The rebirth of lickspittle

By the artificial lake, the surface reflected the bright moon hanging in the sky. Gentle ripples shimmered, and Zhang Fan's tall, well-proportioned figure stood silently by the lakeside. Dressed in a tailored casual outfit that billowed slightly in the evening breeze, the fabric clung to his body, accentuating his perfect physique. His hair fluttered, his features were striking, and his 183 cm height was commanding.

If Lin Feng weren't around, Zhang Fan would undoubtedly be the quintessential protagonist template. Yet, in the previous life, fate cast him as nothing more than a stepping stone. Not only did he end up bankrupt, but his family was destroyed. Thinking about his past, Zhang Fan's gaze grew deeper and more introspective.

Liu Wenshi arrived at the artificial lake and spotted Zhang Fan from a distance. He was gazing at the lake, emanating an indescribable aura that made it impossible to ignore him. Some young women nearby, giggling softly, kept sneaking glances at him.

Liu Wenshi cautiously approached.

"I… I'm here," she stammered.

Zhang Fan glanced at her, then, without a word, carried the bag in his hand and started walking along the lakeside.

"Let's take a walk."

Liu Wenshi had planned to muster her courage, kiss him on the cheek, and then run away immediately. Yet, seeing his lonely figure, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she unconsciously followed him.

As the cool evening breeze blew, Zhang Fan's heart was filled with a sense of melancholy.

"What do you think is the meaning of life?" he suddenly asked.

Liu Wenshi was taken aback by the question. After a pause, she replied, "I want to study hard, find a good job, and make life easier for my parents."

Make life easier for her parents?

Zhang Fan squinted slightly. To live for oneself and one's family—how foolish he had been in his past life, dedicating everything to Shen Chuchu, allowing her and Lin Feng to topple the Zhang business empire with ease!

Unless he completely crushed them, Zhang Fan would never feel secure. He was deeply concerned that the tragedies of his previous life would repeat.

Neither Lin Feng nor Shen Chuchu would be spared. Zhang Fan was determined to strip away everything they held dear, piece by piece, until he could truly be at peace.

And this woman before him was one of Lin Feng's so-called untouchables.

Liu Wenshi, looking at Zhang Fan's back, felt a sudden shift in his demeanor—from the gentle melancholy of a moment ago to something dark and sinister. His gaze as he turned toward her was intense, almost terrifying.

Instinctively, she wanted to flee, but before she could react, he grabbed her head roughly, the movement forceful and filled with raw masculinity. The two, who weren't even a couple, suddenly resembled the many couples along the lakeside, locked in an impassioned kiss.

For a moment, Liu Wenshi's mind went blank, utterly overwhelmed. It took her a full five minutes to regain some semblance of thought. Pushing Zhang Fan away with all her strength, she exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"

Zhang Fan licked his lips as if savoring the taste.

"Wasn't one kiss what we agreed upon?" he said nonchalantly.

"We didn't break apart; that still counts as one," he added, marking a square off the 20-box agreement chart with a pen.

Liu Wenshi stared at him in horror. This man was beyond terrifying—he was someone she couldn't comprehend or handle. Fighting back tears, she stood up, unwilling to cry in front of this demon.

"I'm leaving!" she declared.

"Wait." Zhang Fan's voice halted her.

"What now? I've already given enough today!" she snapped, turning back.

"Here," Zhang Fan said, handing her a document from the 4S repair shop. It was an assessment of the damages to his car, with the cost of repairs and depreciation both doubled.

"I thought it'd be around 20,000, but the shop says it's actually 40,000," Zhang Fan said flatly.

Liu Wenshi, holding the document, felt a surge of panic. What was this devil planning now? Was he going to double the cost again?

Instead of raising the stakes, Zhang Fan handed her a small box.

"This is for you," he said.

Hesitantly, she accepted it, assuming it contained yet another agreement chart. But when she opened it, she was stunned—a white Motorola V3 phone lay inside.

Zhang Fan pulled out his own phone—a black Motorola V3—and waved it in front of her.

"Mine's black. A matching pair. I've already saved my number in yours."

"You… you're giving this to me?!" she stammered.

"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly.

Flustered, Liu Wenshi tried to shove the box back at him.

"I don't want it!" she exclaimed.

A system prompt appeared before Zhang Fan:

Option 1: Take back the phone. Reward: Liu Wenshi's disappointment +5, melancholy +1.

