"By the way, Brother Cheng, the one who spoke to you before boarding was from the Lin family, right? He looked like Lin Chen."
Jiang Cheng didn't respond, only nodding nonchalantly as his fingertips lightly swirled the champagne glass on the table.
It was just a simple nod, but it made Qin Fen and Wang Zheng, who were busy with their own tasks, stop their movements almost simultaneously.
The wine glass in Qin Fen's hand clinked lightly against the edge of the table, the force subtle but revealing an imperceptible tension.
He subconsciously leaned forward, his voice kept extremely low, carrying a few hints of unbelievable probing: "Brother Cheng, Brother Wang, what you're talking about... couldn't be that Lin family in Kyoto, right?"
Wang Congcong's expression seemed calm, but his heart was actually surging with waves.
When he had pestered his father to ask about Jiang Cheng's identity, his father only gave a vague sentence: "His foundation is much deeper than ours."
Because of this, he had always been flattering Jiang Cheng.
However, he had never truly grasped Jiang Cheng's bottom line.
Until this moment, confirming that the person standing beside Jiang Cheng just now was Lin Chen, the bit of luck and speculation in his heart was completely shattered.
He let out a soft breath, quickly glanced at the indifferent Jiang Cheng, and instantly adjusted his state.
He turned to look at Qin Fen and Wang Zheng, even deliberately raising an eyebrow, his tone carrying a bit of playful guidance: "Didn't you two look closely just now? Brother Cheng just patted Lin Chen's shoulder."
As soon as these words came out, the cabin instantly fell into a dead silence.
Qin Fen and Wang Zheng's expressions changed instantly, the relaxed energy from before vanished without a trace, and their eyes were full of shock and disbelief.
What kind of existence was the Kyoto Lin family?
They were a family truly standing at the top of the pyramid.
Looking at the entire circle, there were very few who could sit on equal footing with the Lin family.
And Lin Chen was the pillar of the Lin family's current generation.
Deep-minded and with a strong aura, he had always been an existence everyone looked up to in the circle.
How many descendants of prominent families had to restrain their sharpness when they saw him, speaking cautiously and to the point.
Even taking the initiative to talk required careful consideration, let alone the action of patting a shoulder.
Both of their gazes shot toward Jiang Cheng, the doubt and awe in their eyes even greater.
They knew too well that in their social circle, a shoulder pat was never a simple "closeness," nor did it have anything to do with the depth of friendship; it was a silent display of status, a direct manifestation of confidence and posture.
When they first met Jiang Cheng, they had also unintentionally patted his shoulder.
But that was when they didn't know Jiang Cheng's specific identity.
But now, even if Jiang Cheng was still gentle and had never mistreated them due to the difference in status, nor used them as tools.
They no longer dared to easily make such a move.
It wasn't that they were afraid Jiang Cheng would get angry, but a kind of awe from the bottom of their hearts.
It was a sense of propriety that naturally arose after subtly recognizing the gap between the two sides.
Combined with Wang Congcong's expression and Jiang Cheng's action of patting Lin Chen's shoulder, in other words... Brother Cheng's family background was even higher than the Lin family's?
Qin Fen leaned back into the sofa, a soft hiss escaping his throat.
"I only thought he was Brother Cheng's friend in Kyoto... I didn't look closely."
Wang Zheng followed suit: "Me too, I was just busy looking at my phone and didn't take it in."
The three of them didn't discuss loudly anymore, but the gazes falling on Jiang Cheng one after another...
Had already changed from "admiration" to deep, bottomless awe.
Seeing the three of them become somewhat cautious, Jiang Cheng gave a helpless smile: "What's going on? It's just a shoulder pat, is it enough to make you this nervous?"
The three of them hadn't recovered from the shock in their hearts; hearing this, they all stiffened, looking at each other, for a moment not knowing how to respond.
The sense of awe weighed on their hearts, and even the usually most boisterous Wang Congcong didn't dare to speak easily.
After about two seconds of silence, Wang Congcong finally steadied himself, lowering his voice deliberately, and looked at Jiang Cheng with an earnest gaze.
His tone no longer had any hint of a joke: "Brother Cheng, I heard... the Xu Family seems to be backed by the Lin family?"
Jiang Cheng looked up at him, his expression unchanged.
He only indifferently replied with one word: "Hmm? What about it?"
This "what about it" further confirmed the three's thoughts.
So Jiang Cheng wasn't afraid of the Lin family at all.
Qin Fen immediately leaned forward, his tone full of caution, even his brows furrowed: "Then we've made such a big move this time, directly touching the Xu Family... will the Lin family step in to intervene?"
