Chapter 82

“I just smashed his car—so what?”

“He drove here, so I smashed it! Just smashed it!”

“He runs a company—what’s the big deal? Has he made that much money? Just bluffing to look rich.”

“We’re Fudan high achievers, you know!”

“Once we graduate and make big money, we’ll have plenty to show him!”

Zhang Xiangping thought for a moment. “By the way, how much red envelope are you giving Ming Shi for New Year?”

Jiang Jianjun clicked his tongue, glancing up, frowning. “Red envelope? He’s already so old—does he still need one?”

Zhang Xiangping: “Of course! This is our first New Year together with Ming Shi.”

“Can’t let the Zhao family give one and we don’t, get outshined?”

Jiang Jianjun grew impatient. “Do what you want, I have no money anyway.”

On Handan Road, where Fudan University is, Zhao Mingshi entered a hotel with his favorite senior. As soon as the door closed, he eagerly pulled her into his arms…

Meanwhile, Wang Chuang was busy with work, having almost forgotten about Mo Wanzhen.

He had crossed paths with her at the company and counters a few times. He knew she existed, performed well, and had been appointed by Jiang Luo as Pacific counter manager, also handling sales training for other stores.

Mo Wanzhen, since becoming manager, had thrown herself into work, managing several stores. Her salary and commission were substantial—about 800–1000 yuan per month at the low end, up to 2000 at the high end, enough to live comfortably in their small county in northern Jiangsu.

Originally, her family sent her to Haicheng, telling her not to aim too high, just marry a local if possible, and help the family.

Now, earning well as a counter manager, sending money home, her parents no longer pressured her about marriage—they coaxed her over the phone, pointing at the money she sent.

Mo Wanzhen wasn’t naive. She knew her family only wanted money, so she never disclosed her full earnings, saying only 300 yuan a month, sending 200 home, keeping the rest in her own account.

She also rarely called home; her parents constantly reminded her of family hardships and pressured her to marry a wealthy local. She had grown increasingly resistant to such advice.

After working in Haicheng for some time, her mindset shifted: she wanted to stay, work hard, save money, and buy a home—settle down in Haicheng.

Jiang Luo had been busy, only having a bit of free time before the New Year to think about Wang Chuang and Mo Wanzhen.

Mo Wanzhen was always occupied at the counter, occasionally traveling to Jinling—Jiang Luo knew this.

Jiang Luo asked Wang Chuang, “The counter manager—remember her? So pretty, you…”

Wang Chuang blinked blankly. “Which manager? Long hair or short hair?”

Jiang Luo’s mind screamed: Your wife from the previous life! Wife!

He deliberately arranged a meal that day, inviting Wang Chuang and Mo Wanzhen individually.

But when they met, they acted like strangers—only nodding and greeting, nothing more.

Throughout the meal, they didn’t exchange glances or words alone, only talking to Jiang Luo about work.

Jiang Luo rolled his eyes internally. Who wants to hear you two talk shop? Aren’t you supposed to be attracted to each other? My big guy, your love at first sight?

It got worse. At the end, Jiang Luo asked Wang Chuang to escort Mo Wanzhen. She declined: “No need. I’ll take a cab. I need to check stock at the Xianshi store anyway.”

Wang Chuang: “I can’t—it’s not the way. I have to go to the factory; old Zhang said some materials from Guangzhou have issues I need to check.”

Both were busy with work. No mutual spark.

Jiang Luo: “…”

He wondered what went wrong. Why was there no chemistry? Then remembered: he wasn’t a matchmaker. Let it be.

He decided not to meddle and drove himself, taking Mo Wanzhen along since it was on the way to Xianshi Department Store.

On the way, knowing her situation and her “vampire-like” family, Jiang Luo kindly advised, “You’re alone in Haicheng, think for yourself. Don’t send all your earnings to others, leaving none for yourself.”

Mo Wanzhen, familiar with him from work and their trips to clubs, nodded. Sitting in the passenger seat, she said, “I only send 200 home.”

Jiang Luo: 200?

He murmured dryly, “Your parents really expect you, a young woman, to support the whole family? Do they even feel ashamed?”

Mo Wanzhen tucked her bangs behind her ear and said softly, “Luckily, I didn’t tell them my real income. They think I earn only two or three hundred. I don’t want all my salary going straight to them.”

Jiang Luo lazily glanced ahead. “Use your head.”

After dropping her off, Jiang Luo intended to leave but realized he needed the restroom. He parked at the Xianshi entrance and entered the building.

After washing up, he suddenly sensed something. He looked up—but it was too late. Before he could see clearly in the mirror, he was struck from behind, hitting the back of his head and neck, and immediately lost consciousness.

On the third floor of the commercial building, Mo Wanzhen knew nothing. She assumed Jiang Luo had left after dropping her off.

She went to check stock in the warehouse and reviewed the counter’s recent accounts with colleagues.

At the building entrance, Jiang Luo’s phone on the passenger seat rang repeatedly, unanswered. The phone lay silent, unmoved.

Two hours later, around 4 PM, Mo Wanzhen left the building, ready to take a cab, and noticed a familiar black car—Jiang Luo’s.

Curious, she walked over, leaned in, and saw no one. Jiang Luo was gone. Only a winter coat lay in the back seat, and his mobile was still on the passenger seat.

She stood upright, looking around, expecting to see him nearby. Nothing. Checking her watch, she wondered why he had parked here. Had he really not left after dropping her off?

She waited, thinking there might be an issue at the counter.

Twenty minutes passed, then forty, then an hour. Most people would have left, but Mo Wanzhen’s instincts screamed something was wrong.

She noticed the phone ringing repeatedly. Jiang Luo always carried it—someone would have called. The fact he hadn’t taken it suggested he intended a brief absence.

Now it had been over an hour.

Feeling uneasy, she checked her watch again and called the company. A familiar colleague answered. When she asked about Jiang Luo, the colleague said, “He’s not in today.”

Mo Wanzhen explained that his car and phone were at Xianshi Department Store, but he wasn’t there.

“Oh,” the colleague said. “Maybe something came up nearby?”

Mo Wanzhen insisted, “I’ve been waiting an hour. He never leaves his phone. Something feels off.”

The colleague didn’t think of safety issues. “Maybe something just delayed him.”

Mo Wanzhen asked them to call Wang Chuang: “If he’s not there, call the factory too.”

After hanging up, she returned to the car, still waiting.

Meanwhile, the phone on the passenger seat rang several more times.

Jiang Luo still hadn’t appeared. Mo Wanzhen’s instincts worsened.

It was Huo Zongzhuo who confirmed Jiang Luo was missing. He called repeatedly, getting no answer, and came to the office around 8:30 AM, assuming Jiang Luo was there.

At the office, colleagues and Wang Chuang were discussing where Jiang Luo could have gone and why he was unreachable.

Seeing Huo Zongzhuo arrive, Wang Chuang asked immediately: “Boss Huo, isn’t Luo at your place?”

“No.”

Huo Zongzhuo: “I called him—couldn’t get through.”

“What’s going on? Where is he?”

Wang Chuang frowned. “A junior at the company noticed his car still parked at Xianshi, phone on the passenger seat.”