I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping Chapter 2367 - 1500: One Arrogant Punk (2)

Following the laughter, Xu Siyi's voice lowered, her genuine envy evident in her expression.

Once hailed as the Goddess of Eastern University, a title many still held onto, Xu Siyi's heartfelt praise might have inflated another man's ego. Yet, Boss Jiang merely sipped his drink calmly, unfazed. "Every family has its own burdens, Xu Siyi. What you perceive is only a fragment. Were you in her circumstances, you might find yourself in an even more dire state."

A soft chuckle escaped Xu Siyi. Her instinct was to retort, but an unexpected calmness settled over her.

"That's true."

She gazed upwards, her eyes fixed on the moonlit sky, and sighed, "Every family indeed has its own struggles."

The garden fell into a hushed silence.

A pair of senior and junior students, bound by a complex relationship, continued their quiet drinking.

"You've only just returned, and you're already bickering, aren't you?"

Xu Siyi tilted her head suddenly.

"Certainly not. We never quarrel."

Having just spoken of everyone's personal battles, he now seemed to be boasting about his own happiness.

"Then why aren't you in bed with her? Why are you drinking out here alone?"

"I was merely concerned you might be in low spirits, so I came to keep you company."

"Stop toying with me. Be careful, I might just take you seriously. Even as a wilting flower, I'd still want to sleep with you, just to fulfill a long-held wish."

"Xu Siyi, you're an alumna of East Sea University. Can't you phrase that more elegantly? It's quite damaging to our university's reputation."

"With you lot upholding the image of East Sea University, even if we tried our hardest, we couldn't possibly mar it further."

Jiang Chen chuckled and gave a slight shake of his head.

"Just speak your mind. Even if I can't offer a solution, I can certainly lend an ear. A problem shared is a problem halved, after all."

Jiang Chen's smile widened, "I have absolutely no worries～"

"Tch."

Xu Siyi rolled her eyes, "Fine, forget it then."

She downed a can of beer with a loud gulp and stood up, "I'm heading back to sleep. Bye."

She truly departed, taking her empty can with her, leaving him to his solitude.

Jiang Chen continued to drink at a leisurely pace.

"Ya Li made a call."

About ten minutes later, Li Shuru entered the garden, pulling on a coat.

"What did she say?"

"Minor injuries. Nothing life-threatening."

Li Shuru took the seat Xu Siyi had occupied, sinking into the moon chair with a palpable sense of relief. She gently reassured her boyfriend, "It might not be related to you at all. Try not to dwell on it."

Everyone carried their own unique set of trials and tribulations.

And their intensity varied greatly.

Little did Xu Siyi know that the man who had just shared a lighthearted moment with her, easing her worries, was himself bearing an immense weight.

She could weep over a setback, but some individuals lacked even that luxury; they could only endure.

"I also hope it has no connection to me."

Jiang Chen took a drink, his reaction to Liu Hongzhi's injury not one of profound surprise.

"That's the nature of things when operating abroad. As Liu Hongzhi's ventures expand, attracting envy becomes almost inevitable."

Jiang Chen shook his head, acknowledging his girlfriend's good intentions, yet some truths couldn't be sidestepped. "This was targeting me."

"Liu Hongzhi managed to avoid significant harm this time because my personnel received an early warning and were prepared."

Following Xue Yali's initial call, Jiang Chen had exited his bedroom to verify the situation.

Indeed, it had been an oversight on his part.

He hadn't factored in Liu Hongzhi and Xue Yali's continued presence in the Beautiful Country.

Fortunately, the Sky Net system had once again proven its formidable capabilities.

But then again, it was to be expected.

An individual's capacity is finite; perfection in all endeavors is an impossibility. As a prominent figure, Jiang Chen spared no expense in his investments. Recently, he had transferred hundreds of billions through Zhuge Xi. If Sky Net were so inflexible as to merely follow orders without initiative, it would be akin to nurturing livestock for slaughter.

This world operates on pragmatism.

They could accept the funds.

However, they were expected to demonstrate their worth.

"Instruct Ya Li to bring Liu Hongzhi back immediately."

"Understood."

Li Shuru nodded. "Do you have any idea who is responsible?"

Jiang Chen nodded. "I have a general suspicion."

Li Shuru regarded him silently, offering no further questions.

