82: Chapter 82 Contract Boyfriend

8:00 PM, Blues Café.

This was the most high-end money pit in the wealthy district of Jianghai City.

Low, cello notes flowed through the air, and every inch of light and shadow was meticulously designed, exuding an elegance built by money.

The wind chimes tinkled softly.

Lin Fan pushed the door open and entered.

He had changed into casual clothes, a simple white T-shirt paired with sweatpants, but these cheap, off-the-rack items seemed somewhat out of place on him.

A waiter was just about to step forward to stop him, but was caught by a glance from Lin Fan.

In that instant, the waiter felt as if he were being stared at by a feeding beast; his back was instantly drenched in sweat, and his feet felt rooted to the ground, unable to move.

Lin Fan walked straight to the window.

Su Qingxue had already arrived.

She wasn't wearing her loose school uniform today.

A pale blue, off-the-shoulder dress outlined the stunning curves of a young woman just coming of age.

Her long hair was draped casually, and she looked as delicate as a porcelain doll in a display case.

But her face remained as cold as ice.

On the table sat two untouched cups of Blue Mountain coffee.

"This place is nice."

Lin Fan pulled out a chair and sat down casually, showing absolutely no gentlemanly manners.

Su Qingxue looked at him with complex eyes.

"Lin Fan... no, Major Lin, congratulations."

Su Qingxue's voice carried a hint of imperceptible detachment, "An eighteen-year-old Major, you're likely the only one in the entire country."

"Just an empty title. It doesn't come with a raise; it's not even as practical as running my street stall used to be."

Lin Fan picked up the coffee and gulped down a large mouthful as if it were plain water, his brow furrowing.

"Too bitter. Su, the Campus Beauty, we may be well-acquainted, but time is money. You invited me here, surely not just to treat me to this bitter water."

He leaned back, resting against the back of the chair, his fingers tapping lightly on the table.

"Speak. What does the Su Family want? Or rather, what do you want?"

Straight to the point.

Su Qingxue was slightly taken aback.

Immediately after, a flash of joy crossed her eyes.

That was right; this was the Lin Fan she knew—he never did useless work and always hit the nail on the head.

"I need a shield."

Su Qingxue stopped beating around the bush and leaned forward slightly.

"Someone has come from the Capital. A young master from a second-rate noble family has set his sights on the Su Family's channels in the Jianghai, and... he has also set his sights on me."

"The Su Family dares not offend people from the Capital. But I don't want to become a sacrifice for a family marriage alliance."

Lin Fan raised an eyebrow.

"So, you want me to pretend to be your boyfriend?"

"Cliché."

Lin Fan scoffed.

"This kind of plot is a dime a dozen; it's been written to death in novels. Considering you're a big client of mine, I'll do you this favor. But to offend a noble family from the Capital just to help you ward off unwanted admirers? This deal is really a loss."

"If it were before, I really wouldn't have dared to approach you," Su Qingxue stared into Lin Fan's eyes.

"Because back then, you were just a merchant, unable to withstand the power of the Capital. But it's different now; you have a military status. You are a special-class combat hero, a Major of the nation."

"In China, no one dares to openly move against an active-duty officer who has just achieved monumental military merit."

"Only you can help me."

Lin Fan's fingers paused.

Indeed, this status was the best protective amulet.

But he was inwardly resistant to becoming someone's boyfriend for no reason.

Lin Fan spat out two words, "Su, the Campus Beauty, although we are classmates, even brothers must settle accounts clearly. If you want me to take the heat, you have to offer something that moves me."

Su Qingxue seemed to have anticipated this.

She lowered her voice, parted her red lips, and uttered a name.

"General Ye Canglan."

Lin Fan's pupils instantly constricted to the size of pinpricks.

This was the second time he had heard this name today.

"Do you know who he is?" Su Qingxue observed Lin Fan's expression and continued, "You only know he is a General Ye Canglan and a scientist. But you don't know that he is the leader of the New Martial Arts faction in the Dragon Kingdom."

"New Martial Arts faction?" Lin Fan narrowed his eyes.

"The conservatives believe that talent is heaven-sent and bloodline determines everything. But Old Ye advocates that talent can be changed through acquired means, or even be artificially created."

Su Qingxue dropped a bombshell.

"He has encountered major trouble in the Capital. The conservatives are crazily attacking his 'Artificial Talent' project, believing it to be an unethical, evil path. His funding has been cut, and his laboratory has been sealed."

"He is in urgent need of a breakthrough point."

"A living example that can prove 'talent can be changed through acquired means'."

Su Qingxue pointed at Lin Fan.

"And your blind box is that very example."

A stormy sea surged in Lin Fan's heart.

So that was it.

No wonder that Senior Colonel said General Ye Canglan was very interested in him.

If he accepted the recruitment by General Ye Canglan, it would be equivalent to being directly sucked into the political vortex of the Capital's upper echelons.

This was a double-edged sword.

