Chapter 700 Bewitched
"I'm telling you this today, I've taken a liking to Ye Qingcheng, and I'm determined to have her. Anyone who dares to ruin my plans will be in big trouble. Even if the Heavenly King himself came, I wouldn't give him any face!"
Liu Zhou's words made Tan Zongming's face turn ashen.
I knew Liu Zhou was arrogant, but I never expected him to be this arrogant.
No matter how arrogant he was before, he always gave them a lot of face. I never expected him to turn against me today, which made Tan Zongming's face turn ashen.
He wanted to make a move, but he knew that Liu Zhou was no weakling; otherwise, he wouldn't have been able to conquer this land. He wasn't sure he could win against Liu Zhou.
More importantly, this is Harbin, Liu Zhou's territory. If Tan Zongming really fights Liu Zhou, he won't get the better of him here.
"You just wait, I'll tell the old prince about this! Just you wait!"
Helpless, Tan Zongming had to move out of Nalan Zongde's mountain.
"Hmph, the old prince won't be swayed by one side's opinion. You, Tan Zongming, are the old prince's trusted and beloved general, but I, Liu Zhou, am no less so. My father has a life-or-death bond with Prince Nalan! Do you think I'm afraid to see him?"
"His nephew is already in his fifties. No matter what methods I use to find a woman, he shouldn't blame me, right?"
"As for you, Tan Zongming? I don't want to offend you either. I'll tell you one last time: take your friends and get lost. As long as you don't interfere with Ye Qingcheng's affairs, I won't cause trouble for his Empire Enterprise."
Tan Zongming brought up Nalan Zongde, but Liu Zhou was not intimidated. He snorted and revealed his relationship with Nalan Zongde.
So there was this connection; Jiang Bai hadn't expected it.
Jiang Bai unconsciously squinted as he watched the two people arguing in front of him.
What does this mean?
Are the two of them really falling out, or are they just putting on an act in front of me?
But none of that matters. Jiang Bai spoke up: "You, Tan Zongming, don't need to talk to Nalan Zongde, and you, Liu Zhou, don't need to give anyone face. I'll handle this myself."
He then glanced at Tan Zongming in front of him and said calmly, "Go back and tell Old Nalan that I will handle this myself. I don't need his help. From now on, this is a personal feud between me and Liu Zhou. It's either him or me! Anyone who interferes will face my wrath!"
After saying this, Jiang Bai turned and left, taking care of the matter himself.
Regardless of Liu Zhou's situation, Jiang Bai is determined to deal with him.
As for Nalan Zongde, if he knows what's good for him, he shouldn't interfere. He should stay in Shengjing and continue being the King of the Northeast, the old prince, and living his life with that group of old remnants.
If he dares to interfere, Jiang Bai has dealt with such bigwigs before.
Yin Tianchou and Wang Zhenxu, who is worse than him?
What about now?
They can't even find his ashes.
I heard that Li Qingdi and Wu Tianxi are also very interested in this territory. If they take action themselves, these guys will probably be happy to let it happen.
However, Lao Nalan was not Wang Zhenxu or Yin Tianchou. He had been operating in the north for too long, had a dense network of relationships, and had many connections at the top. More importantly, he was based in China.
Abroad, Jiang Bai can do whatever he wants, and it doesn't matter how many lives he takes. But in China, he can't go on a killing spree. There are so many people in Lao Nalan's group. If he doesn't go on a killing spree, the problem can't be solved. If he does go on a killing spree, the impact will be too great.
Jiang Bai was unwilling to act rashly unless absolutely necessary.
These words made Tan Zongming's expression change. He watched Jiang Bai leave without saying a word from beginning to end.
His face was terribly gloomy, because he had already sensed that, because of Liu Zhou, even the old prince had now been included as a target for attack.
Just thinking about what Jiang Bai had done made Tan Zongming's scalp tingle.
Liu Zhou himself was also a little stunned, not expecting Jiang Bai to be so arrogant.
It's understandable that Jiang Bai was angry. After all, the other party was the boss of a multi-billion dollar company. He must have some connections, some influence, and of course, some temper.
He knew that what he had just said was indeed disrespectful, and it was understandable that the other party was angry. He was even prepared to fight back, to let the other party taste his power, and to let them know who was in charge in this Ice City.
But to his utter surprise, the other party simply said that and then left.
It's one thing to name Liu Zhou by name, but to dare to name Prince Nalan by name is another.
They even said things like, "It's best if old Nalan doesn't interfere, otherwise we won't be polite."
Is this a real threat to the old prince?
Liu Zhou didn't think Jiang Bai was confused with anger, so he realized that he seemed to have made a mistake and provoked someone he shouldn't have, and he unconsciously gasped.
He couldn't care less about anything else, ignoring his earlier slamming of the table and glaring at Tan Zongming, and hurriedly asked, "Brother, who is this person?"
Of course he knew who Jiang Bai was; he was asking about Jiang Bai's background.
"Who else could it be! That firecracker from Tiandu, the one who killed Wang Zhenxu, the Flying Eagle from Taiwan, and Yin Tianchou, the tycoon from Hong Kong, not long ago. Of all people to mess with, why did you have to mess with him?"
"This is bad. Not only you, he hates the old prince too! Just you wait, this is definitely not over! Even if he doesn't deal with you, the old prince will teach you a lesson!"
With a cold laugh, Tan Zongming walked away, intending to tell Prince Nalan the whole story so that the old man could make a decision soon.
Things are different now. Jiang Bai is no longer the same as before; he is no longer the greenhorn he once was. Prince Nalan is no longer qualified to comment on Jiang Bai.
Even he had to be careful when facing Jiang Bai, that fierce guy. Tan Zongming dared not hide anything about this matter and wanted the old prince to know as soon as possible.
He left, leaving Liu Zhou standing there alone, his face deathly pale.
Upon hearing Tan Zongming's words, he immediately knew who Jiang Bai was. Just a while ago, he had been discussing Jiang Bai's affairs with others, marveling at Jiang Bai's ferocity and saying that no one in the younger generation could match him.
He's like a firecracker that explodes at the slightest touch. Anyone who provokes him will be utterly destroyed. There are countless examples of this, with countless corpses lying in his wake.
He even joked with his friends, saying, "If you mess with Master Jiang in the future, you'd better slit your own throat as soon as possible, don't drag me into it, let's just pretend we don't know each other."
Now look what's happened! He's provoked this person, and right in front of them, he's humiliated them terribly, completely offending them.
"You son of a bitch, you're bewitched!"
After everyone left, Liu Zhou slapped his left cheek hard and growled angrily.
He then hurriedly left, taking out his phone as he went to try and find connections, hoping to resolve the matter before Jiang Bai made a move. Once Jiang Bai actually attacked him, it would be too late.
Although he knew that there weren't many people he could ask for help with this matter.
Chapter 701 A Way Out
Liu Zhou didn't have many people he could ask for help from; most of his friends were just fair-weather friends and opportunists, which was certainly one reason.
More importantly, there are very few people who are reliable, trustworthy, and can establish a connection with Jiang Bai.
Many of his friends could lend a hand, but few of them were truly effective.
This is especially true when dealing with someone like Jiang Bai.
He deeply regretted his own thoughts, wondering how he could have been so blinded by greed.
The first time he saw Ye Qingcheng, he couldn't help but want to have her. However, Ye Qingcheng was always in the south. He wanted to go there, but even if he did, he wouldn't have the chance.
When Ye Qingcheng came to Bingcheng, he felt that his opportunity had come. He first invited Ye Qingcheng to participate in the event, and then did some tricks during the dinner. No matter what method he used to get her, could she possibly turn the world upside down?
He'd seen plenty of women. When faced with something like this, the most they'd do was cry, make a scene, and threaten suicide, but after that, it wouldn't all be over.
It's just a matter of spending some money. As long as you pay enough, the person will still be his.
This isn't the first time he's done something like this.
They're very experienced and know their way around.
When Ye Qingcheng refused to give him the chance, he came up with a new trick: to coerce and entice her. Although he knew that the Empire Enterprise was not to be trifled with, he didn't care about the consequences when faced with such a beautiful woman.
As a result, now things have gone wrong.
Then trouble ensued.
Now, Liu Zhou is at a loss and can only beg and plead for help. At the same time, he tells his men to be prepared, in case they can't reach an agreement, they'll have to resort to force.
