From Evil Sect Leader to Doctor

Do not underestimate these people's methods, and never underestimate their ruthlessness. Tang Jingwei recalled what Wang Zhengdao had just said; Wang Jiancheng also had a stake in the investment. These people shared common interests, and he couldn't afford to offend any of them.

"Have you ever played chess?"

Tang Jingwei looked at Wang Zhengdao, puzzled.

Wang Zhengdao didn't look at him, opened a box, and carefully examined a celadon carved with lotus petal motifs and a lid: "Twenty billion is not a small amount. Even for twenty million, some desperadoes would take risks. The best way to save your chess piece is to swallow one of equal importance from the opponent. If he has no reason to worry, why would he spare your piece?"

Tang Jingwei felt enlightened, but at the same time, his heart grew heavy. Wang Zhengdao was leading him into an abyss, yet he had no way out.

The implication was that if Qiao Rulong went after his son, then he could use the same method against Qiao Rulong. Tang Jingwei didn't dare; he wasn't looking for death.

"At crucial moments, you must use the pawns well, know how to feint, and be adept at bluffing. As long as it achieves the purpose of making the opponent afraid, that's enough. You've been in business for so many years; I don't need to say these simple truths, do I?"

Wang Zhengdao's attention remained on the porcelain bottle the whole time, sighing regretfully: "This bottle is counterfeit, such a pity."

Tang Jingwei thought how it could be possible, but he immediately understood Wang Zhengdao's meaning and calmly said, "President Wang, name a price."

Wang Zhengdao got up and placed the porcelain bottle on the antique shelf: "Even though it's a fake, the craftsmanship is top-notch. Leave an account number, and I'll arrange for someone to wire the money to you later."

Tang Jingwei said nothing; Wang Zhengdao was leaving him no leverage.

Wang Zhengdao pointed to a flower-and-bird painting on the wall: "How do you like this painting?"

Tang Jingwei was in no mood to appreciate paintings, saying gloomily, "It's good."

"I'll give it to you."

Tang Jingwei hurriedly said, "I can't, a gentleman does not take what pleases others." After saying this, he felt he'd misspoken, worried Wang Zhengdao might misconstrue his words as implying something about him.

Luckily, Wang Zhengdao didn't mind. He took down the painting and handed it to Tang Jingwei, saying, "This painting's author is Ye Qingya, Qiao Rulong's ex-wife. She's quite talented. If you're interested, you could visit her studio sometime."

As Tang Jingwei was leaving, Wang Jiancheng just arrived. They met face to face. They had seen each other before but weren't familiar, so they merely nodded at each other.

Wang Jiancheng watched Tang Jingwei leave, then went into his father's study and saw him admiring the newly acquired porcelain bottle. Wang Jiancheng asked, "Did he give it to you?"

Wang Zhengdao said calmly, "It should be an exchange."

Wang Jiancheng noticed that the flower-and-bird painting was missing from the wall; the painting was one he'd obtained from Ye Qingya for his father, who liked it, so he gave it to him. He hadn't expected it to be given away so quickly.

Wang Jiancheng felt somewhat displeased: "Is it necessary to be so polite to a drowned dog?"

Wang Zhengdao's gaze remained on the porcelain bottle as he said meaningfully, "No one can guarantee a lifetime of smooth sailing. Tang Jingwei, at his peak, had assets within the top fifty in the country."

Wang Jiancheng sneered, dismissing the so-called rich list as mere idle discussion, believing true tycoons would never appear on such lists.

Wang Zhengdao was fond of the porcelain bottle: "Jiancheng, have you invested in Jishi Medical Investment Co., Ltd. as well?"

Wang Jiancheng nodded: "Qiao Rulong asked me, so I invested a bit."

"He doesn't lack investment, so why did he bring you in?"

Wang Jiancheng sighed: "I didn't think much of it at the time. We often cooperated in the past; making money together was our consensus. I didn't invest much, only holding ten percent shares."

Wang Zhengdao carefully put away the porcelain bottle and then opened the curtains. Sunlight streamed in from outside. Facing the sun, Wang Zhengdao gazed directly at it, relishing the feeling.

"The manager of Jishi is called Qi Shuang. Do you know her relationship with Qiao Rulong?"

Wang Jiancheng replied, "I know, but Qiao Rulong and Ye Qingya are divorced now, so..."

"So what? Do you think Qiao Rulong will marry Qi Shuang?"

Wang Jiancheng shook his head, knowing well it was impossible. Even if Qiao Rulong wanted to, Elder Qiao would not allow it.

Wang Zhengdao said, "I've had someone investigate Jishi's shareholding structure. Money from He Dong was used, and you should know what kind of person He Dong's boss, Pan Tianhua, is, right?"

Wang Jiancheng fell silent.

Wang Jiancheng said, "I've been resting for three years, and you've been managing the company well. I thought you'd matured enough to stand on your own, but you've exposed a weakness in this matter."

Wang Jiancheng hung his head: "Dad, I didn't think much at the time; mainly, I trusted Qiao Rulong too much."

