Chapter 39: Hah, Women!

Watching Qin Chuan’s look of utter heartbreak, Lan Jin was completely bewildered.

“Why do you seem even more upset than someone who’s lost millions?” she asked, utterly puzzled. She felt she’d already been quite aggrieved coming here with Qin Chuan today—her presence had barely registered throughout, and her escort was openly flirted with by another woman. It was outrageous!

“You’re thinking too small, little sister. What’s a few million?” Qin Chuan pursed his lips and sighed skyward, lamenting, “That was a project worth billions!”

A project worth billions?

Did they discuss business at all?

Why didn’t she notice?

Lan Jin’s mind was filled with questions. Meanwhile, Awei, who was driving up front, seemed to be deep in thought, especially after seeing Qin Chuan’s regretful expression. Awei grew more certain of his suspicions.

Once, when he visited Paradise on Earth to find his beloved girl, he discovered that his dark moonlight had already been snatched away by another big boss. He could only sigh deeply in the restroom, smoking mournfully as he stared at his own reflection—his expression then was exactly the same as Qin Chuan’s now.

“No, Jin’er, my loss is huge. When we get home, you must compensate me,” Qin Chuan said, pulling the still-confused Lan Jin into his embrace.

Seeing this, Awei became absolutely convinced that the billion-dollar project Qin Chuan mentioned was exactly what he’d suspected.

Back then, after finishing his cigarette in the restroom, he’d gone off happily to pursue another beloved girl. The difference was, he drove a sports car from the rental company, while Qin Chuan was behind the wheel of a freshly manufactured limited-edition supercar. And not just one, but several.

Thinking of this stark and brutal reality, Awei’s heart was full of envy and jealousy... No, no, he quickly banished such thoughts. Facing the enigmatic son-in-law, he dared not feel envy or resentment.

“There’s someone else here! Let go!” Lan Jin’s cheeks flushed crimson, and the earlier bitterness in her heart seemed to dissipate entirely in Qin Chuan’s embrace.

Someone else?

Awei’s mouth twitched. As Lan Wei Min’s most trusted bodyguard, the peak of his career had been when Lan Jin called him Brother Awei.

So, now that she has a sweetheart, he’s an outsider?

Ha, women!

At least the beloved girls in Paradise on Earth remain steadfast. No matter how many old flames are present, they’ll cling to his neck and call him darling, sweetheart. Some even call him daddy!

Well, a sugar daddy is still a daddy.

No problem with that!

The more Awei thought about it, the more pleased he felt. Suddenly, he didn’t envy Qin Chuan quite as much.

After more than an hour of witnessing Qin Chuan and Lan Jin’s affection, the business car finally rolled to a stop in front of the Lan family’s old mansion.

“My stomach’s a bit upset, I need to use the restroom! Jin’er, remember to come see me for your last acupuncture treatment and make up for my losses tonight,” Qin Chuan said as he hopped out of the car, leaving Lan Jin still confused about what exactly Qin Chuan had lost—and when did he discuss that billion-dollar project?

“Brother Awei, you’ve been with Qin Chuan all night. Did you notice him discussing any projects with the Liu family?” Lan Jin asked, full of doubt.

There she goes again! When she needs something, she calls him Brother Awei; otherwise, he’s just an outsider.

But the young lady was, after all, the young lady. Considering how well the family head treated him, Awei decided not to take offense.

And, holding to the principle that small favors should be repaid generously, Awei resolved to give this apparently not-so-clever young lady a hint. But if he explained directly, it might go a bit too far—he feared it wouldn’t pass muster.

After pondering for a moment, Awei decided to guide her gently toward the truth: “Miss, is it possible that the billion-dollar project Mr. Qin mentioned is quite different from traditional business deals?”

“You mean…” Lan Jin still didn’t get it.

Awei’s mouth twitched. Usually, the young lady and Miss Lin spoke in rather risqué terms, so why not now?

“Just now, Mr. Qin specifically asked you to compensate him for his loss. Following that logic, his billion-dollar project probably has something to do with Miss Liu… No, with that fox Liu Qingcheng.”

“But throughout, we were always nearby, and never saw them discuss any concrete business. So, maybe this project is only negotiable between a man and a woman?”

Awei’s voice trailed off. He felt that if Lan Jin still didn’t get it after this much guidance, then even if Liu Qingcheng stole her man, she’d have no grounds for complaint.

In fact, Lan Jin did finally understand, especially seeing Awei scratching his head, struggling to explain with ever more euphemistic phrasing. She felt mortified and furious.

“You… are just too vulgar!” Lan Jin snapped, feeling her intelligence insulted. Before closing the car door, she scolded, “Awei, you’re punished to clean the sewers for three months. Serves you right for loving dirty water!”

Dirty water? She actually forced that explanation for vulgarity? And that's how she treats him?

A gust of night wind blew, ruffling Awei’s hair, but his thoughts were even more disordered.

Indeed, fate is inescapable!

If the boss wants to punish someone, even stepping out with the left foot is a mistake.

Awei sighed deeply, deciding to take the night off and head to Paradise on Earth to vent his frustrations among his dark moonlights, and fiercely pursue his own billion-dollar projects.

Meanwhile—

Lan Jin, face flushed, rushed into the hall, only to find Qin Chuan lounging on the sofa, smiling at her. No matter how she looked, that expression seemed undeniably handsome.

Wait… shouldn’t he look lewd?

Lan Jin paused, staring more closely, but Qin Chuan really did look handsome.

Yet every time she thought of Qin Chuan nearly “negotiating a big project” with Liu Qingcheng, her anger surged.

She ignored Qin Chuan completely and headed straight upstairs.

“Oh, she’s throwing a tantrum. Did she finally realize the true meaning of the big project?” With that thought, Qin Chuan stepped out of the hall and spotted Awei standing alone in the courtyard, gazing at the stars in despair.

“Awei, are you absorbing the essence of sun and moon to ascend to immortality?” Qin Chuan joked, trying to lighten the mood, but instead heard Awei mutter, “I want to join the Silver Dragon.”

Qin Chuan was startled. In Chinese martial arts, there are three levels and nine ranks, and the Silver Dragon rank is second only to Gold Dragon. Zhu Xiaofeng, whom he had previously fought, barely qualified as a Silver Dragon martial artist.

While Awei was quite capable, by the nine-rank system, he was at most a fourth-rank Green Tiger—four whole ranks away from Silver Dragon.

Even with exceptional talent and guidance, one might leap three ranks at most. But Awei just looked at the sky in despair, and suddenly, he’d made a meteoric leap?

“Awei, I didn’t expect you to be a martial arts prodigy!” Qin Chuan said, genuinely impressed.

Awei was startled, then quickly realized the misunderstanding.

“Mr. Qin, you’re mistaken! I don’t have that kind of talent!” He smiled sheepishly, then lowered his voice to explain, “Silver Dragon is the code for the top-tier girls in Paradise on Earth. The most beautiful Gold Dragon ones, I simply can’t afford.”

Qin Chuan’s mouth twitched violently; this time it was his turn to be utterly disconcerted in the night wind.