bioinnovel Chapter 87 A Call from the Capital!
Chapter 87 A Call from the Capital!
The lights at Riverview No. 1 Villa stayed on very late that night.
The media outlets that Zhou Wenbin had invited originally wanted to see Qingcheng Group make a fool of itself, but less than five minutes into the live broadcast, they were sprayed in the face by the 72-degree selenium-rich sulfur hot spring that shot into the sky.
The so-called "site of cultural relic destruction" has turned into "auspicious signs appearing in the world". The haunted house that everyone used to avoid has instantly become a feng shui treasure land that is hotly discussed on the Internet.
Nie Qingcheng's phone was ringing off the hook.
All those bank presidents and investment institutions who used to ignore her are now begging and pleading to give money to her projects, like sharks smelling fish.
By the time everything settled down, it was already 11 p.m.
After taking a shower, Nie Qingcheng, wearing a wine-red silk slip dress, collapsed onto the wool carpet in the living room like a molten spring.
She held a half-empty glass of red wine in her hand, her eyes fixed somewhat blankly on the river view outside the floor-to-ceiling window.
"Are you exhausted?"
Zhang Yan walked over with a plate of sliced cantaloupe, sat down next to her, and offered her a piece of cantaloupe.
"It's not that I'm tired."
Nie Qingcheng took a bite of the melon from his hand, the sweet juice bursting in her mouth. She squinted her eyes in satisfaction, then sighed.
"It's annoying."
She rested her head on Zhang Yan's lap and snuggled in a comfortable position.
"Although Zhou Wenbin, that idiot, poses no threat, the Zhou family behind him will definitely not let this go. And..."
Nie Qingcheng paused, her slender fingers unconsciously twirling the straps of Zhang Yan's pajamas.
"Moreover, the commotion here is too great; it probably can't be kept secret in the capital."
Zhang Yan raised an eyebrow, about to speak, when his phone on the coffee table suddenly vibrated.
Buzz—Buzz—
In the quiet living room, the vibration sounded particularly jarring, like a saw cutting into one's nerves.
Nie Qingcheng's previously languid expression instantly froze.
She didn't reach for her phone immediately, but stared at the word "Grandpa" flashing on the screen. Her originally rosy complexion turned cold at a visible speed.
That kind of coldness wasn't the domineering kind you see in strangers, but a coldness mixed with disgust, helplessness, and deep weariness.
"Take it." Zhang Yan placed his hand on the back of her cold hand, the warmth of his palm transferring to her. "I'm here."
Nie Qingcheng took a deep breath, like a warrior heading to the execution ground, grabbed her phone, and pressed the speakerphone button.
"Feed".
"You actually know how to answer the phone?!"
A powerful yet furious roar came from the other end of the phone, so loud that the wine in the glass trembled.
It was an old man's voice, full of energy, exuding the imposing aura of someone who had long held a high position.
"Nie Qingcheng, what exactly are you up to in Jianghai? Five hundred million to buy a worthless muddy pond? Do you have too much money to burn, or do you think the Nie family hasn't lost enough face?!"
Nie Qingcheng took a sip of wine expressionlessly: "Grandpa, your news is outdated."
"That's not a muddy pond, that's a top-notch hot spring resort."
"The land's value has increased tenfold today."
There was a noticeable pause on the other end of the phone.
They probably didn't expect that their usually rebellious granddaughter could turn the tables on them.
After a few seconds of silence, the old man's voice grew even more somber: "Making money? Does the Nie family need your paltry sums? What I care about is my reputation!"
"Right now, the whole of Beijing's social circles are buzzing with the rumor that the eldest daughter of the Nie family is keeping a gigolo in Jianghai! She's spending lavishly and behaving recklessly to please that bastard!"
"Qingcheng, you have disappointed me greatly."
Zhang Yan paused slightly as he peeled the grapes.
Living off a woman?
Well, that's true, but the old man's words are really hard to hear.
Nie Qingcheng's fingers tightened suddenly around the wine glass, her knuckles turning white.
She could tolerate her family interfering in her business decisions, but she would never allow anyone to insult Zhang Yan with such contempt.
"grandfather."
Nie Qingcheng's voice turned cold, like a frozen lake.
"First of all, he's not some random man; his name is Zhang Yan."
"Secondly, he was the one who set his sights on this land, he was the one who dug the hot spring, and he even drew up the future design plans. If it weren't for him, I would still be arguing with those idiots from the Zhou family."
"third……"
Nie Qingcheng glanced at Zhang Yan, who was slowly feeding her grapes, and a tenderness that only he could understand flashed in her eyes.
"He's a million times better than those good-for-nothing second-generation rich kids you picked for me in Beijing who only know how to eat, drink, gamble, and whore."
"fart!"
Grandpa Nie on the other end of the phone completely lost it; the sound of his cane striking the ground was clearly audible.
"I think you've been blinded by greed! An orphan with no connections, able to read land? Can draw maps? It's nothing but charlatanry!"
