Love Is Just a Word

It must be said.

Though Yao Ji wasn’t particularly skilled, he was fiercely competitive!

Cheating at a game of Landlord!

Even if his opponent was the Boss, he refused to back down!

Yao Ji ran his fingers over the cards, a smirk curling at his lips.

With a flick of his wrist, he revealed two Jokers—he’d already swiped them at the start of the game!

Back in the day, before An Yi had stolen two wallets from him on a bus in Jiangbei City, Yao Ji had been one of the top pickpockets around.

Swiping cards was child’s play for him.

If not for his fear of getting his legs broken in a casino, he might’ve already been a notorious gambler.

Beside him, Ding Renfeng sipped his Wang Zai milk tea, casting a sidelong glance at Yao Ji.

This guy had a death wish—daring to steal the Boss’s special cards!

"Three of spades. Boss, your turn." Yao Ji grinned, clutching his Jokers.

An Yi narrowed his eyes at the cards and immediately played his hand: "Jokers!"

Yao Ji’s smile froze.

Jokers?

Then what was in his hand?

Disbelieving, Yao Ji tore a corner of his cards—they were real!

They’d only used one deck!

How did this guy pull out another pair of Jokers?!

Unless…

He’d prepared an extra set of Jokers just to cheat at cards?!

How utterly ridiculous!

An Yi’s lips curled into a smile—three parts cold, three parts mocking, three parts arrogant, three parts wicked, and three parts nonchalant—as he spread his hand.

"Five straights, a clean sweep!"

Yao Ji checked his own cards, then the table, his eyelids twitching violently.

Counting his hand, there were five Kings, five Queens, and six Aces in play!

Ding Renfeng noticed the discrepancy too and sucked in a sharp breath.

"Terrifying!"

"Wow, Boss is amazing! Another Jokers!"

"Deputy Ding and Manager Wang are no match for him!"

A few girls stared at An Yi with wide, adoring eyes, practically devouring him with their gazes.

What could they do? The guy was ridiculously handsome.

And charming too—even his signature smirk while cheating at cards was devilishly attractive… Ugh, enough!

Point was, the guy was loaded!

Who in all of Xia hadn’t heard of the legendary Jade Beauty Serum?

As employees of the company, they had a rough idea of its profits. Last month alone, this guy’s earnings were in the hundreds of millions!

Who wouldn’t love someone that rich?

"Boss An, I think I’m a little drunk…"

"Boss An, could you check? My chest feels a bit tight…"

Noticing the swarm of young, pretty girls closing in—one particularly buxom girl even tugged her collar lower, revealing a generous expanse of milky-white cleavage—An Yi’s bright smile gradually turned icy.

Under the weight of An Yi’s righteous glare, the female employees froze.

"Ladies, self-respect is everything. Your enthusiasm won’t earn a man’s genuine affection. A real man loves a woman’s heart, not just a pretty face. As members of the An Family, I hope you understand this and learn to value yourselves."

An Yi spoke earnestly, then turned to Lan Ruoxi standing behind him, his smile returning. "Ruoxi, you’re here."

Yao Ji and Ding Renfeng finally noticed Lan Ruoxi and exchanged a glance.

"Holy crap!"

"That reaction speed—unreal!"

Lan Ruoxi had changed out of her work attire into casual wear—a stylish white sweater paired with a skirt, exuding both allure and elegance.

Her delicate, pure-yet-seductive face, paired with those soul-stealing, doe-like eyes, was downright lethal.

Compared to her, the girls fawning over An Yi earlier instantly paled into insignificance.

"An Yi, I’m here. I went home to change." Lan Ruoxi blinked, smiling sweetly.

An Yi grinned, leaning in to whisper, "My wife is the prettiest."

"Stop it! Not in front of everyone!" Lan Ruoxi’s face burned, but she couldn’t suppress her happy smile.

An Yi wordlessly took her hand.

Blushing, Lan Ruoxi let him hold it and whispered, "This is the first time we’ve held a banquet at the company. It’s all for you. Do you like it?"

"It’s perfect."

An Yi glanced around, smiling. The spacious hall downstairs was ideal for a banquet, with plenty of room to spare.

Too bad the girls who’d been fawning over him earlier were now keeping their distance because of Lan Ruoxi.

Just then, on the company’s makeshift stage, two identical bald men were belting into the microphone:

"Shaolin Kung Fu’s great, yo!"

"Really great~"

"Shaolin Kung Fu’s strong, yo!"

"Really strong~"

"I’m the Iron Head!"

"Invincible Iron Head!"

Long and Wu sang with gusto.

Peels, trash bags, and all sorts of debris rained down on them.

"Get off!"

"What kind of garbage is this?!"

Below, Ding Renfeng whistled and lobbed a beer bottle.

It smacked Long square in the forehead. With his minor mastery of the Iron Head skill, the bottle barely tickled—but it was an insult!

Enraged, Long charged down with the microphone.

Cheers and shouts erupted, the scene descending into chaos!

Lan Ruoxi frowned. "This is too rowdy. Even Brother Ding is egging them on."

An Yi chuckled. "Work’s been stressful. Let them blow off steam. Happiness is what matters!"

Then a banana peel smacked An Yi in the face.

His expression darkened.

Grabbing the microphone, An Yi strode onto the stage.

Below, a bruised Ding Renfeng, Yao Ji, Long, and Hu cheered.

"Boss, give us a song!"

"Oh my god, Boss is so handsome!"

"Dreamy!"

The girls screamed.

Proof that money could make people lose their minds.

Surveying the roaring crowd, An Yi straightened the microphone—bent during the earlier scuffle—and smiled modestly. "Ah, I told you all I can’t sing, but you insisted."

Everyone: "…"

Silence.

Hadn’t he walked up there himself?

An Yi blew into the microphone, grinning.

He had a Singer side job he’d never used before—complete with three free songs.

After a quick listen, he’d picked one.

"This next song is for someone special."

As he spoke, all eyes turned to Lan Ruoxi. Ding Renfeng and the others whistled and hooted.

Lan Ruoxi flushed crimson, utterly embarrassed.

An Yi strummed a guitar—no one knew where he’d gotten it—and began singing in a clear, tender voice.

"Parting the clouds in the sky,

Like blue velvet so fine,

I’d cross mountains for you.

Love is just one word,

I’ll say it only once—"