Chapter 178: Spending Money

Chapter 178: Spending Money

In the dead of night, Guan Yingjun stirred awake. Seeing Jian Ruochen sound asleep on the other side of the bed, he mistakenly thought Jian Ruochen was put off by the smell of alcohol on him. He went to wash up again, then returned to scoop the sleeping Jian Ruochen, who was at the edge of the bed, into his arms.

Morning arrived.

Jian Ruochen was roused by the heat.

The box-style air conditioner actually cooled quite well, but Guan Yingjun’s body was simply too warm—like a furnace.

Sweating, Jian Ruochen had no choice but to slip away from Guan Yingjun for a cold shower. As he went downstairs, he saw Luo Binwen, dressed in a suit, about to leave. He grabbed a slice of bread from the table, tore off the crust, and dipped the soft center into the yolk of a sunny-side-up egg. Carrying the plate, he followed Luo Binwen, eating and asking, "Going out to work so early? Have you had breakfast?"

"Already eaten," Luo Binwen replied, holding a silver metal briefcase and glancing upstairs. "Do you want to come to the company with me?"

Jian Ruochen choked slightly, clearing his throat. "No, thanks."

If he were to show up at the company right after graduation, people would inevitably assume he was vying for power and profit.

Since he wasn't interested anyway, why give others reason to speculate?

Luo Binwen, exasperated, said, "There’s a funding document and a lawsuit drafted by legal affairs in the study. Read them and get the case filed."

He paused. "After inheriting the estate, you’ve been busy with casework and your studies. Now that you finally have some time off, you should learn to spend money and enjoy life. Don’t live so frugally. Spend at least fifty million today, or else…"

Jian Ruochen hesitated. "…Or else what?"

How could Uncle Luo threaten him?

And also.

Frugal?

He glanced up at the crystal chandelier on the ceiling and the dim sum being laid out on the table. What did any of this have to do with frugality?

"If you don’t spend it, I’ll buy a yacht and take you to a business gathering," Luo Binwen stated.

Jian Ruochen quickly agreed, "Okay, okay, I’ll spend it, I’ll spend it." Only then did he manage to send Uncle Luo, who had a rather skewed understanding of the word "poor," out the door peacefully.

After breakfast, he went to the study to examine the documents Luo Binwen had left behind, which detailed the flow of donated funds.

Jian Ruochen skimmed through them, finally recalling his connection to this money.

It was the funds he had donated a year ago to the missionary hospital and orphanage where his mother had once stayed.

At the time, he and Guan Yingjun had just uncovered Oliver Keith’s weaknesses and followed him to the missionary hospital where his mother had been. There, they secretly retrieved Keli Siduo’s medical records.

Before leaving, he donated a sum of money, fearing that the chief physician might retaliate against the children if he discovered the stolen records.

Not only that, but he also suspected the orphanage of embezzlement.

This money was also bait for a sting operation—an excuse to return to the orphanage and investigate the truth of what happened back then.

Unexpectedly, Oliver Keith, cornered and desperate to conceal the truth, later murdered the director and attempted to silence Jian Ruochen by planting a bomb in his car, all to seize the Connaught inheritance for himself.

After the plan failed, the police discovered a body in a fishing village, which led to a series of old unsolved cases involving Oliver Keith.

Later, Oliver Keith was arrested, and the full truth about his mother’s death came to light.

Jian Ruochen stared at the flow of donated funds, looking at the detailed records of each transaction, momentarily lost in thought.

After the truth was revealed, he had told Luo Binwen everything. But soon, he became overwhelmed by a flurry of new cases and forgot to return to the orphanage to investigate the "crazy nun" he had heard about from the little orphan girl.

He never expected Luo Binwen to remember it all so clearly.

After the orphanage director was murdered by Oliver Keith, the new director was the previous attendant.

He had embezzled approximately 5 million in donations and used the money to buy a house and car in the New Territories.

