Chapter 113: Questioning
Wu Yifan's head throbbed at the sound of her voice.
He'd dealt with his share of high-maintenance women, but none were more trouble than Li Mu and Mu Xiaoyao. He hadn't seen Mu Xiaoyao lately, hoping for a breather—only for this one to stir up chaos again. Did she want him dead? She must live to keep him on his toes.
"Ahem, Lady Li," he said, feigning gravity, "what have I done to earn your wrath? Was our last 'matchmaking performance' not up to par? Speak your mind—I'll fix it. We live by the motto: the customer is god. Guaranteed to be firm, lasting, unbreakable… sending every client to seventh heaven…" He let the innuendo hang, grinning.
Li Mu (or Liu Wei, as she'd called herself) listened, her expression shifting from neutral to scowling. By the end, his words were so explicit she'd have to be dense to miss the meaning. Lively as she was, she couldn't stand such teasing. "Wu Yifan, you bastard! What are you blabbering about? Do you take me for some cheap floozy?" She'd nearly spat out "gigolo," but swapped it for something tamer.
"Isn't that what this is?" Wu Yifan teased. "Last time, you wanted me to play your boyfriend. This time—groom? Not the best deal for me, but I believe in 'saving a life is better than building a seven-story pagoda.' I'll sacrifice myself for the greater good!" He sounded like he was volunteering for martyrdom.
"*Sacrifice*? You call this sacrifice? *I'm* the one suffering!" she shot back.
"What? So it *is* about playing groom?" Wu Yifan stammered, feigning shock.
"Pfft! Nonsense! I was following your lead. Every word out of your mouth is a trap—I walked right into it…" She fumed, cheeks flushed.
Chatting with her had loosened Wu Yifan's mood. Even broke, he had a few good women in his corner. If push came to shove, he could always "tame" this troublemaking girl and use her to pressure Liu Qingyang. Surely the old man cared about his daughter's reputation, wouldn't want her unmarried and scandal-ridden. But it was a dirty trick—he'd save it for emergencies.
*A man should have a clear conscience.*
"Enough games. Why'd you call?" He knew he'd pushed her far enough; one more jab and she'd explode.
"Three things. First: your bartending contest stunt. Wow, Master Wu—who knew? Even my parents raved about you, saying a talent like yours wasted as a security guard. Such a shame…" Her tone was sarcastic, but there was a flicker of bitterness. She'd known him ages, never suspecting he hid so much. He seemed invincible, while she'd been kept in the dark. It irked her.
"Er… just luck!" Wu Yifan felt a chill in her words, wiping imaginary sweat from his brow. "Fluke, really."
"Luck? Those skills were 'luck'? Let's see another 'fluke' then." She snorted.
"Those guys were so arrogant, strutting like peacocks. Pissed me off, so my hands moved on their own. Mixed up some swill, and those old judges called it 'champion-worthy.' Beats me!" He knew the lie was thin, but he wasn't about to bare his secrets—especially not to this gossip.
"You really like her, huh?" Her voice softened, tinged with melancholy.
"What?" Wu Yifan froze.
She meant Ye Xiwen. She'd always thought he played the lowly security guard at Infinite to win Ye Xiwen over. But he'd gone to such lengths for her… it left a sour taste.
"Nothing!" Her cheeks pinked, and she stumbled over the words.
Wu Yifan was confused. He'd heard her clearly. Could this little firecracker have a crush on him? His charm was *that* strong? But his body couldn't keep up with so many women. He didn't want to end up like ancient emperors—drained by concubines, dead before their time. Two or three women max. Four, maybe five. *Definitely* no more than six or seven… okay, ten tops. He shook off the absurdity, switching topics. "Second thing?"
"Second… oh, right!" His question jolted her. "This morning, you 'kidnapped' a cop and raced down the highway. Impressive—kidnapping police now? Next, the president?" She teased, but there was edge to it.
"Haha, president? No guts. Maybe the U.S. president, for kicks. But 'kidnap'? I'm a model citizen—upstanding, honorable. I'd never!" He said it with mock solemnity.
"Denying it?"
"Never did it, so yeah."
"Really? The cop was Fu Junyao, a chief. Witnesses saw you—drivers, officers. They clammed up, but I got the footage. It's crystal clear. Want me to leak it? Let Beitian see their 'hero' who kidnaps cops?" She smiled, triumphant.
Wu Yifan's stomach dropped. Noon's chaos flashed back: grabbing Fu Junyao, speeding to Eastern Coast. To insiders, it was no kidnapping—but to strangers? It looked like he'd abducted a cop. He'd never live it down.
"Poor Infinite—home to a star bartender *and* a cop kidnapper. No one dares mess with you. Think you'll be public enemy number one?" She sounded giddy, imagining his panic.
"Ms. Liu, I've never crossed you, have I?" He feigned despair.
"Never crossed me? You're a walking secret, and I'm left in the dark. *That's* crossing me. Want me to rally the TV stations? Surround Infinite with cameras?" She threatened, but her voice held laughter.
Wu Yifan broke into a cold sweat. TV stations? Infinite would be more famous than Eastern Coast—for all the wrong reasons. Only she'd dare. "Ms. Liu, you're like the moon—radiant, untouchable. Why stoop to my petty messes? It'll stain your reputation…"
"Tell me what you did this noon. You nearly caused a traffic jam in Beitian." She'd won—now her curiosity burned.
Wu Yifan sighed. No escaping this. He'd have to spill… some of it, anyway.