Chapter 49

The sound of car horns was incessant on the road, but Jiang Ran felt as if everything had come to a standstill.

The milk tea he was holding in his hand went “splat” and spilled all over the ground.

And the secretary waiting across the street was stupefied.

Since when had Third Master Jiang of Shanghai City been treated like this?

With just a word from Jiang Moyuan, he could seal the fate of an entire minor family.

Who would dare to provoke him?

Jiang Moyuan looked at the cola stains on his clothes and the bank card that had fallen to the ground, his face terrifyingly cold, and his voice squeezed through clenched teeth, “Ying, Zijin!”

After sending the last message to Fu Yunshen, Ying Zijin put away her phone and slipped her hands into her pockets.

Her expression was indifferent, her brows and eyes wrapped in a chill, completely unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere radiating from Jiang Moyuan.

Jiang Ran narrowed his eyes.

He had grown up in the imperial capital and only occasionally returned to Shanghai City, having little interaction with this blood-relative uncle of his.

But he knew that because Jiang Moyuan had battled in the business world for years, his presence was imposing to the extreme—not only young ladies, but even grown men couldn’t hold his gaze.

Yet Jiang Ran clearly felt that this girl’s aura was like deep, still water—terrifying.

Jiang Moyuan was completely outmatched.

“Four hundred thousand for the Gerruti suit you’re wearing, to repay principal and interest for the scholarship funds you’ve provided over the years,” Ying Zijin looked up, “Please don’t show up in front of me again.”

Jiang Moyuan almost laughed in anger at these words, “What did you say?”

As if she were the one chasing after him.

“I forgot to tell Uncle Jiang something last time,” Ying Zijin smiled faintly, “I wish you and your young aunt a hundred years of happiness, and may you have children soon.”

This form of address made Jiang Moyuan’s spine tense up instantly.

“I don’t know what gave Uncle Jiang the impression that I have feelings for you,” Ying Zijin nodded courteously, “Now to make it clear, please don’t flatter yourself in the future.”

“I don’t like you, I don’t want to see you, and please tell your fiancée not to bother me. I want some peace.”

Whether before she woke up or during her slumber, Jiang Moyuan was nothing more than a stranger to her.

Perhaps at first, the scholarship was just part of a program, but bringing her to Shanghai City had an obvious purpose—

To ally with the Ying Family, specifically to provide a living blood bank for Ying Luwei.

Jiang Moyuan’s gaze suddenly changed, as this was the first time he saw such an emotion in the girl’s eyes.

Cold and aloof, chilly and indifferent, devoid of any admiring sentiments.

Either way, it made him feel out of control.

A bit breathless, his expression briefly flustered, and inexplicably a chill rose in his heart.

“If I see Uncle Jiang again—” Ying Zijin yawned, tilting her head, “every time I see you, I’ll hit you.”

Having to say so much in one go was really annoying.

The secretary arrived just in time to hear this sentence.

He looked at the girl in disbelief, completely unable to understand.

Wasn’t the Second Miss of the Ying Family always trying to charm the Third Master to climb the social ladder?

Was this her playing hard to get?

The secretary glanced at Jiang Moyuan’s expression and smiled politely, “I would advise Miss Ying to think carefully about what you say. If you go on like this, there really won’t be any chance for redemption.”

Ying Zijin couldn’t be bothered to give them any more attention, she pulled the hood of her sweatshirt over her head, “I’m leaving.”

Jiang Ran was still enjoying the spectacle and only realized after two seconds that these words were addressed to him.

He didn’t follow immediately and instead scoffed, “I’d also advise you guys to save it. She doesn’t even look up to me, let alone an old man.”

Although he hadn’t admitted this was his ‘class dad’, he couldn’t let others walk all over him, right?

Where would he put his face as the school tyrant?

The secretary could never have imagined that Jiang Ran would actually take Ying Zijin’s side against Jiang Moyuan, astonished, “Young Master Jiang Ran, the Third Master is doing this for your own good.”

