I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping Chapter 2205 - 1408: Cough, Cough_2

Jiang Chen gave a nod, gesturing for her to continue.

Rather than trailing after the two men, He Yihui slumped lazily onto the sofa, absentmindedly picking up the call.

'Sis.'

'How are things with you?'

The bond between the sisters remained strong.

Plenty of family members barely check in every six months.

'Doing well, all's going smoothly.'

'Mhm, I caught your interview. Folks in Haojiang are singing your praises.'

Jiang Chen stayed silent, sipping his tea quietly.

'Sis, didn't you just get back from Australia? Why not take some rest?'

'How'd you know I'm back?'

The shrewd and efficient Second Miss He smiled while questioning, like they were just chatting sister-to-sister.

'Zhong Xiaoye mentioned it. He was here moments ago.'

Jiang Chen munched on the tea bits in his mouth.

This boiled down to her straightforward nature.

No skirting issues.

'Really? He gone already?'

'Yeah, someone hauled him off.'

'...'

Luckily, it was Boss Jiang there.

Anyone ordinary might've cracked up laughing.

Honesty's great, but does it need to be that blunt?

'Who grabbed him?'

Among family, folks relaxed more than around outsiders like Boss Jiang, so Second Miss He replied steadily, without any odd reaction.

'Couldn't say for sure, looks tied to a kidnapping incident. Sis, Zhong Xiaoye's slipping further out of control.'

'Nobody's flawless, just like gold always has impurities. We all have shortcomings. If it's something small, it can slide.'

Great accomplishments overlook trivial stuff.

Second Miss He's take wasn't wrong.

In this world, it's all about positions, not absolute rights or wrongs.

Song Chaoge's sayings proved true over and over.

'Sis, you just returned, don't fret over him. He's sharp at tapping inland opportunities; time he used that skill.'

He Yihui switched topics, steering clear of deeper talks on character.

'Yi Hui, when it comes to the grand scheme, set aside your biases. Zhong Xiaoye brings more gains than losses to the He Family.'

He Yihui hesitated, then chuckled softly and replied: 'Sis, I didn't snatch Zhong Xiaoye away.'

Straightforward and clear-cut.

One line clinched the exchange.

True enough, dragons beget dragons, phoenixes beget phoenixes.

She'd once preferred staying low-key, just opting out of the fray.

Of course.

He Junru wasn't merely a figurehead; facing her younger sibling's sharp retort, she faltered briefly, then smiled in return.

'Did I claim you took him?'

The air grew thick with tension.

Who claimed 'rivalry' was beneficial?

He Yihui pressed her lips together.

As the little sister, watching her second sis defend an outsider must've stung a bit.

'Ahem.'

All of a sudden.

Right then.

A cough broke in awkwardly.

He Yihui's eyes turned.

The guards were outside, Zhong Tingwang carted off, apart from Boss Jiang, who remained in the suite?

Butting into a phone chat with a cough like that was rude, no doubt.

Given Boss Jiang's poise, he wouldn't slip up so badly, leaving just one conclusion.

He meant to do it.

He Yihui kept the speaker off, so he couldn't catch the words, but gauging tone and speech often worked fine.

'Someone else around?'

He Junru inquired.

He Yihui glanced at the man wiping his mouth, looking sheepish, and murmured 'Mhm.'

'Mr. Jiang's present.'

He Junru went quiet.

Though Boss Jiang's cough felt out of place, it neatly eased a brewing sisterly clash if neither yielded.

'Mr. Jiang's there, and you didn't mention sooner.'

He Junru's smile returned, 'I'll let you go then, pass my greetings to Mr. Jiang.'

He Yihui gradually set the phone down.

'Sorry about that.'

Jiang Chen apologized right away.

'Thanks.'

Hold up.

Shouldn't the standard reply be 'No worries'?

Family feuds stay within walls.

Though meddling in others' kin troubles isn't wise, He Yihui might've enjoyed calm without it being solely her doing, yet diving into the He Family's 'power struggle' did pull him in.

When out of sight and earshot, that's different.

But seated there, catching this talk, he couldn't pretend blindness.

Moreover.

No matter his status climbs, Jiang Chen stayed rooted in tradition and caution.

He'd always held, and always would.

A harmonious home brings success.

Kinship trumps all.

No gains outweigh it.

He got He Junru's angle in chiding family for an outsider but disagreed with it.

'It's okay.'

The unspoken retort got flipped by him; Jiang Chen went on: 'If your sis probes again, just lay it out truthfully. If Second Miss He wants to discuss, have her reach out to me.'

That warm sensation...

Since her dad's death, He Yihui hadn't sensed it in ages, yet now it surfaced from this man.

Her smile bloomed alluringly, enhancing her already gorgeous features.

'You gonna have my back for real?'

Jiang Chen eyed that lovely, pure face, laughed lightly, and nodded seriously yes.

'From here on, I've got your support!'

Back in Haojiang days, when she got thrust forward, he hadn't vowed anything.

Humans.

We all run on feelings, it seems.

Second Miss He lost patience; that call was ill-timed, especially right then.

He Yihui's grin shone bright, turning her girlish all at once.

'For true?'

Maybe ages back, before her famed father, she was that pure.

For some reason.

Jiang Chen abruptly sensed shared hardship in her eyes.

Even amid vast clan and kin.

'A man's promise stands firm.'

Wait.

You a man of honor?

He Yihui spotted no cracks in his vow, or maybe to Fourth Miss He, Mr. Jiang truly was beyond reproach.

'You promised, no backing out.'

A pinky rose.

Jiang Chen smiled, raising his own.

Their pinkies linked.

Eyes locked.

In drama scripts, this'd spark fireworks, cutting to them in bed next dawn, courtesy of censors.

But dramas stay fictional.

Plus, guards waited outside.

Big talk followed by shady moves? That'd break the code.

'Ahem.'

Yet another cough at bad timing.

As Jiang Chen moved to pull back, she anticipated it. Her intense, alluring gaze held steady, inching nearer instead.

'Poof.'

The kiss plush, toasty, laced with enticing scent.

He Yihui shut her eyes, lingering far longer this round.

Lips separated.

'Let me walk you out.'

Playing it cool, eh?

He Family women all this bold?

Last go was a cheek peck, now direct to mouth.

Twice ambushed by her, Jiang Chen kept composed, hand on knee, rising.

He Yihui made no move to halt, heading for the exit.

'Miss.'

Door swung open.

The pair of guards stepped back, gazes even.

He Yihui shifted aside.

Jiang Chen exited.

'Get some rest.'

Both pros at acting, no tells slipped.

'Night.'

No lingering, no waiting till Boss Jiang vanished before re-entering; door closed as guards followed in.

Jiang Chen paused in the grand, hollow hallway, feet sinking into plush, high-end custom rug, suddenly mulling a thought unbidden.

Not some guideline.

Rather, he wondered.

What if he tumbled into a honey trap?

Lip wipe in hand, trapped or free, never truly bested, Boss Jiang let out a soft breath, calm returned, striding off.