"Enough! I'm not listening to your nonsense!"
The old man's tone became authoritative, carrying a commanding air.
"Next week is your grandmother's 80th birthday, and the eldest grandson of the Lin family will be there."
"You immediately hand over what you're doing and get back to the capital!"
"This marriage was arranged by the family; you can't do whatever you want. As for that young man surnamed Zhang..."
The old man sneered, his tone full of disdain and threat.
"Give him some money and tell him to get lost."
"If I ever hear about him and you having an affair again, don't blame me for being ruthless. I'll send someone to Jianghai to teach him a lesson!"
beep - beep - beep -
The phone hangs up.
The busy signal echoed in the empty living room.
Nie Qingcheng remained frozen in the position of holding the phone for a few seconds, then suddenly raised her hand and smashed the latest model phone hard against the wall.
"Bang!"
The phone was shattered into pieces, with parts scattered all over the ground.
"asshole!"
Nie Qingcheng cursed.
In front of outsiders, she is a ruthless and decisive queen, the fearsome "Bamboo Leaf Green" of Jinghai.
But in the face of that powerful family, she was still just a tool for marriage alliances, a bargaining chip that could be sacrificed at any time.
No matter how big she made the Qingcheng Group or how much money she earned, in the eyes of those old fogies, nothing was as important as marrying into a wealthy family and gaining benefits for the family.
A hand reached out and gently patted her back.
There were no weak and feeble words of comfort, nor any indignant curses.
Zhang Yan simply took away the unfinished glass of red wine and replaced it with a glass of warm honey water, which he then placed in her hand.
"The phone is quite expensive. Next time I want to smash something, I'll smash that vase. That's a fake that Zhou Wenbin gave me. It'll make a noise, that'll be good."
Nie Qingcheng looked up and burst out laughing at his words.
She sniffed, looking at Zhang Yan's face, which was unusually calm.
"Aren't you angry?"
"What are you angry about?"
Zhang Yan took out a tissue and gently wiped away the tears from the corners of her eyes, his movements as gentle as if he were wiping a rare treasure.
Are you angry that the old man called you a gigolo? Or are you angry that he wants you to marry someone else?
"Yes, we have them all."
Nie Qingcheng muttered with a wronged expression.
"First of all, I do live off a woman, but that's part of my professional ethics and there's nothing shameful about it."
Zhang Yan counted on his fingers with a serious expression.
"Secondly, as for marrying you off to someone else..."
He suddenly stopped moving, and his eyes, which were usually gentle and refined, flashed with a sharp light, like a blade hidden in a scabbard finally revealing a cold glint.
"That depends on whether I agree or not."
Zhang Yan stood up and walked to the floor-to-ceiling window.
Outside the window, the neon lights of Jianghai City shone brightly, their reflections shimmering on the river.
But his gaze passed over the bustling night scene and looked northward.
That's the direction of the capital.
"Wife."
Zhang Yan turned around, his back to the myriad lights outside the window, and reached out his hand to Nie Qingcheng.
"Since they don't believe me and think I'm just a charlatan who only knows how to scam money."
"Then let's go to the capital."
"Go to that so-called birthday banquet and let those old men see for themselves who the real good-for-nothing is."
Nie Qingcheng was stunned.
She looked at the man in front of her.
He was wearing cheap pajamas that cost only a few dozen yuan, and his hair was a bit messy, making him look like a boy next door.
But when he stood there and calmly said the words "go to the capital," he exuded an aura that made her heart tremble.
That's not blind arrogance.
That's a kind of confidence.
A sense of confidence that allows one to control everything.
"But..." Nie Qingcheng bit her lip, hesitating, "The Nie family has a lot of influence in the capital, and there's also the Lin family... If we don't go along with them, they really will take action."
"Make a move?"
Zhang Yan smiled.
He recalled the blueprint for the "Thousand Machine Box" that had been extracted from a blue-and-white porcelain vase in his pocket, the "Heavenly Craft Arsenal" buried deep underground in the south of the city, and the pile of skill cards in his system space that he hadn't had time to use yet.
When it comes to fighting, he's never been afraid of anyone.
Don't worry.
Zhang Yan walked over, pulled Nie Qingcheng up from the carpet, scooped her up in his arms, and carried her towards the bedroom.
"Don't forget, I'm now a nouveau riche worth tens of millions, and..."
He lowered his head and whispered in Nie Qingcheng's ear:
"Is that old man Du Mingxuan still waiting for me to repair his antiques in Beijing? I might as well take advantage of this favor."
"Besides, what if the Lin family dares to bully you..."
Zhang Yan carried her into the bedroom and kicked the door shut.
"I changed the feng shui of their ancestral graves, causing their whole family to have nightmares every day."
Nie Qingcheng hugged his neck, burst into laughter through her tears, and bit his shoulder hard.
"Your mouth is getting more and more vicious."
"That's right, you become like those you associate with."
