Chapter 27: Lost and Found Again

“You’ve scared my heart so much it’s thumping like crazy. Now that you’ve got it under control, how should I repay you?” Feng Chenchen’s voice dripped with temptation as she flirted with Fat Jiang.

Fat Jiang couldn’t help but be swayed; she was undeniably alluring. Yet, his purpose tonight was not this, so he sighed with reluctant regret. “Remember, from today on, you can’t go around touching men anymore. I won’t pursue what’s already happened, but if I find out you’re misusing any part of your body in the future, that means you don’t need that part anymore. Understood?”

Feng Chenchen’s mouth hung half-open, and she noticed their Lexus had arrived at the entrance of a certain residential complex—the one where those novices and Ni Feihong lived.

“Jiang…” Feng Chenchen was full of questions but didn’t dare to ask.

Fat Jiang seemed to be weighing something, then asked, “Is the villa on Summit Avenue still available? You didn’t rent it out, did you?”

Feng Chenchen grew nervous and embarrassed. “But that’s yours, you gave it to me…”

Jiang Yaowen said, “Do you have a big face or a backside gilded in gold? That’s the hottest, most prestigious area in Haizhou, worth at least eighteen million. I gave it to you? It’s only registered in your name.”

Feng Chenchen voiced her frustration, “At least let me finish. I never thought I could own the villa. I meant you let me use it, and I’ve been using it. If you want it back, of course you can have it; who could ever rob you in Haizhou? But I’ll need a bit of time to arrange things.”

Fat Jiang nodded gently. “Fine, keep using it. You’re about to enter this complex, into that villa you once boasted you’d take over. I don’t care how you do it, but smooth things over with them—no more unpleasantness. And most importantly, win over the man inside. If he needs a place to stay, bring him to the villa I let you use, and serve him well. That’s your specialty, and I trust you can do it.”

Feng Chenchen was mortified. Beyond the embarrassment of apologizing to those novices face-to-face, she was baffled—who was he, anyway? For him, Ni Feihong even froze her out. Things didn’t get resolved, and now Jiang wanted her to cater to him?

“Did you hear me? Why are you just spacing out?” Fat Jiang wasn’t sure if this woman would mess things up. She was certainly a wild one.

“Jiang, you value him so much—who is he, exactly?” Feng Chenchen ventured.

“I’ve told you, you know nothing about power. Don’t ask again, and never ask in front of him,” Jiang Yaowen replied.

Feng Chenchen hesitated, then started bargaining. “My brother has been a civil servant in the countryside for three years. He wants to transfer back to the Political and Legal Committee. Could you handle it for him?”

Jiang Yaowen answered coolly, “It’s a minor matter, just a phone call for me. If you behave, everything is negotiable. If you start acting wild again, then nothing will be.”

He said no more, handing her the Hermès bag. “Go on. I’m counting on you. From now on, you announce to all men that you’re breaking up. Don’t mention the past unless he asks. If he does, tell the truth; he hates being lied to.”

Feng Chenchen took the bag and glanced at it. “I already have one of these, you’re giving me another?”

Fat Jiang scolded, “It’s his. Give it to him, tell him I’m ‘returning’ it. There’s a card inside with one million three hundred and ten thousand. Make sure he gets it, and tell him it’s ‘returned’ as well. A million isn’t much, but it’s the principle.”

He was dumbfounded as he watched her get out of the car. She could have stepped out normally, but Feng Chenchen deliberately wiggled her voluptuous hips in front of him, so tempting—yet from now on, untouchable.

Showing off comes at a price; her posing ended in a faceplant, as this wasn’t a luxury car with enough space for theatrics. She sprawled across the pavement like a fallen star.

“Idiot!”

Jiang Yaowen shook his head, shut the door, and waved the Lexus away.

Feng Chenchen felt wounded. That allure hadn’t faded yet, but now nobody cared she’d fallen—what would the future hold?

Tao Zi was uneasy, her heart anxious as she pondered everything, torn between hope and worry.

Especially since Chen Xiao had gone upstairs, clearly angry. For someone so mild-mannered to take issue, Tao Zi had to ask herself: was it truly her character, not just others’ faults?

Lost in thought—ding dong—

The doorbell rang. She opened it, and there stood the bigwig Feng Chenchen!

Tao Zi’s mouth hung open, her mind unable to process whether Feng was here to scold her or for something else.

She cowered, not daring to provoke her further, quickly switching to a nervous smile and stammering, “Sister Feng, welcome, please come in. Is there something I can help with?”

Feng Chenchen, wearing a false smile, said, “There’s been some misunderstanding. I’m hot-tempered and immature—don’t take it to heart. I just came to check on you all, to apologize and offer comfort.”

Tao Zi’s mouth formed an O, incredulous that someone of Feng’s status would apologize.

“No, no, we’re just youngsters who don’t know better. If we upset you, we’re grateful you don’t hold it against us. Really, we should be apologizing to you. I’ll call Chen Xiao down to make amends,” Tao Zi said hurriedly.

Feng Chenchen heard this and knew what kind of person Tao Zi was—no need for further pleasantries. Distracted, she replied, “No need, I’ll go upstairs myself. Is Ma Weimin here?”

“He is. Please don’t be angry; Xiao Ma is a bit eccentric, but he’s not a bad person. He never realizes when he’s upset someone, so don’t hold it against him, and please don’t blame us for his sake,” Tao Zi added.

Feng Chenchen couldn’t help but smirk at her naivete, thinking Tao Zi had no concept of power and carried mistaken notions, bound to attract Ma’s resentment. Once that happened and Ma’s attention was diverted, he would gradually forget that Feng Chenchen had acted out.

“When the time comes, I’ll protect Ma with gentle grace, then turn and give Tao Zi a taste of her own medicine, naturally becoming his ally.”

Finished with her daydreaming, Feng Chenchen felt full of schemes, rivaling Zhuge Liang.

She smiled without comment, lifted her hand to pat Tao Zi’s shoulder, and sashayed upstairs with the air of a diva.

It wasn’t hard to find; this shabby villa had few rooms and housed only three people. Upstairs, each bedroom door was labeled: one with “Little Tao,” one with “Big Xiaoxiao,” and the one by the stairs with “Crazy Guy.”

Feng Chenchen knocked twice, waited two seconds, then quickly turned the handle and slipped inside, closing the door behind her and striking a seductive pose, gazing at the eccentric man.

Damn.

She was stunned. These shut-ins were hopeless. He was wearing headphones, gaming, oblivious to anyone entering.

Her carefully crafted seductive pose was wasted.

So Feng Chenchen, a bit dramatic, mused: Fool, if that shabby game had even a tenth of my allure, I’d lose. Where are you looking? Is this all the courage you have?

Daydream finished, she maintained her pose and cleared her throat loudly.

Ma finally noticed someone was in the room, turned his head, and was stunned: Feng Chenchen?

What was she here for?

Feng Chenchen smiled, walked over, removed his headphones, handed him the bag, and said softly, “Can I call you Brother Ma?”

“Of course,” Ma replied decisively.

“Brother Ma, Jiang Yaowen asked me to return this to you,” Feng Chenchen said.

Ma looked—it was the same bag, but the cash was gone, replaced by a bank card.

Feng Chenchen explained, “This is also returned by Jiang. The cardholder doesn’t matter; the password is six zeros. There’s one million three hundred and ten thousand inside.”

It was exactly the amount Ma had lost—not a penny more or less.