LWGP - Chapter 195
Chapter 195: Dry Goods
Wang Jiu had previously disdained Wang Shu for not yet dealing with Gao Qu, for being hesitant and a bit foolish, but she hadn't paid it much mind.
She walked past people like Xiao Jue, past many others, without looking back. After sitting down, she remained the same, simply picking up the small booklet placed beside her. She saw the list of attendees and some information that followed.
This wasn't an impromptu meeting. The great territory of Bashu, backed by the state, emphasized strategy and the bigger picture. They wouldn't act on emotion. Therefore, personal matters could be set aside; what needed to be discussed would be discussed. Just like the people mentioned in this booklet, those who were supposed to come would definitely come.
And when the meeting time arrived, it would start punctually.
While Wang Jiu was looking down at the booklet, the people from the other major territories had all arrived.
This "arrival" came in two forms. One was arriving in Chengdu early but not yet at the venue. They were accustomed to arriving right on time. These people were particular about making an entrance; arriving early was out of the question. In the education they received from a young age, being early was as inappropriate as being late. The most perfect etiquette was to arrive at precisely the right moment.
Therefore, Luo Sheng and Tan Yingzhou, two representatives from proud and noble families, arrived right on the dot.
In terms of status, Tan Yingzhou was formerly a sect leader, while Luo Sheng was only one of the heirs. But now, they were both lords of a territory.
In terms of strength, Tan Yingzhou was naturally superior to Luo Sheng. His territory was closest to the provincial level, while Luo Sheng's was still equivalent to the municipal level.
However, in terms of initiative, Luo Sheng was a bit stronger than him.
As soon as she arrived, Luo Sheng spotted Wang Jiu. Unlike Tan Yingzhou, who was still weighing the situation and choosing his words, this pretentious socialite wasn't afraid of an awkward silence.
After all, she had already lost enough face in front of Wang Jiu.
"Wang Ah Jiu, long time no see."
Luo Sheng was no longer a little girl, and she believed that a little girl couldn't attract the attention of a mature woman like Wang Jiu.
So she approached with a noble, graceful, and friendly greeting.
Wang Jiu raised her face, looked up at the other person out of politeness, and said, "It doesn't seem that long."
System: After the Old Lady passed away, you counted the days one by one. But with others, you don't care about time at all. You've truly reached the pinnacle of double standards.
Luo Sheng's gaze traveled from Wang Jiu's face to her entire body, even glancing at her high heels several times. "Time is something related to one's longing, I suppose."
Here it comes, here it comes. That's the vibe.
Wang Jiu didn't avoid Luo Sheng's gaze. She smiled, put down the booklet, and rested her hands casually on her crossed legs, as if she had seen through Luo Sheng's heart in an instant. She went straight to the point: "Suspecting you're gay?"
Luo Sheng had only been flirting, not expecting Wang Jiu to be so direct. But with just a flicker of thought, she calmly replied, "You can't judge all test papers by your past scores."
"I can't. Others are closed-book exams, but yours is an open-book one."
"..."
Open-book? Where am I open?
What kind of talk is this, implying my thoughts are obvious?
Lao Wang is so narcissistic.
Luo Sheng wanted to retort, but Wang Jiu stroked her brow, her gaze drifting over Luo Sheng's dress. "It's quite pretty."
As if a flower had bloomed in her heart, Luo Sheng couldn't get the words of rebuttal out. Instead, she said, "Not as pretty as you."
"Pretty, is it? No wonder you spied on me with binoculars for so long."
"..."
So she's lost face again?
The socialite's C-position mentality was on the verge of collapse, but Luo Sheng held it together. She changed the subject, yet asked with a probing tone, "Who are the 'others'?"
At her question, Tan Yingzhou paused his steps slightly. Out of courtesy, he couldn't interrupt this question.
Besides, it was a good question.
"The answer isn't necessarily fixed. Maybe the answer I give to others is your name."
Then who are the next "others"?
Luo Sheng: "..."
Are you toxic?
Luo Sheng fell silent, choked up. She needed to steady her mind, or she would suffer repeated defeats.
This gave Tan Yingzhou an opportunity. He greeted Wang Jiu very politely, his demeanor reserved but without losing his grace, just like their first meeting at the coffee shop.
Wang Jiu returned the courtesy. When it came to socializing, it was fine if there was no contact, but once there was, she never lacked etiquette and grace, because it reflected the Old Lady's upbringing.
However, while their public interaction was like this, they were chatting privately.
Tan Yingzhou: "Lin Jun came to see me. He asked about the Mist Dungeon and probed about you and Miss Lin."
