73: Tens of millions? Is that a lot?

6:32 AM

Jiang Chuan woke up on the escort bed and forced himself to sit up, feeling pain all over his body.

Seeing that Zhang Linlin was still fast asleep on the bed; she had only managed to fall asleep in the early hours of the morning after taking painkillers.

He carefully walked out of the ward to the restroom, took out the disposable toiletries from the bag Little Green Tea had left behind, and did a quick wash.

After tidying up, he went to the park below the hospital, put on his Bluetooth earphones, and started jogging to stretch his muscles while dialing Shen Qingning's number.

"Hello."

Jiang Chuan knew she woke up early and was always the first to arrive at the company. Hearing what sounded like cooking on the other end, he said slowly:

"Sister Ning, I can't be at the company all the time for the next two days, so I'm leaving everything to you. Here's what we'll do next..."

The two talked for half an hour before hanging up. Shen Qingning was a brilliant business genius, but she still lacked experience; this was the perfect opportunity.

Jiang Chuan's future plan was to have her and Lin Shuyi manage the company. He couldn't protect them forever; he would be responsible for conquering territory, while the two women would be responsible for defending it.

This was something he had planned long ago: one in charge of the Streamers and the other in charge of operating the company.

At a nearby shop downstairs, he bought millet porridge and other liquid foods. Returning to the ward, he saw that she had already woken up. Sitting on a chair, he asked, "How are you? Does it still hurt? I went downstairs to buy some breakfast."

Zhang Linlin shook her head and said with a smile, "It doesn't hurt anymore. If you have work to do, go ahead and get busy. I can manage on my own."

Jiang Chuan poured the porridge into a disposable bowl, waiting for it to cool down a bit before letting her have some.

"The company matters have all been arranged. Don't worry."

"Okay. Do you think we still have a chance?"

Zhang Linlin tilted her head, staring intently at his every expression. Seeing him expressionless and receiving no answer, she sighed, turned back to look at the ceiling, and didn't ask further.

Jiang Chuan had principles: repay kindness with kindness and take revenge for grievances. He would never forgive a betrayer in his life. Coming to take care of her this time was only because she had helped him.

There was gratitude and being moved, but absolutely no romantic feelings.

He already had too many romantic entanglements. He didn't have the time to play love games with a girl he had no feelings for.

People always have to pay the price for what they've done.

One carefully fed the porridge while the other took small sips. Both looked at each other in silence, neither continuing to speak.

Fortunately, Zhang Linlin didn't feel like vomiting, which was somewhat different from a typical concussion. It might have been due to her constitution.

Just then, a knock at the door sounded, breaking the awkward atmosphere.

"I'll go check."

Jiang Chuan placed the bowl on the nightstand, stood up, and walked to the door. Upon opening it, it was indeed Old Sun.

Sun Zhenfeng was carrying gifts in both hands, with many more placed on the floor. Seeing the door open, he put on a fawning smile and said:

"President Jiang, long time no see. I'm here to apologize on behalf of my son. Please be the bigger person and don't hold it against him."

Jiang Chuan stepped aside to avoid the other's bow and said coldly, "You've got the wrong person. You shouldn't be saying these things to me."

"I should say it to both, I should say it to both. May I come in?"

"Go ahead."

"Thank you, President Jiang! Thank you, President Jiang!"

Sun Zhenfeng didn't show any emotion over the other's coldness, still smiling fawningly. He saw the woman on the hospital bed, of whom he had no memory.

Old Sun did not hesitate for a moment; he knelt directly on the floor and kowtowed three times heavily before continuing:

"I'm truly sorry. Please state any demands you have; I'll comply without a second word. I beg you to let my son go this once."

Seeing the usually high-and-mighty Chairman kneeling and kowtowing before a subordinate without hesitation, Zhang Linlin was somewhat moved. Softening, she said:

"President Sun, please get up. You weren't the one who beat me like this."

"I won't get up. As long as you still have resentment in your heart, I'll keep kneeling here, at your mercy. As long as you can vent your anger, it's fine."

Jiang Chuan curled his lip wordlessly. An old fox is an old fox; he knew young girls were soft-hearted, and this ruse of self-injury combined with moral kidnapping was played to perfection.

However, he didn't say anything. After all, he was an outsider; whatever decision she made, he would support it.

But his revenge had nothing to do with this matter. When someone touched his people, there was no such thing as forgiveness. He didn't have the bad habit of being soft-hearted, nor could he be morally kidnapped—he didn't have such a thing as morals.

Seeing that she had no intention of relenting, Old Sun straightened up and slapped himself hard. His face turned red instantly, showing he was using real strength.

"I'm sorry! It's my fault for not disciplining my son! I'm sorry!"

Zhang Linlin couldn't bear this and quickly said, "President Sun, you don't have to do this. I... you should talk to President Jiang. I'll listen to him."

Sun Zhenfeng's eye twitched. He hadn't expected that after all this drama, it would still end up in the situation he least wanted to face. He turned around and said with a smile:

"President Jiang, what do you think about this?"

Jiang Chuan bypassed him, sat back on the chair by the bed, and continued feeding the porridge, saying softly, "Prison!"

"Don't, President Jiang. I'll give you Sunset for fifty million, okay?"

"Forty-five million!"

Seeing that the other party remained silent, Sun Zhenfeng clenched his fists, his heart bleeding. But remembering his son's tearful pleas, he gritted his teeth and said, "Thirty million! President Jiang, are you satisfied?"

Only then did Jiang Chuan turn his head. Looking at Old Sun kneeling on the floor, he crossed his legs and said with a smile:

"Old Sun, we've known each other for a long time, haven't we? Do you think I'm short of this little bit of money? I'll give you tens of millions! Let me beat your son up, how about that?"

"President Jiang, I know you're not short of money. This is a token of my sincerity; please accept it."

Sun Zhenfeng knew his wretched personality and thought he wanted to take the benefits while still making him say nice things.

"Sigh, you really don't understand me as well as Chen Xu does. Go on, spend this time visiting your son more."

"President Jiang, you have to leave me something."

"Prison!"

Sun Zhenfeng understood. The other party was determined to pursue the matter to the end; it wasn't about money at all.

He had no choice but to place his last hope on the woman lying on the bed drinking porridge, looking at her expectantly.

Zhang Linlin looked at the man feeding her porridge. Seeing him shake his head slightly, she then said, "President Sun, let's leave it at that."

"Good, very good! Jiang Chuan, we'll see about this!"

Sun Zhenfeng stood up, stared intently at the other's back, then turned and strode out of the ward.

"Actually, it would have been quite a profit, wouldn't it?"

Jiang Chuan fed her the last mouthful, rubbed her head, and said with a smile:

"I haven't reached the point where I'd let someone be hospitalized just to help me achieve my goals. You getting injured and him going to jail is only fair."

"Of course, that's just my thought. If you want compensation, he should be very willing. You can talk to him directly."

Zhang Linlin was actually a bit tempted. She had never seen so much money in her life. To get tens of millions for a beating—she would have jumped at the chance. She nodded, her heart conflicted.

Jiang Chuan didn't feel there was anything wrong with that. Again, revenge was his business and had nothing to do with anyone else.

Seeing her little thoughts, he didn't let her continue to struggle. He took out his phone and dialed Old Sun. Once the call connected, he shoved the phone to the somewhat nervous Zhang Linlin.