spring bite mark

Chapter 23 An Old Friend

Miss Sun said with a dark face, "It seems that everyone knows about this little mess that happened to my Sun family."

Jiang Manman smiled and said, "Miss Sun, my friend's dress costs 180,000 yuan. Do you think she would be interested in your Mr. Zhou, who is in debt every month and has no other good qualities?"

Ms. Sun's initially agitated emotions were like a bucket of cold water being poured over her, and she gradually calmed down.

Jiang Manman sighed softly, seemingly casually saying, "Since I've met Miss Sun, it must be fate. Let me tell Miss Sun something else."

Miss Sun said curtly, "You tell me."

Jiang Manman said gently, "As far as I know, your Mr. Zhou used your ID card to take out a loan of six million from an irregular institution a few months ago, and used it to invest in a movie. As for the motive, Miss Sun, you can investigate it yourself. But the repayment date is approaching, and the interest has compounded to almost ten million. Your Mr. Zhou is powerless to deal with such a huge loophole, so he has been trying to ruin the Sun family, preparing to run away with the Zhou family's huge fortune and his mistress..."

A chill ran through Miss Sun: "How did you know?"

“I guessed. Miss Sun doesn’t have to believe me.” Jiang Manman looked at her. “Of course, if Miss Sun still firmly believes that my friend is that vixen, I will protect her today.”

Behind her, Sena watched her with deep emotion.

Miss Sun had already believed Jiang Manman's words. Looking at the large group of bodyguards behind Jiang Manman, she knew that Jiang Manman was someone she absolutely could not afford to offend. At this moment, her anger towards her husband reached its peak.

She closed her eyes and gently apologized to Jiang Manman: "I'm sorry, I misunderstood your friend."

After saying that, she grabbed a stick from the bodyguard and walked towards her husband with a fierce expression: "Smash them all! Smash them hard! Smash them until this ingrate and his little bitch show their true colors!"

Jiang Manman stood at the door, looking at the smoke-filled private room, her expression turning cold: "Let's go."

Behind her, Sena looked at Jiang Manman with a complicated expression: "If I really were a mistress, would you really protect me?"

“Oh, actually no.” Jiang Manman glanced at her. “I only trust people once, so Miss Sena, don’t betray my trust.”

Sena stood there, stunned.

As they descended the stairs, Jiang Rong couldn't resist his gossipy nature and asked, "Madam, how do you know about the Sun family?"

Jiang Manman smiled but did not answer.

You can't exactly say that the arrogant, aloof, and playboy prince of Beijing's elite circles likes to gossip with his wife all the time at home, can you?

The gossip about the Sun family was just one of the many gossips that Yan Changye talked about!
Seeing that Jiang Manman did not answer, Jiang Rong naturally did not press her for an answer. Instead, he became curious about another matter: "Madam is usually very easygoing and never talks about the rights and wrongs of others. This is the first time she has exposed the ugly behavior of that son-in-law."

Jiang Manman nodded: "I won't offend others unless they offend me. He used me as a pawn, so naturally he has to bear my retaliation."

Jiang Rong asked in confusion, "Isn't he targeting Sena?"

Jiang Manman sighed softly: "No, what Zhou Tong was actually looking at was me."

With bodyguards clearing the way, the two walked unimpeded to the entrance of the Blue Ocean Club.

Outside the club, Liu Zhi, the owner of Blue Ocean Club, was walking inside with a dark face.

The two groups bumped into each other at the door.

Across from the Blue Ocean Club is the Imperial Capital Hotel.

Xie Yuheng had just finished discussing the project and, accompanied by a group of business partners, left the hotel to prepare for his return trip.

The conspicuous chaos at the entrance of the club attracted the attention of many passersby. Xie Yuheng glanced over as if he had something in mind, and what he saw was a graceful figure surrounded by a group of thugs.

His usually aloof expression suddenly turned icy and stern. He abandoned his group of business partners and headed towards the clubhouse.

Although he maintained his unhurried pace, Li Ke, who had followed him for many years, could clearly sense the anxiety beneath his calm exterior. However, the expected confrontation didn't materialize at the club entrance.

After the initial surprise, Liu Zhi blurted out, "Oh, Jiang Manman!"

A group of thugs were about to surround Jiang Manman when Liu Zhi slapped the thug in the lead hard on the head and cursed:
"What's going on? This is Madam Yan, someone even my father wouldn't dare to offend!"

The thugs sheepishly retreated to both sides.

Liu Zhi then smiled and exchanged pleasantries: "Madam Yan, what brings you to my humble abode?"

Jiang Manman wasn't keen on talking to this arch-rival in the hotel industry: "And you, bringing such a large group of people to ambush me?"

"Are you kidding me!" Liu Zhi was clearly shocked. "I just heard that the whole club was causing trouble and smashing my shop! I came to see for myself."

“Oh, it should be VIP room number 1.” Jiang Manman stepped aside. “You can go there.”

Liu Zhi exclaimed "Oh!" and exaggeratedly stepped aside several paces, saying, "How could I let Madam Yan make way? Please go first, Madam."

Jiang Manman glanced at him, too lazy to engage in any pretense, and left with a group of bodyguards.

Under the neon lights at the entrance, a tall figure stood, exuding a chilling aura and an indifference that kept strangers at bay.

I don't know how long I stood there or how long I watched.

Jiang Manman's gaze lingered on him for less than a second before she walked past him and headed towards the parking lot, seemingly oblivious to everyone else.

Behind him, Xie Yuheng called softly, "Manman."

Jiang Manman ignored him.

Xie Yuheng watched her calm, composed, and indifferent figure as a wave of sorrow crept into his heart, and his voice lowered slightly:
"Manman, are we really not even friends anymore?"

Jiang Manman stopped in her tracks.

She turned and met Xie Yuheng's gaze, her expression distant, her tone polite:

"Mr. Xie is too kind. As the head of the Xie family conglomerate, you are worlds apart from me, a commoner orphan. How could I possibly presume to be your friend?"

His tone was casual, yet it was like a dull knife, grinding away at Xie Yuheng's heart. His already pale expression suddenly darkened, his gaze becoming even more somber than the night.

"Manman, do you have to talk to me like that?"

“No, if I could, I'd rather not say a word.” Jiang Manman took two steps back, maintaining a more distant distance. “After all, Mr. Xie wields immense power, and countless people are waiting to curry favor with you. If I say a few more words to you, people might misunderstand and think you're interested in me…”

Xie Yuheng looked at her, his face even paler: "I knew nothing about what happened back then."

Jiang Manman chuckled: "Of course you don't know, and you don't even need to know. As long as you show interest in someone, there will naturally be a whole bunch of people eager to curry favor with you, tie them up, and send them to your bed, just like I did back then—Xie Yuheng. We're old acquaintances, so please be lenient and don't pay too much attention to me. Next time we meet, let's pretend we don't know each other."

After saying that, he ignored Xie Yuheng and got into the car. Jiang Rong glanced at Xie Yuheng several times out of the corner of his eye, finally suppressing his gossipy heart, started the car, and drove into the night.

Xie Yuheng remained standing in the same spot.

Although it was already early spring and not too cold, Li Ke, standing next to him, felt that the man exuded an extremely cold aura, even from every strand of his hair.

“Boss, you’re here because you’re worried that Miss Jiang will be bullied,” Li Ke probed. “It’s not like you’re deliberately getting close to her. You can explain it to her.”

Xie Yuheng said in a calm voice, "There's plenty of time in the future, let's go."

(End of this chapter)