I agreed to be a kept man, but I'm still being punished by the system.

Although these words were direct, they were like a warm current, instantly striking the softest spot in Su Man's heart.

She looked at Lin Yang, a man eight years younger than her, and for a moment she couldn't understand it.

She asked, "So what are your plans? You could actually quit, leave all of this behind."

Lin Yang looked as if he had heard a joke.

Why did you resign?

He leaned closer, and the already cramped space inside the car was instantly filled with his refreshing masculine scent.

"I am your driver, your assistant, and even more so, your partner."

Suman's heart tightened.

She looked into his eyes, so close to hers, and they were so pure and clear that it made her feel somewhat uneasy.

Lin Yang continued speaking, his voice carrying a sense of certainty that came as a matter of course.

"Since President Qin wants you to compete for it, then go for it. But I think you can try to negotiate some terms with her."

"How do we negotiate?"

Su Man subconsciously asked a question in return, but her body tensed up because of his words.

"She has evidence that we slept together, and she can detonate it at any time."

"That's easy."

Lin Yang smiled, a smile that carried a hint of cynical wickedness.

"Just admit it openly."

"If they're already a couple, isn't it normal for them to share a bed?"

This idea was too crazy; Suman had never even considered it.

Her gaze drifted, and her fingers unconsciously traced patterns on the smooth leather seat.

She felt that she was divorced and already thirty years old.

Lin Yang is still so young, he has a bright future ahead of him.

Lin Yang saw through her hesitation.

"President Su, what era are we living in? It's perfectly normal for women to be older than men these days."

Su Man did not answer; the question was like a thorn, making her throat tighten.

Lin Yang pressed on relentlessly, his tone carrying a hint of exaggerated teasing.

"A woman as beautiful and wealthy as you, the line of suitors should stretch all the way to France."

Su Man burst out laughing at his sudden flattery, instantly easing the tense atmosphere in the car.

"It's not that exaggerated."

"Yes, there are." Lin Yang said seriously, "I really don't understand people nowadays. It's just that they've been divorced, it's not like it's anything shameful. Those unethical celebrities in the entertainment industry are still doing gigs everywhere."

What he was really thinking was: a rich woman like this who gives you money, sleeps with you, and doesn't have to take responsibility—wouldn't I have to serve her to the best of my ability? What if one day another competitor steals her away? That would be a huge loss.

I've heard that competition in this industry is quite fierce now.

Su Man was completely amused by him, and the fatigue in her eyes eased considerably.

"Then tell me, how do you plan to negotiate terms with President Qin?"

I think there are only three types.

Lin Yang raised his finger.

"I want equity, I want authority, or... all of the above."

"It's up to you which path you want to choose."

Su Man's smile gradually faded, and a thoughtful look returned to her eyes.

Equity... Authority...

……

Just as Lin Yang and Su Man were plotting in the parking lot of Binjiang Park, a taxi carrying Zhou Heng drove off into the other side of the city.

Chengxi Bridge Village.

This is a scar beneath the glamorous exterior of Huahai City.

The low, self-built houses were jagged and uneven, the narrow alleyways were piled with garbage, and the air was filled with a strange smell of dampness, mold, and rotten food.

The taxi stopped at the village entrance, Zhou Heng paid the fare, and crawled out as if his life depended on it.

He looked around to make sure no one was following him before lowering his hat brim and quickly walking into the maze-like village.

Finally, he stopped in front of an inconspicuous courtyard house.

Gray walls, and a large vermilion iron gate.

He raised his hand and rhythmically knocked on the iron gate.

Fifth grade, second semester.

pause.

Three times.

Pause again.

Two times.

This is a code.

An observation window on the iron gate was pushed open from the inside, and a pair of wary eyes swept out.

Upon seeing Zhou Heng's familiar face, the small door creaked open.

"Where's Brother Long?" Zhou Heng asked anxiously as soon as he entered.

The man who opened the door pointed inside expressionlessly.

"It's inside."

It was morning, and the casino was deserted, with only a few henchmen idly smoking together.

It's only at night that this place transforms back into that bustling, all-consuming vortex of noise.

Zhou Heng followed the man through the empty hall, then through an inner room, and pushed open a hidden door disguised as a wardrobe.

It's a hidden paradise inside.

