The socialites of Tianhai all took pride in being able to live in the Yuntian Villa District. Some even claimed that anyone without a property there could not be considered part of high society. Although the Li Group was worth over a billion, it still wasn't qualified to purchase a home in Yuntian. But now, having hooked up with Zhao Ming, things were different. As long as she could secure a property there, the Matriarch would be overjoyed, and her own status within the Li Family would become increasingly secure.
Zhao Ming smiled. "Whether you go tomorrow depends on your performance tonight."
A flash of allure flickered in Lin Feifei’s eyes. "I will certainly perform well!"
***
At the Long family villa, Long Wuya did not dare to breathe loudly as he looked at the stern-faced Jiang Dongchen, beads of sweat forming on his forehead. Long Wuya had invited Zhao Ming and the others today because he felt that since Jiang Dongchen had emerged from seclusion, it was time to announce his identity. He hadn't expected Jiang Dongchen to dislike the idea. What Jiang Dongchen disliked even more was that Long Wuya had invited Hua Tianfeng over without his consent. Thinking about how his attempt to flatter Jiang Dongchen had backfired, Long Wuya was filled with regret.
Hua Tianfeng coughed lightly. "This is my fault. If I hadn't been an old acquaintance of Mr. Long and begged him relentlessly, he wouldn't have acted without your permission." Then, Hua Tianfeng added timidly, "If Mr. Jiang feels that my presence here is inappropriate, I shall wait outside."
Jiang Dongchen rolled his eyes. "You’re already here. If I made you wait outside, wouldn't it seem like I'm being unreasonable?"
Seeing that Jiang Dongchen was no longer dwelling on the issue, both Long Wuya and Hua Tianfeng felt a sense of relief. Respectfully ushering Jiang Dongchen to the seat of honor, Long Wuya checked his watch and frowned. "That girl—I told her we had important guests tonight; why isn't she back yet?"
Long Ruolan’s voice rang out: "And here I am!"
Entering the dining room, her eyes flashed with disgust the moment she saw Jiang Dongchen. "Why are you here?"
Before Jiang Dongchen could speak, Long Ruolan looked at Long Wuya with an exaggerated expression. "Brother, you don't actually believe that I’m suffering from a grave illness and have been poisoned, do you?"
Long Wuya snorted coldly. "Mr. Jiang would never misdiagnose."
Long Ruolan scoffed. "Divine Doctor Hua, tell me—do I have a grave illness, or have I been poisoned?"
Hua Tianfeng looked at Jiang Dongchen. Upon seeing the slightest nod from him, he proceeded to take Long Ruolan’s pulse. Long Ruolan did not resist, instead looking at Jiang Dongchen with a defiant gaze. Hua Tianfeng was the top physician in the Provincial Capital! If he confirmed that there was nothing wrong with her, Jiang Dongchen's lies would collapse. When the myth was shattered, Long Wuya would realize that this kid was nothing but a charlatan.
Hua Tianfeng’s brow began to furrow, deeper and deeper. Both Long Wuya and Long Ruolan grew nervous. "Divine Doctor Hua, what is it?"
Hua Tianfeng released Long Ruolan and bowed to Jiang Dongchen with a bitter expression. "Mr. Jiang, my medical skills are far inferior to yours. Aside from uterine cold, I truly cannot see that Long Ruolan is ill."
Long Ruolan jumped for joy. "Brother, did you hear that? Divine Doctor Hua says I’m not sick!"
Hua Tianfeng hurriedly replied, "Just because I cannot see it doesn't mean you aren't ill. Mr. Jiang is the pinnacle of the traditional Chinese medical world; if he says you are ill, then you must be."
Seeing that Hua Tianfeng treated Jiang Dongchen like a god, Long Ruolan was infuriated. "Divine Doctor Hua, if even you can't tell I’m sick, how could I possibly be ill!?"
Before Hua Tianfeng could argue, Long Ruolan lunged in front of Jiang Dongchen. "Divine Doctor Jiang, you’ve been insisting that I’m ill. Fine—tell me, what exactly is my illness?"
Jiang Dongchen sighed. "You and your brother both suffer from the Nine-Yin Absolute Pulse. But your brother is male and possesses pure yang energy, making his condition easier to treat. You are a woman, and since women are inherently yin, treatment is a hundred times more difficult. Furthermore, you have been poisoned."
