Chapter 62: I Picked Up a Richest Man by the Roadside

Chapter 62: I Picked Up a Richest Man by the Roadside

A rare and finely crafted card flashed before his eyes, and Fan Ming raised his eyebrows in surprise: "Jing Butler."

"Hmm?"

"Isn't this Mr. Li's supplementary card?"

Jing Butler paused for a moment: "Yes."

Since receiving this card last time, Jing Butler had used it for the first time. The card was said to have no spending limit, something he had only read about in novels before. Now, he had experienced it firsthand.

Indeed, it felt great. With just a swipe, a large sum of money was spent, but for him, it was just a fleeting number, without any sense of loss.

Fan Ming's expression was hard to read: "When you use a supplementary card, Mr. Li will receive a bank notification, especially for such a large transaction."

What?

Jing Butler turned the tables: "Why didn't you say so earlier?"

Fan Ming: "..." I didn't know you were swearing secrecy while swiping Mr. Li's card.

Jing Butler was stunned for more than ten seconds, clutching the card, "He has a bunch of meetings this afternoon. Do you think it's still possible for me to run back and delete the message now?"

Fan Ming sighed helplessly: "Jing Butler, Mr. Li is busy, but he's not blind."

Jing Butler: "..."

It's over. His golden house hasn't even been officially put to use yet, and it's already been discovered.

As if knowing what Jing Butler was thinking, Fan Ming chuckled ambiguously: "It's alright, Jing Butler. Being able to secretly buy a house with Mr. Li's card is already a big enough surprise for him."

"..."

Though it was called a surprise, Jing Butler clearly sensed a hint of fright in Fan Ming's tone.

Even though his plan might have been discovered by Li Wenzhao, Jing Butler was still happy to have bought a house under his own name. He wasn't familiar with the next steps, so Fan Ming took over, telling him to just wait for the property deed.

Jing Butler happily agreed. On the way back, he treated Fan Ming to a lavish meal, this time paying with his own salary.

An hour later, nearing the end of the workday, with the holiday approaching, many employees had already started packing up, ready for the New Year's break.

Jing Butler quietly slipped back to the top floor. Instead of going straight to his office, he went to the secretariat and saw Assistant Xu still there. He asked, "Assistant Xu, is Mr. Li in his office?"

Xu looked up: "Yes, Mr. Li is waiting for you, you know, Assistant Jing. You can go right in."

Jing Butler: "..."

Oh no, it seems he's really been found out.

·

In the office, Li Wenzhao was wrapping up his final tasks when his phone rang.

[Incoming call from Shen Shubai]

He raised his eyebrows in surprise, thought for a few seconds, and then answered, "Mr. Shen."

Shen Shubai let out a cold snort: "Li Wenzhao, I underestimated you. You really pulled off distributing all those bonuses."

Li Wenzhao smiled faintly: "Not at all, it's nothing compared to Mr. Shen's grand gesture of throwing money around at the annual meeting."

Bringing up a sore subject, Shen Shubai paused for a few seconds before sneering: "What's wrong with being extravagant? Even if I spend a fortune, it's money I earned myself. I'm just curious, with so much money spent this time, how long will Mr. Li have to prostitute himself to earn it back?"

Li Wenzhao: "...?"

Shen Shubai chuckled: "To bring me down, it must be quite a hardship for Mr. Li to sell his body. I know a few wealthy women; if Mr. Li's schedule is still open, why not service a few more?"

Shen Shubai laughed heartily, thoroughly enjoying his own insults: "Aren't you just short of money? Go all out, and you might just earn it all back through your 'services'."

He had been pushing buttons for a while, but Li Wenzhao showed no reaction. "Why aren't you saying anything?"

"Finished?" Li Wenzhao said.

Shen Shubai: "Not yet, if you want to hear more, I can keep going."

The office door creaked open, and his young butler, who had been out all day, finally returned.

"It seems Shen Group's cash flow is indeed in trouble." Li Wenzhao chuckled lightly: "Otherwise, Mr. Shen wouldn't have the time to personally call me and chat about trivial gossip."

Shen Shubai: "..."

Before Shen Shubai could continue his rant, Li Wenzhao hung up the phone and called out to the sneaky young butler: "Back?"

