Chapter 34: Not a Chance

“I admit you’re handsome, but if you want to marry me, you’ll have to wait in line.”

Cheng Yuan’s words left Jun Nanye momentarily stunned.

Wasn’t she the one who just offered herself in repayment?

Cheng Yuan, unfazed, thought to herself, As long as I’m not embarrassed, he’s the one who’ll be awkward. Casually shifting the topic, she said, “Bring me your Gaokao study materials tomorrow. Consider it a thank-you gift.”

She’d stayed up late to bandage his wound—she wasn’t about to let it go unrewarded.

She had been genuinely curious about his claim of being the top scorer on the national college entrance exam. But in an era without internet access, it wasn’t easy for the average person to look up the historic top scorers from Hai City.

“Address,” Jun Nanye said simply.

Cheng Yuan shot him a sideways glance. “Just stuff the materials into your clothes. That’s how you smuggled in the medicine, isn’t it?”

Trying to trick me into giving you my address? Keep dreaming.

“Don’t act like you can’t manage it,” she added. “That’s exactly how I got the medicine in.”

Jun Nanye: “……”
Did I even have a choice?

Cheng Yuan yawned. “So, when are you leaving?” It was already past 1 a.m. If she didn’t get some sleep soon, she’d wake up looking like a panda.

“My backup hasn’t arrived. If I go out now, I’m dead,” Jun Nanye replied matter-of-factly, lying down on the icy bed, clearly intending to stay put.

Cheng Yuan stared at him for a moment. “So you’re really not leaving tonight? Then where am I supposed to sleep?”

Jun Nanye patted the empty space beside him. “There’s enough room for both of us.”

“Shameless,” she snapped, glaring at him. “I saved your life. Shouldn’t I get the bed while you sleep on the floor?”

“So you’re really going to rob an injured man of a bed?” Even without seeing her, Jun Nanye could imagine her indignant expression.

“You don’t have any broken bones. What’s a little cold floor to you?” she said, remembering the backache from the previous night on that same icy surface. There was no way she was repeating that ordeal.

“You’re a man,” she added. “Shouldn’t you at least pretend to have some chivalry?”

To hell with chivalry.

Jun Nanye shifted to the edge of the bed with a scowl. “Take it or leave it.”

Cheng Yuan’s lips twitched as she eyed the remaining space—about a meter and a half wide. Without further argument, she lay down. Turning to her side, she stared at his sleeping face, thinking, Sharing a bed with such a gorgeous man is eye candy, at least.

Too bad he’s emotionally tone-deaf.

Yawning, she rolled over and quickly drifted off. Just before falling asleep, she thought, If only there were a pillow. Sleeping like this feels so weird.

As her steady breathing filled the room, Jun Nanye, still facing her, allowed the faintest smile to curve his lips.

This little girl… she’s surprisingly kind.

For some reason, in this broken-down place, sleep came easily. Jun Nanye soon sank into an unusually deep, peaceful slumber.

In Hai City’s exclusive villa district, Jun Fengjin received word of their failure. Enraged, he hurled an ashtray at the messenger’s head. It struck with a sickening thud, drawing blood on the spot. The man clutched his head, stunned, staring at Jun Fengjin in disbelief.

“A bunch of useless trash! What good are you to me?” Jun Fengjin’s face twisted in fury. Not satisfied, he turned on Zhou Lin and kicked him squarely in the stomach, pointing a finger in his face. “Didn’t you swear this plan couldn’t fail? Didn’t you guarantee I’d hear of his death by morning? That the East Bank land would be ours?”

Zhou Lin didn’t dare dodge, bowing his head so low his chin nearly touched his chest.

“Young Master Jin, it’s all my fault,” he said through gritted teeth. He’d thought the East Bank land deal was ironclad. But once again, Jun Nanye had slipped through their fingers.

“What good is your apology now?!” Jun Fengjin roared, landing another kick.

His usually delicate features, twisted with rage, looked positively demonic.

He glared at the coffee table set with red wine and glasses—prepared for a victory celebration. Now, it mocked him.

“Damn it!” he snarled, sweeping everything off the table with a violent gesture. The wine and glasses shattered on the floor, red liquid soaking into the carpet like blood.

Zhou Lin’s heart tightened. That bottle alone was worth several thousand yuan—two years’ wages for an average person—gone in an instant.

“Zhou Lin, check again,” Jun Fengjin growled after the outburst. “Is there any chance left?” His eyes locked onto Zhou Lin. “Grandfather’s birthday is coming up. If he finds out Jun Nanye secured the East Bank land, he’ll be untouchable. He cannot step foot in the Jun Family.”

Zhou Lin said nothing. The opportunity had come only after months of bribery and manipulation. And even then, they’d failed. Another chance? As unlikely as plucking stars from the sky.

“I don’t care how you do it,” Jun Fengjin said coldly. “I don’t want to see his face in this family again.”

The morning sun had risen.

Outside the rundown courtyard, Tao An paced anxiously, scratching his head.

Reinforcements had arrived, eliminated the two attackers, and treated Tao An’s minor injuries. Wu Jin, who had broken his leg in the car crash, had been taken to the hospital under guard.

Though most of Tao An’s plans were for later stages, he hadn’t been entirely unprepared for the return trip from securing the East Bank land. It should have been impossible for Jun Fengjin’s men to intercept them without an insider’s leak.

And it sure as hell wasn’t Brother Nan. Tao An was certain of that.

That left only one possibility—Wu Jin.

Damn it, Tao An seethed. Brother Nan trusted him, treated him so well… and he betrayed us! That broken leg was too kind!

He continued pacing outside the courtyard, wanting desperately to check on Brother Nan but remembering his strict warning to stay out.

Time dragged on.

Eventually, Tao An sent the others away and stood alone at the gate, waiting.

Creak.

The gate slowly opened.

Tao An froze.

Jun Nanye stepped out, fresh and alert. Considering his injuries and chronic insomnia, he should’ve been completely drained. But instead, he looked almost… well-rested.

Tao An stared, stunned. “Brother Nan… don’t tell me this broken-down courtyard is more comfortable than your penthouse?”

Jun Nanye shot him a cold glance. “Where’s Wu Jin?”

“He’s in the hospital. I’ve assigned someone to keep an eye on him,” Tao An replied quickly. “We’ve already confirmed it. On the fifteenth of last month, Wu Jin’s mother had surgery. They were short fifty thousand yuan. The money came from Jun Fengjin’s accounts, though it was laundered through several layers.”

“Fifty thousand?” Jun Nanye’s lips curled into a cold, contemptuous smile.