By the time Ji Yang returned to the twelfth floor, word had already reached the department that they would be taking over publicity for the Lan Hai Bay project. Most of the employees still couldn’t quite believe it.
When they asked Peng Jiaying to confirm the news, he merely said that everyone should follow instructions.
Whose instructions?
“Assistant Nie’s instructions.” Ji Yang stopped at the manager’s office door and addressed the person who had just walked in behind him. “Follow him, and I guarantee you’ll pay off ten years’ worth of mortgage payments sooner.”
Someone in the department immediately asked, “Damn, seriously?”
“Seriously.” Ji Yang nodded with an air of authority.
Ji Yang understood ordinary people’s lives all too well.
When he was young, simply staying alive had forced him to experience all kinds of chaos and hardship. Later, he met a manager who signed him on, and that person had also proposed starting an independent business.
Unfortunately, the venture collapsed halfway through when he could no longer afford the rent.
Back then, Ji Yang had also drunk plenty at business dinners, watching that manager humble himself just to scrape together a pitiful amount of investment.
A single decision by someone at the top could easily deal a devastating blow to the people beneath them. Ji Yang couldn’t go around telling everyone that Lan Hai Bay was a project doomed to fail.
Since Ji Chengyi’s target was Nie Xu, Ji Yang certainly didn’t mind tying himself to Jianyuan ahead of schedule. That was also the main reason he had agreed to the arrangement.
Nie Xu tapped the desk nearest the entrance with the folder in his hand.
“That’s false. Everyone should follow Director Peng’s instructions regarding their work. I’ll send the publicity materials for this project to everyone’s email.”
He pointed to Qian Yitian and the female colleague who had brought them coffee earlier.
“You two, make the necessary preparations. You’ll be traveling on a business trip with me next Monday.”
Ji Yang froze. “A business trip? Why didn’t I know about this?”
Nie Xu glanced at him. “It was announced at the end of the meeting. Huizhou. There are two successful projects similar to ours there, completed six months ago and three months ago, respectively. We’ll be going to conduct publicity research and collect data.”
Ji Yang thought to himself: This arrangement really looks like something Ji Chengyi deliberately set up.
Nie Xu looked at him and suddenly said, “You’re coming too.”
Ji Yang pointed at himself suspiciously. “Me?”
“Since you agreed to take on the project, I’ll handle the supporting work. There’ll be industry banquets and business engagements locally. As the manager, you’re the more suitable person to attend, given your status.”
Ji Yang had a vague feeling that things weren’t as simple as Nie Xu made them sound. But with so many people around, he couldn’t very well ask him about it directly.
So he nodded. “Fine.”
That evening, Ji Yang got caught up in the rush for the elevators after work.
He usually left ten minutes early to avoid the peak-hour crowds. But because of the meeting, and because it happened to be Friday, he walked out of the office just in time to encounter the heaviest rush.
His wheelchair took up space, and he had to wait for two elevator trips before finally finding one he could get into.
Anyone in the group who saw a man in a wheelchair could immediately guess who he was. People instinctively made room for him.
Even so, Ji Yang maneuvered himself into a corner.
The elevator was fairly crowded. Some people were chatting about where to go for dinner and drinks after work.
“Stand in front of me.”
Ji Yang pulled over the man standing with his back against the elevator wall.
Nie Xu looked down at him. “Are you afraid of being seen?”
“I’m not afraid of being seen.” Ji Yang held a hand to his forehead and gestured to illustrate his point. “I just don’t want to meet people at this height.”
As soon as he finished gesturing, he realized something was wrong.
His hand had accidentally brushed against the area around Nie Xu’s waist.
Then, as if against his will, his gaze slowly drifted downward.
“Like what you see?” someone asked from above.
Ji Yang looked up, blinking innocently as he denied everything. “I didn’t see anything. What are you talking about?”
Just then, more people entered the elevator.
