"Knowing Qingqing as I do, she will never give up her studies no matter what. If you want to see her, you should go to the school now," Jiang's father brought the topic back.
After saying this, he looked Chen Shi up and down, as if he were assessing something.
Feeling bewildered by the stare, Shen Shi couldn't help but ask, "Uncle, is there anything else?"
Jiang's father did not answer, but continued to look at Chen Shi with a hesitant gaze.
At this point, Shen Shi had already guessed Jiang's father's purpose with a high degree of accuracy. What parents worry about most is their children, and Jiang's father, who held immense wealth, was no exception.
"My feelings for Qingqing are as clear as day and night. I love her family as well. Uncle, please feel free to speak your mind."
Shen Shi composed himself, looked directly at him, and said sincerely, "Although I am just a nobody, please don't hesitate to ask if you need my help."
Jiang's father neither agreed nor disagreed with his words. The sky gradually darkened, the blazing sun had disappeared, and it was about to rain.
Finally, he said, "Come with me."
Shen Shi followed Jiang's father and took the elevator down to the basement. With a ding-dong sound, a luxurious and huge space was revealed in front of Shen Shi.
In that instant, I felt as if I had entered a parallel universe.
Before me stood a magnificent, golden house. Calling it a house wasn't quite accurate; it was more like a giant safe, completely sealed off, without even a door, let alone windows.
The elevator they just got off in was also the only entrance to this place.
Apart from the safes displayed on the shelves, there were no other decorations inside, yet it didn't feel empty, because there were an absurd number of safes here.
Jiang's father walked to the display safes and opened them one by one without making any selections.
Brick-sized blocks of gold, crates of US dollars, countless valuable antiques and paintings, and trust funds—all are sold by the crate here.
The scene, which he had only ever seen in movies, actually appeared before his eyes, leaving him speechless with astonishment.
“These are my personal savings accumulated over the years. Even Qingqing and her mother don’t know they exist.”
Since coming to the basement, Jiang's father seemed to have become a different person. His previous dejection was gone, and he was full of confidence and high spirits.
I never imagined it was still his secret stash of money. Looking at the room full of gold and silver jewelry, and then thinking about my own father, who had to save up for a week to buy a pack of cigarettes.
Sigh, how can the difference between people be so great?
Looking at the room full of glittering gold, Shen Shi couldn't help but exclaim, "Uncle, you're really rich."
"Hahahaha!" Everyone is happy to hear praise, and Jiang's father laughed triumphantly.
However, the smile only lasted for a moment, and the happiness turned into sorrow the next second.
"No matter how valuable something is, it's still inanimate. What's the point of leaving it in the basement? I've worked hard all my life just to make my family happy. Do you expect my daughter to struggle for the rest of her life?"
As he spoke, Jiang's father couldn't help but tear up.
Even the most powerful and influential people are nothing more than a father who loves his daughter once they shed their cloak of money and power.
He grabbed Shen Shi's hand with surprising strength: "Xiao Shen, since you like our Qingqing, would you be willing to pave an easy path for her?"
Shen Shi looked into Jiang's father's eyes; the middle-aged man's gaze was full of expectation.
What constitutes an easy road?
The answer is simple: a road paved with money is an easy road to travel.
Jiang's father foresaw that if the company collapsed, he would also be unable to extricate himself. He planned to have Shen Shi transfer some assets, and then give them to Jiang Qing to use after everything calmed down.
Firstly, Shen Shi is not a member of the Jiang family and has no blood relation to him, so even if an investigation is conducted, it would be difficult to trace the source back to him.
Secondly, everyone is driven by profit, and in Jiang's position, everyone around him is after money.
If you say no, then you're just pretending well. You just haven't been caught.
The young man in front of me is smart and genuinely likes Qingqing, so he's the perfect person to handle this matter.
Having been a seasoned businessman for decades, Jiang's father always had a keen eye for people, and he was certain that Shen Shi would not refuse.
"Uncle, I understand what you mean. I'm happy to help for Qingqing's sake."
As expected, Shen Shi said what Jiang's father wanted to hear.
Just as he was about to offer some praise, Shen Shi spoke up again: "However, if I may be frank, Uncle, you don't understand the situation."
"What?"
“You don’t need to be so pessimistic. It’s too early to assume you’re doomed before you’ve reached the end of your rope,” Shen Shi replied gently.
"You look very certain, but you don't even know what the Jiang family is going through, do you?"
"Young people, anyone can say nice things, but reality is reality, and it's not that easy to change it."
Jiang's father spoke earnestly.
He thought his words would dispel Chen Shi's thoughts, but to his surprise, the young man was unmoved and became even more radical.
"Everything depends on human effort. Although the Jiang family's problem is difficult, it's not without a chance to extricate yourself unscathed. Uncle has worked hard for half his life, don't you want to give it another try?"
"For example, I have a good idea. If you believe me, you might as well let me try it."
The flame in Shen Shi's eyes awakened Jiang's father's competitive spirit.
Does the spring breeze have pity on the flowers? Can it grant me youth again? But he is not old yet, and he will have nothing anyway, so what harm is there in letting him try?
Finally, Jiang's father nodded in agreement, and the two talked for a long time. When Shen Shi came out of the Jiang family home, it was drizzling.
When they reached Jiang Qing's dormitory building, the rain was pouring down and showed no signs of stopping.
Before arriving, Chen Shi contacted Jiang Qing's roommate and was scolded by her. He then learned that Jiang Qing was indeed in the dormitory.
Realizing the other party was about to hang up, Shen Shi quickly said, "Please tell Jiang Qing that I'm waiting for her downstairs in the dormitory."
Then he waited and waited. There weren't many people around on the rainy day. He kept an eye on everyone, hoping to see Jiang Qing's face.
I don't know how much time passed, but I'm sure the wait wasn't long at all, no more than ten minutes.
Jiang Qing walked towards him, holding an umbrella.
In an instant, the rain curtain became the backdrop, and all Shen Shi could see were Jiang Qing's clear eyes.
Jiang Qing stopped five meters away from him. The two looked at each other in the rain, their eyes filled with thick fog.
In his excitement, the pure black umbrella fell to the ground. Chen Shi ran towards Jiang Qing, pressed his hands against her slender neck, and eagerly pressed his cool lips against hers.
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