Chapter 3: Chapter One

The banquet held in the ballroom of Han Ze's hotel was grand, organized by the Jiang Group to celebrate the groundbreaking of a technology park in Suzhou on the mainland. This technology park, with an investment of ten billion yuan, not only expanded the Jiang Group's business empire but also brought Group President Jiang Jie into the spotlight on the mainland. Now, he is not only the dream lover of Taiwanese women but also the object of sexual fantasy for women on the other shore.

Jiang Jie is a rugged, dark-skinned, handsome man with a solid and muscular build, capable of giving women a hundred percent sense of trust. Although his deep black eyes and a crew cut like a Marine's give off a stern and dangerous impression, any woman with an eye for quality would clearly see that this man is a top-grade specimen.

As the host of this banquet, Jiang Jie dutifully greeted guests, yet felt deeply bored inside. Recently, he had been asking himself one question: Besides career, what else is there for a man to pursue?

He did not need to pursue women, because women would come to him voluntarily, so he could not derive a sense of achievement from women. Plus, the blow Yu Si gave him left him still unable to understand that women also dislike women. Of course, he slept with women and went out with them, but the function women served for him ended there, nothing more, until—

He saw a girl at the bar wearing a silver spaghetti-strap evening gown. The reason he identified her as a girl rather than a woman was that she looked young, clean, and possessed an aura untouched by worldly corruption.

She was the kind of stunning beauty who would make one dizzy: tall, elegant, with a curvaceous figure and an innocent smile that made men's hearts accelerate involuntarily. Her body, like a sculpture by a master, set off by that gown, looked exactly like an elf fallen to the mortal world. Not only did Jiang Jie notice her; he believed everyone had shifted their focus to her.

And Jiang Jie was not the kind of man who wasted time. Holding a wine glass, he walked confidently toward her, radiating an arrogance of certain victory.

Bai Bai Ziling tried to face him with a normal mindset. She knew the man walking toward her was Jiang Jie—the host of this banquet—and if it were not for Chang Chang Weiwei's help, she would not have an invitation.

Han Ze, who had business dealings with Jiang Jie, was also invited. Seeing this situation, he winked at her, as if everyone in the world knew Bai Bai Ziling had to hook a wealthy husband.

"I am Jiang Jie." Placing his wine glass on the bar counter, Jiang Jie introduced himself.

Bai Bai Ziling responded generously, "I know."

"How should I address you?" he asked, raising an eyebrow.

"Bai Bai Ziling."

"Which company or organization are you from?"

Bai Bai Ziling smiled. "Neither."

"Then how do you have an invitation?"

"A friend gave it to me."

"So..." Jiang Jie lifted a slightly mocking smile. He deliberately sized her up from head to toe, as if categorizing her or guessing her intentions.

"I just came to see the scene. Honestly, I don't know much about the Jiang Group." Bai Bai Ziling did not pretend to be shrewd; she truly knew nothing. Let alone the fact that she hadn't even graduated from university, even during her university days, she was just killing time and learned nothing.

"You are very honest."

It was rare for Jiang Jie to give a woman a high evaluation, but this girl gave him a decent impression. It seemed that besides beauty and figure, she had a bit of self-awareness. He hated women who were self-righteous and didn't know their own worth.

"Do you have plans later?" Jiang Jie directly extended an invitation.

"You ask like that..."

"Let's change locations."

She asked suspiciously, "Change locations for what?"

"Whatever we want to do, we do." He added.

"Jiang Jie..." She addressed him by name, regardless of his title as president. "I want you to understand one thing: I am not the kind of girl who is 'selling'."

"I didn't say you were." He said it lightly.

"Then your proposal—"

"Did I say anything about sleeping together?" he countered.

"But you said change locations..." She was getting a bit angry. "And 'whatever we want to do, we do,' that kind of implication... do you think I wouldn't catch on?"