Option 2: Throw the phone into the lake. Reward: -1 IQ.

Option 3: Insist on giving it to her. Reward: Liu Wenshi's affection +5, permanent charm +1.

Seeing these options, Zhang Fan frowned. "Why does Option 2 always make me look like an idiot?!" he grumbled internally.

Without giving her a choice, Zhang Fan hung the bag with the phone over Liu Wenshi's arm. He then playfully ruffled her thick, fluffy hair into a bird's nest.

Liu Wenshi, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from their earlier kiss, stood frozen, unable to resist.

After a moment, Zhang Fan turned and walked away without looking back, waving casually.

"Don't stay out too long—you'll catch a cold."

Watching his tall, confident figure under the streetlights, Liu Wenshi sniffled slightly. It did feel a little chilly.

Back at the dormitory, as soon as she stepped inside, her roommates' eyes were all on her. Her already flushed face turned even redder.

"It's nothing! We're not a couple! Nothing happened!" she blurted out, sounding far too defensive.

Her roommates exchanged knowing smiles. Even if they weren't officially dating, it was only a matter of time.

"Poetry! What's in your hand? Did your rich boyfriend give you something?" one of them teased.

Flustered, Liu Wenshi quickly stuffed the phone box under her blanket, denying everything.

"There's nothing! Nothing at all!"

Her evasiveness only piqued their curiosity. One of them pretended to head to the bathroom but suddenly lunged and snatched the box.

"What is this?!" she squealed. "It's a phone! A brand-new Motorola V3! Did your boyfriend give you this?!"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. A phone, especially this model, was a luxury in 2005, especially for high school graduates just entering university.

But before Liu Wenshi could retrieve it, Shen Chuchu reacted even faster, grabbing the box and tearing it open.

Inside was a pristine white Motorola V3—the most sought-after phone at the time, especially among young women. Retailing at 5,300 yuan, it was often out of stock, with scalpers charging up to 5,500.

Shen Chuchu turned to Liu Wenshi, disbelief written across her face.

"Did Zhang Fan buy this for you?"By the artificial lake, the surface reflected the bright moon hanging in the sky. Gentle ripples shimmered, and Zhang Fan's tall, well-proportioned figure stood silently by the lakeside. Dressed in a tailored casual outfit that billowed slightly in the evening breeze, the fabric clung to his body, accentuating his perfect physique. His hair fluttered, his features were striking, and his 183 cm height was commanding.

If Lin Feng weren't around, Zhang Fan would undoubtedly be the quintessential protagonist template. Yet, in the previous life, fate cast him as nothing more than a stepping stone. Not only did he end up bankrupt, but his family was destroyed. Thinking about his past, Zhang Fan's gaze grew deeper and more introspective.

Liu Wenshi arrived at the artificial lake and spotted Zhang Fan from a distance. He was gazing at the lake, emanating an indescribable aura that made it impossible to ignore him. Some young women nearby, giggling softly, kept sneaking glances at him.

Liu Wenshi cautiously approached.

"I… I'm here," she stammered.

Zhang Fan glanced at her, then, without a word, carried the bag in his hand and started walking along the lakeside.

"Let's take a walk."

Liu Wenshi had planned to muster her courage, kiss him on the cheek, and then run away immediately. Yet, seeing his lonely figure, she couldn't bring herself to do it. Instead, she unconsciously followed him.

As the cool evening breeze blew, Zhang Fan's heart was filled with a sense of melancholy.

"What do you think is the meaning of life?" he suddenly asked.

Liu Wenshi was taken aback by the question. After a pause, she replied, "I want to study hard, find a good job, and make life easier for my parents."

Make life easier for her parents?

Zhang Fan squinted slightly. To live for oneself and one's family—how foolish he had been in his past life, dedicating everything to Shen Chuchu, allowing her and Lin Feng to topple the Zhang business empire with ease!

Unless he completely crushed them, Zhang Fan would never feel secure. He was deeply concerned that the tragedies of his previous life would repeat.

Neither Lin Feng nor Shen Chuchu would be spared. Zhang Fan was determined to strip away everything they held dear, piece by piece, until he could truly be at peace.

And this woman before him was one of Lin Feng's so-called untouchables.

