Chapter 4: A Gift of 2,000,000.0 to Shi Zhen with No Strings Attached…

Paradise was the most exclusive private club in Shulin, created solely for the upper class.

Its luxurious decor, first-rate entertainment, and thoughtful services were the reasons it was so highly regarded among the wealthy of Shulin.

Located at a central transportation hub in the city, Paradise boasted a prime location and castle-like architecture that made many people stop in awe.

The building had five floors, and the higher the floor, the more prestigious the clientele it served.

By the time Xie Qian arrived at Paradise, it was already 9 PM. Jiang Yunxiao had already opened several bottles of Xie Qian’s private collection of fine liquor.

The rich scent of alcohol mixed with bursts of laughter. A man in a black tactical jacket raised his glass and drained it in one gulp. The moment he spotted Xie Qian, a playful smirk appeared on his face.

“Young Master Xie, your wine is excellent.”

Xie Qian immediately recognized the bottle of liquor sitting on the table—it was the vintage Gujing Tribute Wine he had added to his collection just last year.

Jiang Yunxiao had just downed two million yuan’s worth of it in one glass.

Veins bulged on Xie Qian’s forehead. He beckoned to a nearby server, who immediately approached with a tactful smile.

“President Xie, your instructions?”

“From now on,” Xie Qian said, pointing at Jiang Yunxiao, “charge double for everything he orders.”

The server nodded respectfully. “Understood, President Xie.”

“Young Master Xie, that’s not very generous of you,” Jiang Yunxiao said with a grin, setting down his glass and draping an arm around Xie Qian’s shoulder as he led him to the seat of honor. He looked entirely unfazed.

He had never paid a cent while hanging out here. Correction—everything he spent had been charged to Xie Qian’s account. But since Xie Qian was the owner, that basically meant it was all free.

“You’re done with work early today?” Xie Qian asked.

Jiang Yunxiao worked in pediatrics at Shulin Second Hospital. With his exceptional skills, he was usually buried in overtime all year round.

“Ah, you haven’t heard yet?”

“Heard what?”

At the mention of this, Jiang Yunxiao grew excited. He leaned in close to Xie Qian and lowered his voice so only the two of them could hear. “You know the third son of the Mu family, right?”

Xie Qian swirled the brandy in his glass thoughtfully.

Mu Yi, the third son of the Mu family, was two years younger than him and had already turned the entire Mu household upside down. Ruthless and merciless, he was infamous for his cunning.

Mu Yi hadn’t always lived with the main family. He had two older brothers, and when he was only three, he was sent to the countryside.

It was said that back then, Old Master Mu was gravely ill and had invited a fortune-teller who claimed that a newborn in the family had too much yang energy and was disrupting Old Master Mu’s fate.

The youngest at the time was three-year-old Mu Yi. Believing the fortune-teller completely, Old Master Mu didn’t hesitate to send Mu Yi over 3,000 kilometers away to Xiangyao, deep in Shulin’s outskirts. No matter how much Mu Yi’s mother begged and pleaded, it was no use.

But Xie Qian knew some inside information. In truth, it wasn’t the child clashing with Old Master Mu’s fate. The old man was nearing the end of his natural life span and wanted to extend it by borrowing the yang energy of a younger family member. The “fortune-teller” had calculated that Mu Yi’s birth chart was highly compatible with Old Master Mu’s, which gave the old man the idea to use Mu Yi’s lifespan for himself.

As for how Mu Yi later returned to the family and managed to take control, Xie Qian had no clue.

“So what about him?” Xie Qian asked lazily.

“Remember how you had that big falling-out with your old man recently? Guess who the business partner ended up choosing to work with?”

Xie Qian’s brows furrowed slightly. “Mu Yi?”

“Exactly! Mu Yi!” Jiang Yunxiao said excitedly. “Thanks to the support of people from Country R, he rose to the top during the family power struggle and won big!”

“But that’s not even the juicy part. Turns out he’s had a girlfriend for three years. To gain power, he publicly announced an arranged marriage with the Zhang family. His girlfriend totally flipped out!”

Xie Qian wasn’t interested in these rich family dramas. “What’s that got to do with you getting off work early?”

Jiang Yunxiao internally cursed at how dull Xie Qian was. This gossip was gold—how could he not be entertained? No wonder the guy was still single!

“His girlfriend and Zhang family’s second daughter got into a fight at the hospital. The girlfriend got a bit bruised up, but the Zhang girl was hurt even worse. Some of the hospital equipment got trashed, too. The whole Second Hospital is in chaos. Since all parties involved are big names, the higher-ups decided to send us home early before things blew up.”

As he finished, Jiang Yunxiao looked at Xie Qian eagerly, waiting for a clever or sarcastic remark from Young Master Xie.

