A super-rich tycoon? No, just call me the gentlemanly gigolo.

Twenty minutes later.

"...That's roughly what happened. I was just helping out."

Jiang Ye rubbed his arm, which had been punched twice, and rolled his eyes, wincing in annoyance.

"Seriously, I was just joking, Wanxing, you actually went all out. My arm is numb from hitting it."

"..."

Lin Wanxing glanced at him with a dark expression, wanting to say that she hadn't used any force at all, so there was no possibility of numbness or pain.

But there was Lu Man sitting on the bed next to her, already dressed in a camisole and short skirt, with her legs crossed. She decided to ignore the topic and never admit that she had faked a fight.

The situation is already awkward enough.

He had come to "catch the adulterer," but after performing those lines that were so embarrassing they made his toes dig into the ground, this bastard casually pushed him into the room and told him some story about "the peaceful and prosperous life of the millions of people in Shengtian."

Moreover, during the conversation, this guy kept trying to get her to take off her clothes.

"So what do we do now? Didn't you have a falling out with that old man? Are we going to stay here?"

Lin Wanxing paused, glanced nervously at the closed door, and lowered her voice even further:

"Also, is it alright for us to talk like this now? Could there be listening devices in this room?"

"No, Lao An gave me this thing, saying it would vibrate if there was anything unusual. I've been keeping it in my crotch because I was afraid of being discovered..."

Jiang Ye pulled out a small, button-sized object that shimmered green and waved it around in his pocket, his face full of regret:

"It's a pity there's been no shock... I guess this is his own territory after all, so he didn't install that kind of thing, only this kind of anti-eavesdropping device."

He paused, glanced at the gradually darkening night outside the window, and lazily stretched.

"As for today, I guess the three of us will have to make do here for the night. We'll see what that old guy's attitude is tomorrow. If we can reach an agreement and get the information we need, we can leave."

"Sleeping here?"

Upon hearing the word "sleep," Lin Wanxing's mind went on high alert, and she instinctively wanted to refuse.

"No, no! I have to go back. What if Xiao Ye misunderstands if she knows I'm out..."

"Oh, that makes sense. You should go back now."

Jiang Ye blinked, his face full of agreement: "Just leave Xiao Lu and me here. This double room looks big, but it's actually a bit cramped for three people. If you leave..."

"..."

Hearing this, Lin Wanxing was slightly taken aback. Her gaze swept over Lu Man's curvaceous figure and her captivating eyes, which still seemed to be sparkling even at this moment. She suddenly stopped speaking.

No!

We can't leave!

We absolutely cannot leave!

This woman is clearly not a respectable woman. She dares to strip like that in the living room. Imagine a man and a woman alone with this pervert for a night. It's obvious what will happen!

I have to stay here and watch over this...

Sigh, I have to stay here and keep an eye on this guy for Xiao Ye, I absolutely can't let him make a mistake!

Looking at Jiang Ye's earnest face, as if saying "You'd better leave, I'm about to take off my pants," she sneered inwardly, then abruptly changed the subject:

"...If there's a misunderstanding, remember to explain it to her later."

She paused, then looked at Jiang Ye with a stern face, her tone leaving no room for argument:

"What are you laughing at?! I'm staying here to watch over you for Xiao Ye!"

"Cough... Yes, look at me."

Jiang Ye nodded emphatically with an expression that said, "I completely trust you," and smiled to himself.

The starter Pokémon are truly the starter Pokémon; each one is adorable in its own way.

He turned his head, looked at Lu Man who was sitting on the bed, and clapped his hands:

"Alright, Comrade Lu, now you understand the whole story. Thank you for your dedicated performance and... uh, selfless contribution tonight. Now tell me, what exactly did you want to talk to me about, which you kept insisting on?"

"Heh~"

Lu Man, who had been quiet all along, chuckled softly. Her pair of legs, clad in black stockings, slowly crossed, her slender ankles swaying in the air. Her body, as if boneless, limply moved to the edge of the bed.

To be honest, she wasn't worried at all about the so-called "cracked case" Jiang Ye had mentioned earlier, and she didn't even bother to think about it.

