Chapter 2 Brother!

Chapter 2: Big Brother!

"To put it simply, the culprit was a piece of candy I gave the driver before leaving," Jiang Jiang said, scratching his cheek a little sheepishly.

"A piece of candy?"

"Yeah, I forgot it was actually a laxative candy my cousin shared with me earlier. The driver ate it, got diarrhea, and was weakened on the way. I thought, since I've had my driver's license for some time now, I'd ask for the keys and drive myself here."

"Then where's the car?"

"The car... it's all the fault of that crappy GPS. It led me onto someone's private property. The road was too narrow and my skills were limited, so I couldn't back it out. I just abandoned the car there."

"Then you could have taken a taxi! What's with the motorized tricycle?"

"Well, I happened to meet a kind-hearted uncle who said he could take me out." Jiang Jiang added gratefully, saying the uncle was such a good person. "But after getting out, I realized I'd left my phone in the car. I calculated that going back would make me too late. In the end, I had to trouble the uncle to drive me straight here."

System 404: ......

What now? Is this host even reliable?

The chances of completing the task seem slim.

......

Lu Nanzhou stood on the second floor of the banquet hall, looking down at the guests coming and going below with an indifferent gaze.

Beside him, Assistant Lin paused for a moment before continuing his report: "Today, the Jiang family's youngest son, Jiang Jiang, made an appearance at the banquet in a bright blue domestic three-wheeler. The media are now scrambling to report on it."

"The Jiang family's youngest son?"

"Yes, President Lu."

Lu Nanzhou had some recollection. He had been in the same class as Jiang Huaijin throughout junior and senior high school. Once, when Jiang Huaijin brought him to school, he had the chance to meet this youngest son of the Jiang family.

Reportedly, he had been clamoring to stay with his brother, and the nanny couldn't calm him down no matter what. Reluctantly, Jiang Huaijin brought him along to school.

In class, he was quite well-behaved, not showing the signs of the little troublemaker Jiang Huaijin had described. Back then, he even received many snacks from girls because of his cute looks and sweet-talking.

Snapping out of his reverie, Lu Nanzhou said calmly, "But there's no need to report on such matters next time."

"Yes, sir."

......

"Ding, Impression Value +5. Current Impression Value: 5."

System 404: ......

Jiang Jiang: "Wow! As expected of me~"

"Anyone who learns someone attended a banquet on a three-wheeler would find it hard not to be left with an impression..."

"Alright, little mouth, zip it tight," Jiang Jiang interrupted System 404.

System 404: ......

"Just tell me, has the impression value gone up or not?" Jiang Jiang said proudly, lifting his chin.

How could this not be considered a method to increase impression value?

System 404: ......

"Has the male lead appeared? If not, I'm going to go forage for food." Jiang Jiang rubbed his empty stomach.

Before leaving today, he only ate an orange. The only food item on his person—that diarrhea-inducing candy—was also gone because he gave it to the driver.

System 404's sigh seemed to age it a few more years. "Go ahead."

Jiang Jiang happily slipped over to the buffet area.

At this moment, the banquet hall was filled with figures, guests gathered in twos and threes chatting. The dining area had few people.

A server nodded slightly towards Jiang Jiang. "Good evening, sir. How may I assist you?"

Jiang Jiang glanced around and chose the foolproof option: steak.

After ordering, a foreign chef with a big beard began preparing it right before him.

A large plate, a small steak.

Jiang Jiang ate them in single bites, finishing five servings in a row before finally feeling like he had something solid in his stomach.

"Tch, Jiang Jiang, does your family not feed you?"

Jiang Jiang turned his head. It was his lifelong rival, He Lianrong.

He looked at He Lianrong without speaking, his eyes filled with pity.

He Lianrong grew even more furious under this gaze. "What kind of look is that? Do I need your sympathy?"

Jiang Jiang blinked.

He hadn't even said anything yet; why was he getting so defensive?

Seeing Jiang Jiang remain silent, He Lianrong continued to mock, "You eating this steak is like an ox chewing peonies—a waste of the head chef's culinary skills."

As soon as he finished speaking, a server walked towards Jiang Jiang carrying an exquisite plate.

"Sir, the head chef is very pleased that you enjoy his cooking. He specially prepared this for you."

He Lianrong: ......

His face went through a series of changes.

It was always like this with Jiang Jiang, he thought, clenching his fists.

"This is probably the 'colorful black' that clients love the most," Jiang Jiang silently shared with System 404.

System 404 glanced at it. "Indeed."

The person and the system quietly gossiped.

"Hmph!" He Lianrong didn't say anything more, snorted, turned, and left.

