Chapter Sixty-Four: My Beauties, Both Big and Small

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Sharp in analysis and adept at strategy, Liu Dashan had always prided himself on his business acumen. With such a mind, he not only controlled the largest gang in Yangjiang, but also operated the city’s leading tax-paying enterprise, Zhengfeng Group.

Even though he understood the relationship between Jiang Xiwen and Zhang Ya, he remained uneasy. He could easily dismiss Jiang Xiwen’s first rescue of Gong Xiang as coincidence, but even a one percent chance was enough to warrant caution. If the Jiang and Zhang families were lifelong friends, then that incident was no accident, and perhaps the quarrel between Jiang Xiwen and Zhang Ya’s mother in front of Zhenxing Teahouse was also a staged display for Lao Qi and the others.

Such suspicions didn’t stem from mere paranoia. Liu Dashan had repeatedly tempted Zhang Yong with shares to approve his private school project, only to be sternly refused each time. Courtesy before coercion had always been his principle. Deputy Mayor Zhang Yong had received his threats more than once—warnings that Zhang Ya could be in danger at any time. He never needed to show his face; Zhang Yong could easily guess who was behind it, yet was powerless.

Yet no matter how many warnings Zhang Yong received, he didn't care, making Liu Dashan suspect the deputy mayor had powerful allies behind him.

Reflecting now, if Zhang Yong had used his connections to learn in advance about Liu Dashan's plan to kidnap the son of the city education committee director, Gong Xiang, and sent a threat, then Jiang Xiwen’s timely appearance at the scene that day was likely prearranged.

From Fang Sixiang and his son Liu Fan, Liu Dashan learned that though Jiang Xiwen was still a child, he was sharp and clever. Of course, this wasn’t their exact wording, but Liu Dashan had a knack for finding truth in their words.

Furthermore, both Lao Qi and Hei Pi were easily defeated by Jiang Xiwen. If Zhang Yong entrusted this fifteen-year-old, even risking his own daughter’s safety to stage a kidnapping to confuse Liu Dashan, then it was entirely plausible.

His plan to kidnap Gong Xiang and Zhang Ya was merely a scare tactic for the two fathers who had the power to approve his private school, with no real intent to harm the children. Perhaps Zhang Yong, knowing this mindset and trusting Jiang Xiwen’s abilities, felt bold enough to let his daughter be taken with Jiang Xiwen.

If all this were true, then Liu Dashan’s self-assured threats would become a joke to Zhang Yong, whose only purpose was to seize the chance to gather evidence and bring Liu Dashan down.

The more Liu Dashan thought, the more anxious he became. He didn’t know how much evidence Zhang Yong had already collected. He picked up the phone and dialed the number of that driver boss.

“Brother, it’s Lao Jiu. Please recount in detail the events from the last two times we grabbed Gong Xiang and Zhang Ya.”

Liu Dashan wanted to review the scenes, hoping either his suspicions were wrong, or if Zhang Yong truly was so formidable, he could analyze the details to judge whether any evidence exposed him as the mastermind.

After Lao Ning finished and hung up, Liu Dashan rubbed his temples, leaned back in his recliner, and closed his eyes to rest.

Ah, after all these years in the underworld, this was the first time he had encountered such a bizarre situation—a deputy mayor with unfathomable depths, a mysterious student, two families joined by generations…

The tangled thoughts swirled in Liu Dashan’s mind, all rooted in his stubborn temperament. He had always believed there was nothing in Yangjiang he couldn’t accomplish.

Opening a private school was a lucrative project, but not essential. After repeated failures with monetary persuasion, he naturally resorted to his other methods—force and intimidation.

Of course, he never needed to appear personally. A hint to the target, then sending Lao Qi’s gang to threaten them, and no one dared resist.

Liu Dashan operated with principles—each matter was handled separately. He never coerced someone into becoming his pawn just because they had once yielded or accepted benefits, never stripping them of their freedom.

Such a style reduced risk and allowed him, a businessman navigating both the underworld and legitimate circles, to enjoy smooth success.

Liu Dashan couldn't remember how many years it had been since he last tasted regret, but now he wished time could turn back. If so, he’d never apply for a private school, nor play such a dangerous game as kidnapping.

No matter how he tried, he couldn’t find any clues in the two kidnappings to prove that Jiang Xiwen and Zhang Yong acted intentionally, nor any evidence that could reveal himself to Jiang Xiwen, who might then inform Zhang Yong.

The more elusive the evidence, the greater his fear—the guilty conscience of a villain now clearly manifesting in Liu Dashan, the self-styled black-market hero.

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Scheming breeds self-inflicted wounds.

No matter how they plotted, Jiang Xiwen remained oblivious and indifferent. That night, he received genuinely good news: Deputy Mayor Zhang Yong called personally to tell him Tian Weidong would come to Yangjiang before the lunar new year.

It turned out Fan Qiang hadn’t lied, so how would he play out this drama? If Tian Weidong arrived in Yangjiang, even with a bit of fanfare, the news would surely cover it. This entrepreneur who rose from Yangjiang was always a local pride. No matter how Fan Qiang disguised it, the real Tian Weidong could not be concealed.

How amusing! Jiang Xiwen was nothing like Liu Dashan; he never bothered to puzzle out such matters. When the time came, he’d meet challenges head-on, determined to secure the 1.6 million owed to him.

After Zhang Yong hung up, Zhang Ya called next. The girl’s voice was especially soft, clearly not wanting her parents to overhear. She quickly reminded Jiang Xiwen to finish reviewing her notes for tomorrow’s physics exam, and he heard her mother calling in the background.

“I can’t talk now, goodbye! Good luck!” Beep...

