Chapter 24: No Trespassing

Fu Xueyue, who was sipping a fruit and vegetable smoothie, widened her eyes.

"Seriously? Is that how you comfort someone?"

The little blonde girl looked up, staring at Chen Fan in disbelief. "Are you kidding me, man? My parents are dead, and you start giving me orders right away?"

Zhao Chenxi could not detect a shred of sympathy or pity in Chen Fan's eyes.

"When I go out, you are coming with me," Chen Fan said indifferently. "I am not asking for your opinion; you are coming with me, that is all."

Zhao Chenxi glared at him and muttered, "Fine, whatever."

Fu Xueyue, who was just wiping her mouth, froze. Did that actually work? Are orders sometimes more effective than comfort?

Chen Fan sat back down at the dining table and caught Fu Xueyue’s bewildered expression. "Surprised?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

Fu Xueyue nodded repeatedly.

Chen Fan chuckled. He realized he might have a bit of a twisted sense of humor—he enjoyed seeing the usually cool and detached Fu Xueyue look so lost and confused. He found it strangely beautiful.

"Sometimes, for someone who has lost a loved one, what they need isn't comfort or pitying gazes," he explained. "They need normalcy—to be treated the same as always, to be around others so they can at least temporarily forget the grief. Especially for someone like Zhao Chenxi, who prides herself on being independent."

Fu Xueyue suddenly understood, then looked at him with curiosity. "Is this part of your physiognomy arts?"

Chen Fan just smiled and gave no answer.

After a bit more small talk, Fu Xueyue checked the time, then headed to the elevator to go to the garage and set off for the Fu Corporation building.

Left on the sofa, Zhao Chenxi glared at Chen Fan with the resentment of a scorned woman. Chen Fan ignored her, going about his business. This infuriated her, and she spent the entire morning sulking on the sofa.

"Time to go. Remember to bring your bank card," Chen Fan said calmly.

"What are you planning?!" Zhao Chenxi sat up instantly, clutching her pockets.

"I’m going to use your money to help you avert a disaster. Do you believe me?"

"No!" Zhao Chenxi snapped at the air like a fierce little animal. "You're a big jerk! A fraud!"

"Then let's change the terms."

Chen Fan shook his head slightly. "Our previous agreement was terminated due to force majeure." Previously, Zhao Chenxi had wanted him to resolve the conflict between her parents, but Zhao Kai and Fu Yinghui had no real conflict—they were simply plotting to harm the Fu family and didn't want Zhao Chenxi to know.

"So, I’m giving you a proposal. It’s your choice whether to accept it or not. I will help you take down the real killers of your parents, but the prerequisite is that you give me your savings."

Zhao Chenxi’s watery eyes widened at the first half of his sentence. Take down the killers? Was Chen Fan planning to commit murder? But hearing the second half, she breathed a sigh of relief, though her eyes remained resentful.

"I think you just want to swindle my money."

"Do I look like that kind of person?"

"You look exactly like that."

Chen Fan turned cold instantly. "If you don't accept it, fine. But are you really going to resort to personal attacks?"

Zhao Chenxi: "???"

The little blonde scratched her head, realizing she was no match for Chen Fan. She felt inexplicably suppressed.

"Fine, I accept, okay?" Zhao Chenxi pouted. "What do you need the money for?"

"To buy something, of course. Don't worry... you'll be satisfied with this transaction." Chen Fan said calmly. "Let's go."

"Wait! I need to change!"

That one sentence trapped Chen Fan for an hour. He sat in the living room waiting. When Zhao Chenxi emerged from the bedroom, her messy blonde hair had been smoothed out. She had used makeup to hide her swollen, tear-reddened eyes, and with her pure white outfit, she looked fresh and youthful.

"Let's go."

"Do I look good? Should I change into something else?"

Chen Fan: ...

Was this really the same Zhao Chenxi who had been on the verge of a breakdown earlier?

"We’re leaving!" Chen Fan shook his head and turned to walk out.

"Hey! Fine, I won't change!" Zhao Chenxi stomped her foot and hurried after him.

...

Chen Fan glanced at the address Old Fu had given him. The underground auction house in Qingcheng was not officially registered and had no legal protection, so it couldn't be advertised or held with fanfare. The entrance was located in the "Never-Sleep Street," a place popular with young people, filled with KTVs and bars that stayed open until dawn. When Chen Fan had passed through early in the morning before, he had seen many young people passed out drunk in front of the bars.

"You brought me here? If I’d known, I would’ve dressed more provocatively," the little blonde muttered. "Are you trying to buy me a drink to help me forget my pain?"

"I’m telling you, spending money is what helps people forget pain." Chen Fan raised an eyebrow and led Zhao Chenxi toward a bar at the end of the alley.

"Uh... 'No Strangers Allowed' Bar?"

The little blonde tilted her head, staring at the sign for a long time. She looked puzzled. "Is the alcohol here that expensive?"

"Yes." Chen Fan smirked and pushed open the door.

What looked like an ordinary bar on the outside was surprisingly impressive on the inside. It featured a bar counter and a dance floor like any other, but the decor was gilded and magnificent without being tacky.

"A Fortune-Circulation Array," Chen Fan murmured to himself. "It seems the feng shui master of this place has some real skill."

"Wow!" Zhao Chenxi looked around, her eyes filled with surprise. "I had no idea there was such a luxurious bar on Never-Sleep Street!"

"Come with me." Chen Fan walked forward and found a seat in the main hall.

The auction hadn't started yet, so Chen Fan took the time to study the feng shui layout. But just as he started, before the little blonde had even received the drinks she’d ordered, a few people walked in through the front door.

Truly, enemies often cross paths.

Chen Fan glanced at Jiang Yueshan and Jiang Xiao as they walked in, then turned his gaze to the man following behind them.

"Haha, Uncle Jiang, Xiao, don't worry!" the man said. "I’ve managed to get the entry passes, so I will definitely help you win the item!"