C11 He Looks like a Rich Fool

"You took my wallet," Ruan Ruan exclaimed, her eyes wide as she looked at her wallet in his hands.

Dan Hengmo replied, "It's not like you're rolling in cash now." He opened Ruan Ruan's wallet to find it sparsely filled with money.

Ruan Ruan's earnings went towards her brother's tuition and her mother's living expenses. She kept only a small amount for her meals, and her clothes were all purchased online.

"Dan Hengmo, I'm really broke. That's my budget for next month," Ruan Ruan said as she grabbed her wallet back.

Dan Hengmo's research had suggested that Ruan Ruan was far from financially strapped and could be living quite comfortably. However, seeing the contents of her wallet made him question his findings.

"Your royalties must be more than this," Dan Hengmo prodded.

Ruan Ruan gave him a dismissive glance. He was on his own, but she had a whole family to care for. Her mother was getting on in years and deserved to enjoy the fruits of her children's labor. Even though her mother refused the help, Ruan Ruan still sent money back secretly every month. And her brother, who was in college, was at an age where expenses soared. If she spent too much, wouldn't that leave them in dire straits?

"That's all there is," Ruan Ruan insisted, not wanting to share her financial struggles with someone she had only known for a few days. Admitting as much would only invite pity.

"Looks like I'll have to resort to robbery to fund our fun," Dan Hengmo joked.

"You go ahead!" Ruan Ruan retorted. This man's solution to everything seemed to be robbing banks or people. Couldn't he think like a normal person for once?

With a smirk, Dan Hengmo glanced at someone behind them, his smile far from friendly. Despite the hot weather, that person suddenly felt a cold draft on their back.

Pointing to the individual, Dan Hengmo suggested to Ruan Ruan, "That guy looks loaded. Want to give robbery a shot?"

Ruan Ruan turned to see the man behind her, nearly as tall as Dan Hengmo, with a handsome, stoic face, standing as if he were waiting for someone.

"You go ahead. But if you end up getting thrashed, don't expect me to take you to the hospital," Ruan Ruan warned.

Dan Hengmo chuckled and approached the man. As the man saw Dan Hengmo walking over with a smile, he began to sweat profusely. He hadn't blown his cover, nor had Ruan Ruan noticed him. What was Dan Hengmo up to?

"Master Hengmo," he called out to Dan Hengmo.

"Hand over the money," Dan Hengmo demanded curtly, clearly unhappy with the tone used to address him. He had repeatedly instructed him to act as if they were strangers.

Qin Yu nodded, inquiring about the amount needed so he could arrange for it to be prepared. Knowing Master Hengmo's penchant for generosity, anything less than a hefty sum wouldn't suffice.

This man was indifferent to the numbers when spending—his mood dictated his expenditures. But who could blame him? He had a knack for making money.

"Your wallet," Dan Hengmo requested. It was the first time he had ever asked a subordinate for money. He regretted not bringing his own, especially upon discovering this woman's lack of funds.

Qin Yu handed over his wallet, giving Dan Hengmo all the cash inside. It amounted to a mere ten to twenty thousand yuan—a paltry sum for someone of his stature.

Seeing Master Hengmo's disdainful look, Qin Yu suggested, "Master Hengmo, should I withdraw a few million yuan?"

Dan Hengmo glanced back at Ruan Ruan, who hadn't witnessed the exchange. Her concern was whether she'd need to make an emergency call if things turned violent.

Stuffing the cash into his pocket, Dan Hengmo departed, leaving Qin Yu bewildered. When had Master Hengmo become so agreeable? When had he started to economize?

Ruan Ruan idly browsed her phone, contemplating whether to assist Dan Hengmo. After all, she had brought him along—no, it was the other way around.

"What's on your mind?" Dan Hengmo inquired.

Ruan Ruan looked up, instinctively checking behind Dan Hengmo for Qin Yu. He was unharmed, with no signs of a knife attack. Perhaps Dan Hengmo had shown restraint.