Long Ruolan rolled her eyes. "Stop with the nonsense. Tell me, what happens when it flares up?"
A sharp light glinted in Jiang Dongchen’s eyes. "Your main symptom is uterine cold. In the days before your period, you feel frozen stiff. Those quack doctors think it’s just uterine cold and give you medicine to expel the cold, but they don't realize this only treats the symptoms and not the root cause—it actually forces the cold into your limbs and organs. Once it flares up, you will be frozen like a corpse."
Long Ruolan chuckled coldly. "I really have to hand it to you."
***
"It’s clearly just uterine cold, yet you make it sound so mystical. You're a fraud!"
Hua Tianfeng, who had been deep in thought, suddenly lifted his head. "There are records of the Nine-Yin Absolute Pulse in ancient texts. It is my lack of skill that prevented me from diagnosing it!"
Long Ruolan looked at Hua Tianfeng with a sneer. "Divine Doctor Hua, what did this kid bribe you with? To go as far as ruining your reputation to cover his lies?" Clearly, Long Ruolan believed Hua Tianfeng was putting on a show.
Hua Tianfeng glared at her. "I am stating facts! I advise you to let Mr. Jiang treat you, or you truly will die!"
Long Wuya looked at Jiang Dongchen nervously. "Mr. Jiang, if you were to treat her, how would you go about it?"
A hint of hesitation flashed in Jiang Dongchen’s eyes. "This..."
Long Ruolan looked on defiantly. "Speak up! How will you treat it?"
Jiang Dongchen gritted his teeth. "The treatment is simple, yet it is also complex. I would use the Golden Needle Transcending Tribulation technique to expel the cold from her body, then use warming-yang medicine to neutralize the yin energy in her absolute pulse. However... during the treatment, she cannot have any clothing on her body. Otherwise, if even a trace of cold remains inside, it will be in vain—even if an immortal were present, they would be helpless."
Long Ruolan pointed at Jiang Dongchen, her eyes filled with malice. "I finally understand what you’re trying to do, you fraud! You want to take advantage of me! Brother, this kid is despicable, shameless, and lewd! Are you still going to trust his words?"
Long Wuya’s face turned livid. "How dare you speak like that! Apologize to Mr. Jiang immediately!"
Long Ruolan stomped her feet. "Even if I die, I will not apologize to this despicable, shameless, lewd guy! Brother, you are so superstitious about this fraud that you’ll suffer a great loss sooner or later!"
Without waiting for Long Wuya to speak, Long Ruolan turned and left. Long Wuya could only look at Jiang Dongchen with an apologetic expression. "Mr. Jiang, that is just my sister’s personality. Please don't take it to heart."
Jiang Dongchen’s gaze turned cold. "I have noted her words today. If she wants to be treated, she must apologize to me and get on her knees to beg!" Out of respect for Long Wuya, Jiang Dongchen had been willing to share everything he knew, yet Long Ruolan had repeatedly called him a despicable, shameless, and lewd fraud. Even a clay figurine has a temper, let alone Jiang Dongchen. Thus, he made his position clear. The reason he didn't refuse outright was that this was the first time he had encountered someone like Long Ruolan with a Nine-Yin Absolute Pulse, and he found the challenge interesting.
With the conversation at this point, the atmosphere naturally grew heavy. Fortunately, Long Wuya spent the rest of the meal apologizing, and the mood gradually improved. After the meal, seeing a pitiable-looking Hua Tianfeng, Jiang Dongchen asked, "Tell me the symptoms of your daughter’s illness."
Knowing that Jiang Dongchen was intending to help, Hua Tianfeng was overjoyed and told him every detail. Jiang Dongchen frowned. "This illness does sound quite strange. Tell you what—when I have time, I will go to the Provincial Capital to treat your daughter."
***
Xie Yun’s fingertips were cold. It took her a long time to control her emotions. She raised her hands to cup the man’s face and said hoarsely, "Yin Ji, do you know who I am? Do you know who you are courting right now?"
Yin Ji was stunned, as if he had been stumped by the question. Xie Yun pried his hands away, her heart feeling empty and hollow. She didn't really know what kind of feelings Yin Ji had for Xiao Baobao anymore. Perhaps it wasn't the love she had once assumed, but it didn't matter. The moment the name "Baobao" had left Yin Ji’s lips that day, there had been no possibility left between them.
"Your Majesty should rest. I will sleep outside today."
