"Ah... don’t touch me..."
Gao Man suddenly sat up, looking around the pitch-dark room in terror.
The nightmare had startled her awake, drenched in cold sweat, but finding her clothes still on, she curled up into a ball, trying to remember what had happened before.
In her hazy recollection, Lin Fan’s arrival now seemed somewhat unreal. Just then, the door was pushed open, and a woman about her age walked in.
The tall woman with dyed blonde hair was smoking a cigarette, with tattoos decorating her exposed arms.
Gao Man instinctively grabbed the cell phone on the bedside table and looked at the woman warily.
"I’m Wu Houbiao’s wife. It was Mayor Lin who brought you here and said to take care of you. He and my husband are downstairs drinking, said that once you wake up, they’ll ask if you want to come down to eat something, if you’re still sleepy, then sleep more; anyway, they probably will drink for a while longer."
The woman took out a cigarette to offer Gao Man, who refused, her head still dizzy. Leaning against the headboard, she felt a sudden sweetness in her heart when she confirmed that it was indeed Lin Fan who saved her. The thought of "Who dares to touch my woman" seemed to carry an air of dominance, but she still felt a bit scared. If Lin Fan hadn’t been there, it would have been bad for her tonight.
"This guy... how can he be so cute!"
In her mind, the image of Lin standing protectively in front of her was grand. Gao Man’s cheeks flushed with shyness, her heart raced, and the smile on her lips was one only she understood the meaning of.
Downstairs, however, Lin was flushed from drinking, having consumed three cups of Tiger Whip Wine that brought a fiery heat to his body, causing him to shrug off his shirt, while the table was filled with rare delicacies.
"Lin... from now on, you’re my boss... Just say the word... and I, Wu Houbiao, will go through fire and water for you!"
Wu, equally inebriated, thumped his chest; business talk was done, and now was the time to pledge loyalty.
"Time reveals a person’s heart, we brothers will go along slowly!"
Lin Fan smiled and patted Wu Houbiao on the shoulder. He knew how to talk to every kind of person. Having someone like Wu by his side would make things a lot easier in certain situations, and this project was considered a little perk for both sides, serving each other’s needs.
"Lin... tonight’s meal is special... and I’ve even arranged something better for you!"
Wu Houbiao clapped his hands and immediately two timid girls walked in, their immature looks and skinny figures shivering from sheer innocence. Lin was taken aback, while Wu smiled and said, "Both are virgins, specially found for you, Lin, to celebrate tonight!"
"No thanks... no thanks... I don’t believe in that sort of thing!"
Lin Fan hurriedly waved his hands, not even sure if the girls were adults, and he certainly didn’t believe in the custom of breaking virginity for good fortune, so he unequivocally refused.
"Alright then, just speak up if you need anything in the future, Big Brother Lin."
Seeing Lin Fan’s refusal, Wu Houbiao didn’t insist and waved the girls out of the room as if granting pardon. His gesture was enough, and that was all.
As the two resumed drinking, Wu’s wife came in: "Mayor, the woman has woken up and is upstairs. Why not stay here tonight?"
"No need, I had a great time today and should be heading back."
This house belonged to Wu Houbiao and Lin Fan certainly wouldn’t spend the night there. Dealing with people like Wu was both an opportunity and a risk, so maintaining distance was crucial.
So Lin Fan got to his feet and headed up to the second-floor room. When he pushed the door open, Gao Man was still sitting on the bed, hugging her knees, and when she saw him, a blush flashed across her beautiful face.
"Are you alright? If you are, let’s go."
Lin Fan belched from the alcohol, walking to the bedside.
After the Tiger Whip Wine, Gao Man appeared even more beautiful and appealing.
Gao Man, biting her lower lip, suddenly couldn’t dare to meet his eyes and nodded quickly, stretching out her legs. But as soon as she slipped on her high heels, she involuntarily inhaled sharply from the pain in her left ankle, which prevented her from standing.
"It must have been when I fell earlier, that bastard Wu must have hurt it!"
Gao Man massaged her left ankle, pouting at Lin Fan.
"Should I carry you?"
Seeing Gao Man’s pained expression, Lin Fan asked.
At his words, Gao Man happily picked up her high heels and clambered onto Lin Fan’s back, a smile of blissful sweetness on her lips revealing endless joy.
"What’s there to be happy about?"
Carrying Gao Man, who weighed just under a hundred pounds, Lin Fan supported her thighs, the soft, smooth sensation unforgettable.
"You make me feel like Zhu Bajie carrying his wife."
Gao Man’s cheeks reddened even more as she said this, effectively implying she was his wife.