The duel was set.
Ye Qiu calculated the time, twenty days until August fifteenth.
He planned to visit Tianlong Temple to study the Six Meridians Divine Sword manual and accompany Lin Jingzhi to buy jade in Dali, plenty of time for both.
After getting out of the car, he said, “Lin, book tickets now, we leave for Dali tomorrow morning.”
“Got it,” Lin Jingzhi nodded.
“Cousin, what’re you and sis-in-law doing in Dali?” Qian Duoduo asked, puzzled.
Lin Jingzhi replied, “I’m buying a batch of jade.”
“How about taking me along?” Qian Duoduo said, “I’m bored out of my mind at home.”
This guy wasn’t just a simp, he was a jobless drifter.
“You can come, but what about that girl in the hospital? You bailing on her?” Ye Qiu asked.
Last night at Platinum Club, after Xiao Tao got hurt, Qian Duoduo took her to the hospital.
“Cousin, don’t talk nonsense, Xiao Tao and I are clean,” Qian Duoduo said, “I told her we’re just friends, not lovers.”
“Why?”
Ye Qiu was stunned. Last night, he saw Qian Duoduo was into Xiao Tao, and she seemed to like him back.
They could’ve leveled up from friends, so why’d Qian Duoduo pass?
Qian Duoduo said, “I date for marriage. I can’t give Xiao Tao that commitment, so I won’t waste her time.”
Huh, this guy’s got *principles*?
Surprising!
Ye Qiu was about to praise him when Qian Duoduo added, “I only love my goddess.”
“Who’s that?” Ye Qiu asked.
Qian Duoduo grinned, “Cousin, no need to pry. When the time’s right, I’ll bring her to meet you.”
Ye Qiu recalled Qian Duoduo’s diary and warned, “Duoduo, in love, men and women are equals. Don’t grovel to girls, or you’ll end up with nothing.”
Qian Duoduo bristled, “Cousin, what’s that mean? You calling me a simp?”
“Aren’t you?” Ye Qiu shot back.
Qian Duoduo said, “Cousin, you’re off base. Loving someone makes me a simp? She goes to hotels with others using *my* money, isn’t that love?”
Ye Qiu: “…”
Lin Jingzhi: “…”
Not just a simp, a *doomed* simp!
Speechless!
Ye Qiu changed the subject, “Duoduo, that card Ma Dong’s dad gave tonight has ten million.”
“Keep five million, give the other five to Shiyu.”
“She’s just divorced, raising a kid alone, she’ll need cash.”
Qian Duoduo said, “Keep it all for Shiyu. I don’t need money now.”
“Up to you.”
Ye Qiu took Lin Jingzhi back to their room, and soon, a fiery showdown erupted inside.
Qian Duoduo drove off, leaving the Qian estate for his own place.
On the way, a thought struck.
“Sis-in-law’s buying jade in Dali. Should I grab some too, get in on her business?”
“They all call me useless, even that creep Gao Fei looks down on me. I’ve gotta make something of myself.”
“But jade takes capital, and I’m broke!”
He had the ten-million-yuan card, but that was for Qian Shiyu.
Besides that, just the five million Sun Wu paid as compensation.
“Five million’s not enough for jade. Gotta figure something out.”
Qian Duoduo’s eyes lit up with a plan.
Knock, knock!
Back at his villa, he rapped on Guo Yuting’s door, calling, “Mom, you asleep?”
“Not yet, watching TV,” Guo Yuting replied from inside.
Qian Duoduo entered, saw Guo Yuting lounging on the sofa watching TV, no sign of Qian Weidong.
“Where’s Dad?” he asked.
“Out drinking with business partners,” Guo Yuting said, “Grandpa wants us back at the estate. Your dad and I talked, we’ll pick an auspicious day to move in a few days.”
Qian Duoduo’s eyes gleamed, “Mom, what about this house?”
“What else? It’s yours, for when you get married.”
“Mom, this place is barely a few years old, but by the time I marry, it’ll be dated. Not great for a wedding house.”
In Suzhou tradition, newlyweds usually got a new house.
Guo Yuting nodded, “Fair point. We’ll sell it later, buy you a new one when you’re ready.”
“Cool,” Qian Duoduo said, then shifted gears, “Mom, with all the family drama lately, you must be wiped out, right?”
Guo Yuting smiled, “I’m fine. Your dad’s the one swamped, juggling family stuff and business, totally drained.”
“Mom, don’t play tough. Look at you, exhausted.”
“Seeing you like this breaks my heart.”
“Let me give you a massage!”
Before Guo Yuting could respond, Qian Duoduo started kneading her shoulders.
Guo Yuting was floored. No matter how much she’d complained about being tired before, Qian Duoduo never cared, never this attentive.
“Duoduo, what’s with the change these days?” she asked, suspicious.
Qian Duoduo sighed, “The stuff going down at home hit me hard. I reflected, realized I’ve been a total screw-up. Grown up and done nothing, always stressing you and Dad out. I feel awful.”
“Mom, I’ve decided, I’m gonna hustle, make something of myself, make you and Dad proud.”
Guo Yuting’s eyes welled up with joy.
“Oh, Mom, the family wealth’s all mine someday, right?” Qian Duoduo slipped in.
Guo Yuting laughed, “Yep, your dad and I grind for you.”
“So, technically, what you’re spending now is mine?”
Guo Yuting sensed a trap, “What’re you getting at?”
“Mom, if it’s gonna be mine eventually, using some savings now isn’t a big deal, right?”
“What? You’re eyeing our savings? I’ll whack you!”
…
Next morning, Ye Qiu, Lin Jingzhi, and Qian Duoduo flew south.
They landed in Dali at 2 p.m.