She turned to leave, but was suddenly embraced by a scorching, warm chest. Yin Ji hugged her tightly, his voice urgent. "I know. I know it is you."
Xie Yun lowered her eyes, feeling no ripples in her heart. What use was knowing now? Yin Ji seemed to have guessed what she was thinking and hugged her even tighter. "I knew it was you that night, too."
Xie Yun stiffened. It took her a long time to find her voice. "What did you say?"
"I said," Yin Ji took a deep breath, "I knew it was you that night. I was angry that you wouldn't let me touch you, so I deliberately said Xiao Baobao’s name to provoke you. I did not mistake the person."
For a moment, Xie Yun felt as if she had been struck by lightning. She looked at Yin Ji in disbelief. "You said it to provoke me? You used something like that to provoke me?"
Yin Ji’s embrace suddenly became unbearable. She struggled uncontrollably, wanting to move further and further away from him. Those knives that had pierced her heart, leaving her bleeding—were they just Yin Ji’s momentary spite? What was this? What was she? Absurd, absolutely absurd!
"Let go of me!"
Yin Ji dared not listen. He knew very well that if he let go now, they would have no future at all. "It is my fault. I was wrong. But Xie Yun, I never mistook you for someone else. Never."
What use was that?! Why do you think that such an explanation would make me let go?! I have already tried so hard not to think about the past, trying to make myself forget, wanting to cherish these last few days with you. Why must you bring it up? Why must you stab me again?!
"Let go!"
Yin Ji still refused to listen. In her desperation, Xie Yun pushed him hard. Her hand touched something wet, and she froze, turning her head away, stung by the bright red blood on Yin Ji’s chest. Yin Ji seemed unaware of the pain and wrapped his arms around her again. "Xie Yun, I have nothing to say about the past, but there is one thing I must tell you: I have never looked down on you. Never."
Xie Yun did not want to give him any response. She only felt as if everything before her was an extremely absurd dream, so absurd that she felt pathetic. She staggered and sat in a chair, burying half her face in her palms. "Either you go out, or I go out. Your Majesty, choose."
Yin Ji stiffened. He did not want to leave at a time like this, but insisting on staying only made Xie Yun more uncomfortable. So, after some hesitation, he walked out. Only when he reached the doorway did he stop. "Xie Yun, I haven't forgotten the promise I made to you back then. I am keeping it."
A promise? Xie Yun felt a bit dazed. It was a long time before she remembered that six years ago, when their engagement was set, Yin Ji had written her a letter. In the letter, he had written: "One couple for one lifetime."
Xie Yun laughed, but it was bitter and astringent. "You still want to lie to me at a time like this? You stayed with An Kang for seven whole days..."
"I didn't touch her." Yin Ji hurried back. "I was only looking after her for Dou Jing. I did nothing. You can write a letter to ask her."
Xie Yun’s gaze trembled, and her lips parted several times, but she could not speak. Yin Ji understood what she meant anyway. He said, word for word: "I haven't touched anyone. I have only ever had you."
***
If he didn't arrive in time and displeased the sales manager, the loss would outweigh the gain!
While the security guard waited for help, he opened the gate for Lin Feifei and Zhao Ming. Seeing the BMW enter the villa area, Jiang Dongchen sneered, "You don't open the gate for the real owner, yet you let people who aren't owners in... you are truly judging people by their clothes!"
The security guard looked at Jiang Dongchen as if he were an idiot. "They can afford a luxury car, so I naturally believe them! And what are you, to dare accuse me?"
Jiang Dongchen’s anger rose, but before he could act, hurried footsteps were heard. Five security guards rushed over, each holding an electric baton! Seeing his backup arrive, the guard gave a vicious grin. "Kid, I told you to leave earlier! Now you can't even if you want to!"
Before Jiang Dongchen could speak, the guard turned to the head guard, his expression fawning. "Captain, this idiot wants to cause trouble here!"
The captain looked arrogant. "This is the damn Yuntian Villa District! If anyone dares to cause trouble here, I’ll skin him alive!" Just as he said this, the captain saw Jiang Dongchen and froze in his tracks!
Over a month ago, Yuntian Villa District had hosted its most distinguished guest, received personally by the sales manager! Because he had never seen the usually haughty manager be so respectful to anyone, the captain had firmly etched that man's face into his memory! This idiot in front of them—wasn't this the person the manager had served as if he were his own father?
