left leg. ¡°Crack!¡± Ahhhh¡ª He Jiaqiang finally fainted from his screams. At this moment, a dozen security guards from the Kaidi Hotel rushed over quickly. ¡°Stop!¡± the security guards shouted, but Ye Fan¡¯s daunting presence and gaze were too terrifying, as if facing the Grim Reaper, which made none of them dare to move forward to restrain Ye Fan. They could only encircle him from a distance. Ye Fan finally paused, his expression stone-cold, and glanced at the security guards surrounding him. Their eyes met his, frightening them into retreating two or three steps, not daring to approach him. Then, without a word, Ye Fan turned and walked to He Jiaqiang¡¯s car, lifted the unconscious Lu Xiaoman into his arms in a princess carry. ¡°Aren¡¯t you calling for an ambulance?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s gaze lifted from Lu Xiaoman¡¯s delicate face and called out to the security guards who were encircling him from afar. His telling them to call an ambulance wasn¡¯t out of concern that He Jiaqiang might bleed to death; it was to get the hospital to revive Lu Xiaoman. Although he could revive Lu Xiaoman immediately, that would destroy the evidence, and he wasn¡¯t foolish enough to do that. ¡°Yes, yes, yes,¡± the dozen security guards quickly responded, hastening to make calls. Besides calling for an ambulance, they also called the police. Chapter 41 - 41 037 Interrogation ?41: Chapter 037 Interrogation 41: Chapter 037 Interrogation ¡°Speak! What¡¯s your name? Age! And also, your gender! Occupation!¡± In an interrogation room, two high-power bulbs shone directly onto Ye Fan¡¯s face, making it reflectively bright and somewhat blinding, also causing him a bit of difficulty in clearly seeing the other person¡¯s expression. Zhao Lina had a cold and stern face, her beautiful eyes flashing with a chill, as she looked down at Ye Fan. ¡°Hmph, kid, I didn¡¯t expect you to fall into my hands so quickly! I¡¯ve always known you were no good!¡± she thought secretly to herself. Though his hands were cuffed behind him to the chair, Ye Fan still wore a careless and indifferent expression, which made Zhao Lina quite uncomfortable, and the nameless anger in her heart grew even stronger. ¡°Speak!¡± she ordered coldly again. Ye Fan smirked and said, ¡°Beautiful policewoman, your memory is so bad, how do you serve the people? It¡¯s only been a few days since we last met, and you¡¯ve already forgotten such an impressive guy like me. Sigh, I can¡¯t help but doubt whether you¡¯ve gotten into the police force through the back door.¡± ¡°Slap!¡± Zhao Lina slapped the table, her voice cold as she said, ¡°Ye Fan, I advise you to be honest. This isn¡¯t a place for your slick talk! You¡¯re suspected of being involved in a major shooting case, six lives at stake, and even Mayor Tantai can¡¯t save you!¡± ¡°You better confess honestly, and maybe you¡¯ll be treated more leniently. Otherwise, hmph!¡± Compared to the shooting incident at Shiziling Avenue Xingyue Road intersection, the matter of Ye Fan seriously injuring He Jiaqiang wasn¡¯t significant at all. Although Ye Fan was brought back to the police station for injuring He Jiaqiang, the interrogation concerned the shooting case. ¡°Why was your car found at the Shiziling Avenue Xingyue Road intersection?¡± Zhao Lina interrogated, ¡°Why did you abandon the car and flee?¡± Ye Fan replied calmly, ¡°Of course, I drove it there. But if the car is broken down, I obviously couldn¡¯t carry it, so I left it there.¡± ¡°You¡¯re indeed involved in the shooting case!¡± Zhao Lina¡¯s voice was icy, ¡°Tell me, what is your relationship with the six deceased at the scene? Are you their accomplice?¡± ¡°Beauty, actually, you¡¯re quite pretty. Why put on such a fierce face?¡± Ye Fan nonsensically said, ¡°Women should be gentle. Being too fierce, definitely no one will want you.¡± ¡°Ye Fan, I am questioning you! If you continue to change the subject, I¡­¡± Zhao Lina angrily exclaimed, her chest heaving violently, making Ye Fan genuinely concerned something might happen to her. With an innocent look, Ye Fan said, ¡°Isn¡¯t what I¡¯m saying important? I think it¡¯s very important. Even if you don¡¯t care about whether or not you¡¯ll get married, your attitude at work clearly has issues. I am a taxpayer; does your poor service attitude justify the taxes I pay each month? Does it justify the taxes paid by the millions of taxpayers nationwide each month? If you don¡¯t correct your poor work attitude, it¡¯s dereliction of duty!¡± His true identity was a national state secret, not something to be revealed lightly. The chief of the Hua Hai city police might not even be cleared to know. So, he could only drag on with irrelevant talk, waiting for the National Security Department¡¯s people to come and meanwhile, tease the beautiful policewoman. After all, he had nothing else to do. ¡°You!¡± Zhao Lina shook with rage, her eyebrows furrowed sharply. ¡°What? Don¡¯t tell me you refuse to admit your mistake?¡± Ye Fan said with rolling eyes, ¡°Police work relies on the law, not on ferocity. If police work depended on ferocity, how would that be different from the underworld? If you don¡¯t correct your attitude towards me, I¡¯ll start to suspect that you¡¯re an undercover agent sent by the underworld!¡± ¡°You, you¡­¡± Zhao Lina was so angry she was at a loss for words. Not only was Ye Fan uncooperative during her interrogation, but he also criticized her work ethic and accused her of being underworld. Accusing a police officer of being in the underworld was a huge insult. ¡°You still won¡¯t admit you¡¯re wrong?¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°The duty of the police is to catch those who make mistakes and make them repent. But look at yourself, you won¡¯t even admit when you¡¯re wrong. If you can¡¯t do a good job yourself, how can you govern others?¡± Zhao Lina clenched her fists tightly, struggling to suppress the urge to beat Ye Fan to a pulp. Inhale¡ª Exhale¡ª Inhale¡ª ¡­ She kept breathing deeply, trying to suppress the explosive anger bubbling within her. Suddenly, two ¡°pop¡± sounds burst forth, and she felt the constraint on her chest loosen. The two buttons on her police uniform gave in under the pressure and had indeed popped off. ¡°Heavens!¡± Ye Fan was taken aback, his eyes suddenly bulging out, his mouth gaping wide. ¡°Wow! I can¡¯t take it, can¡¯t take it, this is too *** blissful!¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but scream in his heart, feeling a tickle in his nose and a slight fishy scent, surely he wasn¡¯t having a nosebleed? Zhao Lina was even more flabbergasted by the turn of events, frozen for two or three seconds before coming to her senses. Ah! She screamed, covering her chest with her left hand, while her right hand swung a hard slap. Just as the slap was about to land, Ye Fan snapped out of his shock, quickly arching his upper body and head backward, narrowly dodging the slap. Seeing that she missed hitting Ye Fan, Zhao Lina geared up to strike again, but Ye Fan hurriedly yelled, ¡°Hey, if you keep hitting, you¡¯ll expose everything!¡± She had to stop, protecting her chest with both hands¡ªher bosom was too large for just one hand to cover. Glaring fiercely at Ye Fan, she said, ¡°You are so dead later!¡± Having said that, she immediately turned and rushed out of the interrogation room to change her clothes. S§×arch* The n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan, not at all concerned, crossed his legs in a carefree manner, a smug expression on his face: ¡°Heh, happiness always comes so unexpectedly¡­¡± Zhao Lina hurried to the changing room, quickly rifled through her personal locker for a set of clothes and changed at lightning speed. Seething inside, she wished she could grind Ye Fan into dust. On her way to the changing room, she noticed quite a few colleagues saw her clutching her chest, their faces twisted in bizarre expressions. Needless to say, she had made a massive fool of herself, and it was probably going to haunt her for the next decade or so. Gritting her teeth as she changed, filled with rage, she resolved to beat Ye Fan into a state of utter dependency even if it meant a demotion. ¡°It¡¯s all your fault, Ye Fan!¡± Once she was finally dressed, fearful of repeating the mishap, she pulled hard at the top two buttons to ensure everything was secure. Thankfully, they didn¡¯t fall off. Then, she stomped back to the interrogation room with murderous intent. On the way back, she clearly saw many colleagues looking at her with strange glances and even overheard some whispers behind her back. Her fury and murderous intensity grew stronger. ¡°Ye Fan, you¡¯re done for!!!¡± Thump! Thump! Thump¡­ Zhao Lina marched with heavy, murderous steps toward the interrogation room. Beep Beep Beep¡­ The interrogation room was just in sight; her fists clenched, making a frightening cracking noise from her knuckles. Standing at the doorway, she shot a lethal gaze inside, only to freeze in place the next moment. ¡°Lina, why are you giving us such a fierce look?¡± Luo Guozhong, the chief of Hua Hai City Police Station, asked, confused. ¡°I¡­¡± Zhao Lina saw two middle-aged men in the interrogation room, one was Luo Guozhong, and the other she didn¡¯t recognize, but he seemed very authoritative. Not only that, Ye Fan had his handcuffs removed and was standing shoulder to shoulder with the authoritative middle-aged man, looking at her smugly, winking. ¡°Are they the ones sent by Tantai Wanrong to rescue Ye Fan?¡± Zhao Lina clenched her fist and made up her mind, thinking, ¡°No! I absolutely can¡¯t let Ye Fan, this villain, get away scot-free!¡± The sword has been drawn, how could she possibly sheathe it without even nicking a single hair?! Chapter 42 - 42 038 Infuriating Zhao Lina ?42: Chapter 038: Infuriating Zhao Lina 42: Chapter 038: Infuriating Zhao Lina ¡°Director, he¡¯s involved in a major homicide and is highly suspected, I was in the middle of interrogating him,¡± Zhao Lina pointed at Ye Fan. Luo Guozhong chuckled and said, ¡°I know. I was just about to tell you. The shooting incident that occurred at the intersection of Shizi Ridge Avenue and Xinle Road will now be fully managed by the National Security. Ye Fan is now officially being transferred to the National Security. Oh, right, let me introduce you.¡± He pointed to a stern-looking middle-aged man and said, ¡°This gentleman here is Director Song Hongbing of National Security. Ye Fan will be taken away by him.¡± Zhao Lina glanced at Song Hongbing, then back at Ye Fan, who looked relaxed and lazy, which hardly seemed like he was being transferred to National Security¡ªit clearly looked like National Security had come to let him go. ¡°Director Song, are you taking him back for interrogation, or are you just letting him go?¡± she asked sharply, frowning. Song Hongbing glanced at Zhao Lina and responded indifferently, ¡°The workings of National Security are not your concern.¡± ¡°Who says I have no right to question? I caught him, and I was handling his case!¡± Zhao Lina retorted uncompromisingly. Song Hongbing glanced at Luo Guozhong, who appeared a bit embarrassed, yet he didn¡¯t directly rebuke her but instead tried to soothe her, ¡°Lina, don¡¯t worry about it too much.¡± ¡°No! I am responsible for my duties; I must get involved!¡± Zhao Lina insisted stubbornly, not giving even the Director face. Song Hongbing smiled and said, ¡°Captain Zhao, I appreciate your dedication to your work. However, your clearance is too low, and you are not qualified to know the details of the shooting incident at the intersection of Shizi Ridge and Xinle Road.¡± After saying that, he respectfully said to Ye Fan, ¡°Mr. Ye, let¡¯s go.¡± ¡°My clearance is too low, and I¡¯m not qualified?¡± Zhao Lina stood there, stunned. After all, she was the Captain of the Criminal Police, a second-level police superintendent, and the incident happened in her jurisdiction, yet she was told she wasn¡¯t qualified to know the details. Moreover, this Ye Fan, with his carefree and scruffy appearance at just twenty-two years old, was involved in such a high-level confidential case. How could this be possible? Zhao Lina thought incredulously. Ye Fan nodded slightly, not bothering to show any particular respect just because Song Hongbing was the Director of National Security. ¡°Director Luo, goodbye,¡± he said to Luo Guozhong. Luo Guozhong immediately responded with a polite smile, ¡°Haha, goodbye.¡± As Zhao Lina stood dumbfounded, Ye Fan and Song Hongbing walked out of the interrogation room. Passing by Zhao Lina, Ye Fan paused briefly and whispered smugly in her ear, ¡°Did you hear that? Your clearance is too low; you¡¯re not qualified to handle this, sister.¡± Regardless of how Zhao Lina¡¯s expression changed, Ye Fan then continued walking out the door. Just as they were exiting, a sudden roar came from behind, ¡°Stop!¡± Ye Fan was startled and stopped, turning to look at Zhao Lina. Zhao Lina¡¯s face was frosty as she coldly said, ¡°Ye Fan, you are also suspected in an assault case and cannot leave!¡± Standing nearby, Luo Guozhong rubbed his forehead, unsure of what had gotten into Zhao Lina that day, so determined against Ye Fan. Ye Fan chuckled and called out, ¡°Director Luo.¡± Luo Guozhong then advised Zhao Lina, ¡°Lina, regarding the fight at the Kaidi Hotel, Mr. Ye should not only not be blamed but also praised and awarded. The injured person, He Jiaqiang, intended to drug and assault Mr. Ye¡¯s female colleague, Lu Xiaoman. Mr. Ye arrived in time to save her. A physical altercation took place during the rescue, leading to He Jiaqiang¡¯s injuries. He Jiaqiang was injured due to his own fault, and once he recovers, we still have to charge him with attempted assault.¡± ¡°Although the assaulter deserves punishment, his injuries are too severe to have been caused merely by a physical altercation. I suspect he was assaulted by Ye Fan!¡± Zhao Lina stubbornly insisted, pointing at Ye Fan. Luo Guozhong felt frustrated. Normally, Zhao Lina was quick to despise wrongdoings; what had happened today? Why couldn¡¯t she see right from wrong all of a sudden? If it were any ordinary police officer, he would have already scolded her away, but Zhao Lina¡¯s background made that impossible. Song Hongbing said, ¡°Ye Fan is currently under investigation by National Security. As for your so-called fighting matter, let¡¯s put it aside for now. As a Captain of the Criminal Police, you should understand which cases take priority.¡± Having said that, he ignored Zhao Lina and turned to Ye Fan, ¡°Mr. Sear?h the N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye, let¡¯s go, don¡¯t mind her.¡± Ye Fan gave Zhao Lina a grin, his expression seemingly saying, ¡°You can¡¯t touch me,¡± then turned and strode away. Zhao Lina watched Ye Fan¡¯s departing figure, her eyes blazing with fury. After a long while, she withdrew her gaze and asked Luo Guozhong, ¡°Uncle Luo, what exactly is his identity?¡± ¡°Actually, I don¡¯t know either,¡± Luo Guozhong said. ¡°It was the ministry who called me to assist Director Song in taking him.¡± ¡°The ministry called directly?¡± Zhao Lina exclaimed, her eyes wide, ¡°Could he be from some top-notch, privileged family? But no, he doesn¡¯t look like a rich playboy at all; he looks more like a slacker.¡± Luo Guozhong helplessly spread his hands, saying, ¡°Lina, why do I feel like you are targeting him? Whether it¡¯s the shooting case at the intersection of Shizi Ridge Avenue and Xinle Road or the fight at the Kaidi Hotel, he¡¯s mostly not at fault. The shooting incident at the intersection of Shizi Ridge resulted in the deaths of internationally-known assassins. Thus, Ye Fan¡¯s identity must be extraordinary, and it¡¯s best not to provoke him.¡± ¡°I got it,¡± Zhao Lina replied noncommittally, but inwardly, she was determined to uncover Ye Fan¡¯s mysterious identity and to make him suffer substantially to quench her deep-seated resentment. ¡­ ¡­ Ye Fan and Song Hongbing left the police station together. ¡°Mr. Ye, this is my contact information. If you need anything while you¡¯re in Hua Hai City, please feel free to contact me,¡± Song Hongbing pulled out a business card and presented it to Ye Fan with both hands. Ye Fan accepted the card with a slight nod, ¡°Thank you, Director Song.¡± Although he took the card, he had no intention of contacting Song Hongbing for anything. The mere sight of National Security personnel annoyed him, reminding him of his own status and preventing him from playing happily and carefree. ¡°Mr. Ye, where are you planning to go? I can give you a ride,¡± Song Hongbing offered. Ye Fan quickly waved his hand, ¡°No need, no need, don¡¯t trouble yourself. I¡¯ll just take a cab.¡± With that, he briskly walked to the roadside to hail a taxi. Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s determination, Song Hongbing could only let it go. Once in the taxi, Ye Fan pulled out his phone to call Lu Xiaoman. The phone rang, and she immediately picked up. ¡°Sister Xiaoman, are you still at the hospital, or have you gone home?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°I¡¯m at the hospital. Ye Fan, thank you,¡± Lu Xiaoman responded. Her voice was weak and trembled slightly, clearly very unsettled. ¡°Haha, don¡¯t mention it. I¡¯ll come see you right away,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Which hospital? What room?¡± ¡°City Third People¡¯s Hospital, Inpatient Building 2, Room 405.¡± Chapter 43 - 43 039 Speaking from the Heart ?43: Chapter 039: Speaking from the Heart 43: Chapter 039: Speaking from the Heart About twenty minutes later, Ye Fan entered the hospital ward carrying a bowl of white porridge. Seeing Ye Fan, tears involuntarily welled up in Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes. Having been secretly coerced and threatened by He Jiaqiang to become his mistress, and even drugged by him tonight, almost losing her chastity, had been a prolonged torment to her spirit and will. Ye Fan placed the white porridge on the table and walked to the bedside, gently asking, ¡°Xiaoman sister, are you feeling okay?¡± Wow¡ª Lu Xiaoman suddenly threw herself onto Ye Fan, hugging his waist tightly, and started crying like a child. Ye Fan was startled, but he immediately understood what Lu Xiaoman was feeling. Almost being drugged and violated, any girl would be terribly frightened. With gentle pats on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s back, he sat on the edge of the bed, and Lu Xiaoman continued to cry, burying her pretty face in his chest. ¡°It¡¯s okay, it¡¯s all right now. He Jiaqiang has been beaten by me to a point where he can¡¯t take care of himself,¡± Ye Fan comforted her softly, holding Lu Xiaoman and stroking her back. The more he comforted her, the more fiercely Lu Xiaoman cried, her tears soaking Ye Fan¡¯s clothes. Holding Lu Xiaoman, who was weeping uncontrollably, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but feel a wave of pity. After crying for about fifteen minutes, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s sobs gradually quieted, and regaining her composure, she realized she had been crying in Ye Fan¡¯s arms for so long, which embarrassed her. So, she released Ye Fan and then quickly turned around, burying her face in the blanket. If there had been a crack in the ground here, she would have definitely dived into it without hesitation. After a while, Lu Xiaoman timidly raised her head, her pretty face blushing. However, her beautiful eyes were still red. Ye Fan, seeing Lu Xiaoman¡¯s embarrassment, brought over the white porridge and smiled, ¡°Xiaoman sister, are you hungry? Have some white porridge.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± Lu Xiaoman said, still looking down, too shy to look at Ye Fan, as she took the porridge and then turned away to eat. Ye Fan moved a chair and sat at the bedside. After about five or six minutes, Lu Xiaoman finished the white porridge, her embarrassment easing a lot, and she felt much calmer. ¡°Ye Fan, thank you. If it hadn¡¯t been for you, I¡­¡± Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan gratefully. ¡°Don¡¯t mention it. You thought of me in your most critical moment, which makes me feel a great sense of achievement. Haha, it shows that I am a trustworthy person!¡± Ye Fan said, ending with a bit of a proud laugh. Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan affectionately and said, ¡°You indeed are a trustworthy man.¡± Receiving such affirmation from Lu Xiaoman made Ye Fan feel a great sense of achievement, and even if he wasn¡¯t personally fond of getting praised, he still felt that his effort in rescuing her was worthwhile, not to mention the deep and tender look in Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes at that moment. Receiving such affirmation from Lu Xiaoman made Ye Fan feel a great sense of achievement, and even if he wasn¡¯t personally fond of getting praised, he still felt that his effort in rescuing her was worthwhile, and not to mention the deep and tender look in Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes at that moment. ¡°Haha, thanks, thanks,¡± Ye Fan laughed. However, being looked at so tenderly by Lu Xiaoman made him feel a bit pressured, so he started another topic: ¡°I didn¡¯t expect He Jiaqiang to be so odious!¡± ¡°Yeah,¡± Lu Xiaoman nodded, still frightened, and then she took the initiative to explain about tonight¡¯s events, ¡°Tonight I went with him to the nightclub because he requested me to join him in meeting an important talent. I didn¡¯t expect that he would actually¡­¡± ¡°That beast, I¡¯ve known forever that he was no good. Stay away from him from now on. But, hehe, we won¡¯t have to deal with him every day anymore.¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°I taught him a harsh lesson, even crushed his ¡®vital parts¡¯!¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Lu Xiaoman exclaimed, covering her mouth with a small hand, her eyes wide. Ye Fan chuckled and said, ¡°With what happened, he will definitely be sentenced to prison. Emali Corporation will surely fire him, and we¡¯ll have one less mountain weighing down on us!¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Lu Xiaoman sighed deeply. She looked at Ye Fan, hesitating to speak. Ye Fan immediately asked, ¡°What do you want to say?¡± ¡°There¡¯s something I need to tell you, you can¡¯t scold me,¡± Lu Xiaoman said. Ye Fan laughed, ¡°Haha, don¡¯t worry, how could I bear to scold you? Go on, speak.¡± Lu Xiaoman took a deep breath. The matter had been weighing on her heart for a very long time, and now that the crisis was finally over, she couldn¡¯t help but pour out her heart to Ye Fan. ¡°Actually, He Jiaqiang has been secretly forcing me to be his mistress,¡± she said quietly, her head bowed, not daring to look at Ye Fan. ¡°What!¡± Ye Fan stood up abruptly, shouting angrily, ¡°That bastard He Jiaqiang, looks like I went too easy on him!¡± Lu Xiaoman was frightened by his reaction and didn¡¯t dare to speak, only daring to sneak a glance at Ye Fan. Ye Fan was clearly furious, thinking about how the woman he liked had been harassed by that trash He Jiaqiang. He was so enraged he wished he could drag He Jiaqiang out again and pulverize him. ¡°No wonder, last week he arranged such difficult tasks for you, he was actually trying to drive you to the brink,¡± he said angrily, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, why didn¡¯t you tell me?¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry, I¡¯m sorry¡­¡± Lu Xiaoman burst into tears. She now deeply regretted her initial timidity and how it had allowed He Jiaqiang to progressively corner her, even attempting such horrible actions. If it hadn¡¯t been for Ye Fan, she dared not imagine what might have happened. Seeing Lu Xiaoman crying and filled with regret, Ye Fan quickly suppressed his anger, sat back down, and tried to soothe her with a gentle voice, ¡°You haven¡¯t wronged me, don¡¯t be afraid. And I think you must have had a compelling reason.¡± Lu Xiaoman wiped away her tears and said, ¡°A few months ago, my mom was diagnosed with breast cancer, and we¡¯ve spent all our money on her treatment. Her disease hasn¡¯t been cured yet, and she needs chemotherapy every week. I can¡¯t be without a job, or else we wouldn¡¯t have any money for my mom¡¯s treatments.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Ye Fan sighed, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, you¡¯ve suffered. But with people like He Jiaqiang, tolerating doesn¡¯t solve the problem. You should have reported this to the company long ago.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. He said, gently patting Lu Xiaoman¡¯s back in comfort. ¡°Mm. But I was afraid at the time,¡± Lu Xiaoman said, ¡°But rest assured, if it comes down to it, I¡¯d just quit my job and find another way to make money.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± Ye Fan responded, then asked, ¡°How¡¯s your mom¡¯s treatment going?¡± Lu Xiaoman shook her head sadly, ¡°No improvement, at most it hasn¡¯t gotten worse. But the chemotherapy is very harsh on her body, I¡¯m worried she can¡¯t take it.¡± ¡°Have you sought out any specialists for this?¡± Ye Fan asked. He didn¡¯t understand much about medical matters, but he seemed to remember that breast cancer could be cured. Lu Xiaoman shook her head, her expression dim, ¡°No. We can¡¯t even get an appointment.¡± ¡°Which hospital? Which doctor? I¡¯ll inquire for you.¡± Lu Xiaoman said, ¡°Hua Hai University Affiliated Hospital, Doctor Liang Qingdong. He¡¯s a very skilled doctor, I heard that as long as it¡¯s not too late, he can cure it completely.¡± She then shook her head in despair, ¡°It¡¯s no use. From the beginning, my dad has tried so many connections, followed many leads, but we just couldn¡¯t get an appointment. I heard that appointments with Doctor Liang Qingdong for breast cancer treatment are booked out until a year later. We would have to pay three hundred thousand yuan for an appointment, and even then, it would still take three months. We don¡¯t have three hundred thousand.¡± ¡°There must be a way,¡± Ye Fan consoled Lu Xiaoman nonchalantly, as he mentally noted down the words ¡°Hua Hai University Affiliated Hospital¡± and ¡°Liang Qingdong.¡± What seemed impossible for Lu Xiaoman was not necessarily difficult for him, in fact, it could be an easy matter¡ªa phone call, a few words. However, he didn¡¯t like making empty promises, preferring to speak only after he had achieved something. ¡°I hope so,¡± Lu Xiaoman sighed heavily with worry. As for her mother¡¯s breast cancer, she was almost losing hope. Chapter 44 - 44 040 The Wrath of the Black Dragon ?44: Chapter 040 The Wrath of the Black Dragon 44: Chapter 040 The Wrath of the Black Dragon It was past midnight when Ye Fan returned to the villa. Opening the door to the first-floor hall, he saw that lights were still on upstairs, shining down from the staircase. ¡°This woman is staying up late working overtime again. Such a pity she¡¯s too dull, putting effort in the wrong direction. No matter how hard she tries, it¡¯s in vain,¡± he murmured, shaking his head as he looked at the staircase dimly lit by the refracted light. Once inside his room and after closing the door, Ye Fan took out his mobile phone, entered a number, and made the call. The phone was answered after just one ring. ¡°Hello, are you¡­¡± A rough voice came from the other end, loud enough to be deafening through the phone. Ye Fan said with a smile, ¡°Leopard, it¡¯s me.¡± ¡°Ah! Boss, is that you?!¡± The voice that came back was full of excitement. Ye Fan, still smiling, responded, ¡°Yes, it¡¯s me. How are all the brothers doing?¡± ¡°Great, everyone¡¯s fine. Just missing you, boss,¡± Leopard said with a hearty laugh. Ye Fan laughed, ¡°Cut the crap¡ªI¡¯m not a lady. I don¡¯t want you guys pining over me every day. It gives me the creeps!¡± ¡°Hahaha,¡± Leopard also laughed loudly, ¡°Boss, how¡¯s life back home? Is the missus pretty?¡± ¡°Oh, sleeping in every day, going to work to flirt with the ladies and play some games, hitting the bars at night, and just lounging at home watching TV on weekends. You tell me, does that sound good?¡± Ye Fan chuckled. A sound of exaggerated envy came through the phone, ¡°Wow¡ªsounds like heaven! And the missus? Is she pretty?¡± ¡°She¡¯s okay, so-so,¡± Ye Fan didn¡¯t want to talk much about Li Zhaojun, so his voice suddenly became serious, ¡°Leopard, gather the brothers. I want you to wipe out the hideouts of Nehemiah Bailey, Shimamoto Shiro, and Eagle Bonnie from the global assassins¡¯ list!¡± The sniper attack at the intersection of Shizi Ridge Avenue and Xinyue Road enraged him. Had he not thought of using satellite to locate his mobile phone at the time, he might have regretted it for life. Therefore, not only the people who tried to snipe him tonight had to die, but even the forces behind them must be eradicated! ¡°Yes!¡± Leopard immediately responded loudly. Having received the task, Leopard fell silent for a moment before asking, ¡°Boss, has Nehemiah Bailey¡¯s gang come looking for you?¡± ¡°They did tonight, and I took care of them all. Keep an ear out for me, and find out who¡¯s offering three hundred million US Dollars for my head,¡± Ye Fan said coldly. ¡°Yes!¡± Leopard acknowledged loudly. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After hanging up, Ye Fan called Mo Shang, ¡°Mo Shang, thanks for your help tonight.¡± ¡°Boss, it¡¯s what I should do,¡± the voice from the phone was cold but couldn¡¯t hide the pleasure within. Ye Fan asked, ¡°Have you found the person who put out the bounty for my head?¡± ¡°Sorry, not yet. The other side has high-level counter-investigation measures, and the line they used to post the bounty was destroyed by their hacker,¡± Mo Shang answered, ¡°I¡¯ll pursue it with all my strength.¡± Ye Fan responded with a ¡°Hmm,¡± and then said, ¡°Nehemiah Bailey¡¯s gang made a move tonight¡ªI almost wiped them out, and their mission failed. The person who issued the bounty probably won¡¯t stop there and will continue to issue bounties. Keep a close eye out these next few days.¡± ¡°Understood. If he dares to post another bounty, I¡¯ll definitely drag him out,¡± Mo Shang said through gritted teeth. After hanging up the phone, Ye Fan took a shower and went to bed. As he lay down, he thought about Lu Xiaoman¡¯s mother being diagnosed with breast cancer. Ye Fan¡¯s main power resided in the Forty-Nine City, with the northeastern provinces as his family¡¯s stronghold and Shandong within his sphere of influence; however, Hua Hai city, located in the south, was relatively weaker. In Hua Hai City, he really couldn¡¯t rely on the Ye family¡¯s influence. Therefore, it wasn¡¯t worth bothering the Ye family over a trivial matter like helping Lu Xiaoman¡¯s mother get an appointment with a specialist; it would just cause unnecessary trouble. ¡°Uh, how should I help Xiaoman get that specialist appointment?¡± He pondered for a while, then thought of a figure, tall, sexy, mature, and captivating, ¡°Aunt Rong, as Hua Hai City¡¯s Executive Deputy Mayor, should be able to secure an appointment with just one phone call. Alright, I¡¯ll give her a call tomorrow.¡± ¡­ ¡­ The next day, since the second-hand Alto he drove was towed away by the police to who knows where, Ye Fan had to take a taxi to work. But he wasn¡¯t late. When he arrived at the office, Lu Xiaoman had already been there for over ten minutes. Despite what happened last night, she didn¡¯t dare arrive late. However, Ye Fan noticed that her spirits seemed pretty good, as if a lot of the clouds hanging over her head had lifted. It was just that the way she looked at him, with soft, affectionate eyes, made his heart beat two times faster uncontrollably, and he felt so embarrassed that he couldn¡¯t bring himself to flirt with her as he had planned. Just a short time into the workday, the office landline rang; it was Cao Guoqiang calling Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman to come to his office. Once in Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office, he asked about last night¡¯s incident where He Jiaqiang attempted to drug and violate Lu Xiaoman. It turned out the news about last night had spread quickly within the company. Soon after the workday began, everyone was aware of it. Cao Guoqiang asked about the whole process, then comforted Lu Xiaoman, saying, ¡°Xiaoman, don¡¯t worry. Scum like He Jiaqiang will certainly be fired from the company. Moreover, you don¡¯t have to worry about Vice President Lu. I believe he is a reasonable man. You just focus on your work.¡± ¡°Thank you, Manager Cao,¡± Lu Xiaoman said gratefully. ¡°Oh, by the way, considering you were traumatized last night, you can take three days off to rest at home,¡± said Cao Guoqiang. Lu Xiaoman shook her head, ¡°Thank you, but it¡¯s not necessary; I feel fine now.¡± Then Cao Guoqiang praised Ye Fan and assured him not to worry about retaliation from Lu Yuansheng because, even though Lu Yuansheng was a deputy general of the company, he had no control over the HR department. Although he wasn¡¯t worried about Lu Yuansheng¡¯s retaliation in the slightest, Ye Fan still thanked Cao Guoqiang for his kindness. In fact, Cao Guoqiang was secretly pleased inside. After all, He Jiaqiang posed a significant threat to him, and now that He Jiaqiang had screwed up, Cao¡¯s position was safe. Leaving Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office and returning to his own, Ye Fan saw some worry on Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face. After Cao Guoqiang¡¯s reminder, Lu Xiaoman really was a little worried about Lu Yuansheng seeking revenge on her and Ye Fan. After all, the outcome of last night¡¯s events was that He Jiaqiang not only faced prison sentencing but had also had his legs broken and his privates crushed into pulp by Ye Fan and was currently in emergency care at the hospital. The grudge was significant. Ye Fan reassured her with a smile, ¡°Xiaoman, don¡¯t worry about Lu Yuansheng. If he can¡¯t see reason and dares to mess with us, he¡¯ll be the one to get the boot!¡± Lu Xiaoman looked at Ye Fan¡¯s confident smile, and though it seemed arrogant and ignorant for a newly hired junior employee to say such things, she found herself believing his words. ¡°Mhm, got it,¡± she nodded, a smile appearing on her pretty face, and her worries vanished. The man before her seemed flippant and lazy, but he always displayed remarkable abilities at crucial moments, making her feel as though he was a stable and secure mountain, one worth relying on for a lifetime. As she gazed at his tall, strong frame and his confident, exuberant smile, she couldn¡¯t help but be enraptured. Chapter 45 - 45 041 Giving You a Chance to Pursue Me ?45: Chapter 041: Giving You a Chance to Pursue Me 45: Chapter 041: Giving You a Chance to Pursue Me Around 10 a.m., at the security stairs at the end of the corridor, Ye Fan dialed Tantai Wanrong¡¯s phone. ¡°Hehe, Xiao Fan.¡± Tantai Wanrong was delighted to receive Ye Fan¡¯s call, her laughter sweet and alluring. This prompted an image of a stunning and mature beauty to surface in Ye Fan¡¯s mind, her lovely lips curved in myriad charming expressions, her narrow eyes twinkling with allure. For a moment, he forgot to speak. Tantai Wanrong waited for three or four seconds, then urged with no response, ¡°Xiao Fan, speak up.¡± ¡°Er! Hehe, Aunt Wan.¡± Ye Fan came back to his senses and chuckled, ¡°How¡¯s your recovery going?¡± Tantai Wanrong giggled lightly, ¡°I wasn¡¯t really hurt, just the doctors making a big deal out of nothing. I¡¯m getting discharged this weekend.¡± Then, she suddenly let out a chuckle, a bit teasingly, ¡°Xiao Fan, once your aunt is discharged, I¡¯ll immediately find you a beautiful girlfriend. But, you have to come visit me this weekend.¡± ¡°Cough cough,¡± Ye Fan coughed awkwardly twice and forced a smile, ¡°Let¡¯s skip the girlfriend part. As for visiting you this weekend, that¡¯s a given.¡± ¡°Do you have a girlfriend?¡± Tantai Wanrong asked. ¡°No!¡± Ye Fan immediately denied. Well, he had a wife, but not a girlfriend. As for his relationship with Lu Xiaoman, it needed a bit more heat, plus he was contemplating whether to pursue it further. After all, he was married, and divorcing Li Zhaojun to marry Lu Xiaoman wouldn¡¯t be easy. Tantai Wanrong chuckled, ¡°There you go. Don¡¯t be shy. Your Aunt Wan can definitely introduce you to someone both gentle and beautiful. Any other particular requests?¡± ¡°We can talk about that later, later,¡± Ye Fan quickly changed the subject, ¡°Aunt Wan, I need a favor.¡± ¡°Oh¡ª, what is it?¡± Tantai Wanrong asked. Ye Fan said, ¡°I have a friend whose mother has breast cancer and wants to see Liang Qingdong at the Hua Hai University First Hospital, but they can¡¯t get an appointment. Could you please help me inquire?¡± ¡°Sure, it¡¯s a small matter.¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed, ¡°I¡¯ll call and ask right after this.¡± S§×ar?h the Nov§×l?ire.n(e)t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Hehe, thank you,¡± Ye Fan laughed, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s awesome having a deputy mayor as a friend!¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s voice was half-laughing, ¡°You¡¯re not friends with me just because I¡¯m the deputy mayor, are you?¡± ¡°Hehe, of course not. Mainly because you¡¯re a good person. Beautiful, elegant, noble, gentle, generous¡­¡± Ye Fan scrambled for a barrage of compliments. Tantai Wanrong laughed loudly at hearing this, chuckling and saying, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Anything else?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Ye Fan was at a loss for words, his brain sizzling. Who else in the world chases after people to flatter her? ¡°¡­There¡¯s much more. But you gotta understand, I dropped out of high school to join the army, so I¡¯m not that cultured. Can¡¯t think of many on the spot!¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed joyously, ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll let you off this time since you can only describe a tenth of my good qualities. As punishment, go on Baidu when you get back, find all the descriptive words that fit your aunt, memorize them, they¡¯ll be useful in the future.¡± ¡°¡­Understood,¡± Ye Fan responded dryly. Then, Ye Fan made an excuse about being busy and hung up. After hanging up, he returned to his office. In less than half an hour, his phone rang, Tantai Wanrong calling. ¡°Xiao Fan, tell your friend to go to the Dean¡¯s office at Hua Hai University First Hospital this afternoon, ask for Dean Zhou and request the expert slot from Liang Qingdong, just say that Han Yuanjian, the Director of the Municipal Health Bureau sent you.¡± Tantai Wanrong informed. ¡°Alright, thank you, Aunt Wan,¡± Ye Fan happily said. Tantai Wanrong chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank? It¡¯s just a little effort. Alright, I won¡¯t disturb your work anymore. Remember to visit me this weekend.¡± ¡°Sure, no problem,¡± Ye Fan responded. After hanging up, Ye Fan got up from his chair, walking towards Lu Xiaoman with a smile. He had thought to take advantage of the situation to sneak a peak, but Lu Xiaoman caught him early this time, stopped her work, and looked up at him with a smile, ¡°Ye Fan, what is it?¡± ¡°Er, didn¡¯t you say you wanted to see Liang Qingdong from Hua Hai University First Hospital for your mom¡¯s treatment?¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°I asked a friend, and it¡¯s arranged. This afternoon, go to the Dean¡¯s office there and say that Han Yuanjian from the city¡¯s Health Bureau sent you.¡± ¡°Really?!¡± Lu Xiaoman stood up suddenly, her face a mixture of surprise and disbelief. Liang Qingdong¡¯s expert number was incredibly hard to obtain, even spending three hundred thousand yuan would only get an appointment three months later. She just told Ye Fan last night, and surprisingly he managed it this morning. But Ye Fan was just an ordinary migrant worker in Hua Hai, seemingly a bit poor. So, she could hardly believe it. Ye Fan smiled faintly, ¡°Of course, it¡¯s true. I wouldn¡¯t joke about something like this.¡± Lu Xiaoman excitedly circled the desk, hugging Ye Fan tightly, jumping and shouting, ¡°Thank you, thank you¡­¡± A beauty in his arms, naturally, he didn¡¯t hesitate to hug her back, and even a little tighter, shunning any pretense of decency¡ªpretending to be decent was to cross with his own ¡°happiness.¡± As he hesitated whether to take advantage further, the opportunity was lost, and Lu Xiaoman had already stepped out of his embrace. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s pretty face was flushed with excitement, her eyes shining like she had encountered something incredible. ¡°Thank you, Ye Fan, thank you¡­¡± She was a bit incoherent. Ye Fan laughed heartily, ¡°You¡¯ve already thanked me many times, no need to thank anymore. Actually, it was just a small effort, nothing worth thanking for.¡± ¡°No, you saved my mom,¡± Lu Xiaoman insisted a bit agitatedly. ¡°Really? Just like that I saved your mom?