Qin Fen's words hit the thoughts of Wang Congcong and Wang Zheng.
On the side, Wang Zheng also subconsciously sat up straight, his back tense, a few hints of imperceptible anxiety hidden in his eyes, his gaze fixed on Jiang Cheng, waiting for his answer.
Jiang Cheng's fingertips lightly rubbed the rim of the champagne glass.
"Lin Chen and I stood on the tarmac for so long just now, and from beginning to end, he didn't even mention the Xu Family once."
Wang Congcong's brows furrowed slightly, the doubt in his heart even greater, as he tentatively pressed: "Brother Cheng, you mean... the Lin family won't take action?"
Jiang Cheng looked up, his gaze indifferently sweeping over the three, his tone nonchalant but carrying an unquestionable certainty:
"The Xu Family flaunts the Lin family's banner outside every day, but truthfully, they aren't even qualified to step through the door of the Lin family's true core."
After these words fell, the three fell into complete silence, no one daring to ask another question.
Qin Fen slowly leaned back against the back of the chair, his eyes darkening slightly, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the armrest, his eyes full of complexity.
The Xu Family's strength was no weaker than any of theirs present.
But in the Lin family's eyes, they weren't even worth mentioning.
This made them clearly realize for the first time:
This level of maneuvering was far more cruel and cold than they had imagined.
They also began to feel inexplicably apprehensive.
They were very clear in their hearts.
Jiang Cheng and those high and mighty people were different.
He was never arrogant towards them, nor did he have any airs.
In the face of interests, he had always been generous and never mistreated those around him.
But even so, they couldn't help but be afraid.
Afraid they had previously underestimated the weight of this game.
Even more afraid of accidentally standing on the wrong side or stepping on the wrong level, eventually ending up like the Xu Family.
Thinking they were backed by a great mountain, only to find out in the end they were just abandoned pieces others couldn't even be bothered to mention.
While the three were silent with their own thoughts, in the corner of the cabin, Chen Jiaxue and Zhao Yihan were lightly cleaning up the scattered cups and plates.
The two women's movements were so light they were almost silent, and even their breathing was very slow, for fear of disturbing the atmosphere here.
Their expressions were full of submissiveness, but inadvertently, they quickly exchanged a glance, both their eyes hiding an irrepressible shock.
They had followed Jiang Cheng for so long; before, they only thought he was a big shot with amazing wealth and generosity,
But it wasn't until today that they truly understood.
Characters like Wang Congcong and Qin Fen, who walked tall outside, had to be cautious and fearful in front of Jiang Cheng.
Chen Jiaxue lowered her eyes and said to Zhao Yihan in an extremely low whisper:
"Young Master Wang, Young Master Qin... they are all so afraid of Brother Cheng."
Zhao Yihan's heart pounded, and she also whispered back:
"I used to think Brother Cheng's family was just rich, I didn't expect... it was this terrifying."
Chen Jiaxue gave a soft "hmm," her gaze inconspicuously sweeping over the closed guest room door.
Chloe was inside, the person Jiang Cheng personally brought this time, and she was just staying with him.
She tilted her head slightly, reminding in an even softer whisper:
"When she wakes up later, let's be more sensible."
Zhao Yihan understood immediately, her gaze also lightly falling toward the guest room, whispering:
"You mean Chloe?"
Chen Jiaxue lightly patted the back of her hand, signaling her to be calm.
Her gaze inconspicuously swept over the closed guest room door, her tone lowering a few notches.
Carrying a bit of an instruction: "Don't panic, Chloe just woke up in the guest room. When she comes out later, we need to be even more sensible. Don't talk too much, don't cause trouble. Brother Cheng hates people who don't know their place the most."
Zhao Yihan's eyelashes fluttered, and she subconsciously leaned a little closer to Chen Jiaxue.
They had competed and compared before, but since that one time last month when they both stayed by Jiang Cheng's side together,
There was no more overt competition, only a kind of tacit understanding of being in the same boat and huddling together for warmth.
They both had no status or title; the only chance to stay by his side was on this plane.
Fighting was useless; being sensible, tactful, and not annoying him was the only way to stay for long.
Moreover, they really liked him.
It wasn't just for his money, but they had truly fallen for this man.
Zhao Yihan gave a soft response:
"I know, I will."
Chen Jiaxue looked at her, slightly relieved, and nodded gently.
The two stopped talking, just standing quietly in the corner,
Looking at Jiang Cheng with a bit more unwavering submissiveness.