Chapter 130: Let’s Start with You!

Yang Fan couldn't sleep a wink that night. Lin Xi, Xu Zihan, and Ai Xiaomei hadn't returned at all; according to a phone call from Ai Xiaomei, she had gone off to pamper her dog again.

He figured the three of them were likely at the Huanjiang Club or the Tianning Club. As for the other three clubs, they were too low-end, and ever since his "Redemption" mission was completed, Lin Ruo had confiscated everything he owned. Now, even renting a room required the woman to foot the bill—his life had truly become miserable.

Compared to his situation upstairs, Zhang Chen and the others downstairs were living the high life. They had wine and meat every single day. When they returned that evening, they called Yang Fan, and since he couldn't sleep anyway, he told Lin Ruo he was heading downstairs.

They were indeed living well, with plenty of food and drink. They were so extravagant now that they could drink red wine like soda, though the only thing missing was the presence of women. In reality, no matter what they got up to outside, they never brought any women home; at most, someone just wouldn't return for the night.

"Don't just eat the vegetables, Yang Fan, have a drink too!"

"Yeah, Yang Fan, how hungry could you possibly be?" Wang Jie asked.

"I didn't eat dinner because I didn't feel hungry, but the hungrier I got, the less I could sleep, and the less I slept, the hungrier I became. I finally fell into that vicious cycle." Yang Fan devoured a large piece of meat and grabbed a cold steamed bun to go with it.

"You didn't mess up again, did you?" Xu Tao asked suspiciously, thinking that only someone who had committed a blunder would skip a meal.

"I’m busy with work all day and come home on time every night. What could I possibly have done wrong?"

"That’s true. You’ve been wandering around less lately," Zhang Chen said, pouring Yang Fan a full glass.

"By the way, Haoyu, is everything ready for that place I mentioned?"

"Don't worry about that. We bought fireworks that can last for an hour. I guarantee you’ll see the most spectacular display, Uncle!"

"That’s good!" Yang Fan was in a great mood. Lin Ruo and Lin Xi’s birthdays were coming up soon.

After chatting for a while, Yang Fan went to bed. They could sleep in the next day, but he had a mission to complete! He brought some food up for Lin Ruo and knocked on her door.

"What do you want?"

"I brought you something to eat. You didn't have dinner either, so I was worried you might be hungry," Yang Fan said from the doorway.

"Bring it in then."

Yang Fan was delighted and immediately opened the door. It was only eleven o’clock, and Lin Ruo was still sitting up.

"Why aren't you asleep yet?"

"Are you trying to get me to undress sooner? You lecher!" Lin Ruo said from the bed.

"I really didn't mean it like that."

"Do you want to sleep here tonight, then?" Lin Ruo asked.

Yang Fan shook his head frantically.

"Tell the truth, be honest!"

"Alright, I want to!"

"There you go! Tell you what, I'll give you a chance. If you shrink yourself down, I’ll let you sleep here for the night," Lin Ruo said.

"How small?" Yang Fan asked miserably. What was the point of sleeping if he was tiny?

"Baby-sized! It lasts for ten hours. Go ahead, shrink!"

Yang Fan hesitated, then figured, fine, a baby it is. A night is a night! He rented a shrink ray from the rental warehouse and used it on himself. A bizarre scene unfolded; Yang Fan had truly shrunk. He couldn't speak because his vocal cords were underdeveloped, and he couldn't stand steadily, either. He fell onto the bed, struggling even to move.

He had brought this on himself. People always talk about wanting to be young again, but if it actually happened, it would be a total breakdown.

"Zhao Jing, come here and take him away!"

Yang Fan was stunned. He heard the door open, but he couldn't see it; even turning over was an effort. "When did Zhao Jing get here? How did I not know?"

Zhao Jing smiled, teased him with her finger, and picked him up. Yang Fan was dumbfounded. Lin Ruo had clearly put a lot of thought into preventing him and Zhao Jing from doing anything that night!

Today was the first of the month. In truth, Yang Fan and Zhao Jing no longer strictly followed the "first of the month" rule, and Yang Fan could clearly feel the intensity in every one of Zhao Jing's encounters. Behind that intensity, however, lay a sense of dread. As Zhao Jing often said, only when two people were intertwined were they truly husband and wife. And the bond of a day as man and wife carries the grace of a hundred, and a hundred days together run as deep as the sea.

Yang Fan was genuinely afraid that after a hundred days, Zhao Jing would suddenly leave, for perhaps that was when their fate would end. That was what she said most often during their passionate moments. Yang Fan knew he had to become strong to extend that finish line indefinitely. He even spent very little time alone with her now; he had to suppress his impulses, waiting for the day he was strong enough to rewrite the ending and keep Zhao Jing by his side forever.

"Come now, sleep with Mommy tonight!" Zhao Jing laughed.

"I..."

The next day, at nine o'clock, Yang Fan returned to his normal size. Zhao Jing had teased him all night long! Just as he would drift off, she would wake him up. Huo Xinxi called again, and Yang Fan, exhausted, wanted a few more minutes of sleep, but Lin Ruo came in and patted his face.

"Get up!"

Still groggy, Yang Fan was dropped off at the police station by Lin Ruo. He ran into Huo Xinxi right at the entrance.

"Lin Ruo, you're not going to help me? Where are you going?"

"None of your business!" The white SUV sped away, disappearing from his sight.

Yang Fan felt aggrieved. I didn't do anything! Why is she so angry early in the morning?

"What's wrong? Did you two fight?" Huo Xinxi asked with a sweet smile.

"Not at all, this is just the dynamic of a married couple!"

Huo Xinxi curled her lip. Looking at his sleepy face, it was obvious he’d been kneeling on a washboard all night. But to others, it looked like something else entirely. Huo Xinxi was happy, and seeing Yang Fan looking so drowsy as they walked in together made people wonder—did you two do something last night?

"Morning, Sister Xi. Yang Fan, didn't you sleep last night? You look exhausted!"

Yang Fan waved his hand. "Don't ask, I was tossed around all night!"

Everyone exchanged glances. Before the "Redemption" mission, rumors had already circulated about Huo Xinxi being a kept woman, and after the mission, it seemed even more certain. After all, she lived in a villa and drove a luxury car.

Huo Xinxi knew what they were thinking but didn't bother to explain. Yang Fan was too tired to care. They could just believe whatever they wanted.

"Let's get to it. Even on holiday, there's no rest. Let’s finish this quickly so I can go back to sleep," Yang Fan said in a foul mood.

"This isn't something that can be finished quickly," Huo Xinxi explained.

"Don't tell me it's another major case? Who’s the idiot committing crimes on a holiday?"

"Yeah, Sister Xi, what’s going on?"

As the crowd buzzed with discussion, Yang Fan felt even more miserable. Can’t these criminals just give it a rest?