Chapter 234: Uncle Zhong Makes His Move
It was already late, so Chen Man Ni said goodbye to her cousins, planning to head to the hotel first.
Although Lin Yushu was clearly reluctant to part, she had no choice but to leave for the time being.
"Let me tell you something, Qin Tuo! Don’t think you can walk all over our Manni just because she’s kind. If you dare do anything to wrong her, I swear I won’t let you get away with it!"
Lin Yushu tossed out one last threat before she left.
Qin Tuo just shook his head and smiled wryly.
’Do I really look that scummy?’ he wondered.
Lin Yuyan, on the other hand, was like a meek little white rabbit. She gave Qin Tuo a timid glance before leaving with her sister.
"Qin Tuo, my cousin is just like that. Please don’t mind her!"
After the others had gone, Chen Man Ni said with some concern.
Qin Tuo smiled and said,
"Manni, do you really think I’m that petty? Don’t worry, I won’t take it to heart!"
Hearing Qin Tuo’s words, Chen Man Ni finally felt a weight lift from her shoulders. She had been genuinely afraid he would take it to heart.
"Come on, Manni, let’s go find a hotel and get some rest!"
Qin Tuo placed a hand on Chen Man Ni’s shoulder, and they started walking.
As they were walking, Chen Man Ni couldn’t help but voice the question that had been puzzling her.
"Qin Tuo, I’m curious. Why do you always insist on hiding your abilities? Aren’t you just asking to be mistreated?"
In response to Chen Man Ni’s confusion, Qin Tuo said seriously,
"You’re mistaken, Manni. The truth is, I just don’t want to reveal my identity. I’d rather get what I need quickly and leave, to avoid any unnecessary complications."
But Chen Man Ni replied helplessly,
"But when you act like that, people look down on you. Doesn’t that bother you at all?"
Qin Tuo just smiled and said nonchalantly,
"Manni, I’ve been through things far more humiliating than this. Compared to that, this is nothing."
Seeing Qin Tuo’s nonchalant demeanor, Chen Man Ni felt a pang in her heart.
She couldn’t stop herself from reaching out to caress his face, her eyes filled with tenderness.
Qin Tuo smiled and said,
"Alright, it’s getting late, and today has been tiring. Let’s go to the hotel, get two rooms, and get to sleep!"
The moment she heard that, Chen Man Ni’s face turned bright red.
"Huh? Manni, what’s that look for?"
Qin Tuo asked, genuinely curious.
Chen Man Ni lowered her head and mumbled shyly,
"Qin Tuo, there are three of us, and you’re getting two rooms... Isn’t that a little... improper? We’re not married yet, after all..."
Her voice trailed off, becoming almost inaudible by the end.
Qin Tuo broke into a knowing smile, finally understanding where her thoughts had gone.
He deliberately feigned confusion and asked,
"That’s right. Is there a problem, Manni? Long Wu and I will take one room, and you’ll have the other. That’s two rooms. Unless... you were thinking of something else?"
Hearing this, Long Wu, who was standing behind them, struggled to suppress his laughter, his shoulders shaking.
Chen Man Ni was instantly mortified and furious. She glared at Qin Tuo and snapped,
"You’re the one with the dirty mind, Qin Tuo! Hmph, I’m not talking to you anymore!"
With that, she stomped her foot and hurried off, fleeing in embarrassment.
Qin Tuo watched her retreating figure and couldn’t help but burst into laughter.
...
「Provincial City. The Jiang Family Villa.」
Dressed in pajamas, Jiang Mingfeng paced restlessly around his room. His face was livid, his anger barely contained.
"Damn it, it’s been this long. Why isn’t there any news yet?"
Jiang Mingfeng muttered to himself, his hands hidden in his sleeves and clenched into tight fists.
It had been a good while since he’d sent out the assassins, yet there hadn’t been a single word from them!
Jiang Mingfeng’s heart sank as a sense of foreboding washed over him.
After a while, unable to bear it any longer, he called for his butler, Uncle Zhong.
Soon, Uncle Zhong the butler entered the room, his steps quick and urgent.
The moment he saw Jiang Mingfeng’s expression, Uncle Zhong’s heart sank. He knew something was wrong.
Jiang Mingfeng asked in a heavy voice,
"Have you heard anything from our men?"
However, Uncle Zhong shook his head, his expression grave. He said,
"Patriarch, I have not received any news."
At these words, Jiang Mingfeng’s heart dropped, and his expression turned foul.
He said slowly,
"It seems my fears were justified. Something must have gone wrong. Otherwise, they would have succeeded long ago."
The room fell silent. Uncle Zhong slowly raised his head and said seriously,
"Patriarch, how about this? I can take a few men and make a trip to Jin City myself."
As he spoke, Uncle Zhong’s eyes narrowed, and a cold light glinted within them.
Jiang Mingfeng considered this for a moment, then nodded gravely.
"Good, Uncle Zhong. You should go yourself. I have the utmost confidence in you!"
Uncle Zhong may have looked old, but he was as hale and hearty as ever.
Most importantly, Jiang Mingfeng had absolute confidence in Uncle Zhong’s abilities!
Years ago, the Jiang Family had been ambushed by a large and powerful force. Their attack was so ferocious that the family was on the verge of annihilation.
But at the critical moment, Uncle Zhong single-handedly eliminated more than a dozen of the enemy’s masters. If not for him, the Jiang Family would likely have been wiped out.
Jiang Mingfeng even felt that sending Uncle Zhong to deal with Qin Tuo was a bit of a waste of his talents—like using a sledgehammer to crack a nut.
But he had no other choice. Jiang Mingfeng knew that if he didn’t take swift and decisive action to eliminate Qin Tuo, his wife, Liao Zhiyun, would likely scold him to death.
"I’m counting on you, Uncle Zhong. Please take care of this as quickly as possible, so I can have some peace of mind."
Jiang Mingfeng let out a heavy sigh.
He had been under immense pressure lately.
His son had been crippled, which already made him furious. Having to endure the additional pressure from his wife’s family was giving him a massive headache.
Uncle Zhong nodded and said gravely,
"Rest assured, Patriarch. I will not fail you."
With that, he turned and left.
Staring out at the night sky, Jiang Mingfeng narrowed his eyes and muttered to himself.
’Qin Tuo, oh, Qin Tuo... With Uncle Zhong himself taking action, I don’t care who’s protecting you. Your life is forfeit!’
「The next morning.」
Qin Tuo woke up early, his mind preoccupied with purchasing the medicinal herbs.
He went to Chen Man Ni’s room and knocked, discovering that she was still sound asleep.
After he woke Chen Man Ni, Lin Yuyan also arrived.
"Cousin, let me drive you to Jishi Hall. I’m worried you won’t know how to get there!"
Qin Tuo immediately nodded in thanks.
Just then, Lin Yuyan walked up to Chen Man Ni and said with a mischievous grin,
"Cousin, did you and Qin Tuo sleep in the same room last night?"