Wang Jiu: "And then?"
Tan Yingzhou: "I sent him away, but he'll be here today."
He gestured with his eyes. Wang Jiu turned her head and saw a group of people who had just arrived. They first greeted Liu Wuren, then seemed to have a brief, lukewarm exchange with the Cai Market. Anyone with discerning eyes could feel the discord between the two sides.
However, the aura of both groups was truly terrifying, especially Cai Wujun of the Cai Market. Known informally as Boss Cai, Luo Sheng had heard her grandfather mention him before and had imagined a pot-bellied, rural gangster-type boss. But upon seeing him, my goodness, he was in a sharp black suit and tie, around thirty, with a chiseled, knife-like profile, deep-set eyes, and a powerful yet profound presence. He was naturally composed, yet intimidating.
Song Yin was young, and Liu Wuren was low-key; both seemed to be somewhat overshadowed by Boss Cai.
Luo Sheng was from Hong Kong. Due to certain political reasons, she was inextricably linked to the mainland and paid close attention to the situation there. But in the end, after the apocalypse, official intelligence was rather tightly controlled internally. Although there was mutual communication, certain secrets remained unknown.
For example, Luo Sheng only knew that the Cai Market had a peculiar cooperative relationship with the officials, but she didn't know why this newly arrived group, who clearly had close ties to the officials—as evidenced by their familiarity with Liu Wuren—seemed to have a slight rift with the Cai Market.
Tan Yingzhou probably knew, but unfortunately, he wouldn't say.
Luo Sheng instinctively observed the other party, only to find that one person in their group was looking this way.
Young, handsome, but with an unhealthy kind of handsomeness—pale, with a somewhat morbid gloominess.
He was staring at Wang Jiu, and Wang Jiu was looking back at him. After just one glance, he grinned, a smile that made one extremely uncomfortable. Then he casually walked out of the conference hall.
Luo Sheng knew who this person was.
Lin Jun.
Lin Jun was going to find Lin Guiwan right in front of Wang Jiu?
What would Wang Jiu's reaction be?
There was no reaction. Wang Jiu let him walk out, and Lin Jun's group also split up. The leader, along with Cai Wujun, was led by Liu Wuren to sit on Wang Jiu's left and right sides.
Liu Wuren was a man of few words, but he introduced the three parties out of host etiquette.
Cai Wujun: "No need. We know each other. But this should be the Gobi Territory Lord's first time meeting me. A pleasure."
Wang Jiu shook hands with him. When it was the other person's turn, he hesitated for a moment before extending his hand. "Long time no see."
"Mm."
Their fingers touched lightly and then parted. Neither of them said anything more.
Many people were sizing them up.
If their social circle memory served them right, this was the ex-fiancé, Song Yin?
Strange, why was Lin Jun in Song Yin's team? But speaking of which, this Song Yin was truly a radiant gentleman, like a hidden moon. He was the complete opposite of Lin Jun.
Luo Sheng, Tan Yingzhou, and the others sat in the second row, which was fine. They were all in the section behind Wang Jiu's seat. Seeing the distance between Song Yin and Wang Jiu, they found it both reasonable and surprising.
Lao Wang didn't seem like such a polite person.
But, perhaps it was because of the people arranged in this second and third row...
Xiao Jue was actually sitting in the second row. Normally, this row was for the lords of municipal-level territories, or the core confidants of provincial-level territories. For example, if Xie Lu and Wang Shu came in, they would sit here.
If it were just Xiao Jue, it would be nothing.
The problem was that Xie Jiang was also in this row, one seat to the left behind Wang Jiu.
In the back row, Xie Jiang in the bottom left, Xiao Jue in the bottom right. In the same row, Song Yin on the right, Cai Wujun on the left.
What kind of devilish seating arrangement was this?
Luo Sheng's first reaction was discomfort, her second was the urge to laugh, and her third was to complain to Tan Yingzhou beside her, "Does Lao Wang have a clear picture of her own situation?"
So she was being polite, avoiding social interaction, and resolutely refusing to start a "shuraba."
In any case, Xie Jiang and Xiao Jue in the second row seemed perfectly normal for now, and neither had caused any trouble.
They were all formidable characters.
Luo Sheng thought so, but she received a response from Tan Yingzhou.
"Haven't you noticed that the way others are looking at us is also strange?" Tan Yingzhou's tone was a bit peculiar.
Luo Sheng was smart, after all. She had a sudden epiphany.
It was strange.
They too had been included in the gossiping gazes of many people in the large conference hall.
In these people's eyes, there were only two beliefs: 1. Gossip, 2. Hurry up and start the drama, hurry up and start the drama!
