Chapter 32 Heading towards the tiger's den, Sister Jiang tries to extort money...
Don Juan and his group of five were very cautious. They immediately asked the production crew to accompany them, and after a final check, they found nothing.
It was a misunderstanding.
After the man left, Wei Lai asked Jiang Mingyue, "Mingyue, can you tell they're real?"
Jiang Mingyue had been secretly observing the two men's faces and nodded, "Absolutely genuine, truly."
Klein took her away; if his boss is in his right mind, he probably won't send anyone to harass her again.
Well water does not interfere with river water.
The crew went downstairs to ask around at the front desk, and when they came back, they told them, "The security situation near the station has been poor recently, and hotels in the vicinity are subject to random checks at night. They may be giving a unified story, and it's not just targeting us."
"That's good." Wei Lai breathed a sigh of relief, then smiled and thanked the staff, personally escorting the person to the door.
Their sleepiness was interrupted, and the five of them couldn't fall asleep for a while.
Wei Lai suggested drinking and chatting until they got sleepy before going to sleep. "It's fate that we met. Everyone is very busy with work. After recording the variety show, we don't know when we'll get together again."
Don Juan, Ji Wenxuan, and Meng Qinzhou all had no objections, and the three of them looked at Jiang Mingyue in unison.
Jiang Mingyue sat down directly on the chair by the bay window in the living room. "I don't drink."
"Mingyue, you can have some tea. I'll go make some for you." Ji Wenxuan quickly put on a smile and ran to the simple bar to prepare the black tea.
Meng Qinzhou went to the refrigerator to get some beer. When he came in, he had already searched the refrigerator and there were exactly four bottles of beer.
Don Juan walked up to the surveillance camera installed by the production crew and asked them, "Should we turn it on?"
Wei Lai quickly cupped her hands in greeting, "Brother, please don't start. I don't want to act tonight. I'm exhausted from trying to maintain my persona every day."
Everyone chuckled.
In front of the camera, they are glamorous stars with unlimited potential; behind the camera, they also have the troubles of ordinary people and face birth, aging, illness, and death.
Wei Lai said that once while filming, she got food poisoning and had diarrhea for three days, which actually caused her hemorrhoids to come out.
"It doesn't usually hurt, but you can't eat too much meat, or you know what will happen."
Chi Wen-hsuan complained that his acting range was too narrow. He didn't want to keep playing domineering CEOs and wanted to try different types of roles, but the market and ratings taught him a lesson.
Meng Qinzhou hopes that he can remain popular and be free to date. "I have a girlfriend who is not a celebrity. We grew up together. The company wants me to maintain a single image so that I can get more roles. They say that I am currently on the rise and that a man should have a career first."
Don Juan said he is successful in his career, but his family is urging him to get married. "Although my parents are university professors, intellectuals that everyone envies, they still hope that I can get married as soon as possible and have a child for them to take care of."
After sharing their respective troubles, the four of them all turned their attention to Jiang Mingyue.
Jiang Mingyue pondered for a few seconds and said that she was short of money and still owed Xinghui Entertainment 2.7 million yuan in breach of contract fees.
Don Juan and his three companions: "..."
When the four people saw her bring up the matter of breach of contract fees, they hurriedly asked her why she wanted to leave the entertainment industry if she was short of money.
Wei Lai: "Mingyue, based on your Clover Girl Group's commercial performance income, don't you have a single penny in savings? I'm not questioning you, if you're short of money, I'll lend you some. I'm just curious."
Ji Wenxuan nodded in agreement, "Mingyue, I don't have tens of millions, but I do have three million in savings. If you don't mind, I can pay it off for you in one go."
Meng Qinzhou smiled shyly, "Sister Jiang, I've only been in this business for a year, and my savings aren't as much as my brothers'. If you need it, I'll try to borrow it for you."
Don Juan didn't rush to ask for money. He believed that Jiang Mingyue wouldn't ask them for money either, as she had a strong sense of pride.
"Mingyue, if you have any difficulties, please speak up. We will do our best to help you."
Jiang Mingyue smiled and said, "Thank you for your kindness, but Xinghui Entertainment has given me a year to repay the loan. I have my own way."
"As for my savings, ha, I have a total of three million in breach of contract fees, and I've poured all three hundred thousand of my savings into it. You can see that my relationship with Tan Li is not good. The reason is that my agent is on Tan Li's side, and I can't get any business deals."