Liu Wenshi, looking at Zhang Fan's back, felt a sudden shift in his demeanor—from the gentle melancholy of a moment ago to something dark and sinister. His gaze as he turned toward her was intense, almost terrifying.

Instinctively, she wanted to flee, but before she could react, he grabbed her head roughly, the movement forceful and filled with raw masculinity. The two, who weren't even a couple, suddenly resembled the many couples along the lakeside, locked in an impassioned kiss.

For a moment, Liu Wenshi's mind went blank, utterly overwhelmed. It took her a full five minutes to regain some semblance of thought. Pushing Zhang Fan away with all her strength, she exclaimed, "What are you doing?!"

Zhang Fan licked his lips as if savoring the taste.

"Wasn't one kiss what we agreed upon?" he said nonchalantly.

"We didn't break apart; that still counts as one," he added, marking a square off the 20-box agreement chart with a pen.

Liu Wenshi stared at him in horror. This man was beyond terrifying—he was someone she couldn't comprehend or handle. Fighting back tears, she stood up, unwilling to cry in front of this demon.

"I'm leaving!" she declared.

"Wait." Zhang Fan's voice halted her.

"What now? I've already given enough today!" she snapped, turning back.

"Here," Zhang Fan said, handing her a document from the 4S repair shop. It was an assessment of the damages to his car, with the cost of repairs and depreciation both doubled.

"I thought it'd be around 20,000, but the shop says it's actually 40,000," Zhang Fan said flatly.

Liu Wenshi, holding the document, felt a surge of panic. What was this devil planning now? Was he going to double the cost again?

Instead of raising the stakes, Zhang Fan handed her a small box.

"This is for you," he said.

Hesitantly, she accepted it, assuming it contained yet another agreement chart. But when she opened it, she was stunned—a white Motorola V3 phone lay inside.

Zhang Fan pulled out his own phone—a black Motorola V3—and waved it in front of her.

"Mine's black. A matching pair. I've already saved my number in yours."

"You… you're giving this to me?!" she stammered.

"Yes," he replied matter-of-factly.

Flustered, Liu Wenshi tried to shove the box back at him.

"I don't want it!" she exclaimed.

A system prompt appeared before Zhang Fan:

Option 1: Take back the phone. Reward: Liu Wenshi's disappointment +5, melancholy +1.

Option 2: Throw the phone into the lake. Reward: -1 IQ.

Option 3: Insist on giving it to her. Reward: Liu Wenshi's affection +5, permanent charm +1.

Seeing these options, Zhang Fan frowned. "Why does Option 2 always make me look like an idiot?!" he grumbled internally.

Without giving her a choice, Zhang Fan hung the bag with the phone over Liu Wenshi's arm. He then playfully ruffled her thick, fluffy hair into a bird's nest.

Liu Wenshi, her cheeks flushed, her lips swollen from their earlier kiss, stood frozen, unable to resist.

After a moment, Zhang Fan turned and walked away without looking back, waving casually.

"Don't stay out too long—you'll catch a cold."

Watching his tall, confident figure under the streetlights, Liu Wenshi sniffled slightly. It did feel a little chilly.

Back at the dormitory, as soon as she stepped inside, her roommates' eyes were all on her. Her already flushed face turned even redder.

"It's nothing! We're not a couple! Nothing happened!" she blurted out, sounding far too defensive.

Her roommates exchanged knowing smiles. Even if they weren't officially dating, it was only a matter of time.

"Poetry! What's in your hand? Did your rich boyfriend give you something?" one of them teased.

Flustered, Liu Wenshi quickly stuffed the phone box under her blanket, denying everything.

"There's nothing! Nothing at all!"

Her evasiveness only piqued their curiosity. One of them pretended to head to the bathroom but suddenly lunged and snatched the box.

"What is this?!" she squealed. "It's a phone! A brand-new Motorola V3! Did your boyfriend give you this?!"

Everyone's eyes widened in shock. A phone, especially this model, was a luxury in 2005, especially for high school graduates just entering university.

But before Liu Wenshi could retrieve it, Shen Chuchu reacted even faster, grabbing the box and tearing it open.

Inside was a pristine white Motorola V3—the most sought-after phone at the time, especially among young women. Retailing at 5,300 yuan, it was often out of stock, with scalpers charging up to 5,500.

Shen Chuchu turned to Liu Wenshi, disbelief written across her face.

"Did Zhang Fan buy this for you?"