"Bye-bye~" Jiang Jiang waved a non-existent handkerchief.

He Lianrong didn't look back, only quickened his pace as he left.

With delicious food before him, Jiang Jiang happily picked up his fork and went for the chef's special creation.

After putting it in his mouth, he looked down at the plate.

"System 404, I feel like my taste buds have been assaulted."

System 404 didn't believe him, so he shared Jiang Jiang's sense of taste.

404: "0001 1000 1110 0100 11110"

Jiang Jiang was puzzled, "What are you doing?"

"I'm throwing up."

"......"

Sensing an intense stare, Jiang Jiang looked up and saw the kind-hearted chef smiling at him.

He closed his eyes, steeled his heart, and gulped down the unknown food covered in strange foam.

Thank you, kind soul, but please don't be so kind next time.

From the second floor, Lu Nanzhou had witnessed everything that had just happened.

......

In the brightly lit banquet hall, guests stood in small groups, enjoying the snacks and drinks served by the waitstaff.

Jiang Jiang also snagged a plate of small desserts and stood in a corner with a good view of the hall, waiting for the system to scan for the protagonist gong, Mr. [Censored].

Nom, nom, nom.

This one's delicious, I'll grab another later.

Nom, nom, nom.

Hmm, this one's just okay.

Nom, nom, nom.

Gotta say, the desserts at this banquet are really well-made—not too sweet.

Nom...

"Stop munching, I've detected [Censored]."

Jiang Jiang swallowed the dessert and reluctantly glanced at the remaining treats on his plate.

Bracing himself, he handed the plate to a waiter, watching mournfully as the little desserts were taken away.

Little desserts, just you wait, one day I, your emperor, will reclaim you all.

......

Following 404's guidance, Jiang Jiang nimbly weaved through the crowd, "How can you be sure he's the protagonist gong?"

"Because he shines like a diamond."

"How shiny can he be?" Jiang Jiang paused for a moment, couldn't help but hum, "Shine bright like a diamond?"

System 404 didn't respond but directly shared his visual feed with Jiang Jiang.

Suddenly, a blindingly bright ball of light was reflected in Jiang Jiang's pupils.

So "shines like a diamond" wasn't a metaphor; it was literal.

He squinted, "Alright, alright, turn it off quickly, you're blinding me!"

As Jiang Jiang walked, System 404 recited the Baidu Baike info he had searched online about this man.

Lu Nanzhou, head of the Lu Group. At 22, after graduating with an MBA from an elite foreign business school, he took over the company. To this day, none of his decisions have ever been wrong. It's said he is ice-cold and ruthless, sharp and decisive. Those who cross him don't end well...

Only five meters away from the man who "shines like a diamond," Jiang Jiang carefully appraised this protagonist gong.

The man was strikingly handsome with an aloof expression. His well-tailored dark gray suit accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist, and his long legs were remarkably straight and slender.

Holding a champagne glass, he lightly clinked it with the person opposite him. Whatever he said made the other person laugh heartily.

As the host of the banquet, Lu Nanzhou was constantly surrounded by people.

Jiang Jiang waited for a long time but never caught him alone.

Jiang's tired, Jiang doesn't want to wait anymore.

Seeing him prepare to make his move, 404 reminded him again, "Remember your persona—a green tea."

Jiang Jiang nodded; he knew.

Green teas like to call people "gege" (big brother).

System 404 felt slightly reassured.

Jiang Jiang marched confidently up to Lu Nanzhou: "Gege!"

His voice was clear, loud, and eerily sincere.

Anyone who didn't know better would think the boisterous Zhang Fei was acknowledging a sworn brother.

System 404 withdrew his slightly eased heart.

The system felt a fatal error coming on.

Both Lu Nanzhou and the Mr. Zhang opposite him looked over.

Mr. Zhang's hand trembled, nearly spilling his drink. He turned to Lu Nanzhou, "President Lu, when did you get another brother?"

"I'd also like to know when I got another brother."

Ignoring the awkward silence and countless stares, Jiang Jiang happily took two steps forward, "Gege! Don't you remember me?"

Mr. Zhang seemed to have a sudden realization, raised an eyebrow at Lu Nanzhou with an "I understand" expression, and tactfully stepped back.

Lu Nanzhou: ...

Jiang Jiang rummaged through his memory, piecing together some green tea quotes, "Gege, it's all my fault... Did he misunderstand?"

He didn't forget to blink his round, almond-shaped eyes.

Lu Nanzhou: ...

Author's Note:

----------------------

Jiang Jiang makes a confident entrance: Gege!

System 404: Save me, save me!

Note: [1] From the song "Diamonds."