Chapter 26: Are You Jealous (Part 1)

Due to the bounty issue, the group had no choice but to stay in Huan County for the time being.

Zhao Yu kept a close watch on Dai Ning. She wasn’t happy, but at least she didn’t run off. However, one problem remained: this young lady insisted on the best in everything—food, clothing, shelter, and transportation.

Just as Zhao Yu was troubled over this, Zhuang Hongxiu offered a solution. “My mom prepared a few new outfits for Miss Ji. I hope she doesn’t mind; she’ll have to make do.”

“Thank you,” Zhao Yu replied.

Madam Zhuang had decent taste, and Dai Ning didn’t find fault with the clothing, but she couldn’t tolerate the hotel food.

Every mealtime, while everyone else ate with gusto, she sat there, visibly displeased.

Zhao Yu thought he shouldn’t indulge her too much. After all, they were on the road. The young lady didn’t contribute, and now she was only adding to the trouble.

Dai Ning tapped her chopsticks on Zhao Yu’s knuckles. “Zhao Yu, make me some food. I don’t like what they cook. I want spicy chicken cubes, chopped chili fish head, and lemon-flavored red bean soup.”

Zhao Yu caught hold of her chopsticks. “Not happening.”

Everyone quietly perked up to listen.

Zhao Yu corrected her behavior. “No tapping people with chopsticks. Ji Dai Ning, you chose to come along. Whatever we eat, you eat too. If you don’t like it, then go hungry.”

Dai Ning felt that since the Q&A session yesterday, Zhao Yu seemed to understand something and wasn’t treating her as well as before.

Not one to compromise, she set her chopsticks down and turned to go upstairs. “Fine, I won’t eat!”

After she left, Liu Shuan asked worriedly, “Do you think Miss Ji will starve?”

Zhao Yu continued eating calmly. “No one starves themselves to death. Just leave her be.”

Du Tian chuckled. “Exactly. Don’t worry; she’s probably not that hungry. When she is, she’ll want to eat.”

Hearing this, Li Zhuang instantly thought how sensible and well-mannered Du Tian was. Although the young lady was beautiful, who could stand such a spoiled personality?

The hotel food was already quite good—two meat dishes and a vegetable dish for everyone. Du Tian, also a young woman, didn’t make a fuss, did she?

Dai Ning ignored whatever they were saying at the table. She rummaged through her bag for a candy, only to find they were all gone.

Qingtuan snickered, “You might as well just make do. Zhao Yu has strong principles and won’t indulge you anymore.”

Dai Ning ignored it. Without anything to eat, she wasn’t worried and just lay on the bed, playing on her phone. She wasn’t about to eat common meals.

Since Zhao Yu wouldn’t prepare food for her, she figured someone else would.

――

Lan Rongrong had never liked anyone before—until she met Zhao Yu.

She replayed the scene of Zhao Yu pulling her back, the flash of a knife, and his dark eyes, mingling in her dreams.

Lan Rongrong wasn’t merely infatuated. Although Zhao Yu was handsome, what she saw in him was something deeper.

It felt like if given just a bit of support, he could go far, very far, on his own.

Last night, Lan Rongrong learned from her aunt about Zhao Yu splitting up the bounty. This made her feel she hadn’t misjudged him. He was neither greedy nor impulsive. By distributing the funds, he’d greatly reduced the risk of retribution from the Shen family.

Lan Rongrong had a secret: she despised her own brother. Although her family wasn’t overly biased toward sons, Lan Lingyun was a constant thorn in her heart.

The family business was expected to go to her lazy, inept brother. But what could Lan Lingyun do?

He grew up running wild, always at the bottom of his class.

When Lan Lingyun was still acting like a rebellious teenager, Lan Rongrong could already understand her father’s business discussions.

Her brother, who knew nothing, could inherit everything, while she, despite her beauty and capability, had to step aside for him. Although he adored her, this only made her detest him more.

With no awareness of the situation, would the Lan family not decline under his future leadership?

Yet despite all this, her family still hoped he’d make something of himself.

This trip to Huan County had a significant purpose—to acquire some of the Shen family’s assets for their own company.

