Chapter 8: Jiang Shang's Plan

“Uh… I can’t take it anymore, have mercy on me, brother!”

Even Tiger, a hulking man, couldn’t endure this torment. He felt as if his sphincter had turned into a faucet, endlessly pouring out yellow millet porridge.

“Two hundred thousand. Have someone send it over. You’ll get the antidote when the time comes. Let’s go, Miss Shan, it’s time we head back. My shift ends at nine.”

“What? Off work? No way! You’re a bodyguard, you have to be on call twenty-four seven!”

Lin Shanshan glared at him, instantly anxious. This guy actually thought about clocking out—what a joke.

“I’m about to get two hundred thousand; I don’t need this measly paycheck. If you want me to risk my life for you, forget it.”

With his hands in his pockets, Lin Yuan smiled nonchalantly.

“So, you've got money now and you're getting cocky? Two hundred thousand isn’t even enough to buy a house! Listen to me, work for me and you won’t be shortchanged!”

Lin Shanshan crossed her arms, her face full of haughty pride.

“Oh, enough with the empty promises. Cooking for you for a whole month, you only pay me a thousand? I’m done.”

Lin Yuan was now brimming with confidence.

With money in hand, there’s no need to fret.

“You’re impossible!” Lin Shanshan huffed in exasperation.

Though the housekeeper’s cooking was good, it didn’t quite suit her tastes. The food delivered from five-star hotels was mediocre at best. Only Lin Yuan’s unique culinary skills truly whetted her appetite.

“Miss Shan, I’m actually happy to cook—as long as you pay enough.”

“I can pay you, but you have to be on standby twenty-four hours a day. You hear me?”

Lin Shanshan gritted her teeth. This guy was insatiable!

It was supposed to be his honor to cook for a beauty like her, and yet he wasn’t willing? She really couldn’t fathom what went on in his head!

Zhou Xiaoyu teased, “Shanshan, the way you sound, you’re just like an evil capitalist.”

“What, you’re feeling sorry for him?” Lin Shanshan shot a look at her best friend.

Her own family and Zhou’s were all capitalists, and yet here she was belittling her own kin.

“Of course not, I only feel sorry for my brother!” Zhou Xiaoyu shook her head in denial, her cute ponytail swaying.

“Alright, I get it, your brother Wu is so handsome. How did things go at the concert last time?”

Lin Shanshan grinned, lowering her voice.

Zhou Xiaoyu blushed, but her smile was full of sweetness.

Seeing her friend like this, Lin Shanshan knew things had worked out.

Lin Yuan was momentarily entranced. The youthful, adorable beauty was flushed with shyness—truly captivating.

Unfortunately, it seemed she already had a boyfriend.

Damn! Lin Yuan felt a pang of annoyance. Why did all the stunning women around him have boyfriends?

But then again, girls like that should have boyfriends. They never lacked excellent suitors.

Shaking his head to banish those thoughts, he focused on how to make money instead.

Without money, not a single step could be taken.

He was determined to prove to his senior that wealth was his for the taking.

…

Back at the villa, Lin Yuan began preparing a medicinal recipe.

He’d studied many ancient medical texts in the mountains and had obtained a secret formula for a beauty cream.

“Angelica, pearl powder, mung beans, talc, polygonatum…”

After jotting down the list, he headed out to purchase herbs, just as he saw Lin Shanshan preparing to leave as well.

“Miss Shan, it’s past nine. My shift is over. If you go out and something happens, I won’t be there to save you.”

“Fine, go do your thing. My boyfriend’s picking me up—I don’t need your protection.”

She ignored him, entered the garage, and sped off in a Ferrari.

“Out this late, something’s bound to happen. I’m actually a little jealous of Jiang Shang. Damn, being rich really is impressive.”

Lin Yuan’s mood soured. The engagement had been called off, but watching a stunning girl go off to someone else still made him envious.

Just then, his phone rang.

“This new ringtone isn’t bad.” Lin Yuan took out the phone he’d bought that morning and answered.

“Young man, you’ve gone too far.” The voice on the other end was cold and grim.

“And who are you?” Lin Yuan was already in a foul mood, and the other’s arrogance only made it worse.

“I’m Yang Guang!”

“Oh, and how’s your son doing?”

Lin Yuan instantly understood and feigned ignorance.

“Young man, your arrogance will be your undoing! If you know what’s good for you, hand over the antidote and I’ll pretend none of this happened.”

Yang Guang’s tone was heavy.

“There’s an antidote. One hundred thousand.”

He didn’t ask for too much. One hundred thousand for curing diarrhea was a good deal.

“I’ll give you thirty minutes. Bring the antidote to the hospital, or my people won’t be so polite!”

With a chilling threat, Yang Guang made his stance clear.

“Given your attitude, the price just went up to a million.”

Lin Yuan’s lips curled into a smirk.

“You! Fine, I’ll transfer a hundred thousand. Bring the antidote! But let me remind you—my money isn’t easily won!”

“Two million. Not a cent less.”

Lin Yuan sneered.

“In that case, we’ll see who outlasts whom!”

Yang Guang, suppressing his fury, hung up.

…

Meanwhile, at the hospital—

The sound of diarrhea echoed from the restroom.

“Dad, is the antidote here yet? I can’t take it anymore…” Yang Chao’s voice was weak and drained.

“Biao, you and the others go.”

“Yes, boss!” Several bodyguards in suits responded and rushed to carry out the order.

“Damn you, Lin Yuan, this isn’t over!” Pale and exhausted, Yang Chao staggered out of the restroom, barely able to walk. Yet the fire of hatred in his eyes had only grown, his animosity towards Lin Yuan reaching a fever pitch.

…

At the same time, on the top floor of Night Belle Club.

This club belonged to Jiang Shang. The entire top floor was his private space.

Lin Shanshan curled up on the sofa, her eyes glued to the massive screen.

A newly released romance film was playing, and she watched with keen interest.

“Shanshan, want something to drink?” Noticing the movie was about to reach a passionate scene, Jiang Shang got up to prepare some drinks.

“Juice, please,” she replied without taking her eyes off the screen.

“Alright.” Jiang Shang nodded and headed to the kitchen.

He asked the housekeeper, “Is it ready yet?”

“Yes, young master. Here’s wolfberry concentrate, here’s epimedium fried in mutton fat, and here’s cistanche. They’ve all been prepared,” the housekeeper replied, presenting the various concoctions.

“Perfect.” Jiang Shang first poured a glass of strawberry juice, then added the herbal mixtures one by one.

He was careful not to put in too much, wary of arousing suspicion.

“Young master, as long as she drinks this and you find a way to keep her overnight, you’ll surely win her over!” the housekeeper assured him. These herbs were potent, all wild-harvested, processed by ancient methods to double their effect.

“I know.” Jiang Shang had tested them himself—the aphrodisiac herbs left him restless all night.

They worked for both men and women, treating frigidity, infertility, and more.

Unlike blue pills, these herbal concoctions had no side effects as they nourished the body rather than depleting it.

The only drawback was their slower onset.

There was no other choice, though. Last time, he’d tried using a pill, but she’d sensed something was off and spit it out immediately.

After being found out, she’d been angry for days.

He later learned that Lin Shanshan had a unique constitution—she instinctively rejected chemical substances and was allergic to some of them.

With pure wild herbs, she couldn’t detect anything.

After mixing the herbal concoctions with the strawberry juice, Jiang Shang carried the drink back to the screening room.