Chapter 11: Just Consider It Paying Money to Avoid Trouble

The other party replied quickly: "What? Something like that actually happened? I'll have someone investigate immediately!"

"Take it back within half an hour."

"Understood! If I can't get the medicine back within half an hour, I'll bring you my head instead."

"What use would I have for your head?" Jiang Zhe expressed her disdain.

When Qin Jingchen returned, he saw her just putting her phone away.

"I prepared some food for you."

His subordinate had just come to report, bringing the food prepared for Jiang Zhe.

She had eaten very little for dinner, and she had just exerted herself for so long.

The meal was complete with steak, vegetables, fruit, and milk.

Jiang Zhe cast a casual glance. "I have no appetite."

"I'll have them prepare something else."

Jiang Zhe pulled out a bottle and poured out some chewing gum. "Eat this."

She tossed two pieces into her mouth. There wasn't much left in the bottle, and she suddenly frowned slightly.

Qin Jingchen had already noticed that she chewed gum frequently, as if her teeth could never rest for a moment.

Just as he was about to speak, the young girl across from him handed him the bottle. "You have one."

The subordinate beside him was about to reach out to block her; it was his habitual action and his duty.

However, Qin Jingchen had already taken the bottle a step ahead.

The subordinate was shocked. "I am sorry, Master Qin, I was too slow. Please punish me."

Qin Jingchen gave a light chuckle, the beauty mark beneath the corner of his eye appearing even more bewitchingly distinct as he poured out exactly one piece and popped it into his mouth.

"Punish you for what? Go back to your work." Qin Jingchen's tone was gentle.

The subordinate felt as if he had been granted a general amnesty. What was going on? Then his lip twitched—Master Qin had actually eaten that gum?

"I'm leaving." After taking back the gum bottle, Jiang Zhe revealed a rare, fleeting smile and strode toward the exit.

Qin Jingchen still captured the subtle change in her expression and followed her footsteps.

Downstairs, Liang Jinlan was waiting in the car.

Jiang Fanyue had a bit of a cold today, and Gu Jiaheng took it very seriously, personally driving her to this best private hospital in Jincheng to get medicine.

This honor brought pride to the entire Jiang family.

Wanting to give them more space to interact, Liang Jinlan did not follow them inside.

She was busy boasting to her friend when she caught sight of Jiang Zhe walking out of the entrance carrying a schoolbag.

Why was Jiang Zhe here again?

Liang Jinlan frowned in displeasure. Most likely, she had heard from Jiang Yunxuan that Gu Jiaheng was at the hospital and had come specifically to run into him.

"Jiang Zhe!" Liang Jinlan walked toward Jiang Zhe, suppressing her anger.

Jiang Zhe was chewing gum, her face expressionless. When Liang Jinlan met her eyes, she felt a chill in her heart from that pair of almost demonic eyes.

Liang Jinlan asked unpleasantly, "What are you doing here?"

"Does it concern you?" Jiang Zhe continued chewing her gum, her tone extremely indifferent.

"I know why you're here. Jiaheng is here to accompany Fanyue. He is incredibly attentive to Fanyue; he can't bear to see her suffer even from a minor cold, so he came specifically to find an expert for her treatment. There is no way he could fall for someone else. Give up on that idea."

Seeing that Jiang Zhe did not speak, Liang Jinlan assumed she had seen through her intentions.

She pulled a meal card from her bag. "Fanyue stays at the Jiang house, and I know you feel an imbalance in your heart. This is a meal card for Huai Shu Street Middle School; I've topped it up with ten thousand. I said I would do it, and I will; I won't short you."

Liang Jinlan treated this merely as paying to avoid trouble.

Jiang Zhe did not reach out. She glanced at the meal card, her gaze cold and detached.

Liang Jinlan knew she was dissatisfied. Staying at the Jiang house came with many benefits regarding food, clothing, and daily necessities.