"Bai Bai Ziling..." He also addressed her by name. "Many things must follow nature, so you don't need to overthink. Don't think that after I take you somewhere, I will suddenly unleash my beastly nature, tear off your clothes, and satisfy my lust. Have you read too many strange books or watched too many movies?"

Hearing Jiang Jie say this, Bai Bai Ziling suddenly felt she had overreacted.

"Sorry! I suppose I'm not a heartthrob after all, lacking fatal charm!" She made a joke of herself. "I have plans later."

"You have plans?!" He looked quite surprised.

"Can't I have plans?"

"I invite you, and you actually say you have plans!" He could not accept it.

"Jiang Jie, you are not Tom Cruise or Kimura Takuya. Does becoming the object of your invitation mean I must drop everything I've scheduled?" Bai Bai Ziling did not want him to treat her as the kind of woman who readily accepted invitations. "You are very popular, but I am not that desperate."

She indeed made Jiang Jie's eyes light up. Whether she was playing hard to get or raising her own value, this sexy goddess had left a deep impression on him.

"Then when are you free?" he asked more politely.

"I have to go back and check my calendar." She said with a half-smile.

"So busy?"

"In this day and age, idle people are mocked."

"Then give me your phone number, and I'll invite you again." Jiang Jie did not force her; he wanted to see how she wanted to play with him.

Bai Bai Ziling first glanced at him, then opened her small pearl handbag on the bar, took out a lipstick, unscrewed the cap, grabbed a napkin, wrote her mobile phone number on the paper with the lipstick, and pushed it toward him.

"Mobile phone number?" Jiang Jie looked. "What about your home number?"

"This is enough. A mobile phone can be turned off. If I don't want to be disturbed..." Bai Bai Ziling's expression was somewhat proud.

"You are very special." Jiang Jie put the napkin in his pocket. "I hope this isn't a wrong number."

"I won't leave a fake phone number."

"I might not call." Jiang Jie suddenly said, "I am very lazy; things that are too troublesome usually make me hesitate."

"Suit yourself!" Bai Bai Ziling was willing to take a gamble, to see if she could cast a long line to catch a big fish.

"Bai Bai Ziling, you are either too shrewd or too simple."

"I have always been confused." She smiled.

"Then let the facts prove it!"

Di Di Zhiwei walked into his cousin Jiang Jie's office. Usually carefree and sloppy, he now appeared sorrowful and serious; the usual wicked smile was gone from his handsome, dashing face.

"Grandpa has reported to God!" Di Di Zhiwei blurted out immediately. "Uncle made an overseas call."

Jiang Jie looked up from an investment report. Since childhood, he had not been close to his grandfather. In fact, all of them, the cousins, were not close to the grandfather. That old stubborn man always valued sons and treated daughters as money-losing goods, caring for or spoiling these grandchildren was out of the question.

Especially after the grandfather and uncle immigrated to the United States, contact became even less frequent. The mother's generation still had dealings with the grandfather, but by their generation, except for calling to wish longevity, they hardly saw each other once in several years.

"How old was Grandpa?" Jiang Jie asked very practically.

"Over eighty, I suppose."

"That... counts as a natural death." Jiang Jie felt a touch of melancholy, but to claim intense pain or sorrow would be overly sentimental.

"I heard Uncle is returning to Taiwan to handle the funeral."

"Falling leaves return to their roots." Jiang Jie said understandingly.

Di Di Zhiwei hooked a swivel chair with his foot, sat down in front of Jiang Jie's desk, his expression serious and carrying a hint of skepticism. "Something is quite interesting!"

"What is it?"

"Grandfather's will."

"Oh." Jiang Jie gave a perfunctory reply, not particularly concerned; he shifted his attention back to his investment report. He already had money himself, so he didn't care at all what Grandfather would leave him.

"You don't want to know?" Di Di Zhiwei said, somewhat deflated.

"Not really."

"Each grandson can receive five hundred million, while each granddaughter gets fifty million." Di Di Zhiwei relayed what he had heard.

