The moment Qin Fen finished speaking, Wang Congcong exploded like a lit firecracker and jumped up to retort.
"Hey, I absolutely disagree with that! Jiang Cheng is a genuine gentleman—how could you slap him with the ridiculous label of scumbag?"
Hearing this, Qi Yuan immediately set down his wineglass.
He cleared his throat and, with a serious face, slapped palm against back of hand to add:
"Exactly. Look at Brother Cheng—while looking after the elder sister he's taking care of the younger sister too. So devoted—how could that be a scumbag? He's the very model of a good man. Old Qin, I can't agree with you either."
Seeing Qin Fen's bewildered look, Wang Zheng perked up as well.
Slapping his thigh he declared, "Right! And nine hundred million is pocket change to Brother Cheng. Even if ten sisters-in-law were expecting at once he wouldn't bat an eyelid—he could easily afford it!"
Chen Hao picked up the thread, nodding with a laugh, "Well said. To me, Brother Cheng's heart is big enough to give every good girl in the world a home. He's a totally different breed from a scumbag like you."
With the flattery now reaching this level,
Jiang Cheng laughed and swore, "Sounds fake, but why does it make me so happy?"
Watching them fire off line after line as if rehearsed, all fawning over Jiang Cheng,
Qin Fen pretended to vomit blood, clutching his chest in exaggeration.
He sighed, "Enough, you clowns. Jiang Cheng, they're clearly short of cash and afraid you'll vanish, so they're singing praises they don't believe. Don't let them con you."
The remark stirred a fresh wave of 'artillery fire'.
"We're Jiang Cheng's loyal fans—who wouldn't want a life like his?"
"We're telling the truth—stop smearing us!"
"Right, and you're not broke? If you're not, remember your starving brothers."
Under their concentrated barrage Qin Fen raised both hands in surrender, a big apologetic grin on his face.
"Brothers, my mistake—leave the free man alone, okay?"
With that, everyone burst out laughing.
Cigar in one hand, red wine in the other, they resumed their leisurely chat.
Minutes later, as if the liquor or the cigar smoke had gone to his head,
Chen Hao said meaningfully, "Speaking of lives, Brother Qin—abroad a human life costs only a million."
The words silenced the lively room in an instant.
The relaxed atmosphere froze over.
A heavy tension seemed to press down on the air.
All eyes snapped toward Chen Hao.
Realizing he'd said something he shouldn't,
Chen Hao's throat went dry. He coughed awkwardly, scrambling to explain.
"Why stare at me? I didn't mean—don't read into it."
He was right: it could mean eliminating someone for a million.
Or it could mean child-support—settle for a million.
But they all knew that with Qin Fen's background a court battle would cost far more.
So the remark pointed clearly to the first, darker meaning.
Everyone understood, yet no one spoke.
They looked at Qin Fen.
After all, he was the one at the centre.
His playful smile vanished; his face darkened.
He caught the implication.
Given his family history,
This wasn't new to him.
In fact, among everyone present,
No one would believe their clans were spotless.
In the ultra-rich circle, who could swear their hands were clean?
Qin Fen stared at Chen Hao for several seconds, then answered in a low, forceful tone,
"Don't joke about that. If the child is really mine, I'll support it—I can afford to."
Jiang Cheng exhaled cigar smoke, regarding Qin Fen with new respect.
Recalling his earlier words,
Clearly Qin Fen had once cared.
Chen Hao apologized profusely, "Sorry, Brother Qin—too much to drink…"
Wang Zheng stepped in to smooth things over, laughing,
"Right, we're all brothers here. One kid or two, it's nothing to you, Qin. Go for another!"
"Get lost—" Qin Fen swore with a laugh…
Time slipped past until after three, the winter sun growing lazy.
Jiang Cheng drove Si Qing back to campus.
With Si Nian in class, Jiang Cheng didn't linger; after a quick goodbye he turned the car toward the villa.
After days away he rolled slowly into the estate.
Through the windshield he spotted Xia Li standing quietly by the gate.
Tall and straight as a plum blossom defying frost,
Her lovely eyes fixed on the approaching driveway, as if waiting.
The cold wind lifted her hair, adding grace to her poise.
Once the car stopped she stepped forward to open the door for him.
Instead of avoiding him as usual, she greeted him with her customary smile.
Jiang Cheng raised an eyebrow, faint surprise flickering in his eyes.
But he quickly sensed her smile held more respect than usual, the deference of a subordinate to her boss.
Sensing this, he made no comment,
Only gave her a discreet once-over.
"You're under-dressed; go inside before you freeze," he said, heading in.
Watching his retreating figure, Xia Li stood frozen, thoughts racing.
She had agonised for days over what had happened.
Moments earlier, while he was still away, she had longed for him to forget it ever occurred.
She yearned for his attitude toward her to return to normal.
That hope had filled her mind seconds before.
Yet seeing his calm, unruffled manner stirred complicated feelings.
To him the incident seemed a mere ripple on still water.
His composure unsettled her.
But remembering he had told Wang Sheng to track down her enemy, warmth surged inside her.
In her eyes Jiang Cheng had always kept his word and cared for his people.
Recalling his earlier action, her cheeks flushed.
She told herself again it had only been an accident when he slipped.