Chapter 40: Rejecting Five Million!

Jiang Mingyue gazed at the distant seascape, then pulled her shawl tighter around her shoulders. "No need for thanks. It's because you're insightful enough to heed my advice."

If Renato had ignored her words, the outcome would not have been like this, with him standing and chatting with her.

After all, he is the heir to the family business and received elite education from a young age, so his intelligence and foresight must surpass those of the average person.

On the top floor, on the open-air balcony outside Wei Lai's room, Ji Wenxuan peered down at the figures talking below, gossiping with Wei Lai who was standing next to him.

"Brother Wei, what do you think Renato and Mingyue are talking about?"

Wei Lai, holding a point-and-shoot camera and searching for the best shooting spot, said dismissively, "Why do you care what they're talking about? It's not about romance."

Ji Wenxuan was used to being teased by Wei Lai, so he laughed and said, "I didn't mean anything by it, I was just curious. You know I ship Mingyue and Tang Ge."

Hearing Ji Wenxuan's frank thoughts, Wei Lai was speechless. "Why are you copying the fans' ways? You're a celebrity, why are you shipping couples!"

When this was brought up, Ji Wenxuan straightened his back and said, "Celebrities are people too. I've shipped way too many couples in the industry..."

Upon hearing about some gossip, Wei Lai immediately put down her camera and became interested. "Tell me quickly, which couples are real?"

At 2:30 pm, Renato led Jiang Mingyue and her group to the snorkeling spot.

Ji Wenxuan stayed on the yacht to oversee the live broadcast, while Jiang Mingyue and the others changed into snorkeling gear and entered the sea one by one.

The seabed is mysterious and beautiful, with colorful fish swimming around the group.

Professional photographers were responsible for capturing their moments.

The water was cold, and after a quarter of an hour, Wei Lai and Meng Qinzhou came ashore first.

Staff members came forward to help them remove their equipment.

Ji Wenxuan hurriedly handed over a towel, "Where are Brother Tang and Mingyue? Why did you two come up first?"

Wei Lai waved her hand and said, "I'm getting old, and my physical strength can't keep up. So you should travel as early as possible, instead of having to come out to play when you're old and frail."

"Brother Wei, you're only twenty-nine years old, still very young." Meng Qinzhou praised Wei Lai with a smile. He himself needed to go to the toilet because of a stomachache, so he followed him up.

"Tang Ge and Mingyue want to play a little longer. Don't worry, they have a professional coaching team with them."

Renato's wealth speaks for itself; when he goes snorkeling, not only do his two assistants go with him, but he also brings along a medical team.

Ten minutes later, Don Juan and Renato also came up.

They both assumed Jiang Mingyue was with the other person, but when they saw that she hadn't come up, their hearts sank, and they hurriedly went down to look for her.

When Wei Lai and the other two realized that something was wrong, they panicked as well, but none of them said anything out of turn and they all held their breath and focused.

The production crew realized something was wrong, and the medical team immediately rushed to the shore, ready to respond at any time.

Why aren't you saying anything?

What are the brothers looking for?

It seems Sister Jiang didn't come up.

【Ahhhhh】

Just when everyone thought something had happened to Jiang Mingyue, a minute later, Jiang Mingyue emerged from the water, holding palm-sized shrimp tied with seaweed and a large pile of seafood.

She raised her hand and shouted to the crowd, "We'll have an extra meal tonight!"

The group, relieved to have escaped unscathed, were speechless. While they were filled with fear, Teacher Jiang had gone off to catch seafood.

The viewers in the live stream were silent for a while before they came to their senses and started flooding the screen with messages.

I shouldn't have worried about Sister Jiang at all, really, it was completely unnecessary.

Sister Jiang is amazing!

Sister Jiang really went to great lengths to get the freshest seafood.

[Netizens found photos of Sister Jiang working at the aquarium, confirming that her snorkeling certificate is genuine.]

After a short half-hour rest, the group took kayaks to visit the Blue Grotto. The afternoon's itinerary was packed and fun. In the evening, they finally got to enjoy a seafood hot pot feast and slept soundly until dawn.

The group left the island the next morning, and Renato personally saw them off, saying that he would be going to Luo City the day after tomorrow, where his uncle would also be going.

