Translator: CinderTL
"If you dare to say a single word wrong, I'll keep playing this game with you."
Things went even smoother than expected. The old woman cooperated surprisingly well, recounting everything from how Xue Jinhua found her to the details of their transaction.
After leaving the police station, she kept apologizing to Jiang Cheng in the car, claiming she had acted out of momentary confusion.
Opening his phone's QR code, Jiang Cheng turned to the old woman. "Five thousand. Cash or transfer?"
The old woman stared blankly. "???"
"You didn't think this was just going to be brushed aside, did you?" Jiang Cheng asked.
The old woman spread her hands, feigning a pitiful expression. "I really don't have any money. And I'm already so old. I know I was wrong. I deeply regret it and will never do it again."
"You don't regret what you did. You only regret getting caught." Jiang Cheng patted Huai Yi on the shoulder. "Turn around. Head back to the park."
"Got it!" Huai Yi replied enthusiastically, already preparing to make a U-turn at the upcoming intersection.
The old woman's face paled at the thought of what these people might do. "No, no! Don't go back! I have money! I'll pay! Can't I just pay you?"
After receiving the old woman's transfer, Jiang Cheng put away his phone. "You have one week. Find all the people you framed, apologize to them, and compensate them."
"But I already gave you all my money! What am I supposed to use for compensation?" the old woman grumbled softly.
"That's your problem. Sell your house, sell your car, or take out a loan," Jiang Cheng replied coldly. He wasn't swayed by her attempt to play the victim. "In any case, if I don't see the results I want in a week, I'll be back."
Without waiting for her pleas, Jiang Cheng instructed Huai Yi to stop at a secluded intersection and unceremoniously dumped her out of the car.
Fatty, sitting in the passenger seat, understood the situation perfectly. The Doctor's fury wasn't solely due to the old woman's attempted scam. A crucial factor was her own stupidity in trying to snatch Lin Wan'er's hairpin. That had crossed the Doctor's bottom line.
Lin Wan'er wasn't the Doctor's weakness; she was his three-foot-long reverse scale—the one spot he was most sensitive about.
Shortly after, Jiang Cheng received a call from Pi Ruan, whose voice was barely concealing his excitement. "Dr. Jiang, Xue Jinhua just called me! She agreed to our terms and will be at the company soon to sign the contract."
"She also apologized, hoping we could both compromise. And she's prepared to apologize in person to you and Boss Lin."
"Understood," Jiang Cheng said. "Wait for us at the company. We'll be there shortly."
After hanging up, Fatty turned to Jiang Cheng, his face flushed with excitement. "Doctor, you're amazing! Xue Jinhua surrendered after just one round!"
Jiang Cheng's expression remained unchanged. Instead, he glanced at Lin Wan'er beside him.
Xue Jinhua's swift apology and admission of defeat couldn't be attributed solely to her scheme against the elderly woman being exposed. Jiang Cheng knew Lin Wan'er must have been pulling strings behind the scenes.
"Is there something on my face?" Lin Wan'er raised an eyebrow. "Why are you staring at me?"
"Did you make Xue Jinhua apologize so quickly?" Jiang Cheng asked.
"Pi Ruan isn't just your friend," Lin Wan'er said, resting her chin on her hand with a wistful sigh. "I find him quite agreeable too. If he goes bankrupt, who will bring me cooked bird's nest every day?"
As expected, Fatty thought to himself. Boss Lin and the Doctor treat Pi Ruan like their personal cafeteria. Xue Jinhua dared to target Pi Ruan, effectively cutting off the Doctor's supply line. Of course they had to take her down.
When they arrived at the company, Xue Jinhua was already waiting. Under Jiang Cheng's supervision, both parties signed a new contract.
Pi Ruan's position remained unchanged. In addition to his rightful savings, he received several properties and luxury cars.
From that day on, Jiang Cheng's relationship with Xue Jinhua changed completely, becoming purely an employer-employee relationship. He also had to move out of Xue Jinhua's villa as soon as possible.
Facing Xue Jinhua's wrinkled, flattering smile, Lin Wan'er remained indifferent. The matter with Pi Ruan was finally settled.
"Dr. Jiang," Pi Ruan said, hurrying over after Xue Jinhua and her entourage left. "I've been keeping an eye on the college student you asked me to watch. He goes to class and comes home like normal every day. Aside from being a bit of a loner and not talking much, he seems perfectly normal. I don't think there's anything to worry about."
Pi Ruan was referring to Chen Qiang.
After their separation in the Song Dynasty Instance, Jiang Cheng had used information Chen Qiang provided to find him. However, he chose not to contact him directly, instead having Pi Ruan's men keep watch.
It had been quite some time now, and nothing unusual had surfaced.
Though young, Chen Qiang was clear-headed, sharp-witted, and possessed a broad range of knowledge—a rare asset.
More importantly, Jiang Cheng could control him.
Chen Qiang was a shrewd observer of circumstances, and Jiang Cheng believed he would be willing to cooperate.
Once they had chosen their next Supernatural event, Jiang Cheng would summon Chen Qiang to join their team for the instance.
Just as Jiang Cheng and the others were about to leave, Pi Ruan rushed forward to stop them. "Dr. Jiang, please don't go yet. You've done so much for me. Tonight, I'll treat you all to a proper dinner to show my gratitude."
Pi Ruan was undeniably charming and exceptionally warm. Even Huai Yi, meeting him for the first time, found him to be a genuinely good person worth getting to know better.
"Let's do it another time," Jiang Cheng said, glancing at his phone. "We have other commitments."
"Nonsense, there's no better time than the present," Pi Ruan insisted warmly. "Whatever you have planned, it won't take more than the time it takes to eat a meal. We'll go to the Golden Sail Grand Hotel. I've already made all the arrangements."
Hearing this, Miss Lin, Pi Ruan's secretary, stepped forward with a smile. "President Pi specifically asked me to arrange this. Please, all of you must come. Otherwise, President Pi will punish me again."
Punishment
The well-read Huai Yi stared at Miss Lin in her white shirt and hip-hugging skirt, his mind taking a rather unconventional turn regarding the word "punishment."
Jiang Cheng, however, turned back to Pi Ruan, meeting his gaze. "What else is it?"
"Well, nothing much, really," Pi Ruan said. "Since I was kicked out of my place, I'm staying at a hotel for now. They have plenty of rooms. If you don't mind, why don't you all move in with me? It'll be more lively with more people around."
After a moment's thought, Jiang Cheng nodded. "Alright."
Before confirming the Supernatural event, Jiang Cheng didn't want to split the group up to prevent any unforeseen incidents.
Huai Yi's residence had already been exposed, and the Studio wasn't suitable for all four of them—Jiang Cheng, Lin Wan'er, Fatty, and Huai Yi—to stay together.
Moreover, Chen Qiang would be joining them soon. They definitely needed a larger place.
"Find us a large suite," Jiang Cheng said. "We want to stay together."
"No problem."
Despite Jiang Cheng's repeated insistence on a simple meal, even the worldly Huai Yi was stunned when he saw the dishes brought by the food cart.
(End of the Chapter)
---
📖Read (NS) on Pa.treon@CinderTL - c820. [+4]
🔑Early Access at $1.
✍Translated (6) Series, (3.5K+) Chapters, (4.9M+) Words.