The already cramped space became even more crowded. Ji Yang could feel his right foot pressed against Nie Xu’s shin. At the same time, a distinctive, dry, cool scent enveloped him, reminding him that they were now well beyond a comfortable distance.
Ji Yang was forced to lean backward. Before he could say anything, his wheelchair suddenly pivoted on the spot.
By the time he realized what had happened, he was already facing the wall.
Ji Yang stared at his own blurry reflection in the elevator mirror.
“…”
Terrifying man.
Someone who had just entered the elevator began speaking animatedly with the person beside him.
“I’m very optimistic about the Lan Hai Bay project. Ever since the announcement came out, the group’s stock price has been climbing steadily. This is bound to become another milestone for the Ji Group.”
“The suspension two years ago still had an impact. We missed the best window for construction.”
“If only I could get an invitation to the Ji family’s business banquet this Saturday. I heard your nephew has gotten himself into some trouble recently and is trying to find connections. Didn’t he used to have a pretty good relationship with Fourth Young Master Ji? That would be a great opportunity. Sure, the young master might be a good-for-nothing, but he wouldn’t refuse to help with a little favor, would he?”
Ji Yang hadn’t expected to overhear gossip about himself just like that.
The only people who might have been unable to get in touch with him were Wei Qiming and his associates. But Wei Qiming had somehow gotten himself thrown into jail ahead of schedule, so it couldn’t have been him.
And here they were, calling him a good-for-nothing while planning to use him as a sucker to solve their problems.
Ji Yang immediately tried to turn around to see who had such a big mouth.
He couldn’t turn.
He looked down and saw the foot blocking his wheelchair.
Then he heard a voice beside his ear.
“Keep quiet.”
Ding.
The elevator stopped at Basement Level One at exactly the right moment—not a second early or late.
The people inside poured out one after another like sardines spilling from a can.
Ji Yang was finally free.
As they exited the elevator and entered the underground parking garage, Ji Yang asked, “Why did you stop me just now?”
Nie Xu replied, “The design department employee’s nephew is the only son of the Fu family, who owns the largest agricultural and food-processing factory in Fan Prefecture.”
Ji Yang was confused. He turned to look at him.
The underground parking garage was dimly lit, yet Ji Yang had the feeling that the darkness couldn’t conceal the danger lurking beneath the other man’s calm tone.
“The wastewater treatment system at his factory discharges into waters that fall entirely within the Lan Hai Bay project area. Two years ago, you listened to Wei Qiming and his group’s nonsense and helped them falsify the reported data.”
Ji Yang suddenly remembered. Right, the problems with the Lan Hai Bay project had first erupted after what seemed like an insignificant deterioration in water quality.
He simply hadn’t expected the original Ji Yang to have been involved in it two years ago.
Ji Yang looked at Nie Xu, testing the waters. “So you think they’ll try the same trick again? Then should I… agree to help them? Or… refuse?”
Nie Xu stepped closer and stared at him for two seconds before turning toward the direction from which the driver would bring the car. He spoke in an indifferent tone. “Since you said you’ve forgotten everything, then forget it completely.”
Did that mean he was telling Ji Yang not to get involved?
Was it a reminder or a threat?
Ji Yang faced the same direction as him. “All right.”
Then he added, “I promise I won’t do anything.”
Nie Xu glanced at him. “You looked like you really wanted to jump up and get right in their faces in the elevator.”
“I’m in this condition. How am I supposed to jump?” Ji Yang protested his innocence loudly. He straightened the thin blanket over his knees, then looked at Nie Xu. “But don’t you think we look a little like we’re having a secret meeting?”
Silence spread through the air.
Ji Yang surrendered. “Fine. Pretend I never said anything.”
The next day was Saturday. Before going to bed, Ji Yang had already felt a dull ache in his legs, and even applying heat hadn’t done much to relieve it.
When he woke up in the morning, the sky was indeed gray and gloomy, as if it were about to rain.
His warning system was even more accurate than the weather forecast.
