Seeing the address on the slip of paper, Qi Shuang had a feeling that success was just around the corner.

“Young Master, I hope you keep things clean this time and don’t get caught again, to avoid dragging me down. Also, please spend a bit more money to hire capable people to work for you. Don’t go too far, otherwise, if it ends up in a car crash with casualties, I’ll be sure to meet you in the underworld.” Jiao Bai’s phone rang. It was the old butler, calling from Qinxin Estate’s landline. Jiao Bai directly rejected the call.

Fearing that the young man would change his mind, Qi Shuang quickly grabbed the slip of paper. “Why are you doing this?”

Jiao Bai said, “I’m not interested in old men like Shen Ji, and I've had enough of being treated like a dog. I’ll help you, and in return, you pay me money.”

Qi Shuang had originally been thinking with dark amusement that it was true that if you live long enough, you’d see everything. In his lifetime, he actually heard someone describe Shen Ji as an old man and even express extreme disdain for him. The young man’s last sentence snapped him back to reality. “You just want money?”

“Just money.” Jiao Bai paused, wondering how much would be appropriate. Poverty had made him kind so after thinking for a moment, he said, “Let’s say twenty million.”

Qi Shuang was so enraged he wanted to cough out blood. What let’s say[1]? Twenty million, and you say it as if it’s twenty cents? You’re asking for an exorbitant amount! Why don’t you just stand in the wind with your mouth open and wait for the money to blow in?

The little young master wanted to save face, so he didn’t say this out loud. Instead, with a face that looked as if he’d been hit on the head, he struggled out the words like he was constipated, “What do you need so much money for?”

“I haven’t thought about it yet. It’s just that my pockets are too empty.” Jiao Bai had to use some information from the original plot to make use of Qi Shuang and the Qi family's influence to escape from the Shen family. He was putting in so much effort simply to try to regain his autonomy and dignity as a human being.

The dog collar around the original’s neck was in the hands of Madam Shen. Only if she voluntarily let go could Jiao Bai step out of the doghouse.

Once he managed to get out, he would change his perspective and then deal with the friends in his list.

Let’s take it one step at a time.

Jiao Bai scratched the back of his hand, which had been exposed sunlight. It was so itchy. My life truly sucks.

Qi Shuang saw that the young man was about to leave, and hurriedly asked, “How did you make me have an allergic reaction last night? Was it mouth to mouth?”

Jiao Bai was speechless.

Mouth to mouth? How disgusting. The most he did was open a bag of dried peaches and cover the little young master’s mouth and nose with it.

“Yes, it was mouth to mouth.” Jiao Bai hesitated. “You don't mind, do you?”

Qi Shuang gagged.

Jiao Bai waved cheerfully and walked away. The reason he didn’t wait and was in such a hurry to show his cards to Qi Shuang was because if you're going to eat rghs, you should eat it while it's still hot[2]. Oh, that’s not right. It’s take the opportunity to jhkk you while you’re sick[3].

From all aspects, the Qi Shuang at this stage was the easiest to trick. He definitely wouldn’t tell Qi Zizhi about this. Just like how the Qi family still didn’t know how daring their little young master was or what his true intentions were.

Jiao Bai's move was risky, but he hadn’t shown Qi Shuang the final card. He still had plenty more up his sleeve.

.

Shortly after Jiao Bai left, Qi Zizhi came over. He asked questions for a long time, but his younger brother didn't give a single answer.

“Xiao Shuang?” Qi Zizhi frowned.

Qi Shuang was perturbed. “Big brother[4], do I talk in my sleep?”

Qi Zizhi shook his head.

Qi Shuang muttered to himself, “I don’t think I do either...”

So how did Wang Chuqiu find out? He shivered, huddled his shoulders into the blanket, and broke out in a cold sweat.

Twenty million wasn’t much for the Qi family, but it was a considerable sum for him. He spent money extravagantly, using as much as he had without saving any. He had to find another solution and decided to simply ask his second brother for it. Although his second brother wasn’t as wealthy as the eldest, he was abroad and matters within the country were beyond his reach, so he would be relatively easy to fool.

Qi Shuang relaxed after thinking it over. While eating the tangerine that his eldest brother peeled for him, he said unclearly, “Big brother, I want to enter the Shen family. I want to marry Mr. Shen.”

Even though Qi Zizhi had heard this many times, he was still puzzled. “He’s several years older than your own brother and has a very colourful private life. I really don't understand what you see in him.”

Qi Shuang’s gaze wandered. What he saw in Shen Ji was his son named Shen Er’an.

Shen Er’an grew up under Shen Ji's emotional abuse. He was so pitiful.

As long as he married Shen Ji, he could become Shen Er’an's eyes and cooperate with him to help him gain control of the entire Shen family. Then, Shen Er’an would be grateful to him, respect him, and regard him as his saviour, his only family, and the light of his life. They would forge a bond that no one else could sever.

From a long time ago, Qi Shuang had been absolutely certain that he was born to save Shen Eran.

“Madam Shen’s birthday party is being held at the old residence. If you want to go, you need to leave now.” Qi Zizhi glanced at his watch.

Qi Shuang said, “I'm not going.”

Qi Zizhi was a little surprised. Every year on this day, his younger brother was more enthusiastic than anyone else, eagerly heading to the Shen family early in the morning. Even being sick and uncomfortable couldn’t affect his enthusiasm. Why was this year... He touched his brother's hair. “Then you should have a good rest.”

Qi Shuang nodded obediently and considered who to hire to ensure everything would be foolproof.

.

Before ten in the morning, Jiao Bai went to the old residence fully equipped. His mental state was no longer the same as it had been when he first arrived last night. When he saw Qi Yilao and Shen Ji again, Jiao Bai could now breathe normally.

Qi Yilao was not accompanied by Jiang Yan, and Zhang Zhen was also absent. He had a cigarette between his fingers, but was smoking it lightly.

Shen Ji had taken several puffs of his cigarette, while Qi Yilao had only taken one. He was restrained in his use of nicotine and looked elegant when he smoked.

Jiao Bai's gaze lingered on Qi Yilao longer than he intended. Shen Ji coldly beckoned him with his hand. “Come here.”

Like beckoning a puppy.

Jiao Bai muttered some curses under his breath into his mask, “Old azrszqc, I’ll bite you to cdzsg sooner or later.”


[1] 就两千万吧 – “Let’s say twenty million.” Jiao Bai ends this with 吧 (ba) which makes the sentence sound really casual.

[2] 吃屎要吃热乎 – “If you're going to eat shit, you should eat it while it's still hot.” - means "take advantage of a situation while it's favorable" or "act swiftly when the opportunity arises" or “strike while the iron is hot.”

[3] 趁你病要你命 – translates to "take advantage of your illness to end your life" or "strike while you're vulnerable."

[4] 大哥 (dàgē) – means eldest brother or big brother