Chapter 17 Punishment "This is the benefactor's order."
Liao has arranged for a lawyer to accompany Jin Zhao through all the confirmation and processing procedures. Now, only the last step remains: Jiang Xiliu's signature.
Liao Zhu thought the matter was over, so he wanted to put away the documents and send the mistress, who was only in name, back to the hospital.
After all the procedures have been completed, and the lawyer has repeatedly checked the terms with Jin Zhao, so there's no way there will be any more problems. There's really no need for Jiang Xiliu to make a special trip.
But after he finished reporting the progress, Jiang Xiliu replied, "No need to collect it. Have the lawyer and Jin Zhao wait there. I'll be right there."
Liao Zhu: ? Is it that important?
He flipped through the papers in his hand and confirmed once again that this was just an ordinary real estate transaction, not some important contract worth hundreds of millions.
Assistant Liao looked up at the reception area.
Jin Zhao was sitting on the sofa reading and reviewing. The sunlight shone through the window onto half of his body. His brow bone and nose were high and straight, and his profile was well-defined, clean and neat. He had an exceptionally eye-catching appearance.
So, after eliminating all the impossibilities, only one possibility remains: the signature itself is not important; what is important is Mr. Jin.
Realizing what had happened, Assistant Liao hurriedly went to the tea room to brew a cup of tea that was usually only opened when entertaining distinguished guests, and brought it to Jin Zhao.
Jin Zhao nodded calmly: "Thank you."
Liao Zhu stepped aside and secretly observed the young lady's lover.
His appearance and demeanor are indeed quite intimidating; no wonder he can barely be considered worthy of the young lady when standing next to her.
So when the young lady arrives, should he do what's written in those domineering CEO novels and walk up to her and say that classic line?
Jiang Xiliu had no idea what kind of Mary Sue scenario Liao Zhu was having in his head.
She came here only to complete a system task.
According to the strict requirements of System 0777, she had to personally deposit the money into Grandma Jin's medical card in order to truly complete the task.
The glass door opens automatically when it senses a person.
Upon hearing the voice, Assistant Liao almost immediately jumped up and rushed forward: "Miss, you've finally arrived! Mr. Jin is reading in the reception room."
"Oh." Jiang Xiliu's gaze swept quickly across the reception room, immediately catching sight of the tall figure by the floor-to-ceiling window, but she didn't linger, abruptly shifting her gaze, her tone completely flat, "Where's the lawyer?"
Liao's smile froze for a moment, then he quickly replied, "...The lawyer is also waiting for you in the reception room. The documents and pens are ready and placed on the table."
Jiang Xiliu didn't waste any time looking at it and directly bent down to sign it.
From the moment she entered the room, Jin Zhao had already closed the book in his hand, strode over to her.
He was standing beside her at that moment, his gaze fixed on her hand holding the pen.
Liao, being sensible, did not go forward to disturb them. Seeing that Jiang Xiliu had finished signing, he quickly and quietly went over to collect the documents, and gave the lawyer a "let's go" look. The two of them, like two shadows, silently withdrew from the reception room.
"Have you received all the money?" Jiang Xiliu got straight to the point. The amount she gave was calculated exactly according to the market price of the old house.
Although Jin Zhao's old house is dilapidated, its good location and large size make it worth nearly two million yuan on the market.
As she spoke, she couldn't help but observe Jin Zhao's expression; she was quite curious about what Jin Zhao would do after suddenly becoming rich.
Will you unleash your shopping urge and empty the mall in a frenzy? Or will you conservatively deposit all the remaining money in the bank and not move a single penny?
Jin Zhao seemed unaware that she was scrutinizing him, and simply lowered his eyes, stating the facts slowly in his voice: "We received most of it, but 300,000 is missing."
“The 300,000 yuan we withheld is for Grandma’s surgery.” Jiang Xiliu replied quickly, shoving the bag in her hand into Jin Zhao’s arms. She raised an eyebrow and said in a firm tone, “I’ll go to the hospital with you to pay the fees later. Let’s go now.”
Jin Zhao naturally had no objections, and even secretly breathed a sigh of relief.
Grandma Jin's surgery is scheduled for tomorrow. These past two days, Grandma Jin has been talking about Jiang Xiliu. Perhaps because he's not very good at fooling people, Grandma Jin has begun to suspect their relationship.
This morning, Grandma Jin was still asking Jin Zhao, "Jin Zhao, tell Grandma the truth, is Xi Liu an actress you hired to make Grandma happy?"