Jiang Mingyue arranged a meeting time with him and then headed with the others to the next stop, the main city of Naples.

To save time, they only visited the palace and church before heading straight to Luo City.

Don Juan's group arrived in Luo City two days earlier than Qiu Zhenlong's group. Crucially, they still had 1,000 euros left in their travel budget!

Arriving in Luo City means the end of their challenge. Not only can they get everyone's cell phones ahead of time, but they can also spend money from their personal bank cards.

Wei Lai wanted to have a big meal, but not Western food, but Chinese food! He wanted to treat himself and get rid of some wrinkled clothes.

Ji Wenxuan wanted to go shopping and buy some nice things for his family.

Meng Qinzhou plans to buy his girlfriend a designer handbag.

Don Juan didn't have any specific ideas, nor did he lack clothes or bags. After working non-stop for thirteen days, even an iron man couldn't take it. He just wanted to sit down and rest for a day, without having to rush around or drive anymore.

Once his team arrives tomorrow morning, he will arrange to shoot a magazine cover with Jiang Mingyue.

As for Jiang Mingyue, her idea was simpler: return to China as soon as possible and continue with the next job. If she could hold on for another month, she could go back to her hometown after New Year's Day.

Starting from Lingcheng International Airport, they traveled to Xidao Island, and then drove all the way to Luo City. Don Juan and his five companions shared joys and sorrows, forging a deep friendship.

This trip will likely be an unforgettable experience for the five of them.

They exchanged contact information and even created a "green bubble" group for future communication.

The group name is simple: Calabash Brothers.

Wei Lai first sent a 1,000 yuan red envelope in the group, saying, "Brothers and sisters, come and grab it!"

Wei Lai and her three companions were especially grateful to Jiang Mingyue. If it weren't for Jiang Mingyue's occasional secret assistance, they wouldn't have had such a smooth journey.

A red envelope of one thousand yuan is neither too much nor too little, and Jiang Mingyue won't feel burdened by accepting it.

Ji Wenxuan and Meng Qinzhou followed suit and each received a thousand yuan.

Five minutes later, Don Juan sent 6,000 yuan. Wei Lai and the other two were all smiles and praised their captain for his generosity in the group chat.

Jiang Mingyue accepted the red envelopes sent by the four of them and followed suit by sending 1,000 yuan.

She's short of money and can't be as wealthy and powerful as Don Juan for the time being.

In addition, the production team also created a group chat and added Don Juan and the other four members to it.

[The Misfit Family]

Assistant Director Xu: "After the program officially airs, I'll have to trouble all the guests to share this."

Executive Director Xiao Ma: "Could you please change your group name cards? Thank you, flowers, flowers, flowers!"

Wei Lai and the other four promptly responded and changed their group name cards.

That evening, the production team booked a five-star hotel for Wei Lai and the other four guests as a way of thanking them for their hard work over the past ten days.

The next morning, the five of them slept in, leisurely ate brunch, and then went to visit the locations featured in the classic movie.

Around dusk, Jiang Mingyue received a call from Renato, who had arrived in Luo City and invited her to dinner.

“My uncle is here too; he wants to see you.”

Jiang Mingyue called Don Juan over, and they all got into the business car sent by Renato.

The production team was informed in advance, so the assistant director did not send anyone to accompany them.

Now it's the guests' time. They'll wait for Qi Sheng's group to come and join them for a group photo, and then the event will be officially over.

The place where Renato arranged to meet Jiang Mingyue was not far from the hotel where she was staying, about a half-hour drive.

This is a well-known local restaurant frequented by celebrities. It is said to be very difficult to book, sometimes even a month in advance.

Ha, this is just a capitalist's marketing ploy to create scarcity.

To make it easier to talk, Renato booked a private room upstairs.

A waiter was waiting at the door and led them to a private room on the second floor.

Two bodyguards stood on either side of the door to the private room. Unlike in the movies, they did not search Jiang Mingyue and Tang Huang. Upon seeing them, they even greeted them politely and opened the door for them.

Jiang Mingyue touched the colorful rope figurine in her hand. Tang Juan saw that she was standing still and understood her somewhat.

He whispered a reminder to her, "Mingyue, all good things must come to an end."

Jiang Mingyue hummed in agreement. It wasn't that she was reluctant to part with it, but she felt that time had passed very quickly.