But Xie Qian didn’t respond. His sharp gaze was fixed on the staircase.

Following his line of sight, Jiang Yunxiao spotted a man in a leather jacket, looking directly at Xie Qian from across the room.

The man had thick brows, deep-set eyes, a narrow brow ridge, and defined tear troughs. His facial features were sharp and handsome, and the corners of his mouth curled up in a roguishly charming smile.

Despite his disheveled hair and a bruised, purplish lip, he didn’t look down and out—if anything, it only added to his allure.

Jiang Yunxiao’s eyes widened. Speak of the devil—it was Mu Yi, the very man they had just been talking about.

Mu Yi and Xie Qian were polar opposites: one like a fox lurking in the shadows, the other like a lone wolf on a mountain peak.

And naturally, foxes and wolves were natural enemies.

Their gazes clashed in the air like sparks flying.

After a long pause, Xie Qian parted his lips and muttered four words, cold as ice:
“Damn f*cking idiot.”

Mu Yi clearly read his lips. His face darkened, and his eyes turned sharp and hostile.

Jiang Yunxiao froze instantly.

Seriously, Young Master Xie? You just had to say that? If the two of you start fighting here, guess who’s going to suffer?

Paradise is your own property, remember?!

“Third Young Master Mu,” Jiang Yunxiao said quickly with a smile, raising his glass. “Please, do come by more often.”

Mu Yi gave a dismissive glance and walked into one of the private rooms without a word.

Jiang Yunxiao finally exhaled in relief and turned to Xie Qian. “Young Master Xie, even if you don’t like the guy, was it really necessary to curse at him to his face?”

“Your dad and the Mu family do have some ties.”

Xie Qian didn’t respond. Instead, he beckoned to a server and whispered a few words.

Three minutes later, the server returned with a bottle of Amalfi Supreme Lemon Liqueur and placed it in front of Jiang Yunxiao with a smile.

“Mr. Jiang, this is a gift from our President Xie. Would you like us to wrap it and send it to your residence, or shall we keep it stored here at the club for you?”

“Just keep it here!”

“Very well, I’ll store it for you right away.”

Jiang Yunxiao’s eyes sparkled. That bottle had originally cost over forty million yuan, and after several rounds of auctions, its value had skyrocketed. Young Master Xie truly was generous! All he did was say a few words, and he got this luxurious gift in return.

Flattering, he said, “President Xie, you’re the best! That insult was well-deserved—anyone trying to steal the Xie family’s business deserves to be cursed!”

“I didn’t curse him because he stole the Xie family’s business,” Xie Qian said.

Jiang Yunxiao blinked. “Then why did you?”

“He already has a girlfriend and still went to get engaged to someone else. If that’s not scummy behavior, then what is? I can’t stand guys like that!”

Xie Qian lit a cigarette and took a deep, angry drag.

Jiang Yunxiao: Huh???

President Xie’s thought process is… truly something else.

Forget a big city like Shulin—even just within Paradise right now, how many of these guests aren’t scumbags?

Other than Young Master Xie, who’s here to casually check the business and have a light drink, what man here isn’t looking for some fun?

Xie Qian genuinely detested people like Mu Yi—having a full plate and still eyeing what’s in the pot. Just like Xie Longhui in his younger days.

It’s fine to value power and status, but not at the cost of all morals and decency.

After downing another glass, Xie Qian unlocked his phone. As he scrolled, his fingers paused slightly when they passed a familiar green icon.

Something suddenly flashed through his mind—no wonder he’d been feeling like he was forgetting something lately. He still hadn’t transferred money to his little sister!

He opened the green app again, and immediately, dozens of messages popped up.

Zhenzhen:
Ge, I was really just joking. Send me your payment code and I’ll return the money to you.

Zhenzhen:
Ge, I believe you’re not a scammer, but I really don’t dare to accept this money.

Zhenzhen:
Ge, if you want to see anything, I can take photos for you for free. Just send me your payment code, okay?

Then followed fifteen consecutive days of photos—one each day, without fail.

They were all snow scenes—tiny snowmen on the curb, sunlight sparkling across snowy ground, a little black cat sitting in a snowdrift licking its paw…

The most frequent subject was an old tree taken through a window, similar to the shots from the first day.

Each photo came with a message:

Zhenzhen:
Ge, isn’t this little snowman cute? But I heard people have been kicking snowmen lately. I wanted to take it home, but then I thought—if its owner comes looking and can’t find it, they’d be worried.
(Payment code)

Zhenzhen:
Ge, look how beautiful today’s sunshine is! The snow is literally glowing!
(Payment code)

Zhenzhen:
Ge, I saw a cat today! A little black one—it’s so adorable, look at it licking its paws. It must be a stray; every night I hear meowing downstairs that sounds like a baby. I really want to adopt it, but I can barely support myself.
(Payment code)

Zhenzhen:
Ge, today when Sister Zhang was making milk tea, the dirt under her fingernail fell in. I watched it go in with my own eyes. I really wanted to wash her hands for her, but I couldn’t say anything or she’d yell at me. Boohoo.
(Payment code)

…

Xie Qian read through each and every message slowly. He didn’t even realize that the smile on his face was growing wider and warmer.

