I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping Chapter 2257 - 1436: Heh Heh (2)

She had only just declared firmly that no intervention was required, yet she dashed off to seek him out right away. Doesn't that amount to slapping her own face?

Pride remains a factor even between spouses.

"She truly desires to buy the Great Wall Shares in your possession."

Jiang Chen's voice grew milder; arguing wasn't his purpose here.

"Did I wrongfully accuse her? If you doubt me, don't come to me—go straight to her instead. Is this her usual business style? Harsher than bandits or thieves!"

Shi Qianxi plopped onto the sofa, arms folded tightly, legs crossed elegantly. Her chest heaved noticeably under the strain, drawing even greater notice.

Jiang Chen couldn't suppress a chuckle.

"I said I'd take care of it, but you ignored me and charged right at her without a heads-up."

"Would telling you make a difference? She's schemed for ages. Think one word from you would sway her?"

Director Shi stayed sly as ever, still stirring trouble between them at this juncture.

No one can say for certain if she'd shift her stance.

In truth, Shi Qianxi had approached Princess Cao herself, not the other way around. The event was etched in reality, and speculating on parallel worlds—like Schrödinger’s cat—holds no water.

"What precisely did you two talk about?"

Jiang Chen inquired while standing, curiosity piqued for real.

"Talk? I'd already compromised, offering to pay extra, but she wouldn't budge—completely insane, insisting on snapping up my shares for a mere five billion. Do I even want that five billion?!"

Hmm.

Sleep was utterly impossible now.

Director Shi's fury blazed fully, as if recapturing her youthful fire from years past.

Jiang Chen struggled to picture the ferocity of that earlier encounter.

Did their private chat carry the same scorching intensity?

"Calm down."

Jiang Chen took a seat.

"Am I worked up?"

The slender green snake at her neck appeared to twitch.

It simply hadn't unleashed its fangs and talons yet.

Jiang Chen's temples throbbed; he spoke gently, "So, what did you tell her back?"

"I said forget dreaming! I can humble myself and yield ground, but she can't treat me like some roadside beggar..."

"Roadside beggars are a thing of the past nowadays."

Jiang Chen cut in, "That's pure overkill."

"Overkill?"

Shi Qianxi's eyes flared wide, "More overkill than her actions? You're taking her side! Jiang, you're stone-cold heartless!"

With those words, a sofa pillow hurtled toward him with a sharp "whoosh".

The next one followed swiftly.

Jiang Chen snagged the first, but the second smacked him squarely. Naturally, the pillows were plush, inflicting no hurt.

"I'm not taking her side, I'm merely..."

Jiang Chen halted abruptly.

What caught his eye?

Tears shimmered at the edges of this woman's eyes.

He felt a mix of amusement and helplessness.

"Merely what? Finish your sentence!"

Jiang Chen sighed while shaking his head, "It's all on me, okay?"

"Heh, spare me that ploy. Mark my words, I'll never back down!"

This woman.

Tears gleamed in her eyes, but her lips twisted into a frosty smirk.

Only on her features did such clashing looks blend seamlessly.

"She can pry my shares from my cold, dead hands."

"Finished venting? She wants to purchase, you're displeased with the offer—so refuse. Why invoke death? Isn't that too dramatic?"

Jiang Chen feigned casualness, aware he must soothe her first. In her current state, no real talk was feasible.

"Quit playing the nice guy. Mediators like you are the absolute worst!"

"I offered to manage it, yet you refused, determined to handle it solo. Now you label me a fence-sitter? Fair play?"

"Didn't I warn you? So what! Now you're the victim too! Bet this is secretly your goal, huh?"

"My secret goal being what?"

"You know perfectly well!"

"When the mighty wish to incriminate, excuses abound."

Jiang Chen proclaimed with utmost righteousness, "I've always yearned for global harmony."

Shi Qianxi dropped her facade, uncrossing her arms to jab toward the door, a derisive grin on her face, "Out!"

A few harsh words meant little.

He wasn't so thin-skinned or brittle.

Enduring far worse barbs and jeers before, he'd have leaped from skyscrapers countless times otherwise.

Besides, against her deeper woes, allowing this outburst was trivial.

Jiang Chen remained composed on his seat, unmoving.

Shi Qianxi ceased demanding his exit, her breathing slowly evening out.

"Ready to chat properly?"

After almost a full minute, Jiang Chen ventured.

Shi Qianxi locked eyes coldly, staying mute.

"I get that you vented to Shu Rui, but seeing you wronged like that, Shu Rui couldn't just sit back..."

"So you agree it's unjust?"

"Absolutely."

Jiang Chen stated sincerely, "Gratitude is due to those who've toiled before. Even if your investment in Great Wall was limited, she ought not force you out at such a bargain rate."

His eloquence shone, yet Director Shi wasn't naive, unmoved, retorting with icy laughter.

"Still defending her."

"I'm defending no one. She was out of line; I'm saying sorry for her."

"For her? By what authority do you stand in?"

Jiang Chen kept his cool, "If you erred, I'd apologize in your stead too."

Shi Qianxi pressed her lips, falling abruptly silent.

Jiang Chen mulled it over, then said steadily, "I'll head to her next."

"Won't fly. She's committed now, unlikely to retract. She's no pushover like me."

Shi Qianxi's remark dripped implication, though her temper had cooled considerably.

Truth be told.

Her perspective oddly mirrored Lan Peizhi's from earlier.

"Try we must."

"And if I prove correct?"

"Then we'll seek alternatives."

Jiang Chen stayed poised, "Ways out always outnumber problems."

Truthfully, he possessed an indefinable allure—igniting tempers swiftly, yet easing them steadily.

"What exactly did Shu Rui tell you?"

Now calm enough to ask, Shi Qianxi probed.

"Shu Rui said zilch to me."

Confusion flickered in Shi Qianxi's eyes.

"Miss Lan was the one who rang me."

Shi Qianxi froze briefly, "Lan Peizhi?"

"Correct."

Jiang Chen affirmed, "Miss Lan's brother dwells at Spring and Autumn Plaza; she owes Shu Rui one."

He persisted in addressing her as Miss Lan.

Quite the mark of deference.

"Purely a favor?"

Shi Qianxi responded evenly.

Li Shuru had hinted at possibly enlisting the transcendent Blood Guanyin via phone, unsure of her aid.

And presently.

The facts surfaced.

"Hardly."

Jiang Chen dissected gravely, "Miss Lan holds shares in Great Wall too. It's infused with her efforts."

Though absent from Kyoto now, Lan Peizhi ranked tops among shareholders for actual time invested at Great Wall—surpassing even Cao Jinse.

"You take me for a fool."

Fool.

Second instance tonight he'd heard that label.

"My influence may fall short, but she does hold Miss Lan in regard."

Shi Qianxi's crisp verdict: "Fail to act for yourself, and heaven and earth shall smite you."

Even Lan Peizhi's entry won't sway it, in her eyes?

"Brace yourself."

"For what?"

Jiang Chen reflexively queried.

"Should Lan Peizhi intervene, gear up for her showdown with Lan Peizhi."

"..."

What hyperbolic chatter!

Jiang Chen stayed silent, as if deaf to it.

"No jesting here."

Shi Qianxi's stare sharpened fiercely; despite her stake, she radiated spectator glee, epitomizing caprice.

"Eager for the show?"

Mr. Jiang ignored the feint deafness, countering her playful look with stoic neutrality, then.

"Heh heh."