Chapter 42: A Monthly Salary of Fifty Thousand

Long Kun had noticed Qin Chenfang earlier. In his view, the reason Brother Nan had been so furious today wasn't just because he had been looked down upon; it was more likely that he wanted to show off in front of this woman. Even so, Long Kun felt that Brother Nan was no ordinary man. To spend three hundred and fifty thousand on a whim just for a woman—that was a level of audacity he knew he couldn't match. A phrase suddenly popped into his mind: "Wrath for the sake of a beauty."

Long Kun felt a sense of pride. It seemed I am a cultured man after all, being able to come up with such a profound line. As these thoughts crossed his mind, they unconsciously showed on his face, and his muffled chuckle reached Zhuo Nan’s ears.

Seeing Long Kun walking along looking like an idiot with a grin on his face, Zhuo Nan asked curiously, "Long Kun, what are you thinking about?" Zhuo Nan spoke casually, but the question startled Qin Chenfang. Having set up stalls on the streets, she had seen all sorts of people and had naturally heard rumors about the local underworld. She knew that the current boss of the Deqing underworld was named Long Kun, though she had never met him. But hearing Zhuo Nan address him by that name, she couldn't help but connect the scarred face beside her to that notorious gang leader.

Noticing the strange expression on Qin Chenfang’s face, Zhuo Nan immediately understood her thoughts. He smiled and said, "Chenfang, he is the boss of the Deqing underworld, Brother Kun."

Long Kun gave Qin Chenfang a silly grin and said, "I’m no boss. It’s just that Brother Nan thinks highly of me and gives me a way to make a living." Long Kun’s words shocked Qin Chenfang even more. What did he mean by "Brother Nan gives me a way to make a living"? This meant that Zhuo Nan was Long Kun’s boss, and that everything Long Kun had today was provided by him.

For a moment, the way Qin Chenfang looked at Zhuo Nan shifted. She never expected that this ordinary-looking boy next door, who could sit and eat with them, was actually Long Kun’s boss… and he was still a student. Qin Chenfang’s mind couldn't quite process it; she stared blankly at Zhuo Nan, not knowing what to say.

Zhuo Nan looked at Qin Chenfang affectionately and said seriously, "Chenfang, you must never tell outsiders that I am Long Kun’s boss. It will bring me a lot of trouble, you understand?"

Qin Chenfang’s expression was like that of a child who had been told something by an adult; she nodded obediently.

Since the Baihua Shopping Mall was not far from the restaurant Long Kun had taken over, the three of them walked there. Along the way, passersby couldn't help but cast their eyes on Qin Chenfang, a 100% head-turning rate that satisfied her vanity just a little.

Once inside the restaurant, Zhuo Nan took a quick look around. There were eight tables in the main hall, and a cashier counter was located to the left of the entrance, where two female cashiers smiled to greet them. Further in was a long corridor, with elegantly decorated private rooms on both sides—ten in total.

Qin Chenfang looked around and asked, "Zhuo Nan, this restaurant is yours, right?"

Zhuo Nan and Long Kun exchanged a glance. Zhuo Nan smiled and said, "Chenfang, it’s not actually mine. If I were to open a restaurant, I’d definitely build a five-star one."

Qin Chenfang pressed on, "Then it’s Brother Kun’s?"

Long Kun chuckled and said, "Miss Qin, this restaurant isn't mine either. It belongs to a friend of mine. He finds it inconvenient to manage things here personally, so he entrusted it to me. Take a look at the environment—if you like it, how about starting work tomorrow?" Long Kun was telling the truth; after taking over the shop, he had transferred the ownership to Chen Longming’s wife. Of course, he had already told Chen Longming that he didn't need to manage it and could just collect the profits regularly.

Chen Longming knew perfectly well that a small, run-down private kitchen wouldn't make much money; it was merely a platform for Long Kun to funnel money to him.

Qin Chenfang trusted Long Kun’s words implicitly. People in their line of work often dealt with officials who had side businesses they didn't want to be publicly associated with. She nodded and said, "No problem. If there’s a need, I can start working right now."

Long Kun looked at Zhuo Nan for a sign. Seeing him give a slight nod, Long Kun understood and turned to Qin Chenfang. "Alright, start now. The monthly salary is twenty thousand yuan."

Qin Chenfang was startled, thinking she had misheard. She asked in disbelief, "Brother Kun, is that a mistake? Twenty thousand?"

If it had been anyone else, Long Kun would have said, "Damn, you think twenty thousand is too little? For someone like you, I wouldn't even pay two thousand." But with Zhuo Nan standing beside her, he had to heed his reaction. He glanced at Zhuo Nan and saw him staring at a painting on the wall. Thinking, *Uh oh, Brother Nan isn't satisfied*, he gritted his teeth and held up five fingers. "How about this: fifty thousand a month. Miss Qin, you have no objections now, do you?"

Long Kun’s words stunned Zhuo Nan as well. *Has this kid been kicked in the head by a donkey?* This small restaurant might not even make fifty thousand in pure profit a month. But seeing Long Kun’s questioning look, he realized the guy had misinterpreted his silence. Still, fifty thousand was fifty thousand; it was pocket change to them.

