1.

MoneyWasEv
ery
thi
ng
“Tothepatient’
sfamil
ymembers,
youhav
ealreadyowed100thousandy
uan’smedical
expenses.You’vetopayt
hat
,andpaymore200thousandy
uantosupportt
hetr
eatment
toavoidast op.
”

I
nthewardofTheFi
rstHospi
tal
inJol
Cit
y,anur
sewar
nedt
hemansi
tt
ingbyt
hebed.I
t
wasChaseLu.

Chaseturnedhi
sey
esf
rom hi
sdaught
erl
yi
ngont
hebedt
othenur
se,
noddi
ng.“
I’
ll
pay
fori
ttoday.
”

“You’
dbet
tercal
lyourwi
fe.We’
regoi
ngt
ost
opt
het
reat
mentat5:
00p.
m wi
thout
payment
.”

Chasewasamanwhoev enhiswif
elookeddownon.Thenur
sedi
dn’
tbel
i
eveChase
coul
daff
ordsuchbi
gexpenses.

Theexpensesi
nthepasthal
fayearwer
eal
lpai
dbyhi
swi
fe.Anywomanwhomar
ri
ed
thi
sworm woul
dliv
eahardli
fe.

Whatausel
essmanChasewas.

Thenur
segoi
ngout
,Chasel
ookedathi
sdaught
er,
Cassi
e,wor
ryi
ng.

Howcoul
dheget300t
housandy
uan?
Chaseandhi
swif
ehadspentallthei
rmoneyint
hehospi
tal
.Whatwasmor
e,t
heyhad
borr
owedfr
om al
lthepeopl
etheycouldbor
row.

Squat
ti
ngdownandt
ouchi
ngCassi
e’
spal
eface,
Chasef
eltmi
ser
abl
e.

Att
heageofonl
ythr
ee,
suf
fer
edf
rom t
hei
l
lness,
thel
i
vel
yandcut
egi
rlhadbecome
gr
ayandthi
n.

“
Didt
hehospi
tal
urgemedi
cal
expenses?
”

Chase’
swi
fe,
Jay
neLi
n,camei
n.

Shewastwentyyear
sol
d,wi
thdel
i
cat
efaci
alf
eat
uresandahei
ghtof1.
7met
ers,
qui
te
beaut
if
ulbutcol
d.

“Yes,I
’l
ll
ookformyf
ri
endsf
orhel
p.”Chasenodded,
buthi
sey
esf
oll
owedt
heman
behindJayne.

I
twasMi
l
neFan,
inhi
sthi
rt
ies,
wit
hamaskofasuccessf
ulman.

Chaseknewhim,themanageroft
hesal
esdepar
tmenti
nDuncanEl
ect
roni
cs,
and
Jayne’
sdir
ectl
eader.

Jay
newast
hesal
essuper
visori
nthatcompany
,whi
l
eChasewast
hesecur
it
yguar
d.

Mi
l
neknewJay
newasmar
ri
ed,
buthest
il
lhadsomedesi
resonher
.
Forhi
sbehav
iorwasnotsoexcessi
ve,
Chasehadn’
tdosomet
hingy
et.

“
It
’s300t
housandy
uan.Whocanl
endi
ttoy
ou?
”Jay
ne’
stonesoundedi
roni
c.

Befor
eCassie’
sil
lness,Jaynehadalwaysbeenbel
i
evi
ngt
hegr
eatpowerofl
ove.Buti
n
thepasthal
fayear,heratt
itudehadchanged.

I
nthef
aceofl
i
ving,
lov
ewassoweak.

Chasewassil
ent
.Hehadfewf
riendsint
hisci
ty,
andal
loft
hem wer
enotweal
thy
.
I
ndeed,hehadnofr
iendt
obor
rowf r
om.

“
Jayne,
takemymoney.It
’sj
ustapieceofcakef
orme.
”Mi
l
nesai
d,ey
ebr
owsr
aised,
l
ooki
ngatChasewi
thprovocat
ion.

“
Ican’
tdothat
.”ThoughJay
neneededt
hemoney
,sheknewMi
l
newoul
dn’
thel
pher
wi
thoutanyot
herdesi
re.

“
I’
m Cassi
e’
suncl
e.Iwantt
osav
eher
,aswel
l
.”Mi
l
nesmi
l
ed.

“
Youhav
enoneedtocar
eaboutmydaught
er.Don’
tcomeher
eagai
n.”Chasel
ookedat
Mil
newi
thanger
.

HeknewwhatMi
l
newant
ed.
“
Don’
tyouneedt
hemoney
?”Mi
l
nesneer
ed.

Mil
neknewChasewasali
tt
lesecur
it
yguar
dint
hecompany
,sowhatadv
ant
agesdi
d
Chasehav
etofi
ghtwi
thhi
m?

Jaynewasthemostattr
acti
vewomaninthecompany .Shewasmar r
iedandhada
daught
er,
sowhat?Itwouldbefi
nei
fshecoulddivor
ce.Mi l
nehaddiv
orcedandhada
daught
eraswel
l,
sot her
ewouldbenoproblem f
orJay neandhi
mt ounit
eanewf ami
l
y.

ButJay
nehadbeeni
gnor
inghi
m al
lthet
ime.

Now,
ther
ewasanoppor
tuni
tyt
omakeJay
nebr
eakupwi
thChase.Howcoul
dhemi
ss
i
t?

“
It
’sourbusi
ness.Youcanl
eav
e.”Chasecl
enchedhi
sfi
sts,
upset
.

Money
!

I
twasal
lbecauseofmoney
!

Buti
ndeed,
Chasehadnomoney
.

Howpower
less!

Mil
nesneered,
thenhel
ookedatJay
ne.“
Jay
ne,
itseemst
haty
oudon’
tneedmyhel
p,so
I
’l
lgof
irst
.”
HeknewChaseandJay
necoul
dn’
taf
for
dtheexpenses,
sohewasconf
ident
lywai
ti
ng
f
orthei
rrequest
.

Jay
newashesi
tant
.

Bor
rowi
ngmoneyfrom Mi
l
newouldsurel
yhurtChase’
spi
ti
ful
digni
ty,
butshehadno
ot
herwayt
ogetthemoneyifshedi
dn’
tborr
ow.

Seei
ngJay
ne’
shesi
tat
ion,
Mil
nemadeapl
an.

Hewentoutandfoundthenur
se,gi
vi
ngheronet
housandyuan.“
Cassi
e’
spar
ent
scan’
t
payt
heexpenses,soyoucangoandurget
hem t
oleave.
”

Thenursewashappyt
oagr
ee.Shet
ookt
hemoneyi
nherpocketandt
henst
rodet
othe
ward.

Att
hesamet i
me,i
ntheward,Jayne’
sangerbrokeout
.“Doyouthi
nkyourpi
ti
ful
digni
ty
muchmoreimport
antthany
ourdaughter
’sli
fe?Youhaveref
usedtol
ookformy
par
ent
’shel
pbefor
e,andnowy ouref
usedmanagerFanaswel l
!Howcanyougetthe
moneyinot
herways?”

Indeed,
dignit
ywasi
mpor
tant
,butcompar
edwi
tht
hei
rdaught
er’
sli
fe,
howi
mpor
tant
coulddi
gnitybe?

“ChaseLu,Iwar
nyou.I
fCassi
e’sil
l
nessbecameheav
ier
,Iwoul
dnev
erl
ety
ougo.
”
Jayneglar
edatChasewit
hgreatdi
sappoi
ntment
.
“
I’
ll
handl
eit
,”Chasesai
d.

“Howcany ouhandle?Nowexpectf
ormyparent
s,whoel
secanhel
pus?Coul
dyou
pleasebegthem f
orthat
?”Jay
nerequest
ed.

“Ihavethemethod.
”Chaser
efused.Si
ncehehadfai
l
edinstart
ingabusiness,
Jayne’
s
parentsbegantol
ookdownonhim.Hewasunwi l
l
ingtoseethem,nottoment i
on
begging.

“St
op.
..
ChaseLu!I
fyoudon’
tpayt
heexpensestoday
,I’
l
ldi
vor
cey
ou!
”Seei
ngChase
goi
ngtoleav
e,Jay
nefel
tover
whel
mingdespair
.

Forhi
spi
ti
ful
digni
ty,
thi
smanwasgoi
ngt
oignor
ehi
sdaught
er’
sli
fe!

Jay
newasr
egr
etf
ulsomucht
omar
ryhi
m.

Outoft
hehospi
tal
,Chasel
i
ght
edaci
gar
ett
e,puf
fi
ng.

Howv
ital
themoneywas!

Moneywasnotev
ery
thi
ng,
butev
ery
thi
ngneededmoney
.

Chasehesi
tant
lyt
ookoutt
hemobi
l
ephone.

Phi
lDuwasoneofhi
sfewf
ri
ends,
butPhi
ll
iv
edhar
dandhadal
readyl
enthi
m 50
t
housandy
uan.

Whatwasmor
e,Phi
ldi
dn’
thav
e300t
housandy
uan,
suchabi
gnumber
.

Chasel
eanedontherai
l
ingasi
dether
oad,smoki
ngandl
ooki
ngatt
hesky
.Fi
nal
l
y,he
si
ghedandthendi
aledastr
angenumber
.

“
Uncl
eJohn,
arey
oust
il
li
nJol
Cit
y?”Chaseasked.

“
Oh, i
t’
sthey
oungmaster
.HowdareIgobackwi
thouty
ou?Hav
eyoumadeupy
our
mind?”Anol
dmanaskedexci
tedl
y.

“Uh,
uncleJohn,coul
dyoupl
easel
endme300t
housandy
uanf
ir
st?Ineedi
tur
gent
ly.
”
Chaserequest
ed.

“Noprobl
em,buty
ouneedt
osi
gnt
hecont
ractt
oinher
itt
heasset
sofLu’
sFami
l
y.”
Johnsmil
ed.

“
Wet
alkabouti
tlat
er.Pl
easegi
vemet
hemoneyf
ir
st.Ineedi
tver
ymuch.
”Chaseur
ged.

“
No,
oryoucall
themasterfi
rst
.Ifheagr
ees,nott
omenti
on300t
housand,
Icangi
ve
y
ou300mil
li
onimmediatel
y.
”John’svoi
cesoundedf
ir
m.

“Fi
ne,
Icansi
gnt
hecont
ract
.Wher
ear
eyou?
”Af
terponder
ingf
orawhi
l
e,Chasehadt
o
compromi
se.
“
I’
minJoshEdi
fi
ce.Wher
ear
eyou?I
’
llsendsomeonet
opi
cky
ouup.
”Johnsai
d.

“
No,
I’
ll
got
her
eonmyown.
”Chasehungupt
hephone,
feel
i
ngcompl
i
cat
ed.

Becauseofhismother
’sdeath,
hehadbr
okenwi
thhi
sfat
her
,Ter
enceLu,
sohehadn’
t
ret
urnedbackformanyyears.

Chasehaddeci
dednott
ofor
giv
ehi
sfat
herbef
ore,
butnow,
hehadt
obowhi
shead.

Howsar
cast
icl
i
fewas!

Spi
ti
ngt
heci
gar
ett
ebut
t,Chasest
oppedat
axi
andt
henwentt
otheJoshEdi
fi
ce.

Ashear
ri
ved,
hesawhi
smot
her
-i
n-l
aw,
Shel
lWang,
goi
ngoutoft
heedi
fi
ce.

Chasedi
dn’
twantt
omeether
,butShel
lwal
kedt
ohi
m.

“Whydon’
tyoustayint
hehospi t
alt
olookaf
terCassie,butcomeher
e?”Shel
lWang
l
ookedatChasewithdisgust
.Ift
herewer
enotachild,shewouldhav
eimmediat
ely
order
edherdaught
ertodivor
ce.

2.DoYouHav
eTheMoney
ChaseLuhadt
oexpl
ain.“
Ihav
esomet
hingi
mpor
tant
.”

“
Somet
hingi
mpor
tant
?Whatki
ndoft
hingi
smor
eimpor
tantt
hanCassi
e?”Shel
lWang
snor
ted.

Shehadf
ail
edherbusi
nessj
ustnow,
soshei
ntendedt
orel
easeherangeronChase.

“ChaseLu,mysist
ernotonl
yhastoworkbutal
sol
ookaft
erCassi
e.Howt i
redi
sshe?
Butyou’
reheretodosomethi
ngunimport
ant
.Arey
ousti
l
laman? ”Chase’
ssist
er-
in-
law,
Jeanni
eLin,l
ookedatChasewit
hdisgust
.

Ayoungmanwasst
andi
ngbyJeanni
e,whosenamewasHay
esHu,
Jeanni
e’
s
cl
assmat
eatt
heuni
ver
sit
y.

“
Jeannie,i
sthaty
ourworm-
li
kebrot
her
-i
n-l
aw?Yoursi
ster
’sappr
eci
ati
oni
ssouni
que.
”
Hayesstudi
edChasewit
hdisdai
n.

Shel
lwastheassi
stantmanageri
nShawn’sPharmaceut
ical
Group.Shehadt
alked
aboutacr
it
ical
busi
nesswithJoshGroup,
butithadn’
tdevel
opedfur
therf
oral
ongt i
me.

Hayessai
dheknewt
hemanageri
nJoshGr
oup,
sohet
ookShel
lther
etol
ookf
ort
he
manager’
shel
p.

Butt
hemanagerr
efused,
whi
chmadeHay
esshamef
ul,
sonowHay
eswasi
nat
err
ibl
e
mood.

“
Yes,
Idon’
tknowwhymysi
sterwaswi
l
li
ngt
omar
rysuchacowar
d.”Jeanni
esneer
ed.

“
Mancanbepoor
,butcan’
tbecowar
dly
,”Hay
essai
d.
Chasegl
ancedatt
hem,
wit
houtanywor
d,gongt
othegat
e.

“
Whatar
eyougoi
ngt
odo?Gobackt
olookaf
terCassi
e.”Shel
lfr
owned.

“
Ihav
esomet
hingt
otal
kwi
thJohnLu,
”Chaseexpl
ained.

“
What
?JohnLu?Doy
ouwantt
obet
hrownoutl
i
keadog?
”Shel
lgr
abbedChase.

I
fChasewast
hrownout
,shewoul
dbeshamef
ul,
aswel
l
.

“
Mom,
letmego.Ir
eal
l
yhav
etot
alkwi
thJohnLu.
”Chasef
rowned.

“
Arey
oukiddi
ngme?JohnLui st
herichestmani
nourci
ty,
sowhatadv
ant
agesdoy
ou
t
aket
olookforhi
m?”Jeanni
esneer
ed.

“
TheybothnamedLu,somaybet
hei
rancest
orswer
efr
om onef
ami
l
yfi
vehundr
ed
y
earsago.
”Hayesl
aughed.

Chasefel
tangryf
ort
hei
rir
ony ,
buthecoul
dn’
tar
guewi
thShel
l
,sohet
ookoutt
he
phoneandint
endedt
ocallJohn.

Att
hismoment
,agr
acef
ulwomani
nuni
for
m cameov
er.

Shel
lrel
easedChase,
conf
used.
“
It
’sgener
almanagerLu’
ssecr
etar
y,”Jeanni
esai
d.

“Maybetheyhavechangedthei
ratti
tude.Shemusti
nvi
teustogobackandnegot
iat
e.
Aunt
ieShell
,congr
atulat
ionsonthesuccessofsuchabigcont
racty
ou’
regoi
ngto
make.”Hayesfl
att
ered.

“
Real
l
y?”Shel
ll
ookedexci
ted.

“Sur
eenough,
ther
ear
eonl
yusstandingher
e,andwehav
etal
kedwi
tht
hem j
ustnow,
soshemustcomeher
etof
indus.”Hayesnodded.

“Mr.Lumustknowt hatwedi dn’

tmakethecontractsuccessf
ull
yjustnow,sohesends
hissecret
arytof
indus!”Jeanniewasexci
ted.Shellcoul
dshareatleast200thousand
yuanfrom thi
scont
ract.

Shel
lthoughtso,
soshest
eppedf
orwar
dwi
thasmi
l
e.

“
Hel
l
o,ar
eyouher
e..
.”

Shel
l
’ssmi
l
ewasf
rozensuddenl
y.

Thesecr
etar
ydi
dn’
tlookatheratal
lbutwal
kedst
rai
ghtt
oChaseLu.

Shebowedwi
thar
espect
ful
smi
l
e.“
Mr.Lu,
pleasecomewi
thme.
”

Chasenodded,
wit
houtseei
ngt
het
hree’
sexpr
essi
ons,
goi
ngwi
tht
hesecr
etar
y.
Thet
hreest
oodt
her
e,shockedandconf
used.

.
..

Chasenegot
iat
edwit
hJohn.Hedi
dn’
twanttoforgiv
ehi sf
ather
,butJohnr
efusedt
o
gi
vehim moneywi
thoutsi
gni
ngt
hecont
ractt
oi nheri
ttheasset
s.

Chasehadt
osi
gnandt
henl
eftwi
tht
hemoney
.

Hedi
dn’tcar
eabouthowJohnwoul
dreportt
histoTerenceLu.Thoughhedeci
dedt
o
i
nher
itt
heasset
s,hesti
l
lunwi
ll
i
ngtoforgi
veTerence.

Ashewenti
ntot
heward,
hef
oundMi
l
necameagai
n,si
tt
ingcl
osel
ybyJay
neand
chat
ti
ngwi
thCassi
e.

Chasesqui
nted,
str
idi
ngt
othebed.

Justashewasaboutt
otel
lJay
net
hoset
hings,
hesawJay
negl
aredathi
m wi
thf
ury
.

“ChaseLu,wher
ehaveyoubeen?”Thenur
seurgedtheexpensesagainjustnow.I
fit
hasn’tbeenf
ormanagerFan’
shel
p,Cassi
ewouldhavebeendrivenout!
”Jayneshouted.

Shewassodi sappoi
ntedt
hatatt
hiscr
it
icalt
ime,Chasest
il
lkepthi
sdignit
yandr
anout
regar
dlessofhi
sdaughter
.Shewassoblindtohavelov
edsuchaper son.
“
Mommy ,don’
tbl
amedaddy
.Daddyi
shar
d.”Seei
ngt
heywer
eaboutt
oar
gue,
Cassi
e
r
equest
ed.

Chasewaswronged,buthi
sangerwasgoneforCassi
e’swor
d.Hesquat
teddownto
patCassi
e’
shead.“DearCassi
e,I
’
m nothar
d.I
’vegott
enthemoney
,soyou’
ll
befi
ne
soon.
”

“
Real
l
y?Daddy
,itt
hatt
rue?
”Cassi
easkedwi
thsur
pri
se.

“
Sur
e,daddynev
erl
i
etoy
ou.
”Chasenodded.

“Gr
eat,
Cassi
ewi
l
lbef
ine.Mom,
look,
daddyi
sacapabl
eman.Idi
dn’
tli
etoy
ou.
”Cassi
e
smil
ed.

Jaynesmi
led,
too.Thoughshet
houghChase’
swor
ddecept
ive,
shedi
dn’
twantt
olet
Cassi
edown.

Butherey
eswer
eful
lofwor
ri
es.

Cassi
ewascl
ever
.IfChasecoul
dn’
tpr
ovehi
spr
omi
seaf
ewday
slat
er,
Cassi
ewoul
d
beupset
,whi
chJaynedidn’
twantt
osee.

“
Jayne,don’
tmindi
t.MaybeChasedi
dn’
tgett
hemoneybutsai
ditt
ocheerCassi
eup.
”
Mil
nefomenteddel
i
berat
ely.

Chasest
oodup,
glar
ingatMi
l
ne.
“Don’
tworry
.Althoughy
oudi
dn’tgett
hemoney,I
’vepai
dfortheexpensesal
ready
.Af
ter
all
,Cassi
ecall
edmeunclej
ustnow.”Mil
nesneer
ed,hi
sdisdai
nnotcov er
ed.

“
Chase,
whatareyoudoi
ng?”I
fmanagerFandi
dn’
thel
pus,
wewoul
dbeexpel
l
ed.
Hur
ri
edl
y,apol
ogi
zetomanagerFan!
”

“
Why
?Ifi
t’
sjustf
ort
hemoney
,Ihav
ethemoney
.”Chasesnor
ted.

“
Youhav
e300t
housandy
uan?
”Mi
l
nel
aughed,
thesar
casm i
nhi
sey
esget
ti
ngmor
e.

ChaseLuwasal
i
ttl
esecur
it
yguar
d,soi
twasi
mpossi
blef
orhi
mtohav
esuchal
otof
money.

Jay
ne’
sfacef
ull
off
rost
,shest
aredatChasewi
thdi
sgust
.

3.Expect
edDi
smi
ssal
Confr
ont
edwi t
hMi l
ne’
ssarcasm,ChaseLusneer
ed,
openi
ngt
hebl
acksui
tcasei
nhi
s
handandthenalotofcashfl
owingout.

“
Her
e’s300t
housandy
uan.Takei
tandgetoutofher
e.”Chasesnor
ted.

Mi
lneFanwasst
unned.Hecoul
dn’
tbel
i
evethatChase,
asecur
it
yguar
d,coul
dgetsuch
al
otofmoneyi
njustt
wohours.Whi
chgenerousper
sondi
dheborr
owf r
om?

Jay
newasshocked,aswel
l.Si
nceChasebor
rowedthe50thousandyuanl
astmont
h,
hehadn’
tgot
tenanymore,
sohowcouldhegetthe300thousandyuan?
Onlyoneofhi
sfr
iendsl
i
vedi
nthi
sci
ty,
and50t
housandy
uanwast
hemosthi
sfr
iend
couldgi
ve.

“Howcoul
dyougetsomuchmoney
?Di
dyougot
oal
oanshar
k?”Jay
negl
aredat
Chase.

Thesi
tuati
onwassohar
dandwoul
dbehar
deri
fChaser
eal
l
ybor
rowedmoneyf
rom a
l
oanshark.

“
Taket
hemoneyandgetoutofher
e!”Chasedi
dn’
tanswerbutr
oar
edt
oMi
l
ne.

Mi
l
nedi
dn’
tmov
e.Thi
swasanexcel
l
entoppor
tuni
tyt
omaket
hem br
eakup.

“ChaseLu,
howcany oupaybackt
otheloanshar
k?Don’
tyouknowt
hati
twoul
d
destr
oyJayneandy
ourfamil
y?”Mil
nesneer
ed.

“Somuchnonsense.
”Chasesnor
ted,
pul
l
ingMi
l
ne’
scol
l
aranddr
aggi
nghi
mtot
he
outsi
de.

“
Letmego!
”Mi
l
neFanwasst
art
ledbyChase’
sst
rengt
h.

Jay
newasshockedanddi
dn’
treactf
orawhi
l
e.

“I
fyoudar
etocomet othehospi
talagai
n,I
’
llmakeyoustayi
nthehospital
.”Chase
pull
edMil
neout
,thenpushi
nghim onthegroundandthr
owingthesui
tcasetoMi l
ne.
“
ChaseLu,
arey
oumad?Apol
ogi
zenow!
”Jay
ner
ushedoutandr
oar
ed.

Mil
negotupf
rom t
hegr
ound,
glar
ingatChase.“
Good.I
’
llwai
tfory
ouatt
hecompany
t
omorrow.
”

ThenMil
nel
eftwit
hthesui
tcasei
nhi
shand.Hehadv
ari
edmet
hodst
opl
aywi
thChase
i
nthecompany.

“ManagerFan.
..
”Jaynetur
nedhereyest
oChase.“ChaseLu,
howrudey
ouar
e!Manager
Fanhashelpedus,buty
out r
eathi
m sor
udel
y.Areyouachil
d?”

Chasegl
aredatJay
ne.“
Isai
dIdon’taccepthi
shel
p.I
t’
syouwhobor
rowedhi
smoney
.
Don’
tyouknowhisdesi
ref
oryou?
”

Jaynewasenraged.“What’
sy ourmeaning?Doyout
hinkI’
m wil
li
ngtoaccepthishel
p?
IfIcoul
dn’
tpayfortheexpensesjustnow,Cassi
ewouldhavebeenexpel
led!Howcould
Iborrowhi
smoneyi fyouhaveit?Youmademesot ir
ed!”

Jay
nefel
twronged.I
fChasecoul
dbeal
i
ttl
emor
ecapabl
e,shewoul
dn’
thav
etobor
row
moneyfr
om amanshehat ed.

Chasewast
ir
ed,
too.“
Takecar
eofCassi
e.Ihav
etogof
ir
st.Don’
twor
ryaboutt
he
money.
”

Hewant
edt
ocal
m downal
one.
Or
iginal
l
y,hei
ntendedt
otel
lJay
net
het
rut
h,buthechangedhi
smi
ndbecauseofher
at
ti
tude.

“
Wher
ear
eyougoi
ng?I
sthemoneyf
rom al
oanshar
k?”Jay
nequest
ioned.

“
No,
it’
sfr
om af
ri
end.
”Chasel
eftwi
thoutt
urni
ngar
ound.

.
..

Thenextday
,ChaseLupl
annedt
oleav
ehi
sjobt
otakegoodcar
eofCassi
eint
he
hospi
tal
.

DuncanEl
ectr
oni
cswast hemostprominentelect
roni
ccompanyi
nJolCit
y.Af
terChase
fai
l
edtostar
tabusiness,
hecamet othiscompanytoappl
yforasal
esman’sj
ob.But
Mil
neFansaidChasehadt er
ri
bleel
oquence,
sohehadt oworkasasecur
it
yguard.

Onl
ywhenhehadworkedforal
ongt
imedi
dheknowt
hatMi
l
ne’
sref
usal
wasbecause
ofMil
ne’
sdesi
ref
orJayne.

“Chase,
howaboutyourdaughter
?”JustasChasear
ri
vedatt
hecompany
,thesecur
it
y
guardondut
yatthegategreet
edhim.

ItwasJosh,ademobi
l
izedsol
dier
.Heusedtobeanarrogantandi
rasci
bley
oungman
andhadarguedwit
hChasewhenChasejustworkedhere.

ButChasehadbeat
enhi
minf
ewseconds,
whi
chmadehi
mrespectChasemuch.
“
Shewi
l
lbef
ineaf
tert
heoper
ati
on,
”Chaser
epl
i
ed.

Joshgotcl
osert
oChaseandt
henwhi
sper
ed.“
Chase,
IsawMi
l
neFanasksuper
visor
Yuthi
smorningt
ofi
reyou.
”

Chasedi
dn’
tcar
eabouti
t,f
orhewasher
etor
esi
gnt
oday
.

ChasewenttoHal eYu’soff
ice.Beforehesai
dt oresi
gn,
Haleinfor
medf i
rst
.“ChaseLu,
yourabsencehasheav i
lydi
sruptedtheworkplanofoursecur
itydepar
tment.I’
ve
consul
tedMr .Shawn,andhisorderistofi
reyou.”

“
Wel
l
,justcountmysal
ary
,”Chasesai
dcal
mly
.

“You’
refir
ed,sohowcanwegi veyouthesalar
y?Youevennevert
hinkaboutt
he
deposit
.”Halesneer
ed.Outofhi
sexpectat
ion,Chasewassocowardlyt
hatheev
en
didn’
tdaretostri
ve.

ManagerFanwasapower
ful
mani
nthecompany
,itwoul
dbenopr
obl
em t
ofi
rea
secur
it
yguard.

Chasest
aredatHal
e.“
Good,
I’
ll
askMr
.Shawn.
”

Thoughhehadi
nher
it
edt
heasset
s,hewoul
dnev
eral
l
owany
mor
etoembezzl
ehi
sone
penny.

Seei
ngChasel
eav
ewi
thconf
idence,
Hal
efr
owned,
taki
ngt
hephonet
ocal
lMi
l
neFan.
“ManagerFan,
Chaseisgoi
ngtolookf
orMr .Shawn.I
sitt
oomucht
hatweev
endon’
t
giv
ebackhisdeposi
t?”Hal
easkedworr
iedl
y.

“Takeiteasy.I
’
ver
eport
edtoMr.Shawn.HowcanMr .Shawnl
ookasecur
it
yguar
din
hiseyes?”ThenMi
lnehungupt
hephone,sneer
ing.

I
twasj
ustabegi
nni
ng.Hewoul
dmakeChasef
eel
mor
epai
nint
hef
utur
e.

4.Apol
ogy
“Whoareyou?Whatdoyoudo?”I
nt heof
fi
ceofJoel
Shawn,
thegeneral
managerof
DuncanEl
ectr
oni
cs,Joel
star
edatthemanbreaki
nginhi
sof
ficej
ustnow.

“Mr
.Shawn,t
hisi
sChaseLu,thesecuri
tyguar
dinthesecur
it
ydepart
ment .Hecomes
her
etolookf
oryou.Ican’
tst
ophim.”Thesecret
aryr
ushedinandexpl
ained.

Thesecr
etar
yglar
edatChase.Shehadneverseensuchani
mpol
i
temanbef
ore,
pushi
ngherawayandbreaki
ngintheof
fi
ce.

“
ChaseLu.
..
”Joel
nodded,
remi
ndedoft
hatMi
l
neFanhadr
epor
tedi
nthemor
ning.

“
Yes,
it’
sme.
”Chasesatont
hechai
ropposi
teJoel
,facet
oface.

“Youcanfir
eme, butwhydoy
our
efuset
opayf
ormet
hesal
aryandev
enembezzl
emy
deposi
t?”Chaseasked.

Joel
frowned.“
Ihear
dthati
twasbecauseofy
ourf
requentabsence,
andr
efusi
ngt
opay
f
ory
out
hesal
aryi
sal
sot
hecompany
’sr
egul
ati
on.
”

HehadtocareaboutMil
ne’
sface.Aft
eral
l
,wi
tht
heexcel
l
entabi
l
ityandachi
evement
s,
Mil
newascruci
alfort
hecompany .

Chasewasj
ustasecur
it
yguar
d,sonat
ural
l
y,Joel
hadt
ost
andbyMi
l
ne’
ssi
de.

“Company ’sregul
ati
on?Ineverheardi
t,anddi
dn’tf
inditi
nonpaper
.”Chasef
elt
enraged.Indeed,wit
hmanyasset shehadinher
it
ed,suchali
tt
lesal
arywasnot
hingf
or
him,butitwasaboutpr i
nci
ple.

Ther
ewasnosuchregul
ati
oni
nthecompany,
andhewasnotabsentf
ornor
eason.He
hadbeenappr
ovedt
oaskforl
eaveev
eryt
ime.

Joel
hel
pedMi
l
net
obul
l
yhi
m.Di
dJoel
thi
nkhi
mjustal
i
ttl
eguar
d?

“
I’
mthecompany ’
sleader
,sother
ewi ll
bear egul
ati
oni
fIsayit.Youcanal
somake
r
egul
ati
onifyou’
retheboss.
”Joellaughed.Si
ncehehaddecidedtohelpMil
ne,
he
woul
dn’
tcareaboutsuchapowerlessman.

“
Arey
ousur
etoembezzl
emymoney
?”Chasel
aughedwi
thanger
.

I
twast
otal
l
yahumi
l
iat
ion.

“I
t’
sOKifyout
hinkso.I
fyoudon’
tagree,
callt
hepoli
ce.Wel
l
,you’
renotoneofour
company,
sopleasel
eave.
”Joell
ookedunconcer
ned.
“Ar
rogantenough.”Chasel
aughedwi
thhi
sthumbup.Tobehonest
,hehadnev
erbeen
bul
li
edalltheseyears.

Hel
ookedatJoel
,thent
ookoutt
hemobi
l
ephonet
ocal
lJohnLu.

“Uncl
eJohn,
howl
ongshoul
dyout
aket
omakeDuncanEl
ect
roni
csbankr
upt
?”Chase
asked.

“
Itdependsonhowmuchv
aluei
thas.I
twi
l
ltakel
ongeri
fit
’sv
aluabl
e.”Johnanswer
ed.

“I
tsmarketval
ueisonly100mil
li
onorso.Howlongshoul
dyoutakeify
oudoit
your
sel
f.”Wasn’tJoel
quit
epowerful
tochanget
herul
esatwil
l
?Si ncei
twasso,
then
Chasewouldhelphimtochange.

“
It
’sonl
y100mi l
l
ion.It
houghtt
ensofbi
l
li
ons.Suchal
i
ttl
ecompanycanbedest
roy
ed
i
nhalfaday
.”Johnlaughed.

“
Good,
Iwantt
oseei
tbankr
uptt
oday
.”Chasehungupt
hephone.

Hel
ookedatJoel
.“Noonedar
est
otakemymoneyatwi
l
l.
”Thenhel
eft
.

Joel
snor
ted.Hewoul
dnev
ert
akesuchabor
ingt
reatt
ohi
shear
t.

I
fChaseLureal
lyhadthepowert
omaket
hiscompanybankr
upt
,howcoul
dhewor
kas
asecur
it
yguardhere?
AsChasepassedbytherecept
ion,
hesawMi
l
neFanandHal
eYust
andi
ngt
her
e,asi
f
theywer
ewaiti
ngforhi
m.

I
ndeed,
Mil
newaswai
ti
ngt
ohumi
l
iat
eChase.

“I
sthatChaseLu?Ihear
dthaty
ou’r
egoingtolookf
orMr
.Shawn,
soMr
.Shawnmust
havemetyourrequi
rement
.”Mi
lnesat
ir
ized.

Haleandot
herguar
dsfel
tjoy
ful,
too.Theywer
edemobi
li
zedsol
dier
s,butt
heycoul
dn’
t
beatthi
sor
dinar
yguy,
makingthem hat
eChasemuch.

Chasecal
ml yl
ookedatMi
l
ne,
li
ght
ingaci
gar
ett
eandpuf
fi
ng.“
Pleasecont
inuey
our
per
formance.”

Justl
ethi
mlaughnow.Chasewant
edt
oseei
fMi
l
necoul
dlaughl
aterwhenhehear
d
thi
scompanybankr
upt
.

Heari
ngChase’
sirony,
Mil
ne’
sfacechanged.Whathehat
edmostwasj
ustChase’
s
cal
mingexpr
ession.

“ChaseLu,you’
rej
ustacowar
d,sowhatdoy
our
elyont
oof
fendme?
”Mi
l
nesai
dina
deepvoice.

“Sobeit,ChaseLu.You’r
ejustaguar
d,butmanagerFanhasbot hthemoneyandpower.
Whatdoy ourelyon?List
entome.Apologi
zetomanagerFan, oryoumaybecan’
tfi
nd
anyjobinJolCity
.”Hal
eYuseemedt opersuadeChase,butt
hewor dhesaidwasful
lof
thr
eats.
Chasel
aughed.“
Ali
tt
lemanagerwant
stobanme.Hal
e,ar
eyouki
ddi
ngme?
”

Hal
e’
sfacechanged,
notspeaki
ngany
mor
e.

“
Humph, I’mjustal
it
tl
emanager,
butyou’
refi
redwit
houtsalar
yanddeposi
tbecauseof
mywor d.ChaseLu,t
obehonest,
yourdi
smissali
sattr
ibut
edtomywill
.Sohowcany ou
f
ightagainstme?”Mil
nel
aughedarr
ogant
ly.

“
Mil
neFan,
yout
alksobi
g.”

Atthi
smoment ,amaj
est
icv
oicecameov
er.Theyl
ookedback,
seei
nggener
almanager
Joelst
ri
dingov
er.

Mi
l
nef
eltner
vousbecauseofJoel
’
ster
ri
blef
ace.

“
Mr.Shawn,
arey
ougoi
ngt
ogoout
?”Mi
l
nesmi
l
edunnat
ural
l
y.

“
Humph!”Joelgl
aredatMi l
ne.“
ChaseLubehav
eswelli
nthecompany.Whydoyou
wantt
ofi
rehim?You’rejusti
nchargeoft
hesal
esdepar
tment,sowhogaveyout
he
r
ightt
ofi
retheotherdepart
mentmember?”

“
Youhav eusedyourpowerwithoutcont
rol
.MilneFan,
apol
ogi
zet
oChaseandgethi
s
f
orgi
veness,orI
’
llf
ir
ey ouatonce!”Joel
rebuked.

“
Ah?
”Mi
l
newasshocked.Hedi
dn’
tknowwhathadhappened.
I
nthef
aceofJoel
’
sanger
,hef
elthi
slegsshi
ver
ing.

Hal
eandot
herguar
dswer
est
unned.Wasn’
tthatJoel
whohadagr
eedt
ofi
reChase?

Sowhatwast
hesi
tuat
ionnow?

Looki
ngatJoel
,whowasr
ebuki
ngMi
l
ne,
Chasesneer
ed.

5.Acqui
ri
ngDucanEl
ect
roni
cs
Thesi
tuat
ionchangedsof
astt
hatMi
l
necoul
dn’
taccepti
t.

“
What
?Hur
ri
edl
y,apol
ogi
zet
oChaseLu!
”Joel
Shawnwasi
nsuchahur
ry.

Hedi
dn’
texpectt
hatt
heper
sonbehi
ndChaseLuwast
her
ichesti
nJol
Cit
y,JohnLu.

JustassoonasChasel
efthi
sof
fi
ce,
her
ecei
vedacal
lfr
om John’
ssecr
etar
y.

Thesecret
arydi
rect
lytoldJoelt
hatJohnwouldmakeDuncanElect
roni
csbankr
upt
becauseJohnhadoffendedthei
ryoungmaster.Thiscal
lwast
oinf
orm Joel
todosome
prepar
ati
on,f
ortheydidn’
twanttobull
yJoel
secr et
ly.

Thatsoundedt
ooar
rogant
!

ButJohnhadt
hecapi
tal
tobesuchar
rogant
.
Johnwoul
dacthi
msel
f,sowhatcoul
dhepr
epar
e?

Compar
edwi
thJohn,
Joel
,whocoul
dbemadebankr
upti
nseconds,
wasal
i
ttl
eant
.

SoJoel
hadt
orushout
.Af
teral
l
,noonecoul
dhel
phi
m exceptf
orChaseLu.

Mi
l
newant
edt
obef
ir
m,butconf
ront
edwi
thJoel
’
sey
es,
hegav
ein.

“Chase.
..
ChaseLu,
I’
m sor
ry.I
t’
smyf
aul
t.Pl
easef
orgi
veme.
”Fi
nal
l
y.Mi
l
nebowedhi
s
head.

Hecoul
dseet
hati
fhedi
dn’
tapol
ogi
zenow,
Joel
woul
dfi
rehi
m.

AllMil
ne’
scustomersdemandedtheproduct
sfr
om DuncanEl
ect
ronics,
andnoother
companiescouldmakesuchproduct
s.Soifhewasfi
red,
hehadtoleavethi
sci
ty,
or
star
tanotherbusi
nessf
rom t
hebeginni
ng.

Whatwasmor
e,hecoul
dn’
tacceptt
hel
ossoft
heshar
eher
e.

“
ChaseLu,
yousee.
..
”Joel
lookedatChasewi
thasmi
l
e.

Mi
l
neal
sol
ookedatChase.

Chasesqui
nted.“
Sobei
tfi
rst
.”
Theapol
ogyl
ackedsi
ncer
it
y,f
rom whi
chChasecoul
dknowMi
l
newasnotwi
l
li
ng.

I
nthatcase,
hewoul
dli
ket
opl
aywi
tht
hem.

“Gotowor
know!
”Joel
breat
hedasi
ghofr
eli
ef.For
tunat
ely
,Chasewaswi
l
li
ngt
oleti
t
go.

“
Yes,
yes,
I’
m goi
ngtowor
know.
”Mi
l
nef
eltr
eli
eved,
aswel
l
,whi
l
eHal
esneakedaway
wi
tht
hoseguar
ds.

“Mr.Lu,
I’
m sor
ry.I
’v
ebeli
evedi
nMilneandmi sunderst
oodaboutyourabsence.Pl
ease
giv
emeachance. ”Aft
erMil
nel
eft
,Joelbeggedwi t
hbitt
erness.

Hehadt
obesubser
vient
,whi
chwasi
nev
itabl
e.

Theli
feordeathofhiscompanywasallaboutChase’
swor
d.Nott
oment
ionbeggi
ng,
hecouldevenkneelwit
houthesi
tat
ioni
fChaseneeded.

Chasesquint
edatJoel
foral
ongt
ime,
unt
ilJoel
fel
tner
vous.Hesmi
l
ed.“
Good,
let
’s
tal
kinyouroff
ice.
”

Joel
tookadeepbr
eat
h,t
henhur
ri
edl
yinv
itedChaset
ohi
sof
fi
ce.

.
..
“ManagerFan,
what’
sMr .Shawn’
smeani
ng?Itwashim whoagr
eedtofi
reChase,
but
howcouldhehelpChasejustnow?”I
nMi
lne’
soffi
ce,
HaleYuaskedwit
hconfusi
on.

Mi
l
nef
rowned,
sil
ent
.

Hedi
dn’
tknowwhy
,aswel
l
.

Thoughf
ewpeopl
esawheapol
ogi
zet
oChase,
hef
eltdepr
essed.

Hewant
edt
oknowhowChaseaskedJoel
forhel
p.

“ManagerFan,wasitbecauseMr.Shawnhassomeabnor
malrel
ati
onshi
pswi t
h
Chase’
swife?Afteral
l,
JayneLin,
thesexi
estwomani
nourcompany,att
ract
ssomany
peopl
e.”Halesai
d.

Mi
l
neFanwasr
emi
nded.Yes,
howcoul
dhedi
dn’
tthi
nkabouti
t?

Ev
enhewasat
tract
edbyJay
ne,
soJoel
shoul
dinf
atuat
ewi
thheraswel
l
.

ThenMil
nefel
thor
ri
ble.Hewasf
ight
ingwi
tht
hegener
almanagerf
ort
hesamewoman,
whichwoul
ddri
vehi
mt odeat
h.

“
Itshouldbe.ChaseLuwassor
uthl
esst
hathegav
ehi
swi
fet
othebosst
omakea
r
elat
ionshi
p.”Halemocked.

Mi
l
nesneer
ed.Hef
inal
l
yunder
stoodwhyJay
neal
way
sbecol
dtohi
m.
I
twasbecauseshehadcl
i
mbedat
all
ert
ree.

Mi
l
nef
eltangr
y.Heusedt
ohat
eChase,
butnowhehat
edJay
nemor
e.

“
Eveni
fyou’
reJoel
’swoman,aslongasy
ouwor
kint
hesal
esdepar
tment
,Ihav
e
v
ari
ousmeanstoteachy
oulessons.”

Si
nceJoeldidn’
ttr
ansferJay
net oanotherdepar
tment
,itmeantthatJoel
didn’
twant
ot
herpeopl
et oknowaboutit,soitwouldbenoprobl
em forMil
net omakesome
di
ff
icul
ti
esforJayne.

.
..

ChaseLuf
inal
lychangedt
hei
deaofmaki
ngDuncanEl
ect
roni
csbankr
upt
,buthe
pr
oposedacqui
ri
ngit.

Chasewoul
dbecomet
hebossoft
hiscompany
,wi
th70per
centofi
tsshar
es.

Ev
ery
thi
ngdone,
Chaser
etur
nedt
othehospi
tal
.

“
Sol
ongt
oresi
gn?
”Jay
nel
ookedatChase.

Sheseemedt
obeangr
yatt
hesol
ongt
imeChasehadt
akent
oresi
gn.

Wi
thmor
esal
aryt
hanChase,
Jay
neneededt
owor
kformoney
,soshecoul
dn’
tspend
t
oomucht
imet
aki
ngcar
eofCassi
eint
hehospi
tal
.

“
Ihadsomet
hing,
”Chaseexpl
ained.

“
Ist
her
eany
thi
ngmor
eimpor
tantt
hanCassi
e?”Jay
nesnor
ted.

Chasei
nit
ial
l
yint
endedt
otel
lJay
net
het
rut
h,hehel
dbackf
orJay
ne’
sdi
sgust
.

“
Takegoodcar
eofCassi
e.”Jay
nel
eftt
ogot
owor
k.

Chasesquint
eddowntoki
ssCassi
e’
sface.Cassi
eseemedt
ohav
eani
ght
mar
eora
pai
n,l
ookingmiser
abl
e.

Chaset
ouchedherf
ace,
hopi
ngCassi
ewoul
drecov
ersoon.

Chasef
elthungr
y,sowhenCassi
elookedr
elaxed,
hest
oodupandi
ntendedt
ogoout
forameal.

Justashewentoutoft
hehospi
tal
,hesawShel
lWangandJeanni
eLi
ncome.

6.Day
dream
ChaseLuwasj
ustont
hei
rway
,sohecoul
dn’
tav
oidt
hem.

Ashewasaboutt
ogreet
,Jeanni
eLi
nquest
ioned.“
ChaseLu,
behonest
.Doy
ouknow
thet
opofJoshGr
oup?”
Yester
daywhenJeannieandShellWangwentback,
theyhadthoughtalot
,doubt
ing
thatChaseLu,
theworm,mustknowt het
opofJoshGr oup.Ot
herwise,
John’
ssecret
ary
wouldn’
thavetobesuchrespect
ful
.

I
fitwast
rue,
Shel
l
’scont
ractwoul
dsucceedasl
ongasChasecoul
dhel
p.

“
Yes.
”Chasenodded.

Shel
landJeanni
e’
sey
escur
ved,
smi
l
ing.

“Oh,you’
repr
omi
singnow.Tel
lmom,
whi
cht
opmanagerdoy
ouknow?
”Shel
lWang
star
edatChasewi
thexci
tement.

I
thadbeentheonl
ytimeshetreat
edChasewithasmi
l
e.Sodi
dJeanni
e.I
twast
hef
ir
st
t
imeJeanni
ethoughtChaseasherbr
other
-i
n-l
aw.

“
IonlyknowJohnLu.
”Chasewashonest
.Indeed,
heknewnooneel
seexceptf
orJohn
t
here.

“
Don’
tcallhi
mlikethat
.Youshoul
dcal
lhi
m Mr
.Lu.
”Now,
Shel
lthoughthercont
ract
wasboundtosucceed.

Chasewasspeechl
ess,
shr
uggi
ng.

“
Oh,
Chase,
what
’st
her
elat
ionshi
pbet
weenMr
.Luandy
ou?
”Jeanni
ewascur
ious.
“
Johnismychamber
lai
n.Mom,didyougotoJoshGroupforbusi
nessyest
erday?Was
i
tgoi
ngwell
?WhatcanIhel
p?”Chasewasalsogl
adbecauseofShell
’
satti
tude.

Aft
erall
,Shel
lwasJayne’
smot
her
,soi
twoul
dbebestf
orChaset
okeepagood
rel
ati
onshi
pwithher
.

Butoutofhi
sexpect
ati
on,
Shel
l
’sf
acechangedaf
terhesai
dthat
.

Ther
ichesti
nJol
Cit
ywasy
ourchamber
lai
n?Whatday
dream wasChasemaki
ng?

Shel
landJeanni
ethoughtChasewaski
ddi
ngt
hem.

“I
fMr .Luwer
eyourchamber
lai
n,Iwoul
dbet
her
ichestal
lov
ert
hewor
ld.
”Jeanni
e
sati
ri
zed.

“Good,
Chase,hav
eIgivenyourbravetoki
dme?”Shellneverfel
tsuchdi
sgust
edt
o
Chase,pr
obabl
ybecauseherrai
singhopehadbeendestroyedatonce.

Chasewashel
pless.Whypeopl
eal
way
sdi
dn’
tbel
i
evei
nthet
rut
h?

“
Wher
ear
eyougoi
ng?Whynotst
aywi
thCassi
e?”Shel
laskedi
nashar
pvoi
ce.

“
Cassi
e’
sasl
eep.I
’
m outt
oeat
.”Chaseexpl
ained.

“
Eat
?Youknownot
hingel
sebutonl
yeat
!Wor
m!”Shel
lroar
ed,
thenshewentt
othe
hospi
tal
wit
hJeanni
e.

Shewasgoi
ngt
her
etoaskChase,
andbyt
heway
,tol
ookupCassi
e.

Chasewasspeechl
ess.Het
ookoutt
hemobi
l
ephonet
ocal
lJohn.

“UncleJohn,i
sShawn’
sPharmaceut
ical
Grouptal
ki
ngbusi
nesswit
hyou?Thepersonin
chargeisShel
lWang,t
heassi
stantmanageroft
hesal
esdepar
tment.
”Chaseasked.

“I
t’
shotrecent
ly,sowedeci
dedtopurchasesomemedicinet
oav
oidheat
str
oke.ButI
don’
tknowwhi chcompanywe’
retal
ki
ngwi th.
”Johnsai
d.

“
Wel
l
,ifi
t’
sShel
lWangf
rom Shawn’
sPhar
maceut
ical
Group,
buyher
s,”Chasesai
d.

“
OK.Byt
heway ,
youngmaster,
themast
erwant
stoseey
ou.I
fyou’
ref
ree,
I’
ll
inv
itehi
m
t
ocometoday
.”Johnrepor
ted.

Chasewassi
l
entf
orawhi
l
e.“
Idon’
twantt
oseehi
m now.
”

Johnsighed.“Youcan’tatt
ri
buteallt
hef aultstothemaster
.Hehasbeensuchgui
ltal
l
theseyear
st hathehasn’tmarr
iedagainf ortheny ear
s.WhenyoucametoJolCi
ty,
the
masterimmedi atel
ysentmeher etoestablishtheJoshGroup.Heknowsyouwell
and
orderedmedon’ tdi
stur
by ouunlessyou’reindanger .
”

ChaseLuf
eltupset
.Si
ncehel
efthomet
eny
ear
sago,
hehadnev
eraskedabouthi
s
fat
her
.
Andtohi
ssurpr
ise,
WhenChase’
smotherdi
ed,
Terencewasj
ust36y
ear
sol
d,but
Ter
encehadn’
tmarri
edanot
herwomanfort
enyear
s.

Hadher
eal
l
yli
vedwi
thgui
l
tyi
nthepastt
eny
ear
s?

Chasef
eltcompl
i
cat
ed.“
Wet
alkt
hisl
aterwhenmydaught
err
ecov
ers.
”

Act
uall
y,Chasehadalreadyunderstoodt
hathi
smot
her
’sdeat
hwasanacci
dent
.
Ter
encewasj ustcar
elessatthatti
me.

“
OK.I
’
llr
epor
ttot
hemast
er.Hemustbepl
easant
.”Johnwasexci
ted.

JohnhadbeeninJolCit
yfortenyears,
aswel
l
.Exceptf
orhel
pingt
hey
oungmast
er,
he
hadbeenwait
ingforChase’
sforgi
veness.

Chasehungupthephone,
goi
ngt
oanoodl
eshopt
ohav
eameal
.Ashewasaboutt
o
eat
,Jeanni
ecal
l
edhim.

“
Chase,
comebacknow!Cassi
eisgone!
”Jeanni
ewasanxi
ous.

Chasesmi
l
ed.“
Cassi
ehasbeent
ransf
err
edt
otheVI
Pwar
d.I
t’
sNo.
2,t
he19t
hfl
oor
.”

“
What
?TheVI
Pwar
d?Howdoy
ougett
hemoney
?”Jeanni
edoubt
ed.

“
Ibor
rowedi
t,
”Chaseanswer
ed.
Si
ncet
heywoul
dn’
tbel
i
evewhathesai
d,hehadnoneedt
oexpl
ainmor
e.

“
Whati
fit
’ssuf
fi
cientl
ater
?”Jeanni
easked.

“Don’tworr
y.Iwon’
tbor
rowfr
om you.Ihav
ethemethod.
”Chasehadborrowedmoney
from Shel
laft
erfai
li
ngt
hebusi
nessbuthadbeent
hrownoutofherhouse.Att
hatt
ime,
hehadswor nthathewoul
dneverbor
rowmoneyfr
om Shell
’
sfamil
y.

“Humph,I
’l
lnev
erl
endmoneyt
oawor
mli
key
ou!
”ItwasShel
lwhor
oar
edont
hephone.
Chasehungupqui
ckl
y.

“
Thiscowar
ddarestohangupt
hephone.Ar
rogant
!”Shel
lcur
sed,
thenwentt
othe19t
h
f
loorwi
thJeanni
e.

Aft
ert
heysati
ntheVIPwar
dforj
ustawhil
e,Cassi
ewokeup.ThoughShel
landJeanni
e
hat
edChaseLu,t
heyact
ual
l
ytookCassi
etothei
rhear
ts.

I
twasnotbusyintheaft
ernoon,
sot
het
wodeci
dedt
ost
aywi
thCassi
e.Butnotsol
ong
l
ater
,Shel
l
’sphonerang.

Whenshef
ini
shedt
alki
ng,
shel
ookedexci
ted.

Jeanni
efel
tcur
ious.“
Mom,
whoi
sit
?”

“ThemanagerofJoshGr
oupcal
l
edust
otal
kaboutt
hecooper
ati
ont
hisaf
ter
noon,
”
Shell
sai
d.
“
Wow!I
t’
sgr
eat
!Fi
nal
l
y,wemakei
t!
”Jeanni
ewasexci
ted,
aswel
l
.

“ManagerWangsaidsomeonehashelpedustot
alkt
hiswi
thMr
.Lu.Weshoul
dthank
him,butwedon’
tknowwhohei s.
”Shellsai
d.

“
Shoul
ditbe.
..
”Jeani
eguessed

7.Mi
sunder
standi
ng
“
YoumeanHay
esHu?Shel
lWangasked.

Jeanni
eLi
nnoddedwi
thdoubt
.

“I
tshoul
dn’tbehi
m.ManagerWangdi
dn’
ttr
eathi
m sopol
i
tel
yyest
erday
.”Shel
lWang
shookherhead.

“Butwho’
sit
?Itshouldbeapower
fulpersonwhocouldtalkaboutt
hiswi
thMr
.Lu.
Therei
snosuchper soni
nmybrai
n.”Jeanniewasconfused.

Thet
wobegant
oguess,
butnei
theroft
hem t
houghtofChaseLu.

Chasewasausel
esswormint
hei
rmi
nds,
sot
heydi
dn’
tbel
i
evet
hathecoul
dhav
ea
rel
ati
onshi
pwi
thJohnLu.

I
fther
ewereaconnect
ionbet
weenJohnandChase,
itshoul
dbet
hatt
heywer
eal
l
namedLu.
“
Well
,forgeti
t.Let’
smaket
hecont
ractf
ir
st.WecanaskmanagerWangabouti
ts
i
dent
it
y.”Shel
l sai
d.

Chasewentint
othewardaf
teramealandsawt
hesmi
l
esont
het
wo’
sface,
knowi
ng
thatJoshGr
ouphadalr
eadycal
ledt
hem.

“St
aywithCassi
e.We’r
egoi
ngtomakeacont
ractwi
thJoshGr
oup.
”Shel
lwasj
oyf
ul,
so
herat
ti
tudewasquit
epeacef
ul.

Chasenodded.ThenJeanni
e’
sphoner
ang.

Af
terawhi
l
e,Jeanni
esai
d.“
Mom,
pleasewai
tforawhi
l
e.Hay
es’
scomi
ng.
”

SoonHay
esHucamei
nwi
thabagoff
rui
tinhi
shand.

Hi
sat
ti
tudet
owar
dsChasechanged,
compar
edwi
thy
est
erday
’sdi
sdai
n.

Hehadn’tgot
tenagoodt r
eatmentinJoshyesterday,
butJohn’
ssecr
etaryhadbehav
ed
suchr
espectf
ull
ytoChase.Hay eswasnotstupid.ThesameasShellandJeanni
e,he
haddoubtedaboutChase’
sidenti
ty,
aswell
.

“
Hayes,di
dyouaskyourf
at hert
ohelpmymom?ManagerWangi nJoshGr oupcall
ed
mymom justnowandinv
itedust omaket
hecont
ract
.”Jeanni
easked.Shesti
ll
thought
i
tshoul
dbeonlyHayeswhocoul dhel
pShel
l.

“
Ah?
”Hay
esf
eltconf
used.Heknewwel
lthatev
enhi
sfat
hercoul
dn’
thav
esuchpower
s.
Seei
ngHay
es’
sexpr
essi
on,
Jeanni
efel
tdi
sappoi
nted.“
Itmustbeot
her
s.”

“AuntShell
,hasmanagerWangcal
ledyou?Myf
ather
’ssor
eli
abl
e.Ij
ustaskedhi
mf or
helpthismorni
ng.It
houghti
twoul
dtakesomedays,
buthehasal
readymadeit.
”Hayes
admitted.

Hayeswasn’taf
rai
dt obeexposed.I
tmustbethatJoshGr
oupthoughtShel
l
’scompany
r
eli
able,
sotheydecidedtocooperat
ewit
hher.Sonooneactual
lyhel
pedShell
,and
Hayeswouldneverbeexposed.

Whatwasmor
e,t
oadmi
tthi
scont
ri
but
ionwoul
dmakehi
m getcl
osert
oJeanni
e.

“Oh,
itwasreal
l
yyourf
atherwhohel
pedus.Thankyou!
”Jeanni
elookedatHay
eswi
th
exci
tement
.Sheknewnoonecouldhel
pexceptforHay
es.

“
Lit
tl
eHay
es,
thanky
ousomuch.
”Shel
lwassur
pri
sed.

Chasewasshocked.Hedi
dn’
texpectHay
est
obesuchshamel
ess.

“
Arey
ousur
ethati
twasy
ourf
atherwhohel
pedmymom?
”Chasel
aughed.

Hay
esf
eltr
att
led.

“Shoul
ditbey
ou?Doy
ouhav
esuchpower
s?”Jeanni
est
aredatChasewi
thdi
sdai
nin
hereyes.
“
Don’
tcar
eabouthi
m.Let
’smaket
hecont
ractf
ir
st.
”Thent
heyl
eft
.

“
Daddy
,whydoaunt
ieandgr
andmat
reaty
ousot
err
ibl
y?”Cassi
easkedwi
thconf
usi
on.

Chasesmi
l
ed,
speechl
ess.

Hecouldn’
tsayi
twasbecauset
heyt
houghthi
m usel
ess.Heshoul
dactwel
li
nfr
ontof
Cassi
e.

Thenextday
,Cassi
ehadt
heoper
ati
on.

I
twasi
ndeedsuccessf
ul,
andCassi
efel
twel
l
.

Cassi
erecov
eredsof
astt
hataf
ewday
slat
er,
shecoul
dleav
ethehospi
tal
.

Atnight,i
nJayneandChase’
sroom,Jayneasked.“
Cassi
e’
sthr
eey
ear
sol
d,enoughf
or
thekinder
gart
en,sowhat
’syourpl
an?”

“
Plan?
”Chasedi
dn’
tknowhermeani
ng.

“Weneedmoneyt opayforthetui
ti
on,
soy
oushoul
dfi
ndaj
obandpaybackt
hedebtas
soonaspossi
ble.
”Jaynefrowned.

“
It
’sonl
yadebtof50t
housandy
uanf
orPhi
lDu,
andI
’
llpaybacksoon,
”Chasesai
d.
“
Good,y
oumeanthatIshoul
dpaybackt
her
estdebt
,ri
ght
?”Jay
negl
aredatChase,
whowassmoki
ngbythebed.

Shenev
ert
houghtt
hatChasewassounr
eli
abl
e.

“
Takeiteasy
.Ineversai
dther
esti
sbor
rowed.I
t’
smymoney
.Ij
ustowePhi
l50
t
housandnow.”Chasesmil
ed.

“
Yourmoney
?It
’smor
ethan500t
housandy
uan.Ar
eyouki
ddi
ngme?
”Jay
newas
f
uri
ous.

“
Dear
,letmet
ell
yout
het
rut
h.I
nfact
,I’
m ar
ichman.
”

ThenChaseputoutt
heci
gar
ett
e,pul
l
ingJay
nei
nhi
sar
ms,
andr
eadyt
otel
lherhi
s
i
denti
ty.

“
Goaway
.Don’
ttouchme!
”ButJay
newasf
uri
ous,
pushi
ngChaseawayandshout
ing.

“ChaseLu, y
oumakemesodisappoi
nted.You’
vef
oundsuchar i
dicul
ousexcuseto
escapefrom wor
k.Ar
eyoust
ill
astandingman?Iwarny
ou.Ifanyonecomest oaskfor
debt,I
’
lldiv
orcey
ouimmedi
atel
y!”

Jay
negotoutofbed.ShelovedChase.Eveni
fChasefai
ledtostartabusi
nessandhad
nomoneytosupportCassi
e’
streat
ment ,
ther
ewereonlycomplaints.

Butnow,
Chasehadf
oundsuchal
udi
crousexcuse,
maki
nghersodespondent
.
“
Whatar
eyoudoi
ng?
”Chaseasked.

“
Sleepi
nanot
herr
oom!
”Jay
nesnor
ted,
thenl
eft
.

Chasewasamused.

Whypeopl
eal
way
sdi
dn’
tbel
i
evei
nthet
rut
h?

8.Conf
li
lct
Thenextday
,Jay
newentt
owor
kear
ly,
whi
l
eChaset
ookCassi
etot
heki
nder
gar
ten.

BecauseCassi
ejoi
nedt
hecl
assi
nthemi
ddl
eoft
hecour
se,
ther
ewoul
dbesome
probl
ems.

Butaccept
ingabankcar
dwi
th10t
housandy
uani
nit
,thepr
inci
plear
rangedev
ery
thi
ng
sofast.

“Cassi
e,l
et’
sbuysomenewclot
hesnow,
andt
omor
row,
youwi
l
lhav
etost
udyher
e.”
ChasetookCassi
etoashoppi
ngmall
.

“OK.I
’
llbuythemostbeautif
ulone.Thecl
othesgr
andmaboughtf
ormewasnot
beaut
if
ulatall
.”Cassi
elookedjoy
ful.

“
Wel
l
,let
’sbuyt
hemostbeaut
if
ulonet
oday
.”Chasesmi
l
ed.
Soont
heyar
ri
vedatSi
nTi
nshoppi
ngmal
l
.

SinTinMal
lwasali
ve,wi
thcl
othi
ngshop,
foodanddr
inki
ngshop,
cinema,
and
enter
tai
nmentcent
er,
busybutor
der
ed.

“
Daddy
,it
’saunt
ie.
”Suddenl
y,Cassi
epoi
ntedatacl
othi
ngshop.

Jeanni
ewasst
eppi
ngoutwi
thhercl
assmat
es.

“
Aunt
ieJeanni
e,aunt
ieJeanni
e!”Cassi
eshout
ed.

Jeanni
ecameov
erwi
thasmi
l
e.“
Comeon.Letmehol
eyou.
”

“Aunt
ieJeanni
e,ar
eyouher
etobuynewcl
othes?Daddybr
ingsmeher
etobuy
,too.
”
Cassi
esaid.

“
Yes,
letaunt
iebuyy
ousomenewcl
othes,
aswel
l
.”Jeanni
esmi
l
ed.

“
Wow,
Jeanni
e,i
sthi
syoursi
ster
’schi
l
d?Howcut
e!”

Jeanni
e’
scl
assmat
escamear
oundt
otouchCassi
e’
sface.

“
Aunt
ieJeanni
e,Iwantmydaddy
.”Cassi
efel
tuncomf
ort
abl
efort
hei
rtouch.
Jeanni
ehadt
oputCassi
einChase’
sar
ms.Herey
est
oChasewasf
ull
ofdi
sdai
n.

Chasedi
dn’
twantt
ost
aywi
thher
,leav
ingandgoi
ngt
oachi
l
dren’
scl
othi
ngshop.

“
ChaseLu,itwasafamousbrand.Thecheapestclot
hesther
eshoul
dal
socost
t
housands.Canyouaf
for
dit?
”Jeanniesaidbehindhim.

Sheknewt hatChasehadr
esi
gned,
soobv
iousl
y,al
lthemoneyhespentnowwasf
rom
hersi
ster
.

Moreannoyi
ngl
y ,
Chasehadal
readyowedsomuchmoney ,buthewassuchabi
g
spendert
hati
ntendedt
ospendthousandst
obuycl
othes.

“
Ican,
”Chasesai
d.

“Youcan?”Jeanni
ecaughtuphi
m,sat
ir
izi
ng.“
Doesmysi
sterknowy
oubuysuch
expensi
veclot
hes?”

Chasedi
dn’
tspeakbutwentt
otheshop.

“
Jeanni
e,y
ourbr
other
-i
n-l
awi
squi
ter
ich.I
t’
saf
amousbr
and.
”Agi
rlsai
d.

“Whatt
hehellhehas?”HayesHusneered.“Hehasowedhundredsoft
housandsof
debt
,wit
houtanysalar
y,usi
ngJeanni
e’
ssi st
er’
smoneytoeatanddri
nk.

“
Ah?Doy
oumeanhedoesn’
tgot
owor
kbutl
i
vesonawoman?
”Agi
rlsai
dsur
pri
singl
y.
“
Whatausel
esswor
m.”Ot
her
sal
sosi
ghed.

Chasetur
nedbackandgl
aredatJeannie.Asherbr
other
-i
n-l
aw,
Chaseal
way
sendur
ed
herof
fense,
buti
twassoimpoli
tetoslanderi
npubli
c.

“Daddy,Iwantt
hatone.”JustasChasei
ntendedt
oscol
dJeanni
e,Cassi
ecal
l
edhi
m,
point
ingatawhitechi
ldren’
sdress.

“
OK.
”Chasesmi
l
ed,
tur
ningar
oundandgoi
ngt
opi
ckt
hedr
ess.

“Si
r,i
t’
simport
edj
ustt
wodaysbefor
e.Woul
dyoul
i
ket
ohav
eat
ryon?
”Theshoppi
ng-
gui
deintr
oducedt
hedresswi
thasmil
e.

Chasenodded.Atthi
smoment
,al
i
ttl
egi
rll
ooki
ngt
hreeorf
oury
ear
sol
dcameov
er
wit
hherparents.

“
Mom,
Iwanti
t,t
oo.
”Thegi
rlpoi
ntedatt
hedr
essi
ntheshoppi
nggui
de’
shands.

“server,packt
hedr
essf
orme.
”Thewomanl
ooki
ngweal
thyor
der
edt
heshoppi
ng-
gui
de
directl
y.

Theshoppi
ng-
gui
del
ookedatChase,
embar
rassed.

“
Daddy
,Iwanti
t.
”Cassi
eshookChase’
shand.
“Sorr
y.Mydaught
erhasalreadypickedt
hisoneandi
sgoi
ngt
otr
yon.Coul
dyoupl
ease
pickanot
her
?”Chaserequested.

“Tryon?Yourkind,
poorbutal
way si
nter
est
edi
ntr
yingont
hecl
othes,
hav
emademany
clothesdi
rt
y.”Thewomansnorted.

Chasel
ookedor
dinar
y,sot
hewomandi
dn’
tthi
nkhecoul
daf
for
dthef
amous-
brand
dr
ess.

“
Howt
obuyi
fwedon’
ttr
yon?
”Jeanni
e,whof
oll
owedi
n,ar
gued.

Thoughshedi
sli
kedChase,
shecoul
dn’
tletCassi
ebemocked.

“
Throwiti
fil
l-
fi
tt
ingandbuyanot
herone.Oh,
I’
m sor
ry.Youmaydon’
tknowhow
weal
thypeopl
eli
v e.
”Thewomansati
ri
zed.

“
Pleaset
akemydaught
ert
otr
yiton,
”Chasesai
dtot
heshoppi
ng-
gui
de.

“
Askherwhoshewant
stosel
lto.
”Thewomansneer
ed.

Thensheturnedtotheshoppi
ng-
gui
de.“I’
veboughtfi
vedressesj
ustnow,wor
thal
most
40thousandyuan.I
fyoudaretosel
lthi
sdresstothem,I
’l
lputthedr
essesher
eand
won’tpayfort
hem.”

“Besides,I
’
llcompl
aintoyourmanager
.Let
’sseewhatyourmanagerwil
lchoose,
protecti
ngyou,orf
lat
teri
ngme.”Thewomant hr
eat
enedtheshoppi
ng-gui
de.
Chasewascal
m,butJeanni
ener
vousl
ylookedatt
heshoppi
ng-
gui
de,
wai
ti
ngf
orher
answer
.

9.I
'
llBuyThem Al
l
Theshopping-
guidewashesi
tant,butshefi
nal
lycompr
omi sed,
point
ingatthewoman’
s
daught
erunderthewoman’sthreat.“
Itwasthi
sli
tt
legi
rlwhopickedfi
rst
,socoul
dyou
pl
easepickanother?
”

Jeanni
eLindi
dn’
taccept.“
ItwasCassi
efi
rst
.Howcany
oul
i
ethr
oughy
ourt
eet
h?Do
youalway
sonlyt
reattheri
chascustomer
s?”

Theshoppi
ng-
guidesneer
ed.“Customersareal
sodi
ff
erentfr
om eachot
her.This
madam hasboughtsi
xdressestoday.I
fyoucoul
dbuymor e,
Iwouldsur
elystandby
yoursi
de.
”

Si
ncet
hegui
dedeci
dedt
ocompr
omi
se,
shewoul
ddoherbestt
ohel
ptheweal
thy
woman.

ChaseandJeanni
elookedor
dinar
y,sohowcoul
dtheybuymor
ethant
hewoman?

Asl
ongast
hewomanpai
dfort
hedr
esses,
thegui
dewoul
dobt
ainal
otofbonuses.

Thewomanl aughedwi
thcompl
acency
.“Di
dyouheart
hat
?Icanbuysi
x,socany
ou?
Neveraskf
orsomuchi fy
oudon’
thavemoney.
”

“Don’
tfusssomuchwi
tht
hosel
osers.Obvi
ousl
y,t
heycan’
taf
for
dbutwantt
owearf
or
once.
”Themanwhohadbeensi
lentall
theti
mespokewithi
mpati
ence.
“
Didyouhearthat?Don’
tlett
hiski
ndi
ntoi
nfl
uencet
her
eal
cust
omer
s’mood.
”The
womaninst
ructedthegui
de.

“
You.
..
”

Jeanni
ewassoashamedt
odi
e.

Thought
hei
rfami
l
ywasnotweal
thy
,sheact
ual
l
ycoul
daf
for
dsuchadr
ess.

Sheev
encoul
daf
for
dtwo.

Buti
fshewant
edt
ocompar
ewi
tht
hewoman,
shewoul
datl
eastbuysi
x.

I
twast
ooexpensi
ve.

Hay
esHucoul
daff
ord,buthewant
edt
oseeChaseshowhi
msel
fup,
sohej
ust
wat
chedwi
thsi
l
ence.

Asf
orot
herJeanni
e’
scl
assmat
es,
theywer
easpower
lessasJeanni
e.

“I
t’
sal
lbecauseofyou!Whydoy oucomeherewit
houtenoughmoney
?Nowbei
t,how
shamef
ul!
”Jeanni
eputallherangeronChase.

“Di
dIaskedyoutopackitup?Mydaught
erhasn’
ttr
iedi
tyet
.Whydoy
oupacki
tup
now?”Chasedi
dn’tspeakwit
hJeanni
ebutl
ookedatthegui
de.
Nott
oment
iont
hewoman’
swor
dsf
ir
st,
thegui
de’
sat
ti
tudemadehi
mfeel
sick.

Besi
des,
Cassi
ewant
edt
hisdr
ess.Asherf
ather
,hecoul
dn’
tletherdown.

“Tr
yon?Ar eyoureal
l
ythekindt
hismadam sai
dthatcan’
taf
fordbutint
endtoj
ustwear
once?Si
r,aren’
tyouafr
aidt
obri
ngharmful
infl
uenceonyourchi
ld?”Thegui
democked.

“Howdoy ouknowIcan’taf
fordit?Howcany
oubesuchsnobbish?
”Chasef
eltenr
aged.
Thei
rsnobbishbehav
ior
swer eindeedt
hehar
mful
inf
luencesonchi
ldr
en.

“
Ha,
youngman,
doy
ouwantt
opl
ayabi
t?”Themi
ddl
e-agedmansneer
edatChaseLu.

Hewoul
dal
way
shav
eaf
eel
i
ngofbei
ngsuper
iorwhenhesawpoorpeopl
epower
less.

Chasel
ookedathi
m,squi
nti
ng.“
Wel
l
,howt
opl
ay?
”

Jeanni
epull
edCassietoleav
e.“
Cassi
e,comewi
thme.Let
’spi
cksomebeaut
if
ul
cl
othesinanot
hershop.”

Chasewant
edt
owai
tforshame,
sol
ethi
m go.

Jeanni
efoundChasehadnoideaaboutbei
nghumbl
e.Thatcoupl
elookedweal
thy
,so
howcouldChaseplaywi
tht
hem?

I
twast
otal
l
yaj
oke.
“Aunt
ieJeannie,
let
’sgo.
”Hear
ingthebeaut
if
ulclot
hes,Cassi
eagr
eedi
mmedi
atel
y.
ThenshepulledChase.“
Daddy
, l
et’
sgotoanothershop.
”

Shecoul
dn’
tunder
standadul
ts’
tal
k,butsheknewdaddywasar
gui
ngwi
thot
her
s.

“ChaseLu,doyouwantCassietoseey
ourshame?Youcanbeshameful
,butdon’
tlet
Cassieknowaboutt
his,
OK? ”Seei
ngChasest
oodfi
rm,Jeanni
efel
tangr
yagain.

“
SinceCassi
ewant
sthi
sdr
ess,
howcanIgi
veup?
”Chasel
ookedatJeanni
e.

“
So,
doy
ouwantt
obuysi
xormor
e,aswel
l
?”Jeanni
elookedanxi
ous.

I
fitwer
en’
tbecausehewasCassi
e’
sfat
her
,Jeanni
ewoul
dnev
erhav
ecar
edabouthi
m.

“Youngman,youshoul
dlist
entothi
sgirl
,ory
ou’
l
lsoonbecomeaj
oke.
”Themi
ddl
e-
agedwaspleasedbyJeannie’
sanxi
ety
.

“
Right
.Onl
yfool
swi
l
lbear
rogantwi
thoutpower
s.”Thewomansneer
ed,
aswel
l
.

Thenshet
urnedt
othegui
de.“
Dri
vet
hem out
.Don’
tlett
hem af
fectus.
”

Thegui
det
houghtso,
speaki
ngt
oChase.“
Gonow.Don’
tbot
hermycust
omer
s.”

“
Cassi
e,doy
oul
i
ket
hesecl
othesher
e?”Chasedi
dn’
trepl
ybutaskedCassi
e.
Cassi
enodded.

Chasesmi
l
ed.“
So,
I’
ll
buyt
hem al
lfory
out
oweart
henewev
eryday
.”

“
OK!OK!
”Cassi
ewasexci
ted.

Jeanni
ewasshocked.WasChasemad?

Di
dhet
hinkhewasabi
l
li
onai
re?

“ChaseLu,
ify
oust
il
ldon’
tli
stent
ome,
I’
ll
cal
lmysi
ster
!”Jeanni
etookouthermobi
l
e
phone.

“Good,youngman,
you’
vepl
ayedwell.I
fyour
eal
l
ybuyal
lthecl
othesi
nthi
sshop,
I’
ll
kneelt
oapologi
ze.
”Themanlaughed.

“
I’
ll
kneel
tol
i
cky
ourshoes.
”Thewomansneer
ed.

Chase’
scl
otheswereonl
ycosthundr
edsofyuan,whi
chshowedhisident
it
yasan
or
dinar
yoff
iceworker
,sohowcouldt
hecouplethi
nkhighl
yofChase.

“I
’
m afrai
dy ou’
ll
cryl
ater
.”Chasesneer
ed,
tur
ningt
oashoppi
ng-
gui
dewhohadkept
si
lental
lthetime.

“
Count
.Howmuchar
eal
lthecl
othesi
nyourshop?Ibuyt
hem al
l
.”Chasesai
d.
“
Ah?Re.
..
real
l
y?”Thegui
dewasshocked.

“
I’
vecount
edal
ready
.Itwas520t
housandy
uan.Cashorcar
d?”Thef
ormergui
deasked
wi
thir
ony.

Chasel
ookedatt
hegui
dehehadasked.“
520t
housandy
uan?
”

Thegui
denodded.

“
Fine.Car
d.They
’resol
dbyy
ou.
”Chasewentt
othecashi
er.

Thegui
decamebackf
rom shock,
fol
l
owi
ng.

“
What?Doeshereal
l
yaff
ordt
hem?”Thecoupl
ewasconfused.Thi
syoungmandi
dn’
t
l
ookl
i
kethepersonwhocoul
dspendhundr
edsoft
housandstobuycl
othes.

Jeanni
ewasshocked,
too.Chase’
sconf
identexpr
essi
onmadeherconf
used,
aswel
l
.

“
Sir
,you’
veboughtsomany,soIcangi
veyouadiscount
.Youcanpay500t
housand
y
uan.”Thegui
desaid,
rest
rai
ningt
heexci
tementi
nherheart
.

Chasenodded.Justnotunt
ilhet
ookouthi
swal
l
etdi
dhef
indhi
scar
dlef
tathome.

Whatt
hehel
l
?Comeon.Don’
tbesuchunf
ort
unat
e.
10.TheSupr
emeVI
PCar
d
“
What
?Whydon’
tyout
akey
ourcar
dout
.”Thesnobbi
shgui
democked.

Shedi
dn’
tbel
i
evet
hatChaseLucoul
dhav
e500t
housandy
uan.

Thecoupl
ebr
eat
hedasi
ghofr
eli
ef.

Tobehonest
,Chase’
sconf
identex
pressi
onmadet
hem scar
ed.

Becausetheyhadswor
nthati
fChasecoul
daf
for
d,t
heyshoul
dkneel
toapol
ogi
zeand
l
ickChase’sshoes.

Thought
heywoul
dn’
tdoi
tact
ual
l
y,i
twoul
dbeashamed.

“
Wow, y
ou’vet
alkedsobi
g.Doy out
akey
ouri
dent
it
yast
hebankcar
d?How
i
nter
est
ing.
”Themansati
rized.

“
I’
veremi
ndedy
outhatonl
yfool
swill
bear
rogantwi
thoutpower
s.Nowy
oubecomet
he
f
ool.
”Thewomansneer
ed,aswel
l.

“
Cassi
e,l
et’
sgo.”Jeanni
efel
tdi
sappoi
nted.Shedi
dn’
twantt
oseeChaseany
mor
e.
Howshameful
.

“
Iwantt
ost
aywi
thdaddy
.”Cassi
eshookherhead,
grabbi
ngChase’
scl
othes.
Jeanni
efel
tsomuchsorr
yforCassi
e.Shegl
aredatChase.“
ChaseLu,
leav
eher
e.Don’
t
makeCassieashamedwi
thyou.
”

“
Well,
may bey
ourbr
other
-i
n-l
awi
smasochi
sm whoenj
oysbei
nghumi
l
iat
ed.
”Hay
esHu
l
aughed.

Hehadagoodt
imet
heseday
s.

BecauseJeanni
ethoughthehadhel
pedShel
lWang,
herat
ti
tudet
owar
dshi
m changed
alot
.

ThoughJeanni
edi
dn’
tagr
eet
obehi
sgi
rl
fr
iend,
shedi
dn’
tref
uset
odat
ewi
thhi
m
anymore.

I
tseemedt
obenopr
obl
em f
orHay
est
ogetJeanni
ebutj
ustneededt
ime.

“
Jeannie,
let’
sgo.Yourbr
other
-i
n-l
awi si
ncur
able,sodon’
tmakeotherpeopl
e
misunder
standwe’r
ewithhim.
”Agi r
lshookherhead,say
ingwi
thdisdai
n.

Bl
ushonJeanni
e’
sface,
Jeanni
edi
dn’
tcar
eaboutChase,
butsheshoul
dcar
eabout
Cassi
e.

I
fChasedi
dn’
tgo,
Cassi
ewoul
dn’
tleav
ewi
thher
.

“
Sir
,doy
ouf
orgett
obr
ingy
ourcar
d?”Thequi
etgui
deasked.
“
Yes,
pleasewai
tforamoment
.I’
l
lasksomeonet
osendi
ttome.
”Chasenodded,
ready
t
ocal
lJohnLu.

“
Ida,
arey
oust
upi
dtobel
i
evei
nhi
m unt
ilnow?
”Thesnobbi
shgui
democked.

Thequi
etgui
denamedI
dawassi
l
ent
.Tobehonest
,ev
enshedi
dn’
tbel
i
eveChasenow.

Butwi
thprof
essi
onal
ethi
csandspi
ri
t,ev
eni
fChasedi
dn’
tbuyanydr
ess,
shewoul
dn’
t
compl
ain.

“Si
r,i
fyoudon’tpayf
ort
hem now.Pl
easegoawayanddon’
tbot
herus.
”Thesnobbi
sh
gui
deur ged.

ChaseLul
ookedatt
hegui
de,
taki
ngoutt
hephone.

Justatt
hismoment
,abal
dmancameov
er.

“
Mr.Si
n,I
t’
syou.
”Themi
ddl
e-agedmanst
eppedf
orwar
dwi
thasmi
l
e.

Thebal
dmangl
ancedathi
m butdi
dn’
tsayany
thi
ngandt
henwal
kedt
oChaseLu.

Themi
ddl
e-agedmanwasembar
rassed.

“
Husband,
who’shi
m?”Thewomanwhisper
ed.Herhusbandwaswel
l
-connect
ed,
but
t
hebaldi
gnor
edherhusband,
maki
ngherangr
y.
“
Thegener al
managerofthi
sshoppi
ngmall
,whosebackgr
oundi
sJoshGr
oup.
”The
middl
e-agedmanansweredinalowvoi
ce.

Thewomannodded.I
twassuchani
nfl
uent
ial
per
son.Nowonderhedi
dn’
tcar
eabout
herhusband.

“
Doeshecomeher
etobuycl
othesf
orhi
schi
l
d,t
oo?
”Thewomanwasconf
used.

“
May
be.
”Themannodded.Att
hismoment
,thebal
dmanf
inal
l
ygott
oChase.

“
Mr.Lu,
it’
str
ulyy
ou.
”Thebal
dmanbowedt
oChase.

“
You’
re.
..
”Chasewasconf
used.

“
I’
m Bi
l
lSi
n,t
hemanageroft
hismal
l
.”Bi
l
lSi
nanswer
edr
espect
ful
l
y.

Afewday sbef or
e,JohnLuhadgather
edallt
hetopmanagersofJoshGroupt
ohavea
meeting.Theonlypurposeoft
hatmeetingwastoannouncet
hatChaseLuhad
i
nheri
t edtheassetsofLu’
sFamil
y.Johnhadpresent
edChase’
sphotoandtol
dthem t
o
berespectfulwhentheymetChase.

Ast
hegener
almanagerofSi
nTi
nMal
l
,Bi
l
lat
tendedt
hemeet
ing,
ofcour
se.

SowhenhesawChasecomet
ohi
smal
lforshoppi
ng,
hehur
ri
edl
ycameov
ert
ogr
eet
.
Jeanni
eandot
hery
oungpeopl
edi
dn’
tknowBi
l
l,sot
heydi
dn’
tfi
ndsomet
hingwr
ong.

Butt
hemi
ddl
e-agedmanwashor
ri
fi
ed.

I
twasamanthatevenBi
l
lhadt
obowt
o.WhatwasChase’
sident
it
y?Washeapower
ful
mani
nJoshGroup?

“
Oh,
Iknow.
”Chasenodded.I
tmustbet
hatJohnhadi
nfor
medt
hoset
opmanager
s.

“
Mr.Lu,thi
sistheonlyonesupremeVI
Pcard.Youcanpickanygoodsyouli
keher
e
wi
thoutpayment.Themallwil
lpayf
oryout
ot heshopownerattheendofever
y
month.
”Bil
ltookoutacardmadeupbyplat
inum.

Chaset
ookt
hecar
d,t
ouchi
ng.“
CanIbuyal
lthecl
othesi
nthi
sshopwi
tht
hiscar
d?”

“
Sure.Youcant
akeany
thi
ngher
eyouwantwi
tht
hiscar
d.”Bi
l
lnodded.I
twasj
ustwhat
t
hiscardmadefor
.

“Good.Then,
packupal
lthedr
essesher
e,anddonat
eboy
’scl
othest
otheor
phanage.
”
Chasecommanded.

Thet
woshoppi
ng-
gui
deswer
est
unned.

Theyknewt hecar
dwel l
.Thescr
eensonthewall
oft
enplayedthevi
deoaboutt
hiscar
d,
andallt
heshopowner shademphasizedt
hatt
heycoul
dn’taskformoneyf
rom t
he
personwit
ht hi
scard.
“
Whyar
eyout
wost
il
lst
andi
ngher
e?Packupqui
ckl
y.
”Bi
l
lur
ged.

Thetwoguideshurri
edl
ygot
opackupt
hecl
othes,
whi
l
eBi
l
lcal
l
edpeopl
etosendt
he
restt
otheorphanage.

Then,
Chase’
sey
est
urnedsl
owl
ytot
hecoupl
e.

11.TheYoungMast
er
ChaseLu’
sey
est
urnedt
othecoupl
e,maki
ngt
hei
rfaceschange.

Now,
itwasuni
mpor
tanti
fChasewoul
dbeashamed.

Whatmadet
hem hor
ri
fi
edwasChase’
sunknowni
dent
it
y.

I
fChaseLuwast
het
opofJoshGr
oup,
itwoul
dbeapi
eceofcaket
odeal
wit
hthem.

Evenaslongasheshowedhi shat
redout
,numer
ouspeopl
ewhowant
edt
ofl
att
erhi
m
wouldchasethem f
rom heav
entoeart
h.

“Di
dyousayi
fIcoul
dbuyallt
heclothesher
e,y
ouwoul
dkneel
orl
i
ckmyshoes?
”Chase
smil
edl
ikeadevi
li
nthecoupl
e’seyes.

“
Mr.Lu,
I.
..
I’
m sor
ry.We’
reasbl
i
ndasabat
.Pl
easel
etusgo.
”Themi
ddl
e-agedman
hur
ri
edl
yapol
ogi
zed,
ofcour
se,
unwi
l
li
ngt
okneel
.

“Mr.Lu,
we’
veknownourof
fense.Pl
easel
etusgof
ort
hesakeofki
ds.
”Thewoman
begged.

I
fshereal
lyknel
ttol
i
ckChase’
sshoes,
itwoul
dbr
ingsomucht
err
ibl
einf
luenceonher
daught
er.

Jeanni
eLindi
sdai
nedthei
rfear.ThoughChaseknewt
hegener
almanager
,howcoul
d
thecoupl
ebehorr
if
iedl
ikethi
s?

And,
howChase,
awor
m,knewaweal
thyandpower
ful
manl
i
keBi
l
lSi
n?

“Youdar
edtoof
fendt
heyoungmast
er?Whogav eyousuchbr
ave?
”Hear
ingt
hei
rtal
ks,
Bil
lSi
nseemedtohav
eknownwhathadhappenedbefor
e.

They
oungmast
er!

Thecoupl
ewasshocked.

“
Mr.Si
n,I
’
m sor
ry.Wedi
dn’
tknowMr
.Lu’
sident
it
y.Pl
easel
etusgo.
”Themanbowed.

I
ndeed,
hehadal
i
ttl
ecompanyandqui
ter
ich,
buthewasj
ustananti
nBi
l
l’
sface.

“Goaway.Maybeyoucanremembert hi
slesson.Don’
tbear
roganti
nfrontofany
mor
e.”
Chasel
ookedatthecoupl
e’sdaught
er,t
hesameageasCassi e,i
nnocent.
Hermother
’swor
dhadmov
edChase.Chasedi
dn’
twanthert
obei
nfl
uencedbyt
oday
’s
matt
er.

“
Thanks,
Mr.
LuandMr
.Si
n!”Thecoupl
etookadeepbr
eat
h,t
henl
efti
nahur
ry.

Jeanni
e’
sey
est
oChasechanged.Shecoul
dfeel
thecoupl
e’
sfearofChase.

Shecoul
dn’
tunder
standwhyChasecoul
dmaket
heweal
thycoupl
esohor
ri
fi
ed.

WasthatbecauseChaseknewBil
l
?Howcoul
dChase,
asecur
it
yguar
d,knowt
he
gener
almanagerofabusyshoppi
ngmal
l
?

Soont
hegi
rl
’scl
otheswer
epackedup.

Thegui
dewhohadoff
endedChasecameoverandapol
ogi
zed.“
Sir
,I’
m sor
ry.I
apol
ogi
zef
ormyter
ri
bleatt
it
ude.I
..
.I
’
m asbl
i
ndasabat.”

Chasesnor
ted,beckoningt
hegui
denamedI
daov
er.“
They
’real
lsol
dbyy
ou.Ask
someonetosendt hesetomyhouse.
”

“
Thanky ou,
Mr.Lu.Pl
easegi
vemey
ouraddr
ess.We’
l
lsendt
heseassoonaspossi
ble.
”
I
dalookedexci
ted.

Af
teral
l
,shecoul
dgetabonusoft
ensoft
housandsofy
uan.
ThenChaset
ookCassi
etot
heChi
l
dren’
spl
aygr
oundont
hef
ir
stf
loor
.

Herheartf
il
ledwit
hdoubt
sandconf
usi
on,
Jeanni
esai
dgoodby
etohercl
assmat
esand
caughtupwithChase.

“
Chase,
howcany
ouknowMr
.Si
n?”Jeanni
e’
sat
ti
tudechangedal
ot.

“
Idon’
tknowhi
m,butheknowsme,
”Chaseanswer
edhonest
ly.

Di
dChasemeant hatBil
lSi
nwasinahurryt
oflat
terhi
mt omakear el
ati
onshi
pwit
hhi
m?
Ofcourse,
Jeanni
edidn’
tbel
iev
eint
his,
butshedidn’
tsayoutbecauseshehadan
i
ntent
ion.

“
Well
,Chase,Iwantadr ess,buti
tcosts20thousandy uan,
tooexpensi
ve.Canyouhel
p
mebuythatdress?”Jeanniehadclear
lyhear
dt hatChasecouldt
akeanythi
nginthi
s
mal
lwit
hthesupr emeVI Pcard.

“
Hereyouar
e.”Chasegav
eJeanni
ethecar
d.Nottoment i
on20thousandy
uan,Chase
woul
dn’
tcar
eabouthowmuchJeanniewouldspend.Af
teral
l
,shewashissist
er-
in-
law.

“
Thanky
ou,
Chase.
”Jeanni
ehur
ri
edl
ytookt
hecar
d,andt
henki
ssedonCassi
e’
sface.

“
Lit
tl
eCassi
e,aunt
iei
sgoi
ngt
obuynewcl
othes,
too.
”

Chasesi
ghed,
thenl
eftwi
thCassi
e.
Jeannieboughtmany
,butshedi
dn’
tret
urnt
hecar
dtoChase.Shet
ookt
hecar
dtof
ind
Shell
Wang.

“
Mom,
ist
hisdr
essbeaut
if
ul?
”Jeanni
etur
nedar
ound,
flaunt
inghernewdr
ess.

ShellWanglookedatthedress,
sur
pri
sed.“
It
’si
mpor
ted,
wit
hapr
iceoft
ensof
thousands.Wheredi
dy ougetsomuchmoney ?
”

“
It
’sf
orf
ree,
”Jeanni
eanswer
ed.

“
Free?Ar
eyouki
ddi
ngme?
”Shel
lwascur
ious.

“
Becauseoft
his.
”Jeanni
etookoutt
hecar
d.

“
What
’st
his?
”Shel
ltookt
hecar
dandwat
ched.

“
It
’sthesupr
emeVIPcardforSi
nTi
nMal
l
,wi
thwhi
chy
oucanbuyany
thi
ngher
efor
f
ree,
”Jeanni
eexpl
ained.

Shel
lWangf
rowned,
wit
hdoubt
s.

Si
nTinMall
wasthelar
gestshoppi
ngmal
li
nJol
Cit
y.Jeanni
ewasst
il
last
udent
,so
howcoul
dshegetsuchacard?

“I
t’
sChase’
s.He’
ssofort
unatetoknowt
hegeneral
managerofSi
nTi nMal
l
, Bi
l
lSi
n.Mr
.
Si
nhasgivenhi
mt hi
scardtoday,
andIt
ooki
tthen.
”Jeanni
eexpl
ainedmore.
“Humph,sodon’
tretur
ntohim.Hedoesn’
tdeser
vesuchasupr
emecar
d.”Shel
lWang
nodded,
int
endi
ngt okeept
hecard.

“
Ithi
nkso.Mom,
let
’sbuymor
enow.
”Jeanni
ewasexci
ted.

Shel
lWangnodded,
thent
heywentt
oSi
nTi
nMal
l
.

12.Tai
li
ng
“
It
’st
imef
ordi
nner
.”

ChaseLuwentoutwi
tht
hemeal
.

Hehaddi
nnerwi
thCassi
eout
side,
buthest
il
lret
urnedear
lyt
opr
epar
edi
nnerf
orJay
ne
Li
n.

“
No,
I’
mfi
l
ledwi
thangerwhenIseey
ou.
”Jay
nel
ookedunpl
easant
.

Chasef
rowned,
try
ingt
orel
axJay
ne.“
Doy
ouneedmet
ofeedy
ou?
”

“
Chase,
actl
i
keaman,
”Jay
nesai
d.

“What’
sthematter
?”Chasef
eltsomet
hingwr
ong.Jay
newoul
dn’
tbesuchangr
yif
not
hinghappened.
“Youoff
endedMil
neFan.Heor
deredmetotal
kwi
thacustomer.I
fIcan’
tmaket
he
contr
act
,hewil
lcutmybonust
hismont
h.”Jay
nel
ookedhelpl
ess.

“
Didt
hecust
omerdot
hingshar
dfory
ou?
”Chaseasked.

“
Notjustdoi
ngt hi
ngshard,hewant edmetosl
eepwithhi
m.Heshouldl
ookint
othe
mir
rorcar
eful
lytofindhi
msel fasuglyasapi
g!”Asl
ongasthecust
omer’
sfacecame
i
ntohermind,Jaynefel
tdisgusted.

“
Whowashe?Icanhel
pyou.
”Chasesai
d.

“You?”Jaynel ookedatChase.“
Youshoul dknowhowmuchy oucando.Doy outhi
nki
t
wil
l befi
net obeathim?Chase,justtofi
ndajobanditwi
l
lbethebesthel
pf orme.
You’dbetterleavethi
sthi
ngaway .IfIl
osethi
scust
omerbecauseofyou,I
’
llnever
forgiv
eyou.”

“
Doy
ouwantt
osl
eepwi
thhi
m?”Chasesneer
ed.

“You!
”Jaynepoi
ntedatChase,
wit
hherbodyshaki
ng.“
ChaseLu,
ify
oudoubtme,
you
candivor
ce!
”

ThenJay
ner
ushedt
oCassi
e’
sroom.

Chaseshr
ugged,
sit
ti
ngont
hesof
atowat
chTV.

Thenextday
,Chasewentt
oDuncanEl
ect
roni
cs.
Sincehehadacqui
redthi
scompany,hehadn’
tbeenher
eany
mor
e.Today
,hecameher
e
toinvest
igat
ewhothecustomerJay
netal
kedwithwas.

JustasChasewenti
ntot
hegat
e,hehear
dsomeguar
dst
alki
ngabouthi
m.

“
Hasn’
thebeenf
ir
ed?Whydoeshecomeher
e?”

“
Ah,
Ihear
dthathehasbeenf
ir
ed,
andev
encan’
tgetsal
aryt
hismont
h.”

“
Yes,
managerFandi
dthi
s,butMr
.Shawnhel
pedChaseLuandor
der
edmanagerFan
t
oapologi
zet
ohim.Doyouknowwhy?”

“
Why
?”

“
Ihear
dhi
swi
fehasaspeci
alr
elat
ionshi
pwi
thMr
.Shawn.
”

Chasest
aredatt
hoseguar
ds,
for
cingt
hem t
oshutup.

Theguar
dsl
eftonebyonewi
thdi
sdai
nint
hei
rey
es.

Chasecamet
oJoel
’
sof
fi
cewi
thanger
.

JoelShawn,whowasinahurr
ytowel
comeChase,
becamener
vousbecauseof
Chase’
sterr
ibl
eexpr
essi
on.
“
Youngmast
erLu,
you’
reher
e,”Joel
sai
dcar
eful
l
y.

ChasesatonJoel
’
sseat,
taki
ngoutaci
gar
ett
eandl
i
ght
ing.“
Doy
ouknowJay
neLi
nin
thesal
esdepar
tmenti
smywi f
e?”

Joelnodded.“
Iknewi
tjustaf
ewday
sbef
ore.Mr
.Lu,
doy
oumeant
opr
omot
eyour
wif
e?”

Chaseleanedont hebackr
est
.“Youdoi
t,butt
rynott
obesoobv
ious.I
’
m her
etot
alk
aboutanothert
hing.”

Joel
nodded.“
OK.
”

“Recent
ly,
arumorofy
ouandmywi
fei
sspr
eadi
ng.Doy
ouknowt
hat
?”Chasest
aredat
Joel.

“
Ah?Mr.Lu,
I’veknowny
ourwifeonlyr
ecent
ly.Ihav
enocontactwit
hthey
ounglady
.
I
’
veevennevertal
kedwi
thher
.Pleasetr
ustme!”Joelf
elthor
ri
fi
ed.I
twast
otal
l
ya
r
umor
!

I
ndeed,
Joelhadsomelov
ers,
buthedidn’
tdar
etot
hinkaboutChase’
swi
featal
l
.Who
hadmadethi
srumort
omakehi m di
e?

“Iknowi
t’
snotyourbusi
ness,
buty
ou’
l
lint
roubl
eify
oucan’
thandl
ewel
lthi
smat
ter
.”
Chase’
svoi
cesoundeddeep.

“
Yes,
I’
m goi
ngt
oinv
est
igat
enow.Any
onewhodar
est
otal
kaboutt
hismat
terwi
l
lbe
f
ir
ed.
”Joel
tookabr
eat
hofr
eli
ef.

“
Iti
sn’
tusef
ult
ofi
resomepeople.Usey
ourbr
ainandt
hinkabouthowt
ocl
ari
fyt
his
r
umor.
”Chasepoi
ntedatt
hehead.

Joelunderst
oodi
mmediatel
y.I
fhefi
redt
hosewhospr
eadthi
srumor,t
hematt
erwould
fadeinthecompany
.Butwhatift
hosewhohadbeenf
ir
edspr
eaditoutoft
hecompany?

“
Yout hi
nkofitlat
er.Now,l
etmeseet
hei
nfor
mat
ionaboutt
hecust
omert
hatJay
nei
s
t
alki
ngwi t
h.”Chaseorder
ed.

Joel
nodded,
order
ingt
hesecr
etar
ytodoi
t.

Soont
hesecr
etar
ycamebackwi
tht
hedocument
.

“
Mr.Lu,
thi
sisthecust
omer’sinf
ormat
ion.
”Thesecr
etar
yputt
hedocumentont
hedesk,
l
ooki
ngatChasewithr
espect.

Whocouldbel
i
evet
hatasecur
it
yguar
dhadsuddenl
ybecomet
hepr
esi
dentoft
his
company
?

Chasescannedt
hei
nfor
mat
ion,
thencal
l
edJohnLut
ogi
veawar
ningt
othecust
omer
.

“Besi
des,
inf
ormthemanager
sthatI
’
llhol
dameet
ingt
hisFr
iday
.”Chasehangupt
he
phoneandorder
edtoJoel
.
“
OK,
I’
m goi
ngt
oinf
ormt
hem.
”Thesecr
etar
ywentout
.

ThenChasest
oodupt
oleav
e.

AshepassedbyMi
l
neFan’
sof
fi
ce,
hesawJay
newentoutwi
thMi
l
ne.

“
Whatarey
oudoinghere?Tai
li
ngafterme?”Jay
nefr
owned,enr
aged.Si
nceChase
meantt
odoubtherl
oyal
tyl
astnight
,itwoul
dbenat
ural
forhi
mt otai
laf
terher
.

13.I
'
m Laughi
ngAtYourFool
ishness
Mil
neFan’
seyeswer
efi
l
ledwi
thf
rostwhenhesawChaseLu.Hest
il
ltookt
heapol
ogy
t
ohishear
t.

“I
’
m heret
owor
k,nott
otai
laf
tery
ou.
”Chasei
gnor
edt
hef
rosti
nMi
l
ne’
sey
es,
looki
ng
atJay
ne.

“Ir
ememberyou’
vealr
eadyresi
gned.”Jay
nedidn’
tbeli
eveChase.Shewassur
ethat
Chaset
ail
edaft
erherbecauseofthedoubtofherl
oyal
ty.

“
Itwasaski
ngf
orl
eav
elastt
ime,
”Chaseexpl
ained.

JustasJaynewasabouttoask,
herphoner
ang.I
twasthatcust
omeraski
nghert
o
meet.Af
tershehungupthephone,
shesnor
ted.“
Don’
ttai
laft
ermeanymore.
”

ThenJay
nel
eftf
ir
st.
Chaseshr
ugged.Hewasnotsof
reet
otai
laf
terJay
ne.

“
Lit
tleguy,t
hecompanyhasbeenacqui
red,
andMr .Shawnisnott
hepresi
dentany
mor
e.
WaitandseehowIwi l
lki
ckyourbut
twhenIgett
henewpr esi
dent
’st
rust
.”Mil
ne
t
hreatenedaft
erJay
ne’sl
eav
ing.

Mil
nebeli
evedthatt
henewpr esi
dentwoul
dbeboundt
otr
usthi
m soonerorl
ater
becauseofhi
sexcel
lentabi
l
ity.

Asl
ongashegotthenewpresi
dent
’st
rust
,hewoul
dnev
erbeaf
rai
dofJoel
Shawn,
and
i
twoul
dbeapieceofcaket
ohandleChase.

ChaseLul
ookedatMi
l
newi
thast
rangesmi
l
e,maki
ngMi
l
nef
eel
uncomf
ort
abl
e.

“
Whatar
eyoul
aughi
ngat
?”Mi
l
negr
owl
ed.

“
I’
mlaughi
ngaty
ourf
ool
i
shness.
”Chasel
aughed.

Chasewasact
ual
lyt
henewpresi
denti
nMil
ne’
swor
ds.Howcoul
dMi
l
nebesuch
fool
i
shtoof
fendhi
minst
eadoffl
att
eri
nghi
m?

“Humph,boy,don’tbetoocomplacent
.Thenewpr esidentisgoingtoappeari
nFri
day
’s
managers’meeti
ng.Yourdayswi l
lbegone.Bytheway ,doy ouknowwhot hecust
omer
yourwif
eistalki
ngwi t
his?I
t’safamousperver
tinJol City
.Hewi l
lneversi
gnthe
contr
actunl
essy ourwifesl
eepswithhi
m.You’regoingt obeacuckold.”
“You’
regoi
ngtobedi
sappoi
nted.Hewon’
tdaret
otouchmywife,butbegmywi
fet
o
signt
hecontr
act
.Youcanwaittoseei
t.
”Chasesmil
ed,t
henl
eft.

“Beggi
ngy
ourwif
etosignthecont
ract?Justt
omakeyourdaydr
eam.”Mil
nesneer
ed.
Heknewwell
howdiff
icul
ttogetwellwit
hthatcust
omer.Howcoul
dthatcust
omer
agreet
osi
gnthecont
ractwit
houtsl
eepingwithJay
ne?

I
nHilt
onRestaur
ant
,HansonLi
u’
sact
ionsbecamer
ude,
basedont
hemuchwi
nehe
haddrunk.

“Miss.Li
n,y
ouonlyeatbutdon’
tdr
inksome.Doy
oudi
sdai
nme?
”Hansoni
ntendedt
o
puthishandonJayne’
slegbutwasducked.

“Mr.Li
u,don’
tmi
sunder
stand.If
eltuncomf
ort
abl
etheseday
s,soIcan’
tdr
ink.
”Jay
ne
explai
ned.

ThoughshehadmetHansononlyt
wice,
sheknewwel
labouthi
simpudence,
soshe
tr
iedherbestt
opr
otecther
sel
f.

Jaynewasr
eluct
anttocomeheret
oday,
butshehadtoendureunti
lthepay
day
.Once
shehel
donuntil
thepayday
,shewoul
dn’
tbeafr
aidofhersal
arybei
ngcut.

“
Miss.Li
n,si
ncey
ouhav
enosi
ncer
it
y,It
hinkwehav
enot
hingt
otal
kabout
.”

HansonLi
ut hr
eat ened.“Thoughonl yyourcompanyinJol Cit
yproducestheproduct
s
weneed,yourproducts’quali
tyisinfer
iortothatfr
om othercompaniesinotherci
ti
es.
ThePowerElectronicsinChanCi t
yi salsotal
kingthi
sbusinesswithus,wit
hthesame
pri
ceasyoursbutt hebet t
erquali
ty.Sowhyshoul dIbuyy our
swithoutanybenefi
ts?
”
Hef
inal
l
yputhi
spur
posecl
ear
lyi
nfr
ontofJay
ne.

HansonLi uhadseensomanywomen,butnoonewasasatt
ract
iveasJayne,whowas
wit
ht hetoplev
elinbot
hfaceandfi
gur
e.Heknewhi
sdesi
refrom t
hefi
rstsi
ghthesaw
Jayne,sohemustgetJaynetoday
.

Jay
nef
rowned,
looki
ngatt
hegl
assont
het
abl
eandhesi
tat
ing.

Shedi
dn’
texpectHansont
obesuchdi
ff
icul
ttohandl
e.

Hansonsquint
ed,l
ooki
ngatJayne’
sbody
,ful
lofamat
urewoman’
ssmel
l
,li
kear
ipe
j
uicypeach,
deli
cat
eanddeli
cious.

Whatapr
ett
ywomanshewas!

“
MissLin,Iknowthi
scont
ract
’si
mportantf
oryou.Asl
ongasyoufol
lowmet omyr
oom
t
odiscuss,I
’l
lsi
gniti
mmediat
ely
.”Hansonputonemorefi
rewoodonthef
ir
e.

Then,
her
eachedhi
shandoutt
oJay
ne’
slegagai
n.

I
nHanson’
sey
es,
timewascomi
ng.Hef
ir
mlybel
i
evedJay
newoul
dn’
tref
uset
hist
ime.

Sl
ap!

Suddenl
y,Jay
nesl
appedonHanson’
sface.
“
Howdar eyoutotouchmeoncemore?Buyfr
om whoev
ery
ouwant
.Idon’
twantt
otal
k
t
hisbul
l
shitbusi
nesswit
hyoubast
ardanymore.
”

I
ndeed,
Jay
neneededt
hiscont
ract
,butshehadpr
inci
pal
.

Shewoul
dnev
ert
radehersoul
formoney
.

“
Bit
ch!Youdar
etosl
apme?
”Hansonst
oodupandi
ntendedt
osl
apback.

Butatthi
smoment,hi
sphonerang.I
twast
hegener
almanageri
nhi
scompany
,hehad
torest
rai
nhi
sangerfi
rstandpi
ckup.

“
Mr.Wang,
”Hansonsai
dinaf
lat
ter
ingv
oice.

“Areyout
alki
ngbusi
nesswi
thawomannamedJay
neLi
n?”Gener
almanagerWang
asked.

“
Yes.
”Hansonnodded,
conf
used.

“
Hav
eyoudel
i
ber
atel
ymadet
hingshar
dforher
?”Gener
almanagerWangaskedmor
e.

“
Ah?
”Hansonf
eltner
vous.Di
dthatbi
tchknowMr
.Wang?

“
Doyouknowwhoi sst
andi
ngbehi
ndher?JohnLu,t
hepresidentofJoshGroup,cal
l
ed
mehi
mselfj
ustnow.Heaskedmeforanexpl
anat
ion.HansonLiu,Iwarnyou.I
fyou
can’
thandl
ethi
smatterwell
,younev
ert
hinkofl
i
vingi
nJol
Cit
yany
mor
e!”Gener
al
managerWangroar
ed,thenhehungup.

Hansonwasshocked.Whenhef
oundhi
smi
nd,
Jay
newasout
.

“
MissLi
n,pl
easest
op!
”

Hansonhur
ri
edl
yrushedout
.