He wasn't confident that he could defeat Jiang Bai or anything like that, but Ice City was, after all, his place. He believed in the saying that even a powerful dragon can't suppress a local snake. No matter how powerful Jiang Bai was, it wouldn't be so easy for him to mess with Liu Zhou in Ice City.
At this moment, he completely forgot that Yin Tianchou and Wang Zhenxu were both dealt with by Jiang Bai on their own turf, their heads separated from their bodies, their years of hard work reduced to nothing, and now not even a trace could be found.
He started making phone calls to ask people for favors, and Jiang Bai was doing the same thing.
The only difference is that he had to beg and plead, while Jiang Bai did not.
The first call was to Cheng Tiangang, who discussed the actions of the local police and claimed that Ye Qingcheng had been subjected to torture and forced confessions inside the facility. He strongly demanded an explanation from Cheng Tiangang, the leader of the relevant department.
Cheng Tiangang was speechless and replied irritably, "Jiang Bai, don't beat around the bush with me. So what if the people from Bingcheng offended you? If you want to deal with them, just say so. Why are you beating around the bush with me?"
"Uh..." Jiang Bai was speechless.
Then Cheng Tiangang said in a low voice, "Their problems are quite serious. Some time ago, I received a report that they were colluding with criminals and committing all sorts of evil deeds, which seriously damaged the image of the police. I have set up a special task force to go and investigate. Now that you are calling and saying this, it seems that their problems are very serious."
"How about this, the task force will set off tomorrow, mainly to investigate the collusion between police corrupts and local criminal gangs. Hmm, I think the task force should be called the Haoyang Task Force."
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai laughed heartily, said thank you twice, and then hung up the phone.
This Cheng Tiangang is still talking to me in official jargon?
When he said that, Jiang Bai thought someone had actually reported him, but now that he heard about the "Haoyang Special Task Force," he immediately laughed.
This is clearly a sign that they are going to investigate the criminal gang led by Liu Zhouhaoyang.
He then called Li Qingdi to discuss matters here.
Li Qingdi stated that he would communicate with relevant leaders and that the issue of collusion between officials and businessmen must be dealt with seriously, as the problems in Harbin are quite severe.
I believe that all the leaders in the capital city despise Liu Zhou, and no one would defend this social scum.
Well, as for Liu Zhou's rumored relationship with the capital...
Of course not. How could the leaders in the capital have anything to do with a scoundrel?
Not only is there no one connected to him here, but even in Bingcheng... Liu Zhou can't possibly control everything. Those connected to him are definitely corrupt officials, while the main leaders are certainly clean.
Jiang Bai was stunned by these words. He only came to his senses after hanging up the phone.
Li Qingdi is trying to cut off all of his connections with Liu Zhou. Those who have any dealings with Liu Zhou will definitely not have anything to do with him anymore. Of course, if anyone doesn't know what's good for them, then he will definitely be seen as a typical example of colluding with Liu Zhou, that scoundrel!
Having dealt with these issues, the matter was mostly resolved. Jiang Bai then called Xiao Tian and asked him to bring his men over to handle the situation.
Liu Zhou is clearly not worth Jiang Bai's personal attention; Xiao Tian is more than capable of handling him.
That evening, a private plane arrived from the direction of Tiandu, and two hundred gunmen, led by Xiao Tian, attacked some of the core members of Liu Zhou's criminal gang.
Overnight, gunfire erupted throughout the city, resulting in heavy casualties for Liu Zhou's gang.
Early the next morning, the deputy director of the Bingcheng Police Department was taken away by the police department's special task force to assist in the investigation. Along with him were more than a dozen investigators who were suspected of embezzlement, bribery, and collusion between the police and organized crime. The main evidence against them was that they had tortured and framed the big star, Ms. Ye Qingcheng.
That same afternoon, comrades from the Central Commission for Discipline Inspection also took away several officials who had close ties with Liu Zhou.
By evening, all of them had confessed, and the police department acted decisively, organizing police forces to crack down on Liu Zhou's gang.
With the help of a reliable informant, Liu Zhou's gang was completely destroyed. All the key members were captured except for some who were killed, while the ringleader Liu Zhou fled.
As for Bingcheng Haoyang Group, it was ordered to be shut down.
During the raid on Haoyang Pharmaceutical, evidence of Liu Zhou's drug manufacturing and trafficking was discovered, adding another charge to Liu Zhou's list of crimes.
Everything was resolved in a single day with lightning speed, and Liu Zhou, who had dominated Ice City for many years, was brought down.
The ice city trembled, the north trembled.
Throughout the entire ordeal, Prince Nalan, who was staying in Shengjing, didn't utter a single word. Everyone connected to Liu Zhou avoided him. It wasn't until after everything was over, when Jiang Bai was having dinner with Ye Qingcheng in the evening, that Old Nalan called.
To be precise, it was Tan Zongming's call. After answering, Tan Zongming told Jiang Bai that Prince Nalan wanted to say a few words to him. After hesitating for a moment, Jiang Bai hummed in agreement.
"Things are almost over. You've completely wiped out Liu Zhou, and years of hard work have been destroyed in an instant. After all, he's the son of my old friend. How about we spare his life?"
Upon answering the phone, an aged yet authoritative voice rang in Jiang Bai's ear.
This person is none other than Prince Nalan, Nalan Zongde!
Chapter 702 Old Nalan's Compromise
Upon hearing this, Jiang Bai fell silent. He neither agreed nor refused; he simply remained silent.
Weighing the pros and cons in his mind, he decided that letting Liu Zhou live was not out of the question.
With Old Nalan's influence, Liu Zhou posed no significant threat to me, so letting him go was really no big deal.
However, if you don't cut the weeds at the root, they will grow back in the spring breeze, and Jiang Bai was unwilling to leave himself with a loose end.
Liu Zhou is not a threat to him. Even if he were given another ten or twenty years, Liu Zhou would not pose any threat to him.
However, this guy was still a threat. He had wiped out Liu Zhou's life's work, and even the efforts of two generations of his family, in an instant. Jiang Bai would never believe that Liu Zhou did not harbor any resentment towards him.
He probably wishes he could grind himself to dust and devour him alive right now.
It's just that I don't have the ability.
Once Jiang Bai had this ability, he was certain that Liu Zhou would retaliate against him.
Jiang Bai wasn't afraid of taking revenge on him.
He's got the guts to come, but with so many people around Jiang Bai, it's impossible to guard against them all. Since that's the case, it's better to nip it in the bud.
But if we eliminate the root of the problem, what will happen to Nalan's reputation?
This is, after all, old Nalan's territory. Since Liu Zhou was in the wrong first and he had issued a warning, the other party did not intervene this time.
This is the fundamental reason why Jiang Bai was able to deal with Liu Zhou so easily and decisively. Otherwise, no matter how many people came from above, if the people below did not cooperate, it would be extremely difficult to deal with Liu Zhou.
This place will always belong to the old Nalan. Even if Li Qingdi and Cheng Tiangang were to join forces, they would still be a bit lacking in ability to compete with the old Nalan in the north.
Unless they don't intend to follow the rules, old Nalan probably wouldn't be able to withstand it. But if it's within the rules, he's not afraid at all, staying in his own little corner of the world.
Li Qingdi was so close to him, and Wu Tianxi wasn't far either. The two fought to the death, yet they never stepped out of Shanhaiguan. Why was that?
Because this is the old Nalan territory!
Old Nalan and his remnants are not to be trifled with.
Because he was not someone to be trifled with, Jiang Bai was unwilling to offend Old Nalan easily. If he offended him, the Imperial Enterprise would find it difficult to move an inch here unless he completely eliminated him.
However, resolving the issue of Old Nalan is definitely not something that can be done overnight. In the process, who knows what we might encounter and what unpredictable results we might get?
Therefore, unless absolutely necessary, Jiang Bai is unwilling to have any direct conflict with Old Nalan...
After much deliberation, Jiang Bai still said, "I cannot agree to this. If we don't nip it in the bud, there will be endless trouble in the future."
Jiang Bai's words made Old Nalan on the other end of the phone gasp, and he said in a deep voice, "Are you going to fight me to the end?"
