Chapter 86: The Two Clan Leaders

In this regard, the head of the Qian family and his son, Qian Youwei, were cut from the same cloth—both were stubborn as oxen, the sort who would never turn back until they hit a dead end, who would not shed a tear until they saw the coffin with their own eyes. It seemed that tomorrow was bound to bring quite a spectacle.

Suddenly, the sound of a toilet flushing echoed from the corridor. Jiang Hao stepped out of the laboratory and immediately saw Bai Tianyu emerge from the bathroom at the end of the hallway, her face full of disappointment.

“What are you doing?” Jiang Hao asked in utter confusion.

Bai Tianyu grumbled in frustration, “Your pill doesn’t work at all. I just tried for ages and couldn’t get anything out.”

Hearing this, Jiang Hao wanted to burst out laughing and ridicule Bai Tianyu thoroughly.

“The effect of the Fasting Pill is to eliminate what you eat, not to instantly flush out all your body fat. If it worked that quickly, it wouldn’t be a pill—it would be an immortal elixir forged by the Supreme Lord Laozi himself!” he retorted.

Only then did Bai Tianyu finally see sense. Her cheeks flushed crimson, her pretty face a picture of embarrassment and shame.

“Why didn’t you say so earlier?” she demanded, half angry, half mortified.

“I told you just now—you simply didn’t listen! Running to the bathroom right after taking the Fasting Pill—well done! Who would’ve thought the young lady of the Bai family could be so impatient and, frankly, so clueless!” Jiang Hao seized the opportunity to mock her mercilessly, making Bai Tianyu wish she could disappear into the floor.

She hurried into her room, locked the door, and refused to come out for anything.

A new day dawned.

Jiang Hao made preparations to welcome his distinguished guests. Truth be told, “preparations” amounted to nothing more than tidying up the house and changing into a clean set of clothes.

He now had twenty million in savings, yet he’d never bothered to buy himself new outfits—not out of thrift, but because he saw no need. Clothes are clothes, after all. What does it matter if they’re not designer? As long as they’re clean, neat, and presentable, that’s enough, isn’t it? That was how Jiang Hao saw things. He disliked the ostentation of being decked out in brand names from head to toe.

A piercing car horn sounded from the distance.

Jiang Hao stood at the entrance to the villa’s courtyard and looked out to see three luxury cars speeding towards him. The first was a white Rolls Royce, followed by two black BMWs. Jiang Hao wasn’t much of a car enthusiast, but it was obvious at a glance that none of these vehicles cost less than a million yuan.

“Bai Tianyu, your father’s here!” Jiang Hao shouted toward the living room.

But Bai Tianyu didn’t come out, nor did she even reply.

By then, the three cars had come to a stop before the gate.

Jiang Hao watched as Bai Qiming and the old master Bai stepped out of the white Rolls Royce. Smiling, Jiang Hao walked over and greeted them politely.

From the black BMWs emerged the black-haired elder—Qian Kanglong, the head of the Qian family—along with the beautiful secretary, Lu Yanling. Qian Youwei was carried out of the car by two unconscious bodyguards, accompanied by several others. Jiang Hao didn’t spare them a glance.

“Jiang Hao, it’s been a while,” said Bai Qiming jovially.

Jiang Hao nodded and smiled. “Uncle Bai, how is the old master? How is his health?”

Before Bai Qiming could answer, the old master Bai let out a hearty laugh and patted his chest. “The old man’s illness is completely cured! I’ll live another five hundred years yet!”

“You’re as witty as ever, sir,” Jiang Hao replied with a smile. Then he gestured courteously. “Old Master Bai, Uncle Bai, please come in. I’ve prepared hot tea for you both.”

“Well done, you’re thoughtful,” Bai Qiming said, pleased with Jiang Hao’s respectful manner this time. The old master, too, felt quite content.

The last time Jiang Hao had met with Bai Qiming to treat the old master, he had just gone through Zhang Liping and Wang Jun’an’s plot to steal his kidney. His emotions had been running high, and his words had been sharp and disrespectful. But now, Jiang Hao’s courtesy gave face to both Bai Qiming and the old master—how could they not be pleased?

“Where’s my daughter?” Bai Qiming asked.

“She’s hiding inside,” Jiang Hao replied offhandedly. “She refuses to come out.”

At this, Bai Qiming raised his voice and bellowed toward the living room, “You little brat, get out here! If you don’t, don’t bother calling me your father ever again!”

At his shout, Bai Tianyu’s pretty face peeked out from the doorway. Realizing she couldn’t avoid it any longer, she reluctantly walked over and greeted her father and grandfather. “Dad, Grandpa, you’re here?”

“Did I have a choice?” Bai Qiming grumbled, reaching to twist her ear.

The old master hurriedly intervened. “What are you doing? I haven’t even spoken yet, and you’re already taking matters into your own hands? What do you take me for? Mind your place!”

Bai Qiming looked terribly awkward. He sighed, “Dad, you can’t keep covering for her. This girl makes too much trouble—she needs to be taught a lesson.”

“If anyone’s to do that, it’ll be me. What’s your hurry?” the old master retorted sharply.

There was nothing more Bai Qiming could say—he could only step aside obediently.

The old master then smiled at Bai Tianyu. “Girl, don’t you disappear without a word again, you hear?”

“I know, Grandpa,” Bai Tianyu replied sheepishly, and promptly hid behind the old master, leaving Bai Qiming glaring helplessly, unable to do a thing.

At that moment, a sudden fit of coughing rang out.

Jiang Hao turned slightly and saw that it was Qian Kanglong, the head of the Qian family. The old man must have felt neglected, left standing outside, and was coughing deliberately to draw attention.

Jiang Hao was anything but polite. “You’re Qian Kanglong, head of the Qian family, Qian Youwei’s father, aren’t you? If you’re feeling unwell, you’d better go home and rest. Don’t stand at my gate catching cold—I won’t be responsible if the wind blows you away!”

Qian Kanglong’s face turned ashen with rage. The bodyguards at his side all shot Jiang Hao fierce looks, but the beautiful secretary, Lu Yanling, looked at Jiang Hao with fear, not daring to move.

Jiang Hao smiled and flexed his hands, clad in black and white gloves. “Qian Kanglong, don’t blame me for being rude. Your son chased after me like a mad dog and smashed my car. Do you think I could possibly have a good impression of your family?”

“So you poisoned my son?” Qian Kanglong roared in anger.

Jiang Hao looked puzzled. “What? Your son’s been poisoned? When did this happen? Why haven’t I heard about it?”