The lawsuit was specifically targeting this new director.

After reading through the documents, Jian Ruochen flipped through the photos clipped to the investigation file.

The little girl with the soaked dress from back then had grown up a bit. The childishness on her face had faded, making her seem more quirky and sharp.

Luo Binwen had personally visited these children, as evidenced by a group photo tucked into the envelope.

In the photo, with its film-like texture and slightly yellowish tint, Luo Binwen stared directly at the camera.

He wore a black suit, very formal, with an alligator-skin sleeve garter, his jacket draped over his arm, making him look distinguished and composed.

Jian Ruochen held the photo closer. Luo Binwen’s gaze was distant and unfocused, his lips slightly downturned, his shoulders tense. Under the cover of his jacket, his hand was gripping something.

A typical expression of sorrow.

Uncle Luo was likely holding the pocket watch containing a photo of him and Jian Ruochen’s mother.

The pocket watch chain was taut. If the watch were still in his pocket, the chain should have hung loosely instead of being pulled straight.

Jian Ruochen remained silent for a long moment before putting the photo back and picking up the lawsuit to initiate the process.

By the time he finished filing with the ICAC and coordinating with the lawyer, ensuring the new director had no chance of escaping justice, it was already noon.

Guan Yingjun hadn’t come to find him, likely because he had sobered up, remembered what he had done the day before, and was feeling a bit embarrassed.

During lunch, Jian Ruochen met his gaze for a few seconds and indeed caught sight of the tips of his ears, tinged red beneath his hair.

Jian Ruochen watched him silently, his eyes teasing.

Guan Yingjun’s neck grew warm under the gaze. He tilted his head back and downed the cool congee in one gulp. The light caught the simple band on his ring finger, glinting softly.

He said hoarsely, "What are you doing… this afternoon?"

They hadn’t found time for intimacy yesterday.

Today…

"Spending money," Jian Ruochen said airily.

Guan Yingjun thought he’d misheard, his eyes filled with doubt.

Jian Ruochen added deadpan, "Fifty million."

He was very good at spending for business but not at all skilled at what Uncle Luo called "spending money to enjoy life."

It wasn’t something he’d been raised to do.

The most luxurious indulgence in the compound was when a group of elders gathered to drink Moutai, eat peanuts, chat at restaurants, and debate which state department received more funding.

At first, the missile corps received more, and the army chief would puff his chest out with pride.

Later, when the navy received more funding, the navy chief would grin triumphantly, chuckling happily.

If they were at home, they’d play a game of nanmu Chinese chess and savor some Kunlun Mountain cloud-and-mist tea.

Even pricier pastimes included fishing and playing badminton.

Fishing, playing chess, sipping tea, badminton, growing orchids, and cycling—these were the ways the elders taught him to enjoy life.

None of these could possibly cost fifty million all at once.

But with shopping, spending money would truly become a torment.

Hunting for specific items he actually wanted was fine, but aimless wandering was pure agony—Jian Ruochen disliked it.

In truth, using money to crack cases was already an unparalleled pleasure, and throwing money at evidence was the peak of that enjoyment.

Jian Ruochen locked eyes with Guan Yingjun. "Is there anything you want? It’s on me."

Guan Yingjun met his gaze calmly. "What I want most, I already have."

Sitting right in front of him.

They locked eyes for a moment before both looked away simultaneously.

Jian Ruochen was a bit baffled.

They had been together for quite some time. Even when they were sneaking around behind others’ backs, it hadn’t been like this—

Even a glance made them bashful, wanting to hide.

Back then, they’d collide recklessly, not content with just glances, eager to explore other ways to connect and touch.

Why, after making their relationship public, having dinner together, and having done everything, did they become more bashful than when they first got together?

Jian Ruochen couldn’t figure it out. He gazed absently at Luo Binwen’s empty seat beside him, suddenly recalling the trembling fingers that had covered his eyes when he learned of his mother’s death.

