C13 A Mouthful of Blood!

Upon hearing those words, Qin Fen nearly choked on his own shock.

What was happening? Why would Zhao Mengyue say such a thing?

Zhao Mengqian was just as bewildered. Was this really her sister, considering everything from an outsider's point of view?

Zhao Mengyue noticed Qin Fen's confusion and urged him, "Why are you just standing there? Go on, eat! You expend so much energy every day; you must replenish it. Have some of this kebab, try the white rice, and don't forget the chives. You need to eat more."

Qin Fen shivered slightly as he looked at the dishes Zhao Mengyue had prepared for him.

Was she doing this deliberately? Why choose such nourishing food for him? It was utterly baffling. If it weren't for their childhood friendship and deep understanding of each other, not to mention Zhao Mengyue's striking beauty, Qin Fen might suspect she was dropping hints.

Unable to stand by any longer, Zhao Mengqian snapped, "Kid, you're in luck this time. My sister cares so deeply for you, and I can't stand to see her upset. There's fifty thousand yuan on this card. Take it, treat yourself well, and don't end up looking like a skinny monkey, worrying my sister."

Qin Fen's heart skipped a beat as he glanced at the bank card pushed towards him.

Was he being mistaken for a kept man?

Seeing Zhao Mengyue's tearful eyes, even Qin Fen felt a twinge of pity.

But as a well-educated young man of the new era, Qin Fen couldn't possibly betray his principles.

"Um, miss, you should keep your money. I may be poor, but I get regular check-ups, and the doctor says my stomach is in great shape. I don't need to be supported."

At his words, Zhao Mengyue couldn't help but laugh, the gloom on her face lifting.

Zhao Mengqian, on the other hand, was seething with fury.

[Detected Zhao Mengqian's rage point +888!]

The system's announcement left Qin Fen momentarily stunned, before he remarked, "Really? Is she that angry?"

Zhao Mengqian took several deep breaths to quell her rising anger before she spoke. "Eat soft rice? If it weren't for Yueyue's shared hardships with you, I would have given you a piece of my mind a hundred times over. A hundred times, do you hear me?"

Qin Fen responded nonchalantly, "Oh, really? And how would you do that?"

At this point, Qin Fen was dangerously close to pushing his luck too far.

Zhao Mengqian's rage points skyrocketed by 1999!

Upon hearing the alert for the increase in rage points, Qin Fen's grin grew even wider.

The meal was exceedingly pleasant, not just because he was in the company of two beautiful women, but because he found deep satisfaction in teasing Zhao Mengqian, who was at a loss for a retort.

After the meal, as Qin Fen reached for his phone to settle the bill, Zhao Mengqian swiftly snatched it from his grasp.

"What's this about? Why are you taking my phone? Let me remind you, we're just having a little spat. Don't escalate things," Qin Fen said, visibly worried.

Zhao Mengqian gave him a disdainful look and shook her head. "You're this broke and still want to foot the bill? Let's see what you've got."

She proceeded to check his WeChat and Alipay accounts, only to find a meager total of 180 yuan.

"Is this all you have? What about the money you made from selling the Nine-Taste Decoction and other items earlier?"

Zhao Mengqian was perplexed. She had assumed Qin Fen wouldn't have much money and that checking his balance was just a way to turn the tables and tease him before ultimately covering the bill herself.

But now, what was happening? Why was there only such a small amount in his account?

Stunned by her question, Qin Fen took his phone back and upon seeing the balance, he was flabbergasted.

"Damn it, what's with this system? Show yourself! Where did my money go?" Qin Fen was genuinely unsettled. The system seemed to be acting erratically. What was it playing at?

The system promptly responded, "Congratulations, host. The proceeds from your stall have been successfully deducted as a management fee."

Qin Fen immediately lost his temper, "What the heck? Who agreed to pay a management fee? Give me my money back, now!"

The system announced, "Congratulations to the host for acquiring the Invincible Domain. Within the confines of your stall, you will have absolute control."

Qin Fen retorted, "Congratulate your sister. Just refund the money already. I'm waiting to settle the bill here."

"Once the fee is collected, it is non-refundable. Don't question it. By paying, you've enjoyed the management service, even if only for a minute or a second."

Qin Fen was at a loss for words.

"System, are you blatantly messing with me?" Qin Fen had finally figured it out; this ridiculous system didn't play by the rules.

Yet, the system offered no further response, leaving Qin Fen to grudgingly face reality.

"Qin Fen, don't tell me you're too cheap to pay, so you intentionally moved the money out of your balance? Is that necessary? It's just a few hundred bucks," Zhao Mengqian teased him.

Zhao Mengyue saw Qin Fen's look of utter despair and quickly came to his defense, "Sister, stop it. I think Qin Fen's account might have been hacked, which is why the money was transferred. He's been with us the whole time, and I didn't see him make any transfers."

Revived by Zhao Mengyue's words, Qin Fen exclaimed, "Exactly, it must have been fraudulent charges."

He looked at Zhao Mengyue with admiration; she was so thoughtful.

With a beaming smile, Zhao Mengyue went to pay the bill, then joined Qin Fen in the Audi to drive him home.

As the Audi vanished at the corner of the alley, Qin Fen had an epiphany.

"Mengqian, I was wrong. Is that offer of 50,000 yuan still on the table? If I catch up to you, will you give me the money back?" Qin Fen asked with a rueful shake of his head.

After the system had deducted over 30,000 yuan, Qin Fen's account was down to a mere 34.5 yuan. He couldn't bring himself to round down the remaining 0.5 yuan; after all, it could still buy him an ice cream to cool off.

Oh my goodness, when others receive a system, they reach the pinnacle of their lives. Why did I end up on the path to poverty?

Could it be that I'm just lonely?

With his head hanging low, Qin Fen walked past the landlord's barbecue stall when a burst of raucous noise drew his attention, snapping him out of his self-pity. He took a closer look at the scene before him and immediately furrowed his brow.

A line of eight or nine motorcycles was parked next to the stall, presenting an impressive sight, yet they somewhat obstructed the path. Nonetheless, the passersby seemed too intimidated to voice their displeasure.

The usually bustling barbecue stall, often filled to capacity, now had several empty tables. Among these vacant spots sat three tables occupied by young men in uniform black attire and white shoes, each with tattoos visible on their skin.

The leader of the group was a man with a shiny bald head, the kind that gleamed with a large gold tooth, which sparkled even in the evening light.

"Boss, why haven't you served the food yet? Are we supposed to just sit here?"