"Brother, you've arrived!" The monkey greeted Xiang Ri with a sycophantic smile as he ushered him into the bar.
"Not too crowded today," Xiang Ri observed casually, noting only a few patrons scattered about.
"It's all that black dog's fault. If he hadn't brought his crew to stir up trouble—ah, my apologies, brother, I didn't mean you," the monkey quickly corrected himself upon realizing his gaffe.
"What about Fatty and the others?"
"They're inside." The monkey led the way, with Xiang Ri following at a leisurely pace.
"Brother is here!" Upon spotting Xiang Ri, Fatty and the others immediately vacated a seat for him, their faces alight with excitement, knowing their boss was here to bring money—one million, to be precise. How long would they have to collect protection fees?
"Everyone clear on what I instructed last night?" Xiang Ri settled down comfortably, cutting straight to the chase.
"Yes, brother, we all understand," the monkey responded with a subservient nod.
"Good, then it simplifies matters. I hereby declare this matter concluded!" As soon as Xiang Ri finished speaking, a shiver ran through the group, their expressions pained; just like that, a million slipped away, leaving them despondent.
"Wait, brother, we…" The monkey stammered, struggling to find a coherent response, his mind lamenting, My superstar, my sultry goddess!
"However, I have another task for you. Of course, the remuneration remains unchanged." Xiang Ri pulled a check from his pocket, "This is one million, a deposit!"
"W-Wait, one million?" The monkey trembled as he grasped the check, his eyes wide with disbelief. He had thought the proverbial cooked duck had flown away, only to realize it had merely been served on a different platter.
"Monkey brother, let me feel the weight of that million," Fatty reached out, but the monkey swatted his hand away.
"Why the rush? There's plenty for you!"
Seeing his subordinates fixated on the check with envy, the monkey carefully tucked it close to his chest, thumping his heart and declaring, "Brother, just tell me what you need—up the mountain, through the fire, I guarantee I'll accomplish the task!"
"There's someone in your Wolf Pack named Gray Bear, correct?" Xiang Ri inquired with an unperturbed tone.
"Yes, brother! Are you suggesting—" The monkey didn't finish his sentence, but his companions' expressions shifted, speculating that their benefactor couldn't possibly be intending to eliminate Gray Bear.
"Why, do you think I want you to take him out?" Xiang Ri discerned their thoughts from their expressions. According to Ma San, Gray Bear held a position of considerable power within the "Wolf Pack," known for his ruthless cunning, even instilling fear in his peers like "Frenzied Wolf."
"Brother, you know we cannot engage in infighting within the gang. Anyone who does so faces severed tendons and expulsion, left to fend for themselves," the monkey said, his face etched with worry, clutching the pocket holding the check, terrified it might be taken back.
"When did I ever say I wanted him dead? If I wished to eliminate him, I could do it myself," Xiang Ri raised an eyebrow. "Rest assured, I only need you to keep a close watch on his every move, report who he meets and where he goes, and that will suffice."
"R-Really?" The monkey was taken aback; it seemed too simple.
"If you want to take him out, I won't oppose you," Xiang Ri replied with a sly smile.
The monkey chuckled awkwardly before suddenly recalling something. "Brother, my boss, Frenzied Wolf, wants to meet you. Do you know when you'll be available?"
"Under normal circumstances, I am available, but I seldom meet strangers," Xiang Ri declared before rising to leave the bar. These fellows never seemed to learn; despite numerous reminders to bathe, they still reeked of sour odors. Had he lingered a few minutes longer, he might have succumbed to the stench himself.
"You still dare to return? Look at the time!" Chu Chu was fuming; despite his promise to be home soon, it had been seven or eight hours before he finally showed up, leaving her waiting in vain.
"It's just 9:30 PM—not that late," he replied. Noticing her ready to explode, he quickly added, "Wife, you must forgive me! It's all my idiot classmate's fault; his communication skills are so pathetic that he trivialized a complicated matter as if it were mere dining. I'm heading to my room to grab some clothes and shower."
"Stop right there!" Chu Chu dashed forward and blocked the doorway to the bedroom.
"Darling, I'm quite odorous right now. Let me clean up before we get intimate," Xiang Ri said with a shameless grin.
"Hmph! You must be covered in another woman's perfume, hoping to wash it off so I won't notice. Not a chance!" Chu Chu seized his shirt and began to sniff it. After just one whiff, she recoiled, covering her nose and backing away several feet, exclaiming, "What is that smell? It's revolting!"
"Ha ha, spending time with a bunch of men, of course, it's just the smell of sweat. I told you to wait until I shower before getting close—why the rush?" Xiang Ri chuckled, knowing he had been among a group of men who hadn't bathed in months, leaving him with no excuse to be odorless.
"Go to hell! Hurry and shower, use plenty of body wash. If I smell anything unusual again, you can forget about sharing my bed tonight!" Chu Chu, now convinced there was no perfume involved, believed his claim of visiting classmates, likely filthy males. After that whiff, she was certain the scent was worse than sulfur.
"Understood!" Xiang Ri returned to his room, tossing the newly acquired Desert Eagle beneath the bed before retrieving fresh clothes. Seeing Chu Chu intently watching television, he couldn't help but tease, "Wife, have you washed up? If not, why don't we do it together?"
Chu Chu turned and shot him a fierce glare, huffing before redirecting her attention to the screen.
Realizing he was wasting his time, Xiang Ri rubbed his nose and stepped into the bathroom. Let her feel empowered for now; once I'm clean, I'll show her who's in charge—there will be no mercy then, ha ha!
With mischief in mind, he did not linger in the shower as usual, emerging ten minutes later in shorts and a tank top, ready to charge back into the living room.
"Done so quickly? You must have missed a spot; go wash again!" Chu Chu, seeing him approach with a fierce look, felt a rush of fear and hurled a pillow at him.
"Who says? I'm perfectly clean—my skin feels like it's been scrubbed off!" Xiang Ri caught the pillow and immediately lunged at her.
"Ouch, you're crushing me!" Chu Chu pushed him away with her feet, using the pillow to shield her chest. "You are not allowed to touch me tonight!"
"Darling, you might as well kill me," Xiang Ri chuckled bitterly, but seeing her determined expression, he knew he couldn't force the issue.
"I don't care; you simply can't touch me tonight!" Chu Chu asserted, her tone domineering, yet suddenly her face flushed crimson as she whispered, "My time has come!"
"No way!" Xiang Ri looked as if he had seen a ghost, dejectedly sighing, "Alas…"
"Don't act like that, alright? I'll make it up to you in a few days," Chu Chu said softly, sensing his despair.
"Remember, you said it; don't go back on your word," Xiang Ri seized the opportunity, thinking that how she would compensate him was entirely up to her.