Chapter 36: A New Encounter
Monday, August 5, night.
As the city lights began to shine, the off-road vehicle drove through the dazzling streets of City C. Outside the window, high-rise buildings were lined up in rows, and various outdoor color screens changed in succession, casting different lights and shadows that danced across the face of the young driver.
The vehicle stopped in the parking lot of a luxurious building, and Zhong Jing, dressed in a casual suit, walked in with brisk steps, directly pushing open the door of the Jinhe Club.
As he looked around, there were quite a few guests in the club today, with handsome men and beautiful women and workplace elites everywhere.
After nodding to a few club staff members he was already familiar with, Zhong Jing headed straight to a remote corner.
As long as there were no other guests, that spot basically belonged to him. There was a high-spec gaming laptop on a small table; if he got bored, he could play games without disturbing other guests.
Checking the time, with half an hour left until his meeting with Jiang Yan, Zhong Jing simply opened the laptop to pass the time.
“Zhong Jing, it’s been almost a month since we last met.”
Zhao Peng walked over, giving Zhong Jing a fist bump, his expression slightly curious. “Sister Wan may not be back until after midnight. Why are you here so early?”
“Jiang Yan contacted me yesterday, saying she needed to handle a money matter. What’s going on? Has the master started treating her and her sister like precious treasures?”
Zhong Jing lit a cigarette for himself and offered one to Zhao Peng. “Why haven’t I seen her? It’s been three months since I first met Jiang Yan. She’s lucky to have met Huang Gu and you all at the early stage of her blood condition.”
Zhao Peng didn’t light his cigarette but glanced toward the employee passageway deep in the hall, his expression a bit odd. “Jiang Yan is still eating. But it’s not that she’s lucky; we’re the ones who are luckier… or it could also be worse.”
After Zhao Peng left, the last half of his words left Zhong Jing feeling a bit bewildered.
“Zhao Peng, you can go have your meal now.”
Jiang Yao carried a plate and walked toward him, holding a glass of water. This was the standard reception service for all guests; after this, there would be no additional service. If one wanted food or drink, they could serve themselves at the dedicated bar.
“Who is he?”
Having seen Zhao Peng chatting with some unfamiliar young man, Jiang Yao was curious.
“Ha ha, just one of our own.”
Zhao Peng smiled and walked away.
One of their own? That means he’s also one of Sister Wan’s people…
Jiang Yao had already gotten used to the male and female colleagues here, especially after going through a life-and-death experience. Once she learned from Zhao Peng that he was one of their own, her mindset relaxed significantly.
Today, Jiang Yao wore a sailor-style JK uniform paired with white over-the-knee stockings. Her light blonde hair and long legs shone under the golden lights, enough to dazzle any peers.
This was a strong recommendation from Zhou Ping. Although Jiang Yao hesitated for a long time at first since she hadn’t worn long stockings at all in the past three months, Jiang Yan’s household hadn’t bought any either.
But being someone who was both a gamer and an anime enthusiast, it felt like she had tasted forbidden fruit. She even happily fidgeted in front of the dressing mirror for several minutes.
“Hey, I haven’t seen you before!”
Jiang Yao put down the plate and casually sat next to Zhong Jing, immediately noticing the game loading screen on his notebook. Her eyes lit up instantly. “You play this too? Let’s play a match sometime. What’s your ID?”
Hmm? A newcomer?
Zhong Jing was surprised to see the JK girl casually sit beside him. Her strikingly bright blonde hair and faint fragrance momentarily left him speechless.
However, as someone with a stubborn aesthetic appreciation for anime culture, Jiang Yao’s image struck all his sweet spots! More importantly, this wasn’t cosplay; this was the real deal—a genuine blonde girl!
Yes, she should be Jiang Yao. She’s even prettier than she looks on her new ID, especially her naturally light blonde hair… Zhong Jing stared for several seconds before he focused on her.
“You don’t recognize me? Did you just arrive?”
Zhong Jing was straightforward, lighting a cigarette right in front of the blonde girl with a playful smile at the corner of his mouth.
“Um, I’ve been here for less than half a month.”
Feeling a bit nervous, Jiang Yao thought she was meeting a seasoned senior, like Zhao Peng.
“No wonder; your face is unfamiliar to me. Zhao Ge brought you in, right? What’s your surname?”
Zhong Jing picked up the glass of water and took a slow sip, his expression calm.
“I’m Jiang Yao, brought in by Sister Wan, just doing some assistant work here.” Jiang Yao spoke casually while fiddling with her golden ponytail. “How about you? What are you doing here? You seem quite close with Zhao Peng.”
“As for me? Let’s just say… I’m involved in some financial matters. I rarely come here,” Zhong Jing replied honestly, as he knew the resources he controlled as Wan Jie’s disciple were critical to the normal operations of the Jinhe Club.
“Sounds similar to Zhao Peng. Both of you are doing the most important tasks. Sister Wan trusts you all a lot.”
Jiang Yao nodded, seemingly understanding. Just after she finished speaking, she suddenly seemed to realize something, getting up with an expression of shock. “Wait! You’re… a regular person!?”