¡± Ye Fan asked. Lu Xiaoman nodded forcefully, ¡°Yes!¡± ¡°Alright, I saved your mom,¡± Ye Fan joked, ¡°So, as a daughter, do you owe me a pledge?¡± Lu Xiaoman blushed and scolded playfully, ¡°Stop it, you¡¯re teasing again. I¡¯m not promising anything like that! You think it¡¯s feudal times?¡± ¡°Then it seems I won¡¯t get any benefits?¡± Ye Fan pretended to be distressed. Lu Xiaoman giggled, casting a coy glance at Ye Fan, shyly saying, ¡°You do. You get a chance to pursue me!¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you so much,¡± Ye Fan said half-heartedly, thinking to himself that it seemed like he had always had a chance to pursue her. Of course, he also understood that Lu Xiaoman essentially accepted him, and without blowing it, continued interaction would naturally lead to a successful relationship. Chapter 46 - 46 042 Break Up ?46: Chapter 042 Break Up 46: Chapter 042 Break Up By noon, as Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman headed to the group¡¯s dining hall for lunch, they clearly noticed colleagues whispering and gesturing at them along the way. When they arrived at the cafeteria, got their food, and sat down, they found even more people casting glances at them now and then. There was no need to guess; the news about He Jiaqiang¡¯s attempt to drug and take advantage of a female colleague last night had definitely spread. Li Zhaojun entered the cafeteria to eat, and couldn¡¯t help but scan the room, only to see Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman sitting close together, eating intimately. After she entered the small dining room exclusively for the group¡¯s higher-ups, she found herself involuntarily peering through the glass at Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman several more times, seeing them laughing and chatting. It made her feel sick to her stomach. At the same time, she noticed that the employees dining in the cafeteria were also looking up at Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman from time to time, seemingly discussing something. Upon seeing this, her beautiful brows furrowed. Sitting beside her, her secretary Wang Siyan noticed Li Zhaojun¡¯s furrowed brows and distant gaze. Curious, Wang followed Li¡¯s line of sight and saw Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman. When Li Zhaojun noticed Wang Siyan was also looking, she diverted her attention and concentrated on her meal. Wang Siyan also looked away and whispered, ¡°Director Li, did you hear about what happened in the HR department last night? I didn¡¯t expect He Jiaqiang to be so vile. But, on the other hand, Lu Xiaoman is quite lucky. It¡¯s said she was already drugged and unconscious, taken to a hotel, but Ye Fan arrived just in time to rescue her.¡± ¡°Uh-huh,¡± Li Zhaojun replied noncommittally while focused on her meal, her stunning face not revealing any emotion. Despite Li Zhaojun¡¯s indifferent response, Wang Siyan, being a woman tinged with a love for gossip, continued, ¡°With his heroic act last night, Ye Fan might have landed himself a swan, despite being a toad. It¡¯s just a pity that Lu Xiaoman, as beautiful as she is, should have been able to find a man with status and position.¡± Last time she went to the HR department to summon Ye Fan to the Chairman¡¯s office, he had given her a cold look, so naturally, she didn¡¯t have a good impression of him. She was continuing her gossip when she suddenly felt two icy stares fixed on her. Lifting her head, she met Li Zhaojun¡¯s stern and majestic eyes and could clearly see her displeasure. She felt a chill down her spine and began sweating profusely on the back of her neck. Her heart skipped a beat, and she suddenly remembered that Li Zhaojun had met with Ye Fan alone yesterday. Could it be that Ye Fan was some relative of Director Li? Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. At that thought, she wished she could slap herself. ¡°Director Li, I¡­¡± she offered an obsequious, wretchedly unattractive smile. Li Zhaojun withdrew her gaze, speaking indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s impolite to speak about others behind their backs. Please be mindful in the future.¡± With that, she bowed her head and continued her meal. ¡°Yes, yes, I¡¯ll definitely change, definitely change,¡± Wang Siyan hurriedly admitted her fault, not daring to speak out of turn again. ¡­ ¡­ That afternoon, Lu Xiaoman took leave to visit the First Affiliated Hospital of Hua Hai University to get an appointment with specialist Liang Qingdong, and Ye Fan took leave as well. His second-hand Alto had either been towed away by the police or by traffic enforcement, and it was also badly wrecked in the accident. The towing and repair costs would probably exceed what he had originally paid for the car, so Ye Fan decided to buy another one from a used car dealership. After browsing the used car lot for over an hour, Ye Fan spent fifty thousand yuan to buy a Citro?n sedan that had a mileage of fifty thousand kilometers, a 1.4L engine, and looked about sixty to seventy percent new on the outside. ¡°Ha ha, I¡¯ve traded my old musket for a cannon, now driving a foreign brand.¡± While he was handling the vehicle transfer paperwork, Lu Xiaoman called him. ¡°Ye Fan, my mom got Liang Qingdong¡¯s specialist appointment,¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s excited and happy voice came through the phone, ¡°We can see the specialist tomorrow morning! Ye Fan, thank you, I really can¡¯t thank you enough!¡± Ye Fan smiled and said, ¡°Hmm, don¡¯t mention it. Is it enough for the treatment? I still have some severance pay left. I don¡¯t need it anyway, so I can lend it to you first.¡± ¡°No, no need.¡± Lu Xiaoman immediately refused, ¡°Thank you for your kindness, but really, there¡¯s no need.¡± Although she had received many favors from Ye Fan, she didn¡¯t want to have a financial relationship with him under any circumstances. She would rather take out a loan or shamelessly borrow from relatives and friends. That was her bottom line in her interactions with Ye Fan, and she was determined to maintain it. ¡°Alright then.¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°If it¡¯s really not enough, come to me at any time.¡± ¡°Okay, got it.¡± Lu Xiaoman said, ¡°I have to take my mom home now, so I¡¯ll hang up.¡± ¡°Sure, bye-bye.¡± After hanging up, Ye Fan searched for Tantai Wanrong¡¯s mobile number and called her to tell her that his friend had gotten an appointment with the specialist and to express his gratitude. Tantai Wanrong¡¯s voice was smooth and elegant as she responded, her voice sweet and flirtatious, ¡°Xiaofan, remember to come visit Auntie Rong this weekend, okay?¡± ¡°Hehe, got it.¡± Ye Fan responded with a laugh. It was only right to visit and thank her in person since she had helped him out. The next day at work, Ye Fan saw Lu Xiaoman and noticed she was in a great mood, looking radiant and smiling with her eyes and mouth, presumably because she finally had hope for curing her mother¡¯s breast cancer and was filled with beautiful aspirations for the future. ¡°Ye Fan, thank you.¡± Lu Xiaoman said gratefully. Ye Fan quickly waved his hand and said, ¡°You¡¯ve said that too many times; it¡¯s starting to annoy me.¡± Lu Xiaoman covered her mouth and laughed, ¡°Okay, then I¡¯ll say it less in the future.¡± ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s more like it. All this thanking back and forth, it¡¯s so boring.¡± Ye Fan laughed. Lu Xiaoman asked curiously, ¡°Ye Fan, how did you find a connection to get my mother an appointment with Liang Qingdong?¡± ¡°Oh¡ª that. Actually, a few days ago, I just happened to meet a friend who said she works in a government office, so I asked her for a favor, and it turned out to be effective,¡± Ye Fan explained. Lu Xiaoman said, ¡°Oh, I see. Please thank your friend for me.¡± ¡°Hehe, sure. Actually, it was no big deal; for her, it was just a simple gesture,¡± Ye Fan said. At lunch, Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman naturally sat together, chatting and enjoying their meal. All of this was noticed by Li Zhaojun. At four o¡¯clock in the afternoon, Ye Fan was holding a transfer order in Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office. ¡°Ye Fan, I¡¯m sorry, you¡¯ve been transferred to the Administration Department. You¡¯ll report to the Administration Department next Monday,¡± Cao Guoqiang said somewhat apologetically. Ye Fan frowned and asked, ¡°Why? Is it Lu Yuansheng pulling strings behind the scenes?¡± He didn¡¯t want to leave the HR department, being able to share an office with the beauty Lu Xiaoman, tease her when he was bored, sneak some flirtatious moments ¡ª what a pleasant life. ¡°It wasn¡¯t him,¡± Cao Guoqiang said, ¡°It¡¯s the chairman¡¯s decision. Probably because what happened two nights ago caused a great stir in the group, and Director Li, in order to quickly defuse the negative impact, had to separate you and Lu Xiaoman so that you wouldn¡¯t be together all the time, constantly reminding the group¡¯s people of the incident that night.¡± Exiting Cao Guoqiang¡¯s office, Ye Fan didn¡¯t go back to his own office, but went straight to Li Zhaojun¡¯s office. Chapter 47 - 47 043 Argument ?47: Chapter 043 Argument 47: Chapter 043 Argument Slap! In Li Zhaojun¡¯s office, Ye Fan slapped the reassignment notice on the desk, leaned forward with his hands bracing against the surface, and looked down at Li Zhaojun as he demanded, ¡°Who gave you the right to mess with my position without asking me?!¡± Li Zhaojun maintained a cool composure, her gaze icy and disdainful. Even though Ye Fan was in a superior position, she still managed to give off an air of looking down on him. ¡°Why not reassign you, what about reassigning Lu Xiaoman?¡± she said coldly and emotionlessly. ¡°I¡¯m afraid ¡®someone¡¯ wouldn¡¯t bear to see that happen.¡± ¡°What do you mean?¡± Ye Fan furrowed his brows and asked. Slap! Li Zhaojun suddenly slapped the desk, stood up abruptly with a sharp look, and said with full force in a cold voice, ¡°Ye Fan, I don¡¯t care if you screw around outside, but please don¡¯t mess things up under my nose! Emali Group is my company. If you think you can come into my company and mess around with women, do you really believe our relationship can stay a secret forever? You¡¯d better rein it in, or else I will have no choice but to fire Lu Xiaoman!¡± Now the entire group believed that Ye Fan and Lu Xiaoman were or had already become romantically involved. If it wasn¡¯t stopped in time, the exposure of her marital relationship with Ye Fan within the group would severely damage her prestige, making it even harder to control Emali Group. She didn¡¯t expect Ye Fan to help her, she just wanted him not to complicate things for her. ¡°¡®Messing around with women,¡¯ don¡¯t make it sound so vulgar. Lu Xiaoman and I are just colleagues and friends,¡± Ye Fan huffed, though his tone had weakened considerably. Li Zhaojun sneered, ¡°Let¡¯s hope it¡¯s just colleagues and friends. If you want to take things further with her, fine. I will personally see to her dismissal from Emali Group, to leave you two free to be together!¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Ye Fan snorted coldly and turned to leave. As Ye Fan reached the door and stretched out his hand to open it, Li Zhaojun suddenly said, ¡°Come with me to see Grandpa after work!¡± Ye Fan didn¡¯t respond and continued to open the door and leave. Back in his office, Lu Xiaoman noticed something was off with Ye Fan¡¯s complexion and paused her work to ask, ¡°Ye Fan, what¡¯s wrong? You don¡¯t seem too happy.¡± ¡°Uh, yeah, a bit upset,¡± Ye Fan took a deep breath and put on a smile as he said, ¡°Here, take a look at this.¡± He passed the reassignment notice to her. Lu Xiaoman circled around her desk, took the notice with a puzzled look, and upon reading it, she let out a startled cry. ¡°Ye Fan, are you being transferred?¡± she asked sadly, her voice tinged with panic. Ye Fan feigned nonchalance with a laugh, ¡°Yes. Too bad I won¡¯t be able to tease the beautiful Miss Lu every day now.¡± Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s indifferent attitude, Lu Xiaoman got so angry that her eyes reddened as she scolded, ¡°Ye Fan, do you even have a heart?¡± Seeing Lu Xiaoman like this made Ye Fan feel uneasy, but he maintained his laid-back smile and said, ¡°Ha, Sister Man, don¡¯t worry. I¡¯m just being reassigned to the administrative department, still on the same floor. We¡¯ll still see each other all the time. Ha, who knows, we might even bump into each other in the restroom.¡± ¡°Hey, if you¡¯re willing, we could even spark something hot in the restroom,¡± he said in a lewd tone, deliberately ogling Lu Xiaoman¡¯s lovely figure. Lu Xiaoman was so flustered that she laughed and reproached, ¡°Who wants to spark something hot with you?! You shameless jerk! I¡¯m not talking to you anymore!¡± ¡°Ha-ha-ha, so you don¡¯t agree? It seems I¡¯ve overestimated your interest,¡± Ye Fan laughed outright. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s cheeks turned a slight red as she huffed, ¡°I can¡¯t be bothered with you!¡± Then, she tossed her pretty face to the side in a show of arrogance and returned to her seat inside the office desk. ¡°Heh,¡± Ye Fan stood there and spread his hands. However, after a moment, Lu Xiaoman said to Ye Fan, ¡°Ye Fan, my mother has successfully found an expert doctor for her treatment. To thank you, let me treat you to dinner after work, and we can watch a movie, how about that?¡± ¡°This¡­¡± Ye Fan was in a tough spot. Just a moment ago, Li Zhaojun had mentioned visiting Elder Li after work. Although he lacked any affection for Li Zhaojun and actually despised each other, the superficial niceties had to be maintained. If he chose to dine with Lu Xiaoman and watch a movie after work instead of accompanying Li Zhaojun to visit Elder Li, he feared his facade would mostly be torn apart. They might be a couple without love, but they surely couldn¡¯t act like enemies, right? Seeing that Ye Fan did not immediately agree, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s heart sank slightly as she asked, ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± +Heh heh,¡± Ye Fan forced a smile and said, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, I¡¯m afraid I have to apologize. I just so happen to have something at home. Let me treat you to a meal another day, okay?¡± ¡°Alright then.¡± Lu Xiaoman managed a forced smile, then hung her head low, her face filled with gloom and sadness. As a girl, this was the first time she had set aside her pride to ask a man out to dinner, only to be rejected. However, she bore no resentment towards Ye Fan. ¡­ ¡­ Since it was Friday, with just a few minutes left before the official end of work, many employees were sneaking out early. Ye Fan did not leave early. He had to wait for Li Zhaojun. When it was officially time to leave, Ye Fan left the office and took the elevator to the underground parking garage. While walking to his second-hand Citro?n, he caught sight of Li Zhaojun¡¯s Maserati President parked beside the exit, suggesting Li Zhaojun had come down early and was waiting for him at the exit. Ye Fan smirked coldly, thinking to himself, ¡°Hmph, she clearly doesn¡¯t trust me, going as far as to leave work early to guard the exit!¡± He got into his car, started it, and when he reached the exit, Ye Fan honked the horn, then continued driving out of the underground parking lot. Li Zhaojun started her car and followed him. Twenty minutes later, they arrived at the high-end retirement community for senior retired officials in Hua Hai¡¯s military district. Ye Fan, carrying a bag of longan, walked side by side with Li Zhaojun towards the small red-walled building. Neither of them spoke a word throughout. They climbed to the second-floor corridor, and as they turned towards Elder Li¡¯s residence at the end of the hallway, Ye Fan suddenly felt his right hand held by a smooth, tender hand that was slightly cool. Ye Fan instinctively wanted to shake off Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand. Turning his head to look at her, Li Zhaojun too was lifting her stunningly beautiful face to meet his gaze. Sear?h the ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After a moment of eye contact, Ye Fan turned his head back and continued walking. Li Zhaojun, holding onto Ye Fan¡¯s hand, followed closely behind. The jade-like hand was tender and delicate, bonelessly soft, with a hint of coolness perfect for the heat of summer. Breathing in the enticing fragrance of the woman, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but grasp Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand in return. Li Zhaojun¡¯s expression remained unchanged, her hand relaxed, allowing Ye Fan to continue holding it. Standing in front of Elder Li¡¯s suite with the door wide open, they saw Elder Li sitting in the living room getting his pulse read by a white-robed traditional Chinese medicine doctor. Ah, an outsider was present; the charade had been for nothing. Ye Fan let go of Li Zhaojun¡¯s jade hand, but she immediately grasped his hand again, indicating that they should still ¡°show¡± affection even in front of strangers. Ye Fan had no choice but to hold Li Zhaojun¡¯s hand again. After knocking on the door, Li Zhaojun sweetly called out, ¡°Grandfather.¡± Elder Li turned his head to look, first at Li Zhaojun and Ye Fan¡¯s faces, then his gaze fell to the hand in hand between them, and he couldn¡¯t help but smile happily, ¡°Girl, Ye Fan, you¡¯re here, come in quickly.¡± Well then, the act hadn¡¯t been completely in vain this time. Chapter 48 - 48 044 The Master of One ?48: Chapter 044 The Master of One 48: Chapter 044 The Master of One Entering the living room, Li Zhaojun had a sweet smile on her pretty face as she quickly walked up to Elder Li and, while stretching out both hands to massage his shoulders, she asked, ¡°Grandpa, how has your cough been recently?¡± ¡°Heh, much better,¡± Elder Li replied with a smile, then introduced the doctor who had been feeling his pulse, ¡°Dr. Chen, an expert from the National Healthcare Administration. Your grandpa¡¯s health is in his hands.¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s gaze became more serious as she took a moment to look at Dr. Chen. She saw that Dr. Chen was just over sixty years old, with an extraordinary demeanor, a ruddy complexion, bright eyes, black and shiny hair, sporting a goatee, although his eyebrows were somewhat graying. Li Zhaojun withdrew her hands from massaging Elder Li¡¯s shoulders, took two steps forward, and greeted Dr. Chen with due respect, ¡°Dr. Chen, hello.¡± This Dr. Chen was a physician from the National Healthcare Administration, belonging to a very small group of top-medical experts in Huaxia who were specifically responsible for the health issues of senior national leaders and high-ranking retired officials. In Huaxia, which high-ranking official wasn¡¯t over fifty years old, and some even in their sixties or seventies? They were well past the prime of their youth, yet their positions required them to always maintain vigorous energy to face the many daily work tasks, emergencies, and political struggles. Among the internal circles of Huaxia officials, there was almost a truism: a healthy body was the capital for promotion. How could they maintain energy levels comparable to younger people amid high-intensity work and high-pressure situations? The task fell on the experts of the National Healthcare Administration. As for the senior retired officials, the greatest victory was to outlive a formidable opponent and not to fall before the opponent did; otherwise, an early death could very likely lead to being overturned by an old rival. How to live longer with a frail body in old age, the task also fell on the experts of the National Healthcare Administration. Therefore, the status of the National Healthcare Administration¡¯s elites was exceptional, and even incumbent national leaders treated them with the utmost respect. If anyone foolish enough offended them, they could be finished off without even knowing how it happened. ¡°Hello. You must be Li Zhaojun, the top beauty of Hua Hai and the chairman of Emali Group?¡± Dr. Chen nodded indifferently. He remained seated, maintaining the posture of taking Elder Li¡¯s pulse and didn¡¯t change his attitude despite Li Zhaojun¡¯s status and respectful demeanor. Having said his piece to Li Zhaojun without waiting for her reply, he turned back to Elder Li and commented with a chuckle, ¡°Heh, Elder Li, your granddaughter has quite a reputation in Hua Hai.¡± And Li Zhaojun dared not show the slightest dissatisfaction. Elder Li shook his head and sighed, speaking in the tone of chatting with an old friend, ¡°Too much fame is more of a curse than a blessing!¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Dr. Chen nodded in agreement. In Huaxia, those high-profile ¡®second red generation¡¯ or ¡®third red generation¡¯ members, often in the newspapers and on the internet, mostly met with bad outcomes, either taking down their fathers or themselves. At this moment, Ye Fan finished arranging the longan and came over, calling out, ¡°Grandpa.¡± Elder Li responded to him with a smile and then introduced Ye Fan to Dr. Chen, saying, ¡°My son-in-law, Ye Fan. He¡¯s the one who taught me the massage technique I mentioned to you last time.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Dr. Chen exclaimed in surprise, immediately stood up, turned to face Ye Fan directly, and then formally said, ¡°Hello, Mr. Ye.¡± ¡°Heh, hello, Dr. Chen,¡± Ye Fan replied with a composed, light smile. Li Zhaojun was already stunned. Earlier, when she greeted Dr. Chen, he only turned his head to exchange a brief chat with her without even changing his sitting posture. Yet facing Ye Fan, Dr. Chen had actually stood up immediately, maintaining a formal stance and initiating the greeting himself. Wasn¡¯t the contrast too stark? Even Old Master Li was secretly astonished. He was a half-friend to Dr. Chen, often in contact and knew that Dr. Chen, although just a doctor, was indeed very proud. Even the Mayor of Hua Hai wouldn¡¯t necessarily receive a positive reaction from him. He heard Dr. Chen say to Ye Fan, ¡°Mr. Ye, the acupressure therapy method you taught Liu Tiezhu to use on Old Master Li is excellent, with remarkable effects. What is the name of this acupressure therapy method, and where did it come from?¡± ¡°Oh, I learned it unintentionally; it¡¯s an incomplete version, so I don¡¯t even know what it¡¯s called. Is that method really effective? Haha, that¡¯s great.¡± Ye Fan bluffed Dr. Chen. Ancient martial arts masters could unleash immense destructive power instantly in battle, often resulting in significant physical strain and injury. Additionally, ancient martial arts masters faced a lot of stress on their bodies during their training. Without promptly dealing with these body issues, accumulating over time, ancient martial artists absolutely couldn¡¯t live past fifty. Just like boxing masters or Muay Thai masters, they aged quickly and died young. However, in reality, ancient martial arts masters, barring severe injuries in battle, mostly had long lives, especially those above the level of concealed energy who lived exceedingly long, easily reaching their nineties or even beyond a hundred years of age. Therefore, most ancient martial arts masters were also masters of health preservation, especially those who had reached the level of concealed energy ¨C every one of them was definitely a health cultivation master. They had deep knowledge of every bone, muscle, meridian, and acupoint in the human body. Only with such knowledge could ancient martial arts masters unleash even more astonishing lethal power, and only with such knowledge could they keep their bodies as good as new and live a long life. The acupressure method Ye Fan had taught Liu Tiezhu last time was actually something he made up on the spot based on Old Master Li¡¯s condition. ¡°So it¡¯s an incomplete version,¡± said Dr. Chen with regretful exclamation. Then, he soberly and earnestly requested Ye Fan, ¡°Mr. Ye, is it possible for me to learn that acupressure therapy method for treating coughs?¡± ¡°Of course. I¡¯m not a doctor. If you learn this acupressure method and spread it, benefiting more people, I would be very happy,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, unconcerned. ¡°Thank you, Mr. Ye,¡± Dr. Chen exclaimed excitedly, ¡°Your generosity truly knows no bounds.¡± Ye Fan responded with a light laugh, ¡°Dr. Chen, you are too kind. It¡¯s just an incomplete prescription.¡± But Dr. Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chen spoke seriously, ¡°The ancients said that one who teaches a single word should be regarded as a teacher. Today you¡¯ve taught me an acupressure method, so you are my teacher. Please accept a bow from Chen Danggui.¡± Having said that, he really bowed deeply to Ye Fan. Li Zhaojun, who watched the entire process, was utterly flabbergasted. She looked at Ye Fan with amazed eyes, unable to understand how this man whom she thought of as lazy, ignorant, immature, superficial, and licentious could have learned an acupressure therapy method for treating coughs that made the proud Dr. Chen bow so humbly. A hint of surprise also appeared on Old Master Li¡¯s face. He burst into loud laughter, ¡°Haha, what a ¡®teacher of a single word,¡¯ what a ¡®teacher of a single prescription!''¡± His face was wrinkled with smiles, revealing a bit of pride, clearly proud of Ye Fan, his grandson-in-law. (If you like this book, please show your support for it. Adding it to your collection, voting for it, and tipping are all effective ways to support this book. Additionally, I have created a QQ reader group: 392346004. Everyone is welcome to join, discuss the plot and characters, or chat about anything you¡¯d like.) Chapter 49 - 49 045 Misunderstanding ?49: Chapter 045 Misunderstanding 49: Chapter 045 Misunderstanding The next morning, Ye Fan didn¡¯t wake from his lazy sleep until nearly ten o¡¯clock. He had intended to luxuriate in bed for a bit longer, but remembering he had to visit Tantai Wanrong today, he reluctantly got up. After washing up, having breakfast, and getting ready, it was past ten-thirty when Ye Fan finally got in his car and left home. On the way, he bought two to three pounds of longan fruit and upon arriving at the First People¡¯s Hospital, he headed straight to the special care ward¡¯s private elevator, knowing the route well. Pressing the elevator button, he stood waiting directly in front of the elevator doors. After a while, the elevator doors opened, and just as he was about to enter, a woman rushed out from inside. Immediately after, Ye Fan felt the right half of his body collide with the soft, fragrant figure of the woman. The woman had rushed out too hastily, and combined with Ye Fan¡¯s tall stature, there was no time to dodge, resulting in a collision. Ye Fan, of course, was unharmed, as immovable as a mountain, but the woman was jolted back several steps with a cry of surprise, bumping into the elevator again. Just as she seemed about to fall, Ye Fan quickly stepped forward to support her, grabbing her slender waist. ¡°Sorry, are you okay?¡± He apologized, noting how soft and thin her waist was. However, not daring to hold on for long, he steadied her, then immediately let go and took two gentlemanly steps back. With some distance between them and taking a careful look, he realized that the woman was actually a beauty. Her eyebrows were like delicate paintings, her skin as white and creamy as milk, and her figure tall and shapely. Sear?h the n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. A pity that on her tender white left ring finger was a diamond ring, clearly indicating she was a married woman ¨C and an attractive one around thirty at that. The beautiful married woman collected herself, glanced at Ye Fan with his tall frame, his eyes bright and intense, and his face firm. Her beautiful eyes lit up and she smiled, ¡°I¡¯m fine. Thank you.¡± Then she walked past Ye Fan, leaving behind a trail of pleasant fragrance as she exited the elevator. Ye Fan turned around, pressed the button for the ward¡¯s floor in the elevator, and admired the mature and sexy figure of the beautiful married woman as she departed. At the same time, he faintly overheard her quietly complaining as she walked, ¡°Why do they need to eat ice cream at this time, and specifically Haagen-Dazs, with a half-hour deadline¡­ It¡¯s like they¡¯re trying to kill me¡­¡± Soon arriving at the special care ward¡¯s floor, he exited the elevator, turned left, and immediately saw the two burly security guards. Although it had been a week, the guards still remembered Ye Fan dressed in his street-market clothes and didn¡¯t question him. They didn¡¯t ask the nurse to call ahead to Ward One for clearance, just let him sign in at the visitor¡¯s desk and let him through. Ye Fan approached Special Care Ward One, knocked on the door, and found it wasn¡¯t closed, so he pushed it open. ¡°Aunt Wanrong,¡± he called as he pushed open the door, but there was no response. He looked closer and found the bed empty, with no one to be seen. He stepped inside, closed the ward door behind him, and as his gaze swept around in search of her, he called out again, ¡°Aunt Wanrong, Aunt Wanrong.¡± No one was in the room or the small living area; however, the television was still on, playing a drama series titled ¡°Silent Separation.¡± ¡°Where did she go?¡± Ye Fan mumbled to himself and, after placing the longan fruit, he sat down on a chair to wait for Tantai Wanrong to return. After seven or eight minutes and no sign of Tantai Wanrong, he felt an urgent need to use the restroom, so he headed that way. As soon as he pushed the door open, he immediately saw a stunningly beautiful face, which gave him quite a start. ¡°Aunt, Aunt Wanrong, I didn¡¯t expect you to be in the restroom. I apologize,¡± Ye Fan quickly explained. Tantai Wanrong was dressed in a hospital gown, with her hair loose and slightly damp, hanging behind her head. Her fair face was flushed with a faint blush, evidently from just having taken a bath, and her feet were in a pair of purple woven slippers. She was clearly taken aback for a moment, then regained her composure. With a slight curve to her lips, her beautiful eyes revealed a disarming cold smile. Ye Fan¡¯s heart ¡°clenched¡± at once, and he immediately knew that Tantai Wanrong had really misunderstood. All he heard was Tantai Wanrong already saying coldly, ¡°Ye Fan, I was wrong about you. I didn¡¯t expect you to be this kind of person, I¡¯m so disappointed in you! You once saved me and also saved Yaoyao, I am indeed grateful to you, but there are some things that can¡¯t be forgiven! Go away, from now on you can ask me to do three things for you, but apart from that, I don¡¯t want to see you or hear your voice again!¡± Ye Fan felt extremely uncomfortable inside when he heard Tantai Wanrong misunderstood him for peeking, and he hurriedly approached her to explain. But Tantai Wanrong misunderstood even further, thinking Ye Fan was going to lay hands on her, she immediately commanded with a frosty dignity, ¡°Stop right there! Ye Fan, it¡¯s not too late to rein in at the brink of the precipice, I won¡¯t hold you accountable. But if you dare touch a hair on my head, I will make sure you die without a place to be buried!¡± Ye Fan had to immediately stop, his face flushed with urgency as he said, ¡°Auntie Wanrong, you¡¯ve misunderstood me. Listen to me explain, I really didn¡¯t¡­¡± ¡°Didn¡¯t? Then how come you showed up here when I was taking a bath?¡± Tantai Wanrong scoffed coldly. Ye Fan said anxiously, ¡°That¡¯s because I was in a hurry to pee, so I was planning to go into the restroom, but I had no idea you were inside taking a bath.¡± ¡°Hmm, you needed to pee?¡± Tantai Wanrong sneered with suspicion, clearly not believing a word, ¡°Don¡¯t make it such a coincidence! You obviously were peeking! Do you think I¡¯m a naive little girl that can be easily tricked?¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but widen his eyes; he couldn¡¯t clear things up even if he had ten mouths. Seeing Ye Fan not speaking, Tantai Wanrong sneered, ¡°No more excuses now that I¡¯ve hit the mark? Just go, I don¡¯t want to see you anymore!¡± With that, she turned her back to him, exposing her graceful figure, but at this moment, Ye Fan had no interest in admiring it. ¡°Auntie Wanrong, I know you¡¯re hot-headed right now and not in the mood to listen to my explanation,¡± Ye Fan said earnestly, ¡°But, I must stress that this was absolutely an accident. I swear.¡± Tantai Wanrong did not turn around or speak, merely responding with a derisive sneer, clearly not buying Ye Fan¡¯s words. Being wrongly accused felt terrible, especially by someone he cared about a bit, someone who didn¡¯t trust his character¡ªthe feeling was even worse, almost angering him. Ye Fan took a deep breath and said, ¡°Auntie Wanrong, I¡¯m leaving. If you say we won¡¯t meet again, then so be it. Thanks for your help. As for your offer to do three more favors for me, ha, there¡¯s hardly anyone in the world who could do what I, Ye Fan, can¡¯t do myself. I must emphasize one last time, I definitely did not intentionally peek at you.¡± Having said this, Ye Fan turned and left. Reaching the door of the hospital room, Ye Fan deliberately slowed his footsteps a bit, waiting for Tantai Wanrong to change her mind, but, in the end, he didn¡¯t wait for her to ask him to stay. ¡°Well, I guess that¡¯s where our fate ends,¡± he said to himself with a wry smile. Exiting Tantai Wanrong¡¯s hospital room, Ye Fan walked to the elevator. Just as he was about to press the elevator button, the elevator door happened to open, and a scorching figure bolted out. This time, Ye Fan reacted quickly, immediately dodging to the left to avoid the fiery figure. After dashing out of the elevator, the figure stopped, then turned to Ye Fan and said, ¡°Sorry, I almost bumped into you¡­ Oh, it¡¯s you?¡± Upon closer inspection, Ye Fan realized that this fiery figure was the same beautiful woman he had accidentally bumped into when taking the elevator on his way up. ¡°Mm,¡± responded Ye Fan, with no mood to engage, utterly uninterested in entertaining any sort of beauty at the moment and so he directly entered the elevator. Watching the elevator doors closing, the beautiful lady swung her fist at the doors in frustration, huffing, ¡°So full of yourself, acting all high and mighty, daring to ignore the boundless charm of Zhao the great beauty! If I run into you again, you¡¯ll see! Hmph!!!¡± After fuming for a while, she turned and walked towards the hospital room, entering the special care unit number one, which was Tantai Wanrong¡¯s room. Chapter 50 - 50 046 Trapped ?50: Chapter 046 Trapped 50: Chapter 046 Trapped The beautiful young woman entered Tantai Wanrong¡¯s hospital room and immediately put on a charming smile, ¡°Giggle, Wanrong, I¡¯m back!¡± ¡°Mm.¡± Tantai Wanrong looked up and responded, sitting on the edge of the hospital bed. Seeing that Tantai Wanrong¡¯s reaction was indifferent, seemingly a bit unhappy, the young woman couldn¡¯t help asking, ¡°Wanrong, what¡¯s wrong? You seem unhappy?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nothing.¡± Tantai Wanrong forced a smile, ¡°Tian Ya, thank you for going to the trouble of buying me ice cream.¡± ¡°Hehe, I braved the scorching hot sun to buy this for you. You better try it before it melts.¡± Zhao Tianya proudly took out an ice cream from the plastic food bag and offered it to Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong glanced at the ice cream, shook her head, and said, ¡°I don¡¯t feel like eating right now. Can you put it in the fridge for me?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± Zhao Tianya agreed and turned around to store the bag of ice cream in the freezer. Zhao Tianya was, in fact, Tantai Wanrong¡¯s best girlfriend, who paid her a visit over the weekend. After chatting for a while, Tantai Wanrong wanted to take a bath and asked Zhao Tianya to buy ice cream, playfully giving her a half-hour limit to return with H?agen-Dazs. Zhao Tianya, in her haste, forgot to close the hospital room door. Plus, the restroom door couldn¡¯t be locked from the inside since she had been the last one to close it upon leaving. And it just happened that Ye Fan came to visit. Since the door was ajar, he entered directly and waited in the room for seven or eight minutes without seeing Tantai Wanrong. It was when he urgently needed to use the restroom and entered, that he happened to encounter Tantai Wanrong coming out after her bath, leading to the misunderstanding. After Zhao Tianya put away the ice cream, she turned around and said to Tantai Wanrong with a coquettish smile, ¡°I¡¯m dying from the heat, all sweaty and sticky. No, I need to take a bath too.¡± Saying this, she headed towards the restroom. Suddenly, Tantai Wanrong leaped from the bed and blocked Zhao Tianya, ¡°You can¡¯t take a bath!¡± Suspecting that Ye Fan had peeked at her during her bath, she was now particularly sensitive about bathing; Zhao Tianya¡¯s mention of taking a bath somewhat threw her off balance. ¡°Why not?¡± Zhao Tianya asked, confused. Tantai Wanrong had regained her composure, but to avoid giving anything away, she said stiffly, ¡°Because I¡¯ve just used the tub.¡± ¡°Giggle, my Miss Tantai, since when did you become so fastidious? It¡¯s not like we haven¡¯t shared a bath once or twice,¡± Zhao Tianya joked playfully. ¡°No, not this time!¡± Tantai Wanrong refused, her tone a bit harsh. Unexpectedly, Zhao Tianya suddenly put on a melodramatic act of a nagging, whining woman, ¡°Wuwuwu, Tantai Wanrong, you heartless thing! I went through so much trouble to buy you ice cream under the fiery sun. Now that I¡¯m hot and covered in sweat, I want to take a bath, and you actually refuse! S~ea??h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Are you hiding a man in the tub, afraid that I¡¯ll find out?!¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s face changed at the mention of ¡°man,¡± which hit a nerve. However, she quickly feigned anger and said, ¡°Zhao Tianya, you can eat whatever you like, but you can¡¯t just say anything you want. Don¡¯t take your jokes too far!¡± Seeing that Tantai Wanrong seemed genuinely upset, Zhao Tianya quickly tried to appease her with a laugh, ¡°Hehe, Wanrong, don¡¯t be mad. You know how I speak my mind in private. Fine, if you don¡¯t want me to take a bath, I won¡¯t. I¡¯ll just go out and enjoy the air conditioning; it¡¯s pretty cool too.¡± Having said that, she turned to leave for the small living room to rest. Tantai Wanrong felt she had been too harsh and said, ¡°Wait. It¡¯s not that I won¡¯t let you shower, but you¡¯ve just come back, drenched in sweat. Taking a shower right away is very likely to cause problems. It¡¯s merely a cold if we are lucky, but if it triggers a heart problem, the consequences would be unthinkable.¡± She knew her best friend very well, who was quite cunning. If she insisted on not letting Tianya shower, she surely would become suspicious. In that case, she could only let Zhao Tianya shower. In fact, there was no man inside. ¡°Hehe, I just knew our Wanrong wouldn¡¯t be that heartless,¡± Zhao Tianya immediately turned back and said, ¡°You¡¯re right. I¡¯ll cool down first, then take a shower.¡± With that, she pulled a chair over in front of the hospital bed and sat down. Tantai Wanrong also returned to sit in front of the hospital bed. Tantai Wanrong was somewhat distracted, wondering whether Ye Fan had secretly peeked at her or not. About two or three minutes later, Zhao Tianya called out, ¡°Hey, Wanrong, why are you just sitting there and staring at me?¡± ¡°Haha, I was just admiring your figure and got a little lost in thought,¡± Tantai Wanrong regained her composure and said nonchalantly. ¡°Of course!¡± Zhao Tianya¡¯s proud voice came through, ¡°Although I, Zhao Tianya, am already married and have a daughter, my figure is definitely no worse than a twenty-year-old girl. In fact, it¡¯s even better! You wouldn¡¯t believe how many men drool over my body behind my back.¡± As she spoke, she stood up, struck a few seductive poses in front of Tantai Wanrong to show off her figure, and then laughed in a boastful tone, ¡°Sexy, aren¡¯t I? Tempting, right? Are you falling for me?¡± A multitude of black lines appeared at the back of Tantai Wanrong¡¯s head. Zhao Tianya was really overdoing the flirting. Therefore, she shook her head and said, ¡°Okay, I get it. Be serious.¡± Zhao Tianya giggled coquettishly, ¡°There are no strangers here, just you and me. Why so serious?¡± Tantai Wanrong smiled wryly without a reply. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯ll tell you, I just had a little romantic encounter,¡± Zhao Tianya laughed and said, ¡°When I was taking the elevator down to buy you ice cream, I was in such a hurry that I accidentally bumped into a handsome young man¡­¡± Tantai Wanrong blushed on Zhao Tianya¡¯s behalf and interrupted her, ¡°Okay, I got it, enough. Aren¡¯t you embarrassed?