In the subsequent two months, under Zhe Ge's instructions, I lost several more matches, allowing him to make a fortune in the gambling world.

Every day, I was so exhausted that I fell asleep as soon as I got home, completely unaware of the quiet changes occurring in the house.

Ever since Yao Yao was humiliated last time, she rested at home for a week before returning to work.

Originally, I was firmly against it. Should we give the bad guys another chance to commit a crime?

But Yao Yao was nonchalant: "No, they must think we've already compromised. As long as you play well, they won't dare do anything to me."

"We need to earn money together so we can buy a house and get married soon. Otherwise, my mom definitely won't agree to our marriage."

I believed her, until one day I came home late and found a jersey in the dirty laundry basket.

The number on it wasn't mine; it was Zhe Ge's...

I admit I was a coward. I didn't dare

to ask what was going on, nor did I dare to think about what would happen if Yao Yao left me, so I pretended not to notice.

Every time I saw Zhe Ge, I wanted to chop him up.

"Yao Yao, soon, the evil will get its due retribution." In the dark, I held Yao Yao, feeling angry and resentful.

After another match loss, a few uniformed police officers appeared at the entrance of the stadium and blocked our way.

"We received a report that you are involved in illegal gambling. Please come to the police station for investigation." A young police officer said sternly to Zhe Ge.

"Gambling? We're playing football, aren't we? I lost today, so don't bother me!" Zhe Ge, who had been laughing and joking earlier, instantly turned cold upon hearing about the report, giving us a sweeping glance.

"Take him away!" Before Zhe Ge could react, a pair of handcuffs was placed on him, and he was taken to the police car.

After Zhe Ge's incident, the team stopped training and didn't dare to gather anymore, fearing that their actions in match-fixing would implicate themselves.

I was the one who reported Zhe Ge. I had been secretly collecting evidence, even recording what he instructed me to do before matches.

I thought the amount involved would be enough to put him away for a few years, but I didn't expect that Zhe Ge had already made preparations.

A month later, he was released!

It turned out that during each gambling session, he used a few lackeys' names to split the betting amounts, reducing his involvement to a non-punishable level.

On the day Zhe Ge was released, he brought a group of lackeys to my house.

With a loud "bang," the door was broken open, accompanied by cursing. I knew I couldn't hide and got up to walk out of the bedroom.

"You dared to report me!" As soon as I stepped out, a chair thrown by Zhe Ge hit my head, followed by a barrage of punches and kicks.

After more than ten minutes, I curled up in a corner while Zhe Ge sat in the living room's sofa with an air of command.

"Let's forget about the past. If you want to live, work for me properly in the future; you won't lose out." Zhe Ge said nonchalantly.

"Thank you, Zhe Ge." I knelt on the ground, trembling with gratitude.

Though I knew this beating was inevitable, I hadn't expected that Zhe Ge would still want to use me. Just as I was about to feign agreement and plan to move out later, Hua Bi Lao Wu took out a small box.

"Sss..." He took out a syringe from it, drew some liquid from a vial, and slowly approached Yao Yao.

"Brother Wu, no...!" I was held down by two people with my mouth covered.

The fine needle pierced Yao Yao's body, and soon, her expression became dazed, and she let out a comfortable moan...

When I finally regained control of my body, pain surged through me. Forcing my swollen eyes open, I saw that Zhe Ge and his men had left, leaving the living room in disarray.

Yao Yao clung to me tightly, crying her heart out.

"I'm sorry, Yao Yao. I couldn't protect you and almost wrongly accused you." Seeing the needle marks on her arm, I realized we could never escape Zhe Ge's control.

But heaven has its ways, and soon enough, a reversal was about to strike.