Chapter 6: The Big Shot Takes His Little Sister Along

At the Internet cafe, bursts of laughter kept drifting down from the third floor.

For Tang Ya, who was experiencing an online game for the first time, excitement was written all over her bright eyes and lovely face. At last, she understood why so many young people were obsessed with the internet.

The unrestrained thrill of sweeping through enemies in a virtual world gave her an unprecedented sense of satisfaction and relaxation, body and spirit alike.

As for Chen Fan, who was using cheats, he too finally got a taste of what it felt like to be a seasoned player carrying a girl through the game. It was bliss from head to toe.

Especially with Tang Ya praising him over and over, he was beginning to lose himself, and the shabby little knife in his hand almost sparked from how hard he was swinging it.

But the happiness of Chen Fan and Tang Ya was built on the suffering of other players and the experts in the game.

That joy came to an end only when the game officials stepped in and banned both of their accounts.

Thus ended their wicked excursion into online gaming.

"Chen Fan, why did the account suddenly log off?" Tang Ya stared blankly at the game window that had abruptly forced her out, her big eyes full of confusion.

Chen Fan, knowing they had been banned, remained calm and said with a smile, "Both your account and mine were borrowed from a forum. Most likely, the original owner took the account back."

He certainly could not bring himself to tell Tang Ya that they had been banned for cheating.

What matters most when a man goes out into the world?

Face.

Believing they had simply been reclaimed, Tang Ya helplessly closed the game window. Her gaze fell on the other game icons on the desktop, and a hint of anticipation rose in her eyes.

"Chen Fan, what are you going to play next? Can you keep carrying me?"

She turned her head carefully, asking in a soft, shy voice.

Chen Fan was still savoring the intoxication of carrying a girl through the game. Seeing that it was only a little past seven, he clicked on another icon on the desktop.

"Open that block-based battle platform and register an account. I'll take you to shoot some people."

"Okay!"

Before long, the third floor, which had only just quieted down, was once again filled with silver bell-like laughter.

This time, however, it was Tang Ya who was laughing.

And Chen Fan who became the one being tormented.

To put it simply, the school beauty's shooting skills were indescribable... she could only hit the air around people.

After only two rounds, Chen Fan was already drenched in sweat, soaked through.

In order to keep the sacred four-word creed of "expert carries girl" intact, he could only steel himself and keep playing.

It was past nine in the evening when a phone call finally freed Chen Fan from the clutches of the school beauty Tang.

He glanced at the caller ID and hurriedly took off his headset before answering. "Hello, Dad."

"Xiaofan, your mother and I won't be coming back tonight. Remember to check the doors and windows before you go to bed. New Year is almost here, and thieves are everywhere. Be smart while you're alone at home."

"Got it, Dad. Where's Mom? Why can't I hear her talking?"

"She's still inventorying the stock. She asked me to ask if you need anything. If you do, we'll buy it for you in the city. Things are cheaper at the wholesale market there."

"No need, Dad. I don't need anything. Drive safely on your way back tomorrow."

"Mm. And don't stay up too late. Get some rest early, and open the shop early tomorrow morning!"

After hanging up, Chen Fan put down his phone and looked apologetically at Tang Ya, who was waiting for the next game.

"Sorry, Tang Ya. My dad called, and I have to head home. When I have time, I'll bring you to play again."

"Okay. But can we not play this shooting game next time? It makes me feel a little dizzy."

"Sure. Next time I'll bring you to go hunt people instead."

"Mm-hmm, okay!"

A truly delighted smile appeared on Tang Ya's bare, natural face.

Chen Fan said no more. He got off the machine, picked up his phone, and hurried away.

The cheat he had just made had already been sent to his own email.

As for the cheat on Tang Ya's computer, it would automatically delete itself after logging off, so there was no need to worry about anyone freeloading off it.

Right after Chen Fan left, Tang Ya suddenly remembered that she had forgotten to ask him for his phone number. Otherwise, next time she wanted to play games, she would have to rely on chance alone, just as she had today, and run into him at the internet cafe.

She turned back to look, but Chen Fan was already gone without a trace.

"He disappeared in just a few seconds... Forget it. In a few days, make-up classes will start. By then, I'll just find Chen Fan at school to play with him!"

After murmuring to herself, Tang Ya went on playing Counter-Strike.

But without Chen Fan, her gaming experience instantly dropped by half. She kept getting killed, the screen kept going gray, and all enthusiasm for the game vanished in an instant.

"Without Chen Fan, why is this game harder than studying..."

Tang Ya, wearing a bitter expression, quit the game, then got off the machine and left as well.

....

Shunli Department Store.

It was still more than ten minutes before ten o'clock. The other shops nearby had not yet closed, but Shunli Department Store already had its doors and windows locked tight, the rolling shutter drawn down. Only inside the shop was it still brightly lit.

Seeing this, the neighbors and other customers coming to buy things did not need to guess. It was definitely the younger sister-in-law of the eldest daughter of the old Chen family watching the store.

With the shutter down, no one except the Chen family would get the door opened no matter how they knocked. The neighbors and customers who wanted to buy things could only turn back.

Inside the shop.

After wiping the table, Yang Hua stood behind the counter, sweeping the floor with a serious expression.

She looked like an entirely different person from the lazy manner she had shown when she first came to watch the store.

But a closer look would reveal that everything Yang Hua was displaying now was nothing but a façade.

While pretending to sweep, she also reached into the cash box and slipped two hundred-yuan notes and two fifty-yuan bills into her pocket.

Yang Hua was clever. During the period when Chen Fan was not at home, she had not touched a single cent in the box.

Because shortly after the shop had opened, the money in the box was only change left by Chen Fan's parents for making change.

If she stole that money and happened to run into Chen Fan's parents returning midway, then the charge of theft would be nailed down for good.

Besides, in the past, when she had ordered Chen Fan to steal money, she had always meant the day's earnings.

That was why Yang Hua chose to steal at this time, after business had ended and the shop was closed.

As long as Chen Fan's parents discovered it, she would have an excuse to dump the blame on Chen Fan.

And the reason she had to pretend to sweep the floor was also to guard against Chen Fan's parents suddenly returning and catching her in the act.

In just half a year, she had polished the tricks of stealing money, covering for herself, and framing Chen Fan until they were second nature.

Once the three hundred yuan was in hand, Yang Hua let out a relieved breath. Feeling the money in her pocket, she murmured to herself, "Darling said we were still a little short of startup capital. With what I took today and the money I saved before, it's already over two thousand. That should be enough for darling to start his business.

"If it's still not enough, then I'll just wait until Chen Fan's parents go out next time and steal a bit more for him. Anyway, they'll only suspect Chen Fan and not me. Stealing a little more should be fine..."

After finishing her act of sweeping the shop, Yang Hua turned off the lights and left.

She stood before the small door beside the rolling shutter, just about to lock it.

Suddenly, a large hand reached out from behind her. Five fingers, like iron tongs, clamped tightly around her wrist.