Zhang Yan placed her on the soft bed, leaned over her, and pressed his body against hers, his eyes burning with desire.
"But before we go to the capital and wreak havoc, Mr. Nie, shouldn't we settle our old scores first?"
Nie Qingcheng blushed, her eyes darting away: "What account?"
Zhang Yan's fingers slid down the shoulder strap of her nightgown, his voice low and husky.
"Continue with what happened last night."
Nie Qingcheng felt all her strength drain away. Looking at the handsome face so close to hers, her heart pounded like a drum.
Screw the Nie family.
Screw the arranged marriage.
As long as this man is by her side, she would dare to create a hole even if the sky were to fall.
She took the initiative to lift her head and kiss those warm lips.
"OK……"
……
three days later.
Jinghai International Airport, VIP waiting lounge.
Zhang Yan, wearing sunglasses and a casual suit personally styled by Nie Qingcheng, was idly flipping through a financial magazine.
Nie Qingcheng sat opposite him, explaining company matters to her secretary.
"Old Chen is in charge of the project in the south of the city. Anyone who dares to cause trouble should be reported to the police immediately. Don't give me any face."
"Also, lock those design drawings in a safe, and no one but me is allowed to see them."
After hanging up the phone, Nie Qingcheng glanced at the time and turned to Zhang Yan, saying, "It's almost time to board."
"Let's go."
Zhang Yan closed the magazine and had just stood up when he saw the glass door of the waiting room being pushed open.
A large group of people walked in.
The leader was a young man wearing a bespoke trench coat, his hair neatly combed, and a multi-million dollar Richard Miller watch on his wrist. He was followed by four bodyguards in black, making quite a grand entrance.
Upon seeing Nie Qingcheng, the man's eyes lit up instantly, and he strode over.
"What a beautiful sight! What a coincidence!"
The man wore what he thought was a charming smile. "I heard you're going back to Beijing to celebrate your grandmother's birthday? Perfect timing, I'm going back too. I have a private jet, want to ride with her?"
When Nie Qingcheng saw this person, her brows furrowed almost imperceptibly.
Lin Zixuan.
The second young master of the Lin family in Beijing was also one of the "alternative" blind date candidates arranged by Master Nie.
This person is like a leech, clinging to her since college, and she can't shake him off.
"No."
Nie Qingcheng coldly refused, reaching out to take Zhang Yan's arm and pressing her body tightly against him, her declaration of ownership all too clear.
"I have company now."
Lin Zixuan's gaze then fell on Zhang Yan.
He looked Zhang Yan up and down, his gaze lingering on Zhang Yan's excessively handsome face for a few seconds, a hint of jealousy and contempt flashing in his eyes.
"And this is...?"
Lin Zixuan extended his hand with a forced smile. "Never seen you before. Which family's young master are you?"
Zhang Yan looked at the hand extended in front of him, but did not shake it.
He took off his sunglasses, revealing a pair of clear yet unfathomable eyes, and a playful smile curved his lips.
"Zhang Yan of Jianghai".
"It's my profession..."
Zhang Yan paused for a moment, then, in front of Lin Zixuan, very naturally took Nie Qingcheng's Hermes bag from her hand, slung it over his shoulder, and then put his arm around Nie Qingcheng's waist.
"Currently, I am Mr. Nie's personal driver, nanny, and... bed warmer."
Lin Zixuan's hand froze in mid-air, and the smile on his face instantly cracked.
He never expected that this person could talk about "living off a woman" so confidently and so refreshingly.
"Are you deliberately trying to disgust me?" Lin Zixuan's face darkened, and he lowered his voice, "Kid, you should know your place. The waters in the capital are deep; be careful not to drown."
"How deep is the water?"
Zhang Yan smiled, leaned closer to Lin Zixuan, and said in a voice that only the two of them could hear:
"No matter how deep the water is, it's not as deep as that muddy pond in the south of the city."
"I even leveled that place, what do you think...?"
Zhang Yan patted Lin Zixuan's expensive trench coat collar, as if brushing off some dust.
"Those little waves in the capital, can they capsize my ship?"
After saying that, he didn't even look at Lin Zixuan's extremely ugly face, put his arm around Nie Qingcheng, and strode towards the boarding gate.
"Let's go, honey, don't keep Grandpa waiting."
"If I go too late, he'll think I'm too afraid to see him."
Nie Qingcheng nestled in his arms, glanced back at the furious Lin Zixuan, and a bright smile appeared on her lips.
This is the man Nie Qingcheng has her eye on.
We don't provoke trouble, but we're absolutely not afraid of trouble either.
The plane soared into the sky, piercing through the thick clouds.
Zhang Yan looked out the window at the surging sea of clouds and touched the cold "Tiangong" thumb ring in his pocket.
Beijing.
That place, where legend has it, is full of big shots and where a single brick could kill three section chiefs.
Since we're here...
Then have some fun!
If we don't stir up this stagnant water, how can we catch the big fish hidden at the bottom of the deep water?