If Ye Xiaodao had been present, he would have laughed until his teeth ached, chiding Li Nanfang for his shameless exaggerations. While Li Nanfang had indeed suffered hardships, the trials he described paled in comparison to his actual experiences, which were far more arduous. After all, scrubbing people's backs and washing dishes posed no life-threatening dangers—unlike being confined to a dark room and forced to kill a jaguar with bare hands before being allowed to leave.
However, in Boss Yue's eyes, these were unimaginable hardships. She even felt a twinge of guilt for scolding him when she caught him peeking at her while she was bathing.
Noticing the guilt creeping onto Boss Yue's face, Li Nanfang wiped his nose and feigned a hearty laugh. "But things improved later on. I found a job in the United States until that fateful day when I met you. Alas, that day your fire was ignited, and I just wanted to—"
"Let's not speak of that day," Boss Yue interjected decisively, raising her wine glass. "Instead, I'll promote you to the position of team leader in the fleet management department. Additionally, in recognition of your exceptional performance in household chores, I'll grant you an extra economic bonus of eight thousand yuan."
Li Nanfang rolled his eyes and retorted, "You might as well just call it our meal money. What a grand way to put it, typical of a shrewd businessman."
"Speak for yourself," Boss Yue snapped.
Li Nanfang immediately softened. "Alright, alright, as you wish. Let's drink."
Originally, Boss Yue had hoped he would suggest renovating his house. She had planned to feign contemplation for a moment before reluctantly agreeing, taking the opportunity to remind him to vary his cooking to satisfy a girl's picky appetite. After all, girls are known for their discerning tastes.
But the young man didn't bring it up. Naturally, Boss Yue wouldn't have the audacity to offer him such benefits outright.
He was willing to be bitten by mosquitoes, so let them bite; if he didn't mind the stuffiness, that was his affair. After all, she wasn't the one suffering.
Soon, amidst Li Nanfang's repeated toasts and blessings, the warm candlelit dinner came to an end. After restoring the electricity, as Boss Yue gracefully wiped her mouth and was about to stand up, the young man extended his right hand again.
In the palm of his hand lay a one-yuan coin.
Boss Yue was furious. "Today is my birthday!"
"That ship has sailed. This is a belated gift," Li Nanfang replied.
"I've decided that from now on, today will be my birthday," Boss Yue declared.
"Even if today were truly your birthday, it wouldn't change a thing. As I said this morning, today, I am the master!" Li Nanfang declared triumphantly.
"Today is my birthday! Today is truly my birthday!" Boss Yue wailed in exasperation, reluctantly washing the dishes and utensils. She was so tempted to smash them to the floor, but doing so would only delight the "master" lounging on the sofa outside. She would rather endure silent resentment than give him the satisfaction. Thus, she diligently scrubbed away, and after a considerable effort, she finally emerged, pounding her lower back in relief as she sank onto the sofa beside him.
Li Nanfang was watching Tom and Jerry, a program Boss Yue usually adored, yet here he was, laughing heartily alongside it, exuding a nauseating sense of innocence. Unlike Boss Yue, who would merely offer a knowing smile when Jerry got the better of Tom, elegant and charming.
"Let me tell you something," Li Nanfang said as Boss Yue, still feeling the effects of a sleepless night, stifled a yawn and prepared to retire.
"Quickly, what is it? Don't dawdle, I need my rest," Boss Yue said lazily, her foot nudging her slipper back on. But then she remembered she had something to say as well. "Oh, right, let me speak first. This afternoon, Director Zhang from the Municipal Bureau came to see me regarding the incident where you were... ah, well, you know..." Boss Yue trailed off, raising her wine glass. "I handled it in a way I believe is satisfactory."
Li Nanfang was not particularly concerned about the consequences for Bai Ling. While he had taken advantage of her in the situation, her volatile temper was truly discouraging. Without clarity, she dared to subject him to such abuse of power—wasn't this disheartening for those who acted courageously?
"I dealt with it in a way that should satisfy you, right?" Yue Tong concluded her account and inquired.
"Would I dare be dissatisfied? You've already made the decision for me. If I were to demand more, it would embarrass you terribly," Li Nanfang responded with feigned compliance. "I can endure a bit of grievance and pain, but I must ensure your reputation remains intact."
"This is more like it. I believe the compensation she offers should be substantial. Remember the old saying: 'Leave a way out for others, and you'll have a way out for yourself someday.' I hope you'll show some leniency," Yue Tong advised with a touch of gravity before asking, "What did you want to tell me?"