¡± Unexpectedly, instead of keeping quiet, Zhao Tianya giggled and said, ¡°I just want to talk about it. You must be envious of my charm with men. I¡¯m going to irritate you. I may not match you in work abilities, but when it comes to attracting men, I¡¯m far stronger! The fact that I got married before you is the biggest proof.¡± Then, she continued on the topic of the handsome young man, ¡°Sigh, when I bumped into that young man, it felt like bumping into a solid mountain; he didn¡¯t move an inch, while I was pushed back several steps and nearly stumbled. At that moment, the young man suddenly stepped forward, wrapped his arm around my slender waist, and steadied me. You don¡¯t know, the strength and steadiness of his arms gave me such a profound sense of security¡­¡± Zhao Tianya kept on talking incessantly, ¡°Then, the young man didn¡¯t take advantage of me. After steadying me, he immediately retreated two gentlemanly steps. I looked up and my eyes lit up. The young man was tall, with a vitality about him, radiating a strong and vigorous presence. His eyes were so bright, as if they were gleaming, and although his face wasn¡¯t the handsomest, it had a ruggedness about it, strong and chiseled, giving a great sense of security.¡± From her tone, she nearly made Ye Fan out to be a male god who could make thousands of young girls scream. Chapter 51 - 51 047 Hide and Seek ?51: Chapter 047 Hide and Seek 51: Chapter 047 Hide and Seek Tantai Wanrong saw she could no longer stop Zhao Tianya, so she simply added fuel to the fire, ¡°And then? Did you shamelessly ask that handsome young man for his phone number?¡± ¡°Ah, that¡¯s my regret.¡± Zhao Tianya pretended to sigh, ¡°I was busy buying you ice cream at the time, otherwise I would have definitely talked with him a bit more. With my beauty¡¯s charm, he would have been begging me for my number, so why should I have lowered myself to ask him for it?¡± ¡°Tantai Wanrong, did you hear that? For your ice cream, I missed a chance with a handsome young man. You should compensate me in the future.¡± Tantai Wanrong said irritably, ¡°Compensate my ass! You already have a daughter, and you¡¯re still so flirtatious! Aren¡¯t you ashamed?¡± ¡°Giggles, love is the best beauty elixir. That young man was quite a fresh-face. Though nothing serious could have developed, teasing him for fun now and then would have been a joy.¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed, ¡°In that case, I inadvertently saved a pure young man from you. Otherwise, that ¡®handsome young man¡¯ would definitely have been corrupted by you.¡± ¡°Hmph, if I run into him again, I¡¯ll surely make him cry for his mommy!¡± Zhao Tianya said indignantly, ¡°I ran into him again just now, and when I spoke to him, he ignored me, daring to overlook the charm of Zhao the beauty!¡± Tantai Wanrong couldn¡¯t help but pray for that ¡°handsome young man,¡± hoping he wouldn¡¯t run into Zhao Tianya again. Ye Fan, feeling wronged, took the elevator down. As the elevator doors opened, he immediately saw a beautiful, delicate face on a small bald person. It was Qin Mengyao. Qin Mengyao was humming a song while waiting for the elevator, but when she saw Ye Fan, her pretty face immediately turned sour. Seeing Qin Mengyao blocking the elevator door, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Excuse me, could you move aside?¡± Qin Mengyao stepped back, and Ye Fan walked out. However, Qin Mengyao did not follow him into the elevator immediately. Ye Fan didn¡¯t pay her any mind and headed straight for the parking lot. Qin Mengyao followed. Heading towards the inpatient building, Qin Mengyao called out, ¡°Hey, let¡¯s have a talk over here.¡± Ye Fan turned a deaf ear and continued towards the parking lot. Qin Mengyao, somewhat angrily, called out again. Yet, Ye Fan still ignored her, not slowing his pace. The next moment, Qin Mengyao suddenly rushed in front of him, spreading her arms to block Ye Fan, and demanded, ¡°I told you we need to talk, why are you pretending not to hear?!¡± ¡°I heard you, but I didn¡¯t think there was anything to talk about.¡± Ye Fan said indifferently, his mood was off. ¡°I say there is!¡± Qin Mengyao said stubbornly. Ye Fan scoffed with a sneer, ¡°Alright, if you have something to say, just say it. I don¡¯t have time to waste on you.¡± Qin Mengyao¡¯s face flared up with anger, she clenched her teeth but didn¡¯t speak. Ye Fan waited a few seconds, and seeing that Qin Mengyao remained silent, he stepped to the left to bypass her. Qin Mengyao immediately moved to the left to block Ye Fan. ¡°Are you going to speak or not?¡± Ye Fan said sternly. Qin Mengyao looked around, huffed angrily, and said, ¡°Ye Fan, I won¡¯t let you covet my aunt! If you really must repay kindness with betrayal, then hit on me instead, I¡¯ll let you woo me.¡± ¡°Ha ha ha¡­¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, he looked down at Qin Mengyao, his gaze filled with mockery, ¡°I¡¯m not interested in nuns.¡± After that, he shifted his step rapidly to the right, instantly bypassed Qin Mengyao, and then continued to stride toward the parking lot. ¡°Ye Fan, you stop right there!¡± Qin Mengyao shrieked, ¡°Who is a nun?! Who is a nun?!¡± Ye Fan halted, but did not turn around, speaking indifferently, ¡°You go back and tell your aunt that I have thought of the three things she promised. After she completes these three things, she will owe me nothing, and we will be unrelated thereafter.¡± ¡°Which three?¡± Qin Mengyao hurriedly asked. Hearing that Ye Fan was about to sever ties with her aunt made her overjoyed, even forgetting the rage she had felt from being humiliated by Ye Fan just moments ago. Ye Fan sneered and said, ¡°First, help me donate ten thousand to the Red Cross. Second, help me donate another ten thousand to a remote mountain area school. Third, keep you in check and stop bothering me!¡± Having said that, he walked away without caring what Qin Mengyao was yelling behind him, and strode toward the parking lot. ¡­ ¡­ Qin Mengyao returned to Special Care Room One, both joyful and resentful, ready to share the good news with Tantai Wanrong. However, seeing Zhao Tianya there, she had to hold it in for the time being. Half an hour later, Zhao Tianya left because she had other matters to attend to. Qin Mengyao finally got the chance to speak. She giggled lightly, walked briskly to the bedside, and smilingly said to Tantai Wanrong, ¡°Aunt, Ye Fan just told me some things.¡± ¡°What things?¡± Tantai Wanrong took Qin Mengyao¡¯s hand, smiling affectionately as she asked. With a twirl of her dark eyes, Qin Mengyao said, ¡°He said that as long as you help him with two things, you will no longer owe him.¡± Tantai Wanrong gracefully shifted her sitting position and asked with a concealed smile, ¡°Hehe, which two?¡± ¡°He said if you help him donate ten thousand to the Red Cross and another ten thousand to a remote mountain area school, you¡¯ll have repaid his favors,¡± explained Qin Mengyao, ¡°and he will not trouble you thereafter.¡± ¡°Just these two?¡± Although Tantai Wanrong maintained a smile, her gaze hardened as she stared intensively at Qin Mengyao¡¯s eyes. Under Tantai Wanrong¡¯s gaze, Qin Mengyao looked down, feeling melancholic, and said, ¡°There¡¯s one more.¡± She then quickly looked up, her tone somewhat aggrieved, ¡°The third isn¡¯t really a task. He even said you should keep me in line and stop me from bothering him. As if I bother him. He is always eyeing you, Aunt, with those lustful eyes¡­¡± Upon hearing this, Tantai Wanrong¡¯s smile faded, and she pondered silently, ¡°Listening to these three conditions, it¡¯s clear they are said in anger. Could it be that I really misunderstood him?¡± At that moment, Qin Mengyao cheerfully said, ¡°Aunt, I will go donate ten thousand to both the Red Cross and the remote mountain area school today and repay his favors for you!¡± Tantai Wanrong lifted her eyes, staring at Qin Mengyao for a good while, which made Qin Mengyao anxious and a bit scared as she timidly said, ¡°Aunt, why are you looking at me like that?¡± ¡°Yaoyao, how old are you this year?¡± Tantai Wanrong asked softly. Qin Mengyao replied somewhat puzzled, ¡°I¡¯m sixteen. You just organized a birthday party for me two months ago. Did you forget?¡± ¡°Yes, time flies, and you¡¯re already sixteen, and you have your own ID now,¡± Tantai Wanrong nodded slowly. The next moment, tears streamed down from her beautiful eyes, rolling down her pale cheeks, and fell onto the blanket. Seeing this, Qin Mengyao immediately burst into tears, crying frantically, ¡°Wuuw, Aunt, what did I do wrong? Tell me, I will change immediately. Wuuw, Aunt, please don¡¯t cry, it hurts me, wuuw¡­¡± Tantai Wanrong sniffed her slightly red nose, half-lifted her face, and said, ¡°You didn¡¯t do anything wrong; it¡¯s your aunt who¡¯s at fault. I raised you to be selfish, ungrateful, self-centered, and rebellious. sea??h th§× ¦Çov§×lFire .net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. It¡¯s all my fault.¡± ¡°Aunt!¡± Qin Mengyao threw herself into Tantai Wanrong¡¯s arms, sobbing heavily, ¡°I realize my mistakes, I will change, I definitely will, wuuw¡­¡± Chapter 52 - 52 048 Whisper ?52: Chapter 048 Whisper 52: Chapter 048 Whisper Ye Fan walked to the parking lot, got into his used Citro?n, and was about to start the car when he suddenly remembered something. So, he paused, took out his mobile phone, and deleted Tantai Wanrong¡¯s phone number. After leaving Hua Hai City First People¡¯s Hospital, Ye Fan didn¡¯t head straight home. Instead, he drove around aimlessly to clear his mind. Unintentionally, he drove into a relatively narrow street where he felt a little hungry. Just by the roadside, there was a small noodle stall. So, he parked his car and went down to have some noodles. The stall wasn¡¯t very large; excluding the kitchen area, there were only six tables available for dining. Moreover, these were not the usual round or octagonal tables but small rectangular ones, each accommodating only four people. However, despite its small size, the stall was kept neat and clean. ¡°Big brother, what kind of noodles would you like?¡± As soon as Ye Fan entered, a young girl about seventeen or eighteen came forward to ask. The girl was dressed simply and was about 1.6 meters tall. She had a fresh, clear face with delicate features and sported a long, shiny black braid. Dangling from her white, attractive earlobes were a pair of yellow-green porcelain earrings. She had a pure and honest smile on her face. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but smile and asked, ¡°What noodles do you have here?¡± ¡°We have beef noodles, brisket noodles, fresh fish meat noodles, pork noodles, pig¡¯s trotter noodles¡­¡± The girl was quick-witted and familiar with the store¡¯s offerings, rattling off nearly ten types of noodles to Ye Fan as if she were reciting a rapid rhyme. Ye Fan laughed and said, ¡°All right, give me a serving of beef noodles and a serving of fresh fish meat noodles.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The girl responded, ¡°Big brother, which one do you want to take away?¡± Ye Fan laughed and said, ¡°I¡¯ll eat both here. My appetite is big; one serving won¡¯t fill me up.¡± However, the girl suggested, ¡°Big brother, if you¡¯re worried that one serving might not be enough because of your big appetite, you can add an extra two or three liangs of plain noodles instead of ordering two servings. It¡¯ll save money.¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but laugh, ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re quite thoughtful. But by suggesting this, aren¡¯t you afraid your boss will earn less and fire you?¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m not afraid. This stall is owned by my family. How could my dad ever send me away?¡± The girl said with a crisp laugh. Ye Fan laughed heartily and said, ¡°Even so, I still want two servings. One flavor won¡¯t suit me. Money is no issue, go ahead.¡± ¡°Okay.¡± The girl responded and then turned to enter the kitchen. Ye Fan casually chose a table to sit at. He was not the only one eating in the stall; there were three or four other people. After sitting down, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but think of the misunderstanding with Tantai Wanrong, and his mood became gloomy and stifled again. If it had been anyone else, he wouldn¡¯t have cared about the misunderstanding. But for Tantai Wanrong, he had some feelings for her, even some plans, so being misunderstood by her made him quite uncomfortable. After a few minutes, the store owner¡¯s daughter and the store owner each brought over a steaming bowl of noodles to Ye Fan¡¯s table. ¡°Young man, please enjoy,¡± the store owner said to the distracted Ye Fan. Ye Fan snapped back to reality and glanced at the store owner. The man was nearly fifty years old, about 1.7 meters tall, and rather thin, possibly from long hours over the stove, which had left his skin somewhat ruddy. With just a glance, Ye Fan nodded at the store owner and said, ¡°Thank you.¡± Expecting the store owner to immediately leave, Ye Fan instead heard him say, ¡°Young man, you seem unhappy.¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s nothing. Thanks for the concern,¡± Ye Fan replied with a faint smile. The store owner smiled and said, ¡°Young people should not have anything to be unhappy about. Youth is full of limitless possibilities. As the saying goes, ¡®don¡¯t underestimate the young for being poor.¡¯ As long as you strive bravely, you can overcome any obstacle.¡± ¡°Hehe, the boss makes sense,¡± Ye Fan chuckled. The store owner smiled back but said no more, turning around to head back to the kitchen. However, his daughter took a seat across from Ye Fan. At that moment, there were no customers coming in or leaving after finishing their meal, so the store owner¡¯s daughter was free. ¡°Hehe, big brother, can you really eat two portions of noodles by yourself?¡± the store owner¡¯s daughter asked with a playful laugh. ¡°Of course I can,¡± Ye Fan replied with a light smile while eating his noodles. ¡°What¡¯s your name? It¡¯s a waste for you to be here helping your dad sell noodles.¡± ¡°Hehe, my name is Li Zhaojun,¡± the store owner¡¯s daughter replied vivaciously. Ye Fan suddenly forgot about his noodles, a piece hanging from his mouth as he looked up at the store owner¡¯s daughter in mild surprise. Realizing he was still holding noodles in his mouth, he quickly bit them off and swallowed. ¡°Your name is Li Zhaojun?¡± Ye Fan asked, feeling a strange sensation. What would it be like if his wife, Li Zhaojun, were replaced with this Li Zhaojun? ¡°Yeah.¡± Li Zhaojun smiled, ¡°My dad named me after the ancient beauty Wang Zhaojun. Too bad I¡¯m not a beauty and let him down.¡± Ye Fan laughed, ¡°No way, you are beautiful. When you grow up, you¡¯ll definitely be a great beauty. You have to have confidence in yourself.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Li Zhaojun replied, and then giggled again. Ye Fan asked, ¡°Are you not in school?¡± ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s summer vacation now,¡± Li Zhaojun responded with a cheerful laugh. ¡°I¡¯ve just finished my first year of university.¡± ¡°Oh, I see,¡± Ye Fan laughed. ¡°I forgot it¡¯s the summer break.¡± At that moment, two customers finished their meals and asked for the bill. Li Zhaojun quickly told Ye Fan, ¡°Can¡¯t chat now, gotta work.¡± ¡°Okay,¡± Ye Fan nodded. Li Zhaojun walked away, and Ye Fan focused on eating his noodles. Li Zhaojun, busy with making change and clearing tables while new customers came in, didn¡¯t get another chance to talk with Ye Fan. Ye Fan finished his first bowl of fresh fish noodles, and as he started on his second bowl of beef noodles, he suddenly noticed a slight dimming at the entrance. He looked up to see five or six men with a delinquent look standing at the doorway. ¡°Bang! Bang! Bang!¡± The open wooden door made a loud thunderous noise. The other customers in the store screamed in shock, and Li Zhaojun also screamed in surprise. The blonde hooligan who had slammed the door shouted arrogantly, ¡°Guys, we¡¯re here on business. Anyone who doesn¡¯t want to die, scram!¡± The other five customers in the store, pale with fright, stood up and ran out without even paying. Seeing the customers fleeing in terror, the six hooligans laughed triumphantly. However, Ye Fan remained seated, calmly continuing to eat his noodles. ¡°Brother Fei, there¡¯s still a kid here who isn¡¯t scramming!¡± one of the hooligans, with a blue snake tattooed on his arm, pointed at Ye Fan and shouted. The leader of the hooligans glanced at Ye Fan, noticed his tall and robust physique which seemed troublesome to provoke, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s leave him be; we¡¯re here for Old Li!¡± ¡°Right, right, we¡¯re here for Old Li. We¡¯ll ignore the others,¡± the other three hooligans quickly agreed. It appeared they were also wary of Ye Fan, who looked strong and capable, preferring not to stir trouble despite their numerical advantage. (Favorite, recommend, and support the novel through gifts are appreciated. Join fellow readers¡¯ QQ: 392346004 to discuss and chat about plot and other updates. Enter the group using the main character¡¯s name ¡°Ye Fan¡± or the author¡¯s name. Thank you for your support.) S§×ar?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Chapter 53 - 53 049 Scare ?53: Chapter 049 Scare 53: Chapter 049 Scare ¡°You bunch of bullies, here to cause trouble again!¡± At that moment, Li Zhaojun stepped in front of those six thugs, chest out, angrily pointing at them as she cursed. ¡°Leave immediately, or I¡¯ll call the police!¡± With that, she quickly pulled out a smartphone, poised to make an emergency call. ¡°Ha ha, what a feisty little girl. Big brother likes!¡± The leading thug, called Brother Fei, chuckled mockingly with the demeanor of a classic hoodlum, stepping forward to try and touch Zhao Jun¡¯s fair little chin. Li Zhaojun screamed in fear and retreated several steps, her face losing all color. The shop owner stepped forward, putting his daughter behind him. Brother Fei stood firm, arrogantly saying, ¡°Go ahead, call the cops. Last time you did, we were totally fine. If you dare to call them again, we¡¯ll smash your shop to bits!¡± Brother Fei¡¯s five thug comrades shouted, ¡°Brother Fei, let¡¯s smash the shop first!¡± ¡°Right, right, smash the shop first!¡± ¡°Humph, humph, we¡¯re the only ones who get to threaten people¡ªno one dares threaten us! They¡¯re really asking for it!¡± They were about to wreck the shop. The shop owner hurriedly stepped forward to stop them, pleading, ¡°Don¡¯t smash it¡ªwithout the shop, where would I find the money to pay your protection fees? Please¡­ don¡¯t smash it¡­¡± In the midst of trying to stop them, the shop owner was kicked away by one of the thugs and fell to the ground. Li Zhaojun cried out, ¡°Dad,¡± and immediately rushed over to help up the shop owner. At that moment, Brother Fei called out, ¡°Brothers, don¡¯t smash it yet.¡± The five thugs then stopped, looking sullen and not yet over their anger. Brother Fei said with satisfaction, ¡°Old Li, dare you call the police again?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t dare, wouldn¡¯t dare,¡± the shop owner replied in fear. ¡°And you, pretty little thing?¡± Brother Fei turned to Li Zhaojun with a smile. Li Zhaojun snorted and defiantly said, ¡°If you dare smash the shop, I will definitely call the police. If the police don¡¯t arrest you, I¡¯ll post it online! I don¡¯t believe you¡¯re truly above the law!¡± ¡°Ha ha ha,¡± Brother Fei laughed out loud, his five cronies joining in the wild laughter. After a good while, Brother Fei, clutching his stomach, said, ¡°I¡¯m dying of laughter, laughing so hard it hurts. Little beauty, you¡¯re so cute. Big brother has taken a liking to you. If you become my girl, not only will I not collect protection money from you anymore, but I¡¯ll also send folks to eat at your place every day.¡± ¡°In your dreams!¡± Li Zhaojun screamed, both embarrassed and furious, ¡°Look in the mirror, why don¡¯t you? A toad lusting after swan meat!¡± ¡°Brother Fei, she called you a toad!¡± shouted the thug with the green snake tattoo on his arm. The other thugs cursed in retaliation, ¡°Asking for death, daring to call our boss a toad! Let¡¯s take turns with this little girl first, see if her swan meat is any good, or just garbage!¡± Brother Fei was clearly angered too, snorting furiously, ¡°Today I¡¯m going to have a taste of this swan meat!¡± After speaking, he turned to the shop owner and demanded, ¡°Old Li, what about the 100,000 you owe us in protection fees?!¡± ¡°When did I ever owe you 100,000 in protection fees?¡± the shop owner asked in shock and fear, ¡°I only owe you 4,500 in protection fees.¡± ¡°Humph, do you think you don¡¯t have to pay interest on the money you owe me? Do you take me for a charity?¡± Brother Fei spoke viciously, ¡°My interest rates are very high, ten percent, compounded. You owe me at least 30,000 in protection fees. Plus, last time your daughter dared to call the cops, making us spend a night in jail. Between the six of us, the compensation for emotional distress and loss of earnings comes to at least 60,000 more! If it¡¯s not 100,000, could it be 90,000 you owe me?¡± ¡°You¡¯re extorting me!¡± Li Zhaojun exclaimed. Brother Fei ignored Li Zhaojun and continued to the shop owner, ¡°I want the money now, hand it over!¡± With that, he reached out his hand and shook it, acting like a rapacious landlord collecting debts. ¡°I, I don¡¯t have 100,000,¡± the shop owner said fearfully. ¡°Humph, I know you don¡¯t. So, use your daughter as collateral!¡± Brother Fei laughed obscenely, ¡°Brothers, tie up Old Li¡¯s daughter. Tonight I¡¯ll have my fun. After I¡¯ve had my way, you all can have a go too!¡± The five thugs behind immediately called out excitedly, ready to grab Li Zhaojun. At this point, Ye Fan, who had calmly finished his noodles, finally stood up, walked to the center, and blocked the five thugs. ¡°Enough, it¡¯s okay to scare someone, but keep your hands to yourselves. Do you think this is a Hong Kong triad movie?¡± Ye Fan said indifferently. ¡°Watching too many triad movies made you brain-dead, didn¡¯t it?¡± ¡°Kid, I advise you not to meddle in other people¡¯s business!¡± the blonde thug threatened arrogantly, pointing at Ye Fan¡¯s nose. Ye Fan smirked coldly, ¡°I¡¯m meddling.¡± After speaking, he suddenly made a move, clamping down on the blonde thug¡¯s hand that was pointing at his nose, then squeezing slightly. ¡°Crack~¡± A sound of breaking bones echoed, and the blonde thug screamed in pain. Rather than stopping, Ye Fan twisted the blonde thug¡¯s hand even further. The blonde thug screamed again as his wrist was twisted out of its socket. However, his screams came to an abrupt end as he was kicked away by Ye Fan, rolling on the ground, groaning in pain and powerless. sea??h th§× n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The whole process was swift, nobody expected Ye Fan to act as soon as he said he would, not at all intimidated by the group¡¯s numbers. Fei Ge finally reacted, his face turning red as he yelled out, ¡°Brothers, attack, let¡¯s take him down together!¡± Roaring, Fei Ge and the remaining four thugs pounced towards Ye Fan. Ye Fan sneered and met them head-on. Bang bang bang bang¡­ Ahhh ahhh ahhh ahhh¡­ Before Li Zhaojun could fully process what was happening, she saw the five ruffians flying away, rolling on the ground, while Ye Fan stood calmly in the center, as if he had never thrown a punch. ¡°Wow, so amazing!¡± the girl exclaimed with wide eyes, looking at Ye Fan¡¯s tall figure and shouting excitedly. Fei Ge and the others didn¡¯t care about their pain and got up. ¡°Let¡¯s go!¡± Fei Ge shouted. Thus, the six of them scrambled to flee. Then, a blurry shadow flashed by; Ye Fan had already intercepted them at the door, causing the six thugs to hastily retreat in fear. ¡°You, what else do you want?¡± Fei Ge said, trying to sound fierce but inwardly panicked, ¡°Don¡¯t think we can¡¯t beat you, if it comes down to it, the six of us can crush you!¡± Ye Fan replied indifferently, ¡°I don¡¯t want anything else. But you¡¯ve smashed up quite a few things here, shouldn¡¯t there be compensation?¡± Immediately, Fei Ge turned and demanded fiercely from the shop owner, ¡°Old Li, how much money should we pay for the stuff we broke?¡± ¡°No need to pay, no need to pay,¡± the shop owner called out fearfully, waving his hands. Fei Ge turned triumphantly to Ye Fan, ¡°Did you hear that? He said there¡¯s no need for compensation.¡± ¡°But I want you to compensate,¡± Ye Fan, a bit disappointed by the shop owner¡¯s timidity, insisted now that he had spoken up, ¡°Take out all the money you have. If you¡¯re short a single penny, I¡¯ll break your dog legs!¡± Fei Ge¡¯s face twitched, realizing that with their number, they still couldn¡¯t win another fight, and that this meddler was very willing to go through with his threats; after all, he had effortlessly crushed Yellow Hair¡¯s hand. ¡°So I will compensate,¡± he said. With that, he laid out his money on the table, and the other five thugs, reluctant and unwilling, also took out their money and placed it on the table. Ye Fan glanced at the money on the table, estimating that it was several thousand, surely enough to compensate for the shop¡¯s damages. ¡°You can step aside now, right?¡± Fei Ge said. Ye Fan calmly responded, ¡°Not yet.¡± Fei Ge¡¯s face changed as he cursed, ¡°You¡¯re not keeping your word!¡± Ye Fan said coolly, ¡°Did I ever say you could leave after compensating? I was dealing with the shopkeeper¡¯s issue just now, now it¡¯s my turn.¡± Chapter 54 - 54 050 Departure ?54: Chapter 050: Departure 54: Chapter 050: Departure Ye Fan said indifferently, ¡°Did I say that you could leave after compensating? I was dealing with the shop owner just now, now it¡¯s my turn.¡± ¡°What do you want to do?¡± Fei Ge¡¯s voice trembled a bit. Ye Fan pointed at the thug with the green snake tattoo on his arm and said, ¡°First, bring me a chair to sit on.¡± The thug with the green snake tattoo was pointed at by Ye Fan, his face changing color and his legs starting to shake, stunned in place without moving. Seeing this, Fei Ge slapped the thug with the green snake tattoo on the head and cursed, ¡°Well, don¡¯t just stand there, bring the chair for this big brother to sit on!¡± The thug with the green snake tattoo was nearly knocked over by the slap, feeling dizzy, but still managed to staggeringly bring a chair over to Ye Fan. Ye Fan nudged the chair with one leg, then sat down gracefully. Just then, Fei Ge thought an opportunity had arisen and violently lunged at Ye Fan, who was sitting on the chair. Ye Fan snorted coldly and kicked out. Fei Ge¡¯s large body was sent flying and crashed heavily against the wall before falling down. The remaining thugs all visibly jumped in fright and took a few steps back. Ye Fan chuckled and said, ¡°Ha, ha, welcome to try a sneak attack, he¡¯s your role model.¡± The five thugs quickly waved their hands and exclaimed, ¡°We wouldn¡¯t dare!¡± At this moment, Fei Ge got up while holding his stomach, his face full of fear, and dared not make another sound. Ye Fan spoke calmly, ¡°As I said before, now it¡¯s time to settle my score. Your interruption of my noodle meal is a grave sin. Your outrageous actions have affected my mood, which is an even graver sin. Moreover, your intelligence is so low, robbing a woman in broad daylight, making me feel like I¡¯m demeaning myself by dealing with you, which is an immense sin.¡± ¡°Given your threefold offense, what punishment should I impose?¡± Ye Fan said thoughtfully, then looked up at Li Zhaojun and asked, ¡°Li Zhaojun, why don¡¯t you give me a suggestion?¡± Li Zhaojun let out a surprised ¡°ah,¡± not expecting Ye Fan to ask her. She hemmed and hawed for a bit, then said, ¡°Just let them go.¡± Ye Fan shook his head lightly and said, ¡°You¡¯re too soft-hearted. That won¡¯t do. As far as I know, there¡¯s another woman also named Li Zhaojun, and she¡¯s much tougher than you.¡± ¡°Another Li Zhaojun? Who is that?¡± Li Zhaojun couldn¡¯t help but ask curiously. Ye Fan smiled faintly, didn¡¯t answer, and then turned to address the six thugs, ¡°Look how kind she is. But, there¡¯s no way I¡¯m just going to let you go like this. Let¡¯s compromise, something too bloody would scare the girls, which isn¡¯t nice.¡± Fei Ge and the other six thugs thought they were off the hook and were about to cry at the thought that Ye Fan still wouldn¡¯t let them go. ¡°You just slap yourselves,¡± Ye Fan instructed. ¡°Pair up and slap each other in the face.¡± ¡°You, and you, you two go first. Come here and do it in front of me.¡± The two thugs that Ye Fan pointed to instantly turned pale. They looked at their companions to gauge their reactions. Their companions were also clueless, so Fei Ge said, ¡°Just do as he says.¡± The two thugs had no choice but to steel themselves and walk over to Ye Fan. Ye Fan said, ¡°Now, stand face to face. Then start slapping each other. I don¡¯t have specific requirements for the force of the slap, but the sound must be loud enough for everyone to hear. After being slapped, you have to insult each other first, then slap back. Each person, thirty times.¡± ¡°Start now,¡± Ye Fan said indifferently. ¡°You with the rooster hairdo go first.¡± The thug with the exaggerated rooster hairstyle hesitated a moment then slapped the thug with several piercings in his ear. ¡°Slap.¡± The sound was so quiet, he had hardly used any force. Ye Fan said, ¡°That won¡¯t do, the sound is too low; I can barely hear it, let alone others. Do it again.¡± The rooster-haired thug reluctantly said to the pierced-ear thug, ¡°Ah Jian, sorry about this.¡± After finishing his apology, he slapped a bit harder this time. ¡°Slap!¡± This time the sound was louder, even though it didn¡¯t seem much stronger. ¡°Right, it has to be at least this loud,¡± Ye Fan said, and then spoke to the pierced-ear thug, ¡°Your turn, he¡¯s slapped you; you should curse him first, then take your revenge with a slap.¡± ¡°Fuck your sister!¡± Ah Jian cursed and then slapped back at the rooster-haired thug. sea??h th§× n?velFire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Slap!¡± The sound was ordinary, but it passed muster. Next up, it was the rooster-head thug¡¯s turn. The rooster-head thug cursed, ¡°I fucking!¡± And then he threw a slap. ¡°Slap!¡± This sound was a bit louder than before. Ah Jian¡¯s thug felt that this slap was more painful than the last one, realizing he had gone too easy and had shortchanged himself, so he immediately cursed at the rooster-head thug and slapped back with more force. As the slapping went on, the sound of the slaps grew louder, and the curses became more vicious and crude. By the twentieth slap, both thugs had red eyes and had become sworn enemies, hitting each other¡¯s ears with all their might. Their faces were red and swollen like pig heads, blood oozing from the corners of their mouths. Finally, after thirty slaps were exchanged. When the rooster-head thug, who had started the slapping, still wanted to hit Ah Jian¡¯s thug, Ye Fan called out, ¡°Stop! That¡¯s enough.¡± But the rooster-head thug didn¡¯t stop, he continued to slap his partner¡¯s ear. ¡°Motherfucker, we¡¯ve already hit thirty, and you¡¯re still slapping. I¡¯m gonna fight you to the end!¡± Ah Jian¡¯s thug was furiously enraged, and he lunged at the rooster-head thug. The two had already become enemies during the slapping and cursing. Ye Fan didn¡¯t stop the two thugs from a dog-eat-dog fight; he just watched coldly. However, the other thugs hurriedly stepped forward to separate them. After a commotion amongst themselves, the six thugs finally calmed down. Ye Fan smiled faintly and said, ¡°Alright, the pair from before has finished slapping each other. Now it¡¯s your turn.¡± Ye Fan turned his gaze towards the remaining four thugs, finally settling on the blonde thug, and said, ¡°Your hand is already injured, so I¡¯ll spare you this time.¡± ¡°Thank you, big brother, thank you!¡± the blonde thug called out gratefully, with the other thugs feeling a mixture of jealousy and displeasure. Ye Fan continued calmly, ¡°The three of you, come together.¡± ¡°You and you, slap his ear. And you, at the same time, can slap both of their ears. Before you slap, as usual, curse at each other,¡± Ye Fan said. He had the other two thugs slap Fei Ge back and forth. Having seen an example set, they didn¡¯t resist much. ¡°You and you, slap his ear first, and remember, the sound must be loud enough for everyone to hear,¡± Ye Fan said. Soon after, this group had exchanged a dozen slaps, and they were completely inflamed. Originally, only one thug wouldn¡¯t dare to really put force into slapping Fei Ge¡¯s ear, but with two together, they grew bolder. Plus, Fei Ge, feeling humiliated at being slapped by his inferiors, also retaliated with powerful slaps and harsh curses. And so, with just over a dozen slaps exchanged, the three of them had red eyes and began slapping each other with more force. Before long, Fei Ge was dizzied from being slapped, bleeding from the corners of his mouth and nostrils, and eventually lacked the strength to slap back at his two subordinates. After the slapping was finished, Fei Ge wanted to throw himself at the other two thugs, but he couldn¡¯t even stand properly anymore, and the two thugs, not daring to retaliate, ran off. ¡°Remember, if any of you dares to come here to collect protection money again, it won¡¯t be as simple as today!¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°Get lost!¡± The six thugs finally left the shop, but as soon as they were out the door, they started to scuffle with each other. The blonde thug hadn¡¯t been involved in the slapping, so no one troubled him for a while. He rushed over to break it up, but what welcomed him were two of the fighting thugs turning to punch him at the same time. Seven or eight minutes later, the six thugs left while fighting and chasing each other away. ¡°Alright, you don¡¯t have to worry about them coming back to collect protection money anymore,¡± Ye Fan said with a faint smile, ¡°Now that they¡¯re enemies among themselves, their gang is disbanded.¡± Li Zhaojun, with shining eyes, said, ¡°You¡¯re amazing!¡± Then, she added, ¡°But what if they come back for revenge? Can you leave us your phone number?¡± Chapter 55 - 55 51 Hero Saves the Beauty ?55: Chapter 51: Hero Saves the Beauty 55: Chapter 51: Hero Saves the Beauty ¡°If they come knocking again, just call the police,¡± Ye Fan said indifferently. ¡°Constantly showing weakness will only let them get away with more.¡± As he spoke, Ye Fan took out a fifty-yuan bill, placed it on the table, and said, ¡°All right, I¡¯m off. Goodbye.¡± With that, he turned and walked out of the shop. Li Zhaojun ran out after him and called, ¡°What¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°My name is Ye Fan, ¡®Ye¡¯ from Ye Gucheng and ¡®Fan¡¯ from extraordinary,¡± Ye Fan replied indifferently. ¡°By the way, I forgot to tell you, my wife¡¯s name is also Li Zhaojun.¡± When Li Zhaojun heard that Ye Fan was already married, she stopped in her tracks. ¡°Thank you, Brother Ye,¡± she called out. Ye Fan flashed a faint smile, pulled open his car door, got in, and then drove away. Not long after Ye Fan got home, he received a call from an unknown number. He waited a moment before pressing the answer button, ¡°Hello, who is this?¡± ¡°Brother Ye, hello, I¡¯m Yaoyao.¡± Qin Mengyao¡¯s voice came through the phone. Ye Fan¡¯s expression instantly turned sour, his mood that had just been set right by watching TV was completely ruined, and he immediately hung up the phone. Unexpectedly, right after being hung up on, Qin Mengyao immediately called back. Of course, Ye Fan hung up again. After two or three times, Ye Fan got a bit annoyed and simply turned off his phone. Later that night, Ye Fan drove out to a nightclub called the Dynasty of Song to have some fun. Singing in a private room alone was no fun, so he stayed in the main hall, drinking and watching the beauties. Near eleven o¡¯clock at night, feeling it was about time, Ye Fan hummed a tune as he left the nightclub, ready to drive home. He opened the car door and sat down, but before he could close the door, the passenger door suddenly opened and a fragrant, tempting breeze wafted in. Ye Fan was stunned in his seat, and upon recognizing the person who had entered his car, he saw it was a young woman in her early twenties, with a hot body, snow-white skin, wearing a black, tight, short leather skirt, and crucially, possessing a very pretty face¡ªthe kind that could turn the world upside down. ¡°Quick! Take me away from here, and I¡¯ll be yours tonight,¡± the young woman said urgently. ¡°I¡¯ve been drugged.¡± As she spoke, she anxiously glanced outside the car. Prompted by the young woman, Ye Fan then noticed her pretty face was abnormally flushed, her eyes hazy, her breathing a bit heavy, and her breath was warm with an intoxicating, adrenaline-inducing fragrance mixed with the smell of alcohol. Coming to his senses, Ye Fan calmed down. It didn¡¯t matter whether it was a trap or for real, he wasn¡¯t afraid. ¡°Taking you away is no problem,¡± he said, closed the door, and buckled his seat belt. As he buckled his seat belt, the young woman agilely flipped into the back seat to hide. He started the car, reversed out, and inadvertently saw a group of menacing, black-clad men rushing out of the nightclub, turning their heads constantly, as if looking for someone. ¡°Uh? Could it be they¡¯re after the woman in my back seat?¡± Ye Fan thought to himself, but he was not the least bit nervous and drove away coolly. Upon reaching the parking lot exit, two of the black-clad men spread their arms and blocked his way, arrogantly shouting, ¡°Stop! Fuck, stop right there!¡± It was clear they wanted to search Ye Fan¡¯s car. ¡°Go through them, and don¡¯t stop for anything, or else you¡¯re going to die a horrible death!¡± the young woman in the back said anxiously. Ye Fan stepped on the gas, accelerating towards the two men in black. The men in black scrambled out of the way in panic, almost getting hit. After breaking free from the parking lot, he saw seven or eight more black-clad men trying to intercept the vehicles and people coming in and out of the nightclub, with several others running out onto the main street searching. With so many people in the passage in front of the main entrance, it would usually be impossible to get out. After accelerating from the parking lot exit, Ye Fan did not slow down for fear of hitting someone. Instead, he turned the steering wheel sharply to the right, slammed the brakes to swing the vehicle¡¯s rear ninety degrees to the left using inertia, and then floored the accelerator to rush out at full speed. Seeing this, those men in black didn¡¯t dare to try to use their bodies to stop the car, exploiting the average person¡¯s fear of running someone over. They only cursed their limbs for not being quick enough to dodge in time. Bursting through the gate and onto the roadway, Ye Fan raced along the traffic lane, constantly overtaking other cars to prevent the group of men in black from catching up in their vehicles. After six or seven minutes, Ye Fan glanced at the rearview mirror to observe the situation behind the car. Not seeing any unusual vehicles following, he slowed down and completely blended into the ceaseless stream of traffic. As for the young woman, she had already climbed back from the rear compartment to the passenger seat. ¡°I¡¯ll take you to the hospital,¡± said Ye Fan, keeping his eyes on the road ahead, his voice calm. ¡°I¡¯m not in the habit of taking advantage of situations like this.¡± ¡°No, you can¡¯t take me to the hospital,¡± the young woman quickly exclaimed. ¡°Why not?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°The security in Huaxia is not bad; they wouldn¡¯t dare to grab you in a hospital. Oh, right, you can call the police. Do you have your phone with you? If not, you can use mine.¡± ¡°I won¡¯t call the police. Just please don¡¯t take me to the hospital,¡± the young woman insisted. ¡°Take me to a hotel instead. I told you, I am yours for the night. But it needs to be a hotel far from here.¡± Ye Fan shook his head with a faint smile, ¡°I can take you to a hotel, but as for offering yourself to me, let¡¯s forget about that.¡± The young woman didn¡¯t argue. After a while, she asked with some curiosity, ¡°You¡¯re very calm; you¡¯re not an ordinary person, are you?¡± ¡°I wouldn¡¯t say ordinary or not. I served a few years in the military, so I¡¯m a bit braver than most,¡± Ye Fan replied while driving. ¡°What about you? How did you get drugged, and why are so many people chasing you?