Jiang Chen offered a reassuring smile, clasping her hand. "Don't fret. When your adversaries resort to such tactics, it typically signifies one thing: they are likely out of viable options to counter you."

"Must business dealings always escalate to matters of life and death?"

Jiang Chen chuckled. "Not necessarily. Some individuals shy away from fair competition, opting for underhanded methods instead. It's a form of path dependency."

Li Shuru gently pressed her other hand against his. "Then you should remain in East Sea for the time being."

Was she attempting to subtly influence his movements under the guise of concern?

Was it not enough to simply forgo international travel? Why couldn't he even leave East Sea?

She certainly harbored her own minor, ulterior motives.

"There's no need for such heightened tension. Those individuals only dare to act high and mighty abroad. If they were to attempt anything here, I would summon the authorities to teach them a swift lesson."

Li Shuru was amused. "Can you please be serious for a moment?"

Jiang Chen withdrew his hand and opened another can of beer.

In reality, the opposition had already made their move.

But as a man.

Heavy burdens rested upon his shoulders.

His beloved was absent, leaving him to face his fears alone.

"Liu Hongzhi's left leg is injured, correct?"

"Yes. When the vehicle detonated, sharp metal fragments grazed his limb."

"Excellent. Had it been his other leg, I could never face Ya Li again."

"How could you say that? I know Ya Li. Even if Liu Hongzhi were truly handicapped, she wouldn't..."

As Li Shuru spoke, a sudden realization dawned on her, "What on earth are you talking about?"

Jiang Chen took a slow sip of his drink, a faint smile playing on his lips.

"It's good, then. Use this opportunity to let them stay with Uncle and Mom for a while longer."

It was clear.

She was attempting to comfort him, urging him not to blame himself.

But was he the sort of person who indulged in self-recrimination?

Certainly, guilt was present. Had Sky Net not obtained the crucial information in time and provided protection, had something befallen Liu Hongzhi, he would have found it immensely difficult to face the Xue Family.

Yet, guilt offered no solutions.

When challenges arose, the most effective, indeed the only, path forward was to confront them head-on.

"So, should your uncle and aunt be expressing their gratitude to me?"

Li Shuru let out a soft chuckle. "Yes, they should. When Ya Li and the others return, I'll arrange a special family dinner to thank you, alright?"

With the Shi Family also waiting, Jiang Chen let out a sigh, clutching his beer can. "So many dinners."

Li Shuru's laughter echoed softly.

"Alright. You were drinking earlier, and you're drinking again now. Aren't you going to sleep?"

What was the connection between drinking and sleeping?

This wasn't tea.

Wasn't alcohol often consumed to aid in sleep?

Nevertheless, Comrade Jiang Chen, a devoted admirer of his girlfriend, complied with her request, finishing the can and ceasing his drinking.

Though a small gesture, it carried significant emotional weight.

Sometimes, women didn't ask for much.

"Wait just a few minutes."

Jiang Chen placed the empty can down, then retrieved his phone. He began by composing a message, which he promptly sent.

"Why no prior notification this time?"

Regardless of the potential reaction or whether a reply would come, Jiang Chen dispatched another message.

Indeed.

The recipients were different with each transmission.

The initial message contained only text, while the second was a multimedia file.

Accompanying the image were simple instructions.

——Locate him and eliminate him

As Jiang Chen made no effort to conceal his actions, Li Shuru, seated beside him, clearly observed the message and the accompanying photograph.

Even a middle schooler could easily decipher the simple English phrase, so Li Shuru remained unfazed.

She was no longer the naive girl from their college days.

There was no way she would be astonished by such a trivial matter.

Her curiosity, however, was piqued by the photograph itself.

The image had been captured during Jiang Chen's visit to Japan, a trip where he paid his respects at the ancestral home of the Fujiwara Family.

It wasn't a solo portrait, but a group photograph featuring numerous high-ranking US military officials stationed in Japan, including the four-star Admiral Bonnie Benjamin.

Naturally.

Since everyone in the picture was dressed in civilian attire, most individuals worldwide would not recognize the esteemed positions of these officers. Li Shuru, among them, therefore, found her attention drawn to a young Westerner present in the frame.

It was that striking blonde hair that truly caught her eye.

"Who is that?"

Li Shuru inquired instinctively.

"Just some punk."

Having completed his task, Jiang Chen nonchalantly put his phone away and rose to his feet. "Let's go to bed."