I Have 10 Trillion Dollars only Usable For Simping
Chapter 229 - 226 At the roughest patch, follow the right path (Updated, asking for monthly passes!)

Chapter 229: 226 At the roughest patch, follow the right path (Updated, asking for monthly passes!)

"Brother Bai, how have those two been dealt with?"

Jiang Chen didn’t leave the bar; instead, he sat back down at the bar counter.

"Asked them to have a chat with our brothers from the Black community, broaden their horizons, and stop focusing all their attention on women."

Jiang Chen was taken aback, and a strange look crossed his face as he turned to Bai Haoran.

Bai Haoran, acting as if nothing was out of the ordinary, took a sip from his glass and locked eyes with Jiang Chen.

"Young Master Jiang, why are you looking at me like that?"

"It’s nothing."

Jiang Chen shook his head, lifted his glass of whiskey, and nodded towards the other man.

Bai Haoran, realizing what Jiang Chen meant, made a mock toast and said with a wry smile, "Young Master Jiang, don’t get me wrong, I definitely don’t have that kind of a fetish."

Jiang Chen smiled without responding, took a sip of his drink, and glanced over at Shi Qianxi.

The lady was sitting on the sofa, lost in thought, and hadn’t had any more to drink. He wondered what was on her mind.

"Young Master Jiang, didn’t succeed?" Bai Haoran suddenly asked.

"What?"

Bai Haoran hesitated for a moment but then said, "I thought that night..."

"How could that be."

Jiang Chen gave a wry smile, "I’m not that capable."

Bai Haoran was silent.

He had assumed that something must have happened after they left together that night, which was why he called her this evening upon seeing the young Miss Shi at the bar.

Even though the Shi Family had significant wealth and influence, in Bai Haoran’s eyes, this youth who was still an undergraduate at East Sea University might not be easily trifled with.

Otherwise.

Where would he get the courage to kidnap the heir to Jin Hai Industrial?

Bai Haoran had been involved in that kidnapping, taking quite a significant risk. He could easily deal with those two lowlifes from before, and likewise, if the head of Jin Hai Industrial wanted, crushing him would be as simple as flipping his hand.

But after weighing his options, he still decided to take a gamble.

Having struggled in society for many years, Bai Haoran realized one thing: as someone like him, without a foundation, connections, or financial power, relying solely on being "tough" wasn’t enough to rise very high.

After all, circumstances create heroes.

The days when one could conquer the world with just a pair of fists were long gone.

If he wanted to get ahead, he had to pay his respects, find a patron. He had always done so, but...

Luck hadn’t been on his side.

Still, he craved opportunities, so even though he knew it was a risky bet, he went all in. As for whether he had won yet, it was hard to say, but at least he hadn’t lost; at least he was still safe enough to sit here and have a drink.

"Brother Bai, when we first met, you said you had killed someone, was that true?"

Jiang Chen withdrew his gaze from Shi Qianxi, thinking it would be good to let that woman cool off on her own for a while.

Bai Haoran fell silent for a moment, then said, "I’m not as clever as Young Master Jiang, and back when I was in school, my mind wasn’t focused on the books. I didn’t even make it to high school and had to go to a vocational school instead. One time in the dorm, I was cornered by a few students from another class that I had a beef with, and they beat me up badly. In a fit of rage, I grabbed a fruit knife, with the sole thought of making them pay. As a result, they all ended up in the hospital, and one of them suffered fatal injuries and died."

Jiang Chen’s expression shifted slightly.

"Since I was a minor at the time and also it was considered excessive self-defense, I only spent a few years in a juvenile detention center. But with that kind of reputation, I definitely couldn’t stay in my hometown, so I thought of making a new start in East Sea."

Bai Haoran lifted his glass and took a sip of his drink.

"Over the years, I’ve followed some bosses, serving as their pawn and doing some dirty work in the shadows, so I’ve earned some hard money and even gained a bit of notoriety for it. Of course, It also led to my frequent ’reeducation’ stints."

Jiang Chen let out a wry smile.

"But you see, for a grassroots guy like me from a small place, who would ever really consider me significant? They just treat me like a dog that can be bought with a bone, so Mr. Jiang, I truly don’t deserve to be called Brother Bai by you."

Bai Haoran was indeed not a good man.

But Jiang Chen had long passed the age of hating evil with a vengeance.

The world has never been simply black and white.

The high-ranking officials in their temples, the powerful overlords controlling the elements, the wealthy merchants dominating their industries... how many of them can stand guilt-free, daring to expose what lies beneath them to the harsh sunlight?

"Brother Bai, your past is much more tumultuous than mine."

Jiang Chen raised his glass.

"However, I’ve always believed that all sufferings will eventually bear fruit at some point in the future, don’t you think?"

Bai Haoran didn’t speak, just clinked glasses with him.

"To the years."

Jiang Chen tipped his head back and downed nearly half a glass of whiskey.

Bai Haoran was even more forthright, drinking his down in one gulp.

Coming from nothing and struggling in the unfathomable East Sea without being played to death or losing limbs was proof enough that, educated or not, this man was certainly not foolish.

Although it was left unsaid, he understood that Jiang Chen was now truly treating him as a friend.

Despite not having spent much time together, from Liang Zhenlun’s descriptions and his own observations, he believed this young man with the extraordinary background was not as cold-hearted as the typical rich second-generation.