Renato's uncle, Daniel Welde, was younger than she had imagined, around forty years old, with the deep blue eyes and high nose typical of foreigners.

She originally thought the other person was an old man.

The uncle and nephew also brought someone with them, who looked like Daniel's secretary.

Renato introduced the two parties.

Daniel smiled and stood up to greet them, "Mr. Tang and Ms. Jiang, hello. I have long admired Ms. Jiang. Meeting you this year has truly amazed me. Ms. Jiang is young and promising, and her future is limitless."

His Chinese wasn't standard, but he had a unique local accent, and his string of polite compliments didn't offend anyone.

Jiang Mingyue was surprised that Daniel could speak Chinese. She exchanged a few polite words and then got straight to the point, "Mr. Daniel, both of us have precious time, let's begin."

Danielle smiled slightly; she was surprisingly an impatient little girl.

He initially doubted Jiang Mingyue's abilities, thinking that his nephew had been brainwashed by her. Later, he asked someone to investigate, and what he found out was shocking.

This Chinese girl is very capable; she is both brave and resourceful.

Her meeting with Mafia's boss was no secret in the industry. For such a young girl to escape unscathed, and to be so brave and fierce, was truly remarkable.

Of course, on the other hand, she wouldn't have brought Betty out if she hadn't been brave and fierce.

“Alright, I won’t take up any more of your time. Renato showed me that letter. As Miss Jiang instructed in the letter, we have moved Beatrix’s grave. We will have to trouble Miss Jiang to return it to our distinguished ancestor, the Wilder family, as promised.”

"Of course, to express my gratitude to Miss Jiang, I have prepared a small gift, and I hope you will accept it."

As soon as Daniel finished speaking, his secretary opened his briefcase and took out a check with the amount written on it.

Don Juan took the check for Jiang Mingyue; it was a large amount and was in Euros.

Jiang Mingyue glanced at the zeros on the screen and did a quick calculation: a huge sum, five million RMB.

The pay wasn't small.

Jiang Mingyue was indeed short of money, but a gentleman loves money but earns it in a proper way. The reason she helped Betley in the first place was not only for money, but also for other reasons. Besides, Betley had also helped her a lot.

She can't accept this money.

Seeing Jiang Mingyue's silence, Daniel assumed the compensation was too low and quickly added, "If Miss Jiang thinks it's too little, we can discuss it further."

The implication was that he was willing to add more.

Don Juan remained on the sidelines, and there was no need for him to interfere or say anything at this critical juncture; Jiang Mingyue knew what she was doing.

When Renato was negotiating his payment with his uncle, he deliberately offered only three million. His uncle thought it was too little and added two million.

At this critical juncture, it was inconvenient for him to say much. Even though he was the family heir, there were some things that his uncle still needed to help him with.

A moment later, Jiang Mingyue looked up at Daniel and pushed the check back.

“Mr. Daniel, this amount of money is too much. According to market prices, it shouldn’t be this much. However, to be honest, Mr. Beatrix has also helped me a lot, so it cancels each other out.”

Daniel was quite surprised; the young girl in front of him was calm and composed, unmoved by money, which was truly admirable.

“Ms. Jiang, there’s no need to rush to refuse. Please think it over. I’ll be in Luo City for the next couple of days. If you still refuse in the end, you can contact me anytime and I’ll send someone to pick it up.”

"No need, didn't you say you'd treat us to dinner tonight? You can treat us to dinner."

Jiang Mingyue didn't want to keep the five million check; she couldn't afford to lose it.

Jiang Mingyue's straightforwardness pleased Daniel; it's always a pleasure to talk to a frank person.

"Of course, tonight is my treat. Miss Jiang and Mr. Tang, please feel free to eat whatever you like."

Renato was not surprised by Jiang Mingyue's rejection. In their limited interactions, he had learned that she was an unpredictable person.

They break free from the established rules of the adult world, remaining unconventional and content in their own little corner.

Jiang Mingyue took out a small figure woven from colorful rope from her pocket and placed it on the coffee table. "Daniel, Renato, I can grant you a request. Would you like to meet Beatrix?"

Daniel frowned deeply, thought about it seriously for a while, and then shook his head to politely decline.

"It's still gone. I'm afraid I'll be scolded by Ancestor Betley."

