“……” Jiang Tian looked at her blankly, thinking to himself, Who are you? I don’t even know you!
“Yunqing, what nonsense are you spouting!” Ye Ziwei immediately shot a glare at her best friend.
She desperately wanted to reveal Jiang Tian’s current achievements and background, but he had previously warned them not to disclose anything casually, so she had to hold her tongue.
Mu Yunqing gave Jiang Tian a disgruntled roll of her eyes, feeling utterly abandoned by Ye Ziwei.
“Mingyuan, this is my younger brother, Jiang Tian. Jiang Tian, this is Nie Mingyuan, Young Master Nie, the heir of Changhai Real Estate! He’s my… business partner!” Ye Ziwei offered the introduction.
“A pleasure to meet you, Young Master Jiang!”
Nie Mingyuan sensed the deliberate distance in Ye Ziwei’s words, yet he still greeted Jiang Tian with a beaming smile and a firm handshake.
“Likewise.”
Jiang Tian shook hands with Nie Mingyuan impassively, but hatred had already begun to simmer within him.
The Nie family was, without a doubt, the most insidious and ruthless of the three major families in Jinling.
In his previous life, Nie Mingyuan had persistently courted Ye Ziwei. He was exceptionally skilled at disguise, presenting himself as a trusted mentor and friend, putting on the perfect act of a devoted and steadfast admirer.
Had Ye Ziwei not been sharp and cautious, maintaining her guard and keeping him strictly at arm’s length, he would have succeeded.
However, during his time serving as a senior advisor and strategist for Ye Ziwei, he had gained control over numerous trade secrets of PharmaKing Group and identified its critical weaknesses. Ultimately, he led the other two families in a direct assault that crushed PharmaKing Group entirely.
“What a pity you don’t know… after I leaped to my death, I was instead taken by my master beyond the stars, setting foot upon the path of cultivation. And now, having returned after ten thousand years of cultivation, my power surges like a mighty dragon. No matter how many schemes you hatch, how profound your cunning, or how vast your family’s influence and power… how could you possibly withstand even a single blow from me?”
Gazing at this young man clad in a bespoke shirt and trousers—handsome, refined, his mind and schemes as deep and unfathomable as an abyss—Jiang Tian’s lips curled into an almost imperceptible smirk of mockery.
Yet despite his overwhelming confidence, viewing Nie Mingyuan as nothing more than an ant or an insect, Jiang Tian did not let his guard down in the slightest. Even a lion hunting a rabbit uses its full strength, and besides, this brat actually had some brains.
“Young Master Jiang, I heard from Ziwei that PharmaKing plans to build a laboratory at Jinling Pharmaceutical University, investing one hundred million. You’ll focus more on research and new product development in the future… Was this your idea?”
Nie Mingyuan acted every bit the honest, dependable older brother, patting Jiang Tian on the shoulder and asking with feigned interest.
“That’s right.”
“I’ve looked into that lab director, Huang Zhihui. His credentials are rather mediocre.”
Nie Mingyuan spoke with a pointed tone. “I’m quite concerned you might be getting swindled. Besides, PharmaKing’s turnover last year was barely two billion. Putting one hundred million into R&D… isn’t that a bit too aggressive? The cash flow could become dangerously tight!”
“It’s not just one hundred million.”
Jiang Tian said flatly, “To be precise, it’s two billion. Two billion yuan is being allocated for scientific research.”
“Where on earth would PharmaKing get that kind of money?” Nie Mingyuan’s face registered pure shock.
“Ziwei, have you lost your minds? This is way too aggressive!”
Mu Yunqing shot Ye Ziwei an incredulous look, then glared at Jiang Tian, thinking spitefully, This kid is giving the worst advice! Isn’t he just pushing PharmaKing straight into a fire pit?
“Equity pledge. Short-term financing.” Jiang Tian lied without blinking an eye, his expression completely unruffled.
Truth be told, he didn’t even need to repay that two billion. Why on earth would he need to pledge any equity?
Ye Ziwei glanced at Jiang Tian curiously, wondering why he was lying, but she immediately played along, giving a charming smile. “Yes, the cash flow is quite strained right now. I’m also worried we’re being too aggressive. If PharmaKing’s finances run into trouble, I do hope we can count on Young Master Nie’s help!”
