Chapter 152: Pushing Open

At this moment, Xiao Lan walked over carrying breakfast.

Seeing Lin Fang chatting so intimately and cheerfully with the customers, she wore a look of utter shock. She glanced at Xu Fei, who only managed a bitter, helpless smile.

"Xiao Fang, go to the back and fetch some more breakfast."

Xiao Lan tactfully sent Lin Fang away.

"What on earth were you guys saying to Xiao Fang to make her laugh so much?"

"Me? I'm taking Xiao Fang out for dinner tonight."

"You rascal, you beat the rest of us to the punch."

Xiao Lan knitted her brows.

"Did she agree?"

"Of course. Xiao Fang brought it up herself, why wouldn't she agree?"

"You? Seriously?"

Xiao Lan looked up and down at the customer who had claimed he was taking Lin Fang to dinner.

The man was old enough to be Lin Fang's father.

"What's wrong with me? Let me tell you, Xiao Lan, you have no idea. Your big brother here is in his absolute prime. Let's put it this way—if you hadn't missed your chance with me back then, I would've taken you out for dinner long ago."

As the man spoke, he laughed and reached out to stroke the back of Xiao Lan's hand.

"Get lost!"

Xiao Lan glared at him and gave the back of his hand a sharp slap.

*Ouch, that hurts like hell!*

The man feigned intense agony, though his expression conveyed absolute enjoyment.

"Are you ever going to stop being such a cheap flirt?"

Xiao Lan laughed and turned away. She had no desire to let this old pervert take advantage of her any further.

Meanwhile, back inside the kitchen, Xiao Lan intercepted Lin Fang just as she was about to pick up another tray of breakfast to serve.

"Xiao Fang, have you lost your mind? Do you even know what kind of men those are out there? Do you have any idea why they're inviting you to dinner, and yet you just agreed like that? Besides, you're only working at our breakfast shop for three days—why on earth would you accept something like that from them?"

Lin Fang offered a faint, indifferent smile.

"It's just a meal, what's wrong with that? Besides, I want to prove to him that I'm not useless."

With that, she lifted the breakfast tray and walked back out.

Xu Fei had already finished eating.

Watching Lin Fang emerge from the kitchen, he knew in his heart that she was simply acting out of spite against him.

Yet his hands were tied.

The terms of their agreement were set in stone. Unless Lin Fang herself initiated the forfeit, the loss of this wager would fall squarely on Xu Fei.

When that time came, Lin Fang would have the sole right to choose her own path and dictate her own future.

"Money."

Xu Fei stood up, laid the payment for the breakfast on the table, and spoke quietly just as Lin Fang passed by him.

"I'll come find you tonight."

"Find me?"

Lin Fang glanced at him sideways.

"Didn't you hear that I already have a date tonight?"

"I..."

Xu Fei hesitated for a moment.

"Would it be all right if I tag along?"

"You're coming with us?"

Lin Fang chuckled softly.

"Mister, did you hear that? You're taking me out for dinner tonight, but this person insists on tagging along. Do you think that's okay?"

"Who the hell do you think you are?"

The man glared menacingly at Xu Fei.

"I said I'm coming along with you tonight."

"Who even are you?"

Xu Fei pointed directly at Lin Fang.

"I'm her brother."

However, Lin Fang shook her head.

"I don't have any brother. You claim you're my brother, but where's your proof?"

Xu Fei was momentarily taken aback.

"How is that even something you need to prove?"

"Of course it needs proof! If you're not, then get lost and stay out of the way. This has nothing to do with you, understand?"

The older man had thrown all caution to the wind. Forget about Xu Fei showing up claiming to be Lin Fang's brother—even if her biological parents were standing right here, he wouldn't have cared in the least.

"Her business is my business, and I will certainly interfere," Xu Fei said coldly.

This statement immediately provoked the other men into standing up.

"What the fuck, are you looking for a fight?"

These men had already sorted out their schedule and taken turns, and they certainly weren't going to let Xu Fei muscle his way in now.

"What are you all doing?!"

Seeing the men close in and begin shoving Xu Fei, panic finally gripped Lin Fang.

"Don't touch him! He really is my brother!"

At this point, however, her words carried no weight whatsoever.

The older man was the first to launch an attack against Xu Fei, delivering a brutal punch straight to his stomach.

Another man immediately followed up, driving his knee directly toward Xu Fei's face.

Fortunately, Xu Fei threw his weight backward just in time to dodge the blow.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

Liu Erpang suddenly burst out of the kitchen, wielding a cleaver in his hand.

Xiao Lan had sensed the situation turning sour and rushed to alert him. Liu Erpang pointed the kitchen knife directly at the group of men.

"Well? You bastards looking to start trouble in my shop?"

Most of these men were locals from the neighborhood and knew each other well. Seeing Liu Erpang emerge with a cleaver, their attitudes instantly shifted.

"Come on, Erpang, put the knife down. We were just joking around with him, is there any need for that?"

"Exactly, we were just having a friendly discussion, right?"

"Alright, look at the time, we've got to run anyway. Let's go, let's go."

Realizing the situation had turned against them, the men hurriedly pulled at one another and backed out of the breakfast shop.

The older man, however, refused to give up entirely.

"Little sis, I'll be waiting for you outside the door tonight!"

"Get lost!" Xu Fei pointed at him and cursed.

The older man glared at Xu Fei with deep resentment before slamming the door behind him.

"Big Brother Xu, are you... are you alright?"

Only then did Lin Fang step forward, looking at Xu Fei with a trace of concern.

"I'm fine. But why on earth did you agree to go with them just now? You know those men are no good! If you actually follow them, I'm afraid you'll end up getting hurt!"

Xu Fei glared at her fiercely.

"Why are you yelling at me?!"

Lin Fang refused to back down, staring right back into his eyes.

"I only did this because you forced my hand! Do you really think I wanted to? I just refuse to admit defeat!"

Seeing her grow more and more emotional, Xu Fei's anger softened into a pang of heartache. He said gently, "What's wrong with admitting defeat? This isn't the life meant for you, don't you understand? This place doesn't suit you; you belong back where you should be."

Lin Fang remained defiant.

"Where I should be? What kind of place is that? Do you even know what it's like? It's a prison! Being in that house is far more agonizing than serving a prison sentence!"

By the end, her voice had risen to a near-hysterical pitch.

"You really are completely blind to your own fortune. Just look at Xiao Lan, look at Fatty Erpang, and look at me. How many people out there wish they could be like you—able to attend university in peace and quiet? Do you have any idea how badly we wish we had the companionship of our parents, just like you do?"

Lin Fang had zero interest in hearing any of Xu Fei's lectures. She shoved him aside with all her might.

"If you want that life so badly, you go live it! I'm doing just fine right here. Xu Fei, you listen to me carefully: from this moment on, I have nothing to do with you. Please stop meddling in my life!"

Pointing toward the doorway, Lin Fang shouted, "Just leave, will you?!"

You?

This was the first time Xu Fei had ever seen her fly into such a rage in front of him, going so far as to address him directly by his full name without any honorifics.

"What about our agreement?"

"The three days aren't up yet, are they?" Lin Fang stared at him coldly.

"And let me tell you this—even when the three days are up, I might not go back. I like it here. At least Sister Lan is here to keep me company, and Fatty Erpang takes care of me. I'm genuinely happy here."

Seeing her resolve, Xu Fei could only let out a heavy, defeated sigh.

"You..."

Before Xu Fei could finish, Lin Fang raised her arm and pointed straight at the exit.

"Get out!"