In a luxuriously decorated private room, a huge television was playing an NBA game replay.

A bald man wearing a floral shirt and a gold chain around his neck was staring intently at the screen.

"Go ahead and throw it, you fucking idiot!"

Brother Long slapped the leather sofa.

A greasy-looking man with a middle parting said, "Young master, I told you to buy the smaller ones. The recent lotteries have been behaving strangely."

"Damn it, this game is another low score, another loss."

The man who opened the door stepped forward.

"Brother Long, Zhou Heng is here."

Brother Long then turned his head, his cloudy eyes sweeping over Zhou Heng.

"Hey, Lao Zhou, you're here pretty fast."

Zhou Heng forced out a smile that looked worse than crying.

"Brother Long, I'm here to return the money."

"Hmm." Brother Long gestured with his chin toward the middle-parted man next to him. "Afei, bring over Old Zhou's IOU."

Afei quickly pulled out a folded A4 sheet of paper from a drawer. Underneath the densely written words on it was Zhou Heng's bright red handprint.

Brother Long took the IOU and patted it in his hand.

"Are you planning to pay it off in one lump sum, or in installments?"

"I'll pay it all off in one go." Zhou Heng sounded more confident. "Can you calculate the total amount for me?"

Brother Long winked at Afei.

The man with the middle parting understood and took out a calculator.

"Come on, let's do the math," Brother Long said slowly. "You borrowed a total of 120 million in principal."

Zhou Heng nodded, his heart pounding in his throat.

"Interest rate is 4.9%." Brother Long's tone was very calm. "That's already very low, even lower than that Du Xiaoman thing, right? But you've had a long term, Fei, calculate how much it is now."

Ah Fei's fingers flew across the calculator, making a series of "click-click-click" sounds.

A few seconds later, he looked up.

"It's about 236 million now."

"How many?!"

Zhou Heng's voice instantly rose in pitch, becoming sharp and distorted.

He thought he had misheard.

Afei handed him the calculator, and the long string of glaring numbers on the screen made his vision go black.

"I'll calculate it for you again..." Afei pressed the button again.

The result was exactly the same.

Zhou Heng panicked completely, his blood seemed to turn cold instantly.

He only has two million.

"Brother Long... Brother Long," his voice trembled, "Could I... could I pay back the 200 million first?"

"Sure," Brother Long readily agreed. "Card or cash?"

"Swipe your card."

"Go and get those newly issued POS machines," Brother Long ordered.

Ah Fei accepted the order and jogged off to get the machine.

Brother Long then looked at Zhou Heng, whose face was ashen, with a leisurely air and asked with interest, "Not bad, Lao Zhou, you made money so quickly. Tell me, how did you do it?"

"It was borrowed from a friend, and I have to pay it back," Zhou Heng replied vaguely.

"Wow, I didn't expect Lao Zhou to have such a rich friend." Brother Long laughed. "So how about the remaining 36? Do you want me to lend you some more? You can make up for it tonight and pay it back in no time."

Upon hearing the words "make a comeback," Zhou Heng's heart began to itch again.

But he forcibly stopped himself from thinking about it; he didn't have the face to go and give money to Su Man.

"I...I'll find another way to pay back the 200 million first."

Just then, the door to the private room was pushed open again, and a man in a jacket walked in.

Zhou Heng recognized him.

"Old Zhong, what brings you here?"

"Oh, we're going big tonight, let's get to Brother Long first and see what's going on." The man called Lao Zhong greeted Brother Long familiarly.

Brother Long laughed heartily.

"Old Zhong, the 30 you borrowed from me last time doubled overnight. I paid it all back and even made a profit of 30!"

"That's right, my luck was off the charts that night!" Old Zhong exclaimed triumphantly. "Brother Long, let's continue tonight!"

Zhou Heng listened to their conversation, his eyes wide with astonishment.

30, doubled overnight.

He stared at the cold string of numbers in his mobile banking app, and a thought popped into his head.

If my fellow gamblers can double their winnings, why can't I?

As long as I win one game, no, just a small one, I'll stop, pay back the remaining 36, and that'll be the end of it.

He suddenly raised his head, and a sickly light rekindled in his eyes.

He made his decision.

Borrow another 200,000, just 200,000.

Double your money and leave; don't linger.