“If you need my assistance, naturally, I’m duty-bound!”
Nie Mingyuan furrowed his brow. “But Ziwei, Jiang Tian, you truly are being far too aggressive. The payback period for R&D is long. This is a classic case of short-term borrowing for long-term investment. Your cash flow will suffer tremendously down the line!”
“Exactly! Jiang Tian doesn’t understand anything at all. Ziwei, why are you listening to him?” Mu Yunqing grumbled, her face full of frustration.
“Mm, thank you for the warning, Young Master Nie! Still, a shot arrow doesn’t turn back. We must persevere!”
Ye Ziwei replied with a smile.
“Alright, I’ve said my piece. I have other matters to attend to, so I’ll take my leave. Jiang Tian, let’s get together sometime when you’re free!”
Nie Mingyuan offered Jiang Tian a polite handshake.
“Young Master Nie, the flowers. Please take them with you.”
“Jiang Tian, what’s the meaning of this?” Nie Mingyuan was still smiling, but a chill had crept into the corners of his mouth.
This kid… can’t stand seeing me pursue Ye Ziwei and is finally jumping up, huh? How utterly foolish and childish.
“I have no objection to you courting my sister, but surely you can’t present such poor-quality roses? Where is the sincerity in that?” Jiang Tian gestured towards the basket of roses with a light chuckle.
Nie Mingyuan turned his head, only to see the roses visibly wilting and withering before his eyes. In mere seconds, they had transformed into a pile of bare, leafless stems. He stood there, a mix of astonishment and sheer embarrassment on his face.
“My apologies… the florist must have stored them improperly in the freezer. They’re not fresh. I’ll take them, I’ll take them!”
His face flushed a deep crimson, wishing he could sink through the floor. With an awkward laugh, he was forced to scoop up the basket of rose stems like some common gardener and make his exit.
Once the two had left, Ye Ziwei asked with a smile, “You seem to have some prejudice against Nie Mingyuan…”
“Keep your guard up around him. That guy is bad news. He’s incredibly cunning!”
“Mm. I’ve noticed he’s always prying for PharmaKing’s trade secrets, under the guise of giving advice, but really…”
Ye Ziwei’s gaze deepened as she watched Nie Mingyuan’s figure recede into the distance below. She sighed inwardly. In the business world, filled with deceit and intrigue, sometimes you truly cannot know a person’s heart just by their face.
She had harbored suspicions about Nie Mingyuan before, and Jiang Tian’s warning only heightened her vigilance. His kindness towards her now seemed laced with an unsettling sense of artifice and calculation.
“That was some good teamwork just now!” Jiang Tian praised.
“I’m not an idiot!”
Ye Ziwei rolled her eyes at him, a gesture that carried a hint of alluring charm. She smiled. “Why did you deliberately make it sound like our cash flow is tight? There are still over a billion in the accounts!”
“Just throwing him off the scent. They have their eyes on the Fulong Mountain land plot too,” Jiang Tian replied with a faint smile.
——-
“Master Jiang, about the other night when Ling’er threw that foot-washing water at you… I’ve thought and thought about it, and it just doesn’t sit right. I called Lin Monong to ask, and that’s how I found out you’re staying here!”
That evening, as Jiang Tian sat in meditation, a servant announced that Huang Zhihui had come to visit.
Jiang Tian allowed him in, only to find that Huang Zhihui had dragged along Huang Ling’er, who wore a face of pure frost.
Huang Zhihui entered carrying an armload of gifts, bobbing and bowing as he immediately offered his apologies. “Assistant Lin told me not to disturb your rest, but the more I thought about it, the worse I felt. I just couldn’t shake the feeling that I’d wronged you. I thought maybe if I came by just to see you, even if you scolded me, I’d feel a little better.”
“She didn’t splash anything on me. There’s nothing to see. Huang Ling’er, you shouldn’t dwell on it either.”
Jiang Tian gave a faint smile, though his eyes drifted to Huang Ling’er standing silently to the side.
The girl’s eyes were slightly red-rimmed; she’d clearly gotten an earful from her father.
