The Crouching Dragon and the Hidden Phoenix

Jiang Fan took the last bite of his bread as he entered the General Department, busy heading towards the water cup on the desk to refill it. In just a moment's time, Chen Yi and Da Qian had already surrounded Jiang Fan, one on each side.

"Tell us, what did Wu Siwang want with you?"

Da Qian had an extremely poor impression of Wu Siwang, his small face filled with anger. Jiang Fan lifted the water cup to drink, casually pushing away Da Qian's approaching head. Chen Yi immediately asked if Jiang Fan had already been seduced by Wu Siwang, wondering if she had used her beauty as a ploy.

Not wanting to bother with these two abnormal minds.

"If you're free, go play games or take care of your poor little sisters who need to experience the harshness of society. Wu Siwang just came to apologize to me."

The two obviously didn't believe it and followed Jiang Fan back to his seat. Da Qian sat boldly on Jiang Fan's desk, intending to ask questions until he got answers. However, Jiang Fan was like an old monk in meditation, grabbing a book to cover his face and pretending to sleep.

Why did Wu Siwang choose him? Could it be, as she said, that Li Jiabao and his son were still not giving up? Did she only have Jiang Fan as her option? This thought only flashed through his mind and was immediately dismissed by Jiang Fan.

Perhaps there was some truth to it, but not entirely.

It was true that this little girl had a low presence, but her cunning was not lacking at all. She had dealt with Li Dongsheng without Zhang Qin's knowledge, and she was clear about her status in Zhang Qin's heart. She was not qualified to marry into the Li family. She had said it correctly—as long as Li Dongsheng was still interested in her.

The current Li Dongsheng was no different from a naive, newly socialized fledgling. Zhang Qin had given him too much protection, resulting in Li Dongsheng's childish nature. Jiang Fan just didn't know how much status Wu Siwang still held in Li Dongsheng's heart.

Or...

Was she sent by Gao Lvxing?

This was also the reason why Jiang Fan was eager to meet with Gao Lvxing.

Gao Lvxing agreed very quickly on the phone.

Was everything too smooth? Either Wu Siwang had a deal with Li Dahai, or she had something fishy going on with Gao Lvxing. If neither was the case, the only explanation was that Li Dongsheng, this fat sheep, was being targeted by several predators at the same time.

Having failed once, a bleeding wound would attract both fierce beasts and insects.

Jiang Fan took a deep breath, removing the book covering his face, only to find two pairs of eyes staring at him brightly. Jiang Fan was startled and leaned backward, landing on his back.

"What's wrong with you two?"

Neither Chen Yi nor Da Qian had any intention of helping Jiang Fan up. Jiang Fan turned around to continue his work, while Da Qian crouched and ran back to play games. Jiang Fan sat up, gritting his teeth and glaring at the two, angrily saying,

"Invite me to lunch tomorrow!"

The two completely ignored him.

The noise in the General Department disturbed Yang Jin. The pink and tender Yang, the department head, opened the office door, her gaze sweeping coldly and finally landing on Jiang Fan, angrily saying,

"Be quiet! Go and cause trouble with Su Zong, or go to the Operations Department and find Ji Jing!"

"Jin, it's not me, it's..."

"Just go, I'm busy. Or go find Yang Xuan to play."

"Jin~"

"I'll prepare something delicious for you tomorrow, okay?"

Saying this, Yang Jin pushed Jiang Fan's back, pushing this tall young man out of the General Department. Jiang Fan looked back at Yang Jin with a face full of grievance, taking three steps and looking back.

Actually, Yang Jin didn't want to shoo Jiang Fan away, but his presence would affect everyone's work, and Yang Jin was also catching up on her studies. The General Department was transforming from a retirement home and kindergarten into an elite team.

Returning to the General Department, Yang Jin clapped her hands and raised her voice to say,

"Put aside what you're doing for now. Recently, there will be several new tasks that will skip other departments and be directly sent to the General Department. If we can do them well, our salaries and benefits will increase accordingly. Otherwise, the General Department will face disbandment. You can choose whether to go to other departments as newcomers or stay in the General Department as veterans. The work in the coming days will be tiring. If anyone wants to transfer out of the department, come to me. Also, don't look at Jiang Fan. His contract is an external hire, different from ours. If there's nothing else, let's work!"