He could only smile helplessly and say self-deprecatingly, "Grandma, where would I get the spare money to do something like this?"
He paused, then couldn't help but add, his voice soft but clear: "Even if I had the money, I couldn't afford to hire her."
...
A hint of emotion unexpectedly flashed in Jin Zhao's eyes when he learned that Jiang Xiliu was willing to go to the hospital with him tonight.
Anyone can pay for the surgery.
He knew Jiang Xiliu wasn't the type to meddle in other people's business; the fact that she made this trip meant she must be here for—
"Jin Zhao, now that you're rich, how about you treat me to the most luxurious hotel near the hospital tonight?"
The young lady's clear and cheerful voice suddenly broke in, instantly dispelling the illusion of emotion that Jin Zhao had been feeling due to overthinking.
He glanced at Jiang Xiliu and saw that his eyes were sparkling, without a trace of worry about Grandma Jin's surgery, only excitement at the prospect of spending the money he had just received.
Jin Zhao pressed his lips together, unable to manage a smile.
She agreed to make this trip only because she had her eye on the money he had just received.
He refused coldly with a stern face: "No, please."
"Wow!" Jiang Xiliu rebuked him righteously, "How can you be so stingy? Isn't money meant to be spent?"
“I’m stingy, you’re generous.” Jin Zhao glanced at her and retorted, “Then why don’t you treat me to the most luxurious hotel near the hospital?”
The air was quiet for a few seconds, with only the faint sound of airflow from the car's air conditioning vents.
The young lady turned her head away from Jin Zhao, leaned back in her chair, closed her eyes, and began to rest.
The next second, the system's complaint voice rang in my mind.
[System 0777: Miss! He's looking at you! And he's secretly smiling! Is he laughing at us?]
Jiang Xiliu's eyelids twitched: He was mocking her!
With her eyes closed, her long, curled eyelashes cast a small shadow beneath them, and the corners of her mouth unconsciously turned down as she began to sulk.
That damned Jin Zhao, how dare he secretly laugh at her? He really is a miserly, stingy bastard! There's a reason he was poor before; he deserved to be poor! He deserved to be broke!
Jiang Xiliu grew angrier the more she thought about it, her chest heaving slightly. She couldn't help but open her eyes, her gaze filled with barely suppressed rage. She glared at Jin Zhao and said spoiledly, "I'm going to tell your grandma!"
Every time she encounters Jin Zhao, her emotions fluctuate wildly. Jin Zhao is definitely her nemesis!
Seeing her flustered state, Jin Zhao teased her on purpose: "What are you complaining about? Tell her I didn't invite you to stay at a luxury hotel?"
"I'm going to tell her you're making me angry!" The young lady's eyes were red with anger. She clearly felt wronged, but she deliberately put on a fierce look. "Hmph, a stingy person like you doesn't deserve to have a girlfriend."
“We’re not really a couple,” Jin Zhao said calmly, looking at her. “You’re my sugar daddy.”
Although Jiang Xiliu always liked to emphasize her status as a sugar daddy, Jin Zhao never really responded. Most of the time, he would just glance at her and then look away, as if he hadn't heard her.
This was the first time he had ever addressed her as "Master Sugar Daddy".
Gold, Master, Great, Person?
These four words rolled through her mind, and for some reason, they made her cheeks feel hot.
How embarrassing.
The young lady, however, became even more courageous the more embarrassed she was. She suddenly turned her head, the red at the corners of her eyes deepening in color, but this time it wasn't from anger.
Her gaze was fixed intently on him: "Tonight, do you want to moan like that in bed too?"
Jin Zhao was just coaxing her, not implying anything else. When he suddenly heard this sentence, his throat tightened and he almost choked on his own saliva.
He refused: "We need to prepare for the surgery first thing tomorrow morning, and I need to stay with the patient tonight."
Jiang Xiliu let out a "woof," sounding somewhat disappointed.
Jin Zhao had just breathed a sigh of relief, his tense back not yet fully against the seat, when he heard her stubbornly continue to ask, "Then tomorrow night, it's okay to call out like that in bed, right?"
Jin Zhao closed his eyes briefly, trying to control his tone: "After the surgery tomorrow, Grandma will need someone by her side 24 hours a day."
His hand, hidden at his side, clenched tightly, his fingertips turning white from the force.
One more time, just ask her one more time.