In the few days since he’d last seen her, her cheeks had grown thinner, which only added to a startling, heartbreaking kind of beauty.
Truthfully, Jiang Tian couldn’t quite fathom it himself—why he had been such a bastard back then, toying with and hurting such a lovely, kind-hearted girl. And now, why did he feel this overwhelming, almost uncontrollable surge of tenderness and affection towards her?
Ye Ziwei, just home from work and sipping congee in the dining room, noticed the girl—bright and elegant, wearing a rose-striped blouse, her complexion fair, her demeanor refined. A great beauty who, in every aspect, rivaled Zhao Xueqing. Ye Ziwei took a few extra, appraising glances.
“Huang Ling’er… Could it be her?”
A thought suddenly struck her, recalling a past incident. Back when Jiang Tian was in university, he’d abruptly asked her for money. After pressing him, she learned it was to pay for an abortion for a girl named Huang Ling’er.
“Sis, weren’t you just raving about Professor Huang’s thesis? Well, this is the legendary Professor Huang in person!”
Jiang Tian broke the awkward silence, introducing Huang Zhihui to Ye Ziwei.
Ye Ziwei thought to herself, Since when have I read his thesis? Aren’t you the one single-handedly managing this whole lab affair? Are you just trying to send me away so you can rekindle something with this girl?
With that thought in mind, she gave a radiant smile, proactively offered her business card, and said with hopeful sincerity, “We have high hopes for Sunny Day Laboratory! Professor Huang, you simply must deliver results quickly!” She then turned to Huang Ling’er. “And this is…”
“My daughter, Huang Ling’er! She’s the foolish girl who threw water at Professor Jiang the other day. Ah!”
Huang Zhihui tugged his daughter forward, scolding her, “Hurry up and apologize to Mr. Jiang! What are you standing there like a statue for!”
Huang Ling’er pursed her lips stubbornly, teeth biting down on her lip. Her face seemed even paler, almost translucent, and her beautiful, resentful, and angry eyes fixed on Jiang Tian with defiance. She refused to utter a single word.
Jiang Tian guessed she’d probably endured quite a scolding and a great deal of grief just being dragged here by her father. How could she possibly apologize, how could she bear to? He quickly interjected, “Alright, Professor Huang, it wasn’t her fault.”
Sensing Jiang Tian might want to speak with Huang Ling’er privately, Ye Ziwei caught on immediately and smiled. “Professor Huang, how is the progress on the lab coming along? Could we step into my study so you can give me a brief update?”
Huang Zhihui wrung his hands excitedly. “I’ve been wanting to report to you, President Ye, but I just hadn’t found the right moment!” He then followed Ye Ziwei upstairs.
Once they had ascended, Jiang Tian and Huang Ling’er were left alone in a heavy silence. For a moment, the atmosphere was painfully awkward.
After a long while, Jiang Tian finally lowered his head and said in a weak, raspy voice, “About what happened before… I’m sorry…”
Huang Ling’er’s nose stung with a wave of bitterness. Her face filled with sorrow, she said, “You don’t need to apologize. It might have dragged on for three years, but you eventually kept your promise. I will fulfill my duty and continue to be your secret lover. I won’t interfere with you having other women either! But I have one condition: you cannot let my father know about our arrangement.”
“Why?”
“My dad might seem like a pushover, but deep down, he has the pride of an intellectual. If he refused your help… our family… might not be able to hold on much longer!”
A light of humiliation and fierce determination flickered in Huang Ling’er’s eyes.
Jiang Tian felt a complex mix of emotions churning within him. He fumbled for his cigarette pack, pulled one out, and placed it between his lips, at a loss for words.
“You should smoke less…”
Instinctively, Huang Ling’er reached out and snatched the cigarette from his mouth. But she immediately regretted it. Turning her head away, she stood there awkwardly, the cigarette in her hand—she couldn’t hold it, couldn’t throw it away.
Jiang Tian froze for a second, then let out a dry, humorless laugh.
Human emotions are perhaps just this unfathomable: even after being deeply wounded by someone, you still can’t forget them. You might even harbor unrealistic hopes and make excuses for them, against all better judgment.
