Chapter 16: Yuan Dongmei

~No one has ever praised me~

Ji Jinmao had been busy looking after Ji Zhao and dealing with people like Luo Yihui, Duan Yong, and Feng Hongying. When he finally caught his breath, he noticed that Xu Songling and Zhao Xiangwan had already left. He quickly gathered his team to catch up with them, express his gratitude, and give each of them a box of homemade hotel cakes.

“Ji Zhao is everything to me. You risked your lives to save him. I’m deeply thankful. I know that you police officers value integrity. This cake is just a small token to show my appreciation. Tomorrow, I’ll come to your police station to present a banner.”

Xu Songling wanted to refuse, but Zhu Feipeng grabbed the cake eagerly: “Cakes from the hotel? Perfect, I’m starving after all this running around today. This is just what I need.”

Ji Jinmao personally handed the cake to Zhao Xiangwan, smiling kindly: “I don’t think I know your name yet.”

“Zhao Xiangwan.”

The sweet aroma of the cakes filled the air.

Ji Jinmao wasn’t tall, but he was a bit chubby. He was almost the same height as Zhao Xiangwan when standing in front of her. The more he looked at Zhao Xiangwan, the more he admired her. His eyes sparkled with delight. “I’ll treat everyone to a meal tomorrow. Please join us.”

Zhao Xiangwan shook her head: “I have class.”

The Public Security University’s rules were strict, and students had to get permission to leave, so Zhao Xiangwan didn’t enjoy social events like this.

Ji Jinmao smiled and said, “Alright, go ahead and attend your class, and I’ll have someone take you to your dorm.”

As for where Zhao Xiangwan studied and where her dorm was, Ji Jinmao always managed to find out.

Finally, Ji Jinmao got to the point: “Student Zhao, Ji Zhao has refused to eat. He won’t talk to anyone. Could you please speak to him and get him to eat something?”

Zhao Xiangwan: “It’s fine, Ji Zhao is resting right now. Let him sleep for a bit. Things may change when he wakes up.”

Ji Jinmao had to contain his excitement, but his words filled Zhao Xiangwan’s thoughts.

[She really understands! Danfeng and I have raised Ji Zhao for twenty-one years, but we don’t know him as well as she does. She can make Ji Zhao quiet, calm, and sleep peacefully. Oh my God! She must be sent from heaven. She’s the savior of our family.

I don’t even know what she likes. How can I please her? Money, jewelry, houses, clothes… I don’t know what young girls want these days. I must befriend her at all costs. If she can talk to Ji Zhao more often, maybe he’ll get better and live a normal life.]

Ji Jinmao cautiously asked: “Student Zhao, when you spoke about strong winds and swaying trees earlier, what did that mean? How should we talk to Ji Zhao in the future?”

Zhao Xiangwan thought for a moment and answered: “It’s a psychological metaphor, using figurative things to explain a state of mind. When talking to Ji Zhao, try to be as direct and brief as possible.”

At this moment, Ji Jinmao thought that Zhao Xiangwan was more insightful than even the most expensive foreign psychologists. He nodded eagerly: “Okay, okay, I’ll follow your advice. When you have free time, please visit our house as a guest.”

Zhao Xiangwan nodded.

Ji Jinmao then asked again: “What did Luo Yihui say that was wrong? Why did you have him detained? What should we be aware of in the future?”

Zhao Xiangwan did not immediately answer the question.

Luo Yihui clearly dislikes Ji Zhao and might be harmful to him; but he is someone trusted by Ji Jinmao, or he wouldn’t be Ji Zhao’s personal assistant.

There are things that can be discussed within the serious crime squad, but not shared with outsiders.

Xu Songling acted calmly. Seeing Zhao Xiangwan’s hesitation, he spoke seriously, “Boss Ji, Zhu Feipeng and Zhao Xiangwan stopped Luo Yihui because they saw Ji Zhao was emotionally unstable. We don’t know what he said that was inappropriate, but the situation was urgent, and we offended Luo Yihui quite a bit. I hope you won’t blame me.”

Ji Jinmao, though chubby and innocent-looking, had years of business experience. He cupped his hands and smiled, “It was an emergency; it’s okay. Everyone was trying to save people. I can’t thank them enough. How could I blame them?”

Zhao Xiangwan could see Ji Jinmao’s sincerity and suggested, “Boss Ji, why not find out what Feng Hongying said?”

What story did the landlord’s foolish son tell? Why did it upset Ji Zhao? How could it be used by Luo Yihui? That’s the key.

When Ji Jinmao heard her words, his heart stirred.