"Whether you fight or not is up to you. I have no desire to oppose you, this once-powerful old prince, nor am I interested in setting foot in your territory north of Shanhaiguan. If you don't make things difficult for me, my Imperial Enterprises is here to do business legitimately. The choice is yours."
This place is too far from Jiang Bai, and the economy isn't very developed. Jiang Bai has no interest in expanding his power, and his abilities are insufficient, so he has no intention of clashing with Old Nalan.
However, if the other party is ungrateful and insists on fighting him, Jiang Bai is willing to oblige.
Leaving Cheng Laohu aside for now, Li Qingdi and Wu Tianxi are quite envious of Lao Nalan's territory.
If Jiang Bai acts as a go-between and the three families join forces, Old Nalan might not be able to withstand it.
"You're putting me in a difficult position. Liu Zhou's father and I used to have a close relationship. Letting you sweep his place is already the greatest tolerance I can show. If he dies at your hands and I don't care, then I, Nalan Zongde, will have no place to live here."
Old Nalan spoke slowly.
The implication was quite clear: although he had some connection with Liu Zhou, that was in the past, and Old Nalan wasn't too concerned about his life or death.
It would be best if we could save his life, but it wouldn't matter if we couldn't.
The key issue is saving face. Jiang Bai has made a big fuss about this place, and he hasn't paid any attention to it. Now he wants Liu Zhou dead?
Liu Zhou's relationship with him is almost common knowledge. If Old Nalan ignores it, who will respect him in the future?
If he can't back down, then he'll naturally have to confront Jiang Bai. Just like Liu Zhou embarrassed Jiang Bai, even if Jiang Bai ignores him, things have gotten out of hand, so he has to do something.
Otherwise, the consequences would be severe, potentially triggering a chain reaction, which is not what they want.
"Okay, I won't kill him, but he has to die. How you do it is up to you."
After a moment of silence, Jiang Bai spoke.
He understood the implication in Old Nalan's words, so after a moment's thought, he handed the matter over to Old Nalan to handle.
I'm sure the other party will be able to handle it.
I'll try my best.
After a moment of silence, Old Nalan hung up the phone. Jiang Bai didn't know what he would do, but one thing was certain: Liu Zhou was doomed.
If he didn't agree, he would have clearly objected, not left it ambiguous. Since he hasn't clearly objected, he must give Jiang Bai an explanation for this matter.
As for whether he was being fooled or not, Jiang Bai wasn't worried. If he really did that and sent him away, he could come back again.
When I come back, I won't be alone anymore, chatting with him here. It will definitely be a bloody battle, a raging storm.
After hanging up the phone, Jiang Bai and Ye Qingcheng spent two days there, including watching Ye Qingcheng's performance, before leaving.
Just before boarding the plane, I received a text message from Tan Zongming: Liu Zhou got drunk last night, got into a car accident, and died on the spot.
Jiang Bai smiled at this, did not reply, and left.
Jiang Bai didn't care how Liu Zhou got into the car accident; it must have been Old Nalan's doing.
He didn't care whether this matter would affect his relationship with Old Nalan, because that was for sure.
This thorn is definitely stuck in old Nalan's heart, and it won't disappear because of Liu Zhou's death. However, he can't do anything about it now and can only grit his teeth and endure it.
On the surface, he appeared calm, but Jiang Bai was certain that given the chance, the other party would not hesitate to bite him hard and vent their anger.
However, Jiang Bai felt that such an opportunity would not come at present. Old Nalan had enough patience, and perhaps he would suffocate the old man to death, preventing him from getting what he wanted even on his deathbed.
After all, this old guy is already over eighty years old, and he really doesn't have many days left to live.
Trying to wait until something happens to you before taking a bite out of yourself is probably as difficult as climbing to the sky.
This is one of the reasons why Old Nalan compromised, because he was too old and might pass away at any time, while Jiang Bai was too young.
He may not be afraid while alive, but after he dies, he will surely face endless troubles for offending Jiang Bai.
Chapter 703 Cousin Yang Ling
He knew his own situation well, and he was very clear about the qualities of his heirs. That was why he was unwilling to offend Jiang Bai.
Jiang Bai knew all about these things perfectly well, so he remained silent, left Bingcheng, and returned to Tiandu.
This time, I arrived home safely and without being abducted by anyone or by any phone call.
After taking a relaxing shower at home and getting some sleep, Jiang Bai went to class the next day feeling refreshed.
Jiang Bai didn't go to No. 56 Middle School. He didn't need to go to Xia Yiyi and Zhu Xinxin's place for the time being. He had promised Su Mei that he would teach there, but he was always running around and was often not there, so he arranged for someone else to teach there temporarily.
There are only a few days left until the mess over with Lieyang. Judging by the time, it won't be long before they come looking for him, and then he'll have to leave again. Besides... Su Mei's return time should be around that time as well.
Changing things back and forth is too much trouble, and Jiang Bai is too lazy to do it.
So he went to Tiandu University, which was much freer. Jiang Bai was just a figurehead there, able to run around whenever he wanted and only give lectures when needed. He was completely an unofficial staff member, so it wasn't as troublesome as the middle school, and there was no risk of misleading students.
After all, these university students have already exhausted all their exams.
For postgraduate studies, it's entirely self-study, and teachers don't have much to do with it. Unlike high school students who are under immense pressure, a bad teacher who is constantly on the go can have a significant impact on them.
After returning to school and completing his leave, Jiang Bai gave a lecture. His return was welcomed by many, and the students were very happy to listen to his lecture, which broadened their horizons and expanded their thinking.
After finishing, he invited Lin Wanru to have dinner together. When they finished eating, Wanru suddenly said to Jiang Bai, "Jiang Bai, you know Yang Ling is here, right?"
"Yang Ling? What's he doing here?" Jiang Bai was taken aback.
Yang Ling was his cousin. Unlike Bao Juncai, whom he had sent to Africa, Yang Ling was the son of Jiang Bai's aunt. They had been close since childhood, and he vaguely remembered the time when the boy would follow him around when they were little.
My aunt's family has never had a good life. My aunt and uncle are both ordinary workers. They also worked in Yangcheng when they were young, working in a textile factory. They knew Lin Wanru.
However, due to a job transfer, I moved to another city, and we haven't had much contact in the past few years.
The main reason was that Jiang Bai wasn't doing well in his early career, and he didn't get along well with his relatives and friends.
Including his cousin, who is a few years younger than him.
Logically speaking, he should be a high school student, so why is he here?
"Going to school! You don't think he's still in high school, do you? He's already a freshman at Tiandu University of Technology! He got there last year!" Lin Wanru glanced at Jiang Bai and replied irritably.
I thought Jiang Bai knew, but now it seems he didn't.
One sentence made Jiang Bai's face turn slightly red. He coughed awkwardly twice and remained silent.
"He seems to have run into some trouble recently. I told you because he used to be on good terms with you. I didn't expect you didn't know he's been here for over half a year?"
Lin Wanru glanced helplessly at Jiang Bai and explained.
"Um... what's the problem?"
Jiang Bai paused awkwardly for a moment.
If it were Bao Juncai, Jiang Bai would be too lazy to bother with him, but Yang Ling was completely different. Jiang Bai couldn't say he was particularly close to him, but at least he had a good impression of him.
Moreover, unlike her mother's side of the family with a bunch of relatives, her father only has this one sister, who has always been very cared for since she was little. Yang Ling and the others have a good relationship with their family.
If he's in trouble, Jiang Bai will naturally step up. Besides... how much trouble could a student possibly cause?
"It seems like he broke up with someone or something. I'm not sure, he didn't tell me, but I saw his posts online, and he seemed pretty down. So, I thought I'd tell you."
Lin Wanru gave Jiang Bai a disapproving look, and then said this.
She knew Yang Ling, but their relationship was only so-so. They played together when they were kids, always following Jiang Bai around, and got to know each other, but it was only slightly better than a normal relationship.
Besides, how could Lin Wanru possibly care about things like heartbreak?
As an older sister or a sister-in-law?
No matter what she said, it seemed inappropriate, so even though she had known about it for several days and was somewhat worried, Lin Wanru had not taken any action.
Having met Jiang Bai today, I naturally couldn't help but tell him about it.
Jiang Bai is his cousin, so this matter naturally falls to Jiang Bai.