“Ha ha, can’t you sense it?”
Zhong Jing suppressed the urge to laugh and decided to continue teasing her. He rummaged through his suit for a moment, pulled out a small tin box that held gum, gave it a casual shake, and then pretended to mysteriously put it back in his pocket.
“Oh, I understand now… You’ve taken special medication, no wonder.”
Jiang Yao nodded in realization.
“My surname is Zhang; you can call me Brother Zhang… How’s it going for you here, Xiao Yao?”
After glancing at Zhao Peng, who occasionally cast glances in their direction, Zhong Jing quickly shifted to cover up his expression.
“How should I put it? I can still chat occasionally with Sister Ping and Sister Ling. The others look young; their real ages would probably scare someone if revealed. They don’t play games, nor do they watch anime; they can just sit there for several hours—it’s really boring. Zhao Peng is the same.”
As she spoke, Jiang Yao took out her phone, looked around, and grinned mischievously. “Brother Zhang, you must have this, right? What’s your UID? Let’s play a game!”
Zhong Jing chuckled and quickly took out his phone. The two of them huddled in the corner, playing to the point of losing track of time, even after winning a game, they exchanged social media contacts in their excitement.
Compared to the inscrutable Jiang Yan, Jiang Yao appeared quite straightforward. Unfortunately, she was a bloodline… As the second game began, Zhong Jing stole a glance at the blonde girl beside him, the smile on his face never fading.
“Mr. Zhong, sorry to keep you waiting… Huh? Xiao Yao, are you playing games here while working?”
A familiar voice came, and Jiang Yao looked up to see a girl in a sleeveless black collared white shirt, a form-fitting black skirt, and black stockings, draped with a white coat, looking at her from nearby.
“Ah? Sister…”
Jiang Yao was startled and quickly stood up, stealing a glance at Zhong Jing beside her.
“I’m discussing some important matters with Mr. Zhong. Don’t play too much.”
Seeing how familiar the two seemed, Jiang Yan frowned slightly, feeling a bit awkward suddenly. She spoke harshly to Jiang Yao. “Go help at the drink counter; Sister Ping is getting overwhelmed.”
“Mr. Zhong? Isn’t he surnamed Zhang?” Jiang Yao paused, turning her gaze back to Zhong Jing slowly.
“Hey, Zhong Jing, Miss Xiao Yao is doing well in the mid-lane! Next time, let me take over!”
Zhong Jing grinned, seemingly indifferent to how he had teased her for nearly half an hour earlier.
“So you’re Zhong Jing, the one who helped us process new IDs… are you sick?!”
Realizing she had been played with, Jiang Yao’s expression froze instantly. Picking up the tray that had been sitting on the table for a long time, she cursed under her breath and stormed off in quick strides.
“Zhong Jing, I’ve noticed you really enjoy teasing people.”
Jiang Yan sat down, quietly observing the youthful man who exuded a rather frivolous air inside and out, her tone as cold as it had been the first time they met.
“You’re not the first person to say that about me. It’s clear you care a lot about Miss Xiao Yao.” Zhong Jing lit a cigarette nonchalantly, as if accustomed to interrogations like Jiang Yan’s. “What? Still mad about the last time I duped you of ninety thousand?”
“No, it was just that I didn’t understand; I had to unconditionally trust you in that situation, which isn’t an indication of your perceived cleverness.”
Jiang Yan’s tone gradually became neutral, seemingly unconcerned that she had also been tricked by him.
“Alright then, it’s just that a deal like yours rarely comes around in a year. We should make the process and results a little more interesting, shouldn’t we?” Zhong Jing shrugged carelessly and stood up, walking toward the bar section of the hall. “Shall we have a drink? Let’s discuss your plans.”
With a request in mind, Jiang Yan could only refrain from holding onto his nonchalant attitude.
Behind the bar, Zhao Peng was still smiling while wiping glasses. When he saw Zhong Jing and Jiang Yan approach, he slid over two cocktails that had long been prepared.
“I intend to transfer money to an elder, and it’s a yearly amount, quite significant, and should be anonymous; she must not connect it to me and Xiao Yao. Here’s the transfer information.”
Jiang Yan took a light sip of the cocktail and handed over a piece of paper.
“W District Welfare Institute… Jiang Chunhua…”
Zhong Jing read the content of the note softly before folding it and placing it in his suit pocket. “No problem. You withdraw the cash from your bank card first, then I’ll transfer the same amount to her from a random account at a Hong Kong bank. As for the handling fee, let’s make it ten percent of the transfer amount.”
As he spoke, he raised the glass in his hand, making a toast to celebrate their deal.
“Want to play again? I’ll only give you five percent. If you don’t agree, I’ll handle it myself.”
Jiang Yan clinked her glass with his and then downed her drink, the liquid leaving a red sheen on her lips that shimmered alluringly in the golden light.
“You help me transfer a hundred thousand first, then give me the receipt. I’ll give you cash afterward. Since we’re both working for Sister Wan, there’s no need for you to worry about me backing out.”
