LWGP - Chapter 36
Chapter 36: The Substitute
Wang Jiu's eyesight was excellent now. Of course, she knew who the inconsiderate group blocking the doorway was. After all, they were all favored children of heaven, quite conspicuous. But she didn't pay them much mind, just called Qi Dong.
She was very direct, asking him if investigating her in her hometown was part of the normal procedure.
Because Qi Dong himself was a direct person.
"Yes. We're currently streamlining personnel and need to conduct a background assessment. It might be a bit intrusive, but it's standard procedure."
"I haven't agreed to join yet, you know."
"I understand, Ms. Wang has that right. I'm inside the venue now. I just had Ah Jun bring your credentials to you; you'll need them to get in this afternoon. But regarding this investigation, is there anything Ms. Wang would prefer we avoid?"
Qi Jun had arrived early, picked something up from Qi Dong, and waited in the car. When he saw Wang Jiu arrive, he immediately drove over and hurried to catch up with her.
"Boss, Boss, here are the credentials… What happened to your face?!"
"Hm? I probably got hurt by accident earlier. I was in a car crash on the way here."
"Wait a moment."
Qi Jun quickly took out a wet wipe to help Wang Jiu clean her face but was stopped. Wang Jiu glanced at him and smiled faintly.
Qi Jun awkwardly retracted his hand and passed the wipe to her to clean herself.
"A scar on your face is no small matter. Should we contact a doctor? But there isn't one here…" Qi Jun had a bit of a headache. He watched Wang Jiu walk forward and say nonchalantly, "As long as a scar doesn't hurt, it's not a big deal."
Qi Jun didn't quite understand, but he followed her, and then…
It was a battlefield.
Qi Jun thought it was a battlefield, but Wang Jiu didn't. She was busy hashing things out with Qi Dong.
"Ah Jun just gave it to me. The rest is fine. My social life has always been simple. If you want, you can even take my gynecological records. But there's no need to investigate my friends one by one, is there? I can let the others slide, but you even investigated the dean of Zeyang County Hospital? With surveillance? I don't even know him that well. The Old Lady just died, and someone's already this eager to dig up my, Wang Jiu's, ancestral graves?"
Qi Dong sensed that the investigation in Lin City might have gone too far, provoking her resentment. Moreover, her words held a hint—the Yang family's interference?
He suddenly recalled his superior previously muttering about factional issues. Coupled with the plan to reopen the investigation into the classroom case, which was spearheaded by the Old Lady's death, if the other side made an issue out of the Old Lady and Wang Jiu, it could end up as an internal squabble between two or three factions, just slinging mud.
Politics was never something one person could decide.
"I understand. I will report this to my superiors."
After hanging up, Wang Jiu walked up the steps, glanced at the crowd, her gaze seeming to pause for a moment, but she paid them no further mind and was about to go inside.
"Ah Jiu, did someone hurt you?"
Wang Jiu finished wiping her cheek, tossed the blood-stained wipe into a nearby trash can, and looked back at Yan Yanting, whose face was filled with heartache. "I can't just give you the sole opportunity to hurt me. I have to spread the love to others, too."
What a comeback!
Yan Yanting pressed his lips together. "Ah Jiu, actually, when you went to Zeyang, I went to see you."
Oh ho, going for the devoted and regretful route, are we?
"I know."
"You know?"
"Yeah, I saw you hesitating and skulking around the urology department entrance. I was even thinking of arranging for an old doctor I know to check you out, but you ran off."
"…"
Yan Yanting was taken aback for a moment, then gave a helpless, bitter smile. "Don't be like this. I know you're angry with me. Let's have a proper talk…"
Nie Ming was disgusted by this attitude of his. He was clearly the one in the wrong, yet he acted as if Wang Jiu was holding a grudge because she was still deeply in love with him.
Talk, talk, talk, my ass!
"Ah Jiu."
Wang Jiu seemed surprised that Nie Ming would suddenly call her that and raised an eyebrow at him.
"This situation is pretty awkward, isn't it?"
Wang Jiu's gaze swept vaguely over Jian Ling and Xiao Qing, and seemingly over others as well. "It is quite awkward."
"Then why not make it even more awkward? For example, by accepting my status as your suitor. Look, he cheated with someone like Jian Ling, so it's no big deal if you use me as a backup. I'm his brother, too. If word of this gets out, how can he face anyone? Isn't that awesome?"
