Chapter 198: Taking Back the Manor

"Wow, Lao Jiang, you must be loaded—two planes! Not just one, but two!" Standing in the square of this aviation city, Fu Yuan's eyes sparkled as he gazed at the planes Jiang Hai was negotiating for.

He walked around, touching the planes with both hands, his excitement palpable.

"Hey, can I take one of these home? Your car is cool, but a private plane? That's next level!" Fu Yuan exclaimed seriously after snapping a few pictures with the planes.

"This plane hasn't been adjusted yet, so you definitely can't take it. And the helicopter isn't ready for you either. You'll just have to settle for riding in the car with me," Jiang Hai said bluntly. Truth be told, he wanted to fly the helicopter back himself, but the problem was, he didn't know how to pilot it.

Moreover, the helicopter required a test flight by the crew. If anything went wrong, it would be their responsibility, not his. So Jiang Hai left the helicopter in the capable hands of Maren Rupert, who would take the opportunity to familiarize himself with the aircraft.

After watching the helicopter take off with Maren Rupert and the crew, Jiang Hai and Edward Anderson ushered a reluctant Fu Yuan into the car.

"I can't believe you brought me to New York and aren't even letting me explore. I only have ten days off!" Fu Yuan grumbled, slouched in the passenger seat as he stared at the streets of New York from the window.

"You picked the wrong time to visit. I think the manor is being watched, so it's safer to head back first. Besides, I don't know this city well. Once things settle down, I'll bring you here for a proper visit," Jiang Hai replied apologetically.

"What's going on? Did you offend someone? Don't tell me it's one of those infamous U.S. gangs! I've seen on TV—they kill without batting an eye," Fu Yuan said, suddenly intrigued, his eyes lighting up with excitement.

Unlike most people who'd be worried at the mention of gangs, Fu Yuan seemed exhilarated. Jiang Hai rolled his eyes.

"Yeah, sure, like in the movies. The U.S. is still a society ruled by law, you know," Jiang Hai replied, shaking his head.

"Fine, no planes, no New York tour, and now I'm being dragged into your gang drama. I'm not complaining, but at least tell me you've got a girl lined up for me?" Fu Yuan muttered, pretending to count on his fingers.

Jiang Hai almost slammed his head into the steering wheel. "A girl? What nonsense are you spouting?"

"I'm just saying, if I'm risking my life here, I should get some benefits. And FYI, I'm still a virgin!" Fu Yuan said with a straight face.

"You liar! Don't think I don't know about your college days. And what about that little 'pink light' establishment near your house? How dare you play innocent?" Jiang Hai retorted, flipping him off with his free hand.

"Hey, I was just trying to help those girls out of unfortunate circumstances. And as for my exes, I didn't want to take things too far without knowing if they'd be the one…" Fu Yuan trailed off before giving up under Jiang Hai's unimpressed glare.

"Look, there are ten single women at my manor—two are my daughters, and the other eight are employees. Don't get any funny ideas," Jiang Hai warned, raising an eyebrow.

Fu Yuan's smirk widened. "Ten? You're living the dream! Next time I visit, will I have to collect your remains? And daughters?!"

Resisting the urge to punch him, Jiang Hai ground his teeth. "I swear, you need to stop watching those romanticized island dramas. They're melting your brain."

"I know, I know—they're bad for the kidneys!" Fu Yuan replied, grinning proudly and patting his lower back.

"Your kidneys are your problem. Just don't waste paper! Most paper is made from trees, and if you keep wasting it, global warming will worsen, and you'll be the villain who destroyed humanity," Jiang Hai quipped.

Fu Yuan burst into laughter. "You're getting better at spinning nonsense!"

The two bantered back and forth, while Edward, seated in the back, watched silently, unable to understand their rapid-fire Chinese conversation. He sighed, resigned to his role as the forgotten passenger.

After a smooth drive, they finally arrived in Boston, and shortly after, they reached Jiang Hai's manor.

When the car stopped in front of the villa, Jiang Hai's two massive dogs bounded over, tails wagging eagerly. Fu Yuan's eyes lit up when he saw them.

A dog lover at heart, Fu Yuan had raised a dog for over a decade before it passed away. Though he hadn't gotten another since, his love for dogs hadn't faded. However, his excitement was tinged with hesitation as he got out of the car.

The dogs were enormous—larger than he'd realized. Standing on all fours, their heads were nearly at chest level for him. The Blue Wolf Mastiff was over 1.9 meters tall when standing on its hind legs, while the Caucasian Shepherd exceeded 2 meters.

As the two giants approached him, Fu Yuan instinctively stepped back.

"Relax, they're friendly. They'll leave you alone as long as you don't provoke them," Jiang Hai reassured, patting the dogs' heads before sending them off.

Watching the dogs trot away, Fu Yuan licked his lips. "Hey, when these two have puppies, save one for me!"

"Sure, but how are you planning to get it back to China?" Jiang Hai asked, amused.

"I'll pay for quarantine. It's worth it," Fu Yuan replied earnestly.

Compared to Fu Yuan's passion for dogs, Jiang Hai was much more pragmatic. He saw his dogs as companions and guards rather than pets. Cute animals like Ban Ya and Jiu Jiu felt more like traditional pets, whereas these two beasts were clearly not in the same category.

After bidding Edward goodbye, Jiang Hai brought Fu Yuan into the villa. Over dinner—steaks, lobster, and abalone—they planned the next few days: horseback riding, fishing, and even some target practice. In Jiang Hai's world, there was always time for leisure with friends.

(To be continued...)