Luo Sheng: "..."
They had become the "others."
No wonder Lao Wang's gaze had been so meaningful earlier.
Luo Sheng: "..."
She had always been the socialite C-position, raising a school of fish, but she never thought that today she would become a fish in someone else's sea.
It truly was a devilish seating arrangement.
Was Liu Wuren doing this on purpose? He didn't seem like that kind of person.
Luo Sheng looked unhappily at Liu Wuren, only to see a cute and charming little girl run up to Wang Jiu.
Cute and adorable, shy and bashful.
"Hello, Sister Wang Ah Jiu."
Wang Jiu looked at her. She knew this girl, Liu Wuren's younger sister, Liu Sheng.
"Hello, what is it?"
"I-I'm your fan."
Wang Jiu's gaze swept over her, thoughtfully, but she just said, "Thank you."
She didn't ask anything else.
Liu Sheng was about to say more when her eyes lit up and she waved at a group of people walking over from a distance.
"Uncle Jiang, Brother Wen, Sister Jiang!"
A group of people walked over, attracting a lot of attention, because more than half of them were former celebrities.
Several veteran actors, a top-tier star, an award-winning actor, two award-winning actresses, a few young starlets, and a group of talented actors.
As expected of the country's top film and television project team, their presence was extraordinary.
Jiang Chengjing was in his prime, with a brave and heroic aura. He was also magnanimous, born into a prestigious artistic family. He later became a director with an impressive resume and was skilled at socializing, maintaining good relationships with the lords of various territories. He had brought his daughter and his people to greet the major lords in the first row.
As he went along, he reached Wang Jiu. His eyes lit up, but he didn't say any pretty words like "you're beautiful and perfect for movies," because it wasn't appropriate.
"I've long heard of your great name."
"You're too kind."
Wang Jiu withdrew her hand. Jiang Chengjing introduced his daughter and Wen Juanzhi, who was beside him, and Wang Jiu was equally polite.
Jiang Chengjing must have been very surprised, because the current Wang Jiu seemed like a different person from the one who had killed Guan Ze.
She was too gentle.
However, Song Yin looked up for a moment. With that glance, Cai Wujun, who was beside him, felt something subtle.
Who was Song Yin looking at just now?
Afterward, Jiang Chengjing sat in the first row. Wen Juanzhi walked away to find his seat but was called back by Jiang Yun. "Juanzhi, our seats are over here. Ah Sheng arranged them."
In that instant, Wen Juanzhi glanced at Liu Sheng, pursed his lips, and seemed to hesitate for a moment. But in the end, he walked over and sat in the seat directly behind Wang Jiu.
Then, with this spot as the center, the venue fell into an inexplicably strange silence.
It wasn't until Lin Xiaoniang, next to Xie Jiang, couldn't take it anymore. "Should I say something?"
She felt that letting such a latent "shuraba" go to waste without doing something was a terrible shame.
The Qingcheng Sword Cultivator almost exploded, gritting his teeth. "The boss is here. He warned us not to mess around. If you want to piss him off, just try it."
Alright, Lin Xiaoniang was only afraid of Boss Cai. But she felt that...
"Her Darling Xie seems like he's about to lose it."
What a joke. How could he possibly lose it?
Xie Jiang sneered. Just this little scene?
One minute until the meeting.
The hell-level social situation that Qiao Xuejing had anticipated was ultimately suppressed by Wang Jiu's conservative social approach.
The so-called conservative approach was—she clearly didn't want to bring up the past with you.
Whoever brought it up would die.
So, no one really brought it up. Even the unrestrained Xie Jiang didn't mention things like "little widow," because he couldn't beat her.
Everything seemed fine. After all, unless she had another motive, Lao Wang didn't like to cause a scene with that kind of messy business in public.
The people from Bashu saw that everyone was mostly present and were about to begin...
Lin Jun had already returned from outside. Judging by the lack of commotion, it seemed he hadn't gone to bother Lin Guiwan, otherwise there would have been some noise.
He walked in but didn't go to his seat. Instead, he went to Jiang Yun's side and asked her to switch seats.
Jiang Yun was naturally unwilling, but Lin Jun smiled and glanced at Jiang Chengjing. The latter's expression darkened slightly.
Before the apocalypse, people like them wouldn't have dared to provoke scions of families like the Lins and Songs in a million years. They thought they could turn the tables after the apocalypse, but that wasn't the case.
The power of families like the Lins and Songs had become even more terrifying.
