Chapter 16: His Kidneys Are Fine! Absolutely Fine!

The girl standing in the doorway wore a chic, designer tweed skirt suit, her face adorned with exquisite makeup. She radiated the air of a socialite, her expression toward Jiang Zhiyue filled with mockery and disdain.

Jiang Zhiyue had a vague impression of her. If she remembered correctly, this girl was the younger sister of her cheap fiancé—what was her name? Lu Jiahui?

Others might not know she was the true daughter of the Jiang family, but the Lu family, having had a betrothal arrangement with the Jiangs since childhood, was well aware. Originally, the Jiangs hadn't intended to return the engagement to its rightful owner, especially since Jiang Qingyan and the Lu heir were childhood sweethearts. Jiang Zhiyue herself had no habit of breaking up other people’s relationships upon arrival, so she had never even met the so-called fiancé and had never taken the engagement seriously.

To her surprise, once the Lu family learned that she was the true daughter, the old patriarch of the Lu family had taken a hard line, demanding that Lu Yan immediately sever ties with Jiang Qingyan and promising to arrange their marriage as soon as she turned eighteen.

Now, she had already passed her eighteenth birthday. Had it not been for Lu Yan making a scene and refusing to yield, they would likely have been at the civil affairs bureau by now. Because of this, everyone in the Lu and Jiang families, except for the old patriarch, was deeply dissatisfied with her. They assumed she had used some underhanded means to win the old man’s favor. Otherwise, they simply couldn’t fathom why he only recognized her.

Heaven knows, she had been in Kyoto for so long and hadn't even met the old man. Honestly, she couldn't figure it out either.

Seeing her remain silent, Lu Jiahui sneered and stepped closer. "I don’t know what on earth Grandfather sees in you. How could a woman like you be worthy of my brother? If you’re smart, you’ll call off the engagement voluntarily. My brother loves Yan-yan, so what are you?"

"Checking into a hotel with some wild man in broad daylight—have you no shame?"

Pei Heng walked over and shoved Lu Jiahui back with his arm. "Oh my, where did this young lady come from? Soliciting customers at the hotel entrance by shouting about 'checking into rooms'? I didn't realize you were so enthusiastic in the daytime! You really are hardworking!"

He spoke loudly, making no effort to hide his voice, and everyone entering or leaving the hotel heard him clearly. Suddenly, several inquisitive gazes lingered on Lu Jiahui. Since certain special services existed in the hotel, the men present understood the implication. Some truly mistook Lu Jiahui for a sex worker, which infuriated her.

"You stinking man driving a piece-of-junk car, what are you so proud of? I saw that heap you just drove up in—it’s barely got four wheels, and you have the nerve to show your face? Do you know who I am? I’m telling you, if you offend me, you won't even know how you died, believe me?"

Pei Heng’s eyes widened. Jiang Zhiyue felt he must have been stung by her calling his car a piece of junk. Ah, the fragile pride of men.

At this moment, Jiang Zhiyue bravely stepped forward to rescue Pei Heng’s ego. "I don’t know how he will die, but I do know how *you* will die. Oh, your death is not worth pitying, but it is such a shame for the child."

Hearing this, Lu Jiahui’s pupils dilated, and she subconsciously took a few steps back. But she quickly regained her composure and said coldly, "What nonsense are you spouting? I’m warning you, don’t blame me for being impolite if you dare to talk rubbish again."

Jiang Zhiyue sighed and shook her head. "If you don't want people to know, you shouldn't have done it. Tsk tsk, Lu Jiahui, haven't you noticed how cold you've been lately? Tell me, do you always feel a chill around your neck?"

Lu Jiahui’s expression flickered for a moment, but then she smiled, forcing herself to be calm. "Don't be ridiculous. You don't actually think you can scare me with that, do you? Yan-yan said you love to act mysterious and play pretend; it seems she wasn't wrong."

She had almost been bluffed by Jiang Zhiