"By the way, I still don't get it. Did they come on their own, or did you bring them?" Jiang Hai couldn't help but ask, puzzled, after hearing Qi Li mention Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen. He'd been wondering about it all day.
"I invited them," Qi Li replied calmly.
"But… why?" Jiang Hai was even more confused. What kind of setup was this?
"No reason. I just wanted to." Qi Li didn't elaborate, leaving Jiang Hai scratching his head in bewilderment.
"All right then. Go on—but be sure to come back and sleep," she added, giving him a small kick before closing her eyes to rest. She was clearly exhausted.
Watching her drift off, Jiang Hai quietly closed the door behind him. Despite his lingering confusion about Qi Li's intentions, he couldn't leave Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen waiting too long. After a brief hesitation, he made his way to their room.
When he arrived, Ai Xiaoxi had just finished her shower, while Feng Yunchen was still soaking. The hot spring water here was excellent for the body, and Feng Yunchen enjoyed making the most of it.
Seeing Jiang Hai enter, Ai Xiaoxi was momentarily surprised, but then smiled nonchalantly, sitting on the bed and drying her hair. Her gaze made Jiang Hai feel a bit awkward.
"Aren't you going to stay with Qi Li?" she asked with a playful smile.
"Uh… she asked me to come and keep you company," Jiang Hai replied, scratching his head awkwardly.
"She really is something…" Ai Xiaoxi chuckled and patted the space next to her, inviting Jiang Hai to sit down. She let out a soft sigh. The pressure from Qi Li was enormous. Jiang Hai might not fully understand what Qi Li was doing, but Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen had discussed it.
They had guessed Qi Li had three motives.
First, she wanted to show Jiang Hai that she didn't mind what women he had outside—as long as he came home each night.
Second, she wanted to remind Ai Xiaoxi and Feng Yunchen of their roles. As the "other women," they should understand their place, since they couldn't fully support Jiang Hai.
And third—perhaps most importantly—she wanted to position herself as Jiang Hai's strategist, his think tank. The mastermind behind the scenes.
It was a brilliant move, hitting three birds with one stone. Jiang Hai wasn't even close to Qi Li's level when it came to scheming.
"Forget it, no point overthinking. Let's see if you've still got what it takes to keep up with us." Ai Xiaoxi shook her head. She still had a long way to go compared to Qi Li, but that didn't mean she was giving up. With a mischievous smile, she leaned over Jiang Hai, gently teasing him with her hand before taking him into her mouth.
Jiang Hai closed his eyes and surrendered to the pleasure.
Sometimes, having too many women wasn't a blessing—unless, of course, you had the stamina of Jiang Hai.
Soon, the sound of "war drums" echoed once more from the room, and the battle between the two sides reached its peak. Just as Jiang Hai "defeated" Ai Xiaoxi, Feng Yunchen—fresh from her soak—heard the commotion. She chuckled at the sight and promptly joined the fray.
When Jiang Hai finally left the room, it was already around eleven at night. But just as he stepped into the hallway, he noticed the door to Pra Walton and Cheryl Lee's room was ajar. Cheryl stood at the entrance, beckoning him with a curled finger. Behind her, Pra Walton stood bare-chested, her hands manipulating Cheryl's chest in a rather provocative manner. Their message was crystal clear.
Though Jiang Hai was already feeling a bit dizzy, he couldn't favor one group over another. Gritting his teeth, he walked in.
By the time he emerged again, it was well past midnight. He yawned, exhausted. Just as he was about to return to his room, he noticed someone sitting in the lobby on the first floor, staring blankly at a phone.
It was Zheng Jin.
"What's she doing up so late?" Jiang Hai murmured, puzzled. He hesitated for a moment, then walked downstairs.
"Hello…" Just as he approached, Zheng Jin's phone rang. From what Jiang Hai could hear, the voice on the other end belonged to a young man.
"Hey, it's me…" Zheng Jin said after a pause.
"Oh, so you still remember me? I figured you'd gone off to fool around with your black friends by now," the man sneered sarcastically.
Zheng Jin's face darkened.
"What nonsense are you spouting? I'm here for work," she replied, clearly agitated.
"Work? What's more important, your job or me? Aren't we a couple? Who said you could just leave for work?" the man snapped.
Zheng Jin fell silent, clearly at a loss for words.
"You better make a choice," he said coldly, then hung up.
Zheng Jin sat there, stunned and motionless, her phone still in hand.
"Ahem… if something urgent's come up, I can arrange for you to return home early," Jiang Hai offered gently. It wasn't hard to guess from the call that something was seriously wrong in Zheng Jin's personal life.
If his business was interfering with her relationship, he didn't want to be the cause.
"It's fine. I'm going back to my room," Zheng Jin replied, looking dazed. She stood up, gave Jiang Hai a vague glance, and quietly went back upstairs.
Jiang Hai scratched his head. This was something he'd need Qi Li's input on. He turned and returned to his own room. By then, Qi Li was already asleep. Jiang Hai slipped off his pajamas, got into bed, wrapped his arms around her, and soon drifted off as well.
The next morning, Jiang Hai was awakened by Qi Li tickling his nose with her hair. As he opened his eyes, he found her lying on top of him, playful and smiling. His "morning reaction" didn't go unnoticed.
Qi Li blushed, but she didn't move away.
With that, another "battle" began.
By the time it ended, it was already past nine.
"You must've been born in the Year of the Dog—you're insatiable," Qi Li murmured, lying limply on his chest, drenched in sweat and completely spent.
"Heh, depends on what I'm eating," Jiang Hai replied, caressing her back.
Qi Li buried her face in his chest, savoring his affection.
"Oh, by the way—what's going on with Zheng Jin? Last night I saw her on the phone, and it sounded like some boyfriend drama. If her family's against her being here, maybe we should send her home," Jiang Hai suggested.
Qi Li sighed.
"It's… complicated. But we can't let her go."
She explained that Zheng Jin had joined Qi's company after college and quickly rose through the ranks due to Qi Li's support. While Zheng Jin was beautiful and capable, she lacked experience in office politics. Still, many people—both inside and outside the company—had their eyes on her.
While Qi Li had once kept a close watch, her attention shifted to Jiang Hai last year. During that time, Zheng Jin started dating a young man from a partner company. Three months later, she said she was pregnant.
The man didn't want the baby—or Zheng Jin. But under pressure from Qi Li and Zheng Jin's family, he reluctantly married her.
However, he continued his wild lifestyle. Once, Zheng Jin caught him at a party, and he beat her so severely she miscarried.
Qi Li, enraged, cut off all business with his company, nearly driving his family to ruin. He begged Zheng Jin for forgiveness—and she foolishly gave it.
Even after that, he didn't change. Zheng Jin became his emotional punching bag.
That's why, when Jiang Hai decided to start his own company, Qi Li transferred Zheng Jin—hoping the distance would push her to leave him.
But judging from last night, Zheng Jin hadn't let go yet.
Jiang Hai sighed. He didn't consider himself a good guy, but even he had his limits. He pitied her, but he also recalled her attitude when they first met—cold and prideful. The wicked will be punished by the wicked, he thought. For now, she could stay. If she couldn't manage the job, he'd find her something easier—out of respect for Qi Li.
After that, Jiang Hai and Qi Li got up and had breakfast. Over the next few days, they toured the manor, spent time at sea, visited Winthrop, and on the third day, went to Boston.
Thanks to Moses Adams, the company registration process went quickly. Since Jiang Hai needed to purchase planes and other equipment, he added another $100 million in investment. It wasn't doing anything sitting in the bank anyway.
The business license, tax documents, and other essentials were ready within three days. Jiang Hai rented the 17th floor above Moses Adams' law firm as the company's office.
Then came recruitment, signage, and renovations. Qi Li handed the reins to Zheng Jin.
Surprisingly, Zheng Jin handled everything efficiently. She ordered furniture, coordinated with designers, and even arranged construction. She estimated everything would be done within two weeks, and the company could be up and running within three.
Jiang Hai was impressed. Despite her personal troubles, Zheng Jin was competent.
Given her responsibilities, Jiang Hai also rented her an apartment in Boston. After all, she'd need a proper place to stay for the job.
(To be continued.)