10: Chapter 10

10

"Very well, then I shall get straight to the point."

The beautiful woman nodded slightly, "I hope you will join us."

As long as you agree, you can receive forty thousand crystal coinss every day."

Jiang Haojie barely hesitated: "Not interested."

Setting aside the fact that he knew nothing about this group, the very idea of "joining"

was something he instinctively rejected.

He said no more and signaled Huang Xingshan that they were leaving, but their path was blocked by the two burly men who had led them in.

Jiang Haojie paused, turned around slowly, and his sharp gaze pierced the seated woman: "Is this your 'sincerity'? If I don't nod, I can't leave?"

The smile on the woman's lips did not fade; instead, it deepened slightly: "I suggest you take a moment to reconsider."

Perhaps you aren't fully aware—the underground boxing ring in Dragon City is my property.

If you agree, not only can you take today's prize money immediately, but you'll also receive an extra forty thousand crystal coinss.

This is a very profitable deal."

"Are you threatening me?"

Jiang Haojie narrowed his eyes, a cold glint flashing in the depths of his pupils.

The woman waved her hand at the two subordinates, and they stepped aside as ordered.

She stood up elegantly and took out a card with a metallic luster from an exquisite handbag beside her.

"It's not a threat, it's a display of my sincerity."

She walked gracefully over to Jiang Haojie and handed him the card, "I know you stepped into that ring for money.

Since that's the case, why not seriously consider my proposal? In this world, no one should have a problem with crystal coinss."

"You're right."

Jiang Haojie shrugged and didn't take the card, "But my answer remains the same.

Besides, I don't like these cards; just transfer the money directly."

The woman was slightly taken aback, then smiled and signaled someone to bring her communicator.

A moment later, Jiang Haojie's account received a notification of a payment.

"The amount is wrong."

Jiang Haojie looked at the extra forty thousand crystal coinss on the screen, his brow furrowed, "You transferred too much."

"The extra is just a small token of my personal regard."

The woman said gently, her gaze lingering on his face the entire time.

"Then... thank you."

Jiang Haojie raised an eyebrow and didn't refuse, accepting this 'token' decisively.

Then he turned and left.

"Please wait."

The woman's voice came from behind him again.

Jiang Haojie turned halfway, his tone already carrying a hint of impatience: "Is there something else?"

The business card was light green, with fine dark patterns embossed on the edges.

When the woman handed it over, her fingertips carried a faint fragrance. "Once you've thought it through, you can contact me anytime."

Her voice was steady, as if she had already predicted something.

Jiang Haojie took it and looked down.

There was only a string of numbers on the card, along with a line of small text: Bai Group, Xu Jing.

The Bai Group.

He remembered the family business that Bai Yang occasionally mentioned.

What position did this Xu Jing hold within the Bai Group?

He didn't ask further, simply tucked the card into his pocket and tilted his head toward Huang Xingshan, and the two of them left the room one after the other.

After the door closed, the man wearing glasses stepped forward and whispered, "Madam, are we just going to let them leave like that?"

Xu Jing remained where she was, a very faint smile floating on her lips. "He will call."

She said it nonchalantly, "People who step into the ring for money won't truly refuse money."

The elevator descended slowly.

Huang Xingshan finally couldn't help himself, his Adam's apple bobbing: "...Mr. X, I'm sorry."

Jiang Haojie waved his hand, not letting him continue.

He understood what Huang Xingshan was apologizing for, but he didn't care.

What Huang Xingshan knew was limited anyway, and what he had said was only superficial.

Moreover—he felt the heavy thickness of the stack in his jacket's inner pocket—tonight's harvest had already made those trivial details irrelevant.

When they walked out of Zuixin Tower, the night was deep, and stars were scattered across the sky.

Jiang Haojie and Huang Xingshan parted ways at the street corner, and he walked toward the hospital alone.

After first settling the remaining balance at the payment counter, he asked for the ward number and gently pushed open the door.

His father was still in a deep sleep, and his mother, Xiao Yufen, was keeping watch in a chair by the bed, her figure looking thin and frail from behind.

Hearing the movement, she turned her head, and seeing it was Jiang Haojie, her tense shoulders relaxed slightly.

