Chapter 96: Escalation of Conflict

Wang Wenyu teased, “Liar. I’ve been gone for two days, and you haven’t stayed quiet either. You’ve done so many things, yet you dare say you think of me every moment.”

Jiang Fan sighed and replied, “Thinking of you every moment is true, but there’s more. That Manager Liu, who used to bully Shen Tingting—worried about his job, he came to see me. That’s when I learned about her situation. She’s a woman with a hard life.

From her, I guessed there are many despicable things hidden within Dafeng. These past two days, I’ve been wanting to deal with those matters, to make sure those bastards don’t enjoy a peaceful New Year.”

Seeing Jiang Fan gearing up to tell another story, Wang Wenyu, feeling sorry for his sleepless night, covered his eyes with her hand and stopped him, saying, “Close your eyes and sleep. After you rest, you can tell me everything.”

With his eyes covered, Jiang Fan muttered, “Let me tell you, not just Manager Liu, but also the matter of spring planting. I really want to tell you.”

Wang Wenyu covered his mouth, “Sleep now. When you wake up, you can talk as much as you want.”

Jiang Fan pried her hand away and pouted in protest, “I want to tell you everything, but you won’t listen.”

Wang Wenyu kissed him gently, indulging, “It’s not that I don’t want to listen, but you haven’t slept yet. If you don’t sleep, I’ll get angry.”

Receiving her reward, Jiang Fan closed his eyes and quickly drifted into dreams.

Wang Wenyu listened to his steady breathing, confirming he was asleep, then quietly got up and, still in her pajamas, went downstairs.

She took a denim dress from the car’s trunk and entered the fruit shop, handing it to Xiao Yuxin, saying, “Sister Xin: My sister sells clothes in Shangxiajiu. She insisted I pick out a few pieces before coming back. I picked this dress for you—I hope you like it.”

Xiao Yuxin smiled as she took it, “You always dress so well, anything you pick must be good. Did you get anything for your man?”

Wang Wenyu shook her head, “That’s my Uncle Liang’s daughter. I worried she’d tease me for picking men’s clothes, so I didn’t dare.”

Xiao Yuxin teased, “You two haven’t seen each other in days. Aren’t you staying home with him? Doesn’t he complain?”

“He’s already asleep. I just came down to sit for a bit.”

Gift-giving can happen anytime, but Wang Wenyu didn’t come downstairs simply to deliver something or to sit idly.

She had heard Jiang Fan mention that the gambling den issue might be stepping on the toes of powerful people. She thought that, since Jiang Fan had been spending time in the fruit shop, those powerful figures might turn their displeasure toward Xiao Yuxin, finding fault on purpose.

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Those in power can easily make trouble for any merchant.

Though Wang Wenyu didn’t know many people, she believed that after the incident with the security team, her name was known to many. So she thought, while things were calm, sitting here could help bolster Xiao Yuxin.

The two women discussed fashion for a long time, and while Wang Wenyu didn’t encounter any powerful figures causing trouble, she did meet someone Jiang Fan had yet to see—Lu Zai.

Lu Zai didn’t care about losing some money at the gambling den, but the longer the stall stayed closed, the greater the blow to his reputation. Skinny was at a loss, and Ah Zhong, being narrow-minded and impulsive, feared things would worsen, so Lu Zai decided to handle it himself.

He brought three lackeys, but instead of going to the fruit shop, he intended to head straight upstairs to find Jiang Fan.

Xiao Yuxin, seeing them approach, pouted and said to Wang Wenyu, “That tall man is Brother Lu. He’s probably looking for your man upstairs.”

Wang Wenyu asked Lu Zai, pretending not to know, “May I ask who you’re looking for?”

Despite knowing Lu Zai was no good, Wang Wenyu’s upbringing compelled her to use polite language.

Lu Zai was momentarily distracted by Wang Wenyu’s beauty, but he had business to attend to. Wanting to speak kindly to her, his anger got the better of him, and he snapped, “Who I’m looking for is none of your business.”

Seeing his arrogant demeanor, Wang Wenyu gave a contemptuous smile and replied coldly, “If you’re looking for Jiang Fan, it is my business. And I can tell you, it’s useless looking for him now—I make the decisions.”

Lu Zai was courageous but not wise. His conceited nature was his greatest flaw.

He saw himself as a local tyrant; even the village chief didn’t dare provoke him. Arrogance was his habit, and he spat out, “You bitch, who do you think you are, daring to mouth off in front of me?”

Lu Zai not only knew about the incident with the security team, but he also knew that Zheng Xiaomao’s trouble stemmed from offending the beautiful woman with Jiang Fan.

Yet Wang Wenyu’s disdainful attitude enraged his pride, so he didn’t stop to consider that only someone very close to Jiang Fan would speak this way.

From childhood, aside from her parents, Wang Wenyu had never been insulted.

Lu Zai’s slur made her eyes fill with tears; pointing at him, she stammered, “I—I—I…” but couldn’t finish a sentence.

Xiao Yuxin knew that stepping in could offend Lu Zai, but seeing Wang Wenyu wronged, she disregarded her own interests, went over, and put her arm around Wang Wenyu’s shoulder, saying, “Girl, don’t rush. Come with me to calm down.”

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Xiao Yuxin’s comfort eased Wang Wenyu’s rage. She pointed at Lu Zai again, gritting her teeth, “Remember the filth you just spewed—I will find out who backs you, who gives you the audacity to be so brazen.”

With that, she broke free from Xiao Yuxin, intending to drive away, only to realize she’d come downstairs in her pajamas, without her car keys. She turned back toward the rented apartment.

Lu Zai, hearing Wang Wenyu’s threat, sensed something was wrong and asked Xiao Yuxin, “Who is she?”

Though she disliked Lu Zai, Xiao Yuxin thought it best not to make an enemy of such a person. She replied expressionlessly, “Jiang Fan’s girlfriend.”

“What?” Lu Zai slapped his head, suddenly recalling Zheng Xiaomao’s misfortune.

He hurriedly called his lackeys, rushed to his car, and sped off, eager to find connections to handle the new trouble, fearing that any delay would cost him his freedom.

The sound of Wang Wenyu unlocking the door with her keys woke Jiang Fan. Seeing her tear-stained eyes, he instantly shook off his sleep and asked anxiously, “What happened? Who upset you?”

Jiang Fan’s anxious gaze made Wang Wenyu finally burst into tears, stammering, “That Lu Zai was looking for you—and he called me a bitch.”

Jiang Fan was so furious he didn’t even bother with his underwear; he pulled on his pants with one hand, didn’t buckle his belt, and stormed downstairs.

He hadn’t reached the first floor when he saw a BMW speeding out through the rental’s gate.

Seeing Jiang Fan, Xiao Yuxin asked with concern, “How’s the girl?”

Jiang Fan didn’t reply, instead pointing at the departing car, “Is that BMW Lu Zai’s?”

Xiao Yuxin nodded, “She asked me who the girl was. I didn’t want to offend him directly, so I told him. Don’t blame me.”

Understanding how hard it is for a single woman to survive, Jiang Fan shook his head, “There’s nothing to blame. It’s not a secret. Where does that bastard live? I’m going to find him right now.”