Jiang Xiliu was indeed preparing to continue asking questions, but unfortunately, just as she was about to speak, the phone she was holding suddenly started vibrating, and the screen was dazzlingly bright.
She glanced at it subconsciously, and when she saw the caller ID, she was speechless.
— "Ye Er the Silly Dog" was jumping happily with the vibration.
"Hello? What is it!" Jiang Xiliu answered the phone, somewhat impatiently. "Didn't we just part ways an hour ago? What do you want to say now?"
Jin Zhao, who was standing next to her, sat up straight without making a sound, and glanced at her phone without leaving a trace.
Ye Qishan's aggrieved voice immediately came from the other end of the phone: "Didn't you tell me to let you know once I had decided on the time and place? I just confirmed it."
Jiang Xiliu was stunned: "...How could it be so fast?"
"Jiang Xiliu!" Ye Qishan's voice was so loud that even Jin Zhao, who was sitting next to him, could hear it clearly. "Have you completely forgotten when my birthday is? Three days from now! Just three days from now!"
Immediately afterwards, he sniffled on the phone, his voice trembling with feigned tears, complaining aggrievedly, "Jiang Xiliu, you don't care about me at all!"
Jiang Xiliu felt a little guilty.
She and Ye Qishan were in the same class from kindergarten to elementary school. Although she later went abroad, she still attended his birthday parties a few times.
If you think about it carefully, she has celebrated more than a dozen birthdays with him.
Jiang Xiliu coughed lightly, then quickly regained her self-righteous demeanor: "I've always been like this. I don't remember anyone else's birthday except my own."
Jin Zhao, who was standing beside her, had been looking down, seemingly lost in thought, but now he slowly raised his eyes and looked out the window.
His gaze as he looked out the window was somewhat unfocused; all his attention was on adjusting his posture, subtly moving closer to her, slowly closing the distance until their arms were almost touching before he stopped.
Ye Qishan clearly didn't believe it, his tone full of doubt: "You can't even remember that pretty boy's birthday?"
"I can't remember." Jiang Xiliu answered without thinking. Only after the words left her mouth did she belatedly go through Jin Zhao's information in her mind.
The information Liao sent her clearly stated that his birthday was December 24th, Christmas Eve.
Ye Qishan was instantly satisfied, his tone beaming: "The day after tomorrow! It's at the Yuexing Club. I've booked the whole place. You can come anytime. But it'd be best if you arrived early; I've prepared a surprise for you."
Jiang Xiliu casually hung up the phone, leaned back, and rested her chin lightly on the shoulder that was so close to hers. She asked knowingly, "Jin Zhao, were you eavesdropping on my phone call?"
Jin Zhao withdrew his gaze from the window, but did not turn to look at her: "I wasn't listening on purpose, it's just that you weren't keeping your voice down."
Jiang Xiliu didn't believe it, and remembering how he had just angered her, she turned her head and leaned in close without any politeness.
It bit him on the back of the neck.
Jiang Xiliu has two small, sharp tiger teeth that are pressed firmly against his warm skin. He can even clearly feel the veins throbbing gently on the side of his neck.
The young lady never knew how to hold back, and after puncturing a small part of the skin, a very faint, slightly rusty, metallic taste of blood quietly spread and lingered on the tip of her tongue.
It tastes weird, and the blood of the chosen one doesn't taste good either.
Just as she was about to give in, she heard Jin Zhao in front of her not only not resist, but instead let out a low groan from his throat. The sound was so soft that it didn't sound like he was being punished, but rather like... he was enjoying it?
Jiang Xiliu suddenly stopped, her eyes filled with confused question marks: ???
Isn't this reaction a bit off? She put in so much effort, her teeth even started to ache.
Jin Zhao was clearly not expecting to make such a sound. He suddenly raised his hand and gently but firmly pushed her away. His other hand quickly covered the bite wound on the back of his neck, where he could still feel the stinging pain under his fingertips.
Immediately afterwards, he straightened his body, his back ramrod straight.
Pshaw, stop pretending to be so serious.
Jiang Xiliu still remembered Ye Qishan's instructions before hanging up the phone. She said firmly, "My friend's birthday is the day after tomorrow. You have to come with me."
Jin Zhao opened his mouth: "I..."
"I need to accompany Grandma for her pre-operative preparations tomorrow, and I can't leave her alone the day after tomorrow. You just told me, and I know that." She first completely shut down any possible excuses he might have before changing the subject, "But the day after tomorrow, no matter what you have to do, you have to go!"
"This is the benefactor's order."
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