"Xiao Hao, where did you go? Have you eaten?"

"I've eaten."

Jiang Haojie approached, keeping his voice very soft, "Mom, the money issue is resolved; everything has been paid in full."

He actually hadn't eaten anything all day, but saying so now would only make his mother more worried.

Xiao Yufen was stunned and grabbed his wrist: "Three hundred thousand... where did you get so much money?"

"Don't worry, it's all from legitimate sources."

Jiang Haojie had already prepared his story, "I took on a few tutoring jobs, the parents were satisfied and paid a lot in advance.

For the rest... I borrowed some from a few close classmates, and I'll just pay them back slowly later."

The story worked.

The doubt in Xiao Yufen's eyes gradually dissolved; what she feared most wasn't poverty, but her child going down the wrong path.

"Mom, you go home and rest first. I'll watch over Dad tonight."

Xiao Yufen shook her head, her hand gripping her husband's slightly cool hand again: "I wouldn't be able to sleep if I went back. I feel more at ease here."

Jiang Haojie didn't try to persuade her further.

He silently went out and rented a narrow camp bed from a small shop downstairs, squeezing it into a corner of the ward.

During the night, whoever got tired could take turns lying down for a bit.

As dawn approached, the dark blue outside the window gradually faded into a grayish-white.

A very soft groan came from the hospital bed.

Jiang Haojie woke up immediately and moved to the bedside.

Jiang Shangquan's eyelids flickered and finally opened slowly.

"Dad,"

Jiang Haojie leaned over, his voice kept very low, "How do you feel?"

"I'm fine."

Jiang Shangquan's voice was very faint, and his face looked like faded old paper.

"Where's your mother?"

"She went to buy food."

Just as Jiang Haojie finished speaking, Xiao Yufen pushed the door open, carrying a plastic bag.

"Old Jiang, you're finally awake."

She hurried to the bedside and placed the lunch box on the nightstand, her voice thick with suppressed sobs, "Are you in pain? Is there anywhere you feel uncomfortable?"

Jiang Shangquan didn't answer, instead gritting his teeth and trying to sit up by propping himself up with his elbows on the mattress.

He tried several times, but his body felt as heavy as lead, and he only managed to break out in a layer of cold, hollow sweat on his forehead. "...I'm fine."

He caught his breath and turned his gaze to his wife, "Go, get me discharged."

"Dad, the doctor said you can't."

Jiang Haojie reached out and pressed down on his father's thin shoulders.

"Yes, don't worry about the money,"

Xiao Yufen chimed in; she knew her husband too well, having seen that look of anxiety for twenty years, "Xiao Hao has already taken care of everything."

Jiang Shangquan suddenly turned his head and stared at his son: "Where did you get the money?"

Jiang Haojie smiled and repeated the same story he had told his mother—saved from part-time jobs and borrowed from friends, perfectly reasonable.

As Jiang Shangquan listened, his brow did not relax, and a flicker of doubt danced in his clouded eyes.

In the end, he didn't ask further, only nodding very slowly, as if he had used up his last bit of strength.

"Dad, you just focus on recovering; leave everything else to me."

After breakfast, Jiang Haojie left the hospital.

Yesterday's haste had prevented him from visiting his parents' former workplace; today, he had to go.

The injuries on his father's body couldn't just be ignored.

Changji Chemical Plant.

The rusted factory sign gleamed dimly in the afternoon sun.

Jiang Haojie was not unfamiliar with this place, having visited a few times as a child.

But he didn't walk straight in—not to mention whether he could see the boss behind the scenes, simply stepping through those gates would likely alert them.

He paced around the perimeter of the factory area, the gray walls stretching into the distance, and for a moment, he couldn't think of a safe way in.

A name suddenly jumped into his mind.

He took out his phone and dialed the number.

"Mr. X?"

The call was answered almost immediately, and Huang Xingshan's voice came through, a bit more eager than usual, likely due to the lingering effects of yesterday's events.

Jiang Haojie skipped the pleasantries: "I want to find someone's address. Can you do that?"

"Finding someone?"

Huang Xingshan paused, "That's not my specialty.

However, I have a friend who does this for a living.

If you trust me, tell me the name, and I'll ask for you directly."