"Never mind, I'll mention it tomorrow," Li Nanfang hesitated. "You seem to be in such a fine mood tonight; I didn't want to spoil it and keep you awake."
"Hurry up, don't dilly-dally," Yue Tong urged impatiently.
"This morning, after you left for work, your grandfather called," Li Nanfang began.
Upon hearing this, Yue Tong's delicate eyebrows arched, and her gaze sharpened. "Did you complain to my grandfather about how I've assigned you to the fleet management department and how you're dissatisfied with your living conditions?"
"How could I do that? I told him I'm getting along splendidly here. In fact, I feel as if I'm receiving maternal care from you," Li Nanfang assured her, adding a compliment to placate her before casually mentioning, "But your grandfather said that in a few days, your mother will be coming to Qing Shan City to live with us."
Yue Tong was taken aback. Bringing her mother away from the Yue family in Jinghua had been her ultimate goal, the very reason she had agreed to marry Li Nanfang. However, she had never intended to truly become his wife; it was all a charade.
But Grandpa Yue, oblivious to her true intentions, was set on fulfilling his promise by sending her mother to Qing Shan City to live with the "young couple." Once her mother arrived, she would undoubtedly discern the truth from Yue Tong's treatment of Li Nanfang. Given her mother's timid nature, she would likely be terrified and劝 Yue Tong to genuinely submit to him.
The thought left Yue Tong in turmoil. She glared at Li Nanfang's detestable face, seething with frustration. Should she really submit to him?
As usual, Yue Tong leaned against the kitchen doorframe in the morning, watching Li Nanfang busily prepare breakfast. Li Nanfang glanced back and remarked with some surprise, "Hey, no dark circles under your eyes today. Did you come up with a way to deal with your grandfather?"
"Of course. It's a piece of cake for me," Yue Tong replied.
"You can keep bragging. I'll focus on cooking," Li Nanfang said, turning back to his task.
"You should know by now why I took you in," Yue Tong casually inquired.
Li Nanfang, without turning his head, responded, "Can I say I don't know?"
Yue Tong's gaze sharpened as she pressed, "What are your thoughts on this?"
"My thoughts align with yours," Li Nanfang said.
"Do you want to truly live with me?" Yue Tong asked, her tone deliberately nonchalant, as if discussing her marital prospects rather than inquiring about the morning's meal.
Li Nanfang shuddered and exclaimed, "You might as well just kill me."
"Brat, I'm afraid I'd soil my hands," Yue Tong retorted, then continued, "I've thought it through last night. Once my mother arrives, we'll live in my bedroom—"
"Then you might as well just kill me," Li Nanfang repeated.
"Let me finish!" Yue Tong snapped, her patience wearing thin. If she wasn't cooking at the moment, she would have thrown her shoes at him.
Yue Tong had devised a rather cliché plan, but as she well knew, the older the strategy, the more effective it often proved—much like antiques gaining value with age. Upon her mother's arrival, Li Nanfang would be permitted to sleep in Yue Tong's bedroom. However, he would not be sharing her spacious bed; instead, he would sleep on a makeshift bed on the floor.
"Unfortunately, I have no other options. My mother is terribly timid. If she senses that our marriage is a mere pretense, she'll be terrified," Yue Tong sighed. "But this arrangement benefits you as well. You won't have to endure the discomfort of your current living quarters. It's a win-win situation. Of course, if you still feel dissatisfied and attempt to take liberties with me while I sleep, I assure you I won't castrate you."
Li Nanfang naturally agreed wholeheartedly to Yue Tong's proposal. However, he raised a concern: If Yue Tong could devise such a plan, couldn't her grandfather? It was plausible that the elder Yue might instruct Yue Tong's mother to eavesdrop outside their bedroom at night.
Yue Tong hadn't considered this possibility and furrowed her brow. "Do you have any countermeasures?"
"I have at least eight hundred strategies to convince others that we're a genuine married couple," Li Nanfang boasted. "For instance, we could leave the bedroom door slightly ajar, install surveillance cameras in our room, or even engage in some passionate moments on the living room sofa or by the swimming pool—behind closed doors, of course."
Yue Tong's eyes narrowed dangerously as she hissed, "If you utter another word of such nonsense, the next thing to fly at you will be a kitchen knife."
"Lighten up, will you? No wonder you're still an unmarried old maid at over eighty," Li Nanfang quipped, swiftly adding before Yue Tong could erupt, "The simplest method is to perform a serenade. Do you know what a serenade is? You seem so ignorant with your wide, blinking eyes."
