WHCTIL -24

Qin Tang usually never let go of her camera, but this time she came back empty-handed. A Qi couldn’t help but ask, “Sister Qin Tang, where’s your camera?”

At the mention of the camera, Qin Tang’s heart ached again. Jiang Chuan glanced at her, and Qin Tang said, “It’s lost.”

A Qi exclaimed, “How could it be lost?”

That camera looked expensive.

Qin Tang didn’t want to elaborate further. Out of the corner of her eye, she saw Jiang Chuan lighting a cigarette, so she said, “I ran into some thugs.”

Jiang Chuan, who was smoking, choked on the smoke and gave her a faint glance.

“Ah...” A Qi was surprised. “Didn’t Big Brother Jiang help you?”

Xiao Cheng glared at her. Couldn’t she see that Jiang Chuan was already beaten up? He must have helped, but it didn’t work out. Stop bringing up things that would hurt his pride!

Realizing her mistake, A Qi quickly shut up.

Lü An came out of the room and looked at them. Jiang Chuan asked, “Where’s Cao Sheng?”

Lü An replied, “He went to the hospital.”

Qin Tang went back to her room with her new phone and called her parents to let them know she was safe.

Before dinner, Cao Sheng returned.

Qin Tang didn’t see Man Man and asked, “Is Man Man still in the hospital?”

Cao Sheng nodded. “Yes. If she doesn’t get better here, we’ll take her to Beijing in a few days.”

Qin Tang thought for a moment and said, “If you need any help, let me know. My parents know experts in heart disease.”

Cao Sheng smiled. “Alright, thank you in advance.”

After dinner, Qin Tang and A Qi watched TV in the living room together. While flipping channels, the local news anchor reported — “Kunlun Group” donated five million to impoverished mountain areas.

Qin Tang had a deep impression of Kunlun Group. Over the years, they had donated a lot of money and supplies to disaster-stricken areas and impoverished regions. Each time, a company manager represented them, while the group president never appeared. However, in charity circles, he was known as a famous philanthropist.

It was said that he wasn’t old, around forty years old.

A Qi wanted to watch a drama and was about to change the channel when Jiang Chuan pressed down her hand, his dark eyes fixed on the TV screen.

A Qi’s hand was covered by his, and her face flushed slightly.

Qin Tang glanced at them, then shifted her gaze indifferently.

The news ended quickly. Jiang Chuan sucked in his cheeks and walked out, standing under the old tree in the yard to smoke.

Cao Sheng walked up to him and said, “Give me one too.”

Jiang Chuan tossed him the pack of cigarettes, emotionlessly flicking off the ash. Cao Sheng loosely cupped his fingers, lit the cigarette, and coldly chuckled, “Five million—how much of it will actually reach the impoverished mountain areas? Earning dirty money but taking the best reputation. This method of deceiving the public is truly brilliant.”

Jiang Chuan’s lips curved slightly. “How much clean money does Kunlun Group really have? Over the years, they’ve donated nearly a hundred million. In the end, isn’t this five million going to end up in Jiang Kun’s pocket?”

The amount of dirty money Jiang Kun had earned over the years was enormous. Using charitable funds to launder money, he cleaned it up and put it back into his own pocket. Cao Sheng had been tracking him for several years but hadn’t found solid evidence yet. With government-business collusion, every time there was a lead, it got blocked.

Back then, Zhao Qianhe cooperated with Jiang Kun and laundered how much dirty money for him? They worked hard to bring down Zhao Qianhe, but in the end, Zhao Qianhe took all the blame. Jiang Kun remained the lofty charitable entrepreneur.

Zhao Qianhe didn’t have peace even in prison. Jiang Kun feared exposure and always wanted him dead. But Zhao Qianhe wasn’t someone to be easily manipulated. After several attempts, Jiang Kun gave up. If he couldn’t kill him, he’d get him out.

Jiang Kun had that kind of power.

Jiang Chuan glanced at him. “How’s Man Man’s condition?”

Cao Sheng: “Nothing serious. Just keep an eye on her regularly.”

Jiang Chuan asked, “She can’t stay by your side forever. When you’re busy, you won’t be able to take care of her.”

Cao Sheng smiled. “In a few days, I’ll send her back to Beijing. My wife will help look after her.”

Bringing his daughter to see a doctor was just a cover. Cao Sheng’s real purpose was to investigate Jiang Kun. Zhao Qianhe had approached Jiang Chuan. Following this lead, they hoped to eventually uncover Jiang Kun.

Jiang Chuan lazily asked, “Didn’t you two get divorced?”

Cao Sheng: “Even if we’re divorced, she’s still my wife!”

“Tell Qin Tang that she might need her help,” Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes. “When the time comes, have her go back to Beijing with you.”

“Why?”

“She’s not safe staying here.”

“I’ll try.”

---

The next evening, after returning from the hospital, Cao Sheng made a request to Qin Tang.

Qin Tang immediately made a call. After hanging up, she said, “I’ve already arranged it for you. My father will contact the doctor tomorrow morning. When you get to Beijing, my friend will pick you up and make arrangements for you.”

Cao Sheng looked troubled. “Can Miss Qin accompany me back to Beijing?”

Qin Tang paused and said, “Not for now. Don’t worry, my friend will handle everything.”

Cao Sheng wanted to say something more, but Qin Tang’s phone rang.

It was He Cong’an.

She had something to discuss with him anyway.

When the call connected, He Cong’an asked, “Where are you?”

Qin Tang pursed her lips. “Where are you?”

“I’m in Xi’an, Tang Tang. Come pick me up.”

---

Qin Tang didn’t have dinner at the volunteer station. She approached Lü An and asked, “Can I borrow the car keys?”

