Chapter 250: Jiang family comes, what fairness to talk about! (Seeking double monthly passes)_1
Pei Jinye sipped his soy milk discreetly as Brother Bi and Zhou Ye started their usual bickering, bumbling into the chief’s office in a familiar trio.

Lin Xiawei saw Pei Jinye approaching but hardly reacted, her nonchalance was as consistent as ever, handing over three commendation certificates.

“These are the awards for the bravery you three demonstrated last time, the bonus will be included in this month’s salary.”

“Thanks, Chief Xie,” Zhou Ye immediately perked up with glee.

Hearing about the bonus, Brother Bi couldn’t help but reveal a bit more smile on his face.

Lin Xiawei didn’t intend to take credit, “It’s what you deserve. If there’s nothing else, you can leave now, but Pei Jinye, please stay.”

“Understood.”

Brother Bi and Zhou Ye glanced at Pei Jinye.

Since the last time Brother Bi “crossed swords” with Lin Xiawei over Pei Jinye, Brother Bi himself could see that although the new chief was rather cold, she wasn’t underhanded like Old Xie.

As for him, would he give a bonus to a subordinate who dared argue with him?

So, the two left in tacit understanding.

The door closed.

“Senior sister, is it the teacher who wants to see me?” Pei Jinye asked.

“As expected, you’re quite clever. Whatever it is, talk to him,” Lin Xiawei passed the tablet over to him.

Pei Jinye, puzzled, took the tablet to see a little old man with a mink hat brimming with smiles, and after seeing Pei Jinye, he waved his hands, “Can my precious apprentice see me?”

“…”

Pei Jinye didn’t answer.

The old man didn’t seem to mind, cheerfully turning the camera towards the waterfall not far behind him.

“I’m currently in Westland Water City borrowing something from your senior brother. If you want anything, I’ll have your senior brother send it to you.”

Pei Jinye slightly raised his eyebrows.

“Everything from the senior brother comes with a price,” Lin Xiawei’s voice suddenly chimed in.

Pei Jinye couldn’t help but look over, “Price?”

“Senior brother likes an equal trade, but he might give you a discount for the first gift,” After Lin Xiawei finished speaking, the old man interrupted, urging him to make a choice, saying he didn’t have much data left.

Where would Pei Jinye know what to choose? Could he actually ask for Star Ring and expect the senior brother to send it?

Unable to think of anything else, he said, “Master, please pick the gift for me.”

“Alright, that’s settled then.”

Suddenly, a massive, two-winged dragon flew across the screen, its neck like a giant python, spewing its fury.

The little old man instantly started cursing, looking nothing like a master.

“That’s it, I’m hanging up now, eat something extra for lunch.”

“…”

The tablet screen went black, and Pei Jinye handed it back to Lin Xiawei.

“Senior sister, was it just for this?”

Lin Xiawei replied with a calm face, “That’s how our teacher is. You’ll get used to it eventually.”

Pei Jinye just smiled, “Well, if there’s nothing else, I’ll head back.”

“Have you heard about Mist Mountain?” Lin Xiawei suddenly spoke up.

Pei Jinye, not understanding, lifted his head and honestly nodded, “At least three versions.”

Lin Xiawei gestured, “It’s not very peaceful lately, don’t get targeted by those with ulterior motives. This year’s New Year is very important.”

Pei Jinye slightly raised his eyebrows, “What does senior sister mean?”

“Next year is year 404,” Lin Xiawei couldn’t help but sigh, “Actually, it’s only a few days away.”

As she spoke, she looked up.

“No one can predict what will happen in the days to come, perhaps only God knows, but what we have to do… is to survive.”

Pei Jinye’s heart skipped a beat, “Senior sister, do you know something?”

Lin Xiawei shook her head, “Only by surviving do we have the chance to uncover the truth.”

At times troubled and other times indifferent, Lin Xiawei was a living example of a split personality. Pei Jinye left the office somewhat worried about her state of mind.

Maybe… this is the transcendence of senior sister?

He vaguely guessed.

The burden of wisdom probably feels like this.

Pei Jinye didn’t think too much about it. Eat what he should eat, drink what he should drink, even if the next year brought ominous predictions, if the sky falls, there would always be someone to stand up and hold it up.

With so many powerhouses in the Federation, he refused to believe they’d be inactive.

Besides, his current objective was to focus on cultivation and lay low…

After all, no one would say he was the one who poked a hole in the sky.

…

“Hm?”

Pei Jinye had just left the base when he sensed something was amiss.

Someone was watching him.

“I read online that there are some hotpot dipping sauces that go really well together recently…”

Zhou Ye and Brother Bi were still unaware of anything, chatting and laughing together.

Pei Jinye acted as if he hadn’t noticed anything and led the two into his family’s hotpot restaurant.

“Young master.”

The receptionists greeted Pei Jinye with urgency when they spotted him.

“Is there a table available?” Pei Jinye was also surprised as he looked around the bustling hall, not expecting Old Pei’s business talents to be that substantial…

The waiter quickly led the three to an available table.

“Jinye, your family’s business seems really booming,” Brother Bi was astounded, wondering how much they must be earning compared to his monthly salary.

“Just average,” Pei Jinye modestly said with a smile.

Meanwhile, he covertly searched around.

As expected, the ones watching him were those two from Judgement Place.

…

Outside, in the car by the entrance.

Murong bit into his hamburger, frustrated, as the scent of hotpot from outside the car window was truly tantalizing.

“Are we really not going in to eat? It’d also give us a chance to observe that kid up close, and besides, I haven’t noticed anything wrong with him on this trip… His talent is just a bit too strong, so Xu Tian took an interest in him and wanted to scout him out, right?”