If they were in their hometown, Jiang Bai wouldn't need to worry, and she might not even say anything. But since they're away from home, thousands of miles away, and everyone is a familiar relative, they naturally need to take care of each other. Lin Wanru felt that this responsibility would definitely fall on Jiang Bai's shoulders.
"Heartbroken?" Jiang Bai frowned.
He didn't want to get involved in such trivial family matters; what could he do after a breakup?
They had someone hold a gun to the girl's neck and forced her to reconcile with Yang Ling?
Or should we just bury them in money?
Or perhaps it was to offer words of comfort?
These are things that Jiang Bai would never do.
Therefore, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about it.
"Yeah, he broke up with his girlfriend, but it doesn't seem to be a simple breakup. That's why I told you, so you can see. Anyway, he's your cousin. If you want to help, then help; if you don't want to, then forget it."
Lin Wanru sipped her milk tea and looked at Jiang Bai noncommittally, not showing that she was too worried. She only had an obligation to tell Jiang Bai about this matter, and whether Jiang Bai would take care of it or not was not her business.
It's perfectly normal for young men and women to fall in love and experience heartbreak. Lin Wanru didn't think much of it. Several people in her dorm had experienced heartbreak, but they were always getting back together with other people within a few days.
These things are best left in the past.
"It's not that simple?" Jiang Bai was taken aback by these words. What did that mean? Was someone bullying his cousin?
Then Lin Wanru took out her phone and went online to look at Yang Ling's mood and other things. It seemed that he was quite sad, and there was a sense of indignation in addition to sadness.
There were comments from classmates below, saying things like, "It's not worth it for a woman like that."
Jiang Bai was stunned for a moment, sensing that something seemed amiss.
If there are disagreements in the relationship, or if it's a peaceful breakup, Jiang Bai won't bother with it.
However, there is clearly more to this story than meets the eye. It seems that the woman ran off with someone else and dumped her cousin.
Moreover, there are many hidden reasons behind this, and it's not just some nonsense about relationship discord.
Then... Jiang Bai will have to get involved.
As a domineering guy who only allows himself to bully others and doesn't allow others to fight back, Jiang Bai certainly couldn't ignore this blatant act of defecating on his cousin's head.
Chapter 704 A Clichéd Plot
"Do you have Yang Ling's phone number? Give him a call and ask him out for dinner."
Jiang Bai definitely didn't have Yang Ling's phone number, but he believed Lin Wanru definitely did. Since she had Yang Ling's condom, there was no reason why she couldn't find Yang Ling's phone number.
Of course, if you can't find it, there's an even simpler way: just call Ji Mingjie and ask them to investigate where Yang Ling used TT. Then, have them send a message to Yang Ling through the system, asking him to give them his phone number, and then transfer the call to him.
It sounds complicated, but it can be done in no time.
The only downside is that it's a bit too troublesome and too shocking.
"Of course, I'll call him now!"
Lin Wanru rolled her eyes at Jiang Bai, deeply despising this guy who didn't even have her own cousin's phone number. Then she took out her small pink phone and called Yang Ling.
Not long after, the call was answered, and a deep, slightly hoarse voice came through: "Sister Wanru, what's wrong?"
Lin Wanru glanced at Jiang Bai and then said, "I'm with your cousin. Where are you? He wants to call you for dinner!"
"I think I'll pass," the other person said softly after a moment's hesitation.
Then, as if afraid that Lin Wanru would misunderstand, he quickly replied, "Please tell my cousin that I'm not feeling well."
Lin Wanru opened her mouth as if to speak, but Jiang Bai grabbed the phone and said urgently, "It's just a breakup, what's the big deal? Come out here! Tell me what happened. If anyone bullies you, I'll stand up for you!"
Lin Wanru felt helpless about Jiang Bai's words. She rolled her eyes at him, then took the phone and offered a few words of comfort before agreeing to have a meal with Jiang Bai and his friends at the gate of Yang Ling's school.
After hanging up the phone, Lin Wanru said irritably, "Can't you be a little more tactful? He's just a kid. If you talk to him so directly, he won't be able to stand it."
Jiang Bai was speechless. Lin Wanru seemed to think she was quite something?
Actually, she's only a year older than Yang Ling, and she's a sophomore now. How come he's treated like a child when it comes to her?
However, Jiang Bai didn't say much. He called Xiao Tian over and then went to Tiandu University of Technology with Lin Wanru.
Tiandu University of Technology is not far from Tiandu University; both are in the university town. It takes about half an hour to walk there, and driving there isn't much faster.
Jiang Bai is just lazy and doesn't want to walk.
They soon arrived at the gate of Yang Ling's school, made a phone call to Yang Ling, and he came out.
What came into view was a dejected young man. Jiang Bai couldn't help but frown at his disheveled expression and messy hair that looked like it hadn't been washed for days.
This is such a dejected look, he seems to have no will to live.
Upon seeing Jiang Bai and Lin Wanru, he mechanically lowered his head and greeted them: "Cousin, Sister Wanru."
"How did you get into this state? My God, what happened to you?" Lin Wanru asked with concern as soon as she saw Yang Ling, while Jiang Bai kept frowning.
"A woman is worth this much? Look at yourself, what kind of person are you!" Jiang Bai retorted angrily, somewhat disappointed in her.
However, these words earned him a glare from Lin Wanru, signaling him to shut up.
Jiang Bai was speechless at this.
"I didn't want to either, I just... I just can't get over this." Yang Ling raised her head after hearing this, responding somewhat angrily, her eyes slightly red as she finished speaking.
This made Jiang Bai even more dissatisfied. It wasn't that he disliked Yang Ling, but he simply had a natural aversion to men who liked to cry.
"Wash your head, go back and change your clothes before coming down again, and we'll have a proper talk!" Jiang Bai said angrily.
Lin Wanru was much more tactful. After talking for a while, she told Yang Ling to go back and take a shower, shave, and change his clothes. Half an hour later, he reappeared in front of Jiang Bai and the others, appearing much more cheerful.
After finding a quiet little restaurant to sit down, Jiang Bai lit a cigarette for himself. Then, glancing at Yang Lin, who was sitting across from him with his head hanging low, he tossed him one as well, lit it for him, took a deep breath, and said, "Tell me, what exactly happened?"
"This..." Yang Ling hesitated for a moment, not saying anything, whether it was because he was unwilling to bring it up or because he found it difficult to say.
"We're not strangers, what's there to hide? Go ahead and tell me, your cousin and I won't tell anyone else."
Lin Wanru spoke up again to comfort him. She had been sitting in front of Jiang Bai the whole time, and there were some subtle, almost imperceptible intimate gestures from time to time. She didn't deliberately hide anything.
Her relationship with Jiang Bai wasn't a secret; she had mentioned it to Yang Ling before, and Yang Ling had even congratulated her at the time.
"Well... here's what happened."
After hesitating for a moment, Yang Ling spoke.
He told Jiang Bai and Lin Wanru the whole story.
In the end, it's still a clichéd story of a gold digger who changes her mind. Yang Ling and his girlfriend, Jin Xiaona, had a very good relationship. They were classmates in their first year of high school, started dating in their second year, and eventually got into Tiandu University of Technology together.
They were childhood sweethearts and had a great relationship, but not long after starting university, Jin Xiaona changed.
Jin Xiaona is very beautiful. She was the school beauty in high school and a top beauty in the industrial university. She had many suitors. At first, she was able to resist temptation and get together with Yang Ling.
However, as more and more people pursued her, and their conditions became better and better, she changed somewhat and deliberately distanced herself from Yang Ling.
Then she got together with a local rich second-generation. Yang Ling didn't know exactly how they got together, but anyway, they did.
This is nothing unusual; it's a normal phenomenon. Countless things like this happen in universities, so Jiang Bai is used to it.
However, what Jin Xiaona went too far was that she didn't break up with Yang Ling and they maintained a boyfriend-girlfriend relationship, while she was messing around with other people.
At first, when someone told Yang Ling, he didn't believe it. But last week, when he was working with his classmates, he saw Jin Xiaona and the other person walk into a hotel.
So he followed them, searched around, found their room, knocked on the door, and discovered that the two were almost naked, only wrapped in bath towels. Yang Ling immediately flew into a rage and confronted them.
Unfortunately, not only did his theoretical discussion fail, but he also got beaten up on the spot.