Used well, it could lead to rapid advancement; used poorly, it could lead to total destruction.

But it also meant that the chips in his hand were heavier than he had imagined.

"This information is worth the price of admission."

Lin Fan's lips curled upward.

"Then, happy cooperation! My fake girlfriend."

Su Qingxue's cheeks flushed slightly, but her gaze did not waver.

"I just don't want to see my partner die an inexplicable death. After all, I still have to rely on your blind box to break through to the Master level."

The two looked at each other.

The subtle sense of detachment in the air dissipated significantly, replaced by a tacit understanding between allies.

Just at this moment, a harsh voice suddenly rang out, abruptly cutting off the harmonious atmosphere.

"Yo, isn't this Su Qingxue?"

Lin Fan frowned slightly and turned to look.

A young man wearing a floral shirt and reeking of alcohol was stumbling over.

Behind him followed two hulking men, clearly bodyguards.

This person had puffy eye bags and an unsteady gait, a typical case of someone hollowed out by wine and lust.

The second young master of the Zhao Family in Jianghai City, Zhao Tai.

He had always been suppressed by the Wang Family, but now that the Wang Family had fallen, this second-rate trash started to feel like he was something special.

He completely failed to recognize Lin Fan, who had changed into casual clothes and suppressed his aura.

In his eyes, this was just a pretty boy wearing cheap, off-the-rack clothes.

"What, has Su, the Campus Beauty, started to degenerate too?"

Zhao Tai walked to the table, spraying alcohol fumes from his mouth.

"Ignoring this young master's invitation to come on a date with this poor, pathetic loser? Who is this kid? A pretty boy you're keeping?"

Su Qingxue's face darkened, and she was just about to lash out.

But Zhao Tai, emboldened by the alcohol, reached out a hand directly towards Su Qingxue's wrist.

"What are you acting so high and mighty for? That idiot Wang Teng has fallen, and from now on, Jianghai City will belong to our few families. Have a drink with this young master, and maybe I can find someone to..."

"Get lost."

A single word.

The voice was not loud, there was no roaring, no shouting.

It was just like a soft grunt made when swatting a fly.

Zhao Tai's hand froze in mid-air.

He was stunned for a moment, seemingly unable to process that someone dared to speak to him like that.

Immediately after, he flew into a rage.

"Who the f*ck are you?" Zhao Tai glared with bloodshot eyes, pointing at Lin Fan's nose.

"You dare tell me to get lost? Do you believe I can make you disappear from Jianghai City? Do you know who my father is? My father is Zhao Gang!"

"Brain-dead." Lin Fan sighed.

He didn't even stand up.

He just slowly put down the coffee cup in his hand.

The next second.

He raised his eyelids.

He cast a glance at Zhao Tai.

Boom!

There was no energy fluctuation, nor was any combat technique used.

It was just a glance.

That was a terrifying gaze forged from surviving beast tides.

It was like a mountain of corpses and a sea of blood rushing towards him.

Zhao Tai felt a chill shoot from the soles of his feet straight to his crown; his heart felt as if it had been pierced by an invisible blade.

The alcohol instantly wore off by half.

What had he seen?

Those were not human eyes.

Those were the fangs of a slumbering beast, revealed after being disturbed from its dream.

"You..." Zhao Tai wanted to retreat, but discovered his legs felt like they were filled with lead.

Lin Fan took a small, dark green booklet out of his pocket.

He tossed it onto the table.

Slap.

The booklet slid across the table and stopped right under Zhao Tai's nose.

"Say what you just said one more time?"

Lin Fan's tone was flat, even carrying a hint of encouragement.

Zhao Tai instinctively looked down.

The booklet was very ordinary, but he recognized the national emblem.

That was the steel seal of the Military Department.

His gaze shifted downward.

A line of gold-stamped characters, like a red-hot branding iron, fiercely stabbed into his retinas.

[China National Defense Force Reserve Major · Lin Fan]

[Position: Special-Class Combat Personnel]

Zhao Tai's pupils instantly shrank to the size of pinpricks.

Major? Lin Fan?

That god of slaughter from the legends who guarded a Jianghai alone and opened beasts like blind boxes?

Rumors about Lin Fan had already spread throughout the upper circles of Jianghai City that day.

But he never imagined that this youth wearing a T-shirt worth a few dozen dollars was that very star of calamity!

"Thump!" A muffled sound.

Before anyone could react, this usually arrogant and domineering rich second-generation suddenly felt his legs go weak and knelt directly on the ground.

It wasn't that he wanted to kneel.

It was his body instinctively begging for survival.

He was trembling.

His teeth chattered, making a "clack-clack-clack" sound.

The two bodyguards were just about to rush up, but upon seeing the credentials, they slammed on the brakes, standing there with pale faces, not even daring to help him up.

Lin Fan picked up his coffee again and gently blew on the steam.

He didn't even glance at the pile of mush on the floor.

"Qing Xue, this coffee is a bit cold."

"Have someone change it for a fresh cup."