Yue Tong sneered and retorted, "Oh, so you're referring to those island nation films where women moan and groan? 'Oh! Ah!'"
Li Nanfang immediately became animated. "Ah, so you are familiar with them. Who's your favorite actress? Is it Yui Hatano or Ozawa Maria（Two famous female leads in Japanese adult films）? Personally, I prefer the latter because of her—ugh, there you go again with the shoe! Do you really think I'll lose my temper and walk out? If I do, you'll have to bear Grandpa Yue's wrath alone, not to mention losing your free chef. But you wouldn't want that, would you?"
Yue Tong dared not push Li Nanfang to the point of departure. Beyond fearing her grandfather's anger, the thought of never again enjoying Li Nanfang's cooking was unbearable. She had previously tried hiring nannies, but none could cook to her satisfaction—not even close to the taste of Li Nanfang's dishes, which were vastly superior to boiled noodles in clear water.
Li Nanfang, oblivious to Yue Tong's internal calculations, proudly presented his culinary creations and boasted for several minutes.
Yue Tong acknowledged his efforts with a nod of approval. Emboldened by her recognition, Li Nanfang grew even more delighted.
It is said that joy often heralds misfortune, and Li Nanfang soon faced a penalty. Yue Tong, having finally gained the upper hand in their coin-tossing duel, laughed heartily and lounged on the sofa where Li Nanfang had sat, propping her feet up on the coffee table. She lit a cigarette and watched him busily clean up, adopting the demeanor of a landlady—occasionally reminding him to wash thoroughly, lest she inspect his work and demand endless redoing.
In short, Yue Tong was in high spirits and secretly vowed to practice her coin-tossing skills during her free time at work, aiming for the coin to always land on its face side. She had truly grasped the essence of a saying by a great man: "Struggle against the heavens and the earth is endlessly joyful; struggle against people is endlessly joyful."
"Hey, what are you looking at?" Yue Tong asked as she noticed Li Nanfang standing by the car, gazing into the distance toward a small hill in front of the villa.
"Going to the office," Li Nanfang replied, turning his head. "I'll hitch a ride with you."
"Didn't I grant you a three-day leave?" Yue Tong inquired, scrutinizing him up and down. "Are you plotting some mischief by volunteering to go to work early?"
"Plotting mischief? Nonsense. I'm just bored at home with nothing to do. It's better to be busy at work," Li Nanfang said. "Of course, if you'd allow me to visit the second floor at home—"
"In your dreams," Yue Tong interjected, cutting him off. After a moment of contemplation, she added, "Well, it is a bit dull at home watching TV. You may go to work. Given your decent performance so far, I'll transfer you from the fleet management department to the sales department. Although you're uneducated, I've noticed you have a sharp tongue. You might be good at persuading people."
Li Nanfang promptly refused. "No thanks."
"Really? The sales department offers higher salaries and bonuses than the fleet management department," Yue Tong tempted him.
"Still no thanks. I prefer the fleet management department. I like those simple and straightforward drivers," Li Nanfang said, a gentle expression crossing his face as he spoke of the drivers. Meanwhile, the drivers scattered across Qing Shan City shuddered collectively, subconsciously worried about the safety of the cash in their wallets.
Since Li Nanfang was uncooperative, Yue Tong saw no point in persuading him further and tossed the car keys to him. "Here, take these."
"I don't have a driver's license. Can I even drive?" Li Nanfang asked nervously, holding the keys.
"Excuse me?" Yue Tong was stunned. "You don't have a driver's license? Then why are you in the fleet management department?"
"It was you who assigned me there. With your cold and intimidating demeanor at the time, did I dare refuse?" Li Nanfang retorted.
"You're driving me up the wall!" Yue Tong stamped her foot in frustration and stormed out.
"Ha, the heavens won't strike down on such a shameless person," Li Nanfang quipped. However, his words were cut short as a sudden crack of thunder rolled overhead, startling him into hopping onto the car like a rabbit, staring at the sky in mute trepidation.
Rain began to fall, descending like a dense curtain of fine beads, the droplets striking the ground and rising in misty veils, swaying with the wind.
Franklin lowered the telescope and turned to Jesse, who was holding an umbrella for him. "The target's information database doesn't mention any man in her life, does it?"
"Definitely not. When we visited the villa the night before yesterday, I saw no signs of any man living there," Jesse confirmed with certainty.
"Then what do you think is the relationship between them?" Franklin inquired.