"She got me drunk and forced me to meet producer Liu Qiang in order to get a role for Tan Li. Luckily, I met my mentor at that time..."
Jiang Mingyue held back a bit. The skills she learned from transmigrating into the book were repackaged by her, making it seem like she had encountered a Taoist master who had given her skills a proper arrangement.
The four of them suddenly realized, "So that's how it is."
Wei Lai, who had been leaning against the sofa, excitedly sat up. "Mingyue, is your master still willing to take on more disciples?"
Jiang Mingyue shook her head, "Unfortunately, I am her last disciple."
Jiang Mingyue did not elaborate on when she met her master, and Wei Lai and the others did not delve into it.
Don Juan had witnessed her ability to control ghosts firsthand and suspected that she was holding back, but there was no need to pry; everyone has their own privacy.
After that night, the relationship between the five people underwent a qualitative leap, and they became more like a family.
Four older brothers took their younger sister on a trip, if calculated by age.
The next morning, Wei Lai and the other three were fast asleep when Jiang Mingyue did not wake them up and went downstairs for a run.
Taking advantage of the fact that she didn't need to do live streaming these two days, she started to resume her morning runs, an hour of exercise was enough.
The crew members on night duty were still yawning and waiting for their turn when a green figure suddenly darted past.
The staff member rubbed their eyes and took a closer look. Wow, Teacher Jiang was already up and running!
Big shots are indeed very self-disciplined!
The staff quickly grabbed walkie-talkies to report Jiang Mingyue's whereabouts, then set up a camera and drove after her.
The harbor in Mexico City was still asleep in the early morning; everything was quiet and still, with only the occasional flock of birds flying by.
Half an hour later, as Jiang Mingyue was about to return to the hotel, a black van was parked at the intersection ahead. Four bodyguards stood on either side, and an elderly man wearing a black top hat and leaning on a cane waited beside the car.
Jiang Mingyue stopped and walked straight over. "Klein's boss?"
The old man smiled, took off his top hat, and bowed slightly. "Miss Jiang, hello. Our boss is waiting for you at the garden restaurant next door. He would like to invite you to enjoy the most authentic breakfast in Mexico City."
The other person spoke with a perfect British accent, and unless you listened carefully, you wouldn't even notice the Palermo accent.
Jiang Mingyue raised an eyebrow. "What would happen if I refused?"
The old man shook his head, indicating he didn't know, claiming he was only responsible for running errands.
Jiang Mingyue raised her hand to smooth her bangs that were being blown by the wind. "I can go, but remember to ask the restaurant to send thirty more breakfasts for my companions."
The old man's eyelids twitched violently. Those who tried to rip them off were all in hell, but the young woman in front of him knew there were tigers in the mountains, yet she still went into the tiger's den.
He said with a forced smile, "No problem, Miss Jiang, I'll make a call and arrange it right away."
Jiang Mingyue turned around and waved to the staff who had been following her.
The staff quickly sped up and drove over, rolling down the window. "Teacher Jiang, should we call the police?"
Jiang Mingyue deliberately raised her voice so that everyone could hear her, saying, "No need, I'll just go get some breakfast and come right back. You go back to the hotel first, and their people will bring breakfast over. Eat in peace, it's an apology gift."
Staff: "..."
The old man and the others: "..."
Jiang Mingyue didn't take a car; she ran all the way there.
The old man had no choice but to get in the car and tell the driver to drive slowly and follow her.
Ten minutes later, at the Garden Restaurant.
The restaurant is built on a small hill. Jiang Mingyue climbed the steps, which were decorated with various flowers on both sides, and the petals were adorned with morning dew.
To the right is the Strait of Messina, offering a panoramic view of the fjords. The scenery is superb, except for the row of bodyguards that somewhat spoil the view.
A man in his forties with a long face sat by the window in the restaurant. He was wearing a black overcoat and holding a cigar, which was not lit.
When the man saw Jiang Mingyue coming alone, he couldn't help but look at her with newfound respect, thinking she was quite a courageous girl.
The man stood up with a smile and extended his hand to greet her, "Hello, Miss Jiang, I've heard so much about you."
Jiang Mingyue didn't touch his outstretched hand, but sat down opposite him. "Don't be so polite. Didn't you invite me to dinner? I'm actually quite hungry."