¡± ¡°I can¡¯t tell you my situation right now,¡± the young woman said. Ye Fan didn¡¯t press further and focused on driving. Seventeen or eighteen minutes later, hearing the young woman¡¯s breathing getting heavier, Ye Fan asked, ¡°Can you hold on? Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. If not, we can find a hotel nearby.¡± ¡°Not¡­ not far enough¡­¡± the young woman said in broken sentences. ¡°Further¡­ it¡¯s not safe otherwise.¡± Ye Fan pressed the accelerator deeper and sped up. Twelve or thirteen minutes later, feeling that they were far enough from the Chao Ge Dynasty nightclub, Ye Fan pulled the car into the Regent International Hotel, a four-star establishment. After stopping the car, Ye Fan turned to look at the young woman. She was struggling to resist the drug¡¯s effects. ¡°We¡¯re here, get out,¡± Ye Fan said. He got out of the car, walked around to open her door, and reached out to help the young woman out. The young woman pushed his hand away and said with difficulty, ¡°Don¡¯t¡­ don¡¯t touch me¡­ I¡¯m afraid I¡­ can¡¯t resist¡­¡± Ye Fan stepped back to let the young woman get out by herself. She got out with a shaky and tremulous figure. Seeing the young woman struggling to stand, Ye Fan didn¡¯t reach out to help her but swiftly said, ¡°Follow me.¡± With that, he headed toward the hotel¡¯s reception area. The young woman followed unsteadily. Once they smoothly secured a room, entered, and before the door even closed, the young woman tried to pounce on him. Ye Fan, who was prepared, stopped her, closed the door with a shove, and then directly carried her into the bathroom. In the bathtub, the cold water helped the young woman regain some lucidity. ¡°Sort yourself out, and it¡¯ll be fine,¡± Ye Fan said indifferently. The young woman looked at Ye Fan and said, ¡°No, you have to take me. I¡¯m completely willing.¡± With that, she lunged at Ye Fan. Ye Fan immediately dodged and said, ¡°I already told you, there¡¯s no need for this.¡± ¡°Are you even a man?¡± the young woman snapped angrily. ¡°You¡¯re playing Liu Xiahui at a time like this! Or are you just a eunuch, a castrated official?¡± Being called a eunuch was intolerable to any man. So, he strode forward, reaching out toward the young woman¡­ Chapter 56 - 56 052 Compensation ?56: Chapter 052 Compensation 56: Chapter 052 Compensation The next morning, Ye Fan unusually got up early. He propped himself up and looked at the stunningly beautiful face beside him, feeling a bit of a headache. He grabbed a cigarette and lighter from the bedside table, put a cigarette in his mouth, and then lit it. He took a deep drag, brooded for a long time, then exhaled a ring of smoke. Last night, she insisted on having sex with him, and to his surprise, she turned out to be a virgin. ¡°She¡¯s actually a virgin. Should I take responsibility for her?¡± Ye Fan hesitated. He considered himself a responsible man, but he knew nothing about her, not her name, background, character, let alone having any feelings for her. He took a few more deep drags, pondering his decision. After thinking for a while, Ye Fan felt the urge to urinate and got up to go to the bathroom. After he had finished and came out of the bathroom, he found that the young woman had woken up and was sitting elegantly on the bed in a white nightgown. ¡°You¡¯re awake? Sorry if I disturbed you,¡± Ye Fan said as he walked over, dragging a chair to sit in front of the bed. The young woman looked up at Ye Fan but didn¡¯t reply immediately. Ye Fan¡¯s gaze fell on the young woman¡¯s beautiful face. He said, ¡°I¡¯m sorry, I didn¡¯t know you were a virgin.¡± ¡°You don¡¯t need to feel uneasy. This is one of the compensations I¡¯m offering you.¡± The young woman¡¯s tone had a bit of a superior air. ¡°Compensation for me?¡± Ye Fan caught the different implication in those words. The young woman nodded, stretched out her fair arm, and took her red LV purse from the red-brown bedside table on her side. Waiting for the young woman¡¯s explanation, Ye Fan watched as she leisurely took out a checkbook from her purse and began quickly filling out a check. ¡°Is she actually planning to pay me?¡± Ye Fan was even more surprised. ¡°Isn¡¯t this a double windfall? Isn¡¯t my luck a bit too good?¡± After a moment, the young woman stopped writing, tore out the check, and handed it to Ye Fan, saying, ¡°This is one million yuan. It¡¯s also to compensate you.¡± Ye Fan didn¡¯t take it, frowning as he asked, ¡°When you say compensation, what exactly do you mean?¡± The young woman didn¡¯t rush to push the check into Ye Fan¡¯s hand and said, ¡°Compensation, of course, for the risks you¡¯ve taken, and even the threat of death you¡¯re about to face.¡± She adjusted her sitting position, facing Ye Fan directly, ¡°My name is Nie Yuling. My father was the late boss of the Qingmu Gang, which is entrenched in Xinyang District. So, I¡¯m also the boss of Qingmu Gang. However, I might not be in a few days.¡± ¡°You¡¯re an underworld boss? Do you engage in drug trafficking? Do you force women into prostitution?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s expression turned serious as he asked sternly. Seeing Ye Fan seriously questioning her, Nie Yuling took an interested glance at him, then chuckled, saying, ¡°Are you planning to turn me in to the police? Don¡¯t worry, ever since my father¡¯s time, Qingmu Gang has steered clear of those things. The Qingmu Gang mainly deals in bars, discos, KTVs, and nightclubs. So, you, a soldier, don¡¯t need to moralize at me.¡± Ye Fan let out a sigh of relief upon hearing this. After all, no one wanted to lay a violent hand on a woman, especially one he had just been intimate with. ¡°I took over the Qingmu Gang after my father died. But some of the veterans there refused to accept me. They complained that the money was coming in too slowly and that we were earning too little, so they wanted to scrap the money-laundering path my father had set.¡± Nie Yuling said, ¡°Last night, they finally colluded with the Qing Wolf Society and rebelled.¡± ¡°If it weren¡¯t for you last night, I would have been caught by them; it would¡¯ve been a matter of life and death,¡± she continued. ¡°You messed up their ¡®good deeds,¡¯ so now they hate you. It¡¯s not just those traitors but also the Qing Wolf Society. If they find you, your end will be very grim.¡± As she spoke, she kept her gaze fixed on Ye Fan¡¯s face, noticing that he remained calm and not at all frightened, which made her curiously ask, ¡°Aren¡¯t you afraid?¡± ¡°What¡¯s there to be afraid of? Aren¡¯t they just a bunch of bad guys who can¡¯t stand the light of day? If they dare to cause me trouble, I¡¯ll just call the police,¡± Ye Fan said with a scoff, ¡°Good has always triumphed over evil since ancient times, let alone in today¡¯s society.¡± Nie Yuling laughed, finding Ye Fan naive and simple, and shook her head, ¡°You¡¯re oversimplifying things. Perhaps the Qingmu Gang traitors won¡¯t take your life, but the Qing Wolf Society is definitely ruthless and inhumane.¡± ¡°That¡¯s why I suggest you leave Hua Hai today and go into hiding in a northern city or a city in the two Guang provinces,¡± she said as she stuffed a check into Ye Fan¡¯s hand. ¡°Here¡¯s one million. It should be enough for you to settle down in a foreign city. Oh, and you should cash it soon. In a few days, it might not be valid anymore.¡± Ye Fan set the check aside and asked, ¡°What about you?¡± ¡°I¡¯m of course going to gather my men and eliminate those traitors. Those loyal to my father and me are still dominant in the gang,¡± Nie Yuling responded. ¡°However, the biggest variable is the Qing Wolf Society. I might fail, I might get killed.¡± Ye Fan frowned and said, ¡°Then why don¡¯t you leave Hua Hai? China is so big, they definitely won¡¯t be able to find you if you¡¯re determined to hide.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t leave,¡± Nie Yuling said firmly. ¡°The Qingmu Gang is my father¡¯s many years of hard work, and the brothers in the gang trust me so much. If I shrank back and left, the Qingmu Gang would be destroyed in the hands of those traitors, and those brothers who have trusted and followed me will be purged; their end will definitely be very miserable.¡± Ye Fan felt a touch of admiration for Nie Yuling¡¯s courage and sense of responsibility and said, ¡°Maybe I can lend you a hand.¡± ¡°Thank you for your kindness. However, you were innocently dragged into this; there¡¯s no need for you to take risks with me,¡± Nie Yuling said. ¡°I know you¡¯re an ex-soldier and might be able to fight, but gang conflicts are not just about being able to fight. No matter how strong your martial arts are, you¡¯re still vulnerable to a kitchen knife, hidden guns, and secret arrows. Plus, once you get involved, they won¡¯t just target you, but they¡¯ll also go after your family and relatives.¡± Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Just as Ye Fan was about to speak, Nie Yuling waved her delicate white jade hand and said, ¡°Maybe you think that because I was with you last night, you have a responsibility towards me, but I am not your woman. You¡¯re being over-romantic, am I supposed to accept that? Remember, what happened last night was just me simply compensating you, with no emotions involved¡ªit was purely a transaction, just like you paying for a prostitute. Or like if I went to a male escort, and afterward he said he wanted to be responsible for me, how could I possibly accept?¡± Hearing Nie Yuling say this, Ye Fan nodded and replied, ¡°Alright. You¡¯re right. It was just a transaction.¡± After a pause, he continued, ¡°I¡¯ll take the check. Oh, and since you¡¯re a decent person, how about you leave your number?¡± He didn¡¯t care much for the million, but since Nie Yuling made it clear it was a transaction and wanted to clear their involvement, naturally, he would accept the money so that they would owe each other nothing. ¡°Sure,¡± Nie Yuling hesitated briefly but then agreed. And so, they exchanged phone numbers. After saving Nie Yuling¡¯s number, Ye Fan said earnestly, ¡°Regardless of what you think of me, I consider you half a friend. If you¡¯re really in trouble, you can try calling me; there might be a surprise.¡± ¡°Heh, thank you,¡± Nie Yuling said with a faint smile, not taking it seriously. In her view, Ye Fan, dressed in cheapskate clothes and barely beyond his twenties with nothing special about him, was just an ordinary ex-soldier who might work as a security guard in some company or neighborhood¡ªwhat help could he possibly offer her against the powerful and inhumane Qing Wolf Society? (Please support by favoriting, recommending, and tipping. For this book¡¯s supporter QQ: 392346004. We look forward to you joining us to be the first to know the latest about the book, chat, and discuss the plot, etc. The verification to join the group is the protagonist¡¯s name ¡°Ye Fan¡± or the author¡¯s pseudonym ¡°Difficult to Express¡±. Thank you, everyone.) Chapter 57 - 57 053 Investment ?57: Chapter 053 Investment 57: Chapter 053 Investment An hour later, Ye Fan drove away from the hotel to head home. By the time he got home, it was already past nine-thirty in the morning, and, since he hadn¡¯t changed clothes, Ye Fan naturally had to take a shower and change. After ten, having had something to eat, Ye Fan sat on the sofa in the first-floor living room watching TV. Just past eleven, his cell phone rang. Picking it up, Ye Fan saw it was his mom¡¯s call. ¡°Son, the evaluation results for your wife¡¯s ¡®Biomedical New Project Planning¡¯ are out,¡± Ye Fan¡¯s mom said with a laugh. Ye Fan asked, ¡°How¡¯s the evaluation?¡± ¡°A-. I¡¯ve already sent the detailed analysis to your email,¡± chuckled his mom, ¡°Heehee, I didn¡¯t expect your wife to have seventy or eighty percent of my old skills.¡± ¡°Oh, thanks, Mom. I¡¯ll go take a look,¡± Ye Fan replied. ¡°Okay,¡± said Ye Fan¡¯s mom. After hanging up, Ye Fan went back to his room, opened his computer, logged into his email, and found the ¡®Biomedical New Project Planning¡¯ evaluation analysis his mom had sent him. Having spent a few minutes reading the analysis, the professional evaluation team from Hua Chang Investment Fund had given a very favorable review of ¡®Biomedical New Project Planning,¡¯ indicating that the project¡¯s potential for success in getting off the ground with the Emali Group stood over seventy-five percent, and it would yield a very substantial and long-lasting profit return. After pondering for a short while, Ye Fan took out his phone and called his mom. ¡°Mom, I¡¯ve looked over the project evaluation analysis,¡± he said, ¡°I also think ¡®Biomedical¡¯ is a very profitable project. Do you think Hua Chang Venture Capital Fund could invest in this project?¡± ¡°Of course,¡± his mom immediately replied, ¡°But such a profitable project, and one that Emali Group can operate on its own, they probably won¡¯t want me to get involved.¡± Ye Fan laughed, ¡°Mom, you¡¯re mistaken. Not everyone has the investment vision and boldness you do. Within Emali Group, apart from Zhao Jun who¡¯s advocating for it alone, the other shareholders are resisting, believing it requires too much capital and carries too high a risk.¡± ¡°Heehee, I get it now!¡± Ye Fan¡¯s mom suddenly burst into delighted laughter, ¡°So you¡¯re asking me to help out your wife. Okay, realizing that ¡®when husband and wife unite, their strength can cut through metal,¡¯ it seems you two are getting along quite well. Don¡¯t worry, even if it¡¯s a losing project, I¡¯m jumping into this pit regardless since I only have you, my precious son. I¡¯ll call your wife right away.¡± Ye Fan¡¯s mouth twitched slightly, getting along well? They were nearly archenemies. He stopped his mom, ¡°Mom, don¡¯t contact her. I don¡¯t want her to know.¡± ¡°Heehee, okay, okay,¡± his mom chuckled, ¡°Heehee, son, I didn¡¯t expect you to be quite the charmer with your wife. You don¡¯t want her to know now, but one day she¡¯ll find out for herself and will probably be moved to tears. Haha, son, am I right?¡± Black lines sprouted from the back of Ye Fan¡¯s head¡ªhe wasn¡¯t thinking that at all. He just didn¡¯t want to lose a million, and the project really was very profitable; helping Li Zhaojun was just incidental. And another thing¡ªhis mom, as an elder, why didn¡¯t she have any airs of an elder? Was this kind of ¡°winning the wife¡¯s favor¡± conversation really something a mother should casually have with her son? He¡¯d rather have his mom maintain a sense of superiority and not chitchat so freely and equally about everything. However, he couldn¡¯t refute his mother¡¯s wild speculations without giving away his indifference towards Li Zhaojun. He said, ¡°Mom, we must follow standard business procedures and avoid being swayed by emotions. If Huachang Investment Fund doesn¡¯t see fit to invest, then so be it. We mustn¡¯t force it. That¡¯s an investment of over a billion yuan; it¡¯s not a game.¡± ¡°Ha, I know that. After so many years in the business world, do you think your mom would be swayed by emotions?¡± Ye Fan¡¯s mother said with a self-praising tone, like a huckster selling her wares. After that, Ye Fan and his mother chatted for another fifteen minutes. Finally, unable to stand his mother¡¯s lack of parental gravitas, turning everything into a joke to tease him, he hung up the phone. The next day, Monday, in the Emali Group¡¯s conference room, Li Zhaojun convened a general meeting of directors and shareholders. After Wang Siyan distributed the latest version of the ¡°Biomedical New Project Planning¡± proposal to every director and shareholder in attendance, Li Zhaojun spoke earnestly and intently, ¡°My fellow directors and shareholders, I have to emphasize once more that while it appears that the Emali Group is developing swiftly, we are on the brink of a growth bottleneck. If we don¡¯t find a new path before we hit this bottleneck, don¡¯t expect to maintain today¡¯s profits. If our stock price falls, banks won¡¯t lend to us, and the monthly bank interest will weigh us down, leading to a continuous decline.¡± ¡°The new project proposal you¡¯re holding has been significantly modified after I invested a great deal of time and effort. I hope you will read it carefully and consider it, and then swiftly pass the new project. You have fifteen minutes to review the planning proposal for the new project and then a half-hour for discussion before we take a preliminary vote.¡± Having said that, Li Zhaojun turned off the microphone and sat quietly, waiting. For this particular board and shareholder meeting, she had run herself ragged for over a month, working early and late, seeking out resources, and nearly never resting on weekends. If the proposal failed to pass this time, she truly didn¡¯t know what to do next. The conference room was very quiet, with only the sound of flipping pages. The future development of Emali was at stake; not a single shareholder dared to take it lightly. Fifteen minutes passed, and Li Zhaojun turned on the microphone, saying, ¡°I believe everyone is clear on the success rate of the new project. These are not my baseless conjectures but the results of extensive research and data analysis. Everyone is afraid of the large investment required, so I have reassigned personnel to recalculate and significantly reduce costs, bringing the total investment down to three billion yuan, with one billion for the first phase and two billion for the second phase. The source of the one billion for the first phase has been clearly outlined in the project planning; extracting two hundred million from the group¡¯s cash flow, issuing 30 million new shares on the stock market to raise about three hundred million, and taking out a loan of five hundred million from the bank. Regarding bank loans, I¡¯ve already negotiated with major banks who are unanimously willing to provide us with the loans.¡± ¡°The money borrowed from the banks still needs to be repaid,¡± the second-largest shareholder, Gong Yongfu, exchanged glances with the third-largest shareholder, Sun Yuan, before signaling to a smaller shareholder. The smaller shareholder immediately raised an objection. Sun Yuan echoed immediately, ¡°Our group¡¯s debt ratio is already high. Another five hundred million in loans would bring it to an excessive level, and just repaying the bank interest every month could sink us.¡± ¡°I disagree with raising funds by issuing new shares in the stock market. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Biomedical isn¡¯t within our group¡¯s industrial chain, and it is a high-risk project. By issuing new shares for financing, we would only spark panic in the stock market, leading individual investors holding our group¡¯s shares to sell off, which not only would fail in raising funds but would also cause our group¡¯s stock value to plummet!¡± Gong Yongfu spoke out loudly. ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s too risky,¡± other shareholders began discussing amongst themselves, their expressions filled with concern. Seeing so many people concurring with him, Gong Yongfu felt triumphant and said, ¡°I won¡¯t agree to the biomedical new project.¡± ¡°I disagree as well,¡± Sun Yuan immediately chimed in. ¡°We also disagree,¡± three mid-to-small shareholders who stubbornly followed Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan shouted. Other neutral mid-to-small shareholders also looked hesitant and indecisive, but most were leaning towards disagreement. Chapter 58 - 58 054 Timely Phone Call ?58: Chapter 054 Timely Phone Call 58: Chapter 054 Timely Phone Call Gong Yongfu, seeing the situation, added fuel to the fire, ¡°Director Li, there¡¯s no need for a vote, as no one will agree.¡± ¡°That¡¯s right, just as you¡¯ve said, the company is at a life-or-death juncture and must find a new way out. You¡¯ve been strongly advocating for biomedical for half a year, haven¡¯t you thought that we¡¯ve already wasted too much time? No one wants to continue in this stalemate.¡± Gong Yongfu stood up and addressed the shareholders, ¡°Therefore, I propose that we have a final vote on the new biomedical project in half a month. If the vote doesn¡¯t pass, we can¡¯t discuss this project anymore. We must focus on discussing other new projects promptly. Am I right?¡± ¡°Exactly, we can¡¯t delay any longer.¡± ¡°Yes, if we continue like this, we¡¯ll miss the prime opportunity to start new projects.¡± Sun Yuan and others echoed in agreement, and the other neutral shareholders were also nodding their heads. ¡°Director Li, what do you say?¡± Gong Yongfu turned and asked Li Zhaojun with a look of smug contempt in his eyes. Li Zhaojun suppressed her anger and said, ¡°Vice Director Gong¡¯s proposal is reasonable. S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. We will have the final decision in half a month.¡± ¡°Haha, Director Li truly understands the big picture,¡± Gong Yongfu laughed. ¡°Additionally, I have another proposal regarding a new project entering real estate that I hope can be put on the agenda as soon as possible.¡± ¡°I will veto the new real estate project one hundred percent!¡± Li Zhaojun immediately retorted unceremoniously, ¡°The real estate in Huaxia has already passed its golden era.¡± She was the largest shareholder, chairman, and president, holding 34.6% of the company, with the power to veto any major corporate decision. In the end, the board and shareholder meeting dispersed unhappily. Back in her office, Li Zhaojun flung herself into the big chair at her desk and picked up a pen holder from the table and threw it. She was a strong person, having founded Emali Group herself. Yet she had just faced opposition from a group of shareholders, which was something she couldn¡¯t tolerate. ¡°Gong Yongfu, Sun Yuan! Just give me the chance, and I, Li Zhaojun, will surely kick you out of the group!¡± she said with an icy expression. Knock, knock, knock¡­ A knocking sounded outside the door. Li Zhaojun took a deep breath immediately, adjusted her posture and mood, and said with a clear, decisive voice, ¡°Come in.¡± The door opened, and the person who entered made her frown slightly. It was none other than Sun Yuan, who had just been singing Gong Yongfu¡¯s tune, leading the opposition against her. As Sun Yuan closed the door and walked toward Li Zhaojun, he accidentally saw a smashed pen holder and several pens scattered on the floor. He was secretly pleased but pretended not to see as he walked up to the desk. ¡°Vice Director Sun, what brings you here?¡± Li Zhaojun asked coldly, seated in her big office chair. Sun Yuan chuckled and said, ¡°Director Li, in fact, I am quite optimistic about the new biomedical project. Though the risks are higher, if it succeeds, the rewards are also very substantial. High risk, high return, right?¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s eyes shone as she said, ¡°Thank you, Vice Director Sun, for your understanding. But why did you lead the opposition against me with Gong Yongfu just now?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not about leading the opposition, I was just hesitant,¡± Sun Yuan said. Li Zhaojun eyed Sun Yuan, the sly smile on that old fox¡¯s face clear sign that he was up to something. ¡°Speak. What conditions do you want to support me?¡± she asked calmly. Sun Yuan chuckled again and said, ¡°It¡¯s not about conditions. I am here to ask you for a favor.¡± ¡°Speak,¡± Li Zhaojun said. ¡°My son has just returned from studying in the United States, with a master¡¯s in business administration. He¡¯s tall and handsome, but most importantly, he¡¯s always been pure-hearted,¡± Sun Yuan said. ¡°He¡¯s not currently employed since he just returned, so I was wondering, Director Li, if you could let him work as your secretary or assistant.¡± ¡°This is his photograph.¡± He laid several full-body photos of his son on Li Zhaojun¡¯s desk and continued, ¡°You two could have dinner tonight to get to know each other. I believe my son will satisfy you.¡± Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t even glance at the photographs, she stared at Sun Yuan and coldly sneered, ¡°Sun Yuan, you¡¯re playing a clever game, aren¡¯t you?¡± ¡°Take your filthy photos and get out!¡± she suddenly shouted with a fierce look in her eyes. Sun Yuan didn¡¯t leave immediately but said calmly, ¡°Director Li, after all, you are a woman. Without me on your side, you won¡¯t be able to fight Gong Yongfu. He will step by step undermine your credibility, then squeeze you out of management, and finally kick you out of the company you built with your own hands.¡± ¡°My son is a talented Harvard graduate with both good looks and talent. Associating with him will only benefit you, no harm. I hope you don¡¯t act brashly. His contact information is on the back of the photos. When you come around, give him a call,¡± Sun Yuan said, appearing confident he had Li Zhaojun figured out. ¡°Get out!¡± Li Zhaojun stood up, grabbed the photos, and hurled them at Sun Yuan¡¯s face as she swore at him. ¡°It seems Director Li hasn¡¯t calmed down yet. Then I won¡¯t bother you any longer,¡± Sun Yuan said, unfazed as he turned to leave the office. After Sun Yuan left, Li Zhaojun angrily sat back down in her office chair, her chest heaving due to her intense anger. ¡°Thinking of snatching my company away? No chance! Even if it means destroying the company, you pack of jackals will never get your hands on it!¡± she gritted her teeth and spoke with clenched fists, her nails digging into the palms of her hands, drawing out beads of crimson blood. After a while, the landline rang. Li Zhaojun took a couple of deep breaths to regain her composure, then answered the phone. ¡°This is Li Zhaojun,¡± she said into the phone. ¡°Hello, Director Li,¡± a middle-aged man¡¯s voice came over the line, ¡°I am Xu Youwen, the vice general manager of Huachang Investment Fund.¡± ¡°Huachang Venture Capital?¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s eyes lit up, and she quickly perked up and said, ¡°Hello, Vice Manager Xu. What can I do for you?¡± ¡°I¡¯ve heard rumors that your company is preparing to launch a new biomedical project. Our Huachang Investment Fund is quite interested in it. I was wondering if we could meet to discuss it further?¡± Xu Youwen said. Li Zhaojun excitedly replied immediately, ¡°Of course! When?¡± ¡°If it¡¯s convenient, how about this afternoon?¡± Xu Youwen said. ¡°Sure. Let¡¯s meet at the caf¨¦ in Jinding Building,¡± Li Zhaojun said. ¡°Understood.¡± After hanging up the phone, Li Zhaojun felt exhilarated. The phone call had come at just the right time. Although she didn¡¯t know how Huachang Investment Fund had learned about Emali Group¡¯s discussions about the new biomedical project, it didn¡¯t affect her intention to use Huachang Investment Fund to reverse her declining influence in the company. Huachang Investment Fund had a considerable reputation in Huaxia, known in the industry for its astute and precise investment choices. Since its establishment, it had never failed, always securing significant returns on investments. With Huachang Investment Fund as a powerful ally, she would eventually kick Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan out of Emali Group! ¡°Gong Yongfu, Sun Yuan, you just wait!¡± she said, quickly getting into the zone to prepare for her afternoon meeting with Huachang Investment Fund. Chapter 59 - 59 055 Entering the New Department ?59: Chapter 055 Entering the New Department 59: Chapter 055 Entering the New Department Sixth floor, inside the office. Lu Xiaoman meticulously helped Ye Fan tidying up his stuff. As she did, she nagged at Ye Fan, ¡°Once you¡¯re in the administrative department, you can¡¯t always be late. They¡¯re not as easygoing, especially since they are in charge of discipline. Also, since you¡¯re new, you need to show some respect, be more proactive, be sweeter with your words; that¡¯s how you¡¯ll blend in smoothly with them¡­¡± Ye Fan felt both annoyed and a bit touched while listening. ¡°I know, I know!¡± he called out, somewhat unable to bear it. After packing his things, which weren¡¯t much, Ye Fan picked them up. ¡°Let me walk you over there,¡± Lu Xiaoman said, not wanting to let go. Ye Fan shook his head with a smile, ¡°It¡¯s not like I¡¯m going somewhere far away, what¡¯s there to send off? Alright, get on with your work, I can handle it myself.¡± After saying that, he left the office and headed for the administrative office. Unlike the personnel department, which was understaffed with two regular employees sharing an office, the administrative department was large. The office that Ye Fan entered with his belongings was shared by six people. Besides Ye Fan, there were two men and three women in the office. The two male employees were young guys, about twenty-five or twenty-six years old, wearing white shirts, black trousers, black leather shoes, with their hair parted 7:3, slicked with gel, a standard white-collar look. Among the three women, one dressed a bit old-fashioned for a middle-aged woman, named Su Meizhen, also known as Sister Zhen. She was the chief of this office and, therefore, Ye Fan¡¯s immediate boss. The other two women were younger girls, one of which was quite attractive, the other of comparatively ordinary looks. When Ye Fan came in, the two young women immediately came over to help him organize his desk enthusiastically. After arranging everything, Ye Fan thanked them with a smile, ¡°Thank you for helping, beauties. I haven¡¯t had the chance to ask for your names yet.¡± ¡°It¡¯s no trouble. My name is Xie Junru,¡± said the more engaging girl first. ¡°The ordinary-looking girl followed with, ¡°My name is Zhang Liping. We will be working together in the same office from now on, so helping each other is what we should do.¡± After the two women returned to their desks and continued their work, Ye Fan switched on his computer. Before he could go online, Su Meizhen, who sat in the corner of the room, beckoned him over with an old-fashioned tone, ¡°Ye, come here for a moment.¡± Ye Fan had to stand up and walk over. Next to Su Meizhen, she glanced at Ye Fan and handed him several forms, saying, ¡°Fill out these forms and hand them to me before lunch.¡± ¡°I¡¯m not good with computers, can¡¯t do it,¡± Ye Fan said indolently. Just got here and already such a workload¡­ could I no longer enjoy life leisurely? Did I enter Emali Group just to toil away in paperwork? Don¡¯t be ridiculous! So, he immediately refused the work arrangement made by Su Meizhen. Su Meizhen didn¡¯t expect Ye Fan to refuse and frowned, ¡°If you¡¯re not good with computers, then hand it in before you finish work today.¡± ¡°Can¡¯t do it,¡± said Ye Fan. Sear?h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su Meizhen¡¯s face darkened as she raised her voice, ¡°What do you mean? You don¡¯t have to work because you¡¯re not good with computers? Take it! If you¡¯re not good, then learn seriously. We don¡¯t keep idlers in the group!¡± Xie Junru, Zhang Liping, and the other two male colleagues stopped their work and looked over. Just transferred, Ye Fan didn¡¯t want to argue for now, so he took the forms and said, ¡°Just to be clear, I can¡¯t guarantee when it will be finished.¡± Saying that, he turned back to his desk. Su Meizhen huffed in anger but didn¡¯t explode. Ye Fan returned to his desk, carelessly threw the forms on it, and started browsing the web, with no intention of doing the paperwork. It wasn¡¯t long before his phone suddenly rang. He took it out to see an unsaved phone number on the display, but it looked familiar. After thinking for a moment, he remembered the number belonged to Qin Mengyao and immediately cut the call. Just as he cut off the call, Qin Mengyao called again. Ye Fan continued to disconnect, feeling a bit annoyed. Consequently, he set Qin Mengyao¡¯s number as a blacklisted number in his phone. Finally quiet for a while, right as he opened a news website, the phone rang again. This time, everyone in the office looked over. Ye Fan let out a chuckle and said, ¡°Sorry about that.¡± However, there was no sign of apology on his face. The incoming call was from an unfamiliar landline number in Hua Hai city, so he answered, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± ¡°It¡¯s me, Meng Yao,¡± a crisp female voice came from the phone. Ye Fan¡¯s face turned sour immediately as he hung up the call. As soon as he disconnected, Qin Mengyao called again. This time, Su Meizhen really had something to say, ¡°Ye, why so many calls? Take them outside.¡± Ye Fan was also annoyed with Qin Mengyao and immediately stepped out of the office and answered the call with a cold voice, ¡°Qin Mengyao, can you give it a rest? Stop bothering me!¡± ¡°I¡¯m sorry, Ye,¡± Qin Mengyao didn¡¯t sound angry and continued, ¡°Ye, I know I was wrong. I want to apologize to you in person and sincerely thank you for saving my aunt and me, okay?¡± ¡°Qin Mengyao, what¡¯s the trick now? Cut the crap!¡± Ye Fan didn¡¯t believe a word Qin Mengyao said. With her voice low and earnest, Qin Mengyao pleaded, ¡°I¡¯m being genuine. Please?¡± ¡°No way!¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°I¡¯m warning you, stop harassing me. If you do it again, I will really get angry, and the consequences will be severe! Rape first, kill later, kill then rape again!¡± ¡°Ye, I won¡¯t give up until I can apologize to you in person and express my genuine gratitude every day,¡± Qin Mengyao stubbornly said. ¡°Driving me nuts. No good deed goes unpunished!¡± Ye Fan said angrily, ¡°Are you sure you want to meet? Not afraid I¡¯ll actually act on ¡®rape first, kill later, kill then rape again¡¯!¡± ¡°I¡¯m not afraid!¡± said Qin Mengyao. Ye Fan, who hated being bothered, relented, ¡°Fine, tonight at seven, Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road in Liu Jia Hui. Dress normal, so I don¡¯t lose my appetite!¡± ¡°Got it, thank you, Ye, see you tonight,¡± Qin Mengyao said happily. After hanging up, Ye Fan exhaled deeply, finding Qin Mengyao both annoying and bothersome. Back in the office, Ye Fan, out of boredom, browsed the web for a while, then something crossed his mind, ¡°Since I¡¯m idling away, why not make some extra cash? Hua Chang Investment Fund is vigorously investing in Emali Group, and Emali has launched a new Biomedical project. With such positive news, Emali¡¯s stock will definitely surge. If I buy in now¡­¡± With that thought, Ye Fan left the office and headed to the safety stairwell at the end of the corridor, took out his phone, and dialed a number. Soon, the call connected, and a middle-aged man speaking English replied, ¡°Hello, I¡¯m Robert Laurenson. Can I help you?¡± Chapter 60 - 60 56 Two Pure and Beautiful Girls ?60: Chapter 56: Two Pure and Beautiful Girls 60: Chapter 56: Two Pure and Beautiful Girls ¡°Hello, Robert. I¡¯m Black Abortive,¡± Ye Fan said calmly. ¡°Oh, my God!¡± Robert Laurenson exclaimed excitedly, continuing in English, ¡°Black Dragon, I never thought you¡¯d call me. It¡¯s truly an honor! Respected Mr. Black Dragon, how may I assist you?¡± Robert Laurenson was a famous gold medal trader on Wall Street, known for his arrogance, but at this moment, he was full of reverence for Ye Fan. Ye Fan said indifferently in English, ¡°Does the securities company you work for have a branch in China?¡± ¡°Of course, they do, and they¡¯ve been in China for over five years,¡± Robert Laurenson immediately replied. Ye Fan said, ¡°Good. I want to speculate on a stock, and I¡¯d like you to handle it for me.¡± ¡°It would be my honor to serve Black Dragon,¡± Robert Laurenson said. ¡°May I ask which stock you¡¯re interested in?¡± ¡°I don¡¯t know the ticker code, but the company name is Emali Group. The total stock value is about forty to fifty billion yuan, with roughly 25% being free-floating shares. My request is to acquire twelve percent of the company¡¯s shares within five days. Give me an estimate of how much money that will be,¡± said Ye Fan. ¡°Oh, and my goal is to be a long-term shareholder of this company, not just to make a quick profit from a short-term trade.¡± ¡°Please give me half a minute,¡± said Robert Laurenson. ¡°Mhm,¡± Ye Fan responded. Soon, Robert Laurenson replied, ¡°Black Dragon, after calculating, you will need about three billion yuan to achieve your goal. Of course, the actual money you¡¯ll end up spending will only be around one and a half billion yuan.¡± Purchasing twelve percent of Emali Group¡¯s nearly forty billion yuan market cap for just one and a half billion yuan was an absolute bargain, not to mention the stock would surge later when the news of the massive investment by Changhua Investment Fund into Emali Group¡¯s new biomedical projects was released. ¡°It¡¯s possible,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Which securities company should I open an account with?¡± Robert Laurenson mentioned the name of a securities company and then said, ¡°However, to avoid some restrictions in China, the stocks you control cannot all be held in a single account. You¡¯ll need to use different IDs to open four more accounts. Only after acquiring twelve percent of the company¡¯s shares can you gradually transfer them to one account, a process that will take about three months. I hope you understand.¡± ¡°No problem,¡± Ye Fan replied. Because of his unique circumstances, he had several different IDs. For example, the ID he was currently using to enter Emali Group wasn¡¯t a real one, and all the personal information behind this ID, except the name, was fabricated, all of which were created by the National Security Agency. After ending the call and returning to his office, Ye Fan registered five accounts with the securities company designated by Robert Laurenson on his computer, and transferred three billion yuan from his bank account. One billion yuan was transferred to the account associated with the ID he was currently using. Next, he authorized Robert Laurenson to manage these five accounts through his computer. Having done this, Ye Fan idly browsed the web and downloaded games to play. At lunch, Ye Fan intended to go with Lu Xiaoman, but Xie Junru, Zhang Liping, and two other male colleagues from the office invited him to join them for a meal and some interaction, an invitation he naturally accepted. After sending a text message to Lu Xiaoman, Ye Fan went to the cafeteria with Xie Junru, Zhang Liping, and the other two. As for Su Meizhen, due to her sense of identity and the obvious age gap, she did not join them for lunch. On the way to the group cafeteria, Ye Fan learned the names of the two male colleagues: one was Yang Yongxi and the other Sun Dongwen. While eating together, Ye Fan had a pleasant conversation with them. After all, they were all young people, and Xie Junru, Yang Yongxi, and the others showed no signs of exclusion. At a particularly jovial point during their chat, Xie Junru suggested with a laugh, ¡°Why don¡¯t we all go sing karaoke this weekend?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Yang Yongxi and Sun Dongwen immediately shouted excitedly, ¡°It¡¯s the perfect opportunity to welcome Ye Fan!¡± ¡°Hehe, I¡¯d be happy to,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile. Although they hadn¡¯t known each other long, he could tell that Yang Yongxi and Sun Dongwen were both pursuing Xie Junru, which explained their excitement and enthusiasm. ¡°How about you, Liping?¡± Xie Junru turned to ask Zhang Liping. ¡°I¡¯m free,¡± Zhang Liping replied. ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, Friday night!¡± Xie Junru said with a smile. ¡­ ¡­ At seven in the evening, Ye Fan sat on the leather sofa in front of a coffee table at Kai De Coffee House on Tianyuan Road, Liu¡¯s Port, wondering if he was being toyed with by Qin Mengyao. He occasionally looked at the caf¨¦ entrance when suddenly he saw two sweet-looking, youthful long-haired female students walk in hand in hand. The girl on the left wore a school uniform with a white shirt and a light blue skirt, sporting a simple ponytail. The girl on the right was dressed in a pink princess dress with lustrous long black hair cascading over her shoulders and a gentle smile on her face. The two high school girls, about sixteen or seventeen, immediately attracted most people¡¯s attention as they walked in, quieting the cafe considerably, with only the occasional sound of people gulping. Abiding by the principle that it never hurts to look at someone else¡¯s beauty, Ye Fan naturally and openly admired the two pure and pretty girls. He watched the two sweet girls walk in, even noticing the one in the princess dress glance over the crowd, her eyes finally resting on his face and giving him a smile. Sear?h the N??elFir§×.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Eh? When did I become so charming?¡± he wondered internally, delighted that a beauty had singled him out with her smile. Surprised, he saw those two eye-catching girls walk straight toward him. ¡°Haha, fate,¡± he said to himself, feeling secretly pleased, ¡°when they sit at the table next to me, I can strike up a conversation.