C3 Thank You for Your Patronage

Shaang Peiyan stood frozen for a couple of seconds, quickly checking himself over. When he looked up again, a large phone screen was thrust in front of his face, displaying a QR code.

He squinted slightly, a mischievous smile playing on his lips. With a single finger, he gently pushed the phone aside. Behind it was a girl wearing a baseball cap, a hoodie, skinny jeans, and canvas shoes, flashing him a sweet smile.

"Thanks for your business, five million bucks!"

Peiyan blinked in surprise, tilting his head for another look. The girl was even more stunning than her voice suggested. Her face was delicate and fair, with a cute nose and rosy lips. Her eyes were as clear and bright as a deer's, captivating at first glance.

He cleared his throat, adopting his usual playful tone, a hint of mischief in his smile. "How did you pull that off?"

Chiang Ci glanced quickly at him. Broad shoulders, narrow hips, long legs, dressed in a custom suit, and a striking face with alluring eyes, a prominent nose, and a smooth jawline. Too bad... that smile didn’t exactly scream 'trustworthy.'

"I graduated from Hogwarts! Why do you care so much? Hurry up, mister, I've got things to do!" The girl tugged at her cap, possibly rolling her eyes.

"Mister?" Peiyan's mouth twitched, struggling to maintain his smile. This sharp-tongued kid. He held back a sigh, silently transferring the money to her.

The way he didn't haggle at all pleased Jiang Ci. When she received the notification of the payment, her face lit up with a smile. She put away her phone and took a couple of steps back.

"Mister, be more careful when you're out and about. Not everyone you meet will be as kind-hearted as I am!"

Taking advantage of a moment when he wasn't paying attention, she quickly turned and ran off, darting away like a joyful little deer, disappearing from sight in no time.

Shang Peiyan watched her retreating figure, a charming smile playing on his lips. He touched his chin thoughtfully, his eyes glinting with curiosity. "A kind-hearted person who charges half a million?"

He turned to look at the building that had trapped him earlier. The midday sun reflected brightly off the glass facade. Security guards were rushing nervously toward the entrance, while some onlookers gathered to take photos.

Glancing down at the transaction record on his phone, he chuckled softly, a sound barely audible yet full of intrigue. "Jiang Ci... until we meet again."

After sprinting for a bit, Jiang Ci was out of breath. The car accident had left her body with some lingering issues. She rested for a moment, hands on her knees, before finding a nearby noodle shop for lunch.

As she was savoring the rich broth of her pork ribs, her phone buzzed. She glanced at it to see a call from her stepmother, Jane Yating.

If it weren't for the fact that she still had six months until she turned eighteen, and her grandfather was in their hands, Jiang Ci wouldn't even bother with these three jerks. But for now, she had to grit her teeth and pick up the call.

"Come back early this afternoon," a bossy female voice commanded on the other end.

"Why?" she replied indifferently, taking another bite of her ribs.

"Today, your dad wants Xinxin to take you to a party. Young Master Lee from the Ai Shang Group will be there. Let me tell you, if it weren't for Young Master Lee asking for you to come along, you wouldn't even be invited to such an event. This is a rare opportunity for you, so make the most of it. In the future..."

Opportunity? Still part of the Jiang family? Already rushing to sell their daughter off. Jiang Ci was tired of the endless chatter. "Okay," she said, and hung up with a click.