“Too bad, if Xu Tian had been a bit quicker, that kid wouldn’t have been snatched up by the Han family,” Luo Hai said, also tempted by the hotpot aroma. “The place is crowded though, and we don’t know how long the wait might be…”

“We’ve come all this way. Might as well give it a try.”

“Alright then.”

…

Pei Jinye acted as if he was completely unaware, while Murong and Luo Hai waited at the entrance with a number ticket. By the time Pei Jinye finished eating, they were still seated outside. They were next in line, so it was awkward to leave or to stay.

They looked at each other in uncertainty.

“We’ve waited so long already, we’ve definitely got to try it,” Murong said, resigned to his fate.

Luo Hai followed, hesitant. He couldn’t help but look back toward the direction Pei Jinye had gone…

“Another suspect crossed off the list.”

…

“Jinye, would your family’s restaurant be open to investments?” Zhou Ye asked tentatively.

Pei Jinye declined with a smile, “No need for investments. It’s just a hobby my parents enjoy, something they run for fun.”

Zhou Ye looked immediately disappointed.

Brother Bi pointed and teased him, laughing, “You little rascal, always so full of schemes. If you want to be a brother, then don’t talk business with brothers.”

“No… I…” Zhou Ye felt a bit embarrassed and scratched his head, “Jinye, don’t take it to heart. Come on, let me treat you to some late-night snacks. Whatever you want to eat, it’s on me.”

Brother Bi’s booming voice came from the side, “Jinye, go for the most expensive thing.”

“Dammit!”

“Hahaha!”

And so, the issue was dismissed amidst the laughter.

The three of them sat in front of the food stall, chatting and laughing merrily.

Suddenly, three luxurious hover cars rolled up close by.

The first person to step out was none other than Jiang Lingsu, who had just suffered the humiliation of losing her almost-fiancé. She wore a black off-the-shoulder gown, and though her complexion didn’t look great, she still managed a forced smile when she approached Pei Jinye’s table.

“Miss Jiang?”

Brother Bi and Zhou Ye exchanged glances.

If they couldn’t recognize who this young lady was after so many years in the Investigation Team, they might as well have wasted their time.

“Has the Jiang family also arranged for people to follow us? Isn’t this approach a bit too risky?” Pei Jinye narrowed his eyes and looked over.

“How could that be, I don’t do illegal things. It’s a coincidence that a supervisor from our site recognized you, junior brother, and so I hurried over. From the looks of it, you don’t seem very welcoming,” Jiang Lingsu spoke softly, with a hint of pleading in her voice. “Junior brother, can we talk alone for a moment?”

Pei Jinye glanced at Brother Bi and Zhou Ye who both indicated it was not a problem.

…

On the roadside.

Jiang Lingsu stood alone with Pei Jinye, appealing to both his emotions and his reason.

With a look full of charm and “grievance,” she said, “Junior brother, do you really want me to kneel down to you?”

Pei Jinye’s gaze was indifferent, “Is it necessary to go to such lengths over someone fighting for a stake in your family’s company?”

Jiang Lingsu’s expression froze for a moment, then she sighed, “What can I do, being a woman makes it too hard to get real power… Junior brother, I’m not asking you to let Jiang Xiqing go right now, just give me a straight answer, do you really want him to die?”

Pei Jinye chuckled lightly, “Don’t say it like that. Getting rid of someone with power is your people’s usual tactic. I still stand by what I said; debts have to be settled, and once that’s done, this matter can be put to rest.”

Jiang Lingsu frowned, hesitant, “Are you trying to stand up for Tang Huoyang? Isn’t compensation enough?”

Pei Jinye looked at her coolly, saying calmly, “Half a month has passed since the incident, right? As far as I know, your Jiang family still hasn’t retrieved the item. Even if you wanted to pay, where’s the money?”

“We’ve compensated…”

Jiang Lingsu had just responded when Pei Jinye interrupted, “Compensating one million for an item worth four million, is that a joke? Your Jiang family was not honorable from the start, and now you are getting what you deserve! I can’t be bothered with more talk. I’ll give you three days to get the item back.”

“Junior brother—” Jiang Lingsu hurriedly spoke up.

Pei Jinye cut her off firmly, “I’ve set the terms. How to proceed is up to you.”

Having said that, he turned and walked away.

Jiang Lingsu sighed lightly, her gaze filled with a sense of grievance as she watched the back of Pei Jinye, then she turned and got into the car.

After closing the car door, she spoke with great respect and caution, “Father, he’s given us three days to retrieve the Gilt Jade Tripod.”

The middle-aged man resting with closed eyes replied indifferently, “That item is now sitting on the desk of someone from the Wu Family. Retrieve it? How exactly?”

Jiang Lingsu softly said, “Grandfather mentioned that as long as we can get the person back, the business stakeholders are willing to increase our share. Father, you don’t want to be suppressed by the branch of the Jiang Xiqing family forever, do you?”

The middle-aged man slowly opened his eyes.

The vehicle started moving.

He looked out the window, his gaze fixed on Pei Jinye.

“All problems arise from him.”

Jiang Lingsu’s heart skipped a beat as she cautiously asked, “Do you mean to take him down?”

The middle-aged man frowned, “Have you lost your mind? He even dares to apprehend Jiang Xiqing, so what makes you think he’d fear our Jiang family?”

“Then what are you suggesting, Father?”

“You should get to know him better; isn’t he your junior brother?”

The middle-aged man closed his eyes once again.

Jiang Lingsu’s expression alternated between light and shadow in the reflection of the car window.

…

“Buzz buzz.”

Pei Jinye’s phone vibrated, showing a fresh message.

[Junior brother, I’m waiting for you at the Kerry Hotel for a banquet, we’ll talk nothing but wind and snow]