External hire?

Chen Yi tilted his head to look at Yang Jin, his eyes filled with inquiry. Yang Jin closed her eyes and shook her head. She only knew recently.

Almost all of Rongyao Group's employees had employment contracts, but Jiang Fan had a hiring contract. In a sense, Jiang Fan's status was equal to the company, which meant he didn't have a fixed supervisor.

But Jiang Fan seemed unaware of this.

The employees of the General Department definitely didn't want to leave. Currently, the General Department had no bonuses, but all other benefits were the best in the company, and the atmosphere was relaxed. Chen Yi had returned after three to five days in other departments, feeling depleted. Moreover, Yang Jin seemed to imply that salaries would increase.

As for Jiang Fan,

even if he didn't have an employment contract, no one wanted to provoke him.

He was too violent.

Unreasonably violent.

At this moment, Jiang Fan was holding a set of poker cards and pulling the security captain to play Dou Dizhu on the tea table in the Rongyao lobby. It was unclear where Jiang Fan got a bag of coins, which he poured onto the glass tea table, making a clattering sound.

The security captain didn't want to play and dared not to play. However, Jiang Fan threatened him, saying that if he didn't play, he would go and pick a fight with someone now. Either play with him or fight.

This was simply outrageous. The security captain and the security guard didn't spoil Jiang Fan at all. After half an hour, Jiang Fan had no coins left in his hand. He was also getting a bit anxious from losing. The employees passing by all looked at the three of them with the same expression.

Daring?

The receptionist girls were almost driven crazy. How could someone play so enthusiastically during work?

At 2:40 PM, Su Qing, accompanied by Yang Xuan and a temporary assistant, was going to the construction site to take a look and make the second payment to Tu Xiao.

Su Qing held the documents handed over by the assistant, walking and reading. Just as she stepped out of the elevator, she heard familiar voices arguing in the lobby. Su Qing frowned and looked in the direction where the sound came from.

There was a glass tea table with three people around it.

Jiang Fan had a cigarette hanging from his mouth, holding poker cards in his hand, looking triumphantly at the security guard with a bitter expression in front of him. Su Qing frowned and stood there looking at Jiang Fan, who hadn't noticed her yet. He proudly placed the cards on the tea table, reached out to touch the remaining three cards on the table, and laughed triumphantly,

"Two kings, three twos, four aces. I've also turned around and become the landlord. Just wait for me to blow you up! Don't have a full set. Come on, two! Two! Two! Wow, four twos. You two are doomed."

At this moment, both security guards had noticed Su Qing. The security captain coughed lightly,

"Jiang, put away the cigarette. It's not good to have such an influence."

"It's fine. I tell you, I'm the biggest in this company now. See this lighter? It's from Vice President Gao. Do you want to try it? It's a special supply for the military."

Listening to Jiang Fan's outrageous words, Su Qing took a deep breath, handed the documents in her hand to her assistant, and said softly, "Let's go." She still indulged Jiang Fan. Just as she took a step out, Jiang Fan's voice reached her ears again.

"Hey? You defeated me with just fifteen cards? Are you cheating? No way, I want to go to the surveillance room to check."

Su Qing took a deep breath, handed the things in her hand to Yang Xuan, used a hair tie on her wrist to pull her long hair up, then rolled up the sleeves of her chiffon shirt, took off her eight-centimeter high heels, and said softly,

"Wait for me, I'm going to kill someone first."

After speaking, Su Qing picked up a pair of high heels and walked towards Jiang Fan. At this time, Jiang Fan was still searching for clues of cheating on the two security guards. Su Qing gritted her teeth and angrily shouted,

"Jiang Fan!!!"

Hearing this angry voice, Jiang Fan's body trembled. When he turned around and saw Su Qing holding high heels, he was instantly scared out of his wits.