The Ji family’s business banquet was scheduled to take place at a hotel called Yuming Tower.
As the main figures behind the event, the husband and wife of the eldest branch had been busy making arrangements from every angle ever since returning from overseas. They had personally overseen everything, from the wines and other drinks required for the banquet to the arrangement of the pastries. Even the clothes they would wear that day had been custom-made by a tailor who came to their home.
Ji Yang had an outfit of his own, too.
When Yao Zhaoling brought it to him, she wore a slightly unnatural smile.
“Xiaoyang, Auntie had a tailor make this according to your measurements. You and Chengyi each have a set. His is white, and since you used to like wearing black, I had yours made in black.” She praised him as well. “You’ve changed a lot lately. I’m sure you’ll look great in it.”
A black suit, a white shirt, and a black bow tie.
It really was a nice outfit.
Seeing him holding up the trousers and examining them, Yao Zhaoling immediately explained, “Don’t misunderstand. I noticed you’ve been using your wheelchair a lot lately, so this design has a wider cut that’s more suitable for your current circumstances. I hope you won’t read too much into it.”
She never missed a chance to remind him that he was disabled.
“I haven’t even said anything yet, Auntie.” Ji Yang smiled warmly. “You’re not holding the auction incident against me, so why would I take offense? I’ll accept the clothes. Thank you.”
At the mention of the auction, Yao Zhaoling’s smile became somewhat strained.
“It’s all in the past now. The police said you weren’t responsible, so of course Auntie believes you.”
That was an awfully insincere thing to say.
Since she wanted to put on a show of generosity and virtue, Ji Yang didn’t mind playing along.
“Glad to hear it.”
“Madam.”
Auntie Mo had appeared at some point. She took the clothes from Ji Yang and said expressionlessly, “Madam, that’s very thoughtful of you. However, our young master’s legs were bothering him last night. You’d better not disturb his rest.”
Yao Zhaoling’s expression stiffened.
Then she said considerately, “I forgot. Rainy weather must be difficult for you. If you’re really uncomfortable, you don’t have to attend tonight’s banquet. I’ll explain things to your father, and I won’t let him blame you.”
Ji Yang smiled. “Thank you, Auntie. But this is an important moment for Third Brother. I’ve even prepared a special gift, so I certainly won’t be absent.”
A trace of suspicion appeared in Yao Zhaoling’s eyes.
Only then did she nod and leave.
The moment she was gone, Auntie Mo spat in disgust behind her back.
“What a hypocrite! She can take that act and use it to seduce the eldest master, but what’s the point of showing off here?”
Ji Yang laughed twice.
“Auntie Mo, don’t be so direct.”
He was practically cementing his reputation as a vicious villain.
Still, with a mother like Yao Zhaoling, who could only resort to petty, underhanded tricks like these, it was no wonder the righteous male lead, Ji Chengyi, had such a hard time of it.
At eight that evening, the rain suddenly began pouring down.
Outside Yuming Tower Hotel, luxury cars stood in rows, while elegantly dressed men and women moved in and out beneath the lights.
Waiters hurried through the banquet hall, weaving between guests raising glasses and exchanging toasts. Beneath the enormous crystal chandeliers, businesspeople busily networked and exchanged business cards, while groups of female companions chatted among themselves from time to time. The entire scene was lavish and lively.
Anyone who looked up would notice that people were constantly moving back and forth on the second floor, maintaining a state of alert.
Nie Xu stood at the best vantage point overlooking the hall. Wearing professional sunglasses and an earpiece, he listened through a newly switched one-way communication channel. Jiang Lei was the only person speaking on it.
“Other than us, no one else has been assigned here today,” Jiang Lei said. “Is this the old master’s way of showing his trust?”
“Just a test,” Nie Xu replied. “He lost a shipment earlier, so he wants to use this opportunity to find out whether the supply chain has problems, too.”