"Grandfather is still Grandfather..." Jiang Jie couldn't help but mock. "Even in distributing the will, there's gender discrimination. If our female cousins had any backbone, they'd simply not..."

"Cousin, there are conditions to get the five hundred million; those taking fifty million face no restrictions." Di Di Zhiwei gave a bitter smile. "Grandfather was never an easy man; he was like this in life, and even in death, he can still mess with us grandchildren."

"What conditions?" Jiang Jie felt a bit curious.

"Marriage."

"You mean..."

"If we remain unmarried, then forget the five hundred million; we won't get even five yuan." Di Di Zhiwei, a playboy, felt somewhat conflicted; freedom was very important to him. He liked women, but had no fondness for marriage, yet five hundred million yuan... held a fatal attraction.

"Grandfather wants us to marry?" Jiang Jie wasn't particularly concerned.

"Seems so."

"Losing freedom for five hundred million..." He shook his head. "I'd rather stay single; let Grandfather take that money to the grave!"

"Cousin, I know you're wealthy, but five hundred million is still no small sum!" Di Di Zhiwei gritted his teeth.

"If you need it, go ahead and get married."

"I don't want to get married!"

"Then forget it." Jiang Jie shrugged indifferently.

"Jiang Jie!" Di Di Zhiwei couldn't help but call his cousin by name. "Don't act so carefree and detached, as if it has nothing to do with you. Five hundred million yuan! With the economy so bad now, five hundred million could let you live comfortably for several lifetimes. Don't take it lightly."

Jiang Jie shrugged. "Then you could fake a marriage."

"No, the will clearly states the other party must be pregnant before Uncle can transfer the money into our accounts." Di Di Zhiwei sighed.

"Then fake a pregnancy."

"Cousin—"

"I think Grandfather is really boring!" Jiang Jie said in a somewhat rude tone. "He wants to use his money to control and torment us, so five hundred million..."

"Cousin, can you still not forget the blow Yu Zi Si Qi dealt you?" Di Di Zhiwei asked cautiously.

"It has nothing to do with her!" Jiang Jie looked at him with an arrogant yet indifferent attitude. "I admit I don't understand women, and I hate lifelong commitments and relationships with women, so I won't get married!"

"But we can't do without women."

"Right! But we don't have to be tied to them, locked with them for a lifetime." Jiang Jie wore an expression suggesting he didn't want to discuss the topic further. "This investment report is important; have you finished speaking?"

"You really feel no interest at all?"

"No interest!"

"If a good match appeared..."

"Women are just women!" Jiang Jie grinned at him. "No need to raise a cow just to drink a glass of milk; these days, milk is available everywhere. Don't be silly."

Jiang Jie did not actively invite Bai Bai Ziling; their meeting again was purely by chance. Lei Lei Hanyu, a banking magnate, held a birthday party for his beloved wife Xia Zhen, issuing many invitations. Due to some financial dealings, Jiang Jie attended this party and saw Bai Bai Ziling again.

It was still that silver Versace spaghetti-strap evening gown, still that same stunning, eye-catching beauty.

But Bai Bai Ziling's reaction was completely different; seeing him, she truly wanted to dig a hole in the ground and crawl inside, or simply evaporate from the floor—it didn't matter; she just felt terribly embarrassed.

Because she was wearing the same gown.

And also because—he hadn't called to invite her at all, as if he had no interest in her whatsoever, which made her feel her female dignity was utterly lost, so she wanted to leave this place.

Bai Bai Ziling diligently scanned the crowd for Xia Zhen's figure, thinking that once she greeted her, she could slip away. Chang Chang Weiwei was at home resting for her pregnancy, and Sima Sima Xingchen had gone traveling in Italy. Alone and isolated, she now felt extremely insecure, so besides fleeing in panic, she had no other option.

But she was still stopped by Jiang Jie; he blocked her path, wearing a confident smile on his face.

"Meeting again." He said with a smile.

"Yes! What a coincidence." She smiled awkwardly.

"Today you are..."

