Chapter 48: The Poor Have No Pride

Hearing Yan Lan’s shout, Yang Rui sprang out of bed like a carp flipping, quickly heading toward the landlord’s living room.

Usually, if someone wanted to reach him, they would call his cell phone. But there were exceptions—if the phone was off, for instance, as it was now, he wouldn’t even know his own phone had died. Naturally, clients wouldn’t be able to contact him. Though rare, he had to be prepared. So when conducting business, besides giving his mobile number, he often left the landlord’s landline number as well.

As soon as he entered, he saw Cao Wanri lounging like a local tyrant in the wide sofa. The coffee table was scattered with colorful stock K-line charts and lottery trend graphs. Cao crossed his legs, a cigarette dangling from his mouth, smoke swirling around him, exuding the leisurely air of a man surveying his kingdom. Seeing Yang Rui, the “chronic rent defaulter,” walk in, he didn’t even bother to lift his eyelids. With a heavy snort through his nose and a fierce glare, he turned his head back to study his “get-rich plan,” as if Yang Rui were an annoying rag.

Yan Lan’s cheeks flushed slightly, probably recalling the morning’s awkwardness. She gave Yang Rui a sharp glance, silently urging him to answer the phone quickly.

Yang Rui cautiously picked up the receiver, sneaking a glance at the hawk-eyed Cao Wanri.

“Hello, who’s this?”

“Your old man!” The voice of Xie Tingfeng bellowed angrily through the line. “Where the hell have you been these past few days? I’m about to tear the roof off in worry!”

Xie Tingfeng was Yang Rui’s childhood iron brother. Back in school, he was notorious in the neighborhood as a brawler. After graduating high school, he joined the provincial boxing team and, with his signature “Xie heavy punch,” fought his way to the finals of the provincial competition. Although he later retired due to injury and never claimed the “golden belt,” in Yang Rui’s eyes, he was already a successful man.

“Oh wow! The boxing king himself!” Yang Rui immediately switched to a flattering tone. Ever since Xie Tingfeng opened a boxing club, Yang Rui began calling him “boxing king.” At first, Xie was a bit awkward about it but later accepted it casually. “If you don’t call to check on me, I might just disappear from this world!” Yang Rui exaggerated his tone to squeeze out some sympathy.

“Serves you right!” Xie Tingfeng shot back without mercy.

“What the hell did I do to deserve that? Why ‘serves me right’?” Yang Rui protested stubbornly.

“You’ve been up to something shady lately. If I hadn’t shown up just in time the other day, you’d be dead meat by now.”

“Enough, enough! No need for gratitude. I’ll treat you to a meal next time!” Yang Rui said impatiently.

“Cut the crap! I heard you’ve been a regular at the police station lately. Addicted to ‘tea drinking’?” Xie teased with a hint of concern. Though he looked fierce, he was known as a law-abiding and helpful citizen.

“How... how did you know that!” Yang Rui blurted out, then quickly covered, “Who’s spreading rumors? I’m a model citizen! Now that you’re the boss, you gotta speak with evidence!”

“Tch!” Xie scoffed.

“Hey, Tingfeng, if there’s any good news, think of your brother!” Yang Rui awkwardly changed the subject.

“Damn! Almost let you drag me down! Forgetting the important stuff!” Xie complained. “Be at my club first thing tomorrow morning! Got good news!”

“What good news? Why so secretive?” Yang Rui was baffled.

“Just good news! I’m busy! Remember, before eight! Dress decent, don’t look like a bum all the time!”

“What’s the matter? Hello? Hello hello...” Only a busy signal came through. “Damn! Rushing to reincarnate, huh!” Yang Rui slammed down the receiver.

“Take it easy! It’s not your phone!” Cao Wanri turned and shouted at him.

Yang Rui shivered and quickly smiled, “Sorry, Brother Cao, slipped! Slipped!”

“What’s wrong with your brain?” Cao Wanri got angrier. “By the way, when are you going to give me a definite answer on the rent you owe?!”

Yang Rui cursed inwardly but forced a smile, “Brother Cao, if you really want a deadline, I hope it’s... ten thousand years from now!”

“You...” Cao Wanri’s face darkened, about to explode, but Yan Lan hurried over to smooth things over.

“Enough, enough! Why do you two fight like roosters every time you meet? Can’t you just be quiet for a moment?”

Cao Wanri snorted coldly and turned away.

Yang Rui was pondering whether to slip out when a voice came from outside.

“Sister Lan, Brother Cao!”

Before the words even finished, Zhu Ming pushed open the door and walked in.

“Oh wow! Xiao Zhu’s back! Come, come, sit down!” Cao Wanri’s eyes lit up, and he greeted him warmly as if transformed.

“Yeah, Xiao Zhu, sit down! What have you been busy with lately? Haven’t seen you around.” Yan Lan smiled and invited him as well.

Yang Rui cursed inwardly: God really has no mercy! Same person, why such different treatment? Just thinking about it made him feel wronged!

Zhu Ming glanced at Yang Rui with unabashed contempt and walked straight to Cao Wanri’s side to sit.

Yang Rui stood there, neither able to leave nor sit, feeling painfully awkward. Fortunately, Yan Lan was understanding and softly said, “Xiao Yang, you should sit too.”

Feeling as if pardoned, Yang Rui quickly plopped down beside Zhu Ming and turned to grin at him, “Manager Zhu, haven’t seen you for a few days. You look even paler! That pretty boy act suits you perfectly!”

Zhu Ming pushed up his glasses and coldly retorted, “Same to you!”

“Heh heh!” Yang Rui wasn’t offended. “Manager Zhu, you really have the gift of gab—no wonder you’re a manager! By the way, what kind of manager are you again? Oh right, counter manager! Your bank has eight counters, and each one’s a manager.”

“Xiao Yang!” Yan Lan chided softly, “You have to bicker with everyone, huh? Keep that up and Sister Lan will really get mad!”

“That’s right, Little Bear, don’t mind him! This guy’s been off his meds lately!” Cao Wanri shot Yang Rui a sharp glare, then eagerly turned to Zhu Ming, “Come on, tell me, which stocks are hot these days? Give me some tips!”

Yang Rui closed his mouth helplessly and shrank into the corner of the sofa. Sigh, poverty makes one short-tempered, and a skinny horse has long hair!

Listening to the string of stock jargon between the two, Yang Rui was like reading a foreign language, bored out of his mind as he glanced around. Just then, Yan Lan finished her work and sat opposite him. His gaze involuntarily fixated on this beautiful and enchanting young woman.

He had always thought Yan Lan was pretty, but today, looking more closely, he realized she was full of charm. Delicately arched brows, bright eyes and pearly teeth, radiant skin, and a mature, voluptuous figure... Tsk tsk, impossible to look away.

Cao Wanri and Zhu Ming were deep in lively conversation about stocks and didn’t notice Yang Rui’s “pervy” expression. Yan Lan, uninterested in stocks as well, caught his fixed gaze and felt her cheeks flush with two roses of color. She wanted to scold him but feared causing trouble for Yang Rui, who was already disliked by her husband. So, under the table, she gently nudged Yang Rui’s calf with her shoe tip and whispered, “You little pervert! What are you staring at?”

Yang Rui, absorbed in his admiration, was startled by the gentle touch. He quickly glanced at Cao Wanri, who was still deeply engrossed, and finally relaxed.