Chapter 99

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Protagonist:

Jiang Wenyu

This day, Li Chen arrived at the company early as always. Over the past few days he had heard about a major incident — supposedly a heavyweight fraudster had come to Chema City and was arrested by the police just two days after arriving. Once the news spread, the Chema City police earned great merit, and the most crucial figure in all this was Zhou He.

"Zhou He... I remember he seems to be Mayor Zhou's younger brother, right? I think I saw him once during that fight last time." Li Chen had only met him once and had little impression. Walking into the office, he happened to see Jiang Wenyu, who was currently facing the window with his back to him. Li Chen could only see his back and assumed he was still gloomy like a few days ago, so he proceeded to recount the whole matter.

"Hey, this Zhou He has some ability. Didn't you used to cooperate with him before?"

As he said this, Li Chen didn't expect Jiang Wenyu to answer anything, but suddenly the latter turned around, wearing his usual smile, and said, "Mm, he worked with me for a while. Later a lot of things happened and we went our separate ways."

"..." Seeing Jiang Wenyu returned to normal, Li Chen momentarily couldn't react, then hurriedly stepped forward laughing loudly, "Haha, you brat, I thought you'd sewn your mouth shut. You haven't said a word in days, you nearly worried me to death!"

Jiang Wenyu shook his head with a wry smile: "I'm not saying nothing at all, just thinking about some things."

Li Chen waved his hand laughing: "Alright alright, the things you think about are too brain-taxing, I don't want to hear them. Hey, Zhou He was rewarded several hundred yuan by the Mayor. When will I ever get to run into a righteous deed like that?"

Jiang Wenyu snorted a laugh: "Forget it, you. Isn't it better to have fewer troubles? But scammers' tricks are getting more and more numerous, you need to be careful too. By the way, was anyone in Chema City actually scammed?"

Li Chen's information network was quite sharp. He immediately said: "There really is one. You know him too — Wang Tao."

"Wang Tao!?" Jiang Wenyu was genuinely a bit surprised.

Li Chen said: "I don't know the specifics, and I can't be bothered to care. Anyway, it seems the money was all recovered in the end."

Jiang Wenyu nodded. They couldn't be bothered to inquire into Wang Tao's affairs — after all, he had treated them that way back then.

And his mood today had indeed recovered considerably, mainly because of a phone call with a certain someone yesterday.

Time returns to yesterday evening —

"Jiang Wenyu?"

The girl's voice on the other end carried some doubt, then some happiness: "You actually still call me."

Jiang Wenyu's expression was still somewhat heavy. When he went to Jianghai City before, he had indeed kept Zhong Beiyue's contact information.

He took a deep breath, then asked: "I have something to ask you. If I remember correctly, Jianghai City should have a place dedicated to cultivating fashion designers, right? Seems to be called... Athena Pavilion?"

"..."

As his words fell, Zhong Beiyue on the other end seemed to fall silent. A moment later she said: "Ah, right, it's called Athena Pavilion. What about it?"

Her tone was clearly off. Jiang Wenyu naturally knew of Athena Pavilion — in the 1980s it was one of Jianghai City's most outstanding academies, specializing in training fashion designers. Everyone who graduated from there was among the world's top designers.

And precisely because Athena Pavilion was so formidable, even into the 21st century its plaque still hadn't fallen. That was why Jiang Wenyu knew of this place.

He finally took a deep breath and voiced the doubt in his heart.

"Are you and Chen Lan hiding something from me?"

Sure enough, at this question Zhong Beiyue fell silent again. This girl's thoughts were really too easy to guess. She stayed silent, and Jiang Wenyu sighed, saying rather helplessly: "This isn't a bad thing. Why hide it from me?"

Jiang Wenyu's tone was very gentle. Zhong Beiyue carefully asked: "You... you're not angry?"

Jiang Wenyu smiled wryly: "I said, this isn't a bad thing. You know what kind of place Athena Pavilion is. I'm just curious what exactly is going on."

It was true that the certificate under the bed was Athena Pavilion's Entry Qualification, but Jiang Wenyu was still somewhat at a loss.

But Zhong Beiyue fell silent again. Jiang Wenyu said: "Speak quickly, this phone call is expensive."

A moment later, Zhong Beiyue finally spoke over the phone: "Okay, actually..."

A few minutes later, Zhong Beiyue had told Jiang Wenyu the whole story, including how Chen Lan was admitted. After hearing it, Jiang Wenyu was indeed astonished: "That impressive?"

"Of course it's impressive!" Now that everything was told to Jiang Wenyu, there was nothing left unsaid. Zhong Beiyue exaggerated: "Athena Pavilion doesn't just accept anyone randomly. I'm so outstanding and still don't have the qualification! Let me tell you, since you're her husband you should think for her. She didn't want to go because she was worried about you and the child!"