¡± Just as he was feeling proud, the two lovely and innocent girls really did approach the coffee table where he was sitting. But to his astonishment, the girl in the princess dress sat opposite him, on the inside of the sofa, and the girl in the uniform sat directly across from him. ¡°This¡­¡± Shock was all Ye Fan felt as he saw gazes full of envy, jealousy, and resentment shoot at him from different corners of the cafe, reminiscent of the way Xiang Yu felt when he saw Emperor Qin Shi Huang parading the world and wished to take his place. However, Ye Fan immediately suppressed his amazement and put on what he considered his most handsome smile, greeting, ¡°Hi, beautiful ladies, good evening.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± To his surprise, the princess-dressed girl suddenly burst out laughing and covered her mouth, giggling, ¡°Hehe, Brother Ye, when did you become so polite?¡± Chapter 61 - 61 57 Unchanged Willfulness ?61: Chapter 57 Unchanged Willfulness 61: Chapter 57 Unchanged Willfulness ¡°This, this voice sounds so familiar?¡± Ye Fan stared in surprise at the girl in the princess dress¡¯s delicate face and realized it looked somewhat like Tantai Wanrong. ¡°You, you¡¯re Qin Mengyao!¡± Ye Fan pointed at the girl in the princess dress and exclaimed. The girl in the princess dress lifted her pretty face, looking pleased, and giggled, ¡°Yes, I am Yaoyao. Didn¡¯t recognize me, did you? Hee hee¡­¡± When he realized that the girl in the princess dress was that annoying little bald girl, Ye Fan¡¯s face turned red, and he felt an urge to crawl into a hole. What a blunder, I, I was actually fawning over her like a lovestruck fool! He felt he couldn¡¯t face staying there any longer. Then Qin Mengyao playfully blinked her bright eyes and smiled, ¡°Hee hee, quite a change, huh?¡± ¡°What¡¯s the deal with your hair?¡± Ye Fan asked, somewhat foolishly. Qin Mengyao touched her black hair that draped over her shoulders with her delicate white hand and laughed, ¡°It¡¯s a wig, of course.¡± ¡°Oh, I see.¡± Ye Fan returned to normal and nodded slightly, ¡°The change is indeed quite significant.¡± ¡°Really? S~ea??h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Hee hee, I¡¯ve turned over a new leaf,¡± Qin Mengyao said coquettishly, ¡°Ye Brother, let me introduce someone.¡± Saying this, she reached out and encircled the right shoulder of the girl in the school uniform, introducing, ¡°This is my good classmate and best friend, Liu Yiyi.¡± ¡°Yiyi, this is Ye Brother, Ye Fan. That day in the bar, he saved me. You wouldn¡¯t believe it, there were more than a dozen gangsters trying to drag me away, and Ye Fan slammed the table, stood up, one hand supporting me, and with the other hand, he beat those dozen gangsters till they scattered all over, begging on their knees.¡± ¡°Also, two weeks ago, a big villain was trying to run over my aunt with his car, and Ye Brother happened to see it. Just as my aunt was about to get hit, he flew over like lightning, faster than Superman, and saved my aunt!¡± ¡°Isn¡¯t it awesome?¡± She proudly recounted Ye Fan¡¯s deeds. Liu Yiyi widened her eyes, looking at Ye Fan with some admiration, ¡°Ye Brother, you¡¯re amazing!¡± Her voice was soft and gentle, a serene and tender young girl; it was hard to understand how she ended up befriending and becoming best friends with the rebellious Qin Mengyao. ¡°Hehe, Yiyi, hello.¡± Ye Fan said, feeling somewhat embarrassed as Qin Mengyao praised him till even he blushed. To escape the awkwardness, he raised his right hand and snapped his fingers to call a waiter over, meanwhile asking Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi, ¡°What would you like to drink?¡± ¡°I want a latte,¡± Qin Mengyao immediately chirped. Liu Yiyi spoke a beat slower, ¡°Lemonade.¡± Soon, a young waitress in a black vest came over. Ye Fan directly said, ¡°One latte, one lemonade, and one Blue Mountain coffee.¡± After the waitress left, the three of them chatted casually. Liu Yiyi suddenly turned partly around, murmured something into Qin Mengyao¡¯s ear while giving Ye Fan a quick glance. Seeing that Ye Fan was looking at her, her delicate little face turned bright red. Though Liu Yiyi spoke very quietly, Ye Fan, with his acute hearing, heard her say she wanted to go to the restroom. Of course, he pretended not to hear. Qin Mengyao nodded, ¡°Go ahead, no worries, I¡¯ll talk with Ye Brother for a bit.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Liu Yiyi nodded shyly, hesitated to look at Ye Fan, grabbed her white handbag, and went to the restroom. As soon as Liu Yiyi was out of sight, Qin Mengyao giggled, ¡°Ye Brother, Yiyi is pretty, isn¡¯t she?¡± ¡°Mm, quite gentle and cute,¡± Ye Fan nodded looking at Qin Mengyao. He held a note of caution in his heart, wary of Qin Mengyao¡¯s rebellious and prank-loving nature, cautious not to let the ship sink in the gutter. He didn¡¯t quite trust Qin Mengyao¡¯s words. ¡°Hehe, if you want to chase her, I can help you,¡± Qin Mengyao said with a smile. Ye Fan smiled faintly, shaking his head, his gaze conveying a sense of seeing through her tricks. Seeing this, Qin Mengyao straightened her attitude and said, ¡°Ye brother, I really realize my mistakes now. I¡¯m sorry, I shouldn¡¯t have treated you like that. Also, thank you for saving my aunt and me. Really, I¡¯m very grateful to you.¡± Ye Fan remained unmoved, saying indifferently, ¡°Are you done? Once you¡¯re done, stop harassing me.¡± As he spoke, he stood up to leave. ¡°Don¡¯t, don¡¯t, don¡¯t! Ye brother, don¡¯t go,¡± Qin Mengyao quickly stood up, ¡°I still have more to say.¡± Ye Fan sat back down on the sofa and said, ¡°Hurry up and finish. I have other matters to attend to, and I don¡¯t have time to waste on you.¡± Qin Mengyao sat down and looked at Ye Fan, ¡°Ye brother, how do you find me now? Am I pretty?¡± ¡°Much better than before,¡± Ye Fan glanced at Qin Mengyao and responded flatly. Qin Mengyao giggled and said, ¡°So, you find me pleasing to the eye now?¡± ¡°Not as annoying,¡± Ye Fan said. Qin Mengyao beamed with joy, ¡°Then chase me. I¡¯m easy to pursue.¡± Ye Fan suddenly felt a headache coming on, utterly speechless. He then heard Qin Mengyao continue, ¡°But, if you chase after me, you can¡¯t go after my aunt anymore.¡± ¡°Hmph!¡± Ye Fan frowned deeply and let out a cold snort. Qin Mengyao hurriedly added, ¡°If you don¡¯t like my type, you could chase Yiyi. Yiyi is very gentle, adorable, and innocent. I can help you.¡± ¡°Qin Mengyao, you don¡¯t have to sell out your best friend,¡± Ye Fan said coldly, ¡°I won¡¯t have any more contact with your aunt! That day, I made it clear for you to tell her, after she helps me with those three matters, we owe nothing to each other, never to intersect paths again! So, you also don¡¯t need to bother me!¡± After finishing his words, he stood up and walked away from the sofa, striding off. Qin Mengyao immediately chased after him and threw her arms around Ye Fan¡¯s arm, pleading in a soft voice, ¡°Ye brother, please don¡¯t be angry, alright?¡± Ye Fan felt an unusual softness from his arm and frowned, not even looking at Qin Mengyao, ¡°Let go!¡± ¡°I won¡¯t!¡± Qin Mengyao revealed her stubborn side, ¡°If you leave, I¡¯ll scream that you¡¯re heartless and have abandoned me after getting me pregnant!¡± Ye Fan was so angry he felt like spitting blood, turning around to stare into Qin Mengyao¡¯s eyes, ¡°Have you no shame at all?!¡± ¡°None!¡± Qin Mengyao raised her pretty face defiantly, with a rascal¡¯s grin saying, ¡°Either way, once I shout, your picture is bound to be all over the newspapers and online headlines!¡± Hearing Qin Mengyao¡¯s threat, Ye Fan really didn¡¯t dare to leave forcefully, not wanting to bet whether this rebellious schoolgirl sporting almost a buzzcut would actually do it. If Qin Mengyao were a grown woman, it might have been easier, but she was a high school girl. If she really did shout, it would definitely hit the news headlines. ¡°You!¡± Ye Fan barked in anger. Seeing Qin Mengyao¡¯s smug face, he could only say helplessly, ¡°Let go then, I won¡¯t leave.¡± ¡°Hehe, thank you, Ye brother,¡± Qin Mengyao cooed, releasing Ye Fan. Ye Fan walked back to the sofa in frustration and sat down. At that moment, the coffee was served. Ye Fan didn¡¯t even add sugar, just picked it up and drank it¡ªthe bitterness matching his current mood. ¡°Hehe,¡± Qin Mengyao leaned forward slightly, smiling as she whispered something seductively. Pfft¡ª Ye Fan instantly sprayed a mouthful of coffee everywhere, covering the table. Chapter 62 - 62 058 Conspiracy Trap ?62: Chapter 058 Conspiracy Trap 62: Chapter 058 Conspiracy Trap Yiyi returned and found that Ye Fan and Meng Yao had switched to a different coffee table. She walked over and sat down on the sofa opposite Ye Fan, asking, ¡°Why did you change tables?¡± ¡°I accidentally spilled coffee just now,¡± Ye Fan explained. Meng Yao giggled. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but glance at her. She immediately winked at him, her slender eyes inadvertently revealing a hint of flirtation. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t be bothered with her and looked down to drink his coffee. Yiyi took a sip of her lemon iced water and curiously asked Ye Fan, ¡°Ye, are you also trained in Taekwondo since you can fight so well?¡± ¡°Who said being good means having learned Taekwondo?¡± Ye Fan responded a bit sharply. Meng Yao immediately said, ¡°Hey, Yiyi was just curiously asking. Why are you being so defensive? You scared my Yiyi!¡± Ye Fan realized his response had been instinctive and knew it wasn¡¯t right to speak in that tone, but he didn¡¯t apologize. Instead, he silently sipped his coffee. The atmosphere grew a bit awkward. ¡°Hehe, I¡¯m fine,¡± Yiyi chimed in lightly, trying to ease the tension. She then continued to inquire, ¡°Ye, then what martial art did you learn? Sanda, karate, or boxing?¡± Ye Fan looked up, facing Yiyi who was wearing a calm and kind smile, which softened his heart. He smiled and said, ¡°None of those. I learned military combat skills.¡± The ancient martial arts were not known by most, so it wasn¡¯t suitable to tell Yiyi about them. ¡°Wow, military combat skills! Are they very powerful?¡± Yiyi asked excitedly. Ye Fan smiled and said, ¡°There¡¯s no martial art that¡¯s absolutely powerful, only powerful individuals. Even the best martial arts, if not practiced by a talented and diligent person, might not outperform a street thug. However, military combat techniques focus on lethal strikes, targeting the most vulnerable parts of the human body, so they can be quite threatening.¡± ¡°Pfft,¡± Meng Yao scoffed, ¡°The toughest soldier in the army can beat a truly skilled Taekwondo expert?¡± Ye Fan chuckled dismissively, ignoring Meng Yao¡¯s remark, and continued to drink his coffee. Meng Yao, feeling undervalued and unable to retort, was about to lose her temper when she suddenly remembered the promise she made to her aunt, so she held it back. On the surface, Ye Fan appeared calm while drinking his coffee, but he was actually on guard for Meng Yao¡¯s outburst. However, to his slight surprise, it never came. He didn¡¯t think much of it and planned to finish his coffee and leave. As for hanging out and chatting, he wouldn¡¯t bother spending time with these two immature girls if it weren¡¯t for Meng Yao pressing him. Ye Fan focused on his coffee, and although Meng Yao wasn¡¯t erupting, she was still a bit annoyed, so the atmosphere naturally turned cold. Yiyi wanted to lighten the mood, but since she wasn¡¯t familiar with Ye Fan and was completely on Meng Yao¡¯s side, she remained silent. Just as he was about to finish his coffee, a mocking voice suddenly came from the nearby corridor: ¡°Oh, isn¡¯t that Meng Yao the baldie? Look, she¡¯s wearing a wig, playing nice, and dating a guy!¡± Ye Fan instinctively turned his head to look and saw three guys and a girl standing in the corridor. The trio, ages sixteen to eighteen, were fashionably dressed and rather flashy, styled somewhat non-mainstream. They were looking at Meng Yao with arrogant, provoking expressions, and also cast a disdainful glance at Ye Fan. ¡°Han Liming, you guys should take a good look at yourselves in the mirror before you even think about meddling in my business,¡± Meng Yao shot back immediately without showing any weakness. The red-haired boy leading them jeered, ¡°Ha, I have no interest in meddling in your business. But hey, haha, tonight the Han Royal English Club got thrashed by our Pirate King Club, and here you are, the president of the Royal English Club, hiding in a caf¨¦ on a date. Haha, this is killing me ¨C haha¡­¡± The two guys and a girl behind him also burst into laughter. ¡°Where is it?¡± Meng Yao suddenly stood up, clenching her fists tightly and demanded. Yiyi also rose to her feet. Han Liming said with a smirk, ¡°Where? Haha, even if I told you, you couldn¡¯t do anything. We have invited the Japanese karate master Liu Shengjian, a fifth dan black belt in karate! With your petty taekwondo skills, you can only¡­ hehe¡­¡± While speaking, he lewdly glanced over Meng Yao¡¯s chest. ¡°Where is it? S~ea??h the N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Tell me!¡± Meng Yao demanded loudly, showing some authority. Han Liming, intimidated by Meng Yao¡¯s demeanor, replied, ¡°Manshu Bar.¡± ¡°Yiyi, let¡¯s go.¡± Meng Yao immediately hurried out with Yiyi. However, just a few steps out, she suddenly stopped, turned back, and abruptly pulled Ye Fan along, her eyes pleading, ¡°Brother Ye, can you come with me too?¡± Ye Fan wasn¡¯t interested in childish fights, it was beneath him, so he shook his head and refused. Meng Yao stamped her foot and asked, ¡°What would it take for you to agree?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not a matter of conditions; I¡¯m simply not interested,¡± Ye Fan said calmly. Meng Yao was about to speak when her phone suddenly rang, so she quickly picked it up. ¡°Meng Yao, come save us!¡± a girl¡¯s voice, frantic and close to tears, came from the phone. Meng Yao immediately said, ¡°I¡¯ll be right there. Are you at Manshu Bar?¡± ¡°No. We¡¯ve already lost two rounds, and we¡¯re about to head to Longwan Mountain for a car race,¡± the girl¡¯s voice from the phone explained. ¡°If we lose the car race, we¡¯ll have to be Lin Junhua¡¯s girlfriends for a month!¡± ¡°What?!¡± Meng Yao exclaimed in shock, her face turning pale as she angrily scolded, ¡°How can you bet on things like this?!¡± ¡°It was Sister Xuan¡¯s decision. We didn¡¯t want to. Moreover, she forbid us from telling you,¡± the girl¡¯s voice cried, ¡°Meng Yao, please hurry!¡± ¡°Alright, I¡¯ll be there soon! Don¡¯t rush into racing with them!¡± After hanging up, Meng Yao clenched her teeth, flared her nostrils, her eyes round with anger and urgency. She tore off the wig that she was wearing on her head, throwing it to the ground, revealing her nearly bald head which contrasted sharply with the gentle, princess-like dress she was wearing. She didn¡¯t call for Ye Fan anymore and swiftly walked towards Yiyi. ¡°Wait, maybe I can help,¡± Ye Fan called out. He had heard the voice on the phone. Meng Yao abruptly stopped, turned, and coldly said, ¡°No need! A bumpkin like you might be strong enough to fight, but racing is way out of your league! Hmph!¡± After saying that, she turned back, took Yiyi¡¯s hand, and hurried away. Clearly, she was holding a grudge against Ye Fan for his earlier indifference. Even though Meng Yao rudely rejected his offer of help, Ye Fan didn¡¯t give up; he couldn¡¯t just watch Meng Yao walk into a trap. To use becoming someone¡¯s girlfriend for a month as a bet was clearly a foolish decision, obviously a plot. Furthermore, in the cafe, the encounter with the opponent¡¯s men, who just ¡°happened¡± to run into Meng Yao and mock her, was suspicious. Even more, he couldn¡¯t just stand by, knowing the situation and watching a group of high school girls being forced to be someone else¡¯s girlfriends. Chapter 63 - 63 059 The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao Part 1 ?63: Chapter 059: The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao (Part 1) 63: Chapter 059: The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao (Part 1) Ye Fan followed and when he reached the parking lot, he said to Qin Mengyao, ¡°You go ahead and leave first for three minutes. I¡¯ll catch up with you later.¡± Now, saying anything was useless; he had to prove his ability first. Qin Mengyao didn¡¯t refuse and said, ¡°I hope you can catch up.¡± S§×arch* The n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. After she spoke, she hurriedly pulled Liu Yiyi towards a red BMW X6 equipped with a comprehensive dual-turbocharged engine. Just as she pulled open the car door, she suddenly called out, ¡°Yiyi, wait!¡± ¡°What¡¯s wrong?¡± Liu Yiyi was already opening the passenger side door, ready to get in. Qin Mengyao said, ¡°Yiyi, could you please ride with Brother Ye and keep an eye on him!¡± Turns out, although she was in a rush to save the show, she was unsure about winning the car race in her heart, so while she verbally doubted Ye Fan¡¯s racing ability, deep down she was hoping that Ye Fan would surprise her with his racing skills. ¡°Okay. Be careful on the road,¡± Liu Yiyi responded, then shut the car door and walked towards Ye Fan. Qin Mengyao immediately got into the car, slammed the door shut, and then sped towards Longwan Mountain, on the outskirts of Hua Hai City. Seeing Liu Yiyi approaching him, Ye Fan immediately understood Qin Mengyao¡¯s intention and thought, ¡°Qin Mengyao can actually think of this under such urgent circumstances. Her mind is meticulous, almost matching Tantai Wanrong¡¯s. She¡¯s not completely useless after all.¡± ¡°Brother Ye,¡± Liu Yiyi called out as she reached Ye Fan. Ye Fan nodded and said, ¡°Let¡¯s get in the car.¡± They got into the car, ignited the engine but didn¡¯t start it. After buckling up, Ye Fan looked leisurely at Liu Yiyi and noticed that this gentle and quiet girl was clenching her fists tightly, her pretty face showing a touch of nervousness. ¡°Hehehe, Yiyi, don¡¯t be nervous. With your Brother Ye here, nothing can go wrong,¡± Ye Fan joked a bit, ¡°Speaking of racing, compared to me, even Schumacher is weak. Just last year, I raced against him, and he was utterly trounced by me.¡± Liu Yiyi turned her head and said seriously, ¡°Didn¡¯t Schumacher have an accident skiing in the French Alpine Region, fell into a coma, and has been lying in the hospital ever since?¡± Ye Fan was embarrassed as his bluff was called out and his face was slapped on the spot. He could only laugh it off, ¡°Yeah, that¡¯s why he can¡¯t race better than me. Hahaha¡­¡± ¡°Oh,¡± Liu Yiyi responded with a single sound, neither laughing nor showing any mockery. Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but say, ¡°Don¡¯t you think that joke was funny?¡± ¡°Mhm,¡± Liu Yiyi responded again with a single sound. ¡°No sense of humor,¡± Ye Fan shrugged and spread his hands, ¡°By the way, what grade will you be in?¡± ¡°I¡¯ll be a senior after the school starts,¡± Liu Yiyi said. They continued chatting, and Liu Yiyi seemed less nervous on the surface. Mid-conversation, Liu Yiyi suddenly said, ¡°Brother Ye, three minutes are up.¡± ¡°Haha, no rush,¡± Ye Fan said, smiling. But Liu Yiyi said, ¡°I¡¯m afraid we won¡¯t catch up if we¡¯re late.¡± Ye Fan felt a bit frustrated. Clearly, this young lady didn¡¯t believe in his skills. Right then, he put the car in gear and stepped on the accelerator. The car shot forward. Although Longwan Mountain was said to be in the suburbs of Hua Hai City, it was actually beyond the city¡¯s boundaries, entering another province, about thirty to forty kilometers from the city center. Because Hua Hai City was too bustling and flat, the local street racers could only go dozens of kilometers away to find a suitable place. Following Ye Fan as he maneuvered his second-hand Citro?n at full speed, agilely weaving through the heavy traffic and continuously overtaking cars, Liu Yiyi couldn¡¯t help but turn her head in amazement to look at Ye Fan. Before they left, Ye Fan had been bragging while chatting with her. Though she showed no reaction, she had believed deep down that Ye Fan was all talk and his racing skills must be mediocre. But now, she had to change the opinion she held deep down. Feeling Liu Yiyi¡¯s gaze, Ye Fan, while driving at full speed, still had time to turn his head and smile, ¡°I didn¡¯t lie to you, did I?¡± ¡°You, you better focus on driving!¡± Seeing Ye Fan turn his face to talk to her in such a situation, Liu Yiyi was startled, her pretty face turning pale. Weaving through traffic at full speed was scary enough just having a conversation, but turning his head around nearly scared her soul out of her body. Ye Fan turned back and continued to speed along while smiling, ¡°It¡¯s fine, this car¡¯s engine isn¡¯t very powerful, there¡¯s no danger at this speed.¡± ¡°You should focus on driving. I¡¯m not going to talk to you anymore,¡± Liu Yiyi said, trembling with fear. Ye Fan could only smile and said nothing more. About seven or eight minutes later, Liu Yiyi cried out, ¡°Look, the car ahead is Meng Yao.¡± By this time, they were driving on the outer ring highway where traffic was relatively sparse, and there was no need to overtake constantly. Liu Yiyi finally breathed a sigh of relief. ¡°Yes, I see her,¡± Ye Fan calmly replied. Soon, Ye Fan caught up with Qin Mengyao, driving side by side, and honked at her a few times. After driving alongside for a while, Ye Fan sped up, overtaking Qin Mengyao and continued at full speed toward Longwan Mountain. Qin Mengyao had not expected Ye Fan to really catch up, she was both shocked and delighted. As she saw Ye Fan overtaking her, she immediately, refusing to admit defeat, accelerated to catch up. However, even though her car was more than ten times better than Ye Fan¡¯s, she could only watch as he left her behind, eventually not even the taillights were visible anymore. ¡°Brother Ye, aren¡¯t we waiting for Meng Yao?¡± Liu Yiyi asked. Ye Fan said, ¡°Of course, we are waiting. I am slowing down now to let her catch up.¡± After a while, Qin Mengyao caught up, and Ye Fan let her take the lead. They then drove in succession toward Longwan Mountain. A few minutes later, they reached Longwan Mountain. The road there was a mountain highway, and Longwan Mountain was no ordinary mountain¡ªthere were many extreme turns where one could easily run off the road and tumble down the cliffs to their deaths. At the foot of Longwan Mountain, there was a large open space. From a distance, Ye Fan saw many cars parked and a crowd of people gathered, buzzing with voices, whistles, and the shrill alarms of cars. As the car screeched to a halt, a group of people immediately surrounded them. Ye Fan and Liu Yiyi got out of the car and walked over to Qin Mengyao, where they saw that the crowd surrounding her was a group of 16 or 17-year-old girls, with widely varied clothing styles. Many of them wore ultra-short skirts, heavy eye makeup, bandeau tops, or slip dresses, and most were dressed brightly boasting designer labels. ¡°Meng Yao, you¡¯re here, that¡¯s great!¡± The group of girls crowded around Qin Mengyao excitedly, as if they had seen a savior. Qin Mengyao, striking a commanding big sister¡¯s pose, comforted the group of little girls who were trembling with fright. Just then, a path split open amongst the group of girls encircling Qin Mengyao, and a girl dressed in a bright red miniskirt with heavy makeup marched up to Qin Mengyao with a few other girls, her anger palpable. ¡°Baldy Meng Yao, you¡¯ve already quit the Hallyu Club. What are you doing here?¡± The heavily made-up girl asked defiantly. Qin Mengyao raised her pretty face, her eyes wide open, and asked in an even more defiant tone, ¡°Chen Hongxuan, who let you gamble with the girls¡¯ innocence?!¡± ¡°You¡¯re not part of the Hallyu Club anymore, it¡¯s none of your business!¡± Chen Hongxuan retorted coldly. ¡°Slap!¡± Suddenly, Qin Mengyao¡¯s hand lashed out, and a loud slap rang out. Chen Hongxuan covered her left cheek with one hand, her voice shrill with malice, ¡°You dared to hit me?¡± The next moment, Qin Mengyao fiercely raised her leg and kicked at Chen Hongxuan¡¯s stomach. ¡°Ah¡ª¡± Chen Hongxuan was kicked back several steps and fell on her bottom to the ground. Qin Mengyao did not stop there; she immediately followed up and started punching and kicking Chen Hongxuan on the ground. Thump, thump, thump¡ª Punch after punch, kick after kick landed with a meaty thud. ¡°So what if I hit you? Damn it, you backstabbing trash, daring to gamble with our sisters¡¯ innocence! Today, if I don¡¯t beat you to death, I¡¯m not a Qin!¡± Meng Yao cursed as she continued her assault. Chen Hongxuan was powerless to resist and cried out in pain. In the end, the other girls, afraid that Qin Mengyao might actually kill Chen Hongxuan, quickly stepped in to pull her away. After being pulled away, Qin Mengyao spat a thick gob of spit at Chen Hongxuan on the ground and loudly declared, ¡°Chen Hongxuan, you¡¯re expelled. From now on, you are no longer a member of the Hallyu Club!¡± Chen Hongxuan was in a sorry state, her hair disheveled into a bird¡¯s nest, screaming like a madwoman, ¡°I am the club president, you are not even a member now, by what right do you expel me?!¡± ¡°I say you¡¯re expelled, so you¡¯re expelled!¡± Qin Mengyao said dismissively, then raised her head to ask the other girls, ¡°What do you all say?¡± ¡°Yes!¡± The girls responded in unison. Chapter 64 - 64 060 The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao Part 2 ?64: Chapter 060: The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao (Part 2) 64: Chapter 060: The Arrogant and Domineering Qin Mengyao (Part 2) Slap, slap, slap¡­ A rhythmic clapping sound arose from the outskirts, and Ye Fan turned toward the noise, seeing a tall, thin boy about seventeen or eighteen years old clapping his hands, leading a group of well-dressed boys toward them. The corner of the tall, thin boy¡¯s mouth curled up with a wicked smirk; he carried himself with an arrogant and irritating air. The girls surrounding Qin Mengyao saw him coming with his group and couldn¡¯t help but shrink back behind Qin Mengyao, shivering like cicadas. ¡°Splendid, truly splendid!¡± the tall, thin boy jeered, ¡°Such infighting is really rare to see.¡± Qin Mengyao snorted coldly, fearlessly stepped forward with her chest out and face held high, and said unapologetically, ¡°Lin Junhua, quit being a pretentious ass here, or you might get struck by lightning!¡± Lin Junhua, the tall, thin boy, threw his head back and laughed loudly. ¡°That¡¯s a line I should throw at you, Bald Mengyao!¡± He paused, then continued, ¡°This is a matter between the Pirate King Society and the Korean Cloud English Society. What business does an outsider like you have here?¡± ¡°Hmph, I¡¯m now the president of the Cloud English Society!¡± Qin Mengyao declared, ¡°I announce that the bet is void!¡± ¡°Void?¡± Lin Junhua laughed loudly. ¡°You think you can just say it¡¯s void and it will be? You need to ask if we agree!¡± After saying that, he turned and shouted with force, ¡°Brothers, the meat was almost in our mouths, and it flew away. Do you agree?¡± ¡°No agreement! No agreement!¡± the group of boys roared fiercely, with deafening voices and imposing presence, causing the faces of the girls across from them to turn pale with fear. Lin Junhua laughed heartily, satisfied, then turned back and looked at Qin Mengyao with scorn, ¡°Did you hear that? We don¡¯t, agree!¡± ¡°Hmph, whether you agree or not, you¡¯d have to agree!¡± Qin Mengyao wasn¡¯t overwhelmed by his presence and said coldly, ¡°Such a bet is illegal to begin with. If you mess around, we will call the police! Then we¡¯ll see whether the police uphold your so-called bet or arrest you all!¡± ¡°Haha, Bald Mengyao, cut out the posturing. There¡¯s not a single person here whose background is too weak!¡± Lin Junhua sneered, then threatened with a sinister tone, ¡°If you dare break the agreement, we will unite to deal with each of you separately, tormenting and destroying you one by one!¡± Hearing this, the girls behind Qin Mengyao trembled in fear; many of them certainly wouldn¡¯t escape unscathed if Lin Junhua followed through with his threats. Qin Mengyao disdainfully said, ¡°Lin Junhua, you think you can frighten anyone? Believe me, I can make a phone call right now and get your dad thrown in jail for life. Your dad is a corrupt official, don¡¯t think I don¡¯t know that! Once your dad is locked up, you¡¯ll be nothing, easily crushed to death.¡± S§×ar?h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Then, she pointed at the boys behind Lin Junhua and declared, ¡°And you guys, anyone lays a hand on us, and I¡¯ll have my aunt send your parents or grandparents to jail! Don¡¯t worry, my aunt won¡¯t target too many people, just a few. But as for who exactly, hmph, that will depend on this young lady¡¯s mood! Oh, right, you probably think my aunt doesn¡¯t have that much influence, but if I gather the backing behind the Cloud English Society, I could crush any of your parents or grandparents!¡± ¡°Dare to mess with us, our parents and elders will dare to crush your parents or grandparents!¡± The expressions on the faces of Lin Junhua and his group turned ugly, and thoughts of retreat surged in their minds. While they might be spoiled brats, ignorant of the severity of their actions, none of them were truly foolish; they knew their lavish and unruly lives were entirely dependent on their parents or other elders. If their patrons were to lose power or their businesses were to fail, they could fully imagine how dismal their fates would be. Qin Mengyao¡¯s words only fueled her courage. For a moment, there was silence in the air. Ye Fan, who was nearby, listened and couldn¡¯t help but nod to himself, impressed. Qin Mengyao did indeed have a strategic mind; she didn¡¯t even wait to lose before she overturned the table and refused the final gamble, taking no risks at all. ¡°Bald Mengyao, you think you can scare anyone! Stop hanging your auntie¡¯s name on your lips; she¡¯s not your mom and won¡¯t always listen to you!¡± Lin Suohua¡¯s face also turned ugly as he bit the bullet and spoke. Qin Mengyao snorted, ¡°I never scare anyone; you can try if you dare.¡± She swept a cold gaze over everyone opposite her and accidentally spotted Chen Hongxuan shrinking on the side of the Pirate King Society. She immediately pointed at Chen Hongxuan and yelled, ¡°Chen Hongxuan, get over here!¡± Chen Hongxuan shrank further into the Pirate King Society boys, too scared to move while casting a pleading look toward Lin Junhua. ¡°Are you coming or not?¡± Qin Mengyao shouted harshly. Seeing that Lin Junhua did not speak up for her, Chen Hongxuan reluctantly said, ¡°You¡¯ve already expelled me from the Yunying Society; I¡¯m no longer a member, you have no right to order me around!¡± ¡°Not coming, is that it? Very well, from now on, don¡¯t even think about mixing in Hua Hai City!¡± Qin Mengyao threatened. Chen Hongxuan was nearly in tears, slowly edging over, but daring not to get too close to Qin Mengyao, her teeth chattering. ¡°Come over here!¡± Qin Mengyao ordered. Chen Hongxuan turned to look at Lin Junhua several times, but Lin Junhua remained silent. She suddenly burst into tears and threw herself at Qin Mengyao¡¯s feet, crying and pleading, ¡°Sister Yao, I know I was wrong, please let me go?¡± Slap! Slap! Slap! Qin Mengyao slapped Chen Hongxuan three times in a row and then kicked her away, pointing at Chen Hongxuan while looking sternly at Lin Junhua and the others, ¡°This bitch dared to betray our Yunying Society! Lin Junhua, you better watch closely, her father will definitely be ousted within two months!¡± As these words fell, Lin Junhua and his group of boys behind him could not help but drastically change their expressions, causing a stir. The girls behind Qin Mengyao immediately began yelling angrily with gritted teeth, ¡°That¡¯s right, how dare Chen Hongxuan harm us, her father is as good as dead!¡± ¡°Destroy her father!¡± ¡°Make sure her father rots in prison!¡± ¡­ ¡­ Women are naturally vindictive; having almost been killed by Chen Hongxuan¡¯s betrayal, they all glared at her with bone-deep hatred, determined to do whatever it takes when they get home to coordinate with Qin Mengyao¡¯s aunt to destroy Chen Hongxuan¡¯s father! Chen Hongxuan fainted on the spot when she heard Qin Mengyao was about to mobilize the power behind the Yunying Society to target her father. Originally, Chen Hongxuan was the vice president of the Korean Yunying Society, and she was relatively familiar with the family backgrounds of the society members. She knew that apart from Qin Mengyao, many other members also had significant family influence. If they really united, her father could be sent to prison in three days instead of two months. Being his daughter, she knew well that her father was not a clean official. Lin Junhua, unwilling to give in, said, ¡°So, Yunying Society just wants to default on the bet like this?¡± ¡°Lin Junhua, let¡¯s change the stake,¡± Qin Mengyao said calmly. ¡°Let¡¯s bet three million! We¡¯ll settle it with a race.¡± Lin Junhua¡¯s face clouded over; he knew his previous bet was no longer feasible and thought to himself, ¡°Three million then, let it be seen as tonight¡¯s hardship fee. Anyway, I¡¯ve prepared to win for sure.¡± Right then, he replied, ¡°Alright, let¡¯s bet three million! But I have one condition, I can bring in an outside helper!¡± ¡°Agreed!¡± Qin Mengyao said. She herself was an incredibly mad racing expert, but compared to Ye Fan, she was not even close, which was why she had confidence in Ye Fan¡¯s racing skills. Chapter 65 - 65 061 Racing King ?65: Chapter 061 Racing King 65: Chapter 061 Racing King Longwan Mountain was the street racing hub of Hua Hai City, where every night more than a dozen car races took place. Naturally, these events of speed and passion were accompanied by hefty bets and the presence of beautiful women. To be able to claim the title of the street racing holy land of Hua Hai City and not descend into chaos, there obviously had to be a strong hand controlling the entire racing scene at Longwan Mountain. Such individuals were often referred to as middlemen. After Qin Mengyao and Lin Junhua decided to bet three million, she turned around and pooled funds with the girls from Yunying Society. Three million was a lot of money for many ordinary people, but for these rich second-generation and official second-generation girls, it wasn¡¯t a big deal. Moreover, compared to the awkward situation just moments before, where she almost had to agree to become someone¡¯s girlfriend for a month, merely placing a bet of three million, win or lose, they didn¡¯t care at all. So, the group of girls each contributed either one hundred thousand or fifty thousand, and it didn¡¯t take long for Qin Mengyao to collect the three million through online banking. It turned out that although the middlemen dominated the Longwan Mountain racing track, they offered excellent service. The site was equipped with computers, banking facilities, and free wifi, and the entire racing stretch was monitored by numerous CCTV cameras. Once Qin Mengyao had raised the three million, she immediately went with Lin Junhua to the middleman to sign the betting contract, which confirmed the bet for both parties. Ye Fan watched from the side and couldn¡¯t help commenting, ¡°They really do offer comprehensive services, huh.¡± Standing next to Ye Fan, Liu Yiyi added, ¡°They take a ten percent commission. But with a middleman present, no one dares to cause trouble or renege on a debt.¡± After signing the betting agreement, Lin Junhua burst into laughter, ¡°Bald Mengyao, you¡¯re bound to lose!¡± ¡°Is that so? I wouldn¡¯t be so sure!¡± Qin Mengyao retorted with a cold smirk. Lin Junhua shook his head, laughing, then pulled over a proud-looking young man in his thirties from the crowd of Pirate King Society and arrogantly said, ¡°Do I even need to introduce him? S~ea??h the n?vel_Fire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You recognize him, right? Hmph!¡± ¡°Racing King Qin Gang!¡± Qin Mengyao couldn¡¯t help but exclaim, her complexion souring. The girls behind her also began to cry out in shock, with two of them even screaming like they had seen a celebrity. They unabashedly rushed forward, holding onto the young man¡¯s arms and rubbing their chests against his arms while coquettishly begging for autographs and selfies, oblivious to their hostile relationship. Noticing the commotion, Ye Fan turned to Liu Yiyi and asked, ¡°Is that guy really that good?¡± ¡°Extremely good!¡± Liu Yiyi replied worriedly, ¡°Qin Gang is a street racing master who¡¯s risen to fame over the past two years. It¡¯s said that he¡¯s raced over a hundred times in Hua Hai City without a single loss, and the city¡¯s racing community has named him Racing King.¡± She then sighed and said, ¡°I can¡¯t believe Lin Junhua could be so despicable and shameless, it¡¯s clearly a plot to take down Yunying Society. If Yaoyao hadn¡¯t firmly demanded the cancellation of the previous bet, Yunying Society would have been in a real mess.¡± ¡°Brother Ye, I think you should reconsider racing against him,¡± she advised kindly, ¡°Since there¡¯s no guarantee of winning, and street racing is extremely dangerous, it¡¯s not worth the risk.¡± Ye Fan replied with a calm smile, ¡°How would we know without trying?¡± As they talked, Qin Mengyao came over looking dejected and said to Ye Fan, ¡°Bro, the opponent is very strong. Are you still planning to race?¡± ¡°Of course, if he¡¯s too weak, the race wouldn¡¯t be interesting,¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°But before the official race, I want to familiarize myself with the track.¡± Given that Qin Gang was referred to as the Racing King within Hua Hai City¡¯s street racing circle, he must be incredibly familiar with Longwan Mountain¡¯s track. Meanwhile, it was Ye Fan¡¯s first time visiting Longwan Mountain, and he was completely in the dark about the race track¡¯s layout. Qin Mengyao responded, ¡°Alright. I¡¯ll go talk to the middleman.¡± Shortly after, she came back and handed over her car keys to Ye Fan, ¡°Bro Ye, it¡¯s arranged, you can go and get to know the track now.¡± Knowing that his second-hand Citro?n, which he had bought for fifty thousand yuan, stood no chance against Racing King Qin Gang, he unceremoniously took the keys from Qin Mengyao. Following Qin Mengyao, the girls from Yunying Society pointed at Ye Fan and asked, ¡°Sister Yao, is he our outside help? A very unfamiliar face, haven¡¯t seen him before.¡± ¡°Yeah, he¡¯s definitely no match for Qin Gang.¡± ¡°Just as well, it¡¯s only losing two hundred thousand.¡± ¡­ Amidst the doubting chatter of the group of girls, Ye Fan walked up to Qin Mengyao¡¯s BMW X6, opened the door, and sat down. He fiddled around leisurely for a while before starting the car and entering the racing lane. After entering the racing lane, Ye Fan didn¡¯t rush. He drove slowly, his speed barely faster than that of an electric scooter. ¡°What¡¯s he doing?¡± a girl asked. Qin Mengyao replied, ¡°Ye Ge is familiarizing himself with the track.¡± ¡°Familiarizing with the track?!¡± The girls exploded in disbelief, ¡°Isn¡¯t this too little, too late? He¡¯s definitely going to lose, absolutely!¡± ¡°Yaoyao, why don¡¯t you race instead? There might still be a glimmer of hope.¡± Watching Ye Fan drive slowly away, Qin Mengyao said, ¡°Ye Ge will definitely win!¡± As she spoke these words, she didn¡¯t believe them herself. Could he win? Definitely not, she just hoped it wouldn¡¯t be too embarrassing of a loss. At that moment, Lin Junhua, leading the boys from the Pirate King society, came over and scoffed loudly, ¡°Baldy Yao, is that the reinforcement you brought in? Tsk tsk, you might as well have raced yourself! I¡¯m truly thankful for the three million you¡¯re handing over!¡± When he spoke of the three million, he gritted his teeth with anticipation. More than winning the money, he was thirsty for the victory that would win him a month with the girls from the Cloud Elite society, free to play with them as he pleased. ¡°If I dare to bet, then naturally I have confidence in winning, no need for your concern. Beat it, just seeing you makes me sick!¡± Qin Mengyao said coldly. The girls behind her also chimed in, ¡°Didn¡¯t you hear? Yaoyao told you to scram! So get lost, you make us sick too!¡± Amidst the clamor and insults of the girls, Lin Junhua huffed, ¡°Stop pretending here, just make sure you don¡¯t welch on the bet after you lose!¡± After speaking, he and the boys from Pirate King society moved away. About half an hour later, Ye Fan finally drove back leisurely. Getting out of the car, Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi went up to meet him, followed by a group of girls. ¡°How is it?¡± Qin Mengyao asked. Ye Fan replied with a faint smile, ¡°Not bad, the course is fairly simple.¡± ¡°Fairly simple?!¡± The girls behind Qin Mengyao cried out, ¡°Stop bluffing! Longwan Mountain¡¯s race track is the most complex and dangerous we¡¯ve ever seen! If you can¡¯t do it, don¡¯t act tough here. If you crash and die, we¡¯re not paying for it!