That was bad enough, but the other party went so far as to insult Yang Ling relentlessly. They went to Yang Ling's class and beat her up, and then brought Jin Xiaona there to swagger around and say a lot of insulting things, which greatly upset Yang Ling.
Chapter 705 Wang Taiyang
Hearing this, Lin Wanru's expression turned somewhat unpleasant. She felt that the other party had gone too far, especially after hearing that they had hit Yang Ling and then made a special trip to insult him. She felt indignant.
On the contrary, Jiang Bai, who has always had a bad temper, remained silent at this moment, his eyes constantly darting around, and it was unclear what he was thinking.
Lin Wanru didn't ask any more questions, but she already knew in her heart that it wasn't anything good.
Based on her understanding of Jiang Bai's personality, Jin Xiaona and that man are probably going to have a tough time.
"Then tell me now, do you still like Jin Xiaona, are heartbroken by her betrayal, and want to get back together with her? Or do you simply hate both of them? Are you just resentful?"
Jiang Bai asked, neither confirming nor denying.
Yang Ling's answer will determine how Jiang Bai handles this matter.
If it's just resentment, that's easy; one phone call is all it takes to deal with that scoundrel.
Jiang Bai promised that the two of them would never appear in front of Yang Ling again, and would disappear from the face of the earth from then on.
But if it's the first type, then it'll be a bit troublesome, and Jiang Bai will have to think about how to handle it.
"This... I don't know..." Yang Ling hesitated for a moment before answering blankly.
He wasn't really sure how he felt right now. There was heartache, resentment, hatred, and reluctance. He found it hard to answer how he felt; it was a feeling he couldn't quite explain.
"Alright, leave this to me." Jiang Bai nodded after hearing this.
He already knew which option Yang Ling had chosen.
"Cousin, what are you planning to do?" Yang Ling looked up abruptly upon hearing this and quickly asked.
His impression of his cousin Jiang Bai was still stuck in the old days when people would resort to fists at the slightest disagreement, and he was afraid that Jiang Bai would do something irrational because of him.
So he quickly added, "That kid is very powerful. He has a very strong background. I heard his family is very rich, and his uncle is a big shot in Tiandu City. We can't afford to offend him."
"It's alright, I'll handle this."
What big brother or not big brother? That's bullshit. Does such a thing even exist in Tiandu?
I thought this was a movie shoot!
At most, there are a few big thugs, but that's nothing. We just don't want to touch them. If we wanted to, we could wipe them out in a minute.
Let alone one, even if you tied them all together, Jiang Bai could easily handle them.
As for money...
Jiang Bai just chuckled.
There are really not many people who are richer than him now.
Well, of course, there's some exaggeration to his claim of being rich. He actually owes a huge debt of 550 million US dollars for buying a plane, which he hasn't paid back yet.
There was no pressure from them. In fact, when Jiang Bai called George last night to say that he would prepare to pay back the money in the next few days, the other party said that there was no rush and that Jiang Bai should talk about it when he had time.
Jiang Bai was completely bewildered, not knowing what the other party meant.
However, since the other party wasn't in a hurry to repay the money, Jiang Bai was happy not to, otherwise he would have needed to divert some funds from the Imperial Enterprises.
However, Jiang Bai is a man of his word. At most, he might delay paying back the money, but he will definitely pay it back. The premise is that before Jiang Bai pays back the money, they should not give him any leverage.
If Jiang Bai finds out what underhanded things they're up to behind the scenes, it won't be as simple as just refusing to pay back the money.
Seeing Jiang Bai pat his chest and give his assurance, Yang Ling became a little nervous. He glanced at Jiang Bai, then at Lin Wanru, who had a big smile on her face and didn't seem worried at all. He swallowed the words that were on the tip of his tongue and looked at Jiang Bai in front of him with some concern.
After that, they stopped talking about it, ordered some dishes, and prepared to eat something.
Although it's a small restaurant, it's quite good for the area near the university. The environment is nice, and the food is decent. Apart from being slightly more expensive than other places nearby, it's pretty good. I heard the dishes are quite good, so Jiang Bai and his friends didn't leave.
After ordering a few side dishes and two bottles of beer, Jiang Bai, Lin Wanru, and Yang Ling sat down.
Before he could even take a couple of bites, a cold laugh rang out: "Oh, who's this? Isn't this Yang Ling? I thought you were holed up in your dorm room, too scared to come out. How come you're in the mood for eating and drinking here today? Have you forgotten the lesson I taught you?"
The voice came from the doorway behind Jiang Bai. After the voice fell, Jiang Bai looked in the direction of the voice and saw a young man in his early twenties with dyed yellow hair, wearing a Korean-style suit, leading four or five men and women, with his arm around a scantily clad and pretty girl, standing there teasing Yang Ling.
While speaking, he deliberately held the girl's arm tightly, his large hands freely caressing her chest, making the girl slightly embarrassed, her face turning pale, and she subconsciously turned her head away.
As for Yang Ling, his face was deathly pale and he was trembling all over, whether from anger or something else, it was hard to tell.
This must be the Wang Taiyang that Yang Ling mentioned earlier, the one who stole his woman, and his ex-girlfriend Jin Xiaona.
"What, are you embarrassed? You're so wild in bed, why are you embarrassed to touch my breasts now? Is it because you met your ex-boyfriend and it was awkward?"
While Jiang Bai and his group remained silent, Wang Taiyang brazenly pinched Jin Xiaona's cheeks, laughing and saying things with obvious insults and discrimination in his words.
"No...no, how could that be?" Jin Xiaona quickly replied with a smile. It was clear that she was quite afraid of Wang Taiyang, and it was unclear why she was so afraid, yet she still wanted to stay with him.
According to Yang Ling's previous explanation, Jin Xiaona wasn't forced into it.
"Hehe, what's there to be afraid of? If it happens, it happens. Do you think I'm that petty? If you like it, you can say hello to Yang Ling. Otherwise, it would be nice if the two of you got together. I wouldn't object."
"Speaking of which, you and Yang Ling have never slept together for so long, but you ended up with me... I'm quite surprised that you got the first blood."
After saying that, he waved to Yang Ling and said, "Brother, thank you for keeping it safe for me for so long."
This scene made Yang Ling tremble all over, and Jiang Bai frowned deeply.
Yang Ling couldn't hold back any longer and stood up, yelling at Wang Taiyang in front of him, "Wang Taiyang, don't go too far!"
"That's going too far! How did I go too far? I was just playing around with Jin Xiaona. If you like her, you can have her back. I've had my fill of her anyway!"
Wang Taiyang laughed upon hearing this, and casually pushed Jin Xiaona, who was standing next to him, forward as if she were an object. Jin Xiaona turned pale and quickly moved back, pulling Wang Taiyang and saying, "Don't...don't do this, I really have nothing to do with him anymore."
That look was pretty slutty.
Chapter 706 With a thud, he knelt down!
It's clear that although Wang Taiyang got his hands on Jin Xiaona, he never really took her seriously.
Or rather, at the beginning, they might use sweet words and lavish gifts, but once they get what they want, they'll be done with it after a few days.
Jiang Bai had heard of such things before, and he had also seen his share of playboys and other scumbags.
He couldn't be bothered with it; in these kinds of situations, it's a matter of mutual consent, and there's no right or wrong.
Scumbag men are bad, but sluts aren't much better.
Jiang Bai didn't care about their outcome.
However, if this happened to someone close to me, to my cousin, then it would be a different story.
"Wang Taiyang, right? I heard your family is quite wealthy. What do you do?" Jiang Bai stood up, blocking Yang Ling's path, and asked noncommittally.
"Who are you?" The other person frowned and responded somewhat displeasedly when he saw Jiang Bai step forward.
He didn't know Jiang Bai, but Jiang Bai had a strong presence, which made him slightly intimidated. As for the reason, Wang Taiyang himself couldn't explain it.
"I am Yang Ling's cousin, Jiang Bai!"
Jiang Bai responded with a nonchalant remark.
Jiang Bai had originally thought the other party would say something nasty or be extremely sarcastic, and he was even prepared to fight him right there and teach the guy a lesson, and then make a phone call to take care of his family.
Everything has been planned out; all that's left is to get started.
