38: Rent a girlfriend

Since Wu Fan had been too lazy to cook these past few days, after picking up Yaoyao, he just went to a Western restaurant and ate something simple.

Yaoyao, however, liked Western food, especially fried items, seeming to have a particular fondness for them.

But Wu Fan did not dare let her eat too much, as it was unhealthy.

Now, he did not even dare to let her eat too many chicken-related foods, as he had heard that eating too much could cause children to mature prematurely.

Once a child matured prematurely, it would be troublesome. Wu Fan was quite afraid that Yaoyao would not grow tall.

After returning home, the two of them watched a cartoon together and played a few rounds of Ludo before it was Yaoyao’s bedtime.

After she fell asleep, Wu Fan headed straight for the bar.

Liu Tingting was holding her guitar and singing "Dusk," showing she was particularly fond of Xiao Gang's songs.

However, her vocal range was indeed very suitable for singing Xiao Gang's songs. She could easily reach the high notes.

Wu Fan even felt that she sang a few octaves higher than Xiao Gang, giving the performance a sense of emotional turmoil amidst sadness.

Fei Wei raised his glass to Wu Fan and said, "Brother, I really have to thank you. Liu Tingting’s ability is completely on par with Qian Ning. She truly possesses both talent and beauty."

Wu Fan kept his eyes on Liu Tingting, but Qian Ning's image appeared in his mind.

These two people were completely different.

Qian Ning was easy to get along with, and she was particularly gentle and casual. When they were together, he felt like he was back in his first love.

Qian Ning did not value money that much; she was diligently pursuing her musical dream, simply wanting to become a true singer.

She had said that she hoped her singing could heal the hearts of some people, and that would be enough for her life.

Liu Tingting, however, was different; her eyes seemed to be focused only on making money.

Her live streaming was purely for money. She could not be considered a singer in the true sense of the word.

Most critically, her personality was difficult to deal with. Her sense of self-protection was very strong, and she deliberately kept her distance from Wu Fan, which made things a bit tricky.

Dai Mao slapped Wu Fan on the shoulder, "Brother, stop staring, you'll start drooling."

Wu Fan ignored him, continuing to stare at Liu Tingting and asking, "What do you think she would like?"

Dai Mao sighed and said, "Didn't you say this afternoon that women should be showered with money? Why are you asking me now?"

Wu Fan turned his head, looked at Dai Mao’s wretched face, and smiled wryly.

Liu Tingting loved money, so he would continue to shower her with it.

The reason she was aloof and so wary of Wu Fan might simply be that he hadn't showered her with enough money yet.

Every woman was different; some could be secured with ten thousand yuan, while others might require one hundred thousand, two hundred thousand, or even more.

Wu Fan was certain in his heart that there was no woman in the world who wouldn't yield when showered with money.

Even the seemingly cold Zhou Ruyan changed her tune after receiving just over one hundred thousand yuan, and they were not far from the final step.

He lit a cigarette and kept his gaze fixed on Liu Tingting.

She seemed to have noticed Wu Fan’s gaze and the corner of her mouth curved into a slight smile.

Fei Wei leaned close to Wu Fan’s ear and said, "Brother, now that you have some money, you should find a woman who will settle down and live a peaceful life. Don't go after every woman you see and spend all your money."

Wu Fan withdrew his gaze and looked at him gratefully.

What Fei Wei said was sincere; he was genuinely thinking of Wu Fan—he was truly a good brother.

Wu Fan clinked glasses with him and said, "I have no plans to remarry for now, but rest assured, brother. I have already contracted our unit's motor pool, and I need to focus on my career and making money."

Fei Wei nodded happily, "I never thought you'd have a day when you finally figured things out, haha."

Wu Fan used a metaphor: "I was like a lion that had been napping for the past few years, but once I wake up, I will be fierce."

Fei Wei burst out laughing upon hearing that.

Just then, Liu Tingting finished her song, bowed to the guests, and stepped off the stage.

Immediately, thunderous applause erupted.

The bar had many guests today, thanks to Fei Wei's promotion efforts that afternoon.

He hired a pickup truck specifically for advertising, pasted a large poster featuring Liu Tingting's photo on the advertising board behind the truck, and then drove around the entire island for over an hour, blaring announcements.

This round of promotion was highly effective, and the results were immediate.

Wu Fan gave Liu Tingting a thumbs-up and toasted her with a drink.

Then, he volunteered to go on stage and sang a song full of heroic spirit: Tu Honggang’s version of "Man Jiang Hong."

My hair bristles with fury,

As I lean on the railing,

The fierce rain ceases.

I lift my gaze,

And let out a long howl to the sky,

My heroic ambition surges!

Thirty years of fame are but dust and dirt,

Eight thousand miles of journey are clouds and moon.

Do not waste time,

Until your youthful hair turns white,

And you regret it in vain.

... When he returned to his seat, Liu Tingting seemed noticeably friendlier toward Wu Fan.

She said softly, "I never expected you to sing so well."

Wu Fan countered, "What, do I look like someone who can't sing?"

Liu Tingting gave a beautiful smile, raised her glass, and said, "I thought you looked like an athlete, especially strong. I didn't expect you to have such stage presence when you stood up there, and your singing was excellent. You have truly impressed me."

Wu Fan smiled and said nothing more.

At this moment, Fei Wei, Dai Mao, and Grass Chicken were singing Power Station’s "When" together, and it sounded quite soulful.

It felt as if they had suddenly returned to a long time ago.

The memory of having to bite the bullet and go to the village chief's house just to watch "My Fair Princess" still brought a pang of sadness when he thought about it now.

At that time, his family was too poor to even afford a television set.

It also reminded him of the youthful period when he had to walk over ten kilometers to attend school in town.

Time flew too fast; it had been almost ten years since he left his hometown.

When he went back this year, he definitely had to properly show filial piety to his parents and buy them lots and lots of things.

He sighed lightly and, for some reason, thought of Liu Yue again.

That damned woman.

Every time he had to return to his hometown, Wu Fan felt anxious. Not bringing a woman back always caused his parents concern and worry.

They felt it was difficult for a man to raise a child alone and that he absolutely needed to find a woman to take care of his life.

Wu Fan lit a cigarette, looking preoccupied.

Liu Tingting asked, "What's wrong? You seem unhappy."

Wu Fan exhaled a puff of smoke: "I have to go back to my hometown soon for the New Year, and my folks will start pressuring me to get married again. Where am I supposed to find a woman? She's not a commodity I can just order and buy—that would be fast."

Liu Tingting smiled and said, "You could temporarily rent a girlfriend online to take back. There are many girls nowadays who treat themselves like commodities."

Wu Fan paused for a moment, then smiled and said, "That sounds like a good idea. Maybe I really can try it."

Liu Tingting teased, "Rent one to take back, spend half a month together, and maybe it will become real."

Wu Fan laughed, "I'll take that blessing."

After the bar closed, Wu Fan drove Liu Tingting to Haidao Grand Hotel.

She got out at the entrance, waved, and left.

Wu Fan watched her retreating figure, took out his phone, and transferred five thousand yuan via wechat: {Today's salary plus bonus.}

Liu Tingting replied instantly: {Surprised emoji. Thank you, Boss Wu, you are generous. I won't be polite, I've accepted it.}

Wu Fan: {Don't mention it. Your performance today was fantastic.}

Liu Tingting: {Thank you for the compliment. I'm going to wash up and go to sleep. Good night.}

Wu Fan had originally wanted to tease her a bit—asking if she was afraid sleeping alone, if she slept well at night, or if there were any strange noises next door—but Liu Tingting cut the conversation short.

Wu Fan had no choice but to drive home...