Chapter 834: Love Starting from a Breakup 23

You're afraid Shen Qing will seize the family's inheritance rights, so you're eager to find a family that can shield the Shen family as your backing, aren't you?

Qiao Xu finished speaking and let out a cold snort, "You're dreaming—Jin Chen would never agree to marry you!"

Shen Ling was so angry at him exposing her wound that she almost couldn't bear it; she had originally not really planned to keep pursuing Jin Chen, but now her family is pressing her urgently, and from any angle, the Jin Family, which possesses absolute underworld power, is indeed the most suitable.

But hearing Qiao Xu say it so bluntly makes it another matter entirely.

"Shut up! Even if I were planning that, I could at least help the Jin Family's casino and arena, which is far better than you, who are useless and only drag us down!"

"Enough."

Jin Chen coldly interrupted Shen Ling, "I don't need this cooperation."

"Jin Chen! Cooperating with us is the best way for you to launder your goods right now!"

Shen Ling didn't expect Jin Chen to refuse so straightforwardly.

"Well, you're still quite ignorant."

Jin Chen glanced at Shen Ling without hesitation, "Even without going through domestic channels, this shipment is still ours."

Shen Ling widened her eyes, "Aren't you afraid my family will report you?!"

"You can try."

Jin Chen's voice suddenly sank.

Hearing that, Shen Ling felt a chill in her heart and shook her head in disbelief.

This person is truly terrifying.

"Secretary Li, see them out."

"All right, Chairman."

Secretary Li, standing at the door, was stunned speechless by their aristocratic feud.

When the office was left with only the two of them, Qiao Xu finally relaxed.

He put down his lunch box, his eyes slightly red, and asked Jin Chen, "What you just said is true, right? You won't marry Shen Ling, correct?"

"Yes, I won't marry Shen Ling."

Facing the young master, Jin Chen's tone grew much gentler.

"Then that's good—I was scared to death."

Qiao Xu pouted, "He's no good—don't be his friend, and certainly don't like him."

Jin Chen raised his eyebrows noncommittally, sat down in the lounge, and didn't continue that utterly impossible topic.

"Aren't you already hungry?"

Qiao Xu instantly beamed, pattering over to twist open the lunch box.

"This is homemade by me!"

Jin Chen glanced at the dishes and suddenly asked, "There's no poison in here, right?"

His tone was teasing.

Qiao Xu froze for a second, then suddenly recalled what happened the night before their breakup, and gave him an annoyed look.

"No poison!"

He sat beside Jin Chen, cupping his face in anticipation of Jin Chen's reaction.

"How is it? Is it good?"

Jin Chen chewed the vegetables, guessing they had no salt, and forced himself to speak despite his conscience.

"It's good."

Anyway, if it's not bad, then it's good.

"Really?"

Qiao Xu's eyes lit up—indeed, he really does have talent! He had thought the family chef was just saying nice things.

He also took a bite.

He pursed his lips; it wasn't tasty.

He let out a somewhat dejected sigh, "All right, I have no talent."

"But I'll study hard from now on."

Jin Chen responded in surprise, "Why are you studying this?"

It's not that he can't.

Perhaps his doubtful tone was too obvious, and to Qiao Xu's ears it actually sounded like a refusal to eat another bite.

The ill-tempered young master wavered for three seconds between storming off in a huff and sitting down to explain things clearly.

Three seconds later.

Qiao Xu snorted and chose to explain.

"This flavor isn't good, so I'll study hard—why are you questioning me?"

Jin Chen:?

Good heavens, none of his earlier words had anything to do with questioning.

"Also, don't act like that—I'm naturally quick to anger, and you know that."

As Qiao Xu spoke, he ended up making himself feel wronged.

"I'm already changing."

"All right," Jin Chen stuffed a grape into his mouth, gesturing to shut him up, "I didn't question you, and I'm not refusing to eat with you from now on."

Following the feeding motion, he lowered his hand and took the young master's hand, which had been hidden under the table since he arrived.

As expected, he felt a blister on the fingertip.

"My point is, a hand that plays piano shouldn't be cooking—you've messed it up like this, and your hand will hurt again when you go to the music studio this afternoon."

Qiao Xu's inexplicable angry sorrow instantly vanished.

Only then did a smile slowly appear.

Oh, so that's what Jin Chen meant.

He arched his brows, extending his finger before Jin Chen, "Then blow on it, it really hurts."

He had wanted to do this ever since his finger hurt while playing the piano last time.

The Young Master, who had gotten his wish but was then coaxed, became completely happy.

【Detected Villain Heartthrob Value +5, total 63!】

After the meal, Qiao Xu didn't want to leave at all.

Under Jin Chen's supervision, he obediently took his stomach medicine, and only then did Qiao Xu find a chance to speak.

"What exactly is the goods Shen Ling mentioned earlier? Can I know?"

"They are firearms obtained from Ying State; one must go through a procedure to clear the way, otherwise it would be opposing the Dragon Nation's high officials."

Qiao Xu actually didn't quite understand, but he knew the problem was very serious.

But for so many years, the Qiao Family has never had any contact with underground matters, so they really can't help much.

However…

"Do you need financial support? I have plenty of money."

Qiao Xu asked seriously, a complete reversal of his previous forbiddance of Jin Chen contacting the underground's troublemakers.

"For now, Young Master Qiao doesn't need to be generous."

Jin Chen chuckled lowly, "There's already a concrete solution; I'll go to Ying State in a few days."

"Ah, you're going abroad."

Qiao Xu propped his chin, thinking, "Or I could go visit relatives in Ying State for a few days."

Who would have thought that just as this idea arose, he heard Jin Chen advise against it, "It's very dangerous; you're not allowed to follow."

Qiao Xu lowered his brows, "I won't cause trouble."

"If you follow, I'll have to divide my attention to protect you."

"Alright, alright, then I won't go."

Qiao Xu sighed wistfully.

"By the way, there's also the matter of the Gu Family and Qi Zhan."

"I… had someone investigate Qi Zhan; he seems not to be the biological son of the Qi Family, and there's leverage held by the Gu Family."

Qiao Xu curled up on the sofa, looking at Jin Chen, "Do you know about this?"

Jin Chen didn't ask the Young Master why he investigated Qi Zhan; it was simply that he had finally discovered they were problematic.

Thus Jin Chen did not conceal anything.

"I know; the Gu Family also has underground holdings, though inferior to our clan, but controlling a powerless wealthy family is still as easy as turning over one's hand."

Qiao Xu sat up in surprise, "The Gu Family too…"

After a few seconds of dazedness, the Young Master seemed to have figured out the crux.

He instantly flared with anger, "Aunt Gu deceived my father!"

At that moment, many things flashed through his mind.

Eventually, it condensed into a single sentence.

Qiao Xu grabbed Jin Chen's arm, kneeling beside him, his voice softening, "So, the many times you told me to be careful of Gu He—was that also what you meant?"

Upon mentioning this, Jin Chen felt utterly helpless, "You're quite outstanding, yet you've never listened even once."