"Alright."

Jiang Mingyue respects Daniel's choice.

Renato and Daniel shared the same opinion.

A moment later, Daniel's secretary handed over a box containing the Chinese talisman paper that had been painstakingly found, along with writing brush, ink, paper, and inkstone.

Don Juan has already witnessed Jiang Mingyue's metaphysical abilities, so there is no need for him to avoid her.

Renato, Daniel, and their secretary remained seated, and Jiang Mingyue did not urge them to leave.

She picked up a brush, dipped it in cinnabar, and drew talismans on the talisman paper in one swift motion. To Daniel and the others, these talismans appeared as ancient and mysterious Chinese characters.

The next moment, Jiang Mingyue muttered incantations and made a hand seal with her right hand. Soon, Betley floated out from the colorful rope.

Betley yawned repeatedly: "Sigh, Jiang, I haven't had enough fun yet, and we have to part ways so soon. I don't know when we'll see each other again..."

Betley quickly interrupted her, "Jiang, you're kidding me again. I know I might never see you again, okay? But I'm still very happy to have met you. Thank you for these past ten days. I had a great time. I wish you all the best in the future."

Jiang Mingyue: "Would you like to say a few words to Daniel and the others?"

To the four people inside, it appeared as if Jiang Mingyue was talking to thin air, and the room temperature suddenly dropped, with a chill sweeping over them.

Betley glanced at the uncle and nephew across the sofa; their thoughts were the same as theirs.

"No need. We're from different generations, and we can't agree on anything. They're fine too, and I don't need to nag them."

"Okay, let's do it then."

Guided by Jiang Mingyue, Betty jumped into the circular jade pendant in the middle of the box. She then wrapped the jade pendant with talisman paper, made a hand seal with her right hand, and everyone saw a flash of golden light.

Jiang Mingyue looked at Daniel and said, "Mr. Daniel, please take it back and place it in Beatrix's grave. Visit his grave more often at the beginning and middle of the month."

The secretary carefully and discreetly took it away.

Daniel's expression turned serious, but a hint of respect appeared in his eyes. "Okay."

"Ms. Jiang, this is my business card. If you ever come to Luo City again, you can look for me. I'd be happy to be your local guide."

Jiang Mingyue wasn't detached from worldly affairs. She accepted the business card, deciding to deal with the future later. Who knew if she would even come?

Daniel and his secretary went ahead, clearing out a private room for them, and shortly after, the restaurant waiters brought out their signature dishes.

Renato glanced at Don Juan, who, understanding the situation, got up and went to the restroom to make it easier for them to talk.

Actually, there was nothing shameful about the topic they wanted to discuss, and Don Juan did so out of politeness and respect.

"Your uncle is fine."

Jiang Mingyue guessed what Renato wanted to talk to her about. Apart from being a bit stubborn, Daniel still valued Renato a lot.

Renato smiled upon hearing this, though his smile was still somewhat unnatural, but it was improving with each passing moment.

"Thank you, Mingyue. I wanted to ask if we're friends now, right?"

The pronunciation of "bright moon" is strange and peculiar.

"certainly."

Jiang Mingyue didn't mind becoming friends with Renato. Renato was conscientious in his interactions with others, and she had a good impression of him.

Renato took a rectangular box out of his briefcase and handed it to Jiang Mingyue.

"This is a gift for you, a small token of my appreciation. Please accept it."

Jiang Mingyue raised an eyebrow, picked up the box and opened it. Inside was a pink diamond bracelet with a J inlaid in the center.

"Only the most distinguished VIP customers of G Hotel can own this bracelet. It is not sold on the market and is a custom-made item."

"Don't worry, the price isn't expensive. Actually, before I met you, I already anticipated that you wouldn't accept the payment, so I prepared an extra gift for you."

The bracelet was exquisitely crafted and had a unique design. Jiang Mingyue thought for a few seconds before accepting it.

She put it directly on her wrist; the size was adjustable, and she wasn't worried about the clasp coming loose.

"It looks great. Thank you, Renato, for your trouble."

Her wrists were slender and her skin was fair; the diamond bracelet suited her perfectly.

Renato was grateful that she accepted the bracelet and did not refuse his kindness.

"Mingyue, I look forward to seeing you again next time. I hope to have the opportunity to visit your country."

