C6 The Fivepointed Star Card

Divorce? Ye Fann paused, a wry smile crossing his face. "What, you think I'm a loser too?"

Huang Xinying's worry intensified at his words. "Are you out of your mind? My brother's million yuan gambling debt is a ticking time bomb. It's going to drag you down. You need to sever ties now, while you can, and you'll be out of the woods. Got it?"

So that was her angle.

Ye Fann chuckled and pulled Huang Xinying closer. "Relax, everything's going to be okay."

"But..."

"No buts. Trust me. When I say it's all good, I mean it."

The waiter entered, breaking the tension as he began setting the table with dishes.

Ye Fann glanced up, fixing the waiter with a look. After all the earlier chaos, the person who'd ordered was gone, and yet the food was still coming?

"How much for all this?" Ye Fann inquired offhandedly.

"Good evening, sir. The total comes to 17,000 yuan."

Huang Xinying's brow creased at the amount. Seventeen thousand?

She surveyed the table: succulent lobsters, imperial King Crabs, delicate abalone, shark fins, caviar, and an array of seafood, all accompanied by several bottles of imported red wine. Seventeen thousand seemed about right.

Ye Fann's smile was tinged with irony. To curry favor with Bi Wenfeng, his mother-in-law had spared no expense.

"Let's cancel it. I... I don't have that kind of money," Huang Xinying murmured, her cheeks flushed.

"Cancel?" The waiter overheard and his expression soured, his eyes mocking. "Do you think we can just toss this seafood back into the ocean? You're quite the comedian, miss."

Ye Fann's gaze hardened as he addressed the waiter. "Why are you butting in on my wife's conversation? Get out!"

The waiter left, seething with resentment. We'll see how smug you are when it's time to settle the bill. Damn!

As soon as the door shut, Huang Xinying's face was etched with concern. "Ye Fann, I really don't have that much. Maybe we should..."

"It's okay," Ye Fann reassured her with a smile, reaching for the red wine and pouring a glass for Huang Xinying, then one for himself. "Since we've been married, I've never treated you to a proper meal. Let's make this one count. I'm sorry for all the hardship you've endured."

After finishing his thought, Ye Fann lifted his glass and downed it in one swift motion, swallowing all the humiliation he had endured over the years and the bitter pain he had withstood with clenched teeth.

"Eight-armed Hell King, huh," he mused, "I had planned to seek you out after I fully recovered. But since your son has so rudely shown up uninvited, it looks like he'll start paying off the debt you owe me by covering some of the interest!"

Huang Xinying gazed at Ye Fann, her brow furrowed in disapproval as she chided softly, "That's not how you're supposed to drink red wine."

Ye Fann chuckled, "How would I know that? If you don't teach me, how can I learn?"

Unable to resist a smile, Huang Xinying replied, "Alright, I'll teach you. Make sure you pay attention."

"Got it."

The two shared a meal, surrounded by a spread of dishes, their enjoyment and sweetness together palpable. This was their first time, but it certainly wouldn't be the last—it was merely the beginning.

Post-dinner, the waiter came over with security in tow.

"Cash or card?" he asked brusquely, without a hint of courtesy.

Huang Xinying's anxiety flared up again. She hastily pulled out seven or eight cards from her wallet, hoping that when combined, the sum would be sufficient.

The waiter couldn't help but laugh. "Are you kidding me, miss? How am I supposed to handle this..."

Before he could finish, Huang Xinying produced a handful of change—several hundred-yuan notes, a few fifties, and even some ten-cent pieces...

The security guards nearby were visibly confused.

The waiter, frustrated, said, "Are you playing games with me? In all my years, I've never seen anyone try to settle a bill like this..."

"Bring your manager here," Ye Fann interjected abruptly.

The waiter was taken aback, staring at Ye Fann as if he were an oddity. "What? You want to see the manager? You?"

Without a fuss, Ye Fann grabbed a few hundred-yuan notes from Huang Xinying and addressed the security guards, "Whoever fetches the manager gets this as a tip for their trouble."

"I'm on it," a security guard responded instantly, dashing off to find the manager.

The waiter's face turned a shade of green. "You think calling the manager will get you out of paying? I've seen plenty of people like you, trying to weasel out when they can't afford it..."

"I'm telling you plainly, you're out of a job," Ye Fann said in a calm, cutting tone.

The waiter froze, ready to snap back, but was interrupted as a security guard ushered the manager in.

"What's the deal? Can't you see I'm swamped?" the manager grumbled, clearly annoyed.

Ye Fann stood up and handed the manager a special card marked with a red pentagon on the corner. "Could you swipe this for me? Thanks."

Initially irritable, the manager's demeanor shifted dramatically at the sight of the red pentagon, his respect surpassing that usually reserved for his superiors. "Just a moment, please wait," he stammered with utmost courtesy.

A hush fell over the room, leaving everyone in shock.

The manager was back in a flash, presenting the card with both hands, his deference boundless.

With the waiter looking on, dumbfounded, Ye Fann took Huang Xinying by the hand and strode out of the restaurant.

No sooner had they left than the manager's tone turned icy as he issued a stern command, "Not a word about today's events, or it's on your head... don't say I didn't warn you."

Then, Ye Fann returned.

"Mr. Ye, what can I do for you?" the manager said, hurrying over.

"I need to speak with him," Ye Fann said, approaching the waiter. "You're acquainted with the man with the knife scar?"

The waiter quivered, "Yes, but I only..."

"Where's his casino?"

"Casino?" The waiter hesitated, glanced at the manager, then said through clenched teeth, "It's underneath Global Square."

"Thanks." Ye Fann then turned to the manager. "Impressive how a waiter feels bold enough to lord over customers here."

With that, Ye Fann walked away.

The manager got the message and swiftly kicked the waiter. "Out! Now!"

Outside, Huang Xinying asked Ye Fann curiously, "We drove here earlier, how did you find this place so quickly?"

With a mysterious smile, Ye Fann teased, "A kiss, and I might just tell you."

Huang Xinying's cheeks turned pink. "Stop it, there are people around."

The plaza was expansive, bustling with people in every direction.

Ye Fann's eyes swept the area, noting that Bi Wenfeng's BMW was nowhere to be seen.

In its place, a white Porsche sat idly.

"Let's take the car back."

"Huh?"

Without hesitation, Ye Fann took Huang Xinying by the hand and headed straight for the Porsche.

Inside the Porsche, Yang Min's heart skipped a beat, and she hastily instructed the driver to speed off.

The driver sprang into action, hitting the gas, but before the car could even lurch forward, the rear door swung open and then shut, and suddenly, Yang Min was no longer alone.

The atmosphere turned icy.

The driver, rigid with tension, turned and found himself locked in Ye Fann's serene stare.

"Drive. Go pick up my wife," Ye Fann commanded.

Yang Min, feeling the oppressive force of Ye Fann's presence, clenched her teeth and gave a curt nod, signaling the driver to comply.

Ye Fann's gaze dropped to the tattoo visible through Yang Min's sheer stockings on her thigh. "The Mark of the Sky Wolf, a legacy of the Nine-headed Sky Wolf. The Sky Wolf and Yama are age-old adversaries. And yet, you, a scion of the Sky Wolf, are engaged to the son of Yama?"