Top Soldier Pursued by a Beauty

Zhao Dong gave a bitter smile. "Didn't you say she's your best friend? Aren't you feeling guilty?"

Jiang Nianyu smiled slyly. "We're best friends, but we're also rivals. A long time ago, we agreed to share any good man we found. Besides, Lin Qingyun is a daughter of the Lin family. Rest assured, she can handle it."

Zhao Dong asked, "Are you so sure?"

"I'm sure for now, but I can't be certain about the future, because you haven't completely conquered Lin Qingyun yet. To truly conquer a woman, you need to possess not just her body but also her heart. Since you haven't completely captured her heart, of course she can handle it."

Zhao Dong chuckled. "I'm not interested in this so-called 'conquering,' and I know she has never considered me her man."

Jiang Nianyu burst out laughing. "Well, that's not entirely true. At least Lin Qingyun doesn't interact much with other men. It's unprecedented for her to be with you, so the progress you've made is already remarkable. There's a saying that's true: you two aren't from the same world."

Zhao Dong smiled. "Let's not talk about this. How is the Jade Skin Cream doing on the market?"

Jiang Nianyu's voice filled with excitement. "The market potential is terrifying! The response has been excellent! In just one month, the Jade Skin Cream sent the Jiang Corporation's stock price soaring, with revenue exceeding two billion! Oh, and this is your dividend!"

As she spoke, Jiang Nianyu took out a bank card and handed it to Zhao Dong with a smile. "I've been looking for a chance to give this to you, but I haven't had the time. Today is perfect. There's one billion on this card. It's yours."

Zhao Dong shook his head. "I can't accept this money. You all put in too much hard work with production."

"Take it! It's rightfully yours. Without your Jade Skin Cream, we wouldn't have earned this much. Never mind the one billion, I'm all yours now."

Jiang Nianyu blushed, looking especially charming.

Moved, Zhao Dong no longer refused and accepted the bank card. Seeing Jiang Nianyu's flawless, snow-white skin that looked so delicate it might break at a touch, he glanced down, and his throat suddenly felt parched.

Jiang Nianyu let out a small gasp, her face crimson. She playfully poked Zhao Dong's nose. "Thinking about it again, are you?"

Zhao Dong replied with a straight face, "Don't falsely accuse an innocent man. I wasn't."

"Oh, really?"

Jiang Nianyu suddenly gave a captivating smile and gently lowered her head...

Zhao Dong stroked Jiang Nianyu's face, his eyes full of warmth...

After a long moment, Jiang Nianyu gave Zhao Dong a reproachful look.

"Satisfied now? You rascal."

Zhao Dong chuckled and hugged Jiang Nianyu tightly. "If you ever have any trouble, just tell me," he said seriously. "Oh, and if you need any more formulas, just ask. I have plenty."

Jiang Nianyu froze, completely stunned. "You... you have other formulas like that?"

"Lots of them. As many as you want."

Jiang Nianyu murmured, "That's incredible... The formula you gave me before was practically a masterpiece. It wouldn't be an exaggeration to say it's worth ten billion, and you have even more."

Zhao Dong grinned. "Just let me know when you need one."

Jiang Nianyu nodded emphatically and hugged him tighter. "Zhao Dong, I love you to death! By the way, my grandfather is coming back in the next few days. You should come to our house so I can introduce you."

Zhao Dong asked curiously, "Hasn't your grandfather been at the Jiang residence? Where has he been all this time?"

Jiang Nianyu smiled mysteriously. "You'll find out when the time comes. My grandfather has traveled far and wide over the years. Never mind you, even we don't know all his secrets."

"What about your parents? I've never met your mother."

A flicker of sadness appeared in Jiang Nianyu's eyes, but she forced a smile. "My mom... she and my dad have some problems. She's not in East Sea, she's in the Provincial City. But I'm not sure where she is exactly. She disappeared a few months ago, vanished without a trace."

Zhao Dong frowned slightly and sighed, patting Jiang Nianyu's shoulder as he pulled her into an embrace. "I'm here for you."

Jiang Nianyu's eyes reddened as she snuggled into his arms, her voice carrying a heart-wrenching sob. "Zhao Dong... I'm your woman now. You have to treat me well... I can give you anything. I just hope there's a place for me in your heart."

Zhao Dong gently pinched her nose and planted a kiss on her forehead. "Don't worry, you silly girl."

They shared a tender moment before Zhao Dong left. As much as Jiang Nianyu hated to see him go, she had to let him. After all, they both had responsibilities and understood that if their love was meant to last, it didn't depend on being together day and night.

By evening, Zhao Dong had left the Jiang Group and was heading home. He had been leaving early and coming back late for the past few days, so he hadn't seen much of his parents.

Just then, his phone rang. Zhao Dong glanced at the screen, his eyebrows raising slightly. It was Song Qingwan.

He hesitated for a moment before answering, "Hello, big star. What's up?"

On the other end, Song Qingwan's voice was as aloof as ever, but there was an almost imperceptible softness to it. "Zhao Dong, where are you?"

"I'm out. What's this about?"

There was a brief silence, followed by a quiet, almost sheepish voice. "Last night... I got your shirt wet. I... I want to buy you a new one. Let's go shopping for one together."

Zhao Dong was stunned. Song Qingwan, the celebrity, wants to take me shopping for clothes?

Bemused, he touched his nose. "You're too kind, Ms. Song. The shirt wasn't worth much. It's really alright."

"No," she insisted. "It's not just about the shirt. Where are you? I'll come pick you up."

Zhao Dong didn't know whether to laugh or cry. "You really don't have to. Why be so formal?"

"I'm not being formal. You have to give me a chance to thank you properly. Please, come."

Zhao Dong felt he had no choice. Since she had put it that way, and he was almost home anyway, he scratched his head and relented. "Alright, you'll come pick me up? I live over in the old district."

"You live there?" Song Qingwan sounded surprised, but she quickly recovered. "Okay, I'll be there soon."

"Alright then, I'll be waiting."

The call ended just as Zhao Dong reached the alley outside his house. It was evening, and the street was bustling with activity. Many people noticed Zhao Dong's new Bentley, their eyes glued to him.

Zhao Dong touched his nose, rolled up the window, and parked the car in a spot by the road. Then, under everyone's watchful eyes, he walked toward his home.

The street-side gossip started immediately. "Who's that? He looks a bit familiar." "Isn't that old Zhao's son? No way. I thought he just got back from the army and couldn't even find a job. How could that be his car?" "He must have a rich sugar mommy! Their family could afford a car like that? In their dreams!" "I doubt he bought it himself. The money can't be clean. He's probably being kept by someone. People these days have no shame at all."

Zhao Dong stopped, slowly turning around to fix the group with a cold stare.