¡± ¡°That¡¯s right! With your hick look, you think you¡¯re fit to compete with the Racing King, Qin Gang? Just admit defeat graciously, and don¡¯t sully our handsome Qin!¡± Feigning curiosity, Ye Fan asked Qin Mengyao, ¡°Your sisters are really strange, openly siding with the enemy.¡± Qin Mengyao felt utterly disgraced and turned to scold the girl who had made the sarcastic comment about Ye Fan, ¡°Zhao Caixia, did you forget to brush your teeth this morning, or did you just go eat shit, spewing such stink! Believe it or not, I¡¯ll tear that foul mouth of yours!¡± The girl didn¡¯t dare to retort, bowed her head in grievance, and muttered softly, ¡°He¡¯s just not on par with Qin Gang!¡± Chapter 66 - 66 062 Crushing ?66: Chapter 062: Crushing 66: Chapter 062: Crushing A three-million yuan bet on the Longwan Mountain racetrack was quite a large gamble and naturally attracted many racing enthusiasts as well as numerous scantily clad busty women. Two cars lined up side by side at the starting line: a red BMW 6X and a cool-looking yellow Ferrari sports car. Based solely on performance, the BMW 6X, while a decent car valued at a million, fell significantly short compared to the Ferrari sports car. ¡°We¡¯re doomed,¡± the girls exclaimed in despair upon seeing the opponent¡¯s car. Both software and hardware were inferior, so how could they possibly hope to win? That¡¯s what all the girls from Yunying Club thought. Even Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi weren¡¯t optimistic. Qin Mengyao struggled to maintain a confident smile, though she had already resigned herself to defeat. However, she had no regrets and would still place the bet if given another chance. Ye Fan and Racing King Qin Gang walked to their respective cars from opposite sides. ¡°Hello.¡± Ye Fan greeted Qin Gang with a faint smile on his face. Hearing the greeting, Qin Gang turned his head, glanced indifferently at Ye Fan, and without nodding, turned back and got into the Ferrari, closing the door. His attitude clearly showed he didn¡¯t consider Ye Fan to be worthy of being his opponent. Ye Fan wasn¡¯t upset. With a faint smile and a shrug, being rude wasn¡¯t his style. He opened the car door to get in when Qin Mengyao came over, leaned close, and whispered in his ear, ¡°Ye Fan, be careful, winning or losing doesn¡¯t matter. That three million yuan was meant to alleviate disaster anyway; they were prepared for this.¡± ¡°Hehe, we¡¯ll win.¡± Ye Fan replied with a relaxed smile as if he were about to do something trivial. After saying that, he got into the car and closed the door. The race was about to start, both engines roared to life. Every now and then, they revved their engines to maximum as a warm-up, emitting deafening roars reminiscent of howling primordial beasts straining at the leash. Just the sound alone was enough to get the blood pumping. However, most people weren¡¯t very hopeful since everyone, including members of both Yunying and Haipirates clubs and even the spectators, unanimously believed that Racing King Qin Gang would win for sure. If they were expecting anything, it was to watch Qin Gang¡¯s amazing drifts and fancy tail flicks on those sharp 180-degree turns through the surveillance footage. ¡°I wonder if the Racing King can break his record this time?¡± people discussed. Including the girls from Yunying Club, ¡°Last time he ran thirteen minutes and forty-three seconds.¡± ¡°I think he definitely can. S~ea??h the ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. This time he¡¯s driving a Ferrari FF, all-wheel drive, dual-clutch gearbox, valued over five million!¡± someone said. ¡°Not necessarily though. The opponent is too weak, just a newbie, unknown, dressed in cheap clothes, and was just getting familiar with the track, driving a mere one-million BMW 6X,¡± another person said, ¡°Without pressure, breaking the record isn¡¯t going to be easy.¡± ¡°That makes sense. Anyway, I¡¯m just here to see if the Racing King can break the record. As for winning or losing, heh.¡± ¡°Me too.¡± ¡­ ¡­ Amid the one-sided discussion, a beautiful girl wearing only a bikini approached the starting line with a small colorful flag. She gestured to the racers, who nodded, and then she moved aside. As the flag waved down, both cars shot out, kicking up a whirlwind of dust. True to its worth of over five million yuan, the Ferrari FF took a mere two seconds to pull one car length ahead of the BMW 6X, and after two more seconds, it had extended the lead to several meters. This starting acceleration was simply not in the same league. Ye Fan remained calm and floored the accelerator to catch up with all his might. Of course, on a straight road, it¡¯s about whose car is better and faster, but on a winding mountain road, it¡¯s all about the skill. Soon, the first sharp turn arrived. Racing King, leading in front, had to slow down to make the turn. Seizing the opportunity, Ye Fan kept speeding up to close the gap. The next moment, Ye Fan also reached the first sharp turn. However, Ye Fan didn¡¯t slow down; he continued accelerating, drifting around the turn with a huge fishtail. ¡°Wow¡ª¡± Since it was the first turn, everyone could see it directly without needing video surveillance; they were all shocked and screamed. ¡°Is this newbie too reckless? Isn¡¯t he afraid of crashing down the cliff and shattering to pieces?!¡± However, amidst their astonishment, they displayed excited, anticipatory looks and started focusing on the BMW 6X. With the first sharp turn, Ye Fan had closed the gap by six or seven meters. But then, the opponent widened the gap by four or five meters using the car¡¯s advantage. Fortunately, Longwan Mountain¡¯s winding road was complex enough; another 90-degree turn soon approached. On the surveillance videos, everyone saw Racing King driving the Ferrari FF, gracefully drifting through the tight 90-degree turn, eliciting amazed shouts from the crowd: ¡°Beautiful! So cool! Idol!¡± The scene instantly boiled over. However, immediately after, Ye Fan¡¯s BMW 6X entered the 90-degree turn on the surveillance video. The BMW 6X was still speeding, resembling a rampant beast, beautifully drifting through the narrow lane at 90 degrees, easily navigating the tight corner and tailing the Ferrari FF. ¡°This¡­¡± All the spectators in front of the video were dumbfounded, falling into a stunned silence. After a moment, a deafening roar erupted. Roar¡ª The audience was completely exhilarated! Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi exchanged glances, filled with surprise and anticipation. ¡°Brother Ye will definitely win!¡± Yiyi clenched her fists and shouted. Qin Mengyao nodded vigorously and said, ¡°Yes, he will definitely win!¡± As Ye Fan tailed the Ferrari FF for a while, Racing King Qin Gang, preparing to utilize the Ferrari¡¯s performance advantage to widen the gap, encountered another sharp turn and had to slow down for drifting. But as he was drifting slowly, Ye Fan had already maintained full speed and passed him. Wow¡ª Everyone watching the surveillance video couldn¡¯t help but get incredibly excited. The girls from Yunying Society screamed and jumped up, while Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi hugged each other in excitement. However, those from Pirate King Society were frustrated. Lin Junhua cursed in anger, ¡°What the hell is Qin Gang doing? Driving a Ferrari FF that I borrowed with so much difficulty, and yet getting overtaken by a country bumpkin! F*ck!¡± After overtaking in the third turn, Ye Fan continued to use the subsequent turns to increase the distance. Racing King Qin Gang, having been overtaken by Ye Fan, was naturally very unwilling, especially to be surpassed by an unknown newbie dressed in cheap street clothes. Therefore, apart from continuously trying to close the distance using the superior performance of his car, he also insanely took high-speed sharp turns, truly performing beyond his levels. However, the situation never turned around; rather, halfway through the race, he couldn¡¯t even see Ye Fan¡¯s taillights anymore. A complete rout, an absolute domination! Chapter 67 - 67 063 Two Million Five Hundred Thousand ?67: Chapter 063: Two Million Five Hundred Thousand 67: Chapter 063: Two Million Five Hundred Thousand Ye Fan drove the BMW 6X to the finish line, then leisurely turned the car around, and waited for a while before Racing King Qin Gang arrived at the finish line in a Ferrari FF. At that moment, Ye Fan casually drove back. He didn¡¯t know that at the starting point, in front of the surveillance video, everyone was boiling. Even the members of the Pirate King Society, mostly young men, were excited. It was a combination of speed and passion; how could it not be exciting? ¡°They broke the record! They broke the record!¡± the mediator¡¯s surveillance crew shouted excitedly, ¡°Ten minutes fifty-one seconds! Ten minutes fifty-one seconds!!!¡± Boom¡ª Everyone began screaming, setting a new record by a full two minutes fifty-two seconds, nearly three minutes. In fact, Racing King Qin Gang had also broken his own record by more than a minute, but who cared about that? Back at the starting point, when Ye Fan stopped the car, the girls from Yunying Society immediately swarmed him, and other spectators also excitedly gathered around. As soon as Ye Fan got out of the car, several sexy-dressed girls pounced on him, hanging on him and continuously kissing him. Not only that, but many other girls crazily threw themselves at him. Fortunately, Ye Fan, being a master of subdued strength, robust and sturdy, managed not to be knocked down by the crazed crowd of Yunying Society girls. After the frenzy persisted for a while, Ye Fan finally got a chance to catch his breath. However, due to the craziness of the girls, he unknowingly found himself several meters away from his car. Each of his arms was tightly embraced by two girls, with more girls crazily clinging to him from front and back, making Ye Fan unsure if he was feeling up or being felt up. Finally, Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi managed to approach Ye Fan. Seeing the adoring gaze from Qin Mengyao and Liu Yiyi, Ye Fan smiled lightly and said, ¡°I told you so, didn¡¯t I?¡± ¡°Thank you, Brother Ye!¡± Qin Mengyao exclaimed. Ye Fan laughed heartily. At that moment, the crowd parted, and Racing King Qin Gang walked over. Everyone immediately quieted down, watching as Racing King Qin Gang approached Ye Fan. Under everyone¡¯s gaze, Racing King Qin Gang pushed through with a smile and said to Ye Fan, ¡°Your skills are great, a strong opponent indeed. Let¡¯s get acquainted¡ªmy name is Qin Gang.¡± Saying that, he extended his hand to Ye Fan, offering a handshake. Ye Fan glanced indifferently at Racing King Qin Gang¡¯s extended hand and said softly, ¡°Your skills are quite average, but don¡¯t worry, I¡¯m not interested in taking your job.¡± With that, he turned and walked away, not giving Racing King Qin Gang another glance, nor did he shake hands with him. Racing King Qin Gang stood there as if hexed, still extending his hand, but his face flushed red as blood. It was just half an hour ago, before the race started, Ye Fan had greeted him, but he didn¡¯t respond. Now, he came forward to get acquainted with Ye Fan and was blatantly ignored. Deal done, they left without longing for recognition. It seemed that all masters acted this way. Ye Fan was not pretending to be a master; he just didn¡¯t quite enjoy the crazy atmosphere of street racing and planned to leave in his second-hand Citro?n. However, he was stopped by Qin Mengyao together with the girls of the Yunying Society. ¡°Brother Ye, what¡¯s your bank account number?¡± Qin Mengyao asked. Ye Fan frowned and asked, ¡°Why?¡± ¡°To send you money, of course. You helped us win the race; we can¡¯t let you walk away empty-handed,¡± Qin Mengyao said. Ye Fan replied, ¡°No need. I didn¡¯t race for money this time.¡± As he was refusing, a girl sneakily reached out and pulled out his wallet. ¡°The wallet is here, there might be bank cards!¡± the girl in the black spaghetti strap dress squeezed through a few steps and triumphantly held up Ye Fan¡¯s wallet. ¡°Give me back my wallet!¡± Ye Fan shouted, as he went to snatch his wallet back, but was immediately blocked by a wall of girls, with five or six others holding onto his arms and waist. He struggled for a while, then had to give up. A few girls flipped through his wallet together, then excitedly screamed, ¡°Found the bank cards! Found the bank cards!¡± Qin Mengyao immediately took Ye Fan¡¯s bank card into her hands, then went to settle the accounts with Lin Junhua. Despite the middleman, Lin Junhua and others reluctantly transferred three million to Qin Mengyao due to the pain. After getting the three million, Qin Mengyao first transferred thirty thousand as commission to the middleman, following the rules. Then, she faced all the girls from the campaign group and loudly said, ¡°Girls, we could win against the Pirate King faction all thanks to Ye Fan! I propose out of the two million seven hundred thousand, we give Ye Bro two million five hundred thousand and spend the remaining two hundred thousand for fun tonight! What do you all think?¡± ¡°No problem!¡± the crowd of girls all shouted in unison. Tonight, the campaign group had almost fallen into Pirate King faction¡¯s trap, which nearly forced them to be the Pirate King faction boys¡¯ girlfriends for a month¡ªthey were terrified. Now, the crisis being over, and having won two million seven hundred thousand meant less to them. They were very happy to give it all to Ye Fan. These rich kids, used to splurging, find throwing money around too normal when they¡¯re happy. ¡°Hey, why give me so much money!¡± Ye Fan shouted, trying to intervene, but was again physically stopped by the crowd of girls. Soon, through transferring via a computer, two million five hundred thousand yuan was deposited into Ye Fan¡¯s bank account. After the transaction, Qin Mengyao walked over to Ye Fan with the bank card, smiled, and said, ¡°Ye Bro, you are now a millionaire.¡± S§×ar?h the N?velFire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan unimpressedly took the bank card, shook his head and said, ¡°You crazy girls!¡± Next was leaving Longwan Mountain to celebrate back in the city. To prevent Ye Fan from driving away, the girls from the campaign group wouldn¡¯t let him drive, and they made him sit in the back of the car. The celebration was not at a nightclub, but at a very upscale private club that had an entire floor reserved. That floor had it all¡ªa dance floor, a bar stand, gourmet drinks, KTV, video games, snooker, mahjong, and special resting rooms¡ªvirtually a paradise for fun. If not for the fact that it was almost entirely girls playing here, there would have been many scantily clad young and beautiful women. Thirty to forty girls, and just one man, Ye Fan. These girls partied wildly, the atmosphere extremely lively. Though he was the only man, Ye Fan was not bored at all, but felt somewhat overwhelmed, as seven or eight girls constantly surrounded him, chattering and asking him questions. Compared to the chaotic racing scene, here, Ye Fan could finally get a clear look at these mad girls. Though they were dressed exaggeratedly, most of the girls were quite beautiful, with delicate features, fair and tender skin, and slender, tall figures full of youthful vitality. Ye Fan found himself sandwiched between a girl in a tube dress and another in a spaghetti strap dress. They each tightly clung to one of Ye Fan¡¯s arms, as if afraid he would run away. Another group of girls took turns sitting with him. The girls clamorously said, ¡°Ye Bro, you race so well, where did you learn that? Can you teach me? If you agree, I¡¯ll dance for you right away.¡± ¡°Ye Bro, you¡¯re so strong; you must be a good fighter? Do you practice Taekwondo, or is it Sanda? I¡¯m a second-degree black belt in Taekwondo. Let¡¯s spar, shall we? If you beat me, I¡¯ll be your girlfriend for a month,¡± another girl excitedly shouted. ¡°Ye Bro, let¡¯s compete in drinking, shall we? If you get me drunk, I¡¯ll be your girlfriend for a year. If you lose, you have to teach me how to race¡­¡± ¡­ ¡­ They partied until after five in the morning, when these overly energetic girls finally tired out and started looking for places to rest, allowing Ye Fan to leave. He drove back to the villa, quickly showered and changed his clothes. As he came out of the bathroom, he saw Li Zhaojun elegantly descending the stairs from the second floor, dressed in a sharp OL suit. Maybe it was because she had rested for a whole night, but she radiated endless vitality, her eyes sparkling brilliantly, as if covered with a layer of life¡¯s radiance. He thought about retreating back to the bathroom, but it was too late. Li Zhaojun coldly eyed him, her gaze particularly fixed on his damp hair on top of his head. Chapter 68 - 68 064 Bribery ?68: Chapter 064 Bribery 68: Chapter 064 Bribery Li Zhaojun watched Ye Fan with a cold gaze, especially noting the damp hair on his head. ¡°Heh heh, morning,¡± said Ye Fan with a forced laugh, feeling a bit guilty. ¡°I just have a habit of taking a morning bath occasionally.¡± Li Zhaojun gave a cold snort, her beautiful eyes openly showing her disgust and disdain. Then, she turned her face and walked towards the dining room. ¡°Got caught,¡± said Ye Fan, shrugging nonchalantly. After tidying up in his room for a bit, Ye Fan went to the dining room for breakfast. In the luxuriously decorated dining room, Li Zhaojun sat upright at the dining table, eating her breakfast with focused elegance. When Ye Fan sat down opposite her, she swallowed a mouthful of bird¡¯s nest porridge and wiped her sensual lips with a plain white cloth, then stood up and left, leaving half a bowl of bird¡¯s nest porridge behind. Stepping out of the main hall on the first floor and into the front courtyard of the villa, Li Zhaojun suddenly stopped, her slim back straightened. She lifted her delicate chin at a forty-five-degree angle, gazing at the misty morning sky, clenched her fists tightly for a moment, then released them and continued with her usual walk rhythm toward her Maserati President. Arriving at the office punctually, all the colleagues in the same office were already there. After fiddling around for a while, Ye Fan approached Su Meizhen¡¯s desk with a brown paper bag in hand and said with a light smile, ¡°Director Su, do you have a moment? I have some work-related ideas I¡¯d like to report to you.¡± Su Meizhen looked up at Ye Fan, then stood up, walked away from her desk, and left the office. Following her out, Ye Fan said, ¡°Let¡¯s talk at the safety staircase.¡± With a sullen face, Su Meizhen walked down the corridor towards the safety staircase. Inside the safety staircase, Su Meizhen turned around to face Ye Fan with a somber expression, ¡°What is it? Speak.¡± Ye Fan chuckled and handed her the paper bag. Su Meizhen took the bag with a puzzled hand. When she felt the outline of something through the paper at that moment, her expression changed abruptly, and her gaze became sharply focused on Ye Fan. ¡°Hehe, take a look inside,¡± said Ye Fan with a light smile. Immediately, Su Meizhen opened the paper bag and saw a stack of crisp, red banknotes inside. ¡°This is fifty thousand yuan. Freshly withdrawn from the bank, every bill is new,¡± Ye Fan said. Su Meizhen sealed the mouth of the bag and looked at Ye Fan, ¡°What do you need me to do?¡± ¡°The administrative department¡¯s work is tedious, but I really dislike dealing with drudgery, so I hope you won¡¯t assign me any menial tasks for the next year. For example, I did not enjoy typing up those forms on the computer yesterday,¡± Ye Fan spoke slowly and deliberately. He figured he would stay at the Emali Group for about a year. Su Meizhen frowned, ¡°You want me not to assign you work? That¡¯s difficult.¡± ¡°Hehe, of course not,¡± Ye Fan replied with a light smile. ¡°I still need to work, being completely idle is also boring. What I¡¯m asking for is the right to choose and refuse the type of work I do.¡± sea??h th§× N?vel?ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Su Meizhen thought for a while, then looked up and said, ¡°For one year?¡± ¡°Yes, one year,¡± Ye Fan nodded with a smile. Su Meizhen said, ¡°Deal.¡± Actually, Ye Fan joining her office was superfluous; even without his doing any work, things would still function normally. The fifty thousand yuan would be a nice supplement for household expenses. Her son was in high school and the expenditures were hefty. In fact, to secure a better seat, she even needed to give a gift to his homeroom teacher before school started. ¡°Heh heh, thank you,¡± said Ye Fan with a faint smile. Fifty thousand yuan was but a trifle for him, yet it secured the pleasure of playing carefree for the next year. After Su Meizhen left with the kraft paper bag, Ye Fan sauntered out of the emergency stairwell and headed towards Lu Xiaoman¡¯s office. He knocked on the door and a voice as sweet and clear as a oriole¡¯s sang out from inside, ¡°Please come in.¡± Pushing open the door, Ye Fan walked in, a playful grin on his face as he called out, ¡°Sister Xiaoman, I¡¯ve come to see you!¡± His gaze shifted to Lu Xiaoman¡¯s desk and he saw her stand up, her pretty face brimming with surprise. ¡°Ye Fan,¡± Lu Xiaoman called out joyfully, stepping out from behind her desk. Approaching Ye Fan, she bombarded him with questions in quick succession, ¡°How¡¯s the new department? Are your office colleagues easy to talk to? Did you arrive late today?¡± ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re asking so many questions at once, how can I answer them all?¡± Ye Fan teased with a laugh. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s face flushed, seemingly embarrassed as she said, ¡°Then you don¡¯t have to answer. Hmph!¡± With a hint of petulance, she turned her face away, leaving Ye Fan with just half of her exquisitely beautiful profile. Ye Fan quickly offered an apologetic smile, ¡°Don¡¯t be mad, I¡¯ll answer them one by one. But let¡¯s sit down and talk, shall we?¡± Once they were seated face to face, Ye Fan stared at Lu Xiaoman for quite some time. Lu Xiaoman¡¯s cheeks blushed slightly as she spoke in a shy voice, ¡°Why are you staring at me like that?¡± ¡°Hehe, I feel like you¡¯ve become prettier since I last saw you a day ago,¡± Ye Fan said. ¡°Where?¡± Lu Xiaoman exclaimed shyly. However, down deep, she agreed. Ever since He Jiaqiang, who harassed and pressured her, was hospitalized and Ye Fan helped her find a specialist for her mother¡¯s breast cancer treatment, all the gloom in her heart had cleared. A good mood, better sleep, and full of anticipation for life naturally made her even more beautiful. Thinking of this, she couldn¡¯t help feeling grateful as she looked at Ye Fan. Ye Fan then went on to answer all of the questions Lu Xiaoman had just asked him. Afterwards, they chatted for a while, then Lu Xiaoman, worried that Ye Fan staying too long would give a bad impression to his colleagues and leaders, sent him back to his own office. Ye Fan laughed and agreed, getting up to leave. However, as Ye Fan reached the door, Lu Xiaoman called out, ¡°Ye Fan, let¡¯s have lunch together.¡± Ye Fan stopped in his tracks and turned around, about to agree, when he suddenly remembered Li Zhaojun¡¯s warning and hesitated. Seeing this, Lu Xiaoman¡¯s smile on her pretty face faded, the brightness in her eyes dimming. This was the third time Ye Fan had declined her invitation, which gave rise to an ominous feeling in her heart. ¡°Did I do something wrong?¡± She couldn¡¯t help but wonder anxiously. Seeing the disappointment in Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes, Ye Fan felt a bit choked up. He walked back to her and said, ¡°I¡¯ve made plans to go to KTV this Friday with my office mates. Why don¡¯t you join us, too?¡± ¡°Sure. Hehe.¡± Lu Xiaoman¡¯s eyes immediately lit up again. Back at the office, Ye Fan returned the forms to Su Meizhen. Since the whole office knew Su Meizhen had delegated that task to Ye Fan, she couldn¡¯t pass it to someone else and had to spend time doing it herself. At three o¡¯clock in the afternoon, while Ye Fan was browsing the ¡°That Year Those Rabbits Those Things¡± forum, his cell phone suddenly rang. Pulling it out, he saw it was a call from an unknown Hua Hai number. Stepping out of the office, Ye Fan saw the phone was still ringing, so he answered, ¡°Hello, who¡¯s this?¡± There was a brief silence on the phone, followed by a smooth, elegant, slightly coquettish voice, ¡°Look at you, Ye Fan, how dare you delete Auntie Rong¡¯s number!¡± Chapter 69 - 69 065 Reconciliation ?69: Chapter 065: Reconciliation 69: Chapter 065: Reconciliation Hearing the soothing, elegant voice laced with a hint of coquetry from the phone, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but exclaim ¡°Ah!¡± in surprise; he hadn¡¯t expected Tantai Wanrong to call him again. He thought their connection had ended after that day¡¯s misunderstanding. So, he hurriedly walked toward the stairwell at the end of the corridor, cheerfully saying, ¡°Haha, it¡¯s Auntie Wanrong. Sorry, I didn¡¯t look at the caller ID just now. No hard feelings, no hard feelings. Haha¡­¡± Tantai Wanrong on the other end of the line huffed and rolled her enticing eyes, clearly unconvinced. ¡°Why haven¡¯t you called these past few days to explain?¡± she asked accusingly. ¡°Are you really feeling guilty?¡± Since calming down last Saturday, she had believed that Ye Fan had bumped into her unintentionally. She had been waiting for Ye Fan to call and explain, but he never did and even deleted her number from his phone; it was infuriating¡ªshe was the one at a disadvantage, and yet, paradoxically, she was the one who had to appease him. Ye Fan laughed joyfully, ¡°Does that mean you believe it wasn¡¯t intentional? That¡¯s great, thank you, Wan¡­ sister.¡± ¡°Don¡¯t call me sister, you must call me aunt!¡± Tantai Wanrong deliberately put on a senior¡¯s air, ¡°You little slicker!¡± ¡°Really? Isn¡¯t ¡®sister¡¯ much better? It suits your young and beautiful unbeatable image,¡± Ye Fan said. Tantai Wanrong giggled slightly, scoffing, ¡°Nice try! It has to be ¡®aunt,¡¯ no negotiating!¡± ¡°Alright then,¡± Ye Fan droned. Tantai Wanrong laughed heartily, ¡°That¡¯s more like it.¡± Listening to her triumphant laughter, an image of a noble and graceful Tantai Wanrong trembling with laughter surfaced in Ye Fan¡¯s mind. After laughing for a bit, Tantai Wanrong said, ¡°Ye Fan, do you really have a girlfriend? Answer me seriously.¡± ¡°No,¡± Ye Fan immediately replied. Tantai Wanrong said with a smile, ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s good. Didn¡¯t aunt promise to introduce you to a beautiful, gentle girlfriend? I¡¯ve already found an extraordinary girl.¡± After the previous incident where Ye Fan had accidentally entered the bathroom, and once she realized that day had been a misunderstanding, she was more determined to introduce a girlfriend to Ye Fan to avoid awkwardness between them. ¡°No! No!¡± Ye Fan exclaimed in dismay, ¡°Let¡¯s not talk about introducing girlfriends; I can find one myself.¡± He was incredibly embarrassed; he had thought the introduction was just a casual suggestion, but Tantai Wanrong took it to heart. ¡°Why? Feeling shy? Come on, you were quite thick-skinned just now,¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed. ¡°Hehe, thank you for your care and love, Aunt Wanrong,¡± Ye Fan said awkwardly, trying to smooth things over, ¡°Actually, I do have a girlfriend. So, no need for introductions.¡± S§×arch* The N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Really? Where is your girlfriend?¡± Tantai Wanrong asked skeptically. ¡°In Hua Hai city,¡± Ye Fan replied. ¡°Giggles¡­¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed coyly, her voice tinged with teasing charm, ¡°You little slicker, you¡¯re always dishonest. You¡¯ve been in Hua Hai city for less than a month; how could you already have a girlfriend?¡± Previously, because Ye Fan had given her a fake phone number, when she looked up Ye Fan¡¯s number, she naturally checked his ¡°profile¡± too and knew that Ye Fan had only recently started working in Hua Hai city after his military service. Of course, from that ¡°profile,¡± she couldn¡¯t see that Ye Fan was already married. After all, marrying Li Zhaojun was a big deal, and Ye Fan had used his real ID for the marriage. ¡°What, can¡¯t my charm and skill in winning girls over do the trick?¡± Ye Fan argued. Tantai Wanrong laughed, ¡°Alright. Auntie knows you¡¯re shy.¡± Then, she spoke in an undeniable tone, ¡°But that girl is really nice, I have spoken to her already, you cannot let Auntie down. Friday night, let¡¯s have dinner and meet.¡± ¡°I can¡¯t do Friday night. I¡¯ve already made plans to go to KTV with colleagues, and I¡¯m the host,¡± Ye Fan said, trying to get out of it. ¡°Then how about tomorrow night?¡± Tantai Wanrong suggested. ¡°Do I really have to go?¡± Ye Fan asked gloomily. ¡°You must go. Otherwise, you don¡¯t acknowledge me as your aunt,¡± Tantai Wanrong responded. ¡°Then I¡¯ll acknowledge you as my sister instead,¡± Ye Fan cheekily replied. ¡°Go on, if you keep calling me sister, I¡¯ll really get angry,¡± Tantai Wanrong warned. ¡°Alright then. But I want it clear beforehand that if I don¡¯t think it¡¯s suitable, I have the right to refuse,¡± Ye Fan conceded. ¡°Haha, I know what you¡¯re trying to pull,¡± Tantai Wanrong confidently said, ¡°But that girl is really outstanding. Once you meet her, you¡¯ll probably be begging to date her.¡± She continued, ¡°By the way, for the blind date with the girl, you should pay attention to your dress; you can¡¯t be as casual as usual.¡± ¡°Spending a few hundred bucks on a new outfit for a blind date that might not even work out doesn¡¯t seem worthwhile,¡± Ye Fan muttered under his breath. This blind date was meant to fail; he really wasn¡¯t interested in spending time shopping for clothes. ¡°Clothes once bought can be worn again, can¡¯t they? You must dress decently and not disgrace your aunt,¡± Tantai Wanrong insisted immediately. ¡°Got it,¡± Ye Fan replied wearily. Tantai Wanrong chuckled, ¡°That¡¯s more like it. Alright, your aunt is busy with work, I won¡¯t chat anymore. Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye.¡± After ending the call, Ye Fan had a smile on his face. Even though he was depressed about being forced into a blind date, he was happy to reconcile with Tantai Wanrong. ¡­ ¡­ In the Hua Hai office, Wang Siyan handed a document to Li Zhaojun, then said, ¡°The hidden major stockholder of Changhua Risk Investment Fund is the influential businesswoman Qiao Feixuan, and behind Qiao Feixuan is the Ye family, the political giant.¡± ¡°The Ye family?¡± Li Zhaojun murmured, slightly lost in thought. The next moment, she snapped back to reality and told Wang Siyan, ¡°You go attend to your work.¡± Wang Siyan obeyed and left the office. As Li Zhaojun looked over the research material on Changhua Investment Fund, she pondered aloud, ¡°Could it be that he knew of my predicament and asked his mother to help me? Or did his mother inadvertently find out about my situation and decided to help? Or did the management of Changhua Investment Fund learn about Emali Group¡¯s situation and think it profitable to invest?¡± She thought for a while and, considering Ye Fan¡¯s typically lazy and unreliable demeanor, which never involved caring about her, leaned more towards the second and third speculations. However, considering how respectfully the representative of Changhua Investment Fund had treated her during their meeting, readily agreeing to her requests, she strongly presumed the second possibility. ¡°No matter how, the Ye family has supported me from behind, helping me through this difficulty,¡± Li Zhaojun mused somewhat dreamily, ¡°Grandfather, is this the reason you insisted I marry Ye Fan?¡± Chapter 70 - 70 066 Meeting Tantai Wanrong Again ?70: Chapter 066: Meeting Tantai Wanrong Again 70: Chapter 066: Meeting Tantai Wanrong Again The next afternoon, with an hour left before the end of the workday, Tantai Wanrong couldn¡¯t help but call Ye Fan to remind him about the blind date. ¡°Got it,¡± Ye Fan replied, feeling like he had a massive headache. After hanging up, he mocked himself with a bitter smile, ¡°I never thought that I, Ye Fan, would also have a day of going on a blind date.¡± At 6:40 in the evening, Ye Fan drove to the agreed upon Yunhua Grand Hotel. He parked the car and walked up to the second floor lobby. The second-floor lobby was a lavishly decorated dining hall. Although it wasn¡¯t partitioned off into separate rooms like the private rooms, the tables were spaced far apart enough that you didn¡¯t have to worry about conversations being overheard, and it also provided an open view, which made for a better dining and chatting environment than the private rooms. Entering the second-floor lobby, Ye Fan looked towards the table he had reserved and immediately saw a graceful, mature, and attractive woman sitting elegantly on a luxurious leather sofa. A smile involuntarily appeared on Ye Fan¡¯s face, and he strode over. As he approached the table, Tantai Wanrong noticed Ye Fan. Her mature and stunning face lifted slightly, showing him a gentle smile. Yet, the narrow corners of her eyes unintentionally revealed hints of charm, lending the smile an extra flavor. ¡°Hehe, Aunty Wan,¡± Ye Fan called out with a smile as he stepped into the area around the table. Just as he was about to take a seat, Tantai Wanrong said, ¡°Wait a second.¡± Ye Fan looked puzzled, and as he saw Tantai Wanrong sizing up his clothes and shoes, he finally understood. She was worried that he was dressed too sloppily. After a moment, Tantai Wanrong spoke with slight dissatisfaction, ¡°The clothes are passable, but you didn¡¯t change your shoes. S§×ar?h the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. You should know that you can often judge a person¡¯s taste by what shoes they wear and whether they are clean or not.¡± ¡°My shoes aren¡¯t that bad, right? I spent a hundred bucks on these,¡± Ye Fan said defensively. Tantai Wanrong chuckled, her beautiful eyes narrowing seductively, and said with a laugh, ¡°You can talk like that with me, but don¡¯t mention it to the girl, or she might laugh her head off. Alright, go ahead and sit down.¡± Ye Fan sat down feeling a bit dejected, to the right and slightly below Tantai Wanrong. Although the decor was luxurious, the dining table wasn¡¯t large, designed to seat only four people. It was clearly meant for dining while chatting and discussing matters. After sitting down, Tantai Wanrong crossed her slender, seductive legs sheathed in black stockings, adopting a more elegant and languid posture, and introduced, ¡°The girl¡¯s name is Angel Yuan; she¡¯s a student at Hua Hai University, in her senior year¡­¡± ¡°Hold on!¡± Ye Fan interrupted when he heard this, ¡°Aunty Wan, why are you introducing me to a student?¡± Tantai Wanrong smiled and explained, ¡°Because students are purer. Also, with your age, if I were to introduce someone who¡¯s already working, they¡¯d mostly be older than you. Do you like older women?¡± By the end of her words, she looked meaningfully at Ye Fan. Feeling that meaningful and seductive gaze, Ye Fan¡¯s heart uncontrollably began to thump wildly, and he hurriedly replied with a forced smile, ¡°Hehe, of course I like girls who are a year or two younger than me. Aunty Wan is indeed very thoughtful.¡± ¡°Of course,¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s sensual lips curled with a seductive smile, appearing a bit smug as she joked, ¡°With me, the deputy mayor as your matchmaker, just think how lucky you must be.¡± ¡°Indeed, it¡¯s the fortune of three lifetimes,¡± Ye Fan went along with her tone. ¡°Just three lifetimes?¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s long eyelashes fluttered, her eyes half-closed and tilted as she looked at Ye Fan. Although her face bore a smile, Ye Fan felt that it wasn¡¯t just a simple smile. Ye Fan, who knew her all too well, immediately offered an apologetic smile, ¡°It¡¯s the fortune of eight lifetimes, truly the fortune of eight lifetimes.¡± Tantai Wanrong burst into a gleeful giggle, shaking like a branch of flowers in full bloom, captivating Ye Fan¡¯s eyes. After laughing for a while, she noticed Ye Fan staring intently at her, and immediately understood what was going on. Her pretty face blushed; she halted her laughter, sat up straight, and with the air of an elder said, ¡°Where are your eyes wandering? I am your aunt.¡± Even with his thick skin, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but blush, quickly averting his gaze and offering a sheepish smile, inadvertently scratching his head. ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Tantai Wanrong couldn¡¯t help but laugh out loud, her hand covering her mouth, at the sight of Ye Fan¡¯s embarrassment. Greatly dismayed, Ye Fan immediately dropped his hands. He was no child, and acting cute was disgraceful. Tantai Wanrong chuckled for a bit longer, but seeing Ye Fan¡¯s face grow somewhat uncomfortable, she restrained her laughter. She grabbed her white purse from the couch next to her seat and pulled out a stack of bright red banknotes to hand to Ye Fan. Of course, Ye Fan wouldn¡¯t accept them and asked, ¡°Aunt Rong, what do you mean by this?¡± ¡°The expenses here are quite high. Take these and use them to pay the bill later,¡± Tantai Wanrong said. ¡°Take it; don¡¯t be shy with your aunt.¡± Ye Fan shook his head and responded, ¡°That won¡¯t do. I can¡¯t let you pay for a blind date. I must be the one to buy.¡± ¡°What? You see your aunt as a stranger then?¡± Tantai Wanrong faintly objected. ¡°No, that¡¯s not it. I am, after all, a man, and it¡¯s a man¡¯s duty to pay on a blind date,¡± Ye Fan stated. ¡°Though the expenses are high, I can still afford it.¡± Tantai Wanrong laughed softly, ¡°Showing off your masculine pride in front of your aunt? In my eyes, you¡¯re just a little rascal. Look at you, I asked you to dress nicely, and yet you still chose the worst outfit. The total value of your attire couldn¡¯t be more than two or three hundred yuan, and it has already made Aunt feel embarrassed. What if later you find out you can¡¯t afford the bill? Would I not have to find a hole in the ground to hide in?¡± ¡°If she places value on appearances and overlooks inner beauty, then I would rather the blind date not be successful. Besides, what I¡¯m doing is continuing the excellent national tradition of frugality,¡± Ye Fan said, ¡°Not to be wasteful.¡± Tantai Wanrong then pretended to frown and said, ¡°So, you¡¯re blaming your aunt for making you go on this blind date? For making you waste money?¡± ¡°Of course not, how could I?¡± Ye Fan quickly replied with an apologetic laugh, ¡°Alright, alright, I¡¯ll take the money. When I get my paycheck, I¡¯ll pay you back.¡± With that, he hurriedly accepted the money. Tantai Wanrong giggled teasingly, ¡°Okay then. You go back and write it down in your notebook. Remember, it¡¯s with interest, a three-percent compound interest. I don¡¯t need it now, but when Aunt gets old, you can use this money to take care of me.¡± ¡°No way? In a few decades, won¡¯t I end up owing you several billion?¡± Ye Fan exclaimed, ¡°I would never be able to clear that debt in my lifetime.¡± Tantai Wanrong gave a sly smile, her eyes twinkling, ¡°That¡¯s right; you¡¯ll have to use a lifetime to pay it back.¡± ¡°Then I won¡¯t record it in a notebook and won¡¯t pay it back. You¡¯re the mayor anyway; you¡¯re not short of money, and you might even forget about this in a few days,¡± Ye Fan quipped with a sly glance and a cheeky grin. Tantai Wanrong laughed cheerfully, her tone fond, ¡°You little rascal.¡± Smiling, she took out two movie tickets from her purse and handed them to Ye Fan, ¡°After dinner, you two should go watch a movie to get to know each other better.¡± Ye Fan glanced at the movie tickets, which were for a couples¡¯ seat, to a 3D screening of ¡°Journey to the West: Return of the Monkey King,¡± and asked, ¡°Why only two tickets? Aren¡¯t you coming?¡± ¡°You¡¯re talking lovey-dovey, why would your aunt third-wheel and be the light bulb?¡± Tantai Wanrong replied, somewhat irritably. Chapter 71 - 71 067 Blind Date ?71: Chapter 067 Blind Date 71: Chapter 067 Blind Date After chatting for a while, as it neared seven o¡¯clock, the woman finally arrived. She was a campus beauty, standing at 1.7 meters tall with a slim figure, her long, lustrous black hair cascaded down, her skin was as white as snow, her eyes and eyebrows beautifully shaped, her bright eyes clear and snow-like, she carried herself with an elegant demeanor that could only be described as flawless. If one had to nitpick, it was that she was a bit flat-chested. But then again, aren¡¯t most campus belle goddesses like that? ¡°Hello, Sister Wanrong,¡± greeted the beautiful girl in a light and elegant long dress with a smile. ¡°Hehe, Qi Yuan, come, let me introduce you to a handsome young man,¡± Tantai Wanrong warmly took Angel Yuan¡¯s hand and introduced her to Ye Fan, ¡°Ye Fan.