The security guard misunderstood the captain’s expression and pointed at Jiang Dongchen. "Idiot, the captain is angry now! You're dead!"
*Slap!* The captain slapped the guard across the face. As the guard clutched his cheek in disbelief, the captain, still not satisfied, kicked him. "Are you damn blind?! You dared to call the owner an idiot! Get out of here—hand in your resignation and get lost right now!"
Before the guard could say a word, the captain went to Jiang Dongchen’s side and bowed ninety degrees. "Mr. Jiang, I apologize. It is my failure to supervise! I hope you are a generous person and don't take this to heart."
Jiang Dongchen naturally wouldn't lower himself to the level of a security guard. He gave the guard a deep look and entered the Yuntian Villa District.
At this moment, Zhao Ming and Lin Feifei were looking at the sales manager with some apprehension. The sales manager was a woman in a professional suit, appearing no different from any other office worker. But Zhao Ming and Lin Feifei knew she was a favorite of the Yun family. If they offended her, a few words from her to the Yun family would be enough to cause them serious trouble.
The manager’s gaze swept over them and finally landed on Zhao Ming. "Young Master Zhao, with the Li Group’s strength, you are indeed not qualified to buy a house here. However, if the property deed is written in your name, it would be different."
Zhao Ming let out a long sigh of relief. "We intend for this to be our bridal home, so naturally, it should be in both our names."
Although the sales manager looked down on Lin Feifei, Lin Feifei showed no resentment and instead looked at the manager with flattery.
The sales manager nodded. "You two go ahead and look around; I’m going to get the keys to the two remaining villas. But I must remind you, Young Master Zhao... these two villas are the smallest and have the worst layouts here. They are 50 million each, non-negotiable."
Fifty million was naturally not a big deal to Zhao Ming, who nodded with a smile. After the manager left, Lin Feifei looked at the villa halfway up the mountain. "Young Master Zhao, that’s the 'King of Villas.' Let’s go take a look!"
If she could take a photo at the King of Villas, it would be something to brag about! That was what Lin Feifei was thinking.
***
Zhao Ming frowned. "A very important person lives there. And that person likes peace and quiet; they don't like people entering their villa’s perimeter without permission. I’m afraid it’s not a good idea!"
Lin Feifei was unwilling to give up. "Perhaps the important person isn't there right now! And we're just looking! Even if the important person is cold-hearted, they shouldn't blame us, right?"
Hearing that Lin Feifei’s logic made some sense, Zhao Ming nodded. "I also want to see what makes the King of Villas so special! Let’s go take a look!"
As they walked toward the mountain villa, Lin Feifei looked expectant. "Young Master Zhao, if we make a home here, will we be able to meet that important person?"
Zhao Ming shook his head. "That person is like a dragon that shows its head but never its tail. You’d need luck to meet them."
Lin Feifei hugged Zhao Ming’s arm. "Young Master Zhao, by living here, does that mean we’ve become people of high society?"
Zhao Ming looked at her with some disdain. "I am, but you definitely are not." Seeing Lin Feifei look depressed, Zhao Ming cheered up. "But once you become my wife, our Zhao Family will fully support your Li Group! I believe that in the near future, you will certainly be able to enter high society."
Lin Feifei nodded, her face full of happiness.
The two arrived halfway up the mountain and looked at the villa, their envy practically spilling over. Built against the mountain, the entire panoramic view of the Yuntian Villa District was visible. Even more precious, standing here, one could overlook the entire Dongjiang. This was absolutely the best-located, most luxurious, grandest, and most impressive villa in Tianhai!
Lin Feifei suddenly began to fantasize. What if she happened to encounter the important person, and they were taken by her looks and ability, letting her become the mistress of this villa?
A sound of footsteps interrupted Lin Feifei’s fantasy. When she saw Jiang Dongchen arrive in front of the villa carrying groceries, she frowned. "How did you get in here?"
Jiang Dongchen looked at her coldly. "I told you, I live here."
Seeing Jiang Dongchen making things up, Zhao Ming lost interest in mocking him and pulled out his phone. "Manager, an idiot has snuck into the villa! Send some guards to handle it! We’re at the villa halfway up the mountain."
The sales manager, who was about to leave, heard Zhao Ming’s words and turned pale. The person living halfway up the mountain was an important figure who had to be looked up to by all of Tianhai! If a lowlife disturbed that person, her career would be over! Thinking this, the sales manager rushed toward the mountain villa.