The man's lips twitched, and his eyebrows twitched. What a fearless woman.
He likes it.
The man sat down again, smiling as he looked Jiang Mingyue up and down. She was even younger and prettier in person than in the photos.
Chinese women are indeed unpredictable. Who would have thought that this seemingly frail young girl would have such amazing skills? Oh, right, she's not only skilled in martial arts, but also quite knowledgeable in psychology, and she used this to sow discord between him and Laken.
"Miss Jiang, aren't you afraid I'll poison your food?"
Jiang Mingyue picked up her lemonade and took a sip. "If you wanted to poison me, why bother coming all the way to Mexico to ambush me?"
Breakfast was quite plentiful, featuring local specialties such as seafood, noodles, and bread.
The man put down the cigar he was holding, clapped his hands and laughed, "Miss Jiang is indeed a smart woman. Please have breakfast first, and we'll talk again later."
The old man who was in charge of picking up Jiang Mingyue also came in and silently stood beside the man.
Under the watchful eyes of everyone, Jiang Mingyue enjoyed her delicious breakfast with a clear conscience and leisurely pace, glancing at the scenery outside from time to time, quite content.
The old man was speechless and couldn't help but crouch. Sitting opposite her was the dignified leader of the Mafia! She wasn't afraid at all; the little girl was truly ignorant and fearless.
After eating until she was about 80% full, Jiang Mingyue put down her knife and fork, then looked up at the man and asked, "So, what do you want to talk to me about?"
The man obediently put down his knife and fork, picked up a towel to wipe his mouth, and took a few sips of his coffee.
"My name is Michelle. I admire Ms. Jiang's abilities and would like to invite you to collaborate with me. How about it? Are you interested in joining us?"
"The compensation is also very generous. Your annual income will be 100 million euros. It would be difficult to earn that much even in your country, even if you are a minor celebrity."
Jiang Mingyue clicked her tongue twice, thinking, "Rich people just like to throw money at people."
She stared at Michelle. "Since you were able to find me, you must have investigated my background. I do need money, but we Chinese have an old saying, 'A gentleman loves money, but he earns it in a proper way.' I prefer to be an upright person and earn money with my own hard work. That way, I can sleep soundly at night. As the saying goes, 'A knock on the door in the middle of the night won't startle you.'"
Michelle seemed to have anticipated her response and chuckled, “You’re a really interesting young lady. Many people thought the same as you before, but after they’ve experienced the allure of money, they’ve come to agree with me.”
Jiang Mingyue retorted, "Even if you have great wealth and charm, you and I are the same kind of people. You can't stop earthquakes and tsunamis from happening in this world. At the critical moment of life and death, we will still die. No one can live forever."
"That being said, I want to enjoy more while I'm alive, don't I? Who doesn't like a richer material life?"
“Michelle, everyone has their own pursuits, and your pursuits and mine just happen to be on different paths.”
The old man's eyelids twitched. The young girl was really bold, daring to call the boss by his full name.
“I’m a straightforward person and I don’t like beating around the bush. My stance is no.” Jiang Mingyue interrupted Michelle directly, her attitude forceful.
Michel was rebuked and lost face in front of his subordinates; his smile froze.
The atmosphere was eerily silent.
After a long pause, Michelle picked up a cigar and lit it. "But aren't you afraid? Aren't you worried about not being able to leave the restaurant? What about your companions?"
The man's eyes flashed with a chilling light, like a wolf eyeing its prey, ready to strike at any moment.
Jiang Mingyue wasn't intimidated by his threat at all. Instead, she moved closer to the man and said, "Why don't you guess whether your body is faster or my hand is faster?"
The little girl's eyes held a blatant provocation, which made the old man break out in a cold sweat. He secretly gripped the wooden gun hidden on his waist.
For the first time, Michelle was somewhat at a loss, vaguely unable to withstand the pressure emanating from the young girl in front of her.
Half-foolish, he smiled helplessly, "What a pity, you are truly a rare talent."
Jiang Mingyue stood up and warned again, "I hope this is the last time you see me. If you find out you've followed me after I go to the mainland, don't blame me for being impolite."
Michelle didn't say anything, but as Jiang Mingyue walked out of the restaurant, she asked again, "Toby's people all say they saw vampires. Miss Jiang, do you know what happened? Are there really vampires in this world?"
Jiang Mingyue only replied with one sentence in Chinese, leaving the master and servant completely bewildered.
Is it a matter of opinion?
After Jiang Mingyue left, the old man stepped forward and asked, "Boss, should we send someone to take care of her? Are we just going to let her go like this?"
Michelle dropped her pretense and called him an idiot. "Someone as capable as her won't even listen to me. Do you think she'd accept offers from others? Luckily, she's Chinese."
The implication was that she had to go back eventually; if she stayed here, she would become a major threat.
Michelle sighed again, "What a pity."
The old man then reported, "But she just called and asked me to arrange for thirty breakfasts to be delivered to her hotel. Isn't that blatant extortion?"
Michelle was speechless after hearing this. "Consider it an apology. This little bit of money is nothing."
At the bottom of the garden restaurant, Don Juan and his three companions were already waiting.
When Jiang Mingyue saw them, her eyes lit up, and she subconsciously quickened her pace and descended the steps.
"Brother Tang, Brother Wei, what brings you here?"
The four men breathed a sigh of relief when they saw that she had come down safely.
Don Juan explained on behalf of Wei Lai and the other two, "The staff came back and told us that you had been taken to the Garden Restaurant. We were worried and came to check on you, just in case you needed their help."
Their fighting skills are negligible, but given their fame, they might be able to put up a fight.
Wei Lai circled around Jiang Mingyue, saying, "It's good that you're alright. Let's hurry back to the hotel; this place is disgusting."
To avoid being overheard, and besides, this is definitely not a place to talk.
Back at the hotel, the four of them pressed her for details about what had happened at the restaurant.
Jiang Mingyue did not hide anything and truthfully confessed, "Boss Mafia wanted to recruit me, but I refused."
The four were speechless.
Wei Lai: "Wow, I've learned something new. Only Mingyue has the ability to make the leader of Mafia want to recruit her, and then get away unscathed after being rejected."
But thinking about it, it makes sense. With Jiang Mingyue's abilities, even with heavy firepower, the opponent probably wouldn't be a match for her.
Ji Wenxuan: "Mingyue, tell us the truth, were you scared back then?"
"I'm not afraid, I have confidence in myself." Jiang Mingyue wasn't being arrogant; in the face of absolute strength, all dangers and firepower were insignificant.
When the old man blocked her way, she had a vague feeling that he was going to negotiate; otherwise, he would have assassinated her long ago.
Don Juan jokingly reminded her, "If you come again next time, you might not be able to get away so easily."
Jiang Mingyue shrugged. "I never worry about loans. We'll deal with the future later."
Everyone chuckled, then checked out of the hotel and drove directly to the ferry port at nine o'clock.
After a smooth journey by boat, we arrived safely in Réby, the capital of the Calabria region.
Looking back, the eight days on West Island flew by, and the events are still fresh in my memory.
Stepping onto Italian soil means getting closer to Rome, the capital of Italy.
Italy has no shortage of beautiful coastal scenery. Today, they will visit the Reykjavik Museum, then go to the castle and cathedral in the afternoon, and drive to Troppéa, the cliff pearl, in the evening.
Photography is not allowed at the Reykjavik Museum, so the five Don Juans discussed it with the production team and decided to visit the castle and cathedral in the afternoon before resuming the live stream.
The museum has many exhibition halls, and it is estimated that it will take half a day to barely see them all. The production crew does not need to follow along, so the staff can take the opportunity to have a half-day off.
Wei Lai and Meng Qinzhou were interested in the bronze warriors, Ji Wenxuan was interested in the ancient architecture, and Tang Huang and Jiang Mingyue were not picky. They strolled around clockwise along the museum map, so the five of them split up.
They rented a live audio guide for the museum, and it was not advisable to make loud noises inside. Even though Don Juan and Jiang Mingyue visited together, they barely interacted and each looked at their own things.
The treasures displayed in the glass cases, dating back thousands of years, are truly eye-opening.
Dazzling jewels, expensive fine clothes, barren pottery jars, heavy armor...
Jiang Mingyue was greatly shocked, not only because it refreshed her knowledge, but because she saw the Qi!
Streams of spiritual energy burst forth from the exhibit in the glass case, desperately trying to enter her body, circulating within her, and replenishing her energy.
Author's Note: Let me know if you like it! [dog head with rose in hand][dog head with rose in hand][dog head with rose in hand]
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