After the downfall of the Shen family, their assets became highly desirable. Beyond the overt properties, there was also a network of contacts and intelligence that was equally tempting.

But there was a condition: they had to handle it in a way that wouldn’t anger Shen Tuo Feng, who was still in Taizhou.

Lan’s father had sent many people to support Lan Lingyun, even though he didn’t expect him to actually secure the assets.

Even if he failed, they wouldn’t need to worry about Shen Tuo Feng. But if he succeeded, it would prove his worth, and the family would be willing to confront Shen Tuo Feng.

Lan Rongrong had a brilliant idea and approached her brother. “Hey, since you don’t want to go, why don’t you have someone else go in your place?”

Lan Lingyun, lounging on the sofa, snacking on sunflower seeds, scoffed, “Who would want to? Not everyone has a death wish.”

Lan Rongrong said, “Remember the guy who saved me? He’s brave and smart, and since he’s already clashed with Shen Tuo She, he won’t mind going against the Shen family again. Let him do it for you.”

Lan Lingyun, acting like a slacker, actually found it a pretty good idea. “Sure, why not?”

Lan Rongrong continued, “Then lend him some of Dad’s people. I’m sure he’ll be able to get what we need, and we’ll give him some rewards afterward.”

“Rongrong, you’re brilliant!” Lan Lingyun said, slapping his knee. “I can finally get rid of these annoying tasks. It’s settled then—I’ll go out and have fun for a few days and wait for your good news!”

Lan Rongrong knew her brother was a fool. This arrangement was all to her advantage—it would allow her to repay Zhao Yu and test whether he was worthy of standing by her side and helping her grow the Lan family business.

The man she wanted would need both courage and intelligence.

――

Everyone thought the young lady would give in by the next day, yet even though she was truly hungry, she still refused to touch the “common food.”

Zhao Yu frowned at her. “Do you really want to starve yourself?”

Dai Ning shook her head. “Then cook for me!”

Zhao Yu knew this was a matter of principle. If he gave in once, she’d only expect it again and again. He steeled himself. “Suit yourself if you don’t want to eat.”

He wanted to see how long such a spoiled girl could hold out. She hadn’t eaten for nearly three meals now—how much longer could she last?

As he turned to leave, Dai Ning lowered her head and began playing on her phone.

Qingtuan could no longer hold back its worry. “Are you serious? You’re actually going to starve yourself?”

Dai Ning rubbed her stomach. “Don’t worry. Someone will be along to invite me to a meal soon.”

Qingtuan looked around, bewildered. Who, who could it be?

Downstairs, Lan Rongrong approached Zhao Yu to discuss some matters. Seizing the moment Zhao Yu was distracted, Dai Ning confidently walked out the door.

Today, she wore a honey-colored dress that Madam Zhuang had bought for her, her hair styled into two adorably irresistible buns.

If this outfit were on someone else, it might look like they were trying too hard to be cute. But her face is already youthful and fresh, so it looked completely natural, adding a few extra points to her charm.

Taking out her phone, Dai Ning followed the directions to a local amusement venue. Along the way, she saw a ginger milk tea stall and couldn’t resist stopping.

She had no money on her, but showed no shame as she walked right up to the stall owner and asked directly, “I don’t have any money. Could you give me a bowl for free?”

If he agreed, great; if not, no harm done.

The man looked at her sweet face and thought for a moment. “All right, but would you mind if I took a photo of you to use for promotion?”

Dai Ning nodded eagerly. “Sure, go ahead!”

With a single photo, she got herself a bowl of ginger milk tea.

Her companion, Qingtuan, was at a loss for words. How did she manage that?

“You’re the heiress of the Ji family! And you’re giving them free publicity for a bowl of milk tea? What happened to the dignity of the elite?”

Dai Ning saw no problem. “I didn’t have money to buy it, did I?”

Food was food; better to eat now than to keep up appearances. It’s not like being the Ji family heiress would taste any better on an empty stomach.

She took small, delicate bites, savoring each one while remarking critically, “This is pretty good, but it could use a bit more sugar.”

When she finally reached the amusement venue, she walked in with the confidence of someone familiar with the place, still holding her milk tea, which she hadn’t finished.