Asset-wise, Jiang Ran naturally couldn’t compare to Jiang Moyuan, who had been striving for ten years.

But in terms of status, Jiang Moyuan really wasn’t on the same level as Jiang Ran.

After all, who allowed Jiang Huaping to marry so well in the imperial capital?

“Fuck, are you crazy? I just don’t understand,” Jiang Ran got angry as well, “You fuckers, one after another, acting sentimental under the guise of looking out for my best interest— who asked you to interfere? Are you even qualified to manage me?”

The old lady in the Ying Family is so annoying too.

Jiang Ran didn’t bother with her anymore and followed the girl.

Jiang Moyuan took a deep breath and used all his restraint to stop himself from chasing after her.

Suppressing the odd feeling in his heart, he spoke coldly, “Ying Zijin, you better not regret this.”

Ying Zijin stopped in her tracks and suddenly turned around.

She had a pair of beautiful phoenix eyes, which, when slightly upturned, glimmered with a soft light.

Though they were stunningly captivating, the coldness in her brows and eyes brought out a chilling sensation instead.

“I’ll give you these three words too,” she said in a lowered voice, laughing, although her laugh was cold, “You’ll regret it.”

**

Convenience store.

“Wow, you’re really something,” Jiang Ran said, genuinely impressed, “Aren’t you afraid of Jiang Moyuan seeking revenge?”

Ying Zijin, while picking out snacks, said, “Let him try.”

“No worries, I can help you out if he does,” although actually Jiang Ran was quite annoyed, “But why do you call him Uncle Jiang?”

“Oh, just a reminder that he’s old.”

“…”

Jiang Ran suddenly felt better, “Quick, quick, quick, I just did you a favor, now you have to fight with me.”

He thought Ying Zijin would still refuse, but to his surprise, she nodded in agreement.

“Then let’s go now,” Jiang Ran said, as he went to pull her along, “We can still go back and eat fried chicken after.”

But he couldn’t get a grip on her, someone cut in on the way.

A husky voice laced with laughter, deep and seductive, said, “No good, our little friend shouldn’t get into fights.”

“Who are you, mind your own …” Jiang Ran started to say as he looked up, but his words got stuck, his face darkened, “Why is it you?”

Fu Yunshen took a bag of snacks from a high shelf for her without answering.

Ying Zijin wasn’t expecting him to be here already, “Didn’t you say I’d come find you later?”

“It’s okay, your brother has plenty of time,” Fu Yunshen said nonchalantly, “You guys keep having fun.”

He was originally nearby in the city center, and came over after receiving a message from Jiang Moyuan, worried something might happen to her.

He hadn’t expected that the little one would be so tough.

Jiang Ran started to drive him away, “Then why don’t you get lost? Don’t interrupt the life of young people.”

However, just as he finished speaking, he saw the girl give him all the snacks she had bought, then she nodded, “I’ll leave with you now.”

Fu Yunshen was taken aback, his peach blossom eyes lit up, “No need, it’s still early.”

“It’s fine,” Ying Zijin spoke casually, “They are too many.”

You’re only one person.

Fu Yunshen’s eyelashes quivered, then he abruptly smiled.

The little friend was worth cherishing.

He felt as moved as an old father.

Jiang Ran, watching the two leave him behind: “…”

Damn.

He felt like going into seclusion.

**

Ever since she received a major demerit, Ying Feifei was also forced to transfer to a regular class.

But since the whole second year of high school knew about what she did, the entire new class shunned her, pushing her emotions to the brink of collapse.

Ying Feifei was extremely resentful but powerless, so she could only hold her breath.

Life at home wasn’t good either, Father Ying was very dissatisfied with her.

Ying Feifei clenched her fingers, tensely writing a reflection.

But just then, a text message from an unknown sender suddenly popped up on her phone.

It contained no words, just one photo attached.