¡± Then she introduced Angel Yuan to Ye Fan, ¡°Angel Yuan.¡± Since both parties had pre-learned about each other¡¯s information, she simply introduced Ye Fan and Angel Yuan by their names. ¡°Hello,¡± Ye Fan said with a smile, ¡°Angel Yuan.¡± Angel Yuan took a quick look at Ye Fan and also smiled back, ¡°Hello, Ye Fan.¡± As she spoke, she extended her pale and delicate hand, gesturing for a handshake. Ye Fan reached out, gently grasped Angel Yuan¡¯s slender, jade-like fingers, and immediately let go. They sat down again, with Ye Fan and Angel Yuan facing each other, and Tantai Wanrong took the seat of honor in the middle. Ye Fan took a moment to appreciate Angel Yuan, and had to admit in his heart that the girl opposite him scored ninety points on appearance, figure, and temperament alone, not to mention she was also a top student from Hua Hai University. Hua Hai University was no ordinary university; it was one of the top five universities nationwide. This girl was indeed exceptional, beautiful in both looks and talent. It was just a pity that this blind date was doomed to fail. With everyone present, the dishes began to be served. Tantai Wanrong had ordered the dishes in advance. Throughout the dinner, the atmosphere was controlled by Tantai Wanrong, but since Ye Fan intended to make the blind date fail, he deliberately spoke less and ate more. Even when Tantai Wanrong gave him meaningful glances to speak, he pretended not to see them. Tantai Wanrong was slightly annoyed at how Ye Fan could play dumb at such a time, so she stealthily slipped off her high-heeled shoe and nudged his leg with her nylon-clad foot from under the table, hinting for him to speak. Since it was summer and Ye Fan was wearing shorts, his lower legs were bare, so when Tantai Wanrong¡¯s nylon-covered foot touched his leg, he immediately felt a strange, slippery sensation, which made his body shudder involuntarily and look up at Tantai Wanrong. Seeing that Ye Fan finally reacted, Tantai Wanrong instantly gave him a look and, fearing he wouldn¡¯t understand, rubbed his leg twice more with her stockinged leg. However, Ye Fan seemed to be lost in a trance and did not respond. Seeing Ye Fan¡¯s continued sluggish reaction, Tantai Wanrong couldn¡¯t help but cough lightly. This cough startled Ye Fan back to attention, and he quickly looked up at Tantai Wanrong, then forced a smile and struck up an inconsequential topic with Angel Yuan. Angel Yuan politely responded with a couple of sentences. Tantai Wanrong thought Ye Fan would continue the conversation with Angel Yuan, but after only a few sentences, Ye Fan was again focused on the food on the table. Consequently, she had no choice but to nudge his leg twice more with her foot. Ye Fan looked up and chatted casually with Angel Yuan for a moment, then resumed focusing on his meal. Tantai Wanrong had no other option but to prompt Ye Fan to chat with Angel Yuan by nudging his leg from under the table. And so it went, with every prompt from Tantai Wanrong under the table, Ye Fan would look up and exchange a few words with Angel Yuan. Eventually, Tantai Wanrong decided not to withdraw her foot at all, placing it directly on top of Ye Fan¡¯s foot. Whenever Ye Fan fell silent, she would move her foot a little, urging him to speak. While Ye Fan appeared to be conversing with Angel Yuan on the surface, in reality, he was focusing eighty percent of his attention under the table. As for what he discussed with Angel Yuan, he himself wasn¡¯t quite sure. Angel Yuan was not particularly impressed with Ye Fan. Since the blind date was bound to fail anyway, Ye Fan didn¡¯t care about Angel Yuan¡¯s impression of him, good or bad. Unfortunately, the good times didn¡¯t last long. Ten-odd minutes later, Tantai Wanrong realized that Ye Fan and Angel Yuan weren¡¯t hitting it off, so she pulled back her graceful legs and stopped urging Ye Fan to actively chat with Angel Yuan. The meal went on for a little over thirty minutes, and by the time it was winding down, Angel Yuan found an excuse to leave early. Tantai Wanrong was well aware of the situation and did not attempt to persuade her to stay. After Angel Yuan left, Tantai Wanrong stared at Ye Fan with a hint of annoyed reproach. Ye Fan, feeling somewhat guilty under her gaze, forced a laugh and said, ¡°Auntie Wanrong, your gaze is so sharp. Do your subordinates get so scared that they pee themselves just from you looking at them like this?¡± ¡°Hmph, you¡¯re still laughing!¡± Tantai Wanrong exclaimed, a bit angry. ¡°You¡¯re driving me crazy! Usually you¡¯re so smooth-talking, and I¡¯ve never seen you clam up before. Just now you were like a mute, only knowing how to stuff your face with food! You had to be kicked to say a word. Such a nice girl, and you didn¡¯t seize the opportunity.¡± Ye Fan, with an apologetic smile, said, ¡°Auntie Wanrong, don¡¯t be mad. Don¡¯t you think I¡¯m out of her league? Judging by her looks, she must have a whole company¡¯s worth of suitors in school, how could she ever take an interest in a penniless, uneducated veteran like me?¡± Hearing Ye Fan say this, Tantai Wanrong remembered his status, and although she considered Ye Fan to be a great and excellent person, rationally, she understood that his prospects were quite ordinary, indeed unlikely to attract an outstanding girl like Angel Yuan. She sighed deeply and glared at Ye Fan saying, ¡°The main issue is that you don¡¯t fight for it. When it comes to relationships, it¡¯s not all about comparing conditions. If it was just about matching conditions, people could just pair off and marry based on their qualities instead of bothering with love.¡± ¡°Yes, yes, yes, I¡¯ve disappointed you,¡± Ye Fan said, continuing his apologetic smile. Tantai Wanrong waved her hand dismissively, ¡°Forget it, it¡¯s not entirely your fault, I didn¡¯t consider it thoroughly either. Next time, I¡¯ll find someone for you whose circumstances aren¡¯t too different from yours.¡± ¡°Another match-making session?!¡± Ye Fan exclaimed in shock, ¡°Can we not? One blind date is enough. Besides, I¡¯m still young. Even if my eyes were set on someone, I wouldn¡¯t rush into marriage. Auntie Wanrong, I¡¯m not the kind of guy who can¡¯t find a girlfriend. I¡¯m sure I can find one on my own.¡± Tantai Wanrong, however, insisted, ¡°No, I must find you a wife who will make you happy!¡± Ye Fan could only painfully grab his head. Tantai Wanrong laughed triumphantly. Next was paying the bill. After settling the bill, Ye Fan took out the two movie tickets Tantai Wanrong had given him earlier and asked, ¡°What should we do with these movie tickets?¡± ¡°Of course, we¡¯re going to see a movie together,¡± Tantai Wanrong said, ¡°It¡¯s been a long while since I¡¯ve been to the cinema.¡± Saying that, she picked up her handbag and stood up gracefully, ¡°Let¡¯s go.¡± Ye Fan was more than happy to agree. They walked together to the parking lot and Tantai Wanrong, seeing that Ye Fan was actually driving a Citro?n, looked at him for a while and said, ¡°Wow, you can afford to drive a Citro?n. I thought you were really broke.¡± ¡°I never said I was poor,¡± Ye Fan felt wronged, ¡°Of course, this car is second-hand, bought from the market for fifty thousand yuan. It¡¯s quite a deal, right? Wouldn¡¯t driving it into the Hua Hai University campus help me pick up many beautiful college students?¡± Tantai Wanrong sized up the Citro?n sedan and commented, ¡°It looks about sixty to seventy percent new. With one more polish, it could even look eighty percent new. The model is still acceptable. Plus, being a foreign brand, you might be able to impress some not-so-smart girls on campus.¡± At this point, she suddenly looked up at Ye Fan sternly, ¡°So you¡¯ve been scrimping on food and clothing to pull off such dirty tricks!¡± ¡°No, no, of course not! How could I do something so sleazy?¡± Ye Fan quickly denied, ¡°I only bought the car for commuting. I don¡¯t even know where Hua Hai University is.¡± However, Tantai Wanrong wasn¡¯t interested in Ye Fan¡¯s explanation and seriously said, ¡°Xiaofan, I¡¯m your aunt, and I can¡¯t stand by and watch you go astray. Driving onto a university campus to chase after female students¡ªdon¡¯t you dare entertain such thoughts, understood?¡± S§×arch* The ¦ÇovelFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°How could I be so shallow,¡± Ye Fan uttered, frustrated, regretting he ever added unnecessary words to the conversation. Tantai Wanrong switched to an enchanting smile, ¡°Mhm, I know you wouldn¡¯t. Alright, let¡¯s head to the cinema.¡± With that, Tantai Wanrong turned and stepped into her Audi. Since the blind date was brief, Ye Fan and Tantai Wanrong had plenty of time to spare before they reached the cinema, and they even bought some snacks along the way to enjoy during the movie. Before entering the cinema, they sat down at the outdoor tables and chatted for a good while. Upon entering Hengda Cinema hall number one, Ye Fan looked around and saw that the attendance was high, almost full, with even the first three rows nearly filled. Sitting in the couples¡¯ seats, the space wasn¡¯t too narrow, but it certainly wasn¡¯t wide. Ye Fan could distinctly smell the mature and enticing scent of the woman that was Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong was wearing a black skirt and naturally crossed her left leg over her right to avoid any mishap as she sat down. The way she crossed her legs, however, drew Ye Fan¡¯s glance. But he didn¡¯t dare to keep looking. After taking a quick peek, he averted his eyes and then stole a few more glances from time to time. Chapter 72 - 72 068 Watching a Movie ?72: Chapter 068 Watching a Movie 72: Chapter 068 Watching a Movie Due to the movie starting in just two or three minutes, Ye Fan and Tantai Wanrong started to casually chat. Tantai Wanrong leaned her voluptuous and mature body lazily against the backrest of the couple¡¯s seat, turning her stunning face to the left. With a semi-squint in her beautiful eyes, she looked at Ye Fan and asked with a smile, ¡°Ye Fan, do you often go to the cinema to watch movies?¡± ¡°No.¡± Ye Fan shook his head and said, ¡°I haven¡¯t been to a cinema in about five or six years.¡± ¡°Oh, you make it sound quite melodramatic,¡± Tantai Wanrong teased with a laugh. Ye Fan just chuckled and didn¡¯t explain. Since he was sent to the military camp by his father at sixteen, his life had become disconnected from modern society. Not to mention going to a cinema, he rarely watched movies on computers or televisions either. ¡°How about you?¡± he asked in return. In the midst of the conversation, he pretended to casually move his gaze away from Tantai Wanrong¡¯s graceful figure. ¡°Auntie also hasn¡¯t been to the cinema for many years,¡± Tantai Wanrong said somewhat wistfully. ¡°When I first graduated from university and started working, I didn¡¯t know anything and could only work hard. Once I got proficient at my job, I was loaded with responsibilities and had even less time for the cinema. Thanks to you, I¡¯m actually at the cinema this time.¡± Following that, she added regretfully, ¡°Only because you didn¡¯t succeed at matchmaking.¡± ¡°Oh, it seems being a vice mayor isn¡¯t easy for you,¡± Ye Fan remarked, his eyes once again glancing covertly at Tantai Wanrong¡¯s alluring body. Tantai Wanrong nodded and said, ¡°Although men and women are considered equal in Huaxia, on some job positions, a woman has to work much harder than a man to fulfill the same role. Even then, people still speculate maliciously behind her back.¡± ¡°Mhm.¡± Ye Fan responded, stealing another glance. When he redirected his gaze back to Tantai Wanrong¡¯s lovely face, he found her looking at him with a smirk, her half-narrowed eyes teasing. ¡°Aunt Wanrong, why are you looking at me like that?¡± His heart ¡°thudded,¡± and feeling flustered, he shifted his eyes away and asked somewhat anxiously. The corners of Tantai Wanrong¡¯s lips curled up with a playful smile as she countered, ¡°What do you think?¡± ¡°How would I know? I¡¯m not a worm in your stomach,¡± Ye Fan said, trying to stay relaxed. Just then, the lights dimmed, and the movie started. ¡°The movie¡¯s starting, let¡¯s watch,¡± he quickly said, putting on the 3D glasses and pretending to be focused on the film. Tantai Wanrong giggled softly, straightened up her upper body, glanced at Ye Fan¡¯s pretentious side profile, but didn¡¯t call him out on it. It was undeniable that ¡°Journey to the West: Return of the Monkey King¡± was captivating, with engaging production and plot that held attention throughout, with no dull moments, filled with both laughs and tears. After watching for a while, Ye Fan became engrossed, forgetting to chat with Tantai Wanrong. Tantai Wanrong, being a thirty-year-old woman with mature experiences, didn¡¯t feel much for Sun Wukong and, being an animated film, watched it just passably. She had expected Ye Fan to whisper with her during the movie or take the chance to steal glances at her. But to her surprise, three or fourty minutes had passed, and Ye Fan was still deeply absorbed, staring at the screen, completely ignoring her. That made Tantai Wanrong unhappy; she stretched out her soft white jade hand and tugged at Ye Fan¡¯s clothes. ¡°What¡¯s up, Aunt Wanrong?¡± Ye Fan asked in a low voice. ¡°You¡¯re such an adult, yet you¡¯re so engrossed in this animated movie, isn¡¯t it embarrassing?¡± Tantai Wanrong pouted her sexy red lips. ¡°Not at all. This movie is really good, and its story isn¡¯t childish at all. It¡¯s funny, thrilling, and quite touching. The 3D effects are very realistic too,¡± Ye Fan responded and turned back to continue watching the movie intently. ¡°That Sun Wukong is so ugly, looks like a horse face, completely like a downtrodden uncle,¡± Tantai Wanrong commented, but waited in vain for Ye Fan to reply. Now, she was even more displeased; it seemed a mere animated film was more attractive than her. She stretched out her hand and tugged forcefully at Ye Fan¡¯s clothes. Ye Fan had no choice but to turn his head and say, ¡°What is it now?¡± ¡°Are you annoyed with me?¡± Tantai Wanrong raised her delicate chin, her bright eyes shooting a cold glare. A ¡°thud¡± sounded in Ye Fan¡¯s heart. He quickly adjusted his mood and said with a forced laugh, ¡°Hehe, how could I be? How could I be? Aunt Wanrong, what would you like to talk about?¡± ¡°Hmph, I knew you wouldn¡¯t dare.¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s pretty face revealed a satisfied and proud smile. She then lazily leaned back in her chair and, with her half-closed eyes, looked at Ye Fan and said, ¡°Why not come over and keep me company for a chat?¡± Ye Fan reluctantly imitated Tantai Wanrong¡¯s posture and leaned his back against the chair, turning his head to look at the beautiful profile of Tantai Wanrong, waiting for her to speak. With a glance from the corner of her eye, Tantai Wanrong said, ¡°You¡¯re so far away, and it¡¯s so noisy here, how can we talk?¡± sea??h th§× N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Oh.¡± Ye Fan replied, moving a bit closer to Tantai Wanrong, immediately overwhelmed by the seductive scent of a mature woman. ¡°Come a bit closer.¡± Tantai Wanrong said. So, Ye Fan unceremoniously moved significantly closer, suddenly finding his arm against Tantai Wanrong¡¯s soft arm, feeling an unusual smooth and squishy touch. Tantai Wanrong turned her head to glare at him and said, ¡°Why are you so close? Are you trying to take advantage of your aunt?¡± ¡°Far from it, far from it.¡± Ye Fan, frightened, shrank his neck and quickly returned to his seat, even guiltily moving further away. Tantai Wanrong was a bit amused and frustrated, ¡°Why are you sitting so far away now?¡± After a pause, she teasingly crooked her finger and said, ¡°Come here.¡± ¡°I was just afraid of a misunderstanding,¡± Ye Fan muttered coyly, ¡°I¡¯d rather not move closer.¡± ¡°Really not coming over?¡± Tantai Wanrong asked, her face a mix of smiling and serious. Ye Fan firmly shook his head, ¡°I don¡¯t want to cause a misunderstanding.¡± ¡°Fine, then you don¡¯t have to come over,¡± Tantai Wanrong said, adopting an elegant, noble pose intentionally. She turned to watch the movie playing ahead, wondering how many seconds it would take before Ye Fan shamelessly moved closer. One second, two seconds? At most, five seconds. She silently counted the time: 1, 2, 3, 4¡­ However, half a minute passed, and she still did not feel Ye Fan moving closer. After another minute, there was still no movement from Ye Fan. ¡°I don¡¯t believe you can last three minutes,¡± she confidently thought to herself. Yet, three minutes passed, and Ye Fan had still not come over to chat. Finally unable to sit still, she sneakily glanced at Ye Fan and annoyed, discovered that Ye Fan had become completely engrossed in the movie. ¡°What¡¯s so great about a long-faced, red-haired monkey!¡± she muttered irritably, ¡°And it¡¯s all fake, not even performed by real people!¡± Nevertheless, she still had her pride and naturally did not tug at Ye Fan¡¯s clothes like she had done the previous two times to get him to chat with her. She wanted to see how long Ye Fan would wait before remembering to chat with her. At that moment, the movie was reaching its climactic, emotional, and exciting scenes, and Ye Fan was naturally captivated. It was only at the end, when Sun Wukong broke his magical seals, forged armor from lava, transformed his flames into a cloak, took the Golden Cudgel from his ear, and swung it to cleave the heavens and earth, and purged the ultimate boss, the Chaos Monster, into ash, that Ye Fan, still immersed in his thoughts, remembered he had inadvertently neglected Tantai Wanrong. (I recommend to everyone a quality domestic 3D animated movie: ¡°Journey to the West: Return of the Monkey King¡±. A fantastic film that has already demonstrated its excellence with a box office gross of 950 million yuan.) Chapter 73 - 73 069 An Encounter with Zhao Tianya ?73: Chapter 069: An Encounter with Zhao Tianya 73: Chapter 069: An Encounter with Zhao Tianya At that moment, the movie ended, the lights came up, and Ye Fan saw Tantai Wanrong¡¯s beautiful face adorned with a smile of special meaning. The smile sent him into a panic. ¡°Aunt Wanrong, I¡ªI¡¯m so sorry, I was totally engrossed in the movie just now¡­¡± he said with a forced smile, on the verge of tears. Tantai Wanrong¡¯s lips curved into a smile, but her beautiful eyes didn¡¯t meet Ye Fan¡¯s as she said, ¡°Of course you go to a movie theater to watch the movie, you did nothing wrong. Why apologize?¡± With that, she stood up and started walking out. Ye Fan wanted to ask for Tantai Wanrong¡¯s forgiveness again, but the crowd was moving, so he could only dejectedly follow the tempting figure of Tantai Wanrong out of the theater. Tantai Wanrong didn¡¯t give Ye Fan a chance to speak until they reached the parking lot. ¡°Aunt, are you angry?¡± Ye Fan asked, watching her expression. Tantai Wanrong suddenly gave a faint smile, reverting to her usual graceful and noble demeanor, lightly shaking her head and saying, ¡°You little rascal, do you think your aunt is a young girl who gets moody at the drop of a hat? Hehe, I¡¯m your aunt, you know?¡± ¡°Mm-hm,¡± Ye Fan replied. Feeling Tantai Wanrong returning to her normal state, he suddenly felt in his heart as if he had missed a great opportunity. Although Tantai Wanrong wasn¡¯t angry anymore, it didn¡¯t lift his spirits. ¡°Alright, the movie¡¯s over, and your aunt has to go back now. You should head home too,¡± Tantai Wanrong said softly, then opened the car door and got in. Ye Fan could only raise his hand to wave through the car door and say, ¡°Goodbye.¡± ¡°Goodbye,¡± Tantai Wanrong replied, turning her upper body to face Ye Fan with a smile. Just then, from his higher vantage point, Ye Fan saw through the gap in her opened collar an astounding view, which shocked and transfixed him. ¡°What, you can¡¯t bear to part with your aunt?¡± Tantai Wanrong¡¯s eyes gleamed teasingly. Ye Fan came to his senses, averted his gaze, and said with a light smile, ¡°Of course, I can¡¯t.¡± With those words, he turned and walked to his car. After he left the parking lot, Ye Fan went his separate way from Tantai Wanrong. But before he got home, Qin Mengyao couldn¡¯t wait to call and pester him. ¡°Ye bro, you don¡¯t keep your word!¡± Qin Mengyao angrily said on the phone, ¡°What did you tell me before? You said you wouldn¡¯t meet my aunt again, right? But today, not only did you meet with her, but you also had dinner and watched a movie!¡± Ye Fan snorted and said, ¡°Adults¡¯ business is not a child¡¯s concern.¡± ¡°What child? How am I a child? You¡¯re only a few years older than me!¡± Qin Mengyao retorted. ¡°Little girl, I don¡¯t have time to deal with you!¡± Ye Fan hung up directly. His mood had been alright, but talking to Qin Mengyao ruined a third of it. No sooner had he hung up than Qin Mengyao called back immediately. ¡°I¡¯m driving; you¡¯re making it hard for me to concentrate,¡± Ye Fan said, clearly annoyed. Qin Mengyao¡¯s tone became pleading as she said, ¡°Ye bro, go after me. If you pursue me, I¡¯ll agree to be your girlfriend right away. If you don¡¯t like my type, you can go after Yiyi. She has a good impression of you, and she¡¯s easy to get close to.¡± Ye Fan was speechless and explained, ¡°Alright already. S~ea??h the Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I¡¯ve already called your aunt ¡®Aunt¡¯; don¡¯t get any wild ideas. Tonight, your aunt was helping me on a blind date to find a girlfriend. Where did your mind go?¡± ¡°And you two watched a movie together? I¡¯ve begged her many times, and she always said she was busy and refused to accompany me to the cinema!¡± Qin Mengyao said disbelievingly. Hearing this, Ye Fan felt a bit smug in his heart and said, ¡°The blind date was a fail, so of course we couldn¡¯t let the remaining two movie tickets go to waste. That¡¯s why I watched the movie with your aunt.¡± ¡°Really?¡± Qin Mengyao asked. Ye Fan said impatiently, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true.¡± ¡°Fine, I¡¯ll believe you this time,¡± Qin Mengyao said, and then she suddenly started chuckling. ¡°What are you laughing at?¡± Ye Fan asked. ¡°Hehe, nothing much,¡± Qin Mengyao replied. ¡°Hey Brother Ye, what kind of girl do you like? I can set you up for a blind date too.¡± Ye Fan immediately snorted in annoyance, ¡°Cut it out. Birds of a feather flock together. The kind of girls you know are all into the non-mainstream K-pop and J-pop. Do you really think a traditionally excellent and decent man like me would be interested?¡± ¡°I¡¯m serious,¡± Qin Mengyao said. ¡°So am I. Alright, I¡¯m driving. Hanging up now.¡± After that, he hung up the phone and shook his head as he stared at it. However, when he saw the time on his phone, it was only nine forty-seven in the evening. It seemed a bit early to go home at this time. Fine, he thought, I¡¯ll hit the bar or the nightclub for another hour. So at the next intersection, he turned the steering wheel, veering off the route home. When he drove up to the entrance of a nightclub, he suddenly felt weary and didn¡¯t want to go inside. So he turned the car around, pondering where to spend the upcoming hour. Luckily, there was a leisure square nearby, so he found a parking spot on a whim and walked into the plaza to clear his mind. Just as he entered the square, a three or four-year-old little girl crashed towards him, skating unsteadily on a pair of glowing inline skates. The little girl was very pretty and adorable, wearing a rose-colored skating helmet and matching rose protectors on her knees and elbows, yet her skating was clumsy and she wobbled precariously. As she headed toward him, she tried to stop but didn¡¯t know how, and before she could hit him, she tumbled to the ground in front of him. Of course, Ye Fan couldn¡¯t stand by and watch such a lovely little girl fall, so he swiftly caught her in his arms. The little girl was light, and after Ye Fan caught her, he said with a smile, ¡°Little sister, you have to be careful, okay?¡± ¡°Thank you, Uncle,¡± the little girl said politely. ¡°Hehe, you¡¯re welcome,¡± Ye Fan replied, while gently picking up the little girl and helping her adjust directions so that she could skate towards the center of the plaza. At that moment, a plump and somewhat anxious voice called out, ¡°Yue¡¯er.¡± Ye Fan couldn¡¯t help but look up and saw a beautiful woman standing ahead of him, wearing a casual dress that showcased her mature and curvaceous figure. Her pretty face was tinged with worry; clearly, she was concerned that Ye Fan might be a bad guy taking her daughter away. However, when Ye Fan saw her face, he found it somewhat familiar, as if he¡¯d seen her before. ¡°Mommy¡ª¡± the little girl called out. Ye Fan let go of the girl, and she happily skated towards the beautiful woman, hugging her long leg and giggling with delight. The beautiful woman caressed the little girl¡¯s soft hair and let out a sigh of relief. Straightening his back, Ye Fan smiled at the beautiful woman and said, ¡°Your daughter? She¡¯s very pretty and adorable.¡± ¡°Yes, thank you,¡± the beautiful woman replied with a smile, her gaze sizing up Ye Fan with a hint of puzzlement. Seeing the trace of bewilderment in her eyes, Ye Fan continued with a smile, ¡°Do you feel like we¡¯ve met before, like we¡¯ve seen each other somewhere?¡± As he said this, an image suddenly flashed in his mind, and he instantly remembered who this sexy and enticing woman was. It was Zhao Tianya, the very same woman who had made him soak in the bathtub for more than ten minutes¡ªthe best friend of Tantai Wanrong. Chapter 74 - 74 070 Stock Crisis ?74: Chapter 070 Stock Crisis 74: Chapter 070 Stock Crisis ¡°Yes, I thought you looked familiar.¡± Zhao Tianya said thoughtfully, then suddenly exclaimed with delight, ¡°Ah, I remember now, you¡¯re that handsome guy who bumped into me in the hospital elevator that day!¡± ¡°Hehe, I remember too.¡± Ye Fan smiled, ¡°Didn¡¯t expect we¡¯d have such a connection.¡± Zhao Tianya gave a coquettish smile and threw a flirty look at Ye Fan, ¡°Who has a connection with you? I¡¯m already married, and my daughter is this big.¡± Ye Fan laughed heartily, ¡°You never know. Your daughter is really beautiful.¡± As he spoke, he bent down and pinched the chubby cheeks of the little girl. Zhao Tianya understood his implication right away and quickly pulled her daughter behind her, huffing, ¡°You don¡¯t stand a chance!¡± ¡°There¡¯s always a window to sneak in through,¡± Ye Fan retorted, then burst into a joyful, prolonged laughter. The little girl looked curiously at Ye Fan and asked Zhao Tianya, ¡°Mommy, what is uncle laughing about? He seems so happy.¡± Zhao Tianya turned and bent down to the little girl, ¡°That uncle is a bad man, don¡¯t pay any attention to him. He¡¯s laughing like a madman. Yue¡¯er, let¡¯s continue ice skating.¡± The little girl glanced at Ye Fan, then nodded, ¡°Okay.¡± However, as they were about to head out skating, she still waved at Ye Fan, her voice sweet as milk, ¡°Bye, uncle.¡± ¡°Hehe, bye little sister,¡± Ye Fan waved back with a smile. The little girl skated toward the center of the square, and Zhao Tianya naturally followed. As she was leaving, she snapped at Ye Fan, ¡°Thought you were a decent man, didn¡¯t know you had such a naughty streak. Not seeing you again.¡± After speaking, she swayed her hips and caught up with her daughter. Ye Fan watched Zhao Tianya¡¯s retreating figure with a faint smile, noticing that even though she was wearing a relatively loose casual dress, it couldn¡¯t hide her slender and graceful figure. However, remembering that she was married and had a daughter old enough to fetch soy sauce dampened any ideas he might have had. ¡°What a shame, good cabbage got hogged by pigs,¡± Ye Fan retracted his gaze, shook his head, then strolled casually around the edge of the square. After walking around for about twenty minutes, Ye Fan casually found a bench in the square to sit on, checked the time, then boredly watched people moving around in the square. After a while, he saw Zhao Tianya walking towards him with a graceful, cat-like stride, and he watched her with a smile. Zhao Tianya reached right up to where Ye Fan was sitting, then sat down next to him and said, ¡°Why are you still here? Are you thinking of something mischievous?¡± Ye Fan purposefully didn¡¯t turn to look at her, continuing to watch the people playing in the center of the square, and smiled faintly, ¡°What mischief could I possibly think up? I¡¯m just passing the time because I¡¯m bored.¡± ¡°Hehe, if you¡¯re bored, you could go to a bar. That¡¯s a much better place to hunt for beauties, what are you doing in the square?¡± Zhao Tianya laughed. Ye Fan shook his head slightly, ¡°Bars get boring after too many visits, and they¡¯re more annoying.¡± ¡°So you don¡¯t have a girlfriend?¡± Zhao Tianya asked. Ye Fan smiled, ¡°Not having a girlfriend doesn¡¯t mean I can¡¯t have a wife.¡± ¡°Bluff all you like, I don¡¯t believe you have a wife. You¡¯re just over twenty¡ªmaybe not even old enough to marry yet,¡± Zhao Tianya said with a girlish laugh. Ye Fan chuckled, then suddenly said, ¡°Your daughter has fallen.¡± Zhao Tianya turned around and, sure enough, her daughter had fallen, so she hurriedly stood up and rushed to help her daughter. After she had picked up her daughter, soothed her with a few words, and let her continue skating, she turned back to look for Ye Fan, only to find that someone else was sitting on the row of chairs; Ye Fan had disappeared. She looked around again but still couldn¡¯t see him. ¡°Hmph, lucky you ran fast,¡± she muttered. ¡°Dare to target my daughter, I¡¯d destroy you! Not even joking is allowed!¡± Meanwhile, as Ye Fan was driving home, he couldn¡¯t help but sneeze. He then grabbed a tissue, wiped his nose, and muttered to himself, ¡°Who¡¯s missing me now?¡± If he had known that a playful remark would make Zhao Tianya hold a grudge against him, he would have joked just the same. S§×arch* The N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. The next morning at 9:40 AM, in the top-floor boardroom of the Emali Group headquarters building, not only was Li Zhaojun present, but every shareholder and director had grave expressions, and the atmosphere was heavy. On the projection screen hanging on the wall at the front of the room, the plunging trend of Emali Group¡¯s A-share stocks was clearly displayed. This morning, less than ten minutes after the market opened, Emali Group¡¯s stock price had fallen by another 5%. The decline continued, and the situation was very serious. Thwack! Thwack! Li Zhaojun forcefully struck the canvas screen with a pointer and said sternly to the shareholders and directors, ¡°You all see this. Since last Monday afternoon, our group¡¯s stocks have fallen like a waterfall! Today, less than ten minutes after opening, the shares fell another 5%! Over this week, our stock has fallen by 35%, hitting the lower limit three days in a row! The situation is extremely severe, and we must save ourselves!¡± ¡°Moreover, I understand that our stock plummeted because someone short-sold our stock. The scale of the short-selling funds is about 1.2 billion. Coupled with the panic selling by retail investors, the short-selling funds amounted to as much as 1.5 billion.¡± ¡°How do we save ourselves?¡± a shareholder called out. The other shareholders listened intently, waiting for Li Zhaojun¡¯s plan. Li Zhaojun walked to the chairman¡¯s seat and sat down, saying, ¡°That¡¯s a good question. First, we¡¯ll withdraw one billion yuan from the group¡¯s funds to buy back stocks on the market; second, the main shareholders and directors present will collectively raise four billion yuan, based on their respective shareholding proportions, to buy back market stocks before the stock market closes on Friday.¡± ¡°Of course, these first two steps will only stabilize the decline and are not a fundamental solution. If our opponent insists on short-selling us, our stocks will continue to plummet and become junk stocks. Therefore, the third step is to introduce major investment, release significant positive news, and strongly reverse the group¡¯s development prospects.¡± Li Zhaojun¡¯s gaze swept sharply across everyone¡¯s faces as she spoke sternly, ¡°This sudden drop in the group¡¯s stock is certainly due to malicious short-selling, but a fly does not bite an egg without a crack. Emali Group is facing a development bottleneck, but severe internal strife has held us back from launching new projects and finding new profit points, and that¡¯s why our opponent targeted us. I sternly warn some people here not to obstruct the group¡¯s development for personal gain, dragging everyone down and ruining the great prospects of Emali Group at once!¡± After finishing her speech, her sharp gaze landed on Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan¡¯s faces, and the other shareholders and directors also turned to look at Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, murmuring in resentment. Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan felt as uncomfortable as if sitting on pins and needles, being targeted as if by thousands, glowering, and cursing Li Zhaojun silently in their hearts, yet they were unable to retaliate. ¡°After this crisis, someone must be held accountable!¡± Li Zhaojun said coldly, officially taking a stand. She hadn¡¯t felt so relieved in a long time. She wasn¡¯t very worried about the stock crisis, having a plan in place. So, she intended to use the opportunity of the stock crash to strike at Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, weakening their credibility and their managerial roles within the group! Of course, the best outcome would be to kick Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan completely out of Emali Group! Chapter 75 - 75 071 Taking Advantage to Cut Prices ?75: Chapter 071 Taking Advantage to Cut Prices 75: Chapter 071 Taking Advantage to Cut Prices After indirectly criticizing Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, Li Zhaojun formally began to take charge of the group¡¯s self-rescue. The resolution to withdraw 100 million yuan from the group¡¯s capital to repurchase shares passed smoothly, but the second step of having shareholders raise funds to repurchase shares encountered dissenting opinions. Apart from Li Zhaojun herself, all the shareholder directors claimed they didn¡¯t have enough money or that time was too tight to raise funds, and they were only willing to contribute a portion. In truth, the directors no longer held a positive outlook on Emali Group¡¯s prospects. With the second and third largest shareholders teaming up against the largest shareholder so severely, it was unlikely that other minor shareholders would view Emali Group¡¯s prospects favorably. Emali Group could be described as facing internal troubles and external threats. Li Zhaojun was actively negotiating with Huachang Investment Fund, expecting an investment of 1.5 billion yuan to support Emali Group¡¯s Biomedical project. This was exceptionally good news. However, she didn¡¯t reveal a hint of it. After the difficulty with the Biomedical project, she had realized that she must employ strategy in internal management and could not continue to be as transparent as before. Additionally, apart from continually sidelining Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan, who opposed her, she also had to further solidify her position as chairwoman. Now that the stock prices had plummeted, it was an excellent opportunity for her to increase her shareholding ratio. Thus, whether or not the other shareholders contributed, and how much they contributed, she merely emphasized a few points and then said no more. After the shareholders¡¯ meeting ended with gloomy moods, Li Zhaojun returned to her office. She had just sat down to approve a report application when a knock sounded at the door. ¡°Come in,¡± Li Zhaojun called without looking up. The door opened, and heavy footsteps entered. Li Zhaojun looked up involuntarily and showed a hint of surprise when she saw who it was. ¡°Director Li, haha,¡± the visitor forced a laugh and said. Li Zhaojun stood up, walked away from her desk, and gestured towards the coffee table couch, ¡°Mr. He, please have a seat.¡± ¡°Mm,¡± the man responded. After they sat down, Li Zhaojun poured some tea, then made a welcoming gesture and said, ¡°Please, have some tea.¡± ¡°Thank you,¡± the man said awkwardly, but did not reach for the tea. Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t insist and sat upright on the couch, looking at the visitor and said, ¡°Mr. He, you must have something important to discuss, so let¡¯s hear it.¡± ¡°Ah, well¡­¡± the visitor hesitated for a while then said, ¡°Previously, I was wrong to side with Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan against you. Please forgive me, Director Li.¡± It turned out the visitor was none other than He Jie, an ordinary shareholder who often sided with Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan against Li Zhaojun. However, he did not participate in managing the group. ¡°No problem,¡± Li Zhaojun replied calmly, showing neither pleasure nor displeasure. He Jie forced another awkward laugh, then continued, ¡°My family recently encountered a serious issue that requires a large amount of money, so I would like to transfer all my shares to you.¡± ¡°Oh?¡± Li Zhaojun maintained her composure but responded sharply, ¡°You give the impression you¡¯re abandoning faith, perhaps contemplating an escape?¡± ¡°No, no, I have faith in the group and even more in your abilities, Director Li,¡± He Jie wiped some sweat and said, ¡°It¡¯s just that my family urgently needs a considerable amount of money, please understand and help, Director Li.¡± He indeed wanted to escape; he had low expectations for Emali Group¡¯s future and aimed to sell his shares before the stock plummeted further. According to corporate policy, he was entitled to transfer his shares, giving other shareholders the right of first refusal. However, from what was evident in the shareholders¡¯ meeting, only Li Zhaojun was likely to purchase his shares. ¡°He Jie, you are creating a sense of panic within the group!¡± Li Zhaojun sharply rebuked, ¡°This is the time when we need to stand united and overcome difficulties together, and yet you!¡± ¡°Director Li, I really had no other choice,¡± He Jie pleaded pitifully. ¡°There was a major crisis at home that needed a lot of money to resolve.¡± Li Zhaojun just snorted coldly, ignoring He Jie¡¯s performance, and started sipping her tea delicately. Seeing Li Zhaojun¡¯s demeanor, He Jie gritted his teeth and said, ¡°Director Li, I own 4.5 percent of the group¡¯s stocks, originally worth over two hundred million. I¡¯m willing to sell them to you for one hundred and fifty million.¡± Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t even glance at He Jie, she simply set down her teacup and stood up, saying indifferently, ¡°Please leave.¡± He Jie quickly stood up as well, calling out urgently, ¡°Wait, one hundred and thirty million!¡± Li Zhaojun turned around with a cold smile and looked at He Jie, ¡°Do you take me for a fool? As the chairman and president, do you think I don¡¯t know the worth of the stocks you hold? Even under normal circumstances, you could only sell them for between one hundred thirty million to one hundred fifty million!¡± Although the stock has value, it is not cash after all. When shareholders truly need to convert their stocks to cash, the value almost always depreciates. If a major shareholder cashes out a substantial amount, the depreciation is even more severe. ¡°Don¡¯t insult my intelligence!¡± ¡°One hundred million!¡± He Jie insisted through gritted teeth. ¡°I can¡¯t go any lower.¡± Li Zhaojun scoffed, ¡°You might want to try Gong Yongfu or Sun Yuan, or you could even go to the secondary market, perhaps you could get a better price there.¡± Pausing a moment, she added, ¡°Oh, and by the way, my funds are limited too, perhaps other shareholders will approach me.¡± ¡°Director Li, then how much are you willing to offer?¡± He Jie asked. Li Zhaojun replied, ¡°Eighty million, not a cent more. Take it or leave it. Sear?h the N??eFire.¦Çet website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. In another two hours, you might be selling them to me for sixty million, and I might not even want them then. Besides, I need my funds to stabilize the market, so the payment has to wait until two months later.¡± Her terms were strict, but she was utterly unyielding. ¡°This condition is too, too¡­¡± He Jie frowned deeply. ¡°Too harsh, right?¡± Li Zhaojun said. ¡°You don¡¯t have to sell.¡± With that, she left the coffee table and went back to sit at her desk. Just then, there was a knock on the door. ¡°Who is it?¡± Li Zhaojun called out, not letting the person in directly. ¡°Director Li, it¡¯s me, Zhang Bingkun,¡± a middle-aged man¡¯s voice came from outside. He Jie¡¯s expression changed upon hearing this voice. Li Zhaojun said, ¡°I¡¯m dealing with an urgent matter now, could you come back in ten minutes, please?