To Jiang Bai's surprise, after Jiang Bai stepped forward and introduced himself, Wang Taiyang was first taken aback, then frowned, looked Jiang Bai up and down, and then glanced at the beautiful Lin Wanru standing next to Jiang Bai, his eyes flashing with a fanatical light.
He actually said, "I don't know you. What does my family situation have to do with you?"
After saying that, he turned and left, leading Jin Xiaona away. As he left, he said, "I told you not to come to this kind of awful place. All you see in this shabby place is trash. I'll take you to the Imperial Hotel!"
He didn't say a word to Jiang Bai the whole time, which made Jiang Bai's expression freeze. He didn't say a word he had prepared, and his face was full of astonishment.
What the hell is going on?
Jiang Bai was completely puzzled. According to the usual pattern, shouldn't the other party be extremely arrogant, insult him when he saw him, and then flirt with Lin Wanru, so that he would go up and beat him to a pulp?
Why are you turning around and leaving now?
What does this mean?
"Uh, what... what happened?" Lin Wanru was also surprised and confused. The situation had changed too quickly, and she couldn't accept it for a while.
In fact, not only Lin Wanru, but Yang Ling was also completely astonished.
"Stop!" Jiang Bai suddenly shouted at Wang Taiyang, who was about to leave.
He wanted to know what had happened, what was wrong, and why Wang Taiyang's behavior seemed abnormal.
This is not the behavior of a rich kid at all. Wasn't he incredibly arrogant just now?
Why is he about to leave after I just stepped forward, said a few words, and introduced myself?
Shouldn't you be fighting against yourself?
Shouldn't he continue to insult his cousin?
Damn it, what do you mean by turning around and leaving now?
However, to Jiang Bai's surprise, his low growl caused the other party to immediately stop and instinctively turn around.
"Thump!"
Wang Taiyang knelt on the ground, and before Jiang Bai could speak, he began to slap himself hard across the face repeatedly, each slap delivered with tremendous force, as if he were desperately trying to kill himself.
While hitting him, he cried out with a mournful face, "Master Jiang, I was wrong... I was really wrong... I didn't know Yang Ling was your cousin... I really didn't know. If I had known, even if you gave me ten thousand lives, I wouldn't have dared to steal his woman."
After slapping himself a few times, he quickly pointed at Jin Xiaona and said, "I swear, I didn't provoke her; she seduced me first! I promise... it's true!"
"I didn't know she had a boyfriend before. When Yang Ling came over last time, I thought he was a homewrecker, which is why I hit him. I really didn't know."
After saying that, ignoring the completely dumbfounded expressions of those around him, his astonished friends and the college students watching the commotion, and the stunned Jin Xiaona and Yang Ling, he started slapping himself in the face again.
He was extremely ruthless, each blow was very loud, and in a short time his cheeks were swollen and blood was seeping from the corners of his mouth, but he showed no sign of stopping and kept hitting him.
This situation is rather bewildering.
Yang Ling's gaze was blank.
Jin Xiaona's eyes were glazed over.
The people around him also stared blankly.
Jiang Bai sighed helplessly: "You know me?"
"Yes, yes, I've seen you before... I saw you from afar with my father before," Wang Taiyang replied with a mournful face. His cheeks were already numb, so his speech was somewhat unclear.
He really knew Jiang Bai. He had thought Jiang Bai looked familiar, but he didn't recognize him. However, when Jiang Bai introduced himself, he immediately recognized him and instinctively wanted to leave.
He had heard his father talk about what kind of person Master Jiang was. Simply put, if Master Jiang blew a breath, their whole family would be finished.
The moment Jiang Bai introduced himself, his heart broke, and he instinctively wanted to leave.
Then, without a care, he ran away from the sky and stayed in some remote corner, never to return. But Jiang Bai's shout of "Stop!" made him lose the courage to leave. So, this scene came about, where he knelt there and kept slapping himself in the face to apologize.
After answering the question, he hurriedly kowtowed to Yang Ling and said, "Master Yang, I was wrong. I didn't know you were Master Jiang's cousin. Please, have mercy on me and spare my life. I'll do anything you ask."
"Oh, right, my sister... my sister is pretty, a school beauty, definitely a school beauty, prettier than Jin Xiaona. How about I give her to you? You can do whatever you want with her..."
Before he could finish speaking, Yang Ling delivered a vicious kick to his body, spitting out a mouthful of saliva and cursing, "Shameless!"
"Yes, I am shameless, I am a despicable person, please just let me go like a fart, Master Yang, I was wrong..." He did not resist Yang Ling's kick. After being kicked over, he quickly came to his senses and continued to kneel there and kowtow.
This situation left Jiang Bai feeling helpless. He frowned, finding it difficult to bring up anything about wiping out an entire family.
Ignoring Jin Xiaona's blank and pale face, he glanced at Wang Taiyang, who was crying and sniffling, and said to Yang Ling, "This is your business. You decide how to handle it."
"If you want, just say the word, and your cousin will wipe out that scoundrel and his entire family, leaving no one alive."
Chapter 707 Turning Black into White
Yang Ling opened his mouth, but ultimately did not choose to do anything like wiping out an entire family.
Looking dejectedly at the situation before him, he glanced at Wang Taiyang kneeling on the ground and Jin Xiaona looking bewildered. Without uttering a word, he waved his hand, signaling the other party to leave.
Upon seeing this, Wang Taiyang hurriedly got up, left, and ran away in a panic.
Jin Xiaona also wanted to leave with Wang Taiyang, but Yang Ling didn't say anything. Wang Taiyang had already slapped Jin Xiaona first and said fiercely, "Why are you following me? Why don't you go back and apologize to Young Master Yang?"
Only after hitting him did he notice Yang Ling's cold gaze. He quickly slapped himself, bowing and scraping as he said, "Young Master Yang, I'm truly a scoundrel. I'm sorry, I'm sorry, I shouldn't have..."
"You can all leave now. I don't want to see you again."
These words were spoken to Wang Taiyang, and also to Jin Xiaona.
Jin Xiaona, who had just been slapped, opened her mouth. She had completely given up on Wang Taiyang and wanted to talk to Yang Ling, but was shut down by a single sentence.
His expression kept changing, his face was deathly pale, and for a long time, he didn't say a word.
Jiang Bai could tell that Jin Xiaona was experiencing extremely complicated emotions at this moment.
She and Yang Ling originally had a good relationship, but after entering university, facing many suitors with excellent conditions, Yang Ling, who came from a poor family and had an average appearance, was really not up to par. If it weren't for the fact that their relationship was still pretty good, they would have broken up long ago.
She considered herself quite good for being able to persevere for so long.
After Wang Taiyang appeared, her persistence could no longer be maintained. Faced with the handsome, young and rich Wang Taiyang, she completely compromised within a few days and was forced into bed by him.
She thought she had found a sugar daddy, someone to rely on for life, but little did she expect that Wang Taiyang would turn on her after they slept together.
The warmth of before was gone, but Jin Xiaona still thought Wang Taiyang was a good person, even though his attitude towards her was not as good as before.
But her powerful background and wealthy family could satisfy all her needs.
In contrast, Yang Ling, aside from being kind to her, couldn't satisfy any of her material needs.
She felt that even if Wang Taiyang was not good to her, he was still better than Yang Ling.
Wang Taiyang is rich, Wang Taiyang has connections, Wang Taiyang is high and mighty; following him, one can become a superior person.
But when Wang Taiyang, whom she held in high esteem, suddenly knelt down in front of Yang Ling, Jin Xiaona's world collapsed.
It turns out that the person who seemed superior wasn't Wang Taiyang, but Yang Ling, whom he hadn't really looked down on since starting university.
Wang Taiyang, who was worth hundreds of millions and had powerful connections, was kneeling in front of Yang Ling at this moment, not daring to say a word, and was completely submissive. Where was his previous demeanor?
Jin Xiaona's feelings were undeniably complex.
At this moment, she really wanted to apologize to Yang Ling and go back to his side, as if nothing had happened.
Unfortunately, she knew it was impossible.
Especially when Yang Ling told them to leave.
However, Jin Xiaona was clearly unwilling to leave like this. She gritted her teeth and grabbed Yang Ling in front of her. Her eyes immediately reddened and tears streamed down her face. While holding Yang Ling's hand, she said with a sad expression, "Yang Ling, I know I was wrong. Please forgive me."