"Oh! Damn it!"

In Su Qing's car, Jiang Fan drove quietly. Today's car was not a Raptor but a Toyota business car.

Jiang Fan got hit by a high heel when he was running away, precisely smashed on his head by Su Qing.

Su Qing sat in the boss's seat and frowned,

"The construction site has started blasting. I went to meet Tu Xiao today. These two idiots were scared. I went to the general department to find you, but Yang Jin said you went to find me, and then you damn went to the hall to play poker? Can't you go to the security room to play? It's fine to play in the hall, but you also smoked? Next time, if you want to play, go to the security room or the small meeting room."

Yang Xuan was already accustomed to this, but the assistant who was temporarily transferred here was somewhat stunned.

Is Ms. Su too indulgent towards Jiang Fan?

Jiang Fan drove seriously and didn't respond.

He couldn't say that no one in the company dared to play with him. Now, they secretly called him a barbarian, a caveman.Tu Xiao wasn't at the construction site; he was on his way. Guan Dagou, wearing a safety helmet and a red suit, was diligently scolding the foreman at the site. Seeing Su Qing approaching, Guan Dagou dismissed the foremen and hurriedly ran over, saying that his boss was on the way and would arrive soon.

Su Qing, wearing a mask and a safety helmet, frowned slightly. Yang Xuan stood by Su Qing's side, not leaving her for a moment. It was probably not to protect Su's safety but to avoid Guan Dagou. The assistant was left outside.

With Jiang Fan around, he was useless, and Su Qing didn't trust him.

Jiang Fan took out a cigarette and offered one to Guan Dagou. Just as he wanted to light it, he heard Su Qing's dry cough, and Jiang Fan frowned slightly.

"Brother Guan, prepare some tea for our Su as well. Be careful; I'll complain to Boss Tu later."

Guan Dagou clipped the cigarette on his ear and smiled.

"Brother Jiang, where should I find tea for you? It's obvious that Su doesn't want you to smoke. Come on, understand!"

Jiang Fan pouted, put the cigarette back in the case, and chuckled softly.

"Alright, I won't smoke. Isn't she my boss too? I want to ask you where you borrowed these people from. Your people don't understand these things, right? Oh! I'm asking for our Su."

When Jiang Fan put away the cigarette, Su Qing was already looking at pictures of clothes on her phone with Yang Xuan. She gave Jiang Fan the utmost indulgence and trust. He didn't need her to worry here.

Guan Junbiao grinned at Jiang Fan.

"Hehe, I borrowed a department from Liu Guangming in Shun City. Wei Tiancheng from Hui Tian said he was helping us out by sending over several project managers. What can I say? My boss has good connections!"

"Go away! Tell the truth! We're here for the final payment today. Our Su needs to know how capable you are. Plus, I know Liu Guangming. He's a decent builder. He also sent people to talk to Rongyao in the past."

"Hehe, I didn't do much. I just played mahjong with his girlfriends for two days and lost quite a bit. On the third day, he sent us those talents. Brother Jiang, do you think he saw his girlfriends win my money and felt that I was a good person?"

"Huh, if you didn't come out on the third day, his girlfriends would have appeared in your bath center to wash people's feet that night. Don't flatter yourself. When did Hui Tian Group get in touch with you? Su, is Wei Tiancheng also a coward?"

Su Qing put down her phone and shook her head at Jiang Fan.

"He's not a proper businessman. He just transformed earlier than Tu Xiao, walking the same path. He initially relied on Lin Mengde. I didn't expect Wei Tiancheng to lend you people."

"I invited his son and wife to my home. How could he dare not to?"

Tu Xiao arrived.

He wore a white Tang shirt, black lantern pants, and a pair of cloth shoes on his feet.

Tu's attire was no different from the old men practicing swordplay in the park, except that he was followed by suited underlings instead of old ladies.

Jiang Fan turned around and looked at Tu Xiao weakly.

"Boss Tu, don't say you've transformed in the future. Just say you want to earn money. Aren't you afraid of Li Jinhai causing trouble for you?"