Nie Ming presented his excellent suggestion with righteous confidence, his tone severe. Xu Dong and the others were dumbfounded.
The atmosphere became even more awkward.
"That's not necessary."
"It's fine, I don't care about my reputation."
"That's not it…" Wang Jiu said, a bit tactfully, "I don't mess around in relationships."
Someone let out a soft, cold laugh.
Wang Jiu turned her head and saw many people. Her eyes met the pensive gaze of Xiao Qing.
It wasn't Xiao Qing who had laughed, but this first love was certainly conspicuous.
They had thought they were complete strangers, but it turned out both were sizing each other up.
Here it comes, here it comes. The ex-wife versus the first love? The mistress doesn't even count; she's too low-class to be on the same stage.
After a moment, Xiao Qing said, "I think I've seen you before."
Wang Jiu smiled lightly. "Do I look like you?"
Xiao Qing froze. She was smart, but her train of thought couldn't keep up, mainly because she hadn't considered that possibility.
But every man present thought of it.
The unattainable first love? A substitute? Holy shit!
Sister-in-law is as concise and to the point as ever!
Nie Ming immediately raised his fist, ready to punch someone, but Wang Jiu had business to attend to and was about to enter.
"About the Old Lady. Do you want to talk?"
Wang Jiu turned back, her gaze landing on Yan Yanting, who looked like he wanted to speak but was hesitating. Her eyes were deep and inscrutable. "Wait until after I've paid my respects, can you?"
Needless to say, the battlefield at the entrance, which had been on the verge of erupting, was neutralized by Wang Jiu's composure. But after entering and facing the scrutiny and discussion of the many people in the memorial hall, Wang Jiu's demeanor remained unchanged.
But as soon as she entered the hall, she looked at the large portrait of the deceased above and froze for a moment. She seemed to stand in place for a while before finally taking a step, her head slightly bowed, her eyes lowered. She looked at no one, walking alone down the central path, approaching the Old Lady.
Step by step, she drew closer.
It was as if she was also drawing closer and closer to the death of her only relative.
But she didn't lose her composure.
Xiao Li and his group of four also followed her inside.
Wang Peng watched cautiously, thinking to himself, Letting it go like this doesn't seem like Lao Wang's style. Her strength and intelligence are off the charts, so can she really be this considerate of the bigger picture?
Until they heard some people discussing in private.
An orphan with a tragic background, adopted, disliked by the Old Lady's husband's family and her own family, gentle, a good student, well-behaved, never caused trouble, treated her husband exceptionally well, utterly devoted, a virtuous wife and loving mother, contributed money and effort, shared hardships, a prodigy in the medical world, a future powerhouse, saved many people, was cheated on, got divorced… After so many years of devotion, she was still treated as a substitute!
Now the Old Lady was dead too.
It's just too tragic.
As Wang Peng listened, his eyes turned red.
This was the Lao Wang who had turned the tide and saved everyone on the plane!
Meanwhile, Yang Dong and Zheng Yu received a message from their lookout. Wang Jiu was here?
How did she get here? Didn't Yang Yu say he killed her?
Yang Dong was cunning and suspicious. He was about to contact Chen Jun when, coincidentally, Chen Jun called him.
"Boss, the young master is back. They failed. That Wang Jiu escaped, they only managed to injure her a little."
"Let Ah Yu answer the phone."
"Okay, please wait a moment."
Chen Jun seemed to pass the phone to someone next to him. Then, Yang Yu's voice came through, sounding annoyed and hostile.
"Dad, that woman is very cunning. Otherwise, I would've killed her long ago."
Such self-centered words, never admitting his own mistakes or weaknesses, were absolutely characteristic of Young Master Yang.
Previously telling Chen Jun that it was handled also fit Yang Yu's personality—he didn't believe he could fail.
Especially when it came to dealing with women.
Listening to his voice, Yang Dong said, "You don't need to worry about this woman anymore. Are you here yet?"
"I'm in the car with Chen Jun, we'll be there soon. I was thinking, at the funeral home…"
"Are you crazy! You can't make a move here! Stay out of it, I'll arrange everything!"