"I didn't do this willingly, it was...it was Wang Taiyang! It was him, he forced me!"
"He...he threatened me, forcing me to be with him or else he would harm you. I...I was scared. I was afraid he would hurt you, that's why I was with him. I've never liked him. I've always loved you."
"Yang Ling, please forgive me..."
This scene left Yang Ling somewhat stunned, while Jiang Bai was also dumbfounded. The change in tone was too fast!
How did the plot suddenly reverse?
How did Jin Xiaona, who abandoned her boyfriend for money, become a victim?
When she arrived, Wang Taiyang blatantly insulted Yang Ling. Although her expression was not good, it was clear that she was not acting against her will.
How did things turn around so quickly, and I became the one being coerced?
This scene made Jiang Bai frown, and even Lin Wanru's brows furrowed.
"Jin Xiaona!! Don't you dare accuse me! It was clearly you! You were with Liu Ming before me, you only followed him because he was rich! Don't think I don't know! You betrayed Yang Ling before, but you only followed me after you met me through that Liu Ming kid!"
"Young Master Yang, she's clearly framing me. You can ask Liu Ming; he can testify. Liu Ming even wanted to fall out with me over this! Many people in our circle know about this!"
"Jin Xiaona, she…she only stayed with me because I have money. She was the one who wanted to go to a hotel with me on the first day! It wasn't me, I didn't…"
How could Wang Taiyang allow Jin Xiaona to spout nonsense here?
If it were just an ordinary person, it wouldn't matter, but this person in front of us is Master Jiang's cousin, and Master Jiang is standing right next to him.
Didn't you hear Master Jiang say he was going to wipe out his entire family?
Damn it, Wang Taiyang would never stand here and let Jin Xiaona spout nonsense at a time like this.
Jin Xiaona saw Yang Ling turn things around and wanted to go back?
Go back if you want, but you can't just step over the corpses of my whole family, can you?
So Wang Taiyang immediately spoke up and exposed everything.
"No, no... Yang Ling, listen to me... I..."
Jin Xiaona naturally couldn't admit to Wang Taiyang's words and hurriedly pulled Yang Ling to try to explain.
She wanted to get back to Yang Ling's side, so naturally she couldn't admit to these things.
She was explaining, but she didn't see that Yang Ling's face had turned ashen.
The reason Jiang Bai remained silent from beginning to end was because he could tell that Yang Ling's expression was off and that she wouldn't be swayed by Jin Xiaona; otherwise, he would have already spoken up.
He had seen too many women like Jin Xiaona and knew what kind of people they were, so naturally he wouldn't let Yang Ling fall for it.
"roll!"
As expected, after hearing Jin Xiaona's explanation, Yang Ling simply shouted coldly!
What was once a little affection had vanished without a trace due to the other party's clumsy performance, leaving only endless anger.
With a loud shout, Jin Xiaona and Wang Taiyang were so frightened that they immediately shut their mouths.
"Get out of here right now! I don't want to see either of you again!"
Yang Ling roared again.
Wang Taiyang wisely left in a flustered manner, while Jin Xiaona's expression changed unpredictably. After a long while, she gritted her teeth and said in a low voice, "Yang Ling, I know you won't believe me. I'll come find you again after you've calmed down."
After saying that, she turned and left, making Jiang Bai frown. What did this woman mean? Was she still looking for Yang Ling later?
Is this a sign that they're going to keep harassing me?
Jiang Bai was already considering whether to send this woman to Africa.
Chapter 708 Wu Tianxi Suddenly Calls
However, he eventually dismissed the idea. Jin Xiaona suddenly disappeared. Even Yang Ling, a complete idiot, would know that he must have done something to her.
Although he didn't know what he did or what his current status was, given Wang Taiyang's performance just now, it would be strange if Yang Ling didn't know.
Yang Ling definitely couldn't accept Jin Xiaona's sudden disappearance.
Even though he's telling people to get lost now, things have been good for so long. If I actually sent him to Africa, it wouldn't be the same.
So Jiang Bai thought about it and had no choice but to give up.
This is a matter that outsiders cannot interfere with; ultimately, Yang Ling himself must resolve it.
As for the outcome, that depends on his own choice.
Jiang Bai wouldn't care about that much, nor would he want to. If he chose Jin Xiaona, then Jiang Bai would never interfere in his life again. Even if he was his cousin, Jiang Bai had no interest in helping such a brainless guy.
However, Jiang Bai believed that Yang Ling definitely knew what to choose.
This kid is a very opinionated person, and he's also incredibly stubborn. Once he's made up his mind, it's very difficult to change it. Jin Xiaona... she's not that incompetent.
After Wang Taiyang and Jin Xiaona left, Jiang Bai patted Yang Ling on the shoulder and whispered, "Want a drink?"
Yang Ling nodded silently. The two of them sat there and exchanged two bottles of baijiu. Lin Wanru sat next to them without saying a word, watching the two of them drink one glass after another.
After a few rounds of drinks, Yang Ling said, "Cousin, you don't need to worry about me. I've seen through Jin Xiaona today. I won't be sad for her anymore, and I won't have anything to do with this woman."
"Um."
Jiang Bai nodded silently.
Although Wang Taiyang and Jin Xiaona's conversation today was brief, it revealed a lot of information, roughly outlining the nature of Jin Xiaona. Jiang Bai believed he could see it clearly, and Yang Ling, who was involved, could see it even more clearly.
The fact that Yang Ling said this indicates that he has come to terms with it.
Of course, while it's fine to think about it, truly being able to be completely unconcerned will likely require a long period of adjustment.
These are things that Jiang Bai can't worry about.
"Cousin, what exactly do you do now? I know Wang Taiyang, his family has at least several billion in assets, and his uncle even said he's a very powerful person. Why is he like a mouse seeing a cat when he sees you?"
Having had a few drinks, Yang Ling decided not to dwell on the matter and, emboldened by the alcohol, asked Jiang Bai curiously.
When this question was raised, even Lin Wanru, who was standing next to him, looked very curious.
Lin Wanru knew Jiang Bai was no ordinary person, that his business was large, and that he had a wide network of connections, but she still didn't know exactly what he did. All she knew was that Jiang Bai was quite capable.
Jiang Bai didn't say how much skill or energy he possessed, nor did she ask.
However, she was indeed quite curious.
"A businessman!"
Jiang Bai responded with a smile.
He then added, "He's afraid of me because my business is huge. You know, big businesses always involve many parties and have more complicated networks of relationships. His uncle and his father can't afford to mess with me because I can take over their family at any time."
"As for what exactly I do, well, I do everything—logistics, pharmaceuticals, film and television, real estate—basically anything that makes money. But I really can't say for sure what I do specifically."
Jiang Bai's explanation left them bewildered, but both of them wisely remained silent and continued to ask.
They glanced blankly at Jiang Bai, then nodded silently.
The two then finished a bottle of wine, and Yang Ling was already slumped on the table. Jiang Bai took Lin Wanru away and had Xiao Tian take Yang Ling back.
He and Lin Wanru walked hand in hand down the street.
As Jiang Bai walked, his phone rang. It was Wu Tianxi.
Jiang Bai was taken aback. Wu Tianxi hadn't called him much lately, mainly because he had just reconciled with Li Qingdi and was licking his wounds.
Wu Tianxi has been so busy lately that he has no time to call Jiang Bai and chat idly.
His sudden call surprised Jiang Bai.
"Brother Wu, what's wrong? What happened?" Jiang Bai didn't hide anything about Lin Wanru's relationship with him.
Jiang Bai didn't tell Lin Wanru much or go into too much detail, not because he intended to hide anything, but simply because he wasn't inclined to say so much.
Most importantly, his situation was too fantastical. It would be fine if others discovered it little by little, but if he told them about it himself, it would sound like bragging. That's the fundamental reason why Jiang Bai was unwilling to say more.
With Lin Wanru nearby, Jiang Bai wouldn't deliberately avoid anything, even if Wu Tianxi called.
"I heard you went to Bingcheng a couple of days ago? You embarrassed Old Nalan? You wiped out Liu Zhou completely, destroying all his years of hard work, and didn't even give Old Nalan any face, forcing Old Nalan to kill Liu Zhou himself?"
Wu Tianxi laughed and said the following.
