Chapter 137: So It Is Settled

"With that ten thousand you just received, it won't even last a single night. You’d better watch your spending!" Huo Xinxi said.

"Let’s go Dutch!" Yang Fan laughed.

"You’re a big boss, the head of the Fanmei Group, and you want to go Dutch with us? Have you no shame?"

"Then what do you suggest?" Yang Fan asked.

"Find a small karaoke bar, a few hundred bucks for two hours!" Huo Xinxi replied.

"No, the quality is too low!"

"Take it or leave it! If you don't go, come home with me and pay your 'public grain tax'! You choose!"

"Fine, let's just go," Yang Fan muttered miserably.

The two girls in the back seat didn't make a sound. *Could you two not be so explicit? There are people sitting in the back, you know!*

"But big sister, I have to go home tonight!"

"You can go home after paying the 'public grain tax,' it's not like I'm forbidding you."

She slammed on the brakes, grabbed Yang Fan’s phone, and sent a mass message.

"What are you doing, big sister?"

"Telling your wives that we are on official business!" Huo Xinxi tossed the phone back at him.

"But paying 'public grain' isn't official business, I really need to go home."

"Who says it isn't?"

Yang Fan was stunned; he was speechless.

He followed the group to the small karaoke bar, feeling too dejected to even move. Was he really going to have to pay this "tax" tonight?

"Hey, hey, what are you doing? Can't you see the young lady is already drunk? What are you trying to drag her into the private room for?"

"Who the hell are you? None of your business!" one of the thugs shouted. Xiao Liu was faster; he kicked one down and twisted the other’s arm behind his back.

"Police! Don't move!" Xiao Liu pulled out his badge with his other hand, and the thugs immediately began begging for mercy.

Yang Fan felt even more miserable.

"Honestly, your sense of justice and hatred for evil really don't suit a place like this."

"We're just doing a bit of unannounced investigation while we're at it, so this counts as official business too!" Huo Xinxi laughed.

He sat in the private room, miserable until past nine. By the time they returned to Huo Xinxi’s place, it was ten o'clock.

"Big sister, are we really doing this?"

"This is an official task assigned to you by your superior, and you must carry it out strictly! Understood?" Huo Xinxi said.

"But I can't give you happiness!" Yang Fan lamented.

"I asked you to pay the 'public grain tax,' not to give me happiness!" Huo Xinxi said as she sat on the sofa and took off her coat.

Yang Fan slapped his forehead and sighed.

"Come here." Huo Xinxi beckoned with her finger. Yang Fan approached, and without a word, she reached for his trousers.

"Big sister, can I take them off myself?" Yang Fan was almost in tears.

With that, Huo Xinxi gave him a slap.

"What are you thinking? Who told you to take those off? I want you to give me your money and those vouchers. That’s what you're paying!"

"That's the 'public grain'?" Yang Fan was speechless.

"What did you think? Back in the day, food stamps were used like money, so 'grain' means money. If you’re keeping me, shouldn't you pay up?" Huo Xinxi reached straight into Yang Fan's pocket.

"But, but I'm not keeping you! We haven't done anything!"

"Then let's do it. I’m not stopping you; it’s you who won't," she said as she took all his belongings.

That was all his meager savings. Was he really going to be eating dirt from now on?

"Leave me a few bills at least," Yang Fan pleaded.

"Fine, take one!" Huo Xinxi shoved a hundred-yuan bill back into his pocket.

"This is forced maintenance!"

"Exactly. What are you going to do about it? If you want to do something, feel free!" Huo Xinxi counted the money with an arrogant air.

"The money you spend on me is only going to increase. If you don't do something soon, you'll be the one losing out. Don't worry, I’ll never marry; I'll just rely on you to keep me. Even if you don't touch me, it’s fine—isn't there other equipment for that? I can take care of my own physiological needs."

"Have some self-respect!" Yang Fan said bitterly.

"That’s none of your concern. As long as you give me money every month, that’s all that matters!" Huo Xinxi stuffed the money and vouchers into her bag and stood up.

"Alright, I’m going to shower. As for you, if you want to do something, I’ll cooperate. If not, you can leave." She began to undress without hesitation.

"Oh, and lock the door on your way out!"

"Aren't you going to see me off?" Yang Fan asked miserably.

"Take a taxi yourself. Didn't I just give you a hundred?" She waved him off and entered the bathroom.

Yang Fan sat on the sofa in despair. What kind of situation was this?

He turned off the lights, called out to Huo Xinxi, and left. How could he possibly make a move on his own superior?

In the bathroom, Huo Xinxi bathed with an air of pride.

Outside, the night breeze was chilling, but Yang Fan’s heart felt even colder. He hailed a taxi and went straight home.

At the entrance of the residential complex, he ran into the group heading out to enjoy themselves—along with two dogs.

"Ai Xiaomei, are you never going to quit?"

"None of your business. Oh, by the way, the puppy peed on your bed, so you'll be sleeping on the sofa tonight!" Ai Xiaomei said.

Yang Fan glared, but Ai Xiaomei wasn't afraid; in fact, she had never been afraid of him.

"Take me with you to enjoy yourselves then."

"No. Stay home and watch the house. We aren't coming back tonight. Bye!"

Yang Fan was on the verge of tears. Lin Ruo didn't even glance at him. Lin Xi wanted to take him, and Xu Zihan offered too, but they were both dragged away by Ai Xiaomei.

"Lin Ruo, take me with you!"

"Stay home and watch the house. If I come back and you aren't here, don't ever come back!"

Zhang Chen and the others felt sorry for Yang Fan, but they didn't dare take him either, as Lin Ruo held the card.

"I’ve got wine and some food I just bought in my room. Go have a drink and you won't feel so bad!" Zhang Chen gave Yang Fan his keys and patted him hard on the shoulder.

"Uncle, we’re off!"

Yang Fan stood there, stunned. He had been abandoned more thoroughly than ever before.

Watching them leave happily, Yang Fan went home and thought about calling Wu Qian, Xia Yufei, and Zhao Jing, but after only a few words, he heard Lin Ruo’s voice—she had picked them up to join the fun as well.

He called Wang Yun, only to be scolded for a while, which made him feel even more dejected.

He hadn't intended to drink, but he went downstairs, grabbed a few bottles, and brought the food up. Sitting there, nursing his drink, he embodied a man’s miserable existence.

They say red wine can make you drunk, and between the intoxication and the exhaustion, Yang Fan fell asleep right on the sofa.

Lin Ruo returned at some point and helped him onto her bed.

Perhaps only when it was just the two of them did they feel like a real couple, able to be together without any barriers. For Lin Ruo, that was enough.