However, Qin Chenfang didn't see it that way. Fifty thousand… she had never seen so much money in her life. She realized that Long Kun was only offering this much because of Zhuo Nan. She couldn't accept this money.

She said in a tone that allowed no refusal, "Brother Kun, I won't take this money. I know that if Zhuo Nan weren't standing by my side, your friend wouldn't even pay me five hundred a month. I just want to earn money through my own labor; I don't want to be someone else’s appendage."

Long Kun didn't know how to answer, so he cast a desperate look at Zhuo Nan. Zhuo Nan, still sporting a faint smile, said calmly, "Chenfang, I understand what you mean. If you don’t want to accept it, I won't force you. I’ll have Long Kun hire you at the standard industry rate. But I hope you’ll reconsider Long Kun’s offer. After all, Shanshan’s medical treatment needs money."

Mentioning Shanshan was a painful spot for Qin Chenfang. She could live a life of poverty, but she couldn't let Shanshan suffer with her, especially since Shanshan needed frequent blood transfusions, and the cost alone was staggering. She knew deep down that Long Kun’s high salary was essentially a handout; the labor she provided could never be worth that much.

Looking at Zhuo Nan’s earnest eyes and thinking of Shanshan’s lovely face, Qin Chenfang made a decision. She had to repay Zhuo Nan for his kindness, and the only thing she had to offer was her own body. Thinking of the intimacy they had shared the night before, her face flushed with shame.

Zhuo Nan didn't know what she was thinking. Seeing her expression, he asked curiously, "Chenfang, what do you think? Have you decided?"

Qin Chenfang was brought back to reality. Meeting Zhuo Nan’s gaze, she looked embarrassed and said, "I’ll listen to you..."

Zhuo Nan laughed aloud and said, "Alright, it’s settled. Fifty thousand a month."

Long Kun joined in the laughter, but he was crying on the inside. He had paid for this restaurant out of his own pocket, and he had to pay the salary out of his own pocket too. In the end, he was basically helping Brother Nan support his woman… He kept comforting himself: *It’s just pocket change, just pocket change…*

Qin Chenfang spoke up then, "Where is the changing room? I need to go change my clothes. I can’t exactly cook in these."

Long Kun was slightly taken aback and quickly said, "Miss Qin, you’re mistaken. There are others to handle the cooking. You are the General Manager of this restaurant; you just need to handle the management."

After Long Kun finished, Zhuo Nan was also surprised. He had agreed with Long Kun that Qin Chenfang would be the cook, so how did she become the General Manager? Glancing at Qin Chenfang, he immediately understood. A beauty like her spending all day in the kitchen with grease and smoke would indeed be a waste. *This Long Kun is finally starting to get it.*

Seeing a hint of approval in Zhuo Nan’s eyes, Long Kun felt proud. It seemed Brother Nan also thought his idea was good. Truth be told, he had thought of it on the spot, realizing that with her beauty and her close relationship with Zhuo Nan, he couldn't possibly let her be a cook.

Long Kun smiled and said, "Miss Qin, don't worry about it. This shop belongs to you from now on."

Qin Chenfang was about to speak, but Zhuo Nan interjected, "Chenfang, listen to Long Kun. I know you’re afraid you can’t handle it, but it’s fine. You can learn anything; just take it slow."

Hearing Zhuo Nan’s words, Qin Chenfang could only shake her head helplessly. In her view, she had already received too many favors from him; even if she repaid him with her body, it might not be enough—not to mention he might not even be interested in an "old woman" like her.

As if remembering something, Zhuo Nan said, "Chenfang, you and Shanshan should move out of your current place. Let Long Kun rent you a better apartment. Also, get Shanshan’s transfer paperwork sorted out and move her to a better school. The teaching quality at the 20th Middle School is honestly not that great."

Long Kun didn't care; he would do whatever Zhuo Nan told him to without a second thought. Qin Chenfang looked troubled and said, "Zhuo Nan, is that really okay? Where I’m living now is quite convenient."

Zhuo Nan waved his hand, his tone brooks no argument: "That’s enough, let Long Kun handle it." He turned to Long Kun: "Can you get this done today?"

Long Kun nodded immediately to guarantee it: "Brother Nan, don't worry. A small matter like this can be settled with one phone call."

Zhuo Nan nodded in satisfaction, then said to Qin Chenfang, "Chenfang, just listen to Long Kun’s arrangements. Once he has it ready, you can move in. Also, I have a friend who is having some trouble at home and can't go back, so she’ll be staying with you for a while. Once her family issues are resolved, she’ll move out."

Qin Chenfang nodded helplessly, bowing to Zhuo Nan’s arrangements.

Zhuo Nan then said, "It’s settled then. It’s getting late, and I need to head home; I didn't go back last night."

Qin Chenfang hadn't expected him to leave so soon. She paused for a moment, and with a hint of reluctance, she asked, "You’re not coming to my place?"

Zhuo Nan thought he might have misread her, but there was a flicker of melancholy in Qin Chenfang’s eyes. Remembering what she had said at the mall earlier, he couldn't help but wonder… It was only then that Zhuo Nan realized there was a faint sense of anticipation growing within his own heart.