This time, the reason Song Yin brought Lin Jun was because Lin Jun's older brother—the one who had been in a vegetative state in bed for years after a car accident—had woken up at some point and joined a certain department. Moreover, he was a core member, which meant he had entered the highest ruling class of the current post-apocalyptic official system.
The Lin family's status had begun to rebound, recovering its former peak and even surpassing it.
This was top-secret news that had only recently spread, and Jiang Chengjing had just received it today.
So... he gritted his teeth and gave his daughter a look. Jiang Yun was also a career-oriented woman who knew what was what. After weighing the pros and cons, she quickly switched seats, but she looked at Wen Juanzhi with concern.
He had an introverted personality, and this Lin Jun was a madman. He wouldn't provoke him, would he?
Jiang Yun wanted to call Wen Juanzhi to leave with her—at worst, they just wouldn't attend the meeting—but he didn't respond to her.
After Lin Jun sat down, his butt hadn't even been warm for three seconds when Liu Wuren was about to go on stage to give the official speech. But just as Liu Wuren went up, a core member of the Bashu territory hurried over and whispered something to him. Liu Wuren's expression became grave. He told the crowd to wait five minutes and that he would be back shortly.
The people present were a little puzzled, wondering what could make a disciplined person like Liu Wuren postpone for five minutes.
Perhaps it wasn't good news.
As soon as Liu Wuren left, Lin Jun, perhaps out of boredom or something else, suddenly leaned forward. He supported himself with one hand on Song Yin's chair while leaning into the gap between Song Yin and Wang Jiu.
"Cousin Ah Jiu, after so many years, I never thought you'd still be so good, taking care of the woman I love for me."
His messy entanglement with Lin Guiwan was known to everyone in the upper echelons of the capital's social circle. Now, even the circles in Hong Kong and Shenzhen knew about it, yet he could still say such things without batting an eye.
Wang Jiu ignored him, but people like Xie Jiang were all looking at him. Xie Jiang narrowed his eyes, his long fingers curling slightly, but seeing that Wang Jiu didn't react, he didn't speak up.
"Still hate me? I've been good and listened to my aunt now. I just went to sneak a peek at the woman I love. What bad intentions could I have?"
He spoke in a low, soft tone that wasn't disruptive, but his sudden mention of his "aunt" immediately made those who knew some of the old stories think of Lin Zi. Xie Jiang sized up Wang Jiu, thinking to himself that this Lin Jun really knew how to get under people's skin, but he was also truly audacious.
This was Wang Jiu's reverse scale. By bringing it up, he ensured that things wouldn't end well today.
"Sometimes, I really envy you and Brother Song Yin. When it comes to love, you can just start dating. You were about to get engaged, but then it was called off."
Everyone:
They dated? Xiao Jue's body stiffened. When? When she was eighteen or nineteen? Was it for real?
It must have been just for fun, just like with him.
"By the way, I have a photo of you and Brother Song Yin secretly together back then."
Lin Jun wasn't exactly frantic yet, just a bit unhinged. To bring up such romantic trifles in this kind of setting, and to actually pull out a photo.
At this moment, Cai Wujun noticed Wang Jiu's brow furrow slightly.
Out of courtesy, Cai Wujun didn't look at the photo. However, out of courtesy, he didn't look at the photo, but his gaze shifted downward, and he caught a glimpse of her slender calf, partially visible beneath the hem of her long dress as her leg was crossed.
He averted his gaze, knowing that Wang Jiu hadn't taken the photo. Instead, Song Yin took it, looking down at it with an unreadable expression.
At this moment, Wang Jiu's hand reached out slightly towards him, and Song Yin placed the photo on it.
It was a very subtle and natural movement, revealing a certain familiarity.
They really had been in a relationship.
Xie Jiang, Xiao Jue, and the others could all see it.
In the third row, Xiao Qing looked at her brother with concern.
Having to endure such a blow while attending a meeting, it was a bit pitiful.
Did seven days of skiing in Switzerland count as dating? It didn't seem very official.
Did he inexplicably become the third party?
But why did it feel like this Lin Jun was holding back a big move?
Yet the two people involved didn't seem to care much. That Wang Jiu held it between two fingers and examined it rather carefully, as if reminiscing.
Song Yin saw her expression, his brow lowering. "Wumei Mountain, the small oak tree."
"Ah, I remember now. The vegetarian food there was quite good."
"Mm."
No one saw what the photo looked like. The only one who could have was Cai Wujun, but unfortunately, he didn't look.
The shy affection of their youth, now in her mouth, was reduced to just vegetarian food.