¡± ¡°Alright.¡± After Zhang Bingkun left, Li Zhaojun turned to He Jie and said, ¡°You have ten minutes to think it over.¡± He Jie was in a great hurry, almost spinning in anxiety. That Zhang Bingkun was also a shareholder, a middle-tier one just like him. The fact that Zhang Bingkun was seeking Li Zhaojun at this time meant he could guess the purpose was the same as his. He was anxious to escape, but Li Zhaojun¡¯s price slashing was too harsh for him to accept. ¡°Payment in cash can be deferred to two months later, but the selling price must be one hundred million,¡± he bargained with Li Zhaojun. Li Zhaojun shook her head decisively, ¡°Impossible! Either you accept my earlier terms, or find someone else. Of course, you could also choose not to sell and weather this crisis together with everyone. I would really prefer you make the third choice, joining hands and getting through this crisis.¡± ¡°Let me think about it,¡± He Jie said as he sat back down on the sofa to contemplate. Li Zhaojun wasn¡¯t idle either; she continued with her work. Chapter 76 - 76 072 Receiving Shares ?76: Chapter 072 Receiving Shares 76: Chapter 072 Receiving Shares After six or seven minutes, He Jie finally gave in. ¡°Fine, eighty million it is. However, I require the money after one month, and I want priority payment,¡± He Jie stated. Li Zhaojun responded indifferently, ¡°Agreed.¡± Acquiring He Jie¡¯s shares was like picking up a fortune off the ground. Although the current stock price had drastically fallen, she was confident that once Huachang Investment Fund announced a 1.5 billion investment and initiated the Biomedical project, such significant positive news would definitely turn the situation around with a strong rebound. By then, the stock price would unquestionably be much higher than before the drop. This process would only take one month. At that time, she would use the money obtained from the premium to pay He Jie the eighty million. Thus, she would not only increase her shareholding by 4.5% but also make a tidy sum of money. Thus, Li Zhaojun pulled up a blank electronic contract from her computer, added He Jie¡¯s payment request in the remarks section, and then printed it. Up to this point, aside from a few major shareholders, there had been several changes among the minor shareholders at Emali Group. Therefore, as the chairman and CEO, she naturally had a stock transfer contract template stored in her computer. Soon, the blank contract was printed. Li Zhaojun handed it to He Jie, saying, ¡°Take a look yourself. If there¡¯s no issue, you can sign it.¡± The contract content was quite simple, and since it had been prepared in advance, there were virtually no traps. After He Jie finished reading, he signed the contract. Li Zhaojun also signed the contract in front of him, then handed one of the copies over to He Jie. ¡°Done, you have successfully sold your shares to me,¡± Li Zhaojun stated calmly. ¡°If there¡¯s nothing else, please feel free to leave.¡± Taking the contract, which bore not only his signature but also his thumbprint in red ink, He Jie chuckled bitterly and said, ¡°Then, farewell, Director Li.¡± Upon exiting Li Zhaojun¡¯s office, he was no longer affiliated with Emali Group. As he opened the door, he coincidentally saw Zhang Bingkun approaching from the other end of the corridor. Zhang Bingkun paused in surprise upon seeing him. As they drew closer, Zhang Bingkun asked, ¡°Old He, what¡¯s that document in your hand?¡± His gaze was fixed on the contract in He Jie¡¯s hands. ¡°A contract,¡± He Jie replied with a light smile, generously showing the share transfer contract to Zhang Bingkun. Now that the fate of Emali Group was no longer his concern, he frankly didn¡¯t care whether his actions were spreading panic. Moreover, he harbored a rather dark thought: if Emali Group was forced to delist from the stock market and eventually went bankrupt, wouldn¡¯t this prove his foresight? Zhang Bingkun opened the contract and was instantly struck by the bold ¡°Share Transfer¡± title. He quickly reviewed the content, indeed finding that He Jie had transferred all his shares to Li Zhaojun. Returning the contract to He Jie, Zhang Bingkun frowned, ¡°Old He, your shares are worth more than two hundred million, how could you sell them to that woman, Li Zhaojun, for just eighty million?¡± ¡°Heh, that was the price half a year ago,¡± He Jie quipped, puffing up his cheeks, ¡°Now, with the stock price having fallen so severely, do you really think they¡¯re still worth that much? In a few days, you might have to give them away for free.¡± Zhang Bingkun replied, ¡°Isn¡¯t that an exaggeration?¡± ¡°It¡¯s not an exaggeration. Heh, Old Zhang, I dare say, Emali¡¯s stocks will definitely hit the lower limit today!¡± He Jie sneered. ¡°This¡­ surely not,¡± Zhang Bingkun rebutted. His tone lacked confidence. ¡°He Jie, the stock market is already in panic, with three consecutive limit-downs. Which investor would dare to buy Emali¡¯s stocks now?¡± He Jie said. Zhang Bingkun shook his head, ¡°Although the stock price has plummeted, the corporation itself still exists, its value remains, and it is still profitable. The stock price doesn¡¯t fully reflect the true value.¡± ¡°Hehe, do you know why I¡¯m so eager to transfer my shares?¡± He Jie lowered his voice, pretending to be mysterious, ¡°Isn¡¯t it because I¡¯m disappointed with the management of Emali Group? Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan teamed up against Li Zhaojun, accomplishing nothing but internal strife, engaging in conspiracies and schemes, even using projects crucial to the corporation¡¯s future as bargaining chips to plot against each other. With such endless infighting in the team, do you think Emali Group can still develop? It¡¯ll go bankrupt sooner or later!¡± Zhang Bingkun¡¯s expression darkened, slightly annoyed, he said, ¡°I don¡¯t know what Gong Yongfu and Sun Yuan are up to, fighting for power and profit, turning a fine corporation into this mess! Damn it!¡± ¡°So, while it still worth something, better to get rid of it quickly.¡± He Jie said smugly, ¡°Once I get the money, I¡¯ll invest in other companies, choosing a more reliable company is the real deal.¡± ¡°Enough said, you decide for yourself. S§×arch* The Novel?ire(.)ne*t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. I¡¯m leaving, Emali Group has nothing to do with me anymore.¡± He added, ¡°Whether it lives or dies, whether the internal strife continues, it has nothing to do with me.¡± Having said that, he took the contract and left. Zhang Bingkun stood there thinking for a while, finally, he went and knocked on Li Zhaojun¡¯s office door. ¡°Come in.¡± A firm and clear voice came from inside. After entering the office, Zhang Bingkun explained his purpose. Li Zhaojun said expressionlessly, ¡°The current difficulties faced by the group are only temporary; please keep your faith. Only by working together can we get through this.¡± ¡°President Li, it¡¯s not because of the group¡¯s current difficulties that I want to transfer my shares, but because my family urgently needs a large sum of money. I need this money to save a life!¡± Zhang Bingkun pretended. Li Zhaojun despised him inwardly, the excuse the same as He Jie¡¯s, devoid of any creativity. ¡°Do you have to transfer your shares? Can we delay, wait until the group overcomes this crisis?¡± Li Zhaojun asked. Zhang Bingkun gave a wry smile, ¡°I¡¯m really sorry. It¡¯s only because my family urgently needs a large sum of money that I must transfer my shares. I hope President Li can understand.¡± Li Zhaojun responded indifferently, ¡°Okay. You can also transfer your shares to me. 60 million, not a cent more.¡± ¡°Just 60 million!¡± Zhang Bingkun shook his head vigorously, ¡°This is 4% of the shares, originally worth more than 180 million! Besides, didn¡¯t He Jie just sell for 80 million? I have only 0.5% less than him, how can I be 20 million less? That¡¯s not fair.¡± Li Zhaojun, expressionless, said, ¡°You can try other shareholders or transfer in the secondary market, maybe you¡¯ll get a better price. However, I still hope you won¡¯t transfer your shares easily and stay with Emali Group to overcome the difficulties together.¡± ¡°I¡¯ll¡­ think about it.¡± Zhang Bingkun replied with a wry smile, planning to ask Gong Yongfu or Sun Yuan, perhaps they would offer more. Li Zhaojun nodded slightly, ¡°You can. But let me say this beforehand, if you go out and come back to me, I may not be willing to buy your shares for 60 million anymore. The risk I bear is already large.¡± ¡°You have ten minutes to decide.¡± Having said that, she stood up, walked back to her desk, and continued working. A few minutes later, Zhang Bingkun sighed deeply, ¡°Fine, let it be 60 million.¡± Thus, Li Zhaojun quickly acquired Zhang Bingkun¡¯s shares. By now, she had acquired 43.1% of Emali Group¡¯s shares. After extracting 100 million from the capital chain in the afternoon to repurchase stocks from City A, her proportion of shares would be even higher. Moreover, tomorrow she planned to personally invest another 100 million to buy back stocks from the market. By then, her shares would exceed 50%, making her the true, uncontested chairman of Emali Group. Chapter 77 - 77 073 Reencounter with Zhao Tianya ?77: Chapter 073: Reencounter with Zhao Tianya 77: Chapter 073: Reencounter with Zhao Tianya It was past four o¡¯clock in the afternoon when Ye Fan, bored and playing an online game, was suddenly disturbed by the loud ringing of his cellphone. It was an overseas call from Robert Laurenson. After dismissing the call, Ye Fan stepped out of his office and walked to the end of the corridor, where he returned the call to Robert Laurenson from inside the secure stairwell. The call connected immediately. ¡°Your Excellency Black Dragon, I hope I¡¯m not disturbing you?¡± Robert Laurenson inquired respectfully in English over the phone. Ye Fan replied indifferently, ¡°It¡¯s fine.¡± Robert Laurenson continued, ¡°Your Excellency Black Dragon, I have successfully purchased twelve percent of Emali Group¡¯s stock for one hundred forty-eight million seven hundred ten thousand dollars.¡± ¡°Not bad,¡± said Ye Fan. ¡°Only three hundred million yuan, and you managed to cause a company worth over four billion to hit the limit-down on four consecutive days.¡± Although he wasn¡¯t directly involved, he occasionally paid attention to Emali Group¡¯s stock performance. Robert Laurenson chuckled and said, ¡°Thank you for your compliment. Actually, it was not just three hundred million yuan. I used over-the-counter financing, a four times leverage, totaling twelve billion yuan. Besides, Emali Group itself had some significant flaws, which made it quite easy to take down.¡± Using over-the-counter financing was a risky business, as slight miscalculations could lead to forced liquidation, losing everything¡ªa gamble, basically. ¡°By the way, Your Excellency Black Dragon, do you really intend to hold Emali Group¡¯s stock for the long term? The company has already hit a developmental bottleneck. There is only potential if it launches major new projects, otherwise, it will gradually weaken. And launching new projects is filled with uncertainties. Especially after this round of stock price plummeting, the prospects are not very clear.¡± ¡°I have my plans, thank you for the reminder,¡± Ye Fan stated calmly. Robert Laurenson then asked, ¡°Your Excellency Black Dragon, is there anything else I can assist you with?¡± ¡°Not for now,¡± Ye Fan spoke in a flat tone. After hanging up, Ye Fan exited the secure stairwell and returned to his office. As he was passing by the middle of the corridor at the elevator entrance, the elevator doors happened to open, and out stepped a beautiful woman dressed in a form-fitting mini dress. Ye Fan¡¯s eyes lit up as he took an extra glance. The woman had a tall and voluptuous figure; in addition to her sexy dress, she wore flesh-colored stockings on her legs and a pair of red high-heeled shoes with pointed toes. However, when he saw the woman¡¯s face, he immediately froze. It was Zhao Tianya, the woman he¡¯d encountered by chance last night! Zhao Tianya clearly noticed Ye Fan as well and her beautiful eyes immediately lit up with an intriguing smile. ¡°Giggle, so you work here?¡± she teased with a chuckle, ¡°We really must be fated.¡± ¡°Indeed,¡± Ye Fan nodded and added, ¡°You don¡¯t work here, do you?¡± Although Emali Group had many employees, it made no sense that he had never heard of someone like Zhao Tianya, a strikingly beautiful woman, who stood out wherever she went, despite having worked there for quite some time. ¡°Giggle, you¡¯re quite clever,¡± Zhao Tianya flirted, batting her eyelashes at Ye Fan, ¡°Handsome, what¡¯s your name?¡± ¡°Ye Fan, Ye as in Ye Gucheng¡¯s Ye, Fan as in extraordinary.¡± Ye Fan responded, then pretending to not know her name, he asked, ¡°And you?¡± ¡°Sister¡¯s name is Zhao Tianya.¡± Zhao Tianya took a few steps closer to Ye Fan, her mature and enticing fragrance aggressively invading Ye Fan¡¯s nostrils, ¡°Remember that, ok?¡± Ye Fan was somewhat overwhelmed and took a step back. Zhao Tianya immediately followed up with two small steps, coming even closer to him. ¡°Giggle, are you afraid of me?¡± Zhao Tianya stared into Ye Fan¡¯s eyes with her alluring eyes, laughing teasingly. Ye Fan leaned his upper body slightly backward and said, ¡°How could that be? Sister Zhao is so beautiful and sexy, I can hardly wait to get closer to her.¡± ¡°You¡¯re just flattering me!¡± Zhao Tianya pouted coquettishly. ¡°Sister is asking you, why did you suddenly leave without saying goodbye last night?¡± Ye Fan felt embarrassed; last night was just a brief encounter, a chance meeting, not even a friendship; was there really a need for a formal farewell? ¡°Um, last night, I really needed to pee, so I didn¡¯t have time to say goodbye to you,¡± Ye Fan quickly made up an excuse on the fly. ¡°Really?¡± Zhao Tianya clearly didn¡¯t believe him. Ye Fan nodded vigorously and said, ¡°Of course it¡¯s true. Hehe, Sister Zhao, I haven¡¯t asked for your phone number yet.¡± He then used a tactical retreat as his strategy, playing to Zhao Tianya¡¯s vanity. ¡°Giggle,¡± Zhao Tianya burst into a sweet laughter and said, ¡°Since there seems to be a little fate between us, I¡¯ll tell you. But I¡¯ll only say it once, it¡¯s up to you to seize the opportunity.¡± ¡°138XXXXXXXX.¡± She recited a phone number at a measured pace. Ye Fan knew that Zhao Tianya was Tantai Wanrong¡¯s close friend. He was only asking for her phone number as a tactic and didn¡¯t really want to know it. So, when Zhao Tianya was reciting her number, he wasn¡¯t paying attention at all; it went in one ear and out the other. After Zhao Tianya finished reciting, she asked Ye Fan, ¡°Did you remember it?¡± ¡°Uh-huh, I remembered it,¡± Ye Fan seriously nodded and said, ¡°Thank you, Sister Zhao.¡± Zhao Tianya still held a grudge against Ye Fan for joking about having designs on her daughter and feared he wouldn¡¯t remember and wouldn¡¯t be able to call her, robbing her of the opportunity for revenge. So she said, ¡°Then recite it back to me.¡± ¡°Ah!¡± Ye Fan¡¯s face fell instantly. ¡°Hmph!¡± Zhao Tianya got a little angry, immediately realising Ye Fan asked for her number just to amuse her. She cocked her slender waist with fury, leaned forward, and demanded with a hint of anger, ¡°Are you trying to deceive me? Believe it or not, I can get our chairman to fire you!¡± Sear?h the n??el Fire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Ye Fan was so frightened that he quickly leaned back, grinning sheepishly and saying, ¡°Hehe, Sister Zhao, listen to me, it wasn¡¯t intentional.¡± ¡°You didn¡¯t do it without intention, you did it on purpose!¡± Zhao Tianya snorted, still angry. Ye Fan feigned innocence and cried, ¡°It¡¯s unfair. Actually, my memory is quite good, almost never forgetful, but when I face you, I don¡¯t know why, my mind goes blank and I feel faint. Maybe it¡¯s because you¡¯re too beautiful and too charming.¡± Hearing these flattering words, Zhao Tianya¡¯s anger faded by eighty-eight percent. She relaxed her posture and asked, ¡°Then if you didn¡¯t remember, why did you say you did?¡± ¡°I didn¡¯t want to lose face in front of you,¡± Ye Fan explained with a shrug, ¡°You should understand the heart of a pure-hearted young man.¡± ¡°Pfft¡ª¡± Zhao Tianya couldn¡¯t help but cover her mouth and giggle, shaking with laughter. ¡°Giggle, giggle¡­ You¡¯re such a joker. Giggle¡­ The heart of a pure-hearted young man, oh my, you¡¯re killing me with laughter, giggle¡­¡± She seemed to laugh so hard she couldn¡¯t straighten her waist and leaned on Ye Fan¡¯s shoulder as she continued to giggle uncontrollably. At such close proximity, Ye Fan could clearly smell the mature scent of Zhao Tianya. He struggled to calm his ¡°thumping¡± heart, all the while wearing an embarrassed smile on his face. He didn¡¯t think what he said was funny, but Zhao Tianya¡¯s sense of humor seemed to be particularly easy to trigger. After laughing heartily for a while, Zhao Tianya finally managed to stop laughing, straightened up her slender waist, and withdrew her hand. Chapter 78 - 78 074 The Two Women Turn Out to Be Good Friends ?78: Chapter 074: The Two Women Turn Out to Be Good Friends 78: Chapter 074: The Two Women Turn Out to Be Good Friends Zhao Tianya laughed so hard that she doubled over for a while before finally managing to stop. Straightening her slender waist, she drew back her hand. ¡°You¡¯re quite humorous, too,¡± she said with a smile that blossomed like flowers, her sweet tone almost spraying onto Ye Fan¡¯s face. Ye Fan didn¡¯t find it funny at all. He thought acting cute was shameful, so he said, ¡°Sorry, I¡¯ve been out too long, I need to go back to work.¡± After saying that, he bypassed Zhao Tianya, intending to return to the office. Zhao Tianya immediately called out, ¡°Wait a minute, you haven¡¯t asked for my cell phone number yet!¡± As she uttered those words, she couldn¡¯t help feeling secretly ashamed: Men had always pleaded on their knees for her number, but today she had practically forced her number onto Ye Fan, which was very unbecoming of a lady. ¡°No, I¡¯m giving him my number for easy revenge!¡± she reminded herself immediately in her mind. Embarrassed, Ye Fan had no choice but to turn back around, squeezing out a smile and saying, ¡°Sister Zhao, could you please repeat your number for me?¡± Zhao Tianya responded, ¡°I won¡¯t tell you. Didn¡¯t you say you can¡¯t remember it?¡± As she spoke, she took out an exquisite business card from her LV bag and handed it to Ye Fan, ¡°Here, this is your sister¡¯s business card. Take good care of it.¡± Ye Fan took the business card and, out of politeness, looked down at it earnestly for a moment. He realized that it was very different from Tantai Wanrong¡¯s extremely simple card; this card, which emitted waves of alluring feminine fragrance, was filled with titles. Among them, the most eye-catching were the titles of Vice Chairman and Deputy General Manager of Baiyi Group, City People¡¯s Congress Representative, and Deputy Secretary-General of the Angel Love Foundation. He had thought Zhao Tianya was Tantai Wanrong¡¯s close friend and would also be a civil servant, but to his surprise, she turned out to be a businesswoman. He couldn¡¯t help but be astonished. ¡°Giggle, are you surprised, little brother?¡± Zhao Tianya laughed with smug delight. Ye Fan looked up and smiled, ¡°Indeed, I am a bit surprised. I didn¡¯t expect to make the acquaintance of such an eminent person as yourself.¡± ¡°Good to know, giggle,¡± Zhao Tianya laughed, deliberately throwing a flirtatious glance at Ye Fan. Ye Fan shuddered involuntarily, forcing a smile and saying, ¡°Then I won¡¯t disturb you any longer. You must be busy. Goodbye.¡± After speaking, Ye Fan turned and walked away. Watching Ye Fan¡¯s tall and slender figure departing, Zhao Tianya originally wanted to ask for Ye Fan¡¯s cell phone number as well, but she held back, ¡°Hmph, with the infinite charm of this great beauty, that kid will definitely be frantically calling to bother me in less than half a day. Why should I worry about him escaping from my Five-finger Mountain?¡± S~ea??h the N?vel(F)ire.n§×t website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Ah, what did I come to the sixth floor for again? How did I forget?¡± she muttered to herself, ¡°Never mind, I should focus on important matters.¡± With that, she pressed the elevator button again, entered it, and went up to the penultimate floor, eventually arriving at the president¡¯s office door where she extended her delicate white hand to knock. ¡°Come in,¡± a voice from Li Zhaojun came from inside. Zhao Tianya opened the door to see only Li Zhaojun present in the office, who stood up with a rare smile that instantly made the entire office seem several times brighter. She walked around the desk, took Zhao Tianya¡¯s hand with a smile, ¡°Sister Tian Ya, you¡¯ve gone to the trouble of coming here. It should¡¯ve been me going to see you.¡± ¡°Go on, why are you being so polite with me?¡± Zhao Tianya feigned impatience. The two stunningly beautiful women held hands and sat down on the sofa by the coffee table. Zhao Tianya took out a check from her LV bag and handed it to Li Zhaojun, ¡°Here¡¯s fifty million. If it¡¯s not enough, you can ask me for more. I should be able to scrape together another hundred million in cash on my side.¡± ¡°Thank you, Sister Tian Ya,¡± Li Zhaojun took the check, placing it directly on the coffee table without much care. Zhao Tianya chuckled, ¡°What¡¯s there to thank me for? You¡¯re having a bit of a tough time, how could I, as your sister, stand idly by?¡± ¡°Hehe, guess what, I just ran into a cute guy on my way up,¡± she chuckled unboundedly, ¡°it was so amusing.¡± Li Zhaojun couldn¡¯t help but roll her eyes, ¡°You didn¡¯t harass him, did you?¡± ¡°Hehe, I did tease him a little,¡± Zhao Yatian laughed proudly, ¡°I gave him my business card.¡± ¡°No way?¡± Li Zhaojun suddenly felt sorry for that unknown handsome guy, ¡°You¡¯re going to ruin him.¡± ¡°Exactly! I am going to play him to death. How dare he think about making a move on my precious daughter? I won¡¯t get over this unless I teach him a lesson,¡± Zhao Tianya declared as if it were the most natural thing to do. Li Zhaojun didn¡¯t need to hear the whole story to guess that the ¡°cute guy¡± merely made a casual joke. She exclaimed, ¡°The heart of a woman is the most poisonous!¡± ¡°Come on, don¡¯t slander your best friend like that! As if you¡¯re not a woman yourself,¡± Zhao Tianya retorted with feigned annoyance, throwing a playful punch at Li Zhaojun. Li Zhaojun laughed and dodged backward, and Zhao Tianya immediately cried out, ¡°You dare to dodge? Let¡¯s see how I deal with you,¡± and chased after her. The two women began frolicking and tussling on the couch. Such a fragrant | sultry scene would surely make any man¡¯s blood surge to the point of exploding if he saw it. But Ye Fan, having returned to his office, opened his drawer and tossed Zhao Tianya¡¯s business card into the corner. Zhao Tianya is a close friend of Tantai Wanrong and a married woman with a child. Although she was very tempting, he was determined not to get involved with her. As it neared the end of the workday, his phone suddenly rang. Taking it out, it was actually a call from Qin Mengyao. ¡°What does this girl want, calling me at this time?¡± Ye Fan muttered to himself, but still stepped out of the office to answer the call. Having cleared up the misunderstanding with Tantai Wanrong, Ye Fan knew it was impossible to avoid Qin Mengyao completely. Tantai Wanrong had even taken the time, in spite of being swamped with work after just leaving the hospital, to arrange dates for him, seemingly determined to find him a wife. He was moved by this care, so he found himself more patient with Qin Mengyao involuntarily. Walking into the corridor, he answered the call and asked, ¡°What¡¯s up?¡± ¡°Hehe, Ye Fan, are you free after work?¡± he heard Qin Mengyao¡¯s crisp and pleasant laughter from the phone. ¡°Not free!¡± Ye Fan blurted out, but then quickly added, ¡°What¡¯s it about?¡± ¡°I want you to take me out to dinner,¡± Qin Mengyao said. Ye Fan frowned, ¡°Why should I take you to dinner?¡± ¡°Because I really don¡¯t feel like eating alone. My aunt is too busy; she doesn¡¯t have the time to eat with me,¡± Qin Mengyao pleaded, ¡°Ye Fan, can you please?¡± Qin Mengyao unable to eat because she was alone? Ye Fan found that hard to believe. With her personality, she¡¯d probably still have an appetite even if the sky fell. So, Ye Fan declined, ¡°Don¡¯t you have your good friend Yiyi? Just have dinner with her. And, don¡¯t you have a bunch of bad influences? Go find them.¡± ¡°What bad influences? They¡¯re my close sisters, okay!¡± Qin Mengyao argued with increased volume. Not wanting to bicker further, Ye Fan said, ¡°Alright, alright, they¡¯re your good sisters. Then go have fun with your good sisters.¡± ¡°Ye Fan, listen to me. Actually, I promised my aunt that I would reduce my contact with them,¡± Qin Mengyao said with a touch of pathos, ¡°So, I won¡¯t go to dinner with them. Ye Fan, please, can you just take me out for a meal? Didn¡¯t you just get two hundred and fifty thousand? You can afford a meal, right? Besides, what did my aunt say? She said you should take good care of me. You¡¯re not only neglecting me now but¡­¡± ¡°Okay, okay,¡± Ye Fan said, feeling overwhelmed, ¡°I¡¯ll take you out to eat, alright.¡± ¡°Hehe, that¡¯s great, thank you, Ye Brother!¡± Qin Mengyao squealed with joy. Chapter 79 - 79 075 The Girl He Lian Bobo ?79: Chapter 075: The Girl He Lian Bobo 79: Chapter 075: The Girl He Lian Bobo Ye Fan clocked out at six and drove to Baiyu Village on Tianyuan Road in Liujiapu. Just one-third short of arriving, Qin Mengyao had already called: ¡°Ye, we¡¯re here already, we¡¯ve booked a private room, in the Dolphin Room on the third floor. Hurry up.¡± ¡°¡®We¡¯?¡± inquired Ye Fan, ¡°Did you bring someone else?¡± ¡°Yes, I brought Yiyi along, and another friend of mine, she¡¯s so pretty,¡± Qin Mengyao chuckled proudly, ¡°I guarantee when you see her, you won¡¯t even blink.¡± Not blink when seeing her? Ye Fan scoffed. In his mind, he pictured a girl with red-dyed explosive hair and a silver ring on her nostril¡ªdefinitely not a mainstream beauty. As a monster-like figure, indeed one wouldn¡¯t blink. ¡°It¡¯ll take about ten more minutes, you go ahead and order. That¡¯s it.¡± He finished speaking, disregarding Qin Mengyao¡¯s cries and hung up immediately. Seven or eight minutes later, Ye Fan finally arrived at Baiyu Village. Baiyu Village was a lavishly decorated dining building. When he drove into the underground parking lot, he found it almost filled with luxury cars. Arriving in his Citroen, even the security guards looked at him with contempt. Getting out of the car, Ye Fan swept his eyes over the entire parking lot filled with luxury cars. Aside from his Citroen, the most modest one was at least a Volkswagen CC worth over three hundred thousand. ¡°Damn, coming to such an upscale place to eat, they¡¯re clearly fleecing the rich!¡± He muttered to himself and then headed towards the elevator. Soon, Ye Fan reached the Dolphin Room on the third floor. As he approached the door, two waiters with a trolley carrying two fish dishes pushed into the room. He knocked on the door and the three girls sitting at the round table immediately turned their heads. Among them, a beautiful girl dressed in a pink princess dress with long dark hair happily got up to greet him. ¡°Hehee, Brother Ye,¡± Qin Mengyao feigned affection and reached out her delicate hand to hold onto Ye Fan¡¯s arm. Ye Fan gave Qin Mengyao a glance, really wanting to pull off the wig from her head, as her disguise was too convincing. Someone who didn¡¯t know better might think she was a wealthy and beautiful well-bred young lady. Pulled by Qin Mengyao to the dining table, Liu Yiyi and another girl stood up. Liu Yiyi called out with a slightly blushing face: ¡°Brother Ye.¡± ¡°Hehe, Yiyi,¡± Ye Fan nodded with a smile. Next, Qin Mengyao said, ¡°Brother Ye, let me introduce you to my senior, He Lian Bobo, who was just accepted by Hua Hai University. Impressive, right?¡± ¡°Sister He Lian, this is my Brother Ye, Ye Fan,¡± she continued to introduce. Ye Fan could not help but examine He Lian Bobo, who was tall and slender, with a face like a peach blossom and inviting, water-filled eyes that could captivate souls. Her straight shoulder-length black hair added a touch of charm without losing professionalism, quite tasteful. She was dressed in a pair of bleached denim shorts and a light purple wide-neck T-shirt, exuding youthful vigor from top to bottom. A clearly delighted He Lian Bobo, her inviting peach blossom eyes brightly sizing up Ye Fan, called out with a smile, ¡°So you are the new Racing King of Hua Hai City, Ye Fan! Truly very manly! I¡¯m happy to meet you.¡± As she spoke, she extended her pale tender hand for a handshake. Upon hearing the words ¡°Racing King,¡± Ye Fan¡¯s smile immediately froze, confirming his lack of expectations for Qin Mengyao¡¯s friend. ¡°Hehe, hello,¡± he said politely, extending his hand and gently squeezing the fingers of He Lian Bobo¡¯s tender hand. Unexpectedly, He Lian Bobo suddenly stuffed her whole slippery hand into Ye Fan¡¯s, and took the initiative to grasp it. Just as Ye Fan was taken aback by her assertive action, suddenly a squeezing force came from his palm, continuously strengthening as if intending to shatter his hand bones. ¡°So that¡¯s how it is. I was wondering when my charm became so irresistible that beauties fall in love at first sight upon meeting me.¡± He suddenly realized, allowed Bobo to grip his palm forcefully for a while, then abruptly straightened and spread his hand open, instantly shaking off Bobo¡¯s hand. ¡°Wow, impressive!¡± Bobo couldn¡¯t help but step back, her pretty face slightly reddened from the exertion, but it made her even more charming, like a blooming peach blossom. Although Ye Fan had shaken her off, she wasn¡¯t embarrassed but instead flashed a captivating smile, with her beautiful eyes shimmering enchantingly. Ye Fan said with a light smile, ¡°Your power delivery technique isn¡¯t bad, it has a bit of the flavor of Yong Chun Fist. However, women naturally don¡¯t have as much strength as men.¡± ¡°It depends on the man. In front of you, Brother Ye, I¡¯m certainly the weaker sex,¡± Bobo said with a playful laugh. Laughing, she stepped back, stretched out her delicate hand again, and said, ¡°Let¡¯s shake hands once more.¡± With a faint smile, Ye Fan reached out to shake hands with Bobo. This time, his grip was soft and slippery, gentle as if boneless, and felt very pleasant. After shaking hands, Bobo directly took Ye Fan¡¯s hand with a coquettish smile, ¡°Brother Ye, come sit next to me.¡± Saying so, without waiting for Ye Fan¡¯s reply, she pulled him down to the seat next to hers. Liu Yiyi, seeing how close Bobo was with Ye Fan right from the start, wasn¡¯t very pleased and slightly turned her head away, refusing to look at Ye Fan and Bobo. Once the four of them sat down, Qin Mengyao asked Ye Fan, ¡°Brother Ye, what drink would you like? Maotai, Wuliangye, or XO?¡± ¡°Let¡¯s not have Brother Ye drink,¡± Bobo interjected. ¡°After dinner, I¡¯m still counting on Brother Ye to take me to Longwan Mountain for some car racing. I want to sit in the passenger seat!¡± Another racing enthusiast! And a crazy one at that. Ye Fan silently shook his head. He was good at driving fast because he had learned it on the battlefield, but he personally didn¡¯t like, and even rather disliked, racing. Qin Mengyao, Liu Yiyi, and Bobo all watched him, waiting for him to speak. Ye Fan slightly shook his head and said, ¡°Racing is very dangerous, a slight mishap can destroy the car and kill people, it¡¯s best not to race. Meng Yao, get me a bottle of fifteen-year-old Maotai.¡± Actually, he would have preferred to order Red Star Erguotou. However, in a place like this, asking for Erguotou might not be possible, and it might also give Qin Mengyao and the others the wrong impression that he wasn¡¯t happy treating them to dinner here. S§×arch* The NovelFire.net* website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. ¡°Yes, racing is too dangerous. It would be so much nicer to go shopping and watch a movie after we eat,¡± Liu Yiyi said with a smile, agreeing. Bobo¡¯s excited eyes couldn¡¯t help but show a hint of disappointment. Qin Mengyao¡¯s dark eyes rolled, and she smiled, ¡°I heard there¡¯s a great show tonight at the Elite Combat Club.¡± ¡°What kind of show?¡± Bobo asked brightly, turning her head. ¡°The Hua Hai police are holding a martial arts exchange with the Hua Hai Military District,¡± Qin Mengyao said. ¡°Why don¡¯t we go take a look?¡± ¡°Sure!¡± Bobo exclaimed delightedly, and then added, ¡°But there¡¯s no suspense, the military people are sure to win.¡± Qin Mengyao said, ¡°Not necessarily, the police station also has some real masters.¡± Then, she turned to Ye Fan and sought his opinion, ¡°Brother Ye?¡± ¡°Hmm, let¡¯s go check it out,¡± Ye Fan responded indifferently. As an ancient martial arts expert, even a king-of-soldiers fight couldn¡¯t pique his interest much, but watching a martial arts exchange was still better than going racing. ¡°Yiyi, how about you?¡± Qin Mengyao asked Liu Yiyi. Liu Yiyi pursed her lips and said, ¡°If you guys are going, of course I¡¯m going too.¡± Chapter 80 - 80 076 Two Women Jealous ?80: Chapter 076: Two Women Jealous 80: Chapter 076: Two Women Jealous Qin Mengyao laughed and said, ¡°Then it¡¯s settled, after dinner, we¡¯ll go to the Elite Martial Arts Club to watch the matches.¡± She finished speaking and pressed the service bell, and immediately a young waitress in a uniform entered the room. ¡°Bring us another bottle of fifteen-year-old Maotai!¡± Qin Mengyao called to the waitress. The waitress responded, ¡°Okay, please wait a moment,¡± and then left the private room. However, shortly after, the door was knocked and opened again, and two waitresses with a trolley delivered two fish dishes. In fact, in Baiyu Mansion, other than vegetable dishes, all meat dishes consist of fish. One waitress took out one of the plates of fish from the trolley and set it on the table, while the other waitress introduced, ¡°This dish is called ¡®boiled puffer fish.''¡± Puffer fish meat is rich, delicious, and tender and isn¡¯t very expensive, but the key is the preparation. Since puffer fish are poisonous, they must be carefully processed before consumption, hence only a very experienced chef can prepare it safely. Of course, diners also need a bit of courage to eat it. After serving the boiled puffer fish, another fish dish was brought immediately. ¡°Saut¨¦ed wild Yangtze River shad fish,¡± the waitress introduced. Ye Fan looked at the plate filled with dozens of fish, each either about the width of two fingers or one, and couldn¡¯t help but feel a pinch in his wallet. Qin Mengyao really was treating him as a wealthy target, those dozen fried fish alone must cost at least six or seven thousand yuan. At that moment, Qin Mengyao gave Ye Fan a mischievous smile. Ye Fan smiled faintly and shook his head, feeling it was a bit wasteful more than anything; he wasn¡¯t pained by spending the money. After the waitress left, Du Yongnan and the others started chatting while eating. He Lian Bobo was a bright, active girl and even a bit bold and aggressive, clinging to Ye Fan, bombarding him with questions like she was performing a household registration check. At the same time, she was rather cunning, knowing that Ye Fan wasn¡¯t very fond of car racing, so she completely avoided mentioning that topic. Mid-conversation, she suddenly leaned in close and whispered in Ye Fan¡¯s ear, ¡°Brother Ye, which style of boxing do you practice?¡± Her breath was like orchids, and Ye Fan felt his ear tickled by the warm breath, which was rather comfortable¡ªespecially with He Lian Bobo so close, her faint body fragrance penetrated his nostrils and lungs. As He Lian Bobo asked so mysteriously and thinking about the strength she exhibited during their first handshake which had a hint of Yong Chun Fist, Ye Fan subtly tilted his head to the left and turned to look at He Lian Bobo. He saw He Lian Bobo¡¯s pretty face adorned with a charming, seductive smile and her sexy lips parting to speak in a volume only she and Ye Fan could hear, ¡°I am also a practitioner of ancient martial arts. I practice the authentic White Crane Yong Chun Fist.¡± Knowing that He Lian Bobo was also an ancient martial arts practitioner, Ye Fan nodded slightly and said, ¡°I practice Xingyi Boxing.¡± ¡°Hey, you two, if you are going to chat, just chat. Why whisper in each other¡¯s ears?¡± Liu Yiyi from across the table called out somewhat jealously. He Lian Bobo pulled back, turned her head to look at Liu Yiyi, and smiled, ¡°Yiyi, are you jealous?¡± ¡°Not at all! Why would I be jealous?¡± Liu Yiyi quickly denied, her pretty face blushing slightly. He Lian Bobo giggled and said, ¡°You are the one saying no.¡± ¡°I never had it,¡± Liu Yiyi stubbornly hummed. ¡°Yeah right!¡± He Lian Bobo looked like she had succeeded in her scheme, snapped her fingers, then turned around and flirtatiously smiled at Ye Fan, ¡°Brother Ye, I feel like we really click, let¡¯s exchange numbers first? We can hang out together when we¡¯re free.¡± ¡°Sure.¡± Ye Fan smiled, picked up his phone, and said to He Lian Bobo, ¡°You tell me your mobile number, and then I¡¯ll call you.¡± Ye Fan had been in Hua Hai City for more than a month now and didn¡¯t have many friends around him. It was indeed time for him to get to know a few local friends, otherwise hanging out in bars every night wasn¡¯t a solution. S§×arch* The N?velFire(.)net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality. Besides, He Lian Bobo was also a practitioner of ancient martial arts, which made her worth getting to know. He Lian Bobo immediately recited her mobile number, then giggled proudly. Seeing He Lian Bobo brazenly ask Ye Fan for his mobile number and even suggesting they hang out together, Liu Yiyi, who lacked any modesty, was quite upset. And just moments ago, she had been rendered speechless by He Lian Bobo¡¯s words. ¡°She¡¯s too cunning!¡± Liu Yiyi angrily buried her head in her meal, chewing the food in her mouth forcefully. Qin Meng Yao saw Ye Fan and He Lian Bobo exchange mobile numbers, her beautiful face beaming with joy¡ªthat was exactly why she had wanted Ye Fan to treat her to dinner tonight. ¡°Humph, when you and Sister He Lian are cozily chatting up a storm, my aunt will be safe!¡± she thought proudly. Then, she noticed her best friend Liu Yiyi seeming unhappy and immediately moved her chair closer to Liu Yiyi. ¡°Yiyi, are you upset?¡± she whispered in her ear. ¡°Not at all.¡± Liu Yiyi paused her meal, insincerely denying it. Qin Meng Yao giggled and said, ¡°Not upset, huh? Didn¡¯t I already give you Brother Ye¡¯s mobile number?¡± ¡°That¡¯s not the same!¡± Liu Yiyi pouted. ¡°Hehe, it¡¯s the same, the end result is what matters,¡± Qin Meng Yao tempted, ¡°If you like Brother Ye, take the initiative. Don¡¯t just wait foolishly for him to chase you. Society today isn¡¯t like ancient times, where people pursued love regardless of age or gender.¡± Liu Yiyi¡¯s pretty face flushed red, even the tips of her ears turned bright red, and she stubbornly denied, feeling embarrassed, ¡°Meng Yao, how can you make such jokes about me? I don¡¯t know what you are talking about!¡± In reality, she had only felt a slight fondness for Ye Fan initially, but seeing He Lian Bobo, who had met Ye Fan later than she did and yet talked to him so intimately on their first meeting, made her feel inexplicably uncomfortable. Qin Meng Yao giggled and did not argue with Liu Yiyi, thinking to herself that if Liu Yiyi and He Lian Bobo both spent time with Ye Fan, he definitely wouldn¡¯t have time to bother her aunt anymore. Ye Fan input He Lian Bobo¡¯s mobile number, then made the call. The next moment, an authoritative female voice, along with background music ringing tone, erupted: ¡°Who dares summon the great Queen He Lian? Kneel immediately and be spared from death! Who dares summon the great Queen He Lian? Kneel at once¡­¡± That familiar voice was indeed He Lian Bobo¡¯s. Ye Fan was taken aback and looked at He Lian Bobo, then remembered that He Lian Bobo seemed to be the name of an emperor in the history of China, also notable in the historical records. ¡°I knew it, this name sounded familiar,¡± he pondered quietly to himself. He Lian Bobo smiled apologetically at Ye Fan, took out her phone to end the call, and then saved Ye Fan¡¯s mobile number. After Ye Fan and He Lian Bobo had saved each other¡¯s numbers, Liu Yiyi suddenly exclaimed, ¡°Brother Ye, can we exchange mobile numbers too?¡± ¡°Of course. Tell me your number, and I¡¯ll call you,¡± Ye Fan smiled. Liu Yiyi, with a blush on her pretty face, quickly recited her mobile number.