Chapter 143: Using Jiang Lai as Bait to Hook a Big Fish

Shen Xun had just been scolded this morning, and now is being scolded again at Ke Zhongyu's place; his throat feels as if blocked by a stone, and he can't even catch a breath.

"Ke Zhongyu's trillion‑yuan fortune, and he still wants to rent out a house?"

The rich would rather leave a house vacant than rent or sell it; once they reach the point of renting or selling, it indicates a problem in their cash flow.

If this became known to the outside world, it would inevitably cause a stir.

Ke Zhongyu: "I have too many houses, and no lover to give them to; empty is just empty."

Shen Xun's gaze at Ke Zhongyu took on a hint of anger.

Just a powerless rage.

Ke Zhongyu slightly raised his eyebrows, his tone provocative: "President Shen, still renting?"

Shen Xun came here to look for Jiang Lai; whether to rent the house depends on Qiao Chuan's outcome.

"Since Ke Zhongyu wants to rent out the house, why not open the door for the customers to see?"

Obviously stalling for time.

Ke Zhongyu gave Mo Yi a look.

Mo Yi went up and opened the door.

Shen Xun strode inside, while the two remained standing in the courtyard.

Mo Yi whispered, "Young Master, I've already hung Miss Jiang's old clothes in the courtyard of Number Twenty, and also Miss Jiang's freshly made pickled vegetables."

Number Twenty is another vacant villa of Ke Zhongyu in Nanshan Villa.

Ke Zhongyu glanced outside; Shen Xun's assistant had also almost turned back to Number Twenty.

When Qiao Chuan arrived, he saw the ever‑busy Ke Zhongyu leisurely standing in the courtyard of Number Eleven, stunned repeatedly, doubting his own eyesight.

Wasn't there a Ke Clan celebration banquet today?

"Ke Zhongyu," Qiao Chuan called respectfully.

Inside the house, Shen Xun shouted loudly for the person to come in.

Qiao Chuan hurried inside to report: "President Shen, the lady does indeed reside in Nanshan Villa, but it's Number Twenty, a bit far from here."

"Are you sure?" Shen Xun asked.

Qiao Chuan swore confidently: "Sure, the lady's clothes are still hanging in the courtyard, the courtyard is kept very clean, and the pickled vegetables are drying; I recall President Shen saying the lady makes pickled vegetables every autumn and winter."

Shen Xun recalled something and remarked, "She said that was the specialty she liked to bring to school during her middle‑school days."

Ke Zhongyu and Mo Yi walked in just in time to hear that sentence.

Mo Yi asked, "Sir, are you renting?"

Shen Xun hesitated for a moment, but decided to rent; four million squeezed together is still doable.

It's just that there are only a few coins left in his pocket.

Can't catch a wolf without sacrificing a child.

He still didn't want to be looked down upon by Ke Zhongyu, so he took a pen on the spot, signed the contract, and wrote a check.

Qiao Chuan, watching from the side, twitched his eyelids and said, "President Shen, you don't have much cash on hand now."

The later it gets to year‑end, the more money is needed.

"President Shen signed so smoothly— for Jiang Lai?" Ke Zhongyu's remark made Shen Xun tear off the check and hand it over.

Mo Yi caught it at his signal.

Having taken the money, the two left.

Qiao Chuan kept feeling something was off; having to have President Ke personally come for a house rental was truly abnormal.

Shen Xun looked at Qiao Chuan and asked, "Is anyone at Number Twenty now?"

Qiao Chuan shook his head: "No."

Shen Xun: "They should be at the research institute; let's wait a bit later."

The two sat down.

Ke Zhongyu and Mo Yi headed toward Number Nine.

Mo Yi asked, "What shall we do with this money?"

The big fish caught using Jiang Lai as bait would, of course, be stewed to replenish her body.

Ke Zhongyu said, "You take it to buy groceries for Jiang Lai; four million a year— is that enough?"

