Chapter 61: Because of You
"Ha! Fan-ge, you should've seen Su Junfeng's face—all green and twisted!" Mu Xiaoyao cackled, skipping beside Wu Yifan as they left the seafood restaurant.
"Forty-two thousand yuan," Wu said, shaking his head. "That'll teach him to show off."
Mu nudged him, her eyes glinting. "Wanna go back? Bet he's throwing a tantrum right now. Maybe crying into his leftover lobster?"
Wu laughed, but his smile faded when Mu pressed on, "Seriously, though—Yi老师 (Teacher Yi) deserves better. We should help her dump him. I know a guy who sells… *special pills*. Slip one to Su, and he'll be begging to break up. Or we could beat him up—"
"Mu Xiaoyao!" Wu cut her off, scandalized. "He's a jerk, but that's crossing a line. Let Yi make her own choice."
Mu pouted. "Fine. But if he messes with her again—"
"I'll handle it," Wu promised.
Mu grinned, satisfied. "Good. Now—can we get ice cream? My treat. After that… maybe I'll stop plotting Su's downfall. For today."
Wu sighed, but he was smiling. "Ice cream. Then I'm going back to work."
By the time Wu finally escaped Mu's endless scheming and returned to Wuxian (Infinity), the sun had dipped below the horizon, painting the sky in soft pinks.
"Brother Fan, you're back!" A group of hostesses greeted him, their smiles warm. Since the "alcohol poisoning incident" —when Wu had uncovered the sabotage and saved Wuxian from ruin—his status here had skyrocketed. He was second only to Ye Xiwen, outranking even Liao Zhiyuan, the operations manager.
Wu nodded, glancing around. The venue was packed, music thumping, laughter spilling from every corner. Business was booming—good for Wuxian, but irrelevant to his job as a security guard. He headed for the second-floor booth, only to be waylaid by Liao Zhiyuan, who sprinted toward him, waving a folder.
"Brother Wu! Thank goodness you're here!" Liao panted. "The boss has been asking for you. She said to send you to her office the second you got back. It's urgent."
Wu frowned. "Ye Zong (Boss Ye) wants me?"
"Since three this afternoon," Liao confirmed. "Said it's about the rent deal."
Wu's curiosity piqued. He headed up the stairs, knocked on Ye Xiwen's office door, and heard her soft voice: "Come in."
Ye was seated at her desk, surrounded by papers, but she looked up the second he entered, her face lighting up with a smile—nervous, but bright. "You're back. Perfect."
Wu shut the door, leaning against it. "Liao said you needed me? About the rent?"
Ye nodded, sliding a contract across the desk. Her hands trembled slightly as she spoke, "Wang Xuefei called this afternoon. She… she agreed. Twelve thousand yuan a year, signed for five years."
Wu's eyes widened. He'd negotiated with Wang, the landlord, using two enhancement points to "charm" her into lowering the price, but he hadn't expected *this*—it was far below their initial budget, a lifeline for Wuxian. He scanned the contract, checking the terms, and let out a breath. "It's real."
"Very real." Ye's smile was radiant, a rare spark of joy breaking through her usual composure. "This changes everything. We'll have enough to renovate, hire more staff… Wuxian can finally thrive."
She pulled an envelope from her drawer, pushing it toward him. "Here. Five thousand yuan. A bonus, from Wuxian. For everything you did."
Wu stared at the envelope, then met her eyes. Once, he would've snatched it up—two thousand yuan a month didn't stretch far. But now? With the enhancement device, money felt trivial compared to what he truly wanted: *her*.
He pushed the envelope back. "I can't take this."
Ye blinked. "Why not? You earned it. You—"
"Did you think I did this for money?" His voice dropped, low and rough, carrying a weight that made Ye's breath catch.
Ye looked away, her cheeks flushing. She'd been wrestling with her feelings for days—gratitude, confusion, a flutter of something softer. "Then… why? I don't have much else to give."
"Because of you."
The words hung in the air, thick and charged. Ye's head snapped up, her eyes wide. She'd imagined many things he might say, but not this—raw, unguarded, *honest*.
"I—" She stumbled over her words, her composure cracking. "That's… that's not necessary. I mean, thank you, but—"
Wu stepped closer, his gaze steady. "If you want to thank me, do one thing."
Ye tensed, bracing for a demand—dates, favors, something she couldn't refuse. "What?"
"Run Wuxian well. Keep it standing." He smiled, softening the intensity. "So I don't lose my job. Sound fair?"
Ye froze. That was it? No grand declarations, no ultimatums—just a quiet request to protect the place they both cared about. Relief washed over her, but it was tangled with something else, warmer, lighter.
"You…" She laughed, a small, genuine sound. "You're impossible."
"I prefer 'reliable.'" Wu leaned against the desk, inches from her. "I mean it, Xiwen. As long as I'm here, Wuxian won't fall. Not again."
The use of her given name sent a shiver down Ye's spine. She met his eyes, seeing something there she'd missed before—determination, yes, but also a tenderness she hadn't expected.
"Thank you," she said, her voice soft. For the first time, she let herself acknowledge it: Wu Yifan wasn't just a security guard. He was a anchor, a protector, someone who'd stood by her when everything else was falling apart.
Wu nodded, pushing off the desk. "I'll let you get back to work. Let me know if you need anything."
As he reached for the door, Ye called out, "Wu Yifan?"
He turned.
"Stay for dinner. On me. Not as a bonus. Just… because."
Wu's smile lit up his face. "I'd like that."
Outside, the neon lights of Wuxian flickered to life, casting a warm glow over the bustling crowd. Inside the office, Ye stared at the contract, her heart lighter than it had been in months.
*Because of you*, she thought, tracing the signature at the bottom.
For the first time in a long while, she felt like Wuxian—and maybe even herself—had a chance to thrive. All because of a lazy security guard with a knack for showing up when it mattered most.