It appeared there was hope for Dan Hengmo yet. He hadn't actually resorted to robbery. She decided to just go with the flow when it came to spending. Keeping this demanding man content was paramount. If money ran out, she could always work harder, type more, and sleep less.

"Let's go in and have some fun," Ruan Ruan suggested.

Dan Hengmo observed her with curiosity. She hadn't glanced his way earlier and was unaware that she had inadvertently taken Qin Yu's money. That meant she intended to use her own funds to accompany him in their amusement.

What could she possibly be thinking?

"Do you have money?" Dan Hengmo inquired.

"We have enough to enjoy ourselves," Ruan Ruan assured him, eyeing the contents of her wallet. It wasn't a fortune, but it was sufficient for their purposes.

Dan Hengmo handed Ruan Ruan the cash he had just received from Qin Yu. He had no desire for her to fret over finances; he was well-off, and he wouldn't allow his woman to experience any lack either.

Ruan Ruan examined the stack of bills in her hand, estimating it to be somewhere between ten to twenty thousand yuan. Where had he gotten it? Surely he hadn't actually robbed that man?

"You actually took it, but the man isn't hurt," she stated, skeptical that Dan Hengmo could win people over with morality alone.

"He gave it willingly. If you don't believe me, you can ask him yourself," Dan Hengmo responded.

"Is he ill? What, are you both in some sort of sick fellowship?" Ruan Ruan mused, counting the money. Perhaps she should consider a career change and join Dan Hengmo in his high-stakes ventures.

"As long as you have the money, that's all that matters. Why all the questions?" For the first time, Dan Hengmo found himself irritated by the subject of money.

Ruan Ruan neatly stacked the cash and handed it back to Dan Hengmo. "Having money is great, but this isn't mine. I prefer to use what I've earned myself." She lived by her principles, understanding that money didn't come easily to everyone.

Dan Hengmo stuffed the money back into her wallet, insisting she keep it. "Whether you burn it or throw it away, that's your business."

How could he so casually suggest disposing of tens of thousands of yuan? Clearly, he had never endured the hardships of the common world and was oblivious to its struggles.

Ruan Ruan glanced back and spotted Qin Yu, not far from Dan Hengmo, enjoying an ice cream. She hurried over to him.

Qin Yu was familiar with Ruan Ruan; he had conducted some inquiries about her on Dan Hengmo's behalf.

Ruan Ruan pushed the money into his hands, admonishing, "Don't be naive anymore. If someone asks you for money, you just hand it over?" She had pegged Qin Yu as nothing more than a wealthy simpleton.

Qin Yu was utterly baffled. When had he ever been foolish, and why was this the first he was hearing of it?

Yet, catching Master Hengmo's stern look, he hurriedly gave the money to Ruan Ruan, accidentally smearing her clothes with his chocolate ice cream in the process.

"I don't need the money, keep it," he pleaded, glancing from the ice cream stain to Master Hengmo's piercing stare, on the verge of tears.

Ruan Ruan couldn't help but think the man was an imbecile. Perhaps he was the dim-witted son of some landowner?

"Enough, just take it if he's offering," Dan Hengmo intervened, stepping between them.

Qin Yu was too familiar, getting too close to his woman, and even managing to get ice cream on her.

"Sure, I just love giving away money. If you don't accept it, I'll feel uneasy," Qin Yu conceded, compelled by Master Hengmo's intimidating gaze to fully embrace the role of the fool.

Ruan Ruan looked at Qin Yu with pity. She had never encountered someone so naively foolish, and though they seemed to be taking advantage of him, she accepted the money. After all, she didn't want the poor guy to be distressed.

"Don't forget to take your medicine when you get home," Ruan Ruan said with genuine concern.

Qin Yu's smile wavered. Indeed, he needed to take his medicine; if this kept up, Master Hengmo might just be the death of him.

"Thanks, I'll make sure to take it as soon as I'm home," he replied, eager to leave.

Ruan Ruan's initial impression of Qin Yu was that he was adorably clueless.

With a single look from Dan Hengmo signaling him to vanish, Qin Yu, who had been itching to escape, dashed off faster than anyone else could.