Chapter 181: Cooperation

"You..."

Yue Feifei stared at Yang Xun in shock, her eyes instantly widening.

She never imagined Yang Xun would make such an outrageous, such a shameless demand!

But strangely, if any other man had dared to make such a lewd proposal, she would have slapped him across the face and followed it up with a swift, family-line-ending kick.

Yet, when Yang Xun was the one making the demand, she felt no repulsion or disgust. Instead, an indescribable, peculiar feeling stirred within her.

Her mind even involuntarily flashed back to the recent, blush-inducing scene.

Outwardly, however, Yue Feifei put on a furious display. She clutched the clothes at her chest tightly and fumed, "Yang Xun! Don’t push your luck! That was to save you! I... I only helped you reluctantly. And now you’re using it as a condition? In your dreams! I will never agree to such an unreasonable demand!"

"Oh, is that so?"

Yang Xun looked at her puffed-up, angry face, spread his hands, and deliberately drawled, "Well, if you refuse, then I won’t help you. You can figure out how to earn that ten-million-yuan reward on your own."

In truth, Yang Xun didn’t actually intend to make his old classmate finish him with her mouth.

He just found her earlier embarrassment amusing and wanted to tease his old classmate a bit.

However, to Yang Xun’s utter surprise, Yue Feifei actually hesitated when she saw his attitude.

She stood frozen, her expression shifting between pale and livid, her eyes filled with conflict.

Yue Feifei’s reasoning was actually quite simple. The deadline Zhou Yuan had given her was only three days away.

If she couldn’t find the antique calligraphy and paintings, she would not only have to pay ten million in compensation, but her reputation and savings from the past few years would also be completely ruined.

But if Yang Xun could really help her find those antiques, she wouldn’t just be free from paying compensation; she could also earn a full ten-million-yuan reward.

’Ten million yuan!’

’For ten million... so what if I have to use my mouth?’

’Besides... I already helped him once. Helping him again doesn’t seem like such a big deal.’

"Fine!"

Yue Feifei took a deep breath, her face flushed as she grit her teeth. "I agree! As long as you help me get those antique calligraphy and paintings back, I... I’ll help you again. And I won’t resist!"

Hearing this, Yang Xun froze, staring at Yue Feifei in utter astonishment.

He was really just joking. He never thought she would actually agree!

Seeing her expression—a mix of grim determination and utter mortification—Yang Xun was secretly dumbfounded. But now that things had come to this, he certainly wasn’t going to back down.

"Alright. In that case, I’ll do everything I can to help you."

The mischievous smirk vanished from Yang Xun’s lips, replaced by a serious expression as he nodded.

"Then what are we waiting for? Let’s go now!"

Hearing this, Yue Feifei’s spirits lifted. She eagerly started getting dressed, urging him on, "Hurry up and take me to that place. Let’s get the items back sooner rather than later."

"No!"

Yang Xun shook his head decisively, rejecting her suggestion.

"Why not?"

Yue Feifei paused what she was doing and looked at him, confused.

Yang Xun said gravely, "There are far too many of those antique calligraphy and paintings, and they’re priceless. Since the thieves dared to steal them, they definitely have people watching the location in secret. If we go over there now, all high and mighty, to move everything, we’ll definitely alert them. What if we push them too far and they decide to take us down with them, burning everything to the ground?"

After a pause, Yang Xun continued, "Most importantly, it’s been several days since I last found that place. I can’t be sure if they’ve moved the items somewhere else."

Hearing Yang Xun’s analysis, Yue Feifei calmed down.

"You have a point. I was being too impatient."

Yue Feifei frowned slightly and asked, "So what’s your plan?"

Yang Xun thought for a moment before saying, "Wait for my signal. I’ll find a time to go and scout it out, to first confirm if the items are still there. If they are, I’ll find the best time to make a move. I’ll contact you then, and we’ll coordinate from the inside and outside to move the items."

Yue Feifei considered it for a moment and felt it was the most reliable plan for now, so she nodded. "Okay. I’ll trust you this once."

After that, the two exchanged phone numbers and WeChat contacts.

By the time they finished, it was already noon.

They had been busy all morning and were both getting hungry.

"Let’s go. To celebrate our new partnership, lunch is on me," Yang Xun suggested.

"Where are we eating?"

"How about that little restaurant by our high school’s entrance?"

They instantly agreed.

Yue Feifei got on her stylish Ducati motorcycle with Yang Xun riding behind her, and they sped off toward their old high school.

...

Half an hour later, they arrived at the home-style restaurant by their high school’s entrance.

The restaurant’s facade was still just as run-down, but the inside was spotlessly clean.

The same familiar atmosphere, the same familiar smells.

They found a table by the window and ordered a few of their favorite home-style dishes from back in the day.

They ate and chatted about interesting stories from their high school days, and the atmosphere was exceptionally warm.

"Do you remember back in our second year, when your living money was stolen? You went hungry for two whole days. If I hadn’t brought you steamed buns and boiled eggs every day, you probably would have fainted from hunger on the athletic field," Yue Feifei said, teasing Yang Xun.

"How could I forget?"

Yang Xun put down his chopsticks and said seriously, "I’ll remember that kindness for the rest of my life."

Hearing this, an inexplicable warmth spread through Yue Feifei’s heart.

She lowered her head, gently prodding the rice in her bowl with her chopsticks as her thoughts couldn’t help but drift away.

She thought about what had just happened in the casino’s private room.

She thought about how, under the influence of the aphrodisiac, she had thrown herself into Yang Xun’s arms and even... even used her mouth to help him with *that*.

The mere thought of that searing hot sensation made Yue Feifei feel incredibly shy. A wave of heat rushed from her neck to her forehead, and her pretty face instantly turned as red as a baboon’s bottom.

She quietly lifted her eyes and secretly sized up Yang Xun, who was sitting across from her.

’A few years have passed. The scrawny, stubborn, poor kid from back then has grown into an upright, poised man.’

’His features are well-defined, his gaze deep and confident. He exudes an undeniable charm.’

’Most importantly, he possesses such miraculous medical skills that even the Young Master Zhou treats him with great respect.’

Yue Feifei realized that the more she looked at him, the more handsome he seemed, and her heart unhelpfully began to beat a little faster.

"What’s wrong? Why is your face so red? Are you not feeling well?"

Yang Xun noticed her strange behavior and asked with concern.

"N-Nothing! It’s just... this dish is too spicy!"

Yue Feifei guiltily grabbed her water glass and chugged a large gulp, trying to hide her panic.

BEEP BEEP BEEP!

Just then, about halfway through their meal, the phone Yang Xun had placed on the table suddenly rang.

He picked it up and saw that the caller ID showed a call from Murong Wei.

Without hesitation, Yang Xun pressed the answer button and said, "Hello, Teacher Murong..."

However, the voice on the other end was not Murong Wei’s.

It was the panicked voice of a man. "Yang Xun, it’s me, Zhang Hui!"

’Zhang Hui?’

’Teacher Murong’s husband?’

Yang Xun’s brow furrowed, and he immediately asked, "Brother Hui, what’s wrong? What happened?"

On the other end of the line, Zhang Hui’s voice was trembling with utter despair. "Murong Wei took the Crimson Sun Pill you gave her... something’s happened! She’s ice-cold all over, she’s... she’s fading fast... You have to come quick!!"