“Go, go, go.”
Pan Xiao waved him off. “What do you mean, ‘corroded by capitalism’? Mr. Jiang gave it to me—it’s convenient for contact, not something I bought myself.”
Another worker teased, “Then why not give me one? I want one too!”
Pan Xiao scowled, “Get lost, go work!”
Where was Jiang Luo at this moment?
In a restaurant in Haimen, seated in a private room on the second floor.
He had arrived first, sat down, glanced at the time, and idly pondered something. Then he reached for the teapot on the table to pour himself some water.
Even now, dangling his injured arm, he was thinking more about his image than inconvenience. Life wasn’t hard—being “cool” was. The cast made it difficult to look like a handsome man, which bothered him.
He sipped his tea, noting that the scheduled meeting time hadn’t arrived yet. He checked his watch again.
Just then, the door pushed open. A voice preceded the person—a young woman, laughing lightly, youthful: “Mr. Jiang, you’re here so early?”
“I apologize, I should have arrived earlier. My mistake.”
Jiang Luo looked up to see a young woman in her twenties entering. She was beautiful: almond-shaped eyes, a straight, delicate nose, thin pink lips, wearing a simple pale blue dress. Long, wavy hair, fair skin.
“Mr. Jiang.”
She smiled, extending her hand. Jiang Luo stood and stepped forward, shaking it. “Hello, may I ask your name?”
She smiled back. “My surname is Yu—Yu, as in the famous beauty, with the character for ‘tiger’ on top and a mouth underneath, then ‘winter’—Yu Dong.”
Jiang Luo’s mind paused for a moment.
Meanwhile, in Haicheng, Xue Zhizhong was hosting Huo Zongzhuo at the Peace Hotel under the guise of discussing business. The meal was nearly finished, the atmosphere reasonably comfortable.
Xue Zhizhong glanced at his watch, feigning surprise. “Oh, my friend should be arriving soon.”
Huo Zongzhuo thought he might have other matters and replied, “Go ahead.”
Xue Zhizhong smiled: “Nothing urgent—won’t spoil the meal.”
He gestured toward a direction: “Here.”
Someone approached the table. Huo Zongzhuo casually glanced up—and froze slightly.
It was a young man, with features and aura reminiscent of Jiang Luo. Even the voice had a similar tone.
Huo Zongzhuo’s gaze softened slightly, withdrawing from the young man to Xue Zhizhong.
Xue nudged the boy. “Are you frozen? Say hello.”
The young man smiled, a bit shy. “Hello, Mr. Huo.”
At the airport, a plane accelerated down the runway, lifted off, and climbed into the clouds.
Onboard, Zhao Mingshi sat by the window, staring out. Leaving this way, secretly and alone, was frustrating. A mixture of anger, resentment, and defiance churned inside him.
He told himself: wait. One year, two years, even five or ten—he would return. He wasn’t inferior to anyone. No one could hold him back. One day, he would return triumphantly, turning the tables in style.
Wait for it. You all just wait.
“Say that again? What did you say?”
Zhao Guangyuan, normally calm, snapped when he heard Zhao Shuo: he grabbed Zhao Shuo’s collar, eyes furious.
Zhao Shuo, guilty, lowered his gaze. “I sent Mingming abroad. His flight left this morning.”
“No matter what, he still had to go abroad. He’s young—his future can’t be destroyed over anything.”
Su Lan stood beside them, stunned.
Gone? He left!? They had already spoken to An Qiao’s parents, planned to marry the children to take responsibility, to make amends. Now, gone—what about An Qiao? What about them?
Zhao Guangyuan’s veins bulged. “He ruined that girl’s life—lost her reputation, her job. How can he just leave like that?! Zhao Shuo! You’ll have children one day! What if they go through this? How can you secretly send him away?! Do you think this is for his own good? What about the girl who tried to kill herself?!”
Zhao Shuo looked up, not arguing, just explaining: “Mingming—does he have to marry so early just for ‘responsibility’? He has to live his life too. Who will take responsibility for that?”
Zhao Guangyuan raised his hand for a slap but, overcome with rage and high blood pressure, collapsed backward, eyes rolling.
“Dad!”
“Hubby!”
Yu Dong…
Jiang Luo’s heart rippled like water struck by a stone.
He looked at the beautiful woman before him. Could this Yu Dong be the same person who secretly helped him in the past, an admirer?
He wasn’t completely sure—but coincidences like this rarely happened. What if it was true?
“Please, sit.” Jiang Luo gestured politely.
“Thank you,” Yu Dong replied courteously.
Seated, Jiang Luo poured tea for her. “Miss Yu, where are you from?”
“I’m from the mainland,” she explained. “My mother is Singaporean, and I’ve lived in Singapore many years.”
Jiang Luo sipped his tea casually. “And your connection to Chen Xianlong?”
Yu Dong explained: “My father runs a clothing business in Singapore, with factories. Chen Xianlong is an employee. He came to China to explore the market, see if the business could expand here.”
Jiang Luo nodded, saying, “Sorry about the factory situation—I didn’t let you succeed.”
He looked at Yu Dong. “I’m curious—why did you want to meet me?”
Yu Dong smiled. “Mr. Jiang, you’re straightforward. I thought we’d need a few drinks before discussing this.”
Jiang Luo’s expression said, “No need, go ahead.”
Yu Dong continued, watching him carefully: “Mr. Jiang, about Hongming factory… Chen Xianlong told me everything. Honestly, we feel wronged. That wasn’t our doing. When Mr. Li from Taiwan hinted to Chen Xianlong, my father had already refused. We were here to explore the market, not start conflicts.”
Jiang Luo smiled slightly, not arguing. Whether true or not no longer mattered. Li Fengrui had returned to Taiwan, and Hongming was already in his hands.
Pouring more tea, he chatted lightly. Yu Dong seemed relaxed, young and curious.
“So, Mr. Jiang, where are you from?”
“Haicheng.”
Yu Dong nodded. “My father is from Haimen.”
Jiang Luo refilled her cup. “No wonder Chen Xianlong, a Singaporean, came to a small county in northern Jiangsu that’s barely on the map.”
Yu Dong laughed lightly.
Jiang Luo: ?
Her expression was entirely youthful, not businesslike. “Don’t let my dad hear you say that.”
I wonder who her father is??
I feel bad for that other girl but wild that his parents would force him into a marriage. They would never be happy so it’s probably a good thing he went to study abroad.