"Mm-hmm." Jing Yi nodded.

"What were you up to?"

Jing Yi glanced at the phone in his hand and guessed the outcome: "You probably already know, right?"

Li Wenzhao nodded: "You bought a house."

Jing Yi: "Yeah."

"Do you want to move out?" Li Wenzhao asked.

Jing Yi exclaimed in surprise: "Huh?" and denied: "No, not moving now."

At least not until Fan Ming finishes decorating the house; then he can carry out his plan of hiding a beauty in a golden house.

Li Wenzhao fell silent. Not moving now, so does that mean he wants to move later?

Just after confirming their relationship, and already considering living apart? A bit further down the line, wouldn't he not even see the person anymore? The young butler already loves to wander off.

Does the young butler dislike the villa, or does he dislike the apartment?

Maybe he should get a small loft? It's nice, but a bit cramped for two men.

Forget it, better to tie him up and lock him in a small dark room...

Suddenly, a loud "beep—" sounded in Jing Yi's ear, more piercing than usual. He was startled and touched his ear, "Eldest young master, what boundary are you secretly crossing in your mind again?"

Li Wenzhao looked up: "It rang again?"

"Yeah." Jing Yi rubbed his ear and said.

Li Wenzhao thought, this might be a little monitor for illegal activities, crossing boundaries is not allowed, tying people up is not allowed, and it beeps loudly at the slightest provocation.

It's just like an unpredictable time bomb.

"I feel like taking apart the little speaker."

Jing Yi: "???"

He covered his neck and stepped back a bit: "Eldest Young Master, having impure thoughts is not advisable."

Most importantly, the enhancement is part of his very being; taking apart the speaker is like taking apart him.

When did the Eldest Young Master become so ruthless?

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Forget it. The house is bought, and he won’t interfere, but he doesn’t want Jing Yi to move there. He has plenty of ways to stop it. "When are you planning to move?"

Jing Yi thought for a moment: "Not sure yet, probably not too soon. Before the new house is decorated, please continue to put up with me a bit longer, Eldest Young Master."

"..."

Li Wenzhao, already accustomed to his jumbled phrasing, ignored it and said, "Let’s call it a day."

Jing Yi checked the time; it was indeed getting late.

He quickly tidied up his desk, put on his coat and scarf, and hurriedly followed Li Wenzhao downstairs.

While waiting for the elevator, Jing Yi's phone buzzed, and he received a huge transfer.

"Eldest Young Master," Jing Yi said urgently, patting Li Wenzhao’s arm, "Third Young Master’s gone crazy—he sent me a huge sum of money."

Li Wenzhao was not surprised, "That’s a bribe."

Jing Yi: "...?"

Soon after, a message from Li Ting came in.

[Third Young Master]: Jing Butler, you received the money, right?

[Third Young Master]: Do me a favor—keep tabs on who my brother meets and where he goes lately.

[Third Young Master]: I’ve got to find out who this patron—uh, that person—is.

Jing Yi: "..."

He put away his phone: "Eldest Young Master, you’re really sharp."

"Just normal speculation," Li Wenzhao said indifferently.

"Should I betray you then?" Jing Yi counted the zeros and thought the deal was quite profitable.

Making a killing without lifting a finger.

Giggle giggle.

"How do you plan to sell me out?" Li Wenzhao's expression was normal, but Jing Yi keenly sensed an impending storm. He gulped and obediently said, "I wouldn’t expose myself, but I feel a bit sorry for this money."

"No need to feel sorry," Li Wenzhao said, "Adults should be responsible for their actions. Third Young Master is not a child anymore."

Jing Yi tilted his head and added, "So, we’re letting him pay to learn his lesson?"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

The words may be crude, but the reasoning is solid. That's the truth.

Jing Yi clicked his tongue: "In that case, I'll probably be flagged as a risky contact by the anti-fraud app..."

Before he could finish, the elevator finally arrived, though late.

The doors slid open to reveal Li Ting standing inside, typing on his phone. Realizing the elevator had reached the top floor, he slowly looked up...

"..."

"..."

Jing Yi tightened his grip on his phone. Having just pocketed a windfall, he now faced the very person he had taken the money from. Nervous and a bit dazed, he said, "Eldest Young Master, has our company created some kind of illusion?"