Lü An asked, “Are you going out?”

Qin Tang nodded. “A friend is on a business trip, and I’m meeting him.”

Lü An said, “The car keys are with Big Brother Jiang.”

“...Alright.”

Qin Tang stood outside Jiang Chuan’s door, hesitating for a few moments. Just as she was about to knock, the door opened from inside. Jiang Chuan looked at her hand suspended in mid-air and smiled.

Ever since she came back, she hadn’t given him a friendly look. It was unexpected that she would approach him on her own.

“Looking for me?”

His sturdy figure blocked her path, and Qin Tang was momentarily at a loss for words. After a while, she said, “I need to go out for a bit and wanted to borrow the car keys.”

Jiang Chuan looked at her for two seconds and asked, “Where are you going?”

Qin Tang looked up at him. “Do I need to report to you wherever I go?”

“It’d be best if you did,” he said. “After all, you’re still here with me. You should remember what happened last time pretty clearly.”

Qin Tang looked at him and said, “I’m going downtown to have dinner with a friend.”

Jiang Chuan pulled the car keys from his pocket, tossed them lightly in the air. As Qin Tang reached out to grab them, he intercepted her hand. Their fingers brushed briefly, but the keys fell back into his hand. He walked out of the room, closed the door, ignoring her angry expression.

He strode ahead of her. “I’ll drive you there.”

Qin Tang gritted her teeth, glaring at his back.

A few seconds later, catching him off guard, she suddenly snatched the keys hooked on his finger, holding them up triumphantly and waving them slightly. “No need, I’ll go by myself.”

Jiang Chuan stared straight at her, extending an open palm. “Give it back.”

Qin Tang hooked the keys onto her own finger and turned to leave.

Jiang Chuan narrowed his eyes, watching her brisk figure. In two quick steps, he caught up, grabbed her wrist, and pinned her hand high against the wall. Lowering his voice, he leaned in close, trapping her between his body and the wall. “Are you giving it back or not?” His body pressed closer.

Qin Tang struggled but couldn’t break free.

Downstairs, Xiao Cheng and A Qi were still sorting packages, while Bai and Xu Peng were helping.

The commotion upstairs caught their attention first. Bai let out a surprised gasp, staring dumbfounded at the second floor.

Others noticed too, looking up curiously.

Xiao Cheng was the most astonished. “Holy crap! Is Big Brother trying to force a kiss?”

A Qi bit her lip, eyes wide as she stared.

Xu Peng coughed a few times.

Bai, with his thin skin, felt embarrassed and looked away, blushing.

Jiang Chuan’s tall frame completely obscured Qin Tang. Her raised hand kept struggling, leaving much to the imagination. From this angle, it really did look like a forced kiss…

And a passionate one at that…

The distance between the floors wasn’t far, so Xiao Cheng’s words reached both of their ears clearly.

Jiang Chuan was close, his presence overwhelming. His aura was especially strong as he loomed over her.

Qin Tang’s face flushed red, her heart pounding erratically. She struggled but couldn’t break free.

Jiang Chuan looked down at her, slowly taking the keys from her hand, then released her. Smirking, he said, “Come on, I’ll drive you.”

Qin Tang stood rooted in place, biting her lip, glaring at him.

Jiang Chuan took a couple of steps, then turned back. “Do I need to drag you?”

“...” After a few seconds, Qin Tang reluctantly followed.

The two walked downstairs one after the other. Xiao Cheng winked at Jiang Chuan: “Big Brother, nice!”

Jiang Chuan shot him a cold glance, and Xiao Cheng quickly lowered his head.

Once they got in the car, it quickly drove out of the volunteer station.

...

Xiao Cheng chuckled. Lü An and Cao Sheng had been discussing matters in the room earlier and now came out to smoke. Seeing Xiao Cheng’s silly grin, Cao Sheng asked, “What’s making you laugh?”

Xiao Cheng quickly shook his head. “N-nothing...”

This kind of thing—better to just enjoy the show quietly. If Jiang Chuan found out he was gossiping, he’d get beaten up.

Cao Sheng asked, “Did Jiang Chuan go out?”

Xiao Cheng nodded. “Yeah, he went out with Sister Qin Tang.”

Lü An: “They left together?”

Xiao Cheng: “Yeah!”

Lü An raised an eyebrow and smiled faintly.

---

He Cong’an arrived in Xi’an in the afternoon and waited in the hotel lobby after calling Qin Tang.

Jiang Chuan dropped Qin Tang off at the hotel entrance. She said indifferently, “You can leave me here.”

Jiang Chuan pulled the car to the side, lit a cigarette, and watched her get out briskly. Clicking his tongue, he called out to her, “Call me when you’re done.”

Qin Tang glanced back at him. “No need, you can go back first.”

Jiang Chuan’s gaze moved past her.

He Cong’an approached Qin Tang, calling out behind her, “Tang Tang.”

Qin Tang turned around, smiled, and walked over.

He Cong’an wore a white shirt and black trousers, tall and slender, handsome and elegant, with fair skin. He looked every bit the corporate elite.

His demeanor was completely different from Jiang Chuan’s.

Jiang Chuan held a cigarette between his fingers, resting it on the edge of the car window, squinting as he watched them, exhaling a puff of smoke.

He Cong’an looked at Qin Tang. “Why have you lost weight?”

Qin Tang replied, “No, you’re mistaken.”

The gaze from the front was too intense. He Cong’an looked over and saw the man sitting in the black jeep staring at him—short, neat hair, rugged features, healthy wheat-colored skin, and muscular arms resting on the car window, exuding strength.

He Cong’an tilted his chin and asked Qin Tang, “Do you know him?”