For someone of his status to get involved in something like this, it's obvious he's just bored and looking for some excitement to experience life.

The real headache should be for the Shengtian police and those officials, not for her, this insignificant "lady".

What Lu Man is more concerned about now is—how exactly does the other party intend to arrange things for her?

To put it bluntly, when will she be reimbursed for the 80 yuan she spent on opening a shop and renting a place?

Although today's incident only involved taking off a skirt, and nothing more, she finally understood that the other party would never let her go anytime soon.

Then we need to clarify the issue of compensation.

She's not some naive girl who fantasizes about rising to the top and marrying into a wealthy family. She can't just let the other party take advantage of her forever, can she?

"Young Master Jiang, helping out is nothing that Lu Man should do. It's my honor to be able to help you."

Lu Man extended a finger, touched Jiang Ye's chest, and slowly slid it down along the contours of his pectoral muscles, finally stopping at the waistband of his pants that he had just put on. With a gentle hook, she pulled him a little closer.

"But... what does Young Master Jiang plan to do with Lu Man? He can't keep having me at his beck and call forever..."

"You can talk all you want, but where are you putting your hands?!"

Lin Wanxing, who was standing to the side, already had a so-so impression of this vixen. Now, seeing the woman's handsy manner, she immediately frowned, stepped forward, and pulled Jiang Ye towards her:

"Jiang Ye has a girlfriend! Manager Lu, please have some self-respect!"

"Oh?"

Lu Man blinked her alluring peach blossom eyes, looking at Lin Wanxing with a half-smile, her gaze sweeping back and forth between the two of them:

"Miss Lin, you know that Young Master Jiang has a girlfriend? I thought you didn't."

A slight smile played at the corners of her lips, her tone carrying a hint of amusement:

"What, are you afraid I'll threaten your position as the mistress? Don't worry, Young Master Jiang said I'm just a temporary worker, doing some dirty and tiring work. It won't affect your position, Miss Lin."

"you......!!!"

The word "mistress" precisely triggered a landmine, and Lin Wanxing immediately panicked, her face instantly turning dark:

"Manager Lu! Say something..."

"Manager Lu! Watch your words!"

Jiang Ye snorted coldly and spoke before Lin Wanxing could, his words as righteous and indignant as a moral exemplar:

"How did you become a mistress? Coach Lin is unique in my heart, completely unrelated to any other mistresses! If you continue to slander her like this, don't blame me for being impolite!"

"..."

Seeing Jiang Ye's even more excited expression than her own, Lin Wanxing felt a strange mix of emotions welling up inside her—a warmth mixed with a bittersweet feeling.

She opened her mouth, as if she wanted to explain something, but whether she was afraid that explaining would only make things worse, or for some other reason, she ultimately just hummed softly, turned her head away, and remained silent.

Lu Man curled her lip, inwardly cursing under her breath.

That bastard!

Now that you have a better figure, have you forgotten how you were groping and pinching yourself in the living room?

Pooh.

Scumbag.

"Alright, alright, I admit I misspoke. I apologize to Miss Lin."

She shrugged, sat back on the edge of the bed, and gently rubbed her toes against Jiang Ye's calves to steer the conversation back on track:

"So...Young Master Jiang, what exactly do you plan to do with me? Even if I'm just a temporary worker, I should still get paid, right? Or...why don't you just have mercy and fire me so I can find another job?"

Upon hearing this, even Lin Wanxing, who had been keeping a straight face and pretending not to care, understood the other person's subtext.

Jiang Ye naturally understood as well.

"As for salary..."

He scratched his head, seemingly deep in thought, and after two or three seconds, he sighed softly.

"My salary structure is always confidential, but since you asked, I might as well give you a sneak peek... Tell me, how much are you looking for?"

"Young Master Jiang, this kind of thing naturally depends on how much you think I'm worth."

Lu Man smiled charmingly, reaching out to tuck a stray strand of hair behind her ear, her posture extremely humble:

"I live alone in Shengtian, all alone. Apart from daily expenses like rent and food, I don't really have any other major expenses."

She paused, her gaze lingering on Jiang Ye's face for a few seconds, then added:

"...My biggest longing is that coffee shop I mentioned to you before."