Early the next morning, Jiang Chen received a call from Tang Chuchu.
"Honey, I've contacted my high school classmate. She’s willing to help me and has even set up a meeting with Ye Xiong, the chairman of Qianjun. Where are you? Let’s head to the Qianjun Group now to secure the order. Once we do, Grandpa will finally accept you." Tang Chuchu’s voice on the other end was filled with excitement.
"Wait for me at home. I’ll be there to pick you up in a moment."
After hanging up, Jiang Chen quickly got out of bed, freshened up, and left the house.
"Brother Jiang, where to?" Xiao Hei was already waiting by the car.
"To Chuchu’s place."
"Get in, Brother Jiang."
Jiang Chen stepped into the unmarked commercial vehicle, and Xiao Hei drove off, heading swiftly toward Tang Chuchu’s home. He waited outside her residential complex.
Before long, Tang Chuchu came out. Since she was going to meet the chairman of Qianjun today, she had dressed with great care. She wore a glamorous, form-fitting dress, her long black hair cascading over her shoulders, making her look indescribably vibrant.
"Honey!"
She spotted Jiang Chen standing by the black commercial vehicle from a distance and trotted over, her face glowing with joy. "My classmate was really supportive and has already set everything up for us. We can head straight to the Qianjun Group."
Jiang Chen smiled faintly.
*What classmate?* If he hadn’t personally reached out to Ye Xiong, there was no way Ye Xiong would have agreed to meet Tang Chuchu.
However, seeing how excited she was, he didn't want to deflate her spirits. Instead, he praised her, "I knew my wife was capable. My success this time relies entirely on you. If we can't secure this order, I’ll be kicked out on the street."
The corners of Tang Chuchu’s mouth lifted into a beautiful smile. "Don't worry, I won’t let you get kicked out."
She didn't know Jiang Chen’s true identity, but she had been to his villa. It was the Emperor's Residence, the most luxurious property in all of Jiangzhong, worth a fortune. Someone capable of living in such a place couldn't possibly be an ordinary man. She felt that she must have accumulated great virtue in her past life to have met such a wonderful man.
She wanted to perform well in front of him. She wanted him to know that she was no longer the old Tang Chuchu; though people had looked down on her for years, she hadn't wasted her time—she had learned a great deal.
"Wife, get in."
Tang Chuchu climbed into the car. Once inside, Jiang Chen instructed, "Xiao Hei, head to the Qianjun Group."
As she snuggled into Jiang Chen’s arms, she recalled the events of the previous night and couldn't help but ask, "Honey, did you know? Something huge happened last night. Xiao Biehe, the head of the Xiao family—the leader of the Four Great Families—was murdered."
The Xiao family was the head of the four major wealthy clans in Jiangzhong. Xiao Biehe was their patriarch and one of the most prominent figures in the city. Last night was the Xiao family banquet, held to celebrate the permanent agreement between their Longteng Group and the Qianjun Group, which would give Longteng priority on all orders—a move that would have elevated the Xiao family’s influence to even greater heights. It was also Xiao Biehe’s eightieth birthday.
Yet, a mysterious person had broken in, delivered a coffin, killed Xiao Biehe, and taken his head. The news had spread through Jiangzhong overnight, causing an uproar. Authorities had already intervened, but there had been no further updates.
When Tang Chuchu asked about it, Jiang Chen feigned surprise. "I went straight to sleep after I got back yesterday, so I don't know what happened. You mean the Xiao family, one of the four great families in Jiangzhong?"
"That’s the one," Tang Chuchu said. "The Xiao family is the leader of the four. Their businesses are countless. The Longteng Group alone is worth many times more than all the Tang family’s enterprises combined, and the Xiao family has many other holdings." A hint of envy flickered on her face. "Every woman in Jiangzhong would give anything to marry into the Xiao family and become a wealthy young mistress."
Jiang Chen gave a faint, thin-lipped smile. "Didn't you have that chance yesterday? If you’d divorced me, you would’ve had a shot at marrying into a wealthy family."
"Pfft." Tang Chuchu scoffed dismissively. "What’s so great about the wealthy? Over the last ten years, I’ve seen enough cold looks and mockery. In their eyes, I’m just a joke. I know who truly treats me well; I have no desire to marry into those families. Besides, my husband is already a wealthy man."