Physics was no difficulty for Jiang Xiwen. In the first days after his rebirth, he had already reviewed all his middle school textbooks.

The next day’s exam took him only half an hour to complete. As Jiang Xiwen idly doodled on his scratch paper, Zhang Ya quietly slid her test closer.

Jiang Xiwen didn’t even glance, continuing his own work, outlining the next volume of “The Legend of the Ethereal.”

“This honest blockhead! Won’t he even copy? I’m practically offering him a peek, and he won’t look.” Zhang Ya grew anxious.

After half an hour of scribbling, Jiang Xiwen resolved a plot point and, satisfied, packed up his test, preparing to leave.

“Hey, what are you doing? If you can’t answer, just copy mine…” Zhang Ya’s voice was barely audible, but Jiang Xiwen heard her clearly.

“No need, I finished all your notes, and I can handle these questions.” Jiang Xiwen replied truthfully.

Zhang Ya frowned, worried. “Don’t worry, I won’t tell the teacher. Yesterday you offended Wen, and plenty of teachers noticed you. Today’s exam matters even more.”

Jiang Xiwen smiled at her, said nothing, and took his test to the front. Zhang Ya grabbed his sleeve, angry: “Jiang Xiwen, are you listening or not? If you keep this up, I really won’t bother with you anymore.”

Jiang Xiwen rolled his eyes. Dealing with this beauty was far more troublesome than the physics exam.

“Jiang Xiwen, Zhang Ya, what’s going on over there?” The physics teacher, sensing something amiss, shot a sharp look their way.

“Teacher, I’m handing in my test.” Jiang Xiwen gratefully escaped Zhang Ya’s grasp and strode to the podium.

“So soon?” The teacher was surprised. The whole class was surprised. Only Zhang Ya was anxiously annoyed, frustrated by this reckless boy.

The diligent teacher finished grading before noon, and results were announced in the afternoon. When Jiang Xiwen’s score was read, Zhang Ya’s heart raced, but this time not from worry, but shock. Jiang Xiwen had earned a perfect score.

Not only Zhang Ya—all the students and even the teacher were astonished by Jiang Xiwen’s achievement. But after his previous victories in computer competitions and verbal duels with Wen, they quickly accepted it.

Jiang Xiwen was a true prodigy, with anything possible happening around him.

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With everyone staring at him, Jiang Xiwen felt a jolt of anxiety. Life had been too pleasant lately—writing novels, teasing beauties, and even a few shortsighted types like Wen helping spread his reputation.

Adversity breeds vigilance, comfort leads to complacency. The easy life had made him forget to intentionally make a few mistakes. He resolved not to get careless in the final exams, lest he accidentally take first place.

Although Liu Fan’s grades were decent, he was more depressed than the last-place student. He’d planned, per his father’s instructions, to console Jiang Xiwen after the scores came out, help him with some difficult problems, and subtly probe his thoughts.

But now, Liu Fan was utterly dumbfounded, and all his prepared lines went unsaid.

Time flowed swiftly, and soon it was a sunny Sunday. Jiang Xiwen hummed a tune that had somehow lodged itself in his mind as he headed to Yangjiang Teachers’ University, where he was to meet a great beauty—Yu Ziqing.

Turning the corner, Jiang Xiwen spotted her by the stone statue at the gate, graceful and poised. She noticed him and waved with a bright smile.

That wave drew the hungry gazes of nearby male students, shifting from lustful to naked jealousy.

Jiang Xiwen strode across the street, grinning as he approached Yu Ziqing. One particularly hateful glare caught his attention—it was an old acquaintance, the Romance of the Three Kingdoms enthusiast from the computer room.

The murderous look revealed all his thoughts: How unlucky I am whenever I run into this brat. Last time I lost two hundred yuan, now he’s snatched my beloved beauty.

Of course, “snatched” was just his own fantasy. For Yu Ziqing, he always kept a respectful distance—in other words, he admired her from afar.

My beauties, what rich material! Jiang Xiwen ignored the Three Kingdoms youth, absorbed in plotting a scenario: if Zhang Ya and Yu Ziqing both became a certain protagonist’s lovers, that would make a brilliant urban web novel.

A sudden screech of brakes pierced the air.

Damn, that familiar sound—could that driver boss be back? Jiang Xiwen looked toward the noise, but this time it was a fiery three-wheeled vehicle. After the screech, its engine roared, and its braking point was right where Yu Ziqing stood.

Jiang Xiwen didn’t pause to think—he dashed forward.

Hell, such a good opportunity couldn’t be stolen by this kid! The Three Kingdoms youth was closer and faster, with sharp reflexes. He lunged ahead of Jiang Xiwen, reaching Yu Ziqing and grabbing her delicate arm, pulling hard.

All these thoughts, even “delicate arm,” flashed through Jiang Xiwen’s mind in that millisecond. He felt more and more suited to being a novelist, never forgetting to write even in a crisis.

The next instant, accompanied by a tearing sound, the Three Kingdoms youth began to regret his pride in quick reactions. Yu Ziqing’s corduroy pants caught on the vehicle, and his tug ripped away a large strip of fabric.

Unfortunately, at this moment, his reflexes suddenly faltered. He stared blankly at the torn pants. Though there was another layer underneath, nothing scandalous was revealed, but his gaze was enough for Yu Ziqing to brand him a pervert.

“You… scoundrel…” Yu Ziqing’s face turned crimson with shame and anger.

All the “wolfish” gazes from nearby shifted onto the Three Kingdoms youth. They sprang into action—saving a beauty, though clichéd, was the dream of every hopeful young man.

“Ziqing!” This time, Jiang Xiwen was faster. He took off his coat, wrapped it around Yu Ziqing’s legs, hailed a taxi, and pulled her inside.