However, from the perspective of those in the back rows, when the two of them leaned in slightly to look at the photo, no matter how calmly they acted, they looked as picturesque and well-matched as a painting. There was always a sense of intimacy that was both inseparable and distant.
Both of them downplayed it, making Lin Jun's move seem like child's play. Unfortunately, Lin Jun was no slouch. He looked from one to the other.
"So, I'm really curious why you two broke off the engagement back then. Weren't all our elders in agreement?"
"I think there are no more than two reasons. One, the matter of my poor little cousin being abducted was indeed related to the Song family. She was never found. Cousin Ah Jiu, you found out about this later and gave up on Brother Song Yin."
When he said this, Wang Jiu still had no reaction, and Song Yin was also very indifferent.
The two of them were as steady as a rock.
Even though many people from the military and political departments had started to frown. Was this Lin Jun crazy, saying such things in public?
The incident with the Song family's daughter back then was no small matter; it had wide-ranging implications.
To pin this on the Song family, was the Lin family trying to have a complete falling out with the Song family?
"Of course, there's a second reason."
Lin Jun turned his face and looked at Wang Jiu with a smile. "Cousin, you actually knew all along that the Song family was problematic. To avenge my aunt, you deliberately seduced the Song family's precious treasure, leading him astray, making him turn against his family for you. As long as you ruined him, the next generation of the Song family would be finished. Your plan was going smoothly, but later my aunt must have become suspicious, right? You were afraid of making her angry, so you stopped the plan... That's what I originally thought, but later I found out that wasn't it. Because just one month after you broke off the engagement, Brother Song Yin's own father died in a car accident for no reason. It was a horrible death. A sports car worth tens of millions trapped him inside and burned him alive into a piece of charcoal."
"Tell me, was it my dear Brother Song Yin who did it to protect the family's reputation, or was it Song Yuanqiao who did it to avenge his own daughter?"
"But either way, you got what you wanted, my dear Cousin Ah Jiu."
"Flesh and blood turning on each other, how exciting!"
A meeting? Romantic affairs?
A madman never brings ordinary dry goods. What Lin Jun brought was premium seafood dry goods.
Priceless. Just soak it in water, and it's a grand feast.
The conference hall was so large, the voice so faint.
Someone had already reported this matter. If it was true, the Song family's situation would definitely be investigated, because the Song family's daughter was implicated in human trafficking back then.
Wang Jiu and Song Yin still showed no reaction, but Lin Jun leaned back, his back resting against the chair. He seemed to stretch, crossing his long legs, and let out a light, arrogant sneer, full of madness.
"What radiant gentleman, what heaven's favored daughter, or me, the madman who's been cursed his whole life—what's the difference, really? It's just a matter of who's better at pretending."
He was morbid and arrogant, stabbing both Song Yin and the Song family with a knife while also splashing a layer of ink on Wang Jiu's reputation.
But was she innocent or not?
It was unknown if Wang Jiu would deny it.
It seemed that given her style and actions... it wasn't impossible.
It all depended on how she responded. Anyway, this was a woman who never needed another man to step up and solve her problems.
So Xie Jiang and the others didn't move.
Sure enough, Wang Jiu moved. She turned slightly to the side, saw the person in the seat behind her, and held the photo between her fingers, intending to return it to Lin Jun.
Lin Jun smiled but didn't take it. "This is yours, no need to give it to me. After all, I took it secretly."
"How nice, you even have props. I wonder if you have many props. Did you happen to keep the medicine?"
Lin Jun's gaze deepened, but he continued to smile. "What medicine?"
"The medicine to treat your impotence, of course."
In an instant, the previously manic Lin Jun's expression changed drastically. Spirit power even began to flicker in his palm. The people in the second and third rows were alarmed, and several of them prepared their skills.
The rest were like: "???"
This gossip is a bit toxic. Is the capital's high society circle this messy?
However, the group of big shots in the first row remained as steady as Mount Tai, showing no reaction throughout. But Luo Sheng knew that this group was actually very interested, all listening with pricked ears.
The sudden rise of the Lin family, the Song family being dragged into the mud, and now involving Wang Jiu, who had been detached from the capital's social circle and had gone to develop in Luoyang.
The amount of information contained within was actually immense.
Of course, it was also possible that it was simply because of the gossip.
Wang Jiu was also steady, her eyes soft and slightly pitying. "It's really not a big deal. Why go to such lengths, little brother Jun?"
How should one put it? Every time Wang Jiu said "a healer's heart is like a parent's" or "why go to such lengths," Luo Sheng and the others felt their scalps tingle.
Lao Wang never seemed to let an enemy delivered to her doorstep live to see another day.
Comments
Post a Comment