Tu Xiao walked forward and patted Jiang Fan's clothes, smiling.

"I didn't act against Wei Tiancheng because I was worried that my daughter would have no support if something happened to me. Now, I have you as her uncle. I feel at ease! Are you free on Saturday? Bring Su to my home for a simple meal. I'll cook myself. We're all family."

Family?

Jiang Fan turned his head and looked at Tu Xiao with the corner of his eye. You old guy, you have ulterior motives!

"No time!"

Tu Xiao ignored Jiang Fan's gaze and sat down opposite Su Qing. At this moment, one of his underlings brought a tea tray and boiling water. Tu Xiao started to show off his tea art again.

The rest was a conversation between the two bosses. Jiang Fan wasn't interested and asked Guan Dagou which place in the city was suitable for business talks, with a good environment, privacy, and a relatively high price. Guan Dagou thought for a moment and said with a twist of his head,

"Baiyugong is good and very secluded. I've never successfully entered it in so many years."

Upon hearing this name, Jiang Fan's eyes lit up instantly, but he was also curious and puzzled.

"What? Don't you have enough money?"

"Men are not allowed to enter."

"You damn it, be serious!"

Just as Jiang Fan finished speaking, Tu Xiao's voice came from behind.

"Come and have a good time. Don't fight."

This tone was just like educating two children aged three to five. Jiang Fan and Guan Dagou immediately went to a secluded spot and discussed for a long time. Guan Dagou told Jiang Fan that Japanese cuisine was good, and the environment was also nice. Jiang Fan muttered that raw food wasn't tasty, especially raw salmon and fish roe.

Guan Dagou waved his hand and slapped Jiang Fan's shoulder, with a disdainful look on his face.

"Can't you ask them to cook it for you?"

Jiang Fan stared at Guan Dagou in confusion.

"Isn't salmon supposed to be eaten raw?"

"What? Is it poisonous when cooked? I eat my steak well-done, eleven out of ten."

"Aren't you eating barbecue?"

"It's all from the same cow. There's no difference. The mouth enjoys it, but the ass suffers."

"Brother Guan, you are the bosom friend of my life!"

"We heroes think alike."

Su Qing, sitting not far away, had already covered her face with her hand. This was... a bit embarrassing. She didn't want to admit that she knew Jiang Fan. On the other hand, Tu Xiao's face didn't look good too. How could Guan Junbiao, who had followed him for so many years, still be so useless?

And what was wrong with Jiang Fan?

Were the Crouching Dragon and the Hidden Phoenix together?

Finally, when the two started discussing how to cook salmon to make it taste better, Su Qing couldn't help it. She stood up and said softly,

"Boss Tu, the money will be transferred to your company's account within an hour. I have fulfilled my promise. I hope we have a pleasant cooperation."

"Don't worry, Su. I, Tu Xiao, won't ruin my own reputation."

Su Qing nodded slightly, took a deep breath, walked forward, grabbed Jiang Fan's collar, and dragged him out. Back in the car, Su Qing grabbed Jiang Fan's collar and started shouting.

"Tell me! What else don't you understand? If you haven't eaten Japanese cuisine, I'll take you there now. Can you stop embarrassing yourself outside! Tell me, what is salmon cooked with potatoes? Tuna roe fried with erjingtiao peppers? You... there's a party in half a month. If you embarrass me again, Jiang Fan, I..."

"I'm not going."

Su Qing let go of Jiang Fan, raised her hands to both sides of her ears, and gasped for breath.

On the other side, Tu Xiao hugged Guan Dagou's shoulder and said softly,

"Biao, I need to explain to you that sushi is different from rice, and oden isn't the same as spicy hot pot. Hey! Pick up Tu Kun in the evening, and I'll take you there."

Guan Junbiao looked puzzled.

In the Toyota business car, Jiang Fan told Su Qing that he would meet Gao Luxing in the evening and also told Tang Wan not to wait for him today.

At the same time, Jiang Fan sent a text message to Wu Sihuan.

Stand by at any time.