After hanging up, Yang Dong's face darkened. He said to Zheng Yu, "Ah Yu failed. Good thing I was prepared."
Zheng Yu raised an eyebrow.
Meanwhile, yes, outside a separate building near the funeral home, Chen Jun sat in a car, disguised. Under a duck-bill cap and sunglasses, no one would recognize him. His expression was gloomy as he turned off the voice changer.
He was too familiar with Yang Yu, so familiar that he could perfectly imitate all his words and actions.
But the situation today was too unstable. If that woman hadn't had him by the throat, he really wouldn't want to take this risk. Sighing, he gathered his things and got out of the car.
On the other side, after seeing the Old Lady, Wang Jiu also walked to a slightly secluded spot with Yan Yanting.
She turned around. Yan Yanting took out a lighter, but then seemed to realize something. "Sorry, I forgot you don't like me smoking."
He apologized and put it away.
But Wang Jiu's gaze lingered on the lighter for a moment.
"I think that guy is a real piece of work, he's gone too far!" Wang Peng was still muttering after entering the restaurant, glancing at Xiao Qing from time to time.
Xiao Qing glanced at this little brother she had watched grow up and said flatly, "The me of the past knew the Yan Yanting of the past. But people grow up, they change in every way. He's changed, and I'll change too. So don't look at me like you're afraid I'm going to fall from grace."
Wang Peng was abashed and didn't dare to speak.
Wang Peng was easy to read, but her brother wasn't necessarily. Xiao Qing turned to look at her older brother, feeling that he had been acting a bit strange just now, though it wasn't very obvious.
Turning her head, she glanced at Xiao Li. "Ah Li, order the food. What are you thinking about?"
Xiao Li snapped back to reality. "I was thinking, that scumbag seems to still have feelings for her. Is he trying to get back with her now, talking to Director Wang about old times?"
There was still time before the afternoon meeting. Everyone had taken time out of their busy schedules to come, so they wouldn't miss this short break. They ate slowly in the restaurant, chatting occasionally, mostly about recent events.
Many people already knew the inside story. They were all worried and were using this occasion to connect and form alliances.
After a while, Wang Jiu came in alone.
Her face was a little pale, her brow furrowed.
She saw Qi Jun waving at her and walked over.
Wang Peng was startled. Damn it, she was clearly bullied!
That scumbag isn't pulling a "Domineering CEO: Love Me Again, Ex-Wife" routine, is he?
Wang Peng got angry. He exchanged a look with Xiao Li, and the two young masters suddenly stood up, wanting to go over and back Wang Jiu up.
"What are you doing? Putting on a show? Aren't you afraid of being laughed at?"
With one cold remark from Xiao Jue, the two of them lost their nerve.
But then Jian Ling suddenly came in, looking a bit dazed. When she saw Wang Jiu, her gaze froze for a moment, but she quickly looked away.
That shit-stirrer, don't come over, don't come over, don't come over.
Xu Dong, who had aspired to be the master of atmosphere and rhythm for the day but unfortunately failed the certification, chanted silently in his heart.
But Jian Ling really did come over.
And she plopped herself down right next to them. The table beside them was Xiao Li's group of four, and two tables beyond that were Wang Jiu and Qi Jun.
Xu Dong: "…"
Is the battlefield changing maps?!
Strangely enough, Xiao Qing glanced at Xiao Jue. Her own brother, who was usually too lazy to meddle in other people's business, had just chosen to sit at the table next to Qi Jun.
Jian Ling had just sat down when Yan Yanting came in. His face was set with determination and ruthlessness as he strode directly toward Wang Jiu, who was drinking the coffee Qi Jun had ordered for her.
Holy shit, what does this bastard want to do?!
Wang Peng and Xiao Li were once again itching to move. Nie Ming had already stood up, slamming his chopsticks down, and was about to go over, but…
Someone was faster than him. He stood up, effortlessly kicked aside a nearby chair, inserted himself like an afterimage, and in an instant, threw a punch at Yan Yanting!
Yan Yanting was caught by surprise. He was knocked back by the fierce punch and just barely managed to grab a nearby table and chair to keep from falling.
Wang Peng: "Holy shit!"
Xiao Li: "Brother!!"
Putting on a show? Afraid of being laughed at?
Get instant access to all the chapters now.
Comments
Post a Comment