“I said, aren’t you the one who sought me out for this? You also want me to advance the payment first?” Zhong Jing chuckled, a bit amused.
“Nothing much, I just can’t stand it. Besides, thank you.”
With that, Jiang Yan tossed Zhong Jing aside and walked off on her own.
Ha ha, after three months without seeing her, she feels so much more feminine, yet her temper is still so tough… Watching her sway away, Zhong Jing couldn’t help but smile.
Turning around, he caught a cold gaze in the distance. When he focused, it was Jiang Yao from the fruit and beverage area, and he smiled again.
……
……
The clock struck midnight once more inside the Jinhe Club, and the already empty hall gradually dimmed.
In a private room on the second floor, Zhong Jing finally awaited the quietly returning Wan Yue.
Wan Yue now resumed her avant-garde style, with a cooler expression.
“I’ve gathered some information from the group’s information center over the past half a month. The early records were rather fragmented; I collected them in segments to avoid arousing my father’s suspicion.”
Without any chit-chat, Zhong Jing placed a few printed sheets on the table and pointed to one line, saying, “This is from 2004, when the group began large-scale expansion of new production lines, and imported a significant amount of animal organs from Southern Australia, declaring them as animal organ extraction raw materials to customs.”
“Hmm, I know about this; your father made a fortune relying on such patented medications for several years. In theory, if anything from abroad was smuggled in hidden among these disgusting animal organs, it could quite possibly deceive customs. Keep going…”
Wan Yue lit a cigarette, listening intently to Zhong Jing’s explanation, wearing a serious expression.
Zhong Jing chuckled helplessly, pointing to another line. “This is from 2006, when the group obtained relevant licenses and established a plant and animal inspection laboratory, making it the first privately owned plant and animal pathology inspection lab in S Province.”
“In its initial phase, it received a batch of samples from D City of infected pigs, under the pretense of investigating the cause of the disease. I’ve checked the business information of Tiantang Agricultural Trading from over a decade ago; they indeed established supply channels for contracted pig farming in D City.”
“Thirteen years ago… the timeline pretty much matches. Are you suspecting this incident?” Wan Yue frowned tightly.
“This alone isn’t enough to validate the master’s theory. Let’s take a look at this…”
Zhong Jing flipped to a new printed document, pointing to a section marked in red: “After the inspections were completed, all pig samples used as controls were returned to Tiantang Agricultural Trading for them to handle!”
Wan Yue suddenly stood up, pacing around the room with an increasingly gleeful expression. “Ha ha, what good sleight of hand! If it’s indeed some unsightly thing, it should be hidden inside these pigs returned to their original owners!”
“The Tang family in D City started to become noticeably active around this time, slaughtering a great number of dark bloodlines and stray bloodlines in D City and the surrounding cities… Are they raising something?”
Wan Yue was practically bouncing with excitement, as if a new path had opened up. But Zhong Jing’s expression grew somewhat uneasy.
“Yes, after that, the contracted farming scale of Tiantang Agricultural Trading kept expanding, and my father’s pharmaceutical group became the primary domestic purchaser of animal organs from Tiantang Agricultural Trading. It was from then on that the Zhong family’s various patented medications and health products emerged one after another.”
“Did the Zhong Pharmaceutical Group play a role in producing several special medications for the bloodlines? There’s no definitive evidence yet. Even if they did, ultimately, those medications flowed into the bloodline world, which benefits us. I’m just concerned about what the Tang family received from abroad and what it grew into!”
Wan Yue sat back down on the sofa, her eyes sparkling as she looked at her confidant she had nurtured since childhood. “Xiao Jing, you’ve helped me solve the first puzzle. Thank you.”
Watching the woman, whose appearance hadn’t changed in over a decade, Zhong Jing felt a pang of sadness. Slowly standing up, he revealed a puzzled expression. “Master, am I what’s known as a traitor? Or am I targeting my own father first?”
“What if your father is guilty? Or rather, if he indirectly aided something evil…”
Wan Yue nonchalantly leaned back into a single sofa, crossing her legs. The long and sexy legs ended with her little feet playfully swinging her high heels. “Perhaps your father is really just a broker with connections everywhere. After all, the things I’m concerned about ultimately point to the Tang family, to the bloodlines, rather than ordinary people. So your anxiety is unnecessary.”
“Ha ha, Master, you’ve set my mind at ease…”
Reflecting on Wan Yue’s words, Zhong Jing suddenly felt that the cloud hanging over his heart had dissipated significantly.
“There’s only so much we can investigate. Just continue being the wealthy young master of the Zhong family, Xiao Jing.”
Wan Yue smiled as she picked up her small bag, extinguished her cigarette, and swayed her way towards the room’s door. Suddenly looking back, she added, “But I must remind you again, don’t casually toy with the girls here. You’re just an ordinary person; without any sincere words, you won’t be able to handle it…”
Watching Wan Yue leave, Zhong Jing scratched his nose, awkwardly turning his head, while Jiang Yao’s adorable face, glaring at him when she got off work, appeared in his mind again.
