155 The Golden Jade Lotus Plan

After going through so many trials and tribulations with Jin Yulian, my perspective had shifted, and I no longer held onto a strong desire to possess her.

Perhaps driven by a lingering selfishness, however, when I heard the news once again that she was preparing to marry someone else, a heavy ache still settled in my chest.

"So, when are you planning to marry Young Master Chu?" I asked.

With a gloomy look, Jin Yulian replied, "Maybe in three months, or maybe he'll toss me aside as soon as he tires of playing with me."

Startled, I blurted out, "Have you already given yourself to him?"

Although I had previously claimed that I wouldn't object to her marrying someone else, the truth was that I still cared deeply about this underneath. This was simply selfishness at work—the hypocritical mindset where a man might chase after other women yet cannot bear the thought of a woman he once loved straying.

Looking slightly surprised, Jin Yulian asked, "You care about this?"

With a faint smile, I replied, "I was just asking casually, hoping to remind you not to lose your chastity only to be discarded by him in the end."

"I'm not that foolish," Jin Yulian said. "Nothing has been settled yet, so there's no way I'd let him have me."

I smiled awkwardly. "That's good to hear. By the way, why is Young Master Chu even willing to help you deal with Qian Duobao?"

In my heart, I knew that although Jin Yulian was exceptionally beautiful, Shanghai was a metropolis overflowing with stunning women, and Young Master Chu had undoubtedly seen countless beauties like her. It was impossible for him to be moved solely by her looks; there had to be an ulterior motive.

The sum involved was hardly trivial. For millions, one could easily keep a second-tier minor celebrity as a mistress. As for his relationship with Jin Baoqiang, Young Master Chu merely treated him as a lackey to be used at his whim. Without any profit to be made, he would never lift a finger to help Jin Baoqiang.

Jin Yulian sighed softly. "I heard that a real estate developer has taken an interest in the plot of land owned by my company and is planning to demolish it. Qian Duobao is probably conspiring with several other enterprises to undertake this development, but Young Master Chu has set his sights on my company's land as well. His family's firm wants a piece of the action..."

I nodded. "So that's how it is. No wonder he's willing to help you clear up Qian Duobao's mess."

Giving a bitter laugh, Jin Yulian murmured, "There's an old saying about driving away a wolf only to let in a tiger. Qian Duobao is a wolf, and that Young Master Chu is a tiger. Both wolves and tigers demand flesh, and I have no idea how this will all end."

"Sister Yulian," I asked, "what is your true purpose in asking to meet me today?"

Jin Yulian looked at me and said, "I heard your relationship with that proprietorship owner is rather ambiguous, and it feels such a waste for you. I wanted to persuade you to leave her in time. As for finding a job, the world is vast; you can work anywhere you please."

Seeing me remain silent, she added, "If you truly want a job, you can come work at my company. The work is light, and the salary will certainly be no lower than what you're making there."

A lean camel is still bigger than a horse. Even though Jin Yulian's company was bogged down in a financial crisis, there was no denying that its foundation far surpassed Sister Yang's small workshop.

Curious, I asked, "Sister Yulian, what made you think of asking me to come work at your company now?"

Biting her lip, Jin Yulian replied, "I refuse to sit here and await my doom. I want to fight back."

Taken aback, I asked, "How do you plan to do that?"

"If you are willing to help me," Jin Yulian said, "I will have a chance to strike back and make a comeback."

I laughed. "How could I possibly have such great ability?"

"Ah Feng, listen to my advice," she urged. "Leave that proprietorship owner; it will be good for you. If you truly need a woman, I can become your secret mistress. My body should be no worse than hers."

A tremor went through my heart upon hearing this. "Sister Yulian, are you joking?"

"Ah Feng, I am dead serious!" she said. "Listen to me until I finish. Since Ling Xue likes you, you should pursue her. If you don't take the initiative, you will regret it once the opportunity is gone."

Stunned, I asked, "Sister Yulian, do you really think I'm qualified to pursue her?"

"Don't wallow in self-pity," Jin Yulian replied. "She has made it abundantly clear that she likes you, so of course you can pursue her. However, if you want to win Ling Xue over, you must first cut ties with that proprietorship owner. Otherwise, if word of your ambiguous relationship reaches Ling Xue, it will spell trouble."

Worried, I voiced my doubt, "Even if Ling Xue likes me, Sister Yulian, her parents might not necessarily agree."

Jin Yulian shook her head. "Ah Feng, during that fireworks show, Ling Xue used fireworks to confess her love to you. That proves her parents gave their tacit approval; otherwise, she wouldn't have been able to express her feelings through those fireworks."

Hearing this from Jin Yulian, I realized it made sense. The fireworks Ling Xue used to confess to me must have been custom-made. Without the silent consent of her parents, such displays could never have been produced, let alone launched smoothly at a large-scale fireworks festival.

The fact that Ling Xue arranged for those fireworks to be set off meant her parents at least raised no objection, which in turn indicated they were not opposed to her being with me.

Observing my silence, Jin Yulian continued, "Ah Feng, take my advice. Leave that proprietorship owner and bravely pursue Han Ling Xue. If you can secure the Han family's blessing, you will have the capacity to help me solve Qian Duobao's problem."

I thought to myself that with the Han family's tens of billions in assets, settling a debt of several millions certainly wouldn't be difficult. The real question, however, was why the Han family would ever shell out millions for my sake.

As if reading my mind, Jin Yulian explained, "Ah Feng, my company's land holds immense development value. You can have the Han family invest in its development. When the time comes, they can take the lion's share, and I'll be satisfied with just a third."

At last, I understood what Jin Yulian was driving at. Young Master Chu was willing to help her and her brother because he had his eyes on their company's land. Now, Jin Yulian hoped I could approach the Han family so they could jointly develop the property, allowing her to salvage at least a portion of her company.

"Sister Yulian," I said, "you mean I should pursue Han Ling Xue, and if I win the Han family's approval, I can get them to partner up and develop your company's land?"

Jin Yulian nodded. "Exactly. Ah Feng, I refuse to hand over the company my parents left behind on a silver platter, nor do I want to let my body be defiled by someone I loathe. If you can help me preserve a part of my company, I can be your secret mistress..."