"Perhaps the target has taken a kept man. After all, a woman living alone for so long might feel lonely and seek companionship for pleasure," Jesse replied with a lewd grin.
Franklin nodded in agreement. "Your reasoning makes sense. If there's no need, let's spare the man. It's not easy for him to have lived this long; losing his life over this would be quite a loss."
If Li Nanfang could overhear their conversation, he would surely nod in agreement, lamenting the beauty of the world. "Look at this heavy rain; the streets are filled with women in skirts. When the wind blows, their skirts lift, revealing even their undergarments. How tragic it would be to die under such circumstances!"
"Stop! Pull over!" Yue Tong was driving intently when Li Nanfang suddenly shouted.
She slammed on the brakes and asked, "What's the matter?"
Li Nanfang's face was practically pressed against the window as he muttered, "That woman outside just now, she wasn't wearing any underwear, I think."
"Li Nanfang!" Yue Tong scolded.
"Reporting in!" Li Nanfang responded, realizing his mistake in mentioning it to Yue Tong. He quickly smiled sheepishly and tried to explain, "Ah, Madam Yue, I was just worried she might catch a cold—"
"Get out!" Yue Tong ordered.
"It's raining outside," Li Nanfang protested.
"For the last time, get out!" Yue Tong insisted.
"Can I at least borrow an umbrella?" Li Nanfang reached for one in the backseat, but Yue Tong opened the door, shoved him out, slammed it shut, and sped off through the intersection.
"Yue Tong, what right do you have to interfere with my freedom to discover and appreciate beauty? Are you jealous? If you were to dress like that, I swear I'd never look at another woman!" Drenched in the downpour, Li Nanfang cursed at the car, hopping around in the rain.
Fortunately, it was only a five-hundred-meter walk from the intersection to Kaihuang Group headquarters. Soaked through, Li Nanfang had no choice but to embrace the rain, strolling forward with a nonchalant air, ignoring the stares of passersby holding umbrellas. He acted as if he were enjoying a romantic stroll in the rain.
Glancing at the Mercedes-Benz parked closest to the headquarters entrance, Li Nanfang scoffed and waved at Wang Defa standing at the door. Although he couldn't hear Wang's exact words, the lecherous grin on his face suggested they weren't compliments. Kicking open the door to the fleet management office, Li Nanfang found the room buzzing with activity. The drivers were relishing the lack of leadership due to the heavy rain and had already started gambling.
The previous day, Li Nanfang had relieved them of a considerable sum, leaving them seething with resentment. Unable to confront him physically, they resolved to reclaim their losses at the gambling table. If a dozen men couldn't outsmart one person, they might as well give up gambling altogether.
Yesterday, after work, Zhang Wei led the group to a restaurant where they meticulously planned their revenge. The consensus was that Li Nanfang must return every cent he had won, or else.
In the morning, after the gambling session, the news of Li Nanfang being beaten and humiliated by a female police officer until he wet his pants spread like wildfire. Yue Tong and Meng Rou wouldn't discuss the incident at the company, but a security guard's cousin, Han Jun from the Municipal Bureau's criminal team, had shared the story. He recounted it as a joke, mentioning that a certain Li Nanfang from Kaihuang Group had been utterly embarrassed by Bai Deputy Captain at the bureau.
"Did that guy really wet his pants after being beaten by a woman? No wonder he's not at work today. Serves him right for being so arrogant. Let's celebrate over lunch—my treat!" Zhang Wei declared, setting up a table in the staff canteen's private dining area. They toasted with tea in lieu of alcohol, celebrating Li Nanfang's comeuppance and dubbing him the "Pants-Wetting Knight."
While some found solace in the gossip, they weren't ready to let Li Nanfang off the hook. Even after his embarrassing ordeal, they were determined to win back their money.
"Hey, here comes the Pants-Wetting Knight!" Li Nanfang had no sooner entered the room than Sun Daming announced his arrival. A round of applause erupted, as if welcoming a visiting dignitary. The group shouted in unison, "Welcome, welcome, warmly welcome the Pants-Wetting Knight!"
Li Nanfang was momentarily taken aback but quickly regained his composure, smiling and arching his hands in a gesture of acknowledgment. The group's mockery seemed to roll off his back, leaving them somewhat disarmed. True men, they mused, should be magnanimous. Especially since their own behavior during the previous gambling session had been less than honorable, resorting to mob tactics after losing. To hold a grudge over the incident now would be unbecoming of gentlemen.