She added, "Regarding the piano you left at the Jiang house, I'll find someone to deliver it to you another day, and I'll give you another twenty thousand in cash."

"Chop it up."

"What?"

Jiang Zhe repeated, "I said the piano."

"You!" Liang Jinlan's face turned ugly.

That was something she had specifically bought for Jiang Zhe and Jiang Fanyue back then. Although the one for Jiang Zhe was mediocre and far less valuable than Jiang Fanyue's, it was still her money that had been spent.

Jiang Zhe ignored her further, seeing a Lincoln driving up.

The window rolled down, and it was Qin Jingchen himself driving.

He stepped out of the car and walked to Jiang Zhe's side.

Although the man's temperament was gentle, his sense of pressure was almost tangible. Liang Jinlan had experienced it once before, and facing Qin Jingchen again, she couldn't help but feel a sense of dread.

He even drove a Lincoln? Since when did Jiang Zhe make this kind of friend?

"Let's go," Jiang Zhe said calmly.

Qin Jingchen opened the car door.

"Miss Jiang!" Someone rushed over hurriedly, holding various gifts in their hands.

He walked quickly to Jiang Zhe and spoke sincerely, "I am here representing the Tang family. Please, Miss Jiang, you must accept these items."

It was a stroke of luck for the Tang family that Qin Fengbao had saved the child. As soon as the Tang family upstairs confirmed the news, they immediately arranged for people to send lavish gifts.

Because it was arranged in haste, some gifts weren't even fully wrapped. Judging by the logos on the bags, there was everything from luxury watches and designer bags to rare supplements.

By estimation, the value was at least over a million.

"It was just a small favor." Jiang Zhe had no intention of accepting.

"If Miss Jiang does not accept them, I truly won't be able to go back and report properly." The man was very persistent.

Jiang Zhe glanced at Qin Jingchen. "You handle it."

Qin Jingchen gave a permissive smile and said to the man, "Take them back."

The gift-bearer did not dare to defy Qin Jingchen's wishes, though he felt suspicious in his heart—since when did this Master Qin become so easy to talk to?

Having resolved the issue with the gifts, Jiang Zhe sat in the Lincoln.

Qin Jingchen drove personally, and the limited-edition Lincoln soon disappeared into the night.

Liang Jinlan's mouth hung wide open, unable to close. Was the Tang family they just mentioned the prestigious Tang family of Jincheng, the one even the Gu family had to show respect to?

But how was that possible? Even the Gu family didn't have frequent opportunities to visit a family like the Tangs; how could they be so respectful to Jiang Zhe?

She thought about it—Tang and Jiang were both common surnames in Jincheng, so the probability of a coincidence was high. She couldn't conclude anything based solely on a surname.

And those gifts—who knew if they were real or fake?

In the car, after getting in, Jiang Zhe spent her time fiddling with her phone, showing no intention of chatting.

Qin Jingchen rarely drove himself, and he drove very smoothly.

During a gap while waiting at a red light, he spoke: "I'm sorry about tonight. I'll treat you to dinner next time."

"No need." Jiang Zhe's attention was entirely on her phone.

The person on the other end had just replied, telling her that the leaked drugs from the JZ Pharmaceutical Research Institute had been found.

"OK. Keep a close eye on it."

From Qin Jingchen's perspective, only the faint light from the phone flickered across her face.

Upon arriving at the Jiang house, Jiang Zhe got out with her bag, gave a simple wave of goodbye, and walked forward with her long, slender legs.

The bright headlights illuminated her small path home.

Qin Jingchen remained in the car, watching her retreating figure without her once looking back, until she had completely disappeared. He did not withdraw his gaze.

A phone rang, and Qin Jingchen answered: "Brother Chen, Sister Feng's child is safe. Grandma Qin is in a good mood after waking up. I arrived late, but I heard Miss Jiang helped Sister Feng save the child?"

(End of Chapter)