"The owner of Changji Chemical Plant.

I want his detailed residential address."

Jiang Haojie spoke at a steady pace, "The cost is not an issue, but it must be fast."

"Understood, don't you worry."

Huang Xingshan's efficiency was surprisingly high.

Not long after he hung up, the phone rang again.

"Mr. X, I found it.

Changji Chemical Plant is a property of the Bai Group, and the person in charge is called Yin Decai."

Huang Xingshan paused, gave a series of addresses, and then added, "This person... has a bit of a complicated background, so be careful."

The clues Huang Xingshan provided were very clear: Yin Decai had two places to stay in the city. One was Jiahe Court, his official home; the other was Xingwang New City, where he kept his mistress.

Given his usual habits, it was highly likely he would go to the latter tonight.

On the other end of the phone, Huang Xingshan gave the detailed door numbers for both addresses.

The Bai Group... hearing this name, Jiang Haojie vaguely connected some fragments in his mind.

No wonder the chemical plant had driven his parents away without any warning; Bai Yang's hand was indeed behind it.

But for now, he needed to confirm some things first.

"Thanks.

How much is the fee? I'll transfer it to you."

Jiang Haojie asked.

"You're being too formal,"

Huang Xingshan hurriedly replied on the phone, "This little thing is just to make up for yesterday's offense. No charge at all."

Jiang Haojie said no more, only offering a word of thanks, and he silently made a note of this favor.

After ending the call, he headed straight for Xingwang New City.

Since it was difficult to break into the chemical plant for now, he might as well meet that Director Yin here.

Following the address given by Huang Xingshan, Jiang Haojie quickly found the villa district.

He put on the spider-patterned mask in a deserted corner before quietly entering the neighborhood.

Yin Decai certainly knew how to enjoy himself, choosing a residence that was quiet and private, which actually added some convenience to Jiang Haojie's actions.

Before long, he had sneaked to the outside of the villa arranged for the mistress.

He didn't go through the front door, but instead went around to the back of the house.

...

At this moment, Zhao Yuqian was in a quite good mood.

Wrapped in a silk bathrobe, she held a few slices of translucent cucumber between her fingertips and was gently applying them to her cheeks, humming a vague and lighthearted tune.

She knew Yin Decai was coming tonight—the old man was older than her father, but he was her sugar daddy after all, and she didn't dare slack off in coaxing and serving him.

Precisely because she had clung to this big tree, she could live such a leisurely life: shopping and playing cards on weekdays, and keeping one or two young, obedient companions when she felt like it. Her life was so comfortable she had almost forgotten what worry felt like.

She had just sat down on the sofa and smoothed the last slice of cucumber onto her forehead.

Crash—

The sudden sound of shattering glass exploded! Zhao Yuqian trembled all over, and in a scramble, she wiped all the cucumber slices off her face.

Before she could even get up from the sofa, a masked dark figure had already broken through the window and approached her like a ghost.

While her scream was still stuck in her throat, the person had already pressed her heavily back into the sofa cushions, one hand firmly covering her mouth.

"Don't make a sound."

The voice behind the mask was kept extremely low, like an ice blade scraping against her eardrums, "If you make a sound, you die.

Do you understand?"

Before he finished speaking, a cold glint appeared in his other hand—a curved blade shaped like a mantis arm appeared out of nowhere and rested steadily against the side of her neck.

Zhao Yuqian was scared out of her wits, tears gushing out,

"Did you hear me!"

The blade edge moved half an inch closer.

She nodded frantically, tears mixing with her ruined makeup as they flowed down miserably.

No matter what, she had to save her life first.

Seeing that she was somewhat submissive, Jiang Haojie slowly let go of his hand.

The Mantis Blade was not put away, however; instead, it was thrust downward with a sudden force—the tip of the blade pierced through the carpet and dug deep into the gap between the tiles, standing straight up right by Zhao Yuqian's foot.

Zhao Yuqian curled up on the sofa, trembling as she looked at him: "Money, I'll give you all the money... just please don't hurt me..."

Jiang Haojie's voice was as calm as a pool of deep water: "I have no interest in money or you.

I'm here for Yin Decai."

"Cooperate, and you'll be safe."