Chapter 791: 38: Cannon Fodder in the Real World (38)

After all, they’re real brothers, born of the same father. If it were him, he’d probably take a few minutes to reminisce before making a move.

"Honestly, it’s not the first time I’ve seen you kill someone, but it’s the first time I’ve felt a bit... shaken."

"Bullshit, so much nonsense, what’s so shocking about it?"

Jiang Lai tossed the bag to the person next to him and said casually.

"Deal with it, throw it into the sea."

Into the sea...

Little Buding cautiously asked.

"Was it your brother who set you up and threw you into the sea, causing you to lose consciousness back then?"

Jiang Lai thought for a moment.

"Honestly, I can’t remember clearly, probably."

"How can you not remember this? Such a deep-seated hatred should be remembered for a lifetime."

"That’s why I killed him."

Jiang Li originally planned to fake his death to escape debts; now that he’s truly dead, all those debts naturally fell on the only survivor, Jiang Qi.

He still had some status in the entertainment industry, but in the face of this enormous debt, the little money he made was nothing.

Already struggling under the weight of debt, Jiang Qi was soon exposed for tax evasion, prompting the authorities to thoroughly investigate him.

They discovered that since his debut, Jiang Qi had evaded taxes amounting to billions, shocking the entire internet.

So much money was just the unpaid tax; it’s imaginable how much he must have earned.

Among these brothers, only Jiang Qi didn’t participate in the main business.

To outsiders, he definitely didn’t earn as much as Jiang Li and Jiang Che, but having been in the entertainment circle, Jiang Lai knew that with Jiang Qi’s current status, even a small listed company might not earn as much as he did.

As for the big bosses like Jiang Li and Jiang Che, who held shares, their liquid assets might not actually surpass Jiang Qi’s.

No wonder they’re brothers; when trouble arose, the first thought was to flee quickly.

Unfortunately, Jiang Qi was a step behind, and such a big scandal broke out before he could transfer his assets.

Now he has to make up the tax and pay triple the fines within three months, which all add up to Jiang Qi having to pay back tens of billions in taxes.

After paying this money, plus having sold off many assets previously to invest in the company to suppress Jiang Lai alongside Jiang Li.

After a series of operations, Jiang Lai calculated roughly.

Jiang Qi would end up bankrupt, heavily in debt at the end.

No need for her to do anything, his later life would be full of suffering.

Finally, there were just the brothers Jiang Xun and Jiang Zhuan left.

These two had witnessed Jiang Lai’s methods and left the country the day after Jiang Li’s death.

Jiang Lai didn’t make things difficult for them.

It’s not that she was kind, but these two brothers were always ostracized by the other Jiang Family brothers and never truly involved in the core industries of the Jiang Family, one being like a horse for Jiang Lai, the other carrying her bags and going shopping with her.

Thinking about it, Jiang Lai just let them leave.

Once gone, the two brothers would never return.

As for Jiang Xunshan, he lived a life of debauchery and never cared about the infighting among his children, wandering around the world all the time, and even if he heard about the recent happenings in the Jiang Family, it didn’t stop him from continuing his indulgence with women outside.

Jiang Lai never really showed filial piety towards him, so this time she decided to fulfill him.

So she sent someone to abduct Jiang Xunshan overseas and threw him into an underground market.

This place sold everything, both mainstream and niche.

She told the boss, with only one request, that he should never leave that place for the rest of his life.

Wasn’t he fond of women? Well, then, as he wished.

He could enjoy playing with different women for the rest of his life.

What happened to Jiang Xunshan later didn’t matter to anyone.

Just like he didn’t care about anyone.

When New Year’s Eve arrived, only Jiang Lai was left in the Jiang Family.

Winters here were very cold.

Mr. Huang had early on sent people to decorate the entire yard.

And then he went abroad.

Because the place Mr. Huang was most familiar with was still overseas; he grew up there, traveled all over the world, and now, in old age, the things he couldn’t let go of were still over there.

He asked Jiang Lai if she wanted to accompany him abroad for the New Year.

Jiang Lai declined.

She didn’t care much for celebrating the New Year; having lived for nearly a thousand years, she’d celebrated such festivals nearly a thousand times.

With different family members, different friends, in different places in different ways.

After the revelry, Jiang Lai always remained clear-headed.

It’s the same now; the New Year is just a reason for families to reunite, but like her, with no family or friends, there’s no need to join in the bustle.

After personally sending Mr. Huang to the airport, the old man gave Jiang Lai a Jade Pendant as a gift before his departure.

"A New Year’s gift, don’t refuse."

"You really like giving such old-fashioned styles, but I don’t wear them."

The old man smiled.

"This I got from a master; there is only one piece in the world, then divided into two halves. One half was with the master, carved into a Jade Pendant, the other half’s whereabouts are unknown.

The master said it’s called the Marriage Jade, and the person destined for you in the future will by chance obtain the other Marriage Stone."

Jiang Lai suddenly felt the stone was burning hot in her hand.

"How worried are you that I won’t find a boyfriend?"

Mr. Huang sighed and looked at her with concern.

"I treat you as my own daughter, hoping you have a companion in the future so it won’t be too lonely.

Your personality is inherently aloof, no friends, no family. If you find a companion, I’d be at ease when I pass away."

Upon hearing this, Jiang Lai made a move to cover his mouth.

"Alright, alright, I’ll keep the Jade Pendant, just waiting for my destined half to find me."

Mr. Huang nodded, looked at Jiang Lai with satisfaction, and then, supported by an assistant, got on the plane.

She looked back at the Jade Pendant in her hand.

The sound of Little Buding’s mocking voice was in her ears.

"Jiang Lai, you’re depending on that stone for your future husband; you’d better take good care of it!"

"Hmm, better than some people who probably haven’t even held a girl’s hand despite being so old."

"Psh, the number of ex-girlfriends I’ve had could circle your house!"

"Whoever brags won’t find a girlfriend for the rest of their life, ending up as a lonely single dog forever."

"..."

Little Buding’s silence was deafening.

Jiang Lai laughed, tossed the Jade Pendant, caught it again.

As she turned to walk back, she was caught off-guard by a man standing by the road.

Shi Yubai wore a black trench coat, a simple white sweater underneath, and a beige scarf covering half of his face.

A strikingly fair and handsome face, matched with the exceptionally luxurious-looking car behind him, caught the attention of people around the airport, some stopping to watch.

Shi Yubai gazed at Jiang Lai and waved at her.

"Get in the car."

Jiang Lai put away the Jade Pendant and got into the car.