14.Pr
omot
ion
HansonLi
uwasi
ndeedi
nahur
ry.

Hecouldfi
ndtheangeri
nMr.Wang’
svoice.I
fhecoul
dn’
tdeal
wit
hthi
smat
ter
t
horoughl
y,hewouldbesur
etobedest
royed.

Hansoncoul
dn’
tunder
standwhyJay nesti
ll
choosetobeasal
eswomansi
nceshehad
arel
ati
onshi
pwit
hsuchani nf
luent
ialper
sonli
keJohnLu.

Thoughwi
thmanyconf
usi
onsi
nhi
shear
t,Hansondi
dn’
tdar
etoquest
ionMr
.Wang’
s
words.

“
Miss.Li
n,pl
easewai
t!
”Hansonr
ushedoutandcaughtupwi
thJay
neLi
n.

“
Whatareyoudoi
ng?
”Jay
nest
aredatHansonwi
thcaut
ion,
keepi
ngadi
stancef
rom
Hanson.
“Mi
ssLi
n,I
’m sor
ry.Idi
dwrongjustnow.Pl
easef
orgi
veme.I
’
llsi
gnt
hecont
ractr
ight
now.
”Hansonsmiledbi
tter
ly,
ashumbleasanant.

“
Ah?
”Jay
necoul
dn’
treact
.Di
dthi
sugl
yani
mal
wantt
opl
aysomet
ri
cksonceagai
n?

“Thepri
cedependsony ou.Ifyoudon’
tbel
i
eveme,wecansi
tsomewher
einthel
obby
tosignt
hecontractf
ir
st.”Hansonfel
tanxi
ous.Mr
.Wanghadcommandedsofor
cibl
y,
soHansondidn’
tdaretodelay.

“
ManagerLi
u,ar
eyouseri
ous?
”JaynelookedatHanson,
conf
used.Hadhebecome
f
ool
i
shbecauseofthesl
aponthehead?

“
Miss.Li
n,doyout hi
nkI
’m ki
ddi
ng?I’
verecei
vedmymanager
’scall
,andheor
deredme
t
oimmediatel
ysignthecontr
act
.Miss.Li
n,whydi
dn’
tyousaythatyouknowapowerf
ul
man?”Hansonsaid.

“Apowerful
man?Youmeanyourmanager
?Idon’tknowhi
m.”Jay
newasconf
used.I
f
shereal
l
yknewsomeonepowerf
ul,
shewouldn’
tgetsohar
dnow.

“I
t’
snotmanagerWang, butaninf
luenti
alper
sonwhoevenMr .Wangshoul
drespect
.”
Hansonpointedattheabove,
indi
cati
ngthati
twasther
ichestinJol
Cit
y,butJay
ne
di
dn’tunder
stand.

Ev
enaf
terJay
nesi
gnedt
hecont
ract
,shedi
dn’
tcomebackt
oear
th.

Sheact
ual
l
ydi
dn’
tknowwhohadhel
pedher
.
I
tcoul
dn’
tbeMi
l
neFan,
whocoul
dn’
tev
enhandl
ethi
scont
racthi
msel
f.

So,
whowasi
t?

Jayneponder
edf
orawhi
l
eandhadt
houghtofmanypeopl
e,butshenev
ert
houghtof
ChaseLu.

“
Wel
l
,Ihav
etokeepmygr
ati
tudebef
oreknowi
ngwhoi
tis.
”

Si
ncet
hecont
ractwasmade,
Jay
ner
etur
nedt
hecompany
.

Hansont
ookabr
eat
hofr
eli
ef,
hur
ri
edl
yrepor
ti
ngt
hist
oMr
.Wang.

Then,
Hansoncal
l
edMi
l
ne.

“
Mil
neFan,
arey
oudel
i
ber
atet
osetmeup?
”Hanson’
sangerwentt
oMi
l
neFan.

Mil
nehadtol
dHansont
hathewoul
dsendabeautytotal
kwit
hHanson.Thebeaut
ywas
i
ndeedher
eandwasofsuchahi
ghlev
elthatHansonhadnev
ermet.

Butt
hebeaut
ywasat
igerwhoev
enMr
.Wangdi
dn’
tdar
etoof
fend.Wasn’
titaset
up?

“
Ah?Whatdoy
oumean?
”Mi
l
newasconf
used.
“
MilneFan,l
et’
stal
kabov
eboard.Who’
sthatwoman?Whyev
enJohnLuhel
pedher
?”
Hansonaskedinadeepvoi
ce.

“She’
sanordi
nar
ysal
eswoman,
whomayhav
en’
tmetJohnLuev
erbef
ore,
”Mi
l
ne
answered.

“F*
*kyou!You’
rest
il
lfool
i
ngmenow!Ifshehasnorel
ati
onshi
pwi t
hJohnLu,howcould
JohnLucallmymanagerhimsel
f?Mi
l
neFan,I’
l
lnev
ertal
kbusinesswi
thyou.Youl
iar
.”

ThenHansonhungupt
hephonewi
thanger
,whi
l
eMi
l
newasst
unned.

Jay
neknewJohnLu?

JohnLucal
l
edMr
.Wangt
otal
kabouthel
pingJay
ne?

Unbel
i
evabl
e!

Wasi
tChaseLuwhohel
pedJay
ne?

JohnLuwascer
tai
nlydi
sgui
sedbyChaseLu,
Mil
net
hought
.

Thenewst
hatJay
nehadmadet
hecont
ractspr
eadi
nthecompany
.

Mostpeopl
ecoul
dn’
tbel
i
evei
t.
I
twasabi
gdealthatevenmanagerFancoul
dn’
tmake,
andev
enonl
ythebonuswoul
d
bemor
ethan70,
000y uan.

“Jayne,you’r
esogr eatt
omakethecont
racti
nonlytwodays.Youknow,evenmanager
Fanhast ri
edi tf
oralmostt
womonthsbutsti
llf
ail
ed.I
tseemsthatgoodlooki
ngi
san
advantage.”Asalesmansaidwi
thmeaning.

“Ofcour
se,
beautif
ulwomenar
emor
esui
tabl
ethanment
odosuchj
obs.
”Anot
her
sal
esmansneered.

“
Whatdoy
oumean?Imadei
twi
thmyabi
l
ity
.”Jay
nef
eltenr
aged.

“
Yes,
bodi
esar
eal
soourabi
l
iti
es.
”Anot
hersal
eswomansat
ir
ized.

Jaynewasfuri
ous.Whenshewasaboutt
oargue,
JoelShawn’
ssecretar
ysteppedint
o
thesal
esdepart
mentwithsomedocument
s.ShehandedonepapertoMilneFan,and
thenanot
hertoJayne.

“Mi
ssLin,congr
atul
ati
ons.Accor
dingt omanagers’
resear
ch,y
ourabil
iti
esaremuch
morethanother
s,soyou’
reappointedasthesalesdepart
mentsuperv
isor.Bytheway
,
Mr.Shawnsaidhehopesy outowor khar
dertomakemor econtr
actsforourcompany.
”
Thesecret
arysmil
ed.

“
Ah?
”Jay
newasshocked,
looki
ngatt
heappoi
ntmenti
nherhand,
stunned.

Sowasot
her
s.
15.I
mpossi
bleTask
Theper
sonwhodoubt
edJay
neLi
n’
spr
omot
ionmostwasMi
l
neFan.

Hehaddoubtedther
elat
ionshi
pbetweenJay
neandJoel
Shawn,
buthedi
dn’
texpect
Joel
’
sgreatbrav
eryt
opromot eJay
neinpubl
ic.

Jay
newasnotqual
i
fiedt
obet
hesuper
visorwi
thbot
hherabi
l
iti
esandexper
ience.

Thoughshewasl
uckyenought
omaket
hecont
ractwi
thGr
eenCi
tyGr
oup,
shewasnot
qual
if
iedt
obeasuperv
isor
.

“
HasJoelal
readyf
eltt
hatIwill
betrayhim,
sohear
rangedhi
str
ust
edf
oll
owert
owat
ch
me?
”Milnel
ookedatJayne,squint
ing.

“No,Ican’
tletJayneest
abli
shherpr
est
ige.Ihav
etomakehersometr
oubl
eandl
ett
he
col
leaguesfindherusel
ess.
”Mil
nehadtheideatodeal
wit
hJayneLi
n.

“
Ever
yone,goest
othemeet
ingr
oom,
”Mi
l
neshout
edandt
henwentt
othemeet
ing
r
oom fi
rst
.

Butthecr
owdseemednott
ocomebackt
oear
th.Fewpeopl
ehear
dMi
l
ne’
swor
dsi
nto
ear
s.TheylookedatMi
l
newi
thbl
ank.

Especial
l
ythetwomenandonewomanwhohadsati
ri
zedJaynewerejeal
oussomuch.
Theirabi
li
ti
eswer
emuchbett
ert
hanJay
ne’
s.Thei
reyeswereful
lofhatr
ed.
“
Isaid,
ev er
yone,
goestothemeet
ingroom!Didn’
tyouheari
t?”Seei
ngnobodymov
e,
Mil
nefeltembarr
assed,
soheshoutedlouder
.

Thenev
ery
onehear
ditcl
ear
ly,
sot
heywentt
othemeet
ingr
oom.

Jay
newasst
il
li
nthemood.Shenev
erexpect
edt
obepr
omot
ed.

Herwi
shwasonl
ytoear
nsomemoneyasacommonsal
eswoman.

Butnowshewassuddenlypromot
edt
obeasuper
visor
.Sheknewi
twasbecauseof
hersuccessi
nthebi
gcontr
act.

Jay
ner
est
rai
nedherexci
tementandt
henwentt
othemeet
ingr
oom.

Shewasst
il
lwonder
ingwhohadhel
pedheri
nthatcont
ract
.

“CongratulateJaynef
irst
.Noonehasbeenpromot edt
obethesuper
visorinour
departmentf ormorethanayear.Jay
nemustbecapableofbei
ngthefir
stperson.Let
’s
congratulateher.
”Int
hemeetingroom,Mi
lnelookedatJay
newithasmi l
e.

Thepeopleappl
auded,
too,
butthei
rfaceswer
eful
lofdef
iance,
especi
all
ythet
hree
exper
iencedsal
esmenandsal
eswomen.

“Thanks.I
’
m sol
ucky
.Pl
easegi
vememuchconcer
nint
hef
utur
e.”Jay
nest
oodupand
said.
Butherhumbl
enesswasr
egar
dedasanaf
fect
ati
oni
nsomepeopl
e’
sey
es.

“Nowlet
’stal
kbusiness.Theproj
ectofthevil
l
aar eainDragonLake,
Saddl
eHil
li
s
known.I
t’sabigdealofmorethan10,000,
000y uan,sothepersonwhomakesi
twil
lbe
thegr
eatestheroi
nourcompany .
”Mi l
nesaid.

Thepr
ojectoft
hev
il
laar
eai
nDr
agonLake,
Saddl
eHi
l
l?

Al
loft
hem wer
eshocked.

Thi
sproj
ectwasknownf
orsev
eral
day
s,sot
heynat
ural
l
yknewabouti
tast
he
sal
esmen.

Thevil
l
aareainDragonLakewasdevel
opedbyJoshGr
oup,i
nwhicheventhecheapest
vi
ll
awaswor t
hmor ethan50,
000,
000yuan,
nott
omenti
onthesupreme.Al
lthe
el
ectr
onicdev
iceswereimport
ed.

Theircompany,
DuncanElect
roni
cs,
wasreput
abl
einJolCi
tybutwasnot
hingi
nJosh
Group’sey
es,soitwasi
mpossibl
etomakethi
scontr
act
.

Nat
urall
y,t
houghli
tt
lehomemadedeviceswer
erequi
red,
JoshGr
oupmustt
rustt
he
bet
tercompaniesi
notherpr
ovi
nces.

Theyal
lkeptsi
l
entaf
terMi
l
nesai
dthi
sbecauseal
loft
hem knewi
timpossi
ble.

“
Super
visorLi
n,coul
dyoupl
easehav
eat
ry?
”Mi
l
nel
ookedatJay
newi
thasmi
l
e.
“
Manager
,I.
..
”Ofcour
se,
Jay
neknewi
timpossi
ble.

Shewasj
ustpromotedt
obet
hesuper
visor
,soshedi
dn’
twantt
owast
eti
mei
nsuchan
i
mpossi
blepr
oject
.

“Thecapabl
eshoul
ddomoreworks.Besi
des,si
ncey
ou’
ret
hesuper
visor
,youshoul
d
actwellt
obeagoodexampl
e.”Mil
nesmiled.

“Yes,superv
isorLi
n,wethoughtthepr
ojectwi
thGreenCi
tyGroupimpossibl
e,buty
ou
gotitinsuchashortti
me.Soy ouareboundtosucceedt
hist
ime,aswell.
”

“Ri
ght
,superv
isorLi
n,t
hecompanytr
ust
syouandpr
omot
esy
out
obet
hesuper
visor
,
soyoualsohavetotr
usty
oursel
f.
”

Thepeopl
ehereal
lper
suadedJay
ne,
maki
ngMi
l
nef
eltsat
isf
ied.Thatwasj
ustwhathe
hadpl
anned.

Mil
newasser i
ous.“Jayne,
thoughyouhavebeenpr
omoted,f
ewpeopletr
ustyou.It
’s
j
ustanopportuni
tyforyoutogetthei
rtr
ust
.Youdon’
twantother
stodoubtyourabi
li
ty
asasuper
visor,r
ight?”

Milne’sexpr
essionwasser i
ous,whi
l
ehesneeredi
nhisheart,
“Bit
ch!You’
rethesame
uselessasy ourhusband,sohowcanyoufi
ghtagai
nstme?Thi sproj
ecti
sjustt
he
appet i
zer
,andI’l
lmakey ousuff
ermorewhenImakearelat
ionshipwit
hthenew
president
.”

“
Allr
ight
,Ihav
etomakeapl
anfir
st.”Jay
nesighed.Sheknewi
twasMi l
ne’
spl
ant
o
makeherwastet
het
imeandthusloseherr
eputati
onasasuperv
isor
.
Sheknewifsheagr
eedt
otr
ythi
spr
oject
,shewoul
dbemockedanddoubt
edby
ever
yone.

Butshecoul
dn’
tref
usenow.

Aft
erthemeet i
ng,
itl
ookedli
kethatJaynehadspental
ltheaf
ter
nooni
nmaki
ngapl
an,
butactual
l
y,shewasthi
nkingsomethingel
se.

SheknewitwasbecauseChaseLuhadof
fendedMi
l
neFant
hatMi
l
nedi
dthi
ngsso
har
dforher.

Jay
nesuddenl
yfel
tannoy
edbyChase.

“Superv
isorLi
n,y
ou’reoneoft
hetopmanagersnow,
soy oucanatt
endt
hemanagers’
meetingheldbythenewpresi
dentonFr
iday
.Don’
tbelat
e.”Mil
necamei
nandreminded
Jayne.

“
Wel
l
,isi
tatt
ent
omor
rowmor
ning?
”Jay
neaskedwi
thexci
tement
.

Thoughshewasannoy
edbyt
hepr
oject
,shest
il
lexpect
edt
henewpr
esi
dent
’si
dent
it
y.

“Yes.
”Milnenodded,andthenheleft
,sneer
ingi
ntheheart
,“Bi
tch!I
’l
lshowyoumy
abil
it
ytomorrow.EvenJoelcan’
tlookmedowni fIgett
henewpr esi
dent’
str
ust
.”

Mi
l
nehadmuchconf
idencei
nthi
s.
Mostcust
omerswer
econnect
edwi
thhi
m,sot
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esi
dentwoul
dbeboundt
o
t
reathi
m wel
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.