Jiang Wenyu smiled wryly again. A mature married man like him didn't need a little girl to lecture him. He was merely curious and surprised. He said: "Alright, I understand. Thank you for telling me this. If Chen Lan really goes there in the end, I hope you'll look after her."

The Zhong family had deep roots in Jianghai City and considerable influence. Zhong Beiyue laughed: "Of course! I still want to thank her. But I calculated the time — there's not long before that Entry Qualification expires. You'd better make things clear with her."

It sounded easy on the phone, but actually doing it was very difficult. Jiang Wenyu knew Chen Lan best. Thinking of her stubborn personality made him feel helpless. He said: "I know. If nothing else, I'll hang up first—"

"Hey wait!" Zhong Beiyue immediately shouted over the phone: "I still have something I want you to help with."

Time returns to the present. Knowing everything, Jiang Wenyu was naturally no longer confused, but how to tell Chen Lan was also a problem. However, time was limited, and he couldn't delay any longer.

Time flew to noon. The office was very quiet. Jiang Wenyu and Bai Mulin worked alongside the employees. Since reaching a cooperation agreement with Miles, their daily output had been increasing. In another day the sales channels would be fully opened. They also had a way to contact Miles. Once the other side was ready, all the already-repaired products here could be transported, and the subsequent sales work would be Miles's problem.

At mealtime Jiang Wenyu still returned to the office to eat. Li Chen had bought boxed lunches early.

But as the two ate, a sound came from downstairs.

"Mr. Jiang, someone's looking for you!"

Li Chen rolled his eyes, food still un-swallowed in his mouth: "Who is this, picking mealtime to show up."

Jiang Wenyu set down his boxed lunch: "I'll go take a look."

Not long after, Jiang Wenyu went downstairs. Li Chen planned to eat a couple more bites, but suddenly a familiar shout came from downstairs.

"Jiang... Mr. Jiang! I beg you, please help me!"

Li Chen barely kept from spraying out the food in his mouth. From the sound of that voice, who else could it be but Wang Tao?

He hurriedly ran downstairs too. Sure enough, in the first-floor hall Wang Tao stood before Jiang Wenyu with a face full of dejection. His servile appearance looked like he was about to kneel.

As soon as Li Chen came down, both of them turned to look. Jiang Wenyu was still fairly calm. Wang Tao, upon seeing Li Chen, instantly couldn't speak.

Jiang Wenyu didn't say much, but Wang Tao's arrival was indeed unexpected. Li Chen had already walked to the other side. Jiang Wenyu asked: "Young Master Wang, long time no see. How about we sit down first?"

Jiang Wenyu really had no good feelings toward Wang Tao. Li Chen even less so. Ever since seeing Wang Tao, Li Chen's face had been nothing but unpleasant. Perhaps knowing how excessive his past actions were, Wang Tao kept his head lowered the whole time, not daring to look up.

After sitting down, Jiang Wenyu asked again: "Young Master Wang, speak. What exactly do you want with us?"

Wang Tao seemed to have made up his mind when he came, but now he stammered, clearly hung up on his worthless pride.

A full moment passed before he finally opened his mouth, saying with difficulty: "The Mall can't keep going... Mr. Jiang... can—"

"Oh, I get it." Before he finished, Li Chen on the other side directly cut in. He said quite calmly: "I knew it. Lately I've been hearing people say the big Mall is looking for buyers, then I heard about the scam. Tsk tsk tsk, Young Master Wang, Young Master Wang, when did it become your turn to be the one getting scammed?"

This matter indeed made Wang Tao uncomfortable; even now, bringing it up made his expression turn unsightly, but a man under the eaves has to bow his head — he didn't dare say another word.

And Li Chen wasn't actually trying to squeeze him out; he was just venting. Seeing Wang Tao's wretched look, his mood instantly brightened, and he said, "Alright, alright, I was just blowing off steam."

Jiang Wenyu snickered quietly, then also said, "Young Master Wang, do you mean you want me to acquire the Mall?"

Wang Tao nodded without the slightest hesitation.

Jiang Wenyu pondered for a moment, then said, "Your Mall occupies a huge area; if we acquire the whole thing, the price might..."

"Sixty-five thousand!"

Wang Tao beat him to it and blurted out the price.

This price made both Jiang Wenyu and Li Chen widen their eyes.

That Mall's floor area was even larger than all their factories combined; even though things aren't worth much nowadays, isn't sixty-five thousand a bit too low!?

Jiang Wenyu said in disbelief, "Young Master Wang, that's a big Mall — you're really only selling for this price?"

Wang Tao gritted his teeth at this moment and said without hesitation, "Yes, just sixty-five thousand!"

Jiang Wenyu immediately turned to look at Li Chen; both could see the pleasant surprise in the other's eyes.

A huge pie fell from the sky — there's no reason not to pick it up.