She giggled, her face filled with happiness. Jiang Chen couldn't help but squeeze her hand. *This woman is actually quite sensible.*
Xiao Hei, behind the wheel, didn't say a word, driving in silence until they arrived outside the Qianjun Group building. Qianjun was an international group owned by the Ye family of the Capital. Their headquarters was an impressive sight: an eighty-story skyscraper.
Jiang Chen and Tang Chuchu stepped out of the car. Tang Chuchu looked up at the building, dazed. In the last ten years, she had rarely stepped outside, yet her heart had always craved the world beyond. She had studied constantly at home, hoping that one day she would be like a bird escaping its cage, flying into a wider sky.
She pulled out her phone and called her high school classmate. About twenty minutes later, a heavily made-up woman in professional attire walked over. When she saw Tang Chuchu standing at the entrance, a flash of surprise crossed her face. Yesterday, Tang Chuchu had claimed her beauty had returned and even sent a photo, but she hadn't truly believed it. Seeing the ethereal, fairy-like woman before her now, she couldn't help but feel a pang of envy.
She walked up and asked tentatively, "Chuchu?"
Tang Chuchu hurried over, grabbed the woman’s hands, and said with a touch of excitement, "Jiajia, it’s me! I never expected you to do so well for yourself, becoming a department head at the Qianjun Group."
Wu Jiajia’s vanity was greatly satisfied. She laughed, "Just scraping by, that's all. Chuchu, to see the chairman, we need authorization from the general manager. Come on."
"Oh?" Tang Chuchu was taken aback. Yesterday, during their WeChat chat, Wu Jiajia had claimed she had already arranged a meeting with Chairman Ye Xiong.
"Chuchu, you have to understand, Qianjun’s orders aren't easy to get. To secure one, you have to... give a little." She leaned in close to Tang Chuchu and whispered something in her ear.
Hearing this, Tang Chuchu flatly refused. "Impossible."
Wu Jiajia’s expression hardened, and she said impatiently, "Chuchu, how can you expect results without paying the price? I’ve already sent your photo to the manager. He said it’s a go—as long as you spend one night with him, you won’t even need to see the chairman; the manager can sign off on it himself."
"Jiajia, I treated you as a friend! What do you take me for?"
Wu Jiajia looked at her with disdain. "You want the order without paying the price? I’m telling you, that’s impossible. I’ve said my piece—think it over and let me know."
With that, she turned around and walked away, her hips swaying, the click-clack of her high heels echoing on the pavement.
Tang Chuchu was on the verge of tears. She turned to Jiang Chen, who had been silent behind her, her eyes brimming. "I... am I really that useless?"
Jiang Chen comforted her, "How could you be? How could my wife be useless? Just go find Ye Xiong. He will definitely see you. Go on, I’ll wait for you in the car."
Jiang Chen gently nudged Tang Chuchu toward the Qianjun building. Just then, Wu Jiajia turned back, accompanied by a middle-aged man. The man was dressed in a suit and tie, sporting the look of a successful professional.
Wu Jiajia clung affectionately to his arm as they returned to Tang Chuchu. She smiled and said, "Chuchu, this is Manager Chen from the Qianjun Group, the one in charge of dealing with other companies. Which enterprises get the orders depends entirely on Manager Chen’s decision."
Wu Jiajia had climbed the corporate ladder so quickly because she had latched onto Manager Chen. She had become his mistress to secure her position. Last night, she had shown Chen Lin a photo of Tang Chuchu. Chen Lin had been instantly captivated and promised that if Wu Jiajia could get Tang Chuchu into his bed, he would not treat her poorly—he would even vote to promote her to deputy manager.
Seeing Tang Chuchu in person, Chen Lin was even more enthralled. She was even more beautiful and vibrant than in her picture. At that moment, he swore to himself that he would have this stunning beauty.
He walked up, chest puffed out, looking at Tang Chuchu. "Tang Chuchu, right? Jiajia has already told me about your situation. It’s so hot outside—why don’t we go to a hotel room to discuss the details? Don’t worry, with me here, never mind a 30-million order, I can even get you one for 50 million."