"Projecting the Third Young Master into the elevator like this."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Li Ting: "..."

This clueless Jing Butler can't even tell a real person from a fake one. Li Ting suddenly began to doubt his decision to entrust him with the task of keeping tabs on his elder brother.

Clearly, he's more likely to screw things up than succeed. How could he possibly keep an eye on his elder brother?

Li Ting put away his phone: "Jing Butler, why didn't you pick up my call?"

Jing Yi blinked, gradually returning to reality: "You called me?"

Wasn't it a text message?

"I texted you because I couldn't reach you," Li Ting frowned. "Did you block me?"

Jing Yi: "No."

He poked at his phone for a moment, then said, "Third Young Master, if you can't reach me next time, you can call my China Bank card."

Li Ting: "........"

This money-hungry Jing Butler really has no shame when it comes to making money.

But he's still somewhat sharp, so I'll keep him around for now. Li Ting turned to greet Li Wenzhao, then stepped out of the elevator. As they parted, he gave Jing Yi a meaningful look.

Li Ting: o0.Q<

Jing Yi: "...?"

"What kind of expression is that? It looks like the precursor to a facial paralysis."

Li Ting: "..."

Whatever, let it be.

Jing Yi and Li Wenzhao went downstairs, where Uncle Lin had already parked the car at the entrance.

Jing Yi opened the car door but suddenly heard a cry of pain from the street, "Ouch, ouch!"

Curious, he stood on tiptoe to look over and saw an elderly man clutching his chest, slumped on the ground, reaching out for something. In the distance, a small medicine bottle was rolling away.

"Eldest Young Master, wait for me a second."

After speaking, Jing Yi ran off.

The medicine bottle rolled farther and farther away on the slightly sloped ground. Jing Yi ran over, grabbed it, and brought it to the elderly man, even thoughtfully unscrewing the cap.

"Sir, are you okay?"

The gray-haired elderly man was breathing rapidly, looking at Jing Yi: "..."

Jing Yi thought he had something to say, "Take your time, there's no hurry."

The elderly man: "Old man what... old man... I'm only 48 this year."

Jing Yi was stunned: "..."

Wow.

How did middle age turn into old age so quickly?

The elderly... middle-aged man swallowed the pill, his breathing stabilized, and he looked at Jing Yi with increasing favor, "You're a good kid, running up like that, aren't you afraid I might scam you?"

Jing Yi pointed to the eaves nearby: "There's surveillance there."

Surveillance is a great invention; you don't even have to shout when you see something wrong on the street.

The middle-aged man: "..."

He got up with the help of the flower bed, patted the dust off his clothes: "It's lunchtime, let me buy you a meal."

"?" Jing Yi took a big step back: "No, no, no..."

"Why not? It's the least I can do," the middle-aged man said: "You helped me once, I don't want to owe you a favor, I'll treat you to the best restaurant in the capital."

"No, no, no..."

Jing Yi kept stepping back, and seeing this, the middle-aged man reached out to catch him.

Oh no, was he dealing with a kidnapper?

"Jing Yi."

"Hey hey hey, I'm here." Hearing Li Wenzhao's voice, Jing Yi immediately called back loudly.

The middle-aged man saw Li Wenzhao, his eyes flickering strangely: "Li Wenzhao?"

"Mr. Liang."

Jing Yi: "..."

"Do you two know each other?"

Li Wenzhao subtly pulled Jing Yi to his side, "Yes, this is the richest man who invested in Shen Shubai."

Jing Yi's mouth gradually formed an O shape: "..."

There's such a low-key richest man in a CEO novel. Dressed in simple traditional Chinese attire, wearing cloth shoes, at first glance, he looks just like an old man taking a stroll in the park.

Who could recognize him as the richest man?

The richest man looked at Li Wenzhao: "Is this kid from your Li Corporation?"

Li Wenzhao: "Yes."

"His character isn’t bad," the richest man murmured. "He doesn’t seem as treacherous as Shen Shubai made him out to be..."

?

Jing Yi’s ears perked up sharply. Huh? Did Shen Shubai gossip about them in front of the richest man?

He was ready to gossip right back.

"Uncle... or should I say, sir?" Jing Yi popped his head out from behind Li Wenzhao. "Weren’t you going to treat us to a meal? I’ll eat."

