Chapter 783 - 374: He Jing: I Am the Happiest Woman in the World! (2)

"Jiang Tao, my dear brother! You finally came! And this is..."

President Zhou’s gaze fell on He Jing, a hint of inquiry in his eyes.

Jiang Tao said calmly, "This is my girlfriend, He Jing. I hope you don’t mind me bringing someone extra along, President Zhou."

"Hahaha, what are you saying, my brother Jiang Tao, even if you brought your whole family, I wouldn’t mind, I would be even happier!"

"That’s right, Brother Jiang Tao and your girl make such a perfect couple, don’t forget to invite your old brother to your wedding!"

President Zhou warmly complimented the pair, gave He Jing a quick glance, and looked away.

"Thank you for your kind words, President Zhou."

He Jing maintained a composed smile as she greeted President Zhou, but inwardly she was quite shocked!

The President Zhou in front of her was actually her landlord!

The Zhongbai Apartment complex was fairly well-located with a massive plot and building scale, rumored to be worth over a billion!

She truly hadn’t expected that the friend Jiang Tao was to meet would turn out to be her landlord; it was quite the coincidence.

"Hello, Miss He! Brother Jiang Tao, please have a seat, both of you!"

After a brief introduction, President Zhou warmly invited them to sit.

Jiang Tao and He Jing didn’t stand on ceremony, and the three of them took their seats once more.

"Brother Jiang Tao, thank you for this time, words can’t express my gratitude. If there’s anything you need in the future, just let me know!"

President Zhou looked at Jiang Tao with gratitude in his eyes, his tone sincere, clearly not just saying it.

However, he was clearly somewhat hesitant to speak in detail with He Jing present.

After all, being set up and tricked by friends is embarrassing, and the fewer people who know about it, the better.

He hadn’t even dared to tell his wife.

Jiang Tao nodded with a slight smile: "President Zhou, you’re too kind. It was just a helping hand, glad I could help."

Although Jiang Tao wasn’t clear on the details after he sent the evidence to President Zhou that night, he could guess.

With the solid evidence he provided, those fair-weather friends of President Zhou would have to spit out what they’d taken.

Otherwise, according to the sentencing standard for fraud, a ten or eight-year sentence would be a light one.

His actions not only helped President Zhou recover his losses but also allowed him to see the true nature of his friends.

He really ought to thank himself!

After expressing sincere but succinct gratitude, President Zhou didn’t mention the embarrassing incident again and instead called the waiter for tea.

Soon, a young tea artist in simple elegant Hanfu, with a tranquil and unworldly demeanor, walked in carrying a set of exquisite purple clay teaware.

She first gave the three a slight bow, then kneeled at the tea table and began her performance.

Her movements were fluid like flowing clouds, yet carried a strict sense of ritual.

Warming the cups, awakening the tea, brewing, Spring Breeze Caressing the Face, Han Xin Selecting Soldiers...

Every step was precise and graceful, full of rhythmic beauty.

Her slender, fair fingers danced among the teaware like butterflies among flowers, her graceful posture swaying slightly with her movements, yet not at all frivolous.

The tea artist’s expression was focused, her eyes clear as if she was wholly immersed in the tea ceremony, becoming part of the elegant surroundings.

He Jing was mesmerized, never having imagined that tea-making could be so pleasing to the eye.

It was like watching a meticulously choreographed classical dance.

Even Jiang Tao nodded slightly, feeling that the money was well spent, at least for the visual enjoyment and atmosphere creation being top-notch.

The tea was brewed, its color orange and bright, with a rich, lingering fragrance carrying a unique natural orchid scent.

The tea artist served the three cups of tea and then quietly stepped aside.

The three sipped on this tea worth a king’s ransom while casually chatting.

President Zhou mainly talked about recent business trends and some anecdotes, steering clear of mentioning past events.

The atmosphere in the room was relaxed and pleasant.

After about half an hour, there was a gentle knock on the private room’s door.