Mo Yi's mind had already started rapidly calculating the weekly bird‑nest and fish‑gelatin beauty treatments for Miss Jiang, the daily imported fruit to supplement vitamins, the sea cucumber and shark‑fin dishes, the sashimi, the nourishing soups for Miss Jiang…

A rough calculation.

"It's okay, Young Master."

"Hmm." Actually Ke Zhongyu still felt it was insufficient; Shen Xun now only disburses four million a year to Jiang Lai, whereas Lin Shutong can hand out three million a month.

Zhong Poqian needs to speed up.

The same goes for Special Assistant Zhou.

Ke Zhongyu recalled Shen Xun mentioning the specialty Jiang Lai liked to bring to school: "What is pickled vegetable?"

Mo Yi herself grew up in a poor family, so of course she knows this thing.

"You put the vegetables into a jar to pickle; it can be preserved for a long time and costs nothing. Pickled vegetables are usually a bit salty, so they go well with rice— a handful of pickles can be eaten with half a bowl of rice."

Ke Zhongyu frowned.

Jiang Lai ate these when she was in middle school?

Mo Yi finished speaking with eyes full of sympathy; Miss Jiang's past life was hard, and later she met such a despicable ex‑husband.

Ke Zhongyu pulled out a card and gave it to Mo Yi: "If it's not enough, use this card; also, persuade Jiang Lai to move out earlier."

Mo Yi nodded heavily: "Don't worry, Young Master, I'll have Miss Jiang's things packed this weekend, and then call a car to deliver them directly."

Ke Zhongyu was more concerned about: "Move where?"

Mo Yi shook her head: "I still don't know."

Ke Zhongyu: "."

What use are you?

Mo Yi also saw the Young Master's disdain for her, and returned the disdain: "Young Master, hurry to the cruise ship; if you're late, Miss Jiang could be taken by someone else. Young Master, if you don't act quickly, there are plenty who will."

Ke Zhongyu continued walking at a leisurely pace.

After getting in the car, he calmly told the driver: "Drive faster."

……

Shen Xi saw Lin Shutong's Moments.

Luxury cruise ship, high-quality handsome guys.

All hit right in her heart.

She quickly sprang up from the sofa, opened Lin Shutong's chat window, and gently asked where she was playing? Was she hanging out with friends?

Lin Shutong naturally understood her thoughts; after a moment she replied yes, and asked if she wanted to join.

Of course!

But what she sent was actually asking if it was okay?

Upon receiving the affirmative "yes", Shen Xi rushed back to her room to tidy up and dress up.

The handsome guy in Shutong's Moments exudes an elite vibe, his attire very upscale; it would be great if she could snag him.

Shutong will surely help her.

Shen Xi once again immersed herself in her fantasy; after a while she emerged, changed into her dress and went out, only to see her mother sitting on the sofa playing with her phone, typing furiously.

Since returning from the hospital, Mother has always worn a worried frown, as if troubled by something.

She can't meddle in elders' affairs.

"Mom, I'm heading out."

Mother Shen snapped to attention, frowning: "Going out again? Dressed like that, aren't you cold? It's autumn/winter, yet you're wearing a summer dress."

"I'll just throw on a jacket outside; it's not cold inside the cruise ship."

"A cruise ship?" Mother Shen asked her, "Who invited you to go play on the cruise ship?"

Shen Xi laughed: "Shutong."

Mother Shen's already drooping face grew even darker; she snapped at her daughter: "Stop! You're not allowed to go."

"Why?" Shen Xi looked at her mother, puzzled.

Mother Shen rose to scold her daughter: "In short, don't associate with her anymore! She's no good."

Shen Xi frowned: "Mom! How can you say that about Shutong? You like Shutong just as much as I do, hoping she'd marry my brother, right? Shutong has always been good to us, always buying us many precious gifts."

"Those are all bought with your brother's money!" Upon hearing the words "precious gifts", Mother Shen's anger flared up, and she shouted at her daughter: "All these years she's spent your brother's money, using his money to curry favor with us! A lowly wretch."

"You couldn't go abroad in your sophomore year, and still haven't been able to go abroad since graduation—it's all Lin Shutong's doing!"