"Xia Zhen is my good friend; we are close friends. You wouldn't think I'm just here to mooch food and drink, would you?" She was perhaps overreacting, but Bai Bai Ziling felt she needed to make it clear.

"Bai Bai Ziling, I wasn't implying anything..."

"I said it first myself to avoid being misunderstood."

Jiang Jie knew she was angry, so he didn't reply further, fearing he might say something wrong and make her angrier. He used his gaze instead of words to examine her noble, elegant attire.

But Bai Bai Ziling misunderstood again. "It's the same one as last time; you don't need to look. I bought this second-hand gown for forty-five thousand yuan; I have to wear it a few times to break even!" She didn't want to pretend to be a rich young lady, so she spoke honestly.

"Very beautiful, this gown..."

"I'm not some rich young lady, nor any famous socialite; I'm currently unemployed. So what!" She spoke fiercely, like a hedgehog.

"Bai Bai Ziling, what's wrong with you?" Jiang Jie asked, puzzled.

"I'm just making things clear to you."

"Clear up what?" He didn't understand.

"I..."

His gaze swept over her entire body, her delicate face, missing nothing. The corners of his lips curved into a faint smile, and his reaction... gave Bai Bai Ziling an impulse to slap the smile right off his face.

"Jiang Jie, can you stop blocking the way?" She had already decided to give up on him as a target, because the chance of success was zero.

"Where are you in such a hurry to go?"

"That's none of your business!"

"We didn't manage to meet last time; you seemed very busy..."

"No! You never asked me out in the first place."

"I am very busy." He explained, forgetting whether he had asked her out or not was normal.

"Then forget it." She saw through it.

"But now..." Jiang Jie's gaze was intense, and his attitude somewhat domineering, carrying a resolute refusal of any denial. "We are both free."

"No! You are free; I have another date in a while." Bai Bai Ziling rejected him. "You will make me late."

"President Jiang." Xia Zhen did not know when she had already stood before the two of them. "It seems I don't need to introduce you; you two already know each other!"

"Lady Lei, I didn't know you had such a beautiful close friend." Jiang Jie said politely.

"Just call me Xia Zhen!"

"Then you call me Jiang Jie; calling me 'President' is too distant!"

"Bai Bai Ziling is one of my best friends; now she is a sought-after single lady; sometimes I envy her." Xia Zhen winked at Bai Bai Ziling. "No family burdens, no troublesome husband or son, free and unfettered at all times."

"I think Miss Bai would envy you, having such a good husband and such a considerate son." Jiang Jie comforted her.

"You two chat slowly; I'll go first." Bai Bai Ziling interjected, wearing a fake smile.

"Bai Bai Ziling, where are you going?" Xia Zhen asked, puzzled.

"I'm going to..."

"Miss Bai seems to be avoiding me?" Jiang Jie looked at her with a challenging expression. "I don't know what I did that displeased her."

"No way!" Xia Zhen looked at Bai Bai Ziling as if reproaching her.

"Xia Zhen, you don't know..."

"Jiang Jie, this girl, Bai Bai Ziling, has no scheming mind; she is used to speaking and acting directly, so if she offended you anywhere, don't hold it against her; if you get along with her for a long time, you will understand her character." Xia Zhen's intent as a matchmaker was very obvious.

Bai Bai Ziling glared at Xia Zhen; only now did she understand what was meant by forced sales and forced prizes; perhaps Jiang Jie was currently mocking their eagerness in his heart.

"Xia Zhen, I really have something to do!" Bai Bai Ziling spoke fiercely.

"Then I'll take you." Jiang Jie immediately replied.

"No need!"

"Bai Bai Ziling, since Jiang Jie is free, let him take you." Xia Zhen chimed in; among the four of them, Bai Bai Ziling was the most active and most ambitious in wanting to marry a wealthy husband; yet when the opportunity truly came before her, why did she completely block it at the door?!

"I'd be delighted!" Jiang Jie smiled at Bai Bai Ziling in a show of defiance.