Unbeknownst to them, Li Nanfang's apparent indifference was a calculated move. If he allowed their taunts to affect him and soured relations, they might refuse to gamble with him in the future. For the sake of his continued financial gain, he couldn't afford to let his pride get in the way.
"Li Nanfang, could you regale us with the tale of your epic three-hundred-round battle with Deputy Bai from the Municipal Bureau?" someone jestingly requested.
Li Nanfang feigned shame, heaving a dramatic sigh. "Ah, a sorrowful chapter best left untold. But shouldn't we seize such a starlit night to showcase our skills at the gambling table?"
Zhang Wei, who had been contemplating how to coax Li Nanfang into gambling, seized the opportunity. "Enough chatter! Let's show some respect for our Pants-Wetting Knight. Let's start the game!"
"Game on!" the group roared in approval, gathering around the table.
Two tables were pushed together to accommodate the crowd, and Li Nanfang was offered the auspicious northern seat. Five and ten-yuan bills rained down onto the table as the game began.
Coincidentally, Zhang Wei was the dealer again, and Li Nanfang was the first to speak. He opened with a twenty, followed by a black call from the next player. Around the table, a full circle of black calls ensued, and it was Li Nanfang's turn once more.
Li Nanfang opted not to continue the black calls but instead revealed his cards, following with fifty. The game proceeded with a mix of black and open calls, and a few players folded. As seasoned gamblers, they knew how to manipulate the situation without arousing suspicion. Soon, the table was down to six players, all following the lead and raising to one hundred.
Li Nanfang was well aware that the group was colluding against him but chose to feign ignorance. With a furrowed brow, he followed for several rounds before decisively folding when Zhang Wei raised the stakes to two hundred.
Li Nanfang's luck was abysmal that morning. By noon, his four thousand yuan had dwindled to just five or six hundred. Desperation set in as sweat began to bead on his forehead.
"This is it! No more!" Li Nanfang cursed, tossing his cards aside and clutching his remaining three bills. His face was a mask of defeat.
The group wouldn't let him off so easily. "Three more hands, and then we'll go to eat. On me!" Zhang Wei insisted, and the others agreed with a chorus of approval.
Hearing about a treat, Li Nanfang hesitated but eventually relented. "Fine, I'll try to turn this around in three hands!"
As expected, the group had no intention of giving him a chance. After three rounds, Li Nanfang's three hundred yuan was reduced to twenty, his forehead now streaming with sweat.
Zhang Wei, triumphant, laughed as he collected the money. "Let's go eat, everyone!"
The group, now in high spirits, escorted Li Nanfang to the second-floor cafeteria. As the losers often enjoyed such privileges, Li Nanfang accepted the attention with a nonchalant air, striding into the dining area as if money meant nothing to him.
Meng Rou had just finished serving her meal at the first window when she spotted Li Nanfang. Her eyes lit up, but she quickly restrained herself. Then she heard someone shout, "Pants-Wetting Knight, over here! This way, please!" Next, she saw Li Nanfang walking over as Sun Daming obligingly wiped the chair with his sleeve.
"Pants-Wetting Knight?" Meng Rou immediately grasped the insinuation. Watching the drivers of the fleet management department surround Li Nanfang, calling him by this derogatory nickname, she was furious. What she found even more intolerable was that Li Nanfang showed no sign of shame. Instead, he seemed delighted, as if the moniker were a badge of honor. "Could you pass me a couple more pork knuckles, please?" he even asked, grinning.
Sun Daming, encouraged by Zhang Wei's expectant gaze, regaled the onlookers with an animated tale, embellishing every detail about how Li Nanfang had been beaten by the police officer. The crowd, ever eager for gossip, swarmed around to learn more.
Before long, employees from other departments gathered, curious about the commotion. Someone asked, "Sun Daming, what's a Pants-Wetting Knight?"
Sun Daming, clearly relishing the attention, launched into a vivid account. "My cousin works at the Municipal Bureau, and he said that this guy was beaten so badly by Officer Bai that he wet his pants," he explained, his voice rising with enthusiasm.
Li Nanfang's composure in the face of such humiliation was baffling to Meng Rou. She couldn't fathom how he remained unfazed, still casually requesting extra pork knuckles as if the taunts meant nothing. Just as Sun Daming was describing the incident in graphic detail, someone slammed a hand on the table and sharply commanded, "Enough!"
"Who the hell scared me like that?!" Sun Daming yelped, jumping in fright. He looked up to see Secretary Min, her face flushed with anger, her teeth clenched as she glared at him.