"That bastard. It's already midnight, and he's still not back. Doesn't he know I need my medicine changed tonight?"
Chu Yan sat alone on the sofa, glanced at the time, and couldn't help but curse under her breath.
'It was just a dinner with the sales department. Does he really have to stay out this late?'
For some reason, a certain possibility popped into Chu Yan's mind. 'Drunken debauchery…'
「Chen Yi's Place.」
The now fully awake Chen Yi looked at Zhou Fan beside her. One of his arms was wrapped around her, while the other held a cigarette. She felt a sense of comfort. 'This guy might not seem that reliable, but at least he takes responsibility for his actions. He didn't just run off!'
"Staring at me like that, don't tell me you've fallen for me?" Zhou Fan stubbed out his cigarette. Seeing that Chen Yi was still staring at him, he pinched her small chin, a wicked grin spreading across his lips.
"Hmph, you're really full of yourself. I'm not a little girl, so don't worry, I won't make you take responsibility for me." Chen Yi gave Zhou Fan a flirtatious eye-roll, but her hand started to get a little frisky.
"Oh, really? I can't believe you're this kind of person, already refusing to take responsibility! I'm so hurt! You have to make it up to me!" Zhou Fan put on a pitiful expression, clutching the blanket tightly as if he was about to burst into tears.
"Giggle… then how do you want me to make it up to you?" Chen Yi laughed charmingly and sat up as she spoke. "Will this do?"
After another round of passion, Zhou Fan left Chen Yi's place feeling utterly refreshed. 'Women like Chen Yi really are the best,' he thought. 'Sensible, considerate... you just have to give her a look, and she knows exactly what to do.'
Humming a little tune, Zhou Fan walked toward the villa.
Suddenly, someone appeared in front of Zhou Fan, blocking his path.
"Nether King. Long time no see."
The newcomer was a man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven, around five-foot-nine, and was looking at Zhou Fan with a smile.
Zhou Fan glanced at the man and rolled his eyes speechlessly. He casually pulled out a cigarette, tossed it to him, and then walked over to the side and sat down.
"When I got word that someone had killed over a dozen people with very professional methods, I thought some enemy had come to stir up trouble. I never expected it to be you. I thought…"
Fan took out a lighter, lit Zhou Fan's cigarette, and then took a drag from his own before he spoke.
"You thought I was already dead? You're overthinking it. A menace like me doesn't die that easily." Zhou Fan shook his head with a wry smile, then took out a piece of bamboo and handed it to him.
"Did they follow you here? I remember that Viper from the Assassination Group was one of the ones who ambushed you, right?"
"They're here, but they didn't follow me. I suspect I'm their ultimate target, though. This is your turf; you're not just going to ignore it, are you?"
"Why don't you take care of it yourself? They're your enemies, after all."
"I'm injured. Didn't you figure that out from your investigation?" Zhou Fan glanced at him sideways, then threw a punch straight at his face.
SMACK!
The man caught it firmly, a look of realization on his face. Given Zhou Fan's former strength, a punch like that would have definitely injured him. But now, he had caught it so easily.
"Fine. But I need your help. I'm a little short on manpower right now. Besides me, there are only a few core members in Nanjiang City."
"Fan, since when did you become so mercenary? This is supposed to be your job anyway. I'm already injured, and you have the nerve to ask me for help? Do you have any idea how dangerous it would be if my location was exposed before I fully recover my strength?"
Zhou Fan said irritably, and as if to vent his frustration, he even gave the man a kick.
"Fuck! Don't use my name! If anyone finds out I'm this close to you, I'll be under suspicion!" Fan glanced around nervously, then hissed in a low, tense voice.
"I'm off. I'm a married man now; I'm not hanging out with a single dog like you!" Zhou Fan knew the other man had a point. He stood up, waved, and walked off into the distance.
"Wait! You trust me that much? Aren't you afraid I'll sell you out? You know, if those people find out you're still alive, things will get very interesting!" Fan stood up and shouted the question that was puzzling him.
"You're overthinking it. I don't trust you. I trust that old man you guys escorted last time!" Zhou Fan didn't even turn his head.
Damn it!
Fan couldn't help but curse. He then looked at the piece of bamboo in his hand, specifically at the dagger carved on it, sighed helplessly, and started making a call to have someone investigate.
It was already past five in the morning when Zhou Fan got home. He quietly slipped into Chu Yan's room, only to be surprised to find that she wasn't there. He then thought about how he'd been out all night having fun; perhaps Chu Yan had gone out to do the same. He didn't give it much more thought.
But, just as Zhou Fan turned to close the door and head back to his own room, a faint footprint on the windowsill caught the corner of his eye. He froze instantly.
Chu Yan had been kidnapped!