Every photo had been taken with care, and it made his heart feel warm.

But when he read the words “can’t even support myself,” his brows furrowed slightly. And when he got to “she’d yell at me,” his frown deepened.

This girl’s way too honest. He’d told her that if the money wasn’t enough, she should say so. Why was she still afraid to spend it?

And what kind of milk tea shop yells at people? Why the hell is she still working there?

He tapped into the chat and, after thinking for a bit, sent a message:

Xie Ge:
Little sis, send me your WeChat.
(Payment request)

---

Shi Zhen had now been working at the milk tea shop for fifteen days. Besides Zhang Meiren dumping nearly all the work on her, making her work overtime, and the terrible hygiene conditions, everything else was… tolerable.

She had started writing a new script. With her 3,000+ salary from the shop, she’d given up on writing short skits.

Shi Zhen decided to write what she wanted to write. In the end, she just couldn’t go against her own heart.

But that 5,000 yuan still felt like a hot potato in her hands. With no reply from Xie Ge, she was growing more anxious by the day.

So, she began sending daily photos, casually including hints that she wanted to return the money.

Her thinking was—if Xie Ge turned out to be a scammer, then at least the chat log would prove her innocence to the police.

At first, she just wanted to get it over with—snapping and sending a photo didn’t take much time anyway.

But over time, it became a habit, a way to document her life and feelings.

Xie Ge became her “daily check-in point,” and somehow, she had kept it going for fifteen days straight.

At 9:30 that evening, Shi Zhen was sitting in front of her computer, revising her script for the third time.

Her stomach let out a loud rumble. She was starving—living off one pack of instant noodles a day was getting unbearable.

She opened the food delivery app—fried chicken, burgers, fried rice noodles, BBQ, cupcakes… none of them were for her.

Suddenly, a notification popped up on her phone.

Shi Zhen glanced at it—Xie Ge had come back from the dead after fifteen days of silence!

Add WeChat? Payment?

That hot potato was finally going back!

Shi Zhen immediately saved her WeChat QR code image and sent it over in the chat.

Zhenzhen:
Ge, you finally replied!

Xie Ge:
Sorry, little sis. Work’s been a bit hectic lately, haven’t really checked my phone.

Zhenzhen:
It’s okay, Ge, just add me on WeChat so I can return the money.

Xie Qian saved the image, opened WeChat, and scanned it without hesitation.

Soon, Shi Zhen got a friend request.

The username was still “Xie Ge,” with a profile pic of a big yellow dog, IP location: Shulin.

On the other side, Xie Qian looked at her info—her profile pic was a cartoon girl hugging a gold ingot, and her nickname was “Litchi Sis.”

Looks like this girl really was strapped for cash—her avatar was literally hugging money.

Litchi Sis?

Nope. Xie Qian couldn’t stand it. After accepting the request, he immediately changed the contact name back to “Zhenzhen.”

Zhenzhen:
[Transfer] 5000.00 yuan sent to you

Xie Ge:
What’s your full name, little sis? No other reason, just needed for receiving payment.

Zhenzhen:
Shi Zhen.

Zhenzhen:
[obedient.jpg]

Xie Ge:
5000.00 yuan refunded

Xie Ge:
Gifted 50,000.00 yuan to Shi Zhen

Shi Zhen was stunned. How much was that? Ten, hundred, thousand…

Fifty thousand?!

This wasn’t just good luck—this was riches falling from the sky.

She really wanted to accept it. Her hands were itching. But she didn’t have the guts.

Zhenzhen:
Returned 50,000.00 yuan

Xie Ge:
Gifted 100,000.00 yuan to Shi Zhen

One… hundred… thousand!

Shi Zhen gasped, her eyes wide with shock. Was this big bro serious?

No way. She couldn’t accept this. It was too suspicious.

Zhenzhen:
Returned 100,000.00 yuan

Xie Ge:
Gifted 200,000.00 yuan to Shi Zhen

Ten, hundred, thousand, ten thousand… two hundred thousand!

Shi Zhen really wanted to accept it. That was 200,000 yuan. How long would it take her to earn that much?

But she couldn’t accept it. She barely knew this guy, and he was suddenly throwing money at her like this. No matter how she looked at it—it seemed fishy.

Shi Zhen wanted to return it. But she didn’t dare. She just knew if she did, Xie Ge would probably send even more.

Bro, are you trying to drown me in money?!