Just like Zhen Lun, although he also addressed him as Brother Bai, Bai Haoran understood that was just courtesy.

But the young man drinking with him now was different.

He had heard of the other’s reputation as a lapdog, dedicated to a mercenary girl to such an extent, showing a sense of loyalty and righteousness.

That was why he dared to make such a risky bet.

Fortune favors the bold.

In life, there aren’t too many opportunities; if you don’t seize them when they come, they might never come again.

"Brother Bai, you are older than me and have far more social experience; I should be learning from you..."

"Mr. Jiang, feel free to speak your mind."

Jiang Chen pinched his glass, suspending it in mid-air.

"I think, no matter what environment we live in, we need to have our own principles and bottom line. How does that saying go? ’On the roughest path, walk the righteous road.’ Brother Bai, don’t you agree?"

On the roughest path.

Walk the righteous road.

Bai Haoran’s pupils slightly contracted, then he gazed at the young man’s serene smiling face.

"Thank you for the guidance, Mr. Jiang."

"To drinking."

Jiang Chen lifted his glass.

Miss Shi had indeed great patience, having sat alone for over half an hour without any sign of leaving.

Jiang Chen was almost out of patience himself.

Finally, she seemed bored and called the waiter over.

Jiang Chen thought she was going to pay and leave, but instead, he saw her say something to the waiter, who then took out a cell phone, listened to her, and started dialing a number.

Then,

Jiang Chen’s phone rang.

He pulled it out to look and saw it was an unfamiliar number.

"Hello?"

"Is this Mr. Jiang Chen? Your friend is still waiting for you. When will you be coming back?"

Jiang Chen’s eye twitched, he took a deep breath, "I’ll be right there."

No sooner had he spoken than he hung up the phone, set down his glass, and stood up to walk over.

Bai Haoran sat at the bar, continuing to drink his own alcohol.

"Miss, your friend said he would be right..."

The waitress hadn’t finished speaking when footsteps were already approaching.

Seeing Jiang Chen reappear so quickly, Miss Shi didn’t seem surprised at all.

"Figured it out? If you did, pay the bill and hurry back."

Jiang Chen knew why she had the waitress call him; his number had been blacklisted by her.

"I didn’t bring any money."

"..."

"..."

The waitress fell silent.

Jiang Chen fell silent as well.

"You didn’t bring money, so what are you doing drinking?"

Jiang Chen felt a headache coming on.

Some people never change.

Not having money is not the problem.

The key is, why the hell did you ditch your bodyguard when you knew you were broke?

Shi Qianxi turned her head away, refusing to look at him.

With no other choice, Jiang Chen could only help her settle the tab.

The waitress left.

"Why are you still sitting? Let’s go!"

Miss Shi obediently got up.

Jiang Chen led her out without bothering to bid farewell to Bai Haoran.

"Jiang Chen, I knew you wouldn’t leave me hanging."

Miss Shi said softly, clearly guessing that Jiang Chen hadn’t left.

"Do you know if your mother finds out about this, I’m going to be in big trouble?"

"I know, you’re pretending."

Jiang Chen paused mid-step, bewildered, and turned around, "Pretending what?"

"You’re not even afraid of me; how could you be afraid of my mother."

Jiang Chen almost laughed.

He really didn’t know whether to call her crazy or self-aware.

He decided not to reply and quickened his pace.

Exiting the bar, the air instantly felt fresher.

He exhaled heavily and said coldly, "This is the last time, no matter what happens after this, I will..."

Shi Qianxi didn’t bother to let him finish.

"Can you give me a ride home?"

"Impossible."

Jiang Chen instantly refused, decisively and coldly.

"Aren’t you very particular about following traffic rules? I’ve been drinking, I can’t drive."

She had been sitting for over half an hour, her inebriation seemed to have faded quite a bit, and her mind was quite sharp.

"Sorry, I’ve had a drink as well."

"What should we do, then?"

Shi Qianxi shifted her eyes. Jiang Chen was already familiar with her antics and before she could come up with some new scheme, he quickly said, "You better call for a designated driver immediately."

"I don’t have any money."

"..."

Jiang Chen nearly couldn’t help but throw up his hands in exasperation.

"Has your mother not unfrozen your cards?"

"Yes."

Miss Shi nodded her head.

Jiang Chen took a deep breath, took out his phone, and called for a designated driver, then almost dragged her by the arm to next to the Aston Martin, opened the car door, and shoved her in.

"The designated driver will be here soon, wait inside."

Miss Shi didn’t mind his rudeness and sat obediently in the car, looking out at the young man and asking, "Jiang Chen, you obviously care about me, so why pretend to be so fierce?"

Jiang Chen didn’t respond.

He pulled out a card from his pocket and threw it in.

"What’s this?"

Shi Qianxi picked up the bank card with confusion.

"Your mother gave it to me, there’s one million inside, the PIN is your birthday."

Shi Qianxi was stunned.

"Then why are you giving it to me?"

"Aren’t you out of money? And how would I know your birthday?"

Jiang Chen really didn’t have the energy to communicate further with this lady; another minute with her, and he worried he might lose a year off his life.

"I’ve returned whats from your family, goodbye, and never see you again."

He closed the car door and walked away.

Shi Qianxi, holding the card, moved closer to the window, peering out at the receding figure.

"Pfft..."

She suddenly laughed, her eyes softening.