With President Zhou’s permission, a middle-aged man in a black suit and white shirt, carrying a silver briefcase, entered the room.

"Boss, the items you requested have been brought."

The man stood before President Zhou, greeting him respectfully.

President Zhou said calmly, "Just leave it here and go."

"Yes, boss."

The man placed the safe on the tea table, nodded at President Zhou, and quietly left.

President Zhou smiled, entered the code, then with a "click," opened the lid of the safe.

Immediately, a pile of brand-new cash bills filled Jiang Tao and He Jing’s view.

The safe was packed with stacks of brand-new, ink-scented hundred-yuan bills!

The hundred-yuan bills were bundled together, stacked neatly, leaving a strong visual impact.

A whole box full of money!

Jiang Tao merely glanced at it faintly, showing no surprise on his face.

After all, given his current wealth and discernment...

A million in cash was indeed difficult to stir any significant emotion in him.

He Jing, on the other hand, naturally couldn’t remain as composed as him.

Even though Jiang Tao had given her a pocket money card with over five million.

But the numbers in a bank card are nothing like seeing so much neatly stacked cash; the sensory stimulus is entirely different!

The shocking power of all these red bills was far stronger than a series of digits on a phone screen!

President Zhou gently pushed the safe towards Jiang Tao, speaking sincerely:

"Jiang Tao, my good brother, this is just a small token of appreciation, I hope you won’t mind."

"Haha, with such a thoughtful gesture from President Zhou, I will graciously accept."

When someone offers you money, especially clean money, only a fool would refuse.

Jiang Tao accepted his "thanks" from President Zhou very calmly.

After all, he provided intelligence information to President Zhou for this 1 million thank-you fee.

Otherwise, since he didn’t know President Zhou, he wouldn’t have bothered with his affairs.

"Brother Jiang Tao, you’re too polite. I should be the one thanking you."

President Zhou waved his hands repeatedly, his expression earnest; he gave the million willingly.

With the money delivered and the tea almost finished, Jiang Tao and President Zhou didn’t have much else to discuss.

After casually chatting for another ten minutes, Jiang Tao used the excuse of having other matters in the afternoon to take his leave.

President Zhou knew it was not suitable to chat for too long on their first meeting and sensibly agreed.

He personally escorted Jiang Tao and He Jing downstairs.

He watched them get into their Mercedes G-Class before heading back upstairs.

The Mercedes G-Class set off again, this time heading towards Huilongguan Building in Pingchang District.

Inside the car.

Holding back half the journey, He Jing finally couldn’t resist asking the question she had long wanted to ask.

"Brother Tao, what did you do for that President Zhou? He actually gave you so much money!"

For He Jing, who came from a small town, 1 million was an absolutely enormous sum.

Yet others only used it as a gesture of gratitude.

Jiang Tao replied with a calm smile: "Simply put, I helped him recover losses exceeding a billion, so he gave me 1 million to thank me."

"Recovered losses exceeding a billion!"

He Jing was shocked again at Jiang Tao’s words, understanding that maybe 1 million wasn’t that much of a reward.

If what Brother Tao said was true, then the 1 million thank-you fee was indeed not too much.

Jiang Tao thought for a moment and said, "This small thank-you from President Zhou, Jingjing, why don’t you use it to buy a car? It will make traveling more convenient in the future."

"Huh? I, I’m to use it to buy a car?"

He Jing was initially stunned by Jiang Tao’s words; then her eyes reddened, and tears of emotion started to uncontrollably fall.

"Silly girl, why are you crying now?"

Jiang Tao was a bit speechless at the sight, hurriedly reaching out to wipe her tears away.

"Brother Tao, you’re too good to me, too, too good to me."

He Jing whimpered as she spoke, throwing herself into Jiang Tao’s arms, her arms tightly hugging his waist, tears of happiness soaking through his chest.

"In my last life, I must have saved the Milky Way to be with you in this one, Brother Tao!"

"I’m so happy, I’m the happiest woman in the world."