【I did find out the story that Feng Ma told me. A foolish son of a landlord family, he was well taken care of by his parents since he was young, wearing gold and silver. When his family fell into poverty, no one cared about him, and he froze to death alone in the winter. Could it be that Ji Zhao understood and feared he would be abandoned after I die? Ji Zhao didn’t like interacting with others as a child, and I don’t know why he was suddenly disturbed by this story. When Dan Feng is better, I will take Ji Zhao abroad to see a psychologist to figure it out.】

It was late at night, and a cold wind blew at the hotel entrance.

Ji Jinmao shrugged and smiled, “This story is a bit long. Shall we go upstairs?”

This girl is so smart; it’s a waste for her to be just a criminal officer. It’s better to keep her talent by my side. Ji Jinmao decided to recruit her, thinking quickly. In short, he wanted to coax this lovely girl in front of him.

Hearing Ji Jinmao’s plan, Zhao Xiangwan was amused and waved her hand.

Ji Jinmao was increasingly interested in Zhao Xiangwan. She remained calm in front of him, perhaps because she was too young to understand the significance of wealth, but she controlled her curiosity and didn’t ask questions. That was true wisdom.

He smiled, took out a black card, and handed it to Zhao Xiangwan without a word: “Student Zhao, here’s a card for you. The Ji family welcomes you anytime.”

The hotel entrance was softly lit, and the black card shimmered with a mysterious glow. The golden rice ears in the center and the dandelion lace around it gleamed brightly in the corridor lights.

A flash of light passed by, blinding Zhao Qingyun’s eyes.

Zhao Qingyun had been watching Ji Jinmao’s movements. When he saw the black card in Zhao Xiangwan’s hand, his throat tightened. It took a long time for him to manage to squeeze out a sentence: “Black card…”

The Four Seasons Hotel membership cards come in gold, silver, and blue. The blue card offers a 10% discount, the silver card offers a 20% discount, and the gold card offers a 30% discount. These cards are issued to the rich and powerful, making the gold card a status symbol in Hunan Province.

Above the gold card, there is the black card, issued by Ji Jinmao himself to the top VIPs of the Four Seasons Hotel. All hotel expenses are free with this card. Many desire it but cannot obtain it. Even Zhao Qingyun, who had heard of the Four Seasons Hotel black card for a long time, had never seen one in person.

Now, Zhao Xiangwan held the black card personally given by Ji Jinmao!

Zhao Qingyun felt numb, his body alternately hot and cold. What kind of background and ability did his biological daughter have? She had made Ji Jinmao, the richest man in Xing City and a business fox, deliberately flatter her!

—Zhao Xiangwan is far more valuable than I thought!

When Zhao Qingyun realized this, deep regret filled him. He thought about how he had the chance to acknowledge Zhao Xiangwan as his daughter but had missed it due to hesitation. Zhao Qingyun’s face darkened, and he looked at Zhao Chenyang coldly, “You’d better explain everything clearly!”

If it weren’t for Zhao Chenyang and his greedy parents, Zhao Xiangwan would have been raised by them eight years ago. Then, the person greeting Ji Jinmao today, showing off the black card, would have been him, Zhao Qingyun!

Although Zhao Chenyang was young, he had heard of Ji Jinmao because he often accompanied his parents to social events. Today, he saw Ji Jinmao speaking humbly to Zhao Xiangwan, and it made him jealous and hateful. Zhao Xiangwan was just a wild girl from the countryside. How could she deserve to be treated so politely by the richest man in Xing City?

Living a new life, trying to seize resources that once belonged to Zhao Xiangwan and suppress her, but still failing to match her level, was too much for him!

Hearing Zhao Qingyun’s cold words, Zhao Chenyang gritted his teeth and cursed Zhao Xiangwan for appearing now instead of earlier. Zhao Qingyun and Wei Meihua (his wife) were very realistic. They would only recognize which daughter to claim based on who was more useful.

Previously, Zhao Xiangwan’s engagement to the Xu family seemed beneficial for Zhao Qingyun’s career, so they did not recognize her immediately. But now, Zhao Xiangwan was somehow in contact with Ji Jinmao, and Zhao Qingyun might be thinking differently.

To avoid being sent back to the countryside, Zhao Chenyang tried hard to force a smile and responded respectfully, “Dad, I just found out about this recently…”

After listening to Zhao Chenyang’s words, Zhao Qingyun fell deep in thought.

Zhao Xiangwan held the black card without realizing its true worth. She just admired the realistic dandelions and rice ears on it. Knowing it was Ji Zhao’s work, she pocketed it and said, “Thank you.”