"You are welcome to come anytime."

Renato felt bad for keeping her from having a proper meal, so he got up, shook hands with her, and said goodbye.

Jiang Mingyue personally escorted him out of the private room.

The next second, Don Juan heard the noise and came out from the corner.

"Renato is gone?"

"Yes, come in and eat."

Don Juan noticed the pink diamond bracelet that suddenly appeared on her left wrist and immediately knew that it was a gift from Renato.

It was clear that her smile was faint and she showed no shyness, suggesting that it was merely a parting gift and not a confirmation of any relationship.

Don Juan felt a strange sense of relief. He tried to suppress the odd feeling and followed her back to the private room.

Jiang Mingyue doesn't drink alcohol, so Tang Huang poured her tea first, and then poured himself a glass of red wine.

"Thanks to your good fortune tonight, this meal will cost at least a thousand euros."

Jiang Mingyue picked up a piece of pan-fried cod; you get what you pay for, the fish was delicious.

"Brother Tang, you're too kind. You've helped me keep the secret, so you deserve credit too."

Don Juan asked her if she regretted not taking the five million.

Jiang Mingyue shrugged. "To be honest, I'm human too. I'm bound to be tempted by money. But, a gentleman loves money, but he earns it in a proper way. I can take it or not."

Don Juan knew perfectly well that with Jiang Mingyue's abilities, even if Daniel took the five million, he wouldn't say anything.

Daniel would even treat Jiang Mingyue like a revered Buddha. Who doesn't like to make friends with capable people? Besides, among thousands of people, you might not necessarily meet someone who is truly capable.

Jiang Mingyue brought up the bracelet on her left wrist, "Brother Tang, what's the approximate price of this bracelet on my wrist?"

She reached out and handed it over.

"Smooth, white, and delicate hands"—the ancients described it aptly.

Don Juan's eyes flickered. He didn't touch her wrist, but simply touched the diamond to feel its texture.

"A 0.5-carat diamond, with at least a hundred in total, and a three-carat J, the total estimated price is no less than 100,000 yuan. In short, it's not cheap."

Jiang Mingyue was astonished; the amount was no less than 100,000 yuan, and the upper limit was hard to estimate.

Renato is very thoughtful.

"What a pity."

Don Juan couldn't help but chuckle, understanding the reason for her regret: she regretted not being able to sell it, as she couldn't go against Renato's wishes.

“He has excellent taste; this bracelet suits you perfectly.”

It's always nice to be praised.

Jiang Mingyue smiled slightly, stopped chatting, and focused on eating.

Dinner took about half an hour, and afterwards the two didn't rush back to the hotel, but agreed to take a walk together.

The area is relatively safe, with police patrolling the surroundings. Moreover, given Jiang Mingyue's skills, if someone were to rob her, the unlucky one would be the robber.

There were no paparazzi or media taking pictures on the streets of this foreign land. Occasionally, they would encounter one or two Chinese people, who were not fans of celebrities and did not recognize them.

The two were very relaxed and at ease.

Don Juan exclaimed, "Mingyue, today is the happiest day I've had since I started filming this show. How about you?"

Jiang Mingyue understood Don Juan's feelings. There were no staff following him around, no live cameras, and he didn't have to pretend to be a big star in front of people. He could simply be himself.

"I'm in a pretty good mood every day, and I'm doubling it today."

Jiang Mingyue's answer made Don Juan even happier, proving that she got along well with him and that he wouldn't burden her.

"Okay, keep a good mood, and you'll be more motivated to take photos tomorrow morning."

After walking slowly for more than an hour, the two returned to the hotel safely, which put the production team at ease, as long as the two teachers were back safe and sound.

Executive director Xiao Ma, holding a cup of hot coffee, whispered to the assistant director, "Boss, do you think Teacher Jiang and Teacher Tang might hit it off?"

The assistant director looked speechless. "I didn't see any ambiguity between them. They seemed more like comrades-in-arms fighting side by side."

Xiao Ma, with his sharp eyes, exclaimed, "Boss, look! Teacher Jiang seems to be wearing a diamond bracelet on her left hand! Did Teacher Tang give it to her?"

Author's Note: [Cat head emoji][Cat head emoji][Cat head emoji] Six thousand words, do you want me to praise you?!