"Trusting others is equivalent to giving them your back. You have no idea when they might stab you. " Wang Zhengdao squinted at the sunlight, bright yet unable to penetrate his heart.

Wang Jiancheng said, "Dad, I will look for an opportunity to exit Jishi."

"There's no need for that; you're just a shareholder. But Qiao Rulong has gone a bit too far this time. If you want to make money, don't make things too extreme, especially with someone like Tang Jingwei. When he's enjoying a smooth ride, a few cuts might only draw some blood but not kill him. But now that he's gravely ill, to deal with him like this is to want his life. Aren't you afraid of pushing him to a desperate counterattack?"

Wang Jiancheng said, "I think so too, which is why I specifically went to Ye Qingya to ask her to persuade Qiao Rulong."

Wang Zhengdao's face flashed a strange expression: "Do you have a lot of contact with Ye Qingya?"

Wang Jiancheng said: "We grew up together, we often keep in touch."

Wang Zhengdao turned his head: "Do you like her?"

Wang Jiancheng blushed.

Wang Zhengdao walked slowly towards his son, stopping less than half a meter in front of him, and said earnestly: "She's not suitable for you."

"Why? Dad, do you mind that she was married?"

Wang Zhengdao shook his head: "I don't mind, but the Ye Family minds."

Pu Jian brought some latest news from Du Yun Temple. Before leaving, Monk Tonghui actually left a letter, stating that he was going to take care of something very important, which might take three to five years, or he might never return, and he asked everyone not to look for him.

What comforted Pu Jian was that before leaving, Monk Tonghui signed the completion acceptance form, meaning there's no problem with him receiving the final payment.

"He's truly a good person." Pu Jian sighed.

Xu Chunliang said: "Does Mo Han know about this matter?"

Pu Jian said: "I've already informed her, and she thinks there's no need to report to the police, to respect Monk Tonghui's wishes. Chunliang, where do you think this monk could have gone?"

Xu Chunliang said: "I don't know, maybe he regained his memory and found the way home."

Pu Jian laughed and said: "Could it be that this monk has a wife and children at home? Being out for so many years, maybe the wife remarried, he might even have grandchildren by now."

Xu Chunliang glared at him: "Can't you just keep that mouth of yours in check? Master Tonghui has been good to you."

Pu Jian quickly said: "My bad, my bad. I just like to speak freely. I meant no harm."

Xu Chunliang said: "Do you have time?"

Pu Jian said: "Don't you know me by now? I'm the kind of person who always has more time than money."

Xu Chunliang asked Pu Jian to take him to a class at Shuimu. He had only attended one class after being here for so many days.

Pu Jian had nothing else to do anyway, so he drove him to the school gate. Since he didn't have a pass, the school wouldn't let his car in.

Xu Chunliang hadn't even entered the courtyard when Ye Qingya called, her voice tinged with tension: "Chunliang, where are you?"

Xu Chunliang said: "Sister Qingya, if there's something, just say it quickly."

Ye Qingya whispered that when she went to the parking lot to get her car, she found all four tires deflated. Just as she was about to ask someone for help, she noticed two suspicious men following her, frightening her into the car where she locked the doors.

Those two men have disappeared now. Ye Qingya thought of calling the police but felt she might be overreacting. After thinking it over, she decided to call Xu Chunliang instead.

Xu Chunliang told her to lock the car doors and stay put. He and Pu Jian would rush to Ye Qingya's studio at once.

They kept the call going on the way, constantly talking to Ye Qingya to help ease her tension.

When they arrived, they saw Ye Qingya still sitting in her car, which reassured them.

Ye Qingya opened the car door, and after getting out, she pointed to the four tires.

Pu Jian and Xu Chunliang squatted down to inspect and found that all four tires had indeed been deflated.

To be cautious, they meticulously checked both inside and outside the car, and thankfully found nothing unusual.

Ye Qingya's car had surveillance, and according to the replay, someone dressed in a cleaning uniform and wearing a mask had come over stealthily to deflate the tires.

Pu Jian said: "Have you been late on your property fees?"

Ye Qingya said: "How could that be? I always pay them on time."

Xu Chunliang said: "Let's get the property management to come over and ask." Earlier, he hadn't wanted Ye Qingya to notify property management for fear someone might impersonate them to harm her. Now that he was there, he had no such concerns.

Once the property management personnel arrived, they promised to commence an investigation immediately.

Seeing that Ye Qingya had no serious loss, Pu Jian took an air pump from his car and helped her inflate the tires.

The incident had affected Ye Qingya's mood. She initially planned to attend a painting and calligraphy exchange, but she abandoned the idea and invited Xu Chunliang and Pu Jian to her studio for some tea.

Just as they entered, a delivery arrived.

Ye Qingya took the package aside to open it and let out a piercing scream at what she saw inside.

Xu Chunliang and Pu Jian quickly dashed over, only to find a pair of wedding dolls inside the package. The male was in a suit, and the female wore a wedding gown, but the female's head had been torn off, the white dress stained with blood-red paint, and a scalpel was lodged in the bride's chest.