The time shifts to just after Xiaofan left the bar.

Ouyang Xiong and Fei returned to the office on the fourth floor.

"Fei. What do you think of Xiaofan?" Ouyang Xiong asked while smoking a cigarette, playing with a half-filled glass of red wine.

"Xiaofan? Smart, quite a decent guy. If he hadn't stepped in tonight, I wouldn't have made it back. And he's not even twenty, with no hint of cunning." Fei immediately gave his first impression of Xiaofan.

"Indeed, I think the kid is quite talented too. But you can also tell he has no intention of mixing in our world. I won't force it; I just hope he can give us some advice now and then. So, I plan to promote him. I'll pick two spots from my side and one from yours for him." Ouyang Xiong continued.

"This is your call, Brother Xiong." Fei replied with a smile.

"Don't you feel uncomfortable that I'm letting a kid rise up so easily?" Ouyang Xiong asked, puzzled, looking at Fei.

"Uncomfortable? Not at all. If Xiaofan is willing to join, I can even give him half of the spots I'm overseeing." Fei replied without thinking.

"Sigh, but the problem now is, even if we give him more spots, Xiaofan might not be willing to join us. Let's talk about this later. Keep in touch with Xiaofan for now. Oh, and about that girl tonight, tell the guys to look after her more. Especially with that kid Liu around, he shouldn't think every woman is his to mess with. Fortunately, Xiaofan didn't get angry tonight. If he does, I'll deal with Liu myself."

"Got it. I'll head down now."

"Hmm."

After Fei left, Ouyang Xiong sat alone in the office, drinking with a gloomy expression. Being a leader has its worries. The society now isn't the same as it used to be, where a few machetes and iron sticks could build an empire. More methods for development are needed, or else his brothers might not last a few more years and would end up begging for food.

Good talent is hard to find, and having encountered a promising one like Xiaofan, Ouyang Xiong sincerely hopes he can lend a hand.

Meanwhile, Xiaofan, who was escorting Chen Mengying home, naturally sensed Ouyang Xiong's attempts to draw him in. Why else would they easily offer a manager position and try to get on his good side all night? Yet, this path wasn't Xiaofan's style. However, with Ouyang Xiong and Fei being so nice to him, ignoring it isn't possible either.

"Ye Xiaofan, how did you get to know those guys, and even hang out with them like brothers?" Chen Mengying finally asked the question she'd been holding in for a while.

"Like you, I once worked as a temp at the bar and caught Brother Xiong's eye by accident. Tonight, I happened to save Brother Fei by chance, so they're pretty nice to me." Xiaofan answered honestly but didn't delve into the specifics.

"But they don't seem like good people, with tattoos everywhere, all looking fierce. Hanging out with them, won't it delay your future?" Chen Mengying, being a well-behaved girl, naturally didn't have a liking for small-time thugs, especially after nearly being tricked by Liu tonight. She had nothing good to say about these people.

"Actually, they're not as bad as you think, doing all sorts of evil deeds. I have to admit, selling a bottle of red wine worth thirty-eight bucks for three thousand eight is clearly ripping people off, but it's just a way to make money. Besides, if someone's willing to spend that much on a bottle of wine, then three thousand bucks is just a drop in the ocean for them." Xiaofan's words were quite impartial, but this was just his initial understanding of Ouyang Xiong.

"You seem to know them quite well?" Chen Mengying continued asking.

"More or less. While their methods might be a bit shady, they wouldn't go as far as to do anything atrocious. At least, they steer clear of drugs. Brother Xiong is smart enough to know there's no turning back once you get involved with that stuff. Besides, if places like theirs didn't exist, how else could you easily make money? By the way, I haven't asked you yet, why are you working a temp job there?" Xiaofan suddenly recalled.

"My family's little cart got taken away by the city inspectors, and with the college entrance exam approaching, whether I do well or not, I still have to go to college. There's still tuition to think about." Chen Mengying had nothing to hide from Xiaofan. He was already familiar with her family's situation.

"Oh, I'll pick you up for work tomorrow, and I'll have them assign you an easier job."

"You're going to have them arrange it? Hey, you haven't really joined the underworld, have you?"

"No, but even if I did, it wouldn't matter. You've always known that I've never had much interest in studying." Xiaofan said nonchalantly.

"And yet you still got into Seventh Middle School? Do you not know? Not just anyone can get into Seventh Middle School."

"Ah, that's because I heard there were lots of pretty girls at Seventh Middle School. Well, I'm not walking you up. I've had some drinks, feeling a bit dizzy, I need to go home and sleep."

"Oh, well, see you tomorrow then."

"Yeah, see you."

After seeing Chen Mengying to her building, Xiaofan watched her go upstairs before slowly driving out of the neighborhood. Although he had only met Ouyang Xiong twice, both times Ouyang Xiong had extended significant kindness towards him. How could he be unaware of Ouyang Xiong's intentions to draw him in… but... Forget it, since they've treated me like a brother, I can't just turn a blind eye.

It was nearly 1 AM by the time Xiaofan got home. Pushing through his slight intoxication, he leaned against the wall and made his way up the stairs step by step.

Upon opening the door, the first thing he noticed was the discarded food in the trash, looking quite sumptuous. Oh right, he recalled having dinner at Liu Siyan's home earlier. It was probably leftovers from what Shen Zuimo cooked. But wasn't throwing it away such a waste? Keeping it for a late-night snack would have been better.

"Hey, you've been drinking again?" Suddenly, a voice came from the sofa.

It turned out to be Shen Zuimo lying on the sofa, watching him. Next to her was a cellphone, presumably used for watching some drama or something.

"Why aren't you asleep yet? It's so late." Xiaofan poured himself a glass of water and also sat down heavily on the sofa, his head feeling increasingly muddled.

"I, it's none of your business when I sleep." Shen Zuimo's face flushed slightly. Would she admit she couldn't sleep because Xiaofan came back so late after being with Liu Siyan?

"Hey? Could it be you were waiting for me to come back? Huh? Were you? Were you?" Xiaofan asked, seemingly surprised.

"Who would wait for you, honestly, you're so self-indulgent, go find your Liu Siyan." Shen Zuimo cast a glance at Xiaofan. However, her tone lacked enough conviction.

"Were you jealous?" Another surprising discovery, which made the slightly tipsy Xiaofan a bit excited.

"I, I can't be bothered with you. I'm going to sleep." Shen Zuimo said as she got up from the sofa, preparing to head back to her room.

Suddenly, Xiaofan grabbed her arm tightly and pulled. Caught off guard, Shen Zuimo suddenly found herself very close to Xiaofan. The distance between their faces was only about eight centimeters.

Xiaofan's gaze was filled with longing. Shen Zuimo, on the other hand, looked at Xiaofan with panicked eyes, unsure if she had forgotten to resist or if there was a faint anticipation deep in her heart.

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