The Gift
Translator: Cinder Translations
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Upon hearing this, Chen Xiaomeng's face darkened with anger. She gritted her teeth, finding Jiang Cheng's pitiable demeanor increasingly infuriating.
The middle-aged man standing nearby frowned slightly.
He had watched this girl grow up and was well aware of her vengeful nature. However, seeing her so unhinged now felt a little excessive, even for her.
The person Pi Ruan had sent to monitor them had been discovered by his men. Clearly inexperienced in reconnaissance or counter-surveillance, the guy had spilled everything without much effort on their part.
Not only that, but he even cooperated with them.
According to his confession, Pi Ruan, a merchant acting under someone else's orders, had given him an address during a phone call on the way over, instructing him to meet someone named Hao Shuai there.
Upon hearing the name Hao Shuai, Chen Xiaomeng had immediately changed their destination, bypassing the company and heading straight for this address to confront the man called Hao Shuai.
Truth be told, the middle-aged man didn't find the young man behind the desk particularly threatening. He didn't seem like a dangerous criminal and probably wasn't connected to "those people."
And if he were one of "those people," their methods wouldn't be so clumsy.
As a flicker of memory crossed his mind, a sharp glint flashed in the middle-aged man's eyes.
He had agreed to accompany this girl out of concern they might encounter "those people." From his own harrowing experiences with them, he knew how terrifying they could be.
But it seemed his caution was unnecessary. Quietly observing the young man before him, the middle-aged man felt at ease.
Still, for someone bold enough to seek trouble, he figured a lesson was in order—to make it clear that some people simply couldn't be crossed.
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"Miss Xiaomeng," Jiang Cheng sat up straight, wearing a look of righteousness. "I don't think we need to escalate things between us. Think about it—our cooperation in those nightmares was quite effective. I even saved you multiple times."
He straightened his neck and added in a melodramatic tone, "I'm somewhat of your savior."
Chen Xiaomeng was done listening. She bluntly said, "You took my stuff and threatened me. You owe me compensation."
"Be smart and hand over everything you accumulated in those nightmares," she said menacingly. "Then let me give you a good beating, and I might consider letting you go."
Jiang Cheng spread his hands innocently. "I don't have anything."
Chen Xiaomeng was momentarily stunned. She had assumed that this Hao Shuai guy, with his cunning and capabilities, would have amassed plenty of valuable items.
"Nothing?" She scrutinized him, as though trying to find any trace of a lie.
"Nothing," Jiang Cheng repeated. "Feel free to search. If you find anything, I'm all yours."
Before he finished speaking, the young man who had left earlier re-entered the room. He leaned close to the middle-aged man and whispered something into his ear.
When the man finished, the middle-aged man suddenly chuckled and turned to Jiang Cheng. His voice, seasoned with years of experience, carried a weighty authority as he said, "Your fat friend is now in our hands."
With that, he cast a glance at the young man beside him. The young man stepped out again and returned with a familiar bamboo basket.
The handle of the basket was broken, and judging by the marks on the break, it had likely been torn apart during a struggle.
The middle-aged man placed the basket gently in the center of the desk in front of Jiang Cheng and spoke in a measured, oppressive tone.
"Young man," his sharp, hawk-like eyes exerting immense pressure, "if you don't want your friend to get hurt, I suggest you cooperate."
Jiang Cheng, meeting the man's unwavering gaze, finally broke the silence after a moment. "You don't have to bluff. The Fatty isn't in your hands. He escaped."
The middle-aged man's steely eyes didn't betray a single ripple of emotion. Jiang Cheng's test didn't even seem to faze him. Suddenly, the man laughed. "Want to bet on that?"
Standing tall at around 180 centimeters, the middle-aged man's sharp presence was amplified by the scar near the corner of his mouth. His casual stance alone was enough to convey an unshakable sense of dominance.
Before Jiang Cheng could respond, the man continued indifferently, "In one minute, I'll show you his ear."
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The room fell into an oppressive silence.
"Only half a minute left," Chen Xiaomeng said, her crescent-shaped eyes brimming with delight as she lounged on Jiang Cheng's desk. Her skirt accentuated a graceful curve beneath, exuding both charm and mischief.
"Uncle Gong rarely takes action. That Fatty is lucky to have his attention," she said with a smile.
Seconds ticked by before Jiang Cheng suddenly nodded. "I'm sure he is."
Chen Xiaomeng's smile froze.
Even the ever-calm middle-aged man's eyes betrayed a fleeting hint of surprise. But as quickly as it came, it faded, replaced by a cold, detached stare.
"That Fatty lives here with you, and you've braved nightmares together," the middle-aged man's tone grew frostier. "You must be close. Are you really as indifferent to his fate as you appear to be?"
"I can barely protect myself. Why should I care about him?" Jiang Cheng rolled his eyes. "I keep him around to work for me, to scout dangerous paths during tasks."
He shrugged nonchalantly. "If you like him, take him. Just feed him occasionally so that he doesn't starve to death."
(End of the Chapter)
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