4: One-night stand

Wu Fan bought a gold bangle, necklace, earrings, bracelet, and anklet in one go at the Jiayi Shopping Mall, spending over forty thousand yuan in total.

The system promptly issued the cashback, filling Wu Fan with an inexplicable excitement.

Wu Fan wondered if the cashback ratio would ever upgrade.

If it ever turned into a 1:2 or 1:10 ratio, or even higher, he would strike it rich.

Perhaps he just hadn't met the upgrade requirements for the cashback system yet?

He wasn't in a hurry; being able to get a one-to-one cashback was already extremely satisfying to Wu Fan.

He had lived for thirty years without ever indulging in crazy spending.

Being able to buy so much gold jewelry today without batting an eye already felt like the peak of his life.

Especially when the Waitress served him enthusiastically with a smile, Wu Fan felt an inexplicable sense of fulfillment.

He asked the Waitress to package the jewelry in a box, then went to a gift shop to have it wrapped again, making it completely impossible to tell what was inside.

The square gift box, adorned with a golden bow on the front, looked beautiful.

When he pushed the door open and entered Chen Lu's office, she was on the phone.

Wu Fan placed the gift box beside her and then sat down on the sofa opposite her.

Chen Lu glanced at the gift box, and her eyes lit up.

After hanging up the phone, she asked, "Brother Fan, what's going on?"

She was clearly surprised.

Wu Fan smiled and said, "An early New Year's gift for you."

Chen Lu picked up the box, weighed it in her hand, and asked, "It feels light, what is it?"

"Nothing expensive. I just hope you don't dislike it."

Chen Lu smiled beautifully. "Why would I dislike it? I'm honored to receive a gift from you. But why did you suddenly think of giving me a present?"

"I need a favor from you this evening."

Chen Lu said, "Picking up Yaoyao?"

"You're smart, but it's not that simple today. You need to go with her and build a snowman."

Chen Lu looked at Wu Fan, nodded, and said nothing more, turning her attention back to her computer screen.

She was very busy; she needed to prepare many route proposals for the year-end bid on the government's recuperation and leisure business.

Wu Fan handed her a plastic bag and said, "It contains tools for building a snowman, and I've also prepared the snowman's eyes and nose."

Chen Lu took it, looked inside, and praised him, "Very thoughtful."

Wu Fan checked his phone, stood up, and said, "I have to go to the pier. Bye."

From the moment he acquired the consumption cashback system, he had seriously considered how he should live his future life.

Should he just quit his job?

After much deliberation, he decided he should return to reality and slowly change his life.

Chen Lu hummed in response, her gaze still fixed on the computer screen.

Wu Fan reached the doorway, lit a cigarette, and took a few puffs.

Chen Lu disliked the smell of smoke, so Wu Fan had refrained from smoking in the office.

He walked to the parking lot, started the company bus, called Zhang Yingying to confirm she was waiting, and drove over.

Zhang Yingying was a very open womanso open that even after Wu Fan had slept with her, she acted as if nothing had happened.

That day was at the One Foot Sea Bar, and she was completely drunk.

Wu Fan took her home, and as soon as he entered the bedroom, she wrapped her arms around his neck and wouldn't let go.

Wu Fan was in the recovery period after his divorce, and facing such a proactive and alluring Zhang Yingying... Wu Fan: "..."

Everything felt unbelievable, yet it truly happened.

That day, Yaoyao had been taken home by Chen Lu, who waited late in the office but Wu Fan never showed up.

She called Wu Fan, but his phone battery was dead, and it was turned off.

After Chen Lu tucked Yaoyao into bed, she went out to search the entire island but couldn't find him.

It wasn't until Wu Fan called her back the next morning that she finally felt relieved.

However, she never told Wu Fan that she had searched almost all night in the cold wind.

Zhang Yingying jumped into the bus, sat in the seat behind Wu Fan, and handed him a cigarette.

Wu Fan caught it with the back of his hand, stood up, pulled out his lighter, and helped light Zhang Yingying's cigarette first before lighting his own.

Wu Fan hated women who smoked, but Zhang Yingying was an exception.

He even somewhat liked Zhang Yingying smoking, as it made him feel less guilty.

Watching her exhale smoke, Wu Fan would feel like she was just one of his good buddies.

A good buddy he had slept withthis thought was actually quite naive.

A woman is a woman after all, especially a drunk woman; she can be tender as water and boneless.

It was starting from that night that Wu Fan's state of mind seemed to change.

Women, well, they play along, and when they go crazy, they're wilder than men.

'Gather ye rosebuds while ye may,' the ancients taught correctly.

Wu Fan looked at Zhang Yingying, took a puff of his cigarette, and remained silent.

Zhang Yingying was actually quite pretty, with a small face, cherry lips, and eyes that, while not large, were very bright.

"What are you looking at?" Zhang Yingying raised her eyes and smiled.

"You look prettier than a few days ago."

Zhang Yingying exhaled smoke and said, "I've always been pretty; you just never noticed."

Wu Fan chuckled, glanced at her cherry lips, and sat down.

He recalled the scene from that night and couldn't help but look back.

Zhang Yingying's cherry lips, currently holding a cigarette, looked somewhat sexy.

Yet Zhang Yingying seemed to have completely forgotten about the incident. When they met, she was the same as usual, acting normally.

She never mentioned it.

Wu Fan actually hoped that at some point, she would hit him or demand something from him, but she never did.

That night felt like a dreama sweet and exciting dream.

Wu Fan exhaled a puff of smoke and looked out the car window.

There wasn't a soul in Wanghai Plaza; the thick snow lay like a white blanket.

If Yaoyao didn't have school, it would be wonderful to bring her here to build a snowman.

He pulled out his phone, took a picture, and sent it to Chen Lu with the caption: "The perfect place to build a snowman."

Soon after, Chen Lu replied with three words: "Got it."

Zhang Yingying rolled down the window, tossed the cigarette butt outside, and said, "Let's go, it's almost time."

Wu Fan finished his last puff and started the engine.

The guests they picked up were a group of seniors, all quite old, likely retirees.

They weren't staying in a nice hotel in the county town but rather in a somewhat remote guesthouse.

Along the way, Zhang Yingying introduced herself and provided lively and interesting commentary, prompting applause and cheers from the tourists occasionally.

In Wu Fan's heart, Zhang Yingying was the best tour guide in the county.

Enthusiastic, cheerful, talkative, and polite. She was also extremely responsible regarding her work.

Such a guide was naturally qualified and outstanding.

Wu Fan pondered that he should also give her a big gift, considering it compensation for her contribution that night. It would be best to take her shopping directly after work.

Since his spending now came with cashback, doing this favor was very easy.

By the time the tourists were checked in, taken out for dinner, and returned to the guesthouse, it was already seven in the evening.

On the way back, Wu Fan asked, "Were the guests easy to manage?"

Zhang Yingying, smoking, replied, "They were fine. Retired senior officials have high standards of conduct."

Wu Fan hummed and thought about how to bring up taking her shopping.

After hesitating for a long time, he finally said, "How about we go browse around the Jiayi Shopping Mall?"

...