Then it hit him—he knew how to spend the money.

The system of missionary hospitals and orphanages relied on theology, which had always been shaky from the start.

He would partner with Mary Hospital to establish a foundation specifically for children and single pregnant women, taking in those children abandoned in Hong Kong after the British Hong Kong government withdrew.

After sharing his idea with Guan Yingjun, the two set off immediately to scope out storefronts on Hong Kong Island.

"Many shops near Causeway Bay are up for sale. Most of the sellers are Triad members who haven’t committed major crimes but want to flee overseas," the agent explained, occasionally glancing at Jian Ruochen.

Holy cow, the real Consultant Jian!

He was meeting him in the flesh!

Just as impressive as on TV!

"The fact that Triad members are running scared like this is all thanks to you!" Having worked in this field for years, he had never felt as thrilled as he did now.

Causeway Bay, like the former Kowloon Walled City, was a prime turf for Triads—lawless and rowdy.

But now, even at night, there were no more gang wars, and both shop values and property prices had risen slightly due to better policing!

"Prices have gone up recently, but I can offer you the original price—just HK$200,000 per square meter!"

His voice trembled with excitement as he enthusiastically added, "If you’re setting up a foundation, I recommend buying multiple shops, breaking through the walls between them, and expanding horizontally."

Guan Yingjun pointed at the notebook in the agent’s hand, the ring on his left ring finger glinting. "Is this shop for sale?"

The agent was taken aback.

He glanced at Guan Yingjun’s hand, then at Jian Ruochen’s, and mumbled, "This barbershop?"

Jian Ruochen found it both amusing and exasperating.

Detective Guan, who usually didn’t care about much, secretly showing off like this was quite entertaining.

The agent said, "This barbershop has been here for over a decade. I haven’t heard about it being for sale, but the row opposite is all available."

Guan Yingjun was pointing at Ninth Brother’s barbershop.

Jian Ruochen hadn’t expected such a stroke of luck while out spending money.

After a moment’s thought, he smiled at the agent. "Please wait a moment. We need to discuss this privately. Here, take this to buy some cold drinks."

He pulled out a stack of thousand-dollar Hong Kong bills, folded to the size of chewing gum packs, from his change purse and handed them over. Without waiting for a response, he took Guan Yingjun’s hand and pulled him aside. "If I buy it, you can have CIB officers blend in with the construction crew to keep watch. Less noticeable, right?"

Guan Yingjun agreed it was feasible.

Once Ninth Brother was arrested and the ICAC investigated, this street would become a safe haven in Causeway Bay—perfect for charity work.

And besides…

"When purchasing property, the original owner has to meet you to sign the contract. We can check if any of them are on the wanted list," Guan Yingjun responded quickly.

After discussing it, Jian Ruochen turned around and paid on the spot.

HK$200,000 per square meter, each shop two stories high, 50 square meters per floor, with a rooftop terrace.

Jian Ruochen bought all five available shops.

A swipe of the black card, and over 100 million Hong Kong dollars vanished from the balance.

Mission accomplished—exceeding the goal.

The agent grinned from ear to ear, not even finding it strange that Consultant Jian would so readily buy properties left behind by "fleeing Triad members." Cheerfully, he said, "The funds will be held in our agency account until the paperwork is completed, then transferred to the original owners. They’re in a hurry, so if you’re available, we can get the paperwork done tonight?"

Jian Ruochen smiled meaningfully. "Let’s do it. We insist on meeting all the original owners to confirm the contract and avoid disputes."

If the person showing up wasn’t on the wanted list, they could take the money and leave to cause trouble for some other government abroad.

If they were on the wanted list, even better—arrest them for some credit. As for the money spent on the purchase, if it got seized as fines, so be it. Consider it a donation to the Police Force.

Buying property, setting up a charity foundation, letting CIB officers stake out Ninth Brother, and nabbing a few fugitives in the process—

Now that’s what you call spending money enjoyably.