Li Wenzhao was puzzled.

Only then did the richest man nod in satisfaction. "That’s the spirit! One must always repay kindness; no room for carelessness here."

The richest man walked forward with his hands behind his back.

Li Wenzhao glanced at Jing Yi. "What kind of trouble are you cooking up now?"

Jing Yi just chuckled. "Not trouble, I just want to poke holes in Shen Shubai’s story."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

That’s trouble enough.

But Shen Shubai isn’t completely down and out yet. The Shen Group is still struggling. If he pushes a bit more, he might be able to rest easy in the future.

After all, he’s pretty confident in the young butler’s knack for stirring up trouble.

·

The thank-you dinner was booked at a fancy Chinese restaurant, with many dishes featuring health-preserving elements.

The richest man, Liang Jing, ordered a full table, setting a grand gesture of gratitude. "Come, eat."

Jing Yi couldn’t help but feel his tone was like he was feeding two ravenous piglets.

But since it was a gesture of gratitude, he didn’t hold back.

He dove into the food, while Li Wenzhao was responsible for building a relationship with the richest man. He filled his stomach, Li Wenzhao gained an ally—it was a win-win.

But after listening for a bit, Jing Yi noticed that Li Wenzhao and the richest man’s conversation was all surface-level. It couldn’t build goodwill, nor could it serve to undermine Shen Shubai.

Clearly, he needed to step in.

So he put down the half-eaten chicken wing. "Uncle, you’re loaded, aren’t you?"

Li Wenzhao raised an eyebrow slightly in suspicion.

The richest man was also stunned. "Just enough, sufficient."

"Then you must have a lot in common with our eldest young master. He’s also very rich."

The richest man: "?"

Jing Yi pulled back with a satisfied look, shooting Li Wenzhao an encouraging glance. "Go ahead, eldest young master. The common topic has been opened."

Li Wenzhao: "..."

With such an unusual opening, how should he even start?

The richest man came back to his senses and smiled cryptically, "No wonder the recent hot searches are all about Li Corporation's sky-high bonuses. It seems Mr. Li has more money than he knows what to do with."

Li Wenzhao replied calmly, "It's fine, enough to manage."

The richest man: "..."

One after another, why are they all so terrible at making conversation? He paused, then turned his gaze to Jing Yi, "Little friend."

The little friend was secretly taking the last quinoa-coated lobster from the table, not even looking up.

Only after moving the delicacy back to his plate did Jing Yi notice the tense atmosphere, "Huh?"

The richest man stared at his slightly messy eating habits, "Does the Li family treat you so badly?"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Jing Yi: "..." Why would you say that!

Jing Yi quickly put down his chopsticks and waved his hands, "No no no, the eldest young master treats me very well."

He then turned to look at Li Wenzhao, "I once accidentally fell off a cliff edge, and the eldest young master personally jumped down to save me."

The richest man was shocked, "Fell off a cliff?"

"Yes, yes." Jing Yi nodded.

The richest man glanced at Li Wenzhao with admiration. These days, few would risk their lives for others. The eldest young master of the Li family is pretty remarkable.

Seeing the timing was ripe, Jing Yi put down his chopsticks, poured himself a glass of juice, and slowly recounted Li Wenzhao's past hardships, adding some personal exaggerated embellishments.

The richest man listened with wide eyes.

Li Wenzhao: "..."

He nudged Jing Yi's hand under the table, "How come I didn't know I once took down 88 of Shen Shubai's bodyguards with bare hands?"

Jing Yi continued spinning his wild tale, casually replying in his heart, "Now you know."

Li Wenzhao: "And what about climbing 32 floors with bare hands to eavesdrop on Shen Shubai's illegal transactions?"

Jing Yi retorted, "Isn't that just standard for a domineering CEO like you?"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Bang!

"This is outrageous!" The richest man slammed the table, causing the soup bowls to shake. Jing Yi quickly reached out to steady them.

"Such a company should have been shut down long ago!"

The richest man acted swiftly, pulling out his phone, "Old Zhang, pull all of Shen Group's funds for me! Yes, every last penny!"

Li Wenzhao: "..."

Jing Yi: "..." Nice.