This caused Jiang Bai's expression to change. He hadn't expected the news to spread so quickly. How long had it been? Wu Tianxi already knew about it.
Damn, are there any secrets left in this world?
"How did the news spread so fast! Also, what do you mean I forced him to kill Liu Zhou? Brother Wu, who told you that? Don't listen to their gossip."
It's true that Jiang Bai had a conflict with Lao Nalan, and it's also true that he swept up Liu Zhou.
However, the fact that he had embarrassed old Nalan and forced him to kill Liu Zhou was a secret known only to Jiang Bai and the old prince Nalan Zongde.
Jiang Bai didn't think he had told anyone about it, so how did Wu Tianxi know?
However, no matter how Wu Tianxi found out, Jiang Bai would definitely not admit it.
He and Nalan Zongde were both prominent figures. After the matter was settled privately, he had no reason to embarrass them. There was no deep-seated hatred between them, so why should they fight to the death?
"Heh, why won't you admit it? Do you think I don't know how Liu Zhou died? If you hadn't forced old Nalan to do it himself, would that old guy have killed Liu Zhou? Saying it was a car accident, what a load of rubbish! Ask anyone outside who would believe that."
"Anyone with eyes can see that it was you who messed with Liu Zhou and wouldn't let go. Old Nalan had no choice but to do this to save face."
"In fact, this matter has already spread far and wide. It's not just me who knows it; many people know that it was you, Jiang Bai, who embarrassed Old Nalan. The once powerful and influential Prince Nalan was suppressed and beaten by you, Jiang Bai, and ultimately had no choice but to personally kill Liu Zhou."
"Let you roam freely on his turf!"
Wu Tianxi chuckled and said noncommittally, dismissing Jiang Bai's denial with disdain. It seemed he knew the whole story very well.
Chapter 709 Old Nalan is restless
Wu Tianxi's words left Jiang Bai speechless.
He knew he couldn't keep this a secret for long; his deal with Prince Nalan was nothing but self-deception.
Car accidents and such are just excuses.
Anyone with eyes to see knows that Prince Nalan had to sacrifice Liu Zhou to save the king, because of pressure from Jiang Bai. He killed Liu Zhou to give Jiang Bai an explanation.
But these kinds of things are originally things that require mutual consent.
The two of them reached an agreement and got the matter done, thinking that no one would gossip.
Jiang Bai hadn't expected that the news would spread like this in such a short time.
Judging from Wu Tianxi's words, he wasn't the only one who said that.
What do you mean by "it's already spread all over the place"?
Doesn't that mean that everyone knows about it now?
This made Jiang Bai feel bitter. If this was the case, then he was destined to have a feud with Old Nalan.
With such a scandal making it public knowledge, even if Nalan Zongde wanted to handle it discreetly, it would be impossible.
This matter is no longer just about Liu Zhou; it's between him and Jiang Bai, and it concerns his face and dignity.
If Nalan Zongde doesn't react, his reputation as an old prince will be ruined.
"Do you know who's spreading this rumor?"
Jiang Bai frowned and asked Wu Tianxi.
The fact that this matter spread so quickly and became known to everyone must be extraordinary. Jiang Bai suspected that someone was pulling the strings behind the scenes.
"Want to find the mastermind behind this? Heh, this matter has become common knowledge in just a few days. Even the doorman downstairs at my Binhai Tianci Group knows that you, Master Jiang, went to the Northeast and humiliated Prince Nalan, forcing the old man to send his own nephew to his death to avenge you."
"You stepped on the old prince's foot, humiliating him so much that he didn't dare utter a sound."
"This is quite abnormal!"
"But if I were you, I wouldn't care who's behind this right now."
Wu Tianxi laughed and said this.
"What do you mean?" Jiang Bai was a little unhappy, and even began to suspect that Wu Tianxi was spreading rumors behind the scenes.
He then shook his head. If Wu Tianxi had really done that, he wouldn't have called him.
However, there are only a handful of people in the country who can get involved in their struggle: Wu Tianxi and Li Qingdi.
Or it could be old Nalan himself.
As for Yang Wudi, he doesn't care about such things at all. Such petty tricks are not something Yang Wudi would use. He is always straightforward and speaks with his fists and his army. He would never resort to such underhanded tactics.
As for Cheng Tiangang, he was willing but unable, and his reach was limited; he didn't have the time or energy to deal with this.
After much thought, Li Qingdi is the most suspicious.
However, Jiang Bai didn't ask directly, but instead asked what it meant.
Jiang Bai felt that Wu Tianxi's words had a hidden meaning.
"I'm not trying to sow discord, but even a fool would know that the reason this news spread so quickly is because Li Qingdi couldn't stand being alone and did this. But if I were you, I wouldn't care about Li Qingdi, because Old Nalan has been quite restless these past two days."
Wu Tianxi spoke of Li Qingdi with disdain, but when he mentioned Nalan Zongde, his tone became somewhat solemn.
It's not that Li Qingdi is easier to deal with than Nalan Zongde; the main issue is that Wu Tianxi harbors a deep grudge against Li Qingdi, and out of consideration for Jiang Bai's reputation, they have temporarily ceased hostilities.
However, after fighting for several years, Wu Tianxi had been constantly suppressed by Li Qingdi and suffered heavy losses, so it was normal for him to feel resentful. When he mentioned Li Qingdi, it was with habitual disdain, which Jiang Bai understood.
As for Nalan Zongde, his tone was solemn, but it was his duty.
This group of people, who dominate a region, are all young people. Their rise to power has only been in the last ten or eight years. But Nalan Zongde has been the dominant figure in the Northeast for a long time. He has been known as the King of the Northeast for a long time.
Although he never steps outside Shanhaiguan, no one can reach into his small territory. Li Qingdi once had the idea, but after suffering a loss, he didn't act. Wu Tianxi had also been humiliated there.
No one knew Nalan's power and influence there better than Wu Tianxi and Li Qingdi. He had built an impenetrable wall around those provinces, claiming it was a powerful force. Anyone who went there to mess with him would definitely lose a mouthful of teeth.
It's just that this old fellow is too old, over eighty years old, and can't really cause any trouble. He also doesn't have a suitable successor, so he doesn't enter the pass and lets them cause trouble here.
Otherwise, whether that dragon of the capital would still be able to roam around causing trouble is another matter entirely.
Anyway, it won't be like it is now, making enemies everywhere, fighting one after another, so easy and carefree.
"How so?"
This made Jiang Bai's expression turn serious.
Each of these men was a powerful figure in their own region. The weakest was Wu Tianxi, the powerful ruler of Hebei, while the strongest was probably Zhao Wuji in the past.
Of course... after Zhao Wuji was injured, the strongest one was not Yang Wudi, nor Cheng Tiangang, but Li Qingdi.
This dragon of the capital is unparalleled in strength, even surpassing Zhao Wuji after Zhao Wuji fell ill.
This applies to power, ability, and combat strength.
Even when Li Qingdi was causing trouble everywhere, he didn't provoke Nalan Zongde, who was right next door, which shows how formidable the old man was.
This old guy is definitely the one who has been involved the longest and is the most deeply entrenched among this group.
He's also the most difficult one to deal with.
He was restless and made moves, which even made Jiang Bai frown and treat him with caution.
"Tsk tsk, Jiang Bai, do you know that this old guy entered Shengjing twenty years ago and has never stepped out of his little corner of the city since? He hasn't left Shengjing for twenty years. Now that you, Jiang Bai, have made a trip to Bingcheng, Old Nalan can't sit still in Shengjing."
"I heard that he personally left Shengjing yesterday."
"Right now, a huge storm is brewing in the north. The old prince has left Shengjing, which is a major event in several northern provinces."
"Everyone knows that it's because you, Jiang Bai, embarrassed the old man, and he couldn't sit still any longer, so he came out!"
Wu Tianxi clicked his tongue, finding the matter quite amusing.
Nalan Zongde, who had been stationed in Shengjing and dominated the Northeast for twenty years, had not left Shengjing. Now, because of Jiang Bai, he had left Shengjing, which was quite a remarkable event.
Everyone knew that this was going to be interesting.
Wu Tianxi was no exception.
Of course, he called Jiang Bai not just for this matter, not to tip Jiang Bai off, nor to gloat.
He had his reasons for calling Jiang Bai, but Jiang Bai couldn't quite figure out what he meant.