Translator: Cinder Translations
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In the studio, Fatty, who had eaten until his food was practically up to his neck, let out a satisfied burp. Then, with great attentiveness, he began clearing the table.
He carefully wrapped up the leftover food and stored it in the fridge.
The ingredients Brother Pi Ruan had brought last time were still mostly untouched. It took Fatty a lot of effort to make some space in the fridge.
"Brother Fugui!" Pi Ruan greeted warmly. "Later, I'll have someone send over a ham for you. It's very nourishing."
"Thank you," Fatty replied. "You can discuss these things with the doctor."
After a few interactions, Fatty had developed a very positive impression of Pi Ruan. The only thing that made him slightly uncomfortable was Pi Ruan's hairstyle, which was highly unpredictable.
As for the fact that Pi Ruan was a kept man, Fatty felt he wasn't in a position to judge. If a wealthy woman were to take an interest in him, he wasn't sure he could resist the temptation either.
Seeing that Jiang Cheng had burped and was rubbing his belly, seemingly in a good mood, Pi Ruan eagerly approached him.
He had just taken off his disposable gloves and was wiping his hands with a few wet wipes. "Dr. Jiang," Pi Ruan said with a smile. "You're not too busy today, are you?"
Jiang Cheng leaned back on the sofa and drawled, "Not particularly."
"I have a small matter I need to trouble you with."
"Is it about your girlfriend?" Jiang Cheng said casually. "Didn't I already tell you what to do?"
Pi Ruan grimaced. "But what you taught me was all useless."
Jiang Cheng glanced at him. "Don't say that about yourself."
Pi Ruan: "..."
At this point, Fatty had finished cleaning the kitchen. He had originally planned to sit down for a while, but after seeing the look on Pi Ruan's face, he decided to linger in the kitchen a bit longer.
Pi Ruan's expression was quite unpleasant, as if he were about to burst into tears at any moment.
He seemed to be discussing serious matters with the doctor.
Fatty felt it wasn't appropriate for him to be present.
"Pi Ruan," Jiang Cheng said without a hint of guilt, despite having just eaten Pi Ruan's food. He looked at him directly and said, "I've already told you, it's impossible for you to get 70% of her assets. At most, you can get 30%."
"Dr. Jiang, you know I'm not a greedy person. But right now, all I have is a hotel, a few villas, and a dozen cars. That's it," Pi Ruan said earnestly. "I feel so empty inside, so unsettled."
Hearing this, Fatty glanced at the newly bought kitchen knife.
"Dr. Jiang," Pi Ruan said, bending slightly and speaking in a cautious, probing tone. "Could you... think of another way?"
He licked his lips. "If it works out, I can give you a portion of the extra—"
"No way," Jiang Cheng interrupted.
Pi Ruan was stunned.
"Pi Ruan," Jiang Cheng sighed, his tone unusually gentle. "First, what you've already gotten is enough to ensure you live comfortably for the rest of your life. Don't be too greedy."
"Second," Jiang Cheng continued, "think about it. If you really managed to get 70%, do you think your girlfriend's grandchildren would let you off the hook?"
"Even now, while your girlfriend is still alive, things are already this chaotic. What do you think will happen when she's no longer around and no one is there to speak up for you? Have you thought about the consequences?"
"By then, not only will you not get the 70%, but you'll also lose everything you have now. You'll be completely wiped out," Jiang Cheng said. "You'll end up with nothing."
Pi Ruan's face twisted in conflict, but in the end, he gritted his teeth and said, "I can find a way to have her draft a will in advance and get it notarized."
"Then there's nothing more for us to discuss," Jiang Cheng said, standing up. "You can leave. Don't come back again."
Pi Ruan seemed taken aback by Jiang Cheng's sudden change in attitude. Everything had been fine before. Jiang Cheng had even introduced him to his girlfriend and taken a hefty cut from the deal. Why was he acting like this now?
Hearing the tension, Fatty quickly emerged from the kitchen, wiping his hands on his apron and trying to smooth things over with a smile. "What's all this about? Come on, let me cut some fruit for you. Brother Pi Ruan brought a honeydew last time, and it looks really sweet..."
Jiang Cheng had already lifted his leg, ready to leave Pi Ruan behind and head upstairs, but Fatty grabbed him.
"Doctor," Fatty said with a smile. "Sit for a while longer. Let's eat the melon."
Fatty subtly pinched Jiang Cheng's arm. After standing still for a few seconds, Jiang Cheng actually lowered his leg.
Under Fatty's arrangement, he even sat back down, though he chose a spot far from Pi Ruan and still didn't give him a friendly look.
After returning to the kitchen, Fatty quickly brought out a plate of sliced honeydew. He handed a large piece to Jiang Cheng first, but Jiang Cheng didn't take it. In the end, Fatty forced it into his hand.
When he saw Jiang Cheng take a small bite, Pi Ruan's tense expression eased considerably. Over the years, his smooth sailing had largely been thanks to Jiang Cheng's help.
Without needing Fatty to prompt him, Pi Ruan wisely picked up a piece of melon and started eating.
Fatty joined them, chatting about this and that, sharing many things he'd heard while driving his cab.
Though the conversation wasn't particularly interesting, the back-and-forth gradually improved Jiang Cheng's mood. In the end, he even picked up another piece of melon and ate it himself.
Seeing that Pi Ruan had completely relaxed, Fatty gave him a meaningful look. Pi Ruan immediately stood up and said politely to Jiang Cheng, "Dr. Jiang, I'll let you get back to your work. I'll... I'll come by another day."
A moment later, when Jiang Cheng gave a slight nod, Pi Ruan felt as if he had come back to life. Even after Fatty walked him out, Pi Ruan kept holding Fatty's hand, repeatedly expressing his gratitude.
"Brother Fugui!" Pi Ruan said, his eyes welling up with tears. "I owe you so much today. I know Dr. Jiang's temper. If it weren't for you, he might have thrown me out the next time I came."
After sizing up Fatty for a moment, Pi Ruan seemed to remember something. He made a quick phone call, and within two minutes, the female secretary they had met before came running over.
Fatty remembered her name was Miss Lin.
When she saw Fatty, Miss Lin nodded in greeting, then handed Pi Ruan a thick envelope. Pi Ruan immediately tried to pass it to Fatty.
"Brother Fugui, this is a small token of my appreciation," Pi Ruan said. "If you ever need anything in the future, just let me know. If I can help, I will. If I can't, we'll figure something out..."
To Pi Ruan's surprise, Fatty pushed the envelope back. "Brother Pi Ruan," Fatty said, licking his lips and smiling. "I can't accept this."
Pi Ruan's face flushed with embarrassment. "It's nothing serious, Brother Fugui. Don't misunderstand. I just noticed that your lifestyle is quite modest. Keep it, buy some clothes or shoes you like."
Fatty looked down at himself and smiled. "Thank you, but I think I'm fine as I am." He rubbed his hands together, slightly awkward. "The doctor said he'll help me apply for a salary from Boss Lin next month. Once I have my wages, I'll be fine."
"Brother Pi Ruan," Fatty hesitated for a moment but then spoke earnestly. "Actually, I think the doctor is right. People should learn to be content." He paused, then looked at Pi Ruan seriously. "And we should always act with integrity."
(End of the Chapter)
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