“Only an idiot would choose this moment to cause trouble. But Ji Chengyi has invited you to officially join the project several times, and you’ve turned him down every time. Now he’s clearly trying to get what he wants by taking an indirect route. Did you really agree because of Ji Yang?”
Nie Xu glanced down at the lounge area on the first floor.
His expression remained impassive. “The timing was right.”
Several young men sat there, looking somewhat uneasy.
Their conversation came through the monitoring channel clearly.
“Fu Cheng, Brother Wei’s already in prison. Could it really have been Fourth Young Master Ji who did it?”
“He’s even started working at Ji Group lately. If he won’t even give Brother Wei the time of day, just imagine where that leaves the Ji family. Your factory might really be in danger.”
The man called Fu Cheng spoke up. “Of course it wasn’t him. Is this your first time dealing with him? If he had that kind of brain, would he have failed to earn even a little respect in the Ji family? Just look at tonight. The eldest branch doesn’t even want to bring him along.”
“I heard he’s been stuck in a wheelchair lately. Maybe something’s happened to his health.”
“Of course. After the time he whipped someone, Brother Wei already predicted he was finished. The only reason he’s still all right now is that he got lucky. It’s not hard to manipulate him. Just bring up Ji Chengyi and stir things up a little. This will be easy.”
…
Jiang Lei was monitoring everything from the control room, so he heard it all, too.
“You’re still planning to use Ji Yang to get this started?”
“I was, two years ago.” Nie Xu rested both hands on the railing. His tone gave nothing away. “There’s no need now.”
Someone who could easily pick up on what he meant…
It would be a waste to use him for nothing more than this.
Nie Xu continued, “We’ve almost gathered all the evidence in Huizhou. We’re just missing someone suitable.”
Jiang Lei hesitated. “You know how dangerous this is, right? Once it comes to light, he’ll be a walking target. Are you planning to get him killed in Huizhou?”
Nie Xu replied, “Do you think this is still more than ten years ago?”
“Maybe not, but in your eyes, anyone who can still breathe counts as being alive. The young master did help me, after all.”
Jiang Lei didn’t want to soften his words too much. He knew better than anyone how they had ended up where they were today, and he knew that Nie Xu wasn’t someone who would easily give in to sentiment.
Jiang Lei continued, “Wasn’t it Ji Chengyi who arranged for you to go to Huizhou? Do you really like him? Even if you two have some history together, that’s no reason to drag Ji Yang into—”
Nie Xu cut him off coldly. “You’ve been reading too much gossip lately. During working hours, you’d better keep your head on straight.”
“But then…”
“I just need someone who listens.”
Even though, most of the time, the young master’s true nature was the exact opposite of those words.
Just then, a commotion arose near the entrance.
The brief silence that followed made Yao Zhaoling’s explanation stand out all the more.
“Xiaoyang said his legs were hurting as soon as he woke up, so I’m afraid he won’t be able to make it. Everyone knows what his health is like.”
Outside the banquet hall doors, which the attendants had just pushed open, stood a young man with a tall, slender figure, black hair and eyes, delicate features, and fair skin.
His frail appearance did not make him seem as though he could be easily knocked down.
Instead, beneath the confines of his formal attire, it accentuated his slim waist and long legs.
When he stepped forward, his movements were natural and effortless. There was not the slightest sign that anything was wrong.
Quite a few people looked astonished.
Meanwhile, chatter began over the second floor’s shared communication channel.
“Fourth Young Master used to wear a prosthetic all the time, too. Why does he look so different today?”
“Maybe it’s because we’ve gotten used to seeing him in a wheelchair lately?”
“I think it’s because he’s gotten better-looking.”
“He’s still the same person. How much can someone really change?”
Jiang Lei’s voice cut in. “He probably just looks more obedient now.”
Someone else asked, “More obedient?”
“Yeah. The kind of obedient where you can tell at a glance that he’ll do whatever he’s told.”
“You wouldn’t understand even if I explained it.”