Chapter 899: The Boss Bleeds Money

Ceng Nianci leaned against the sofa, looking at the slightly agitated man before her, and let out a "hehe" laugh.

"Mr. Lukasi, you want to ask for my bottom line without offering anything in return; are you trying to get a free ride?"

Lukasi paused for a moment, then laughed.

Not annoyed, he reached into the inner pocket of his suit, took out a checkbook, "swish, swish, swish" wrote down a string of numbers, signed his name, tore it off, and handed it over, held between two fingers.

"This is one million US dollars, consider it a deposit. After the matter is settled, I will pay you the remainder."

Ceng Nianci took the check, lowered her head to glance at the numbers, the corners of her mouth lifted slightly, and she smiled.

She quickly tucked the check into her handbag, zipped it up, and said directly: "The most core part of that medicinal liquid is—"

She paused deliberately, as if whetting his appetite.

Lukasi leaned forward as expected.

"The most important part is the essential oil of the tea. But mind you, this tea is no ordinary tea; it is an Ancient Tea Tree over eight hundred years old. However, as for where that tea tree is, I haven't received word yet."

Lukasi leaned back into his chair, the tension on his face fading significantly, replaced by a hint of a relaxed smile: "Miss Ceng's intelligence work is indeed impressive. I won't hide it from you, we sent people too, but didn't obtain any useful information. If you find out where the tea tree is, I will pay you another million."

Ceng Nianci didn't speak, but simply extended her fair hand, palm facing Lukasi, her five fingers slightly spread.

Lukasi understood and reached out to high-five her.

"Wait for my good news." Ceng Nianci picked up her bag, stepped in her high heels, swayed her waist, and walked out of the room unhurriedly.

Half a month later. Hong Kong, Peninsula Hotel in Tsim Sha Tsui.

A Long was lying on the bed shirtless, his back coated with a layer of essential oil, glistening under the warm yellow light.

Ceng Nianci sat on the edge of the bed, her ten fingers exerting force, kneading his shoulders and back with moderate pressure, her movements skillful and earnest.

After a long while, she spoke slowly, "A Long, do you know where those tea trees are?"

A Long shook his head, his voice muffled in the pillow: "Nianci, it's not that I won't tell you. It's that after I tell you, my livelihood will be gone. I'm a person who has never saved money; if I have no job, how will I support you when we get married? If I don't support you, how could I face you?"

Ceng Nianci's hand movements didn't stop, but her tone changed: "A Long, are you asking me for money?"

A Long turned over, propping himself up on his arm to look at her, his expression earnest: "I'm asking the person behind you for money. I heard from Godmother that someone offered five hundred million US dollars to buy her patent, and she didn't sell it. This formula is very valuable, and I can't just sell it off cheaply for a pittance. That would also be letting Godmother down!"

Upon hearing this, Ceng Nianci's hand force suddenly became heavier.

"You bastard, you son of a bitch, I've been with you for so many days, and now you're pushing your luck, aren't you? If you don't tell me, the people behind me will definitely kill you."

A Long sat up immediately, the quilt sliding to his waist, revealing his sturdy muscles, and he hurriedly explained: "Nianci, I'm not asking you for money! I'm asking the people behind you for money. Why don't you understand me? Could it be that you are the Boss behind the scenes?"

Ceng Nianci panted in anger for a long time before slowly calming down.

She took a deep breath, swallowed the insults back down, and nodded: "A Long, you're right. Such a big matter, it's impossible to let the Boss off so cheaply. I'm leaving first."

She stood up, picked up her bag, and walked out without looking back.

The moment the door closed behind her, her expression finally sank completely.

Qianshuiwan, a white yacht was quietly moored at the pier.

The sea breeze, carrying a salty, fishy scent, blew in in gusts, causing the wine glass on the table to sway slightly.

Douglas stood on the deck, and after hearing Ceng Nianci's words, his face turned black instantly.

"You go back and tell him, at most give him one hundred thousand Hong Kong Dollar!"

Ceng Nianci leaned against the cabin door and gave a bitter smile: "Three million US dollars, not a penny less. Otherwise, no matter what I say, it's useless."

Douglas was so angry he threw his red wine glass onto the ground, shattered glass bouncing everywhere: "Just one million US dollars! Not a penny more!"

Ceng Nianci shook her head, her tone so calm it didn't sound like she was talking to her Boss: "I really have no other way. Why don't you let Xiao Qiao take my place?"

Douglas lost his temper and cursed a few times, but finding Ceng Nianci still had that indifferent look, he gritted his teeth and took a step back: "You give him one million US dollars first, and after getting the formula, pay the balance."

Ceng Nianci still shook her head, "He must get the full amount before he'll talk. He's a stubborn mule, unless you capture him."

"A ploy, this is all a ploy!" Douglas was furious, slamming his hand on the table, "Ceng Nianci, was this idea yours?"

Ceng Nianci remained motionless, not even blinking an eye: "Boss, you go ahead and tie him up, otherwise I really have no way."

Douglas gulped down an entire glass of beer, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down, and the glass hit the ground with a "bang."

"Fine!" he said through gritted teeth, "I promise you! If your intelligence is wrong, I won't spare you."

Ceng Nianci added unhurriedly: "I don't have to do this; you can let Xiao Qiao take my place."

Douglas glared at her, a look that seemed like he wanted to eat her alive.

But in the end, he took out his checkbook, swish-swish-swished and wrote down the figure of three million US dollars, tore it off and pushed it in front of her, his words sounding like they were squeezed through his teeth, "Nianci, I still trust you."

Ceng Nianci reached out to take it, a smile finally blooming on her face: "Thank you, Boss."

Half a month later. Hangzhou, Lingyinsi Houshan.

The winter tea mountain was shrouded in a layer of mist, and the sound of bells from afar drifted through the mist, dull and long, as if floating from another world.

A young couple with Hong Kong-accented Mandarin walked up along the stone path.

The man wore a dark-colored windbreaker, and the woman was wrapped in an off-white overcoat; they looked just like a couple out for a hike.

They walked to a flat area where several children were playing jump rope.

The rope hit the ground with a "pa-pa" sound, the children's faces were flushed red from the cold, and the white mist they exhaled came in puffs.

The woman took a large handful of colorful chocolates from her bag and handed them over with a smile: "Little friends, have some candy."

A little girl with pigtails was just about to reach out to take them when a slightly older girl immediately stopped her, her voice crisp: "Yanzi, don't take things from strangers."

The woman wasn't embarrassed; she squatted down, her tone gentle: "Little friends, I want to buy the tea leaves from those Ancient Tea Trees, who should I go to buy them from?"

The older girl put her hands on her hips and tilted her chin toward the top of the hillside: "You can't buy them anymore. The tea leaves from those trees have all been contracted by someone; didn't you see the wire fence? Before, we kids could still go pick tea leaves, but now we're not allowed to."

The woman leaned forward: "Can't we buy them with money?"

The girl shook her head, very decisively: "They won't sell them for any amount of money."

The woman's eyes rolled, and she asked again: "Little girl, tell me, what's so magical about those tea trees?"

The girl didn't hold back, counting on her fingers: "Those tea trees have spiritual energy! If you have a headache or a fever, you just eat a few tea leaves and you're better. The most amazing thing is that those tea leaves can even cure a fool's illness."

The woman's eyes lit up instantly, and she pressed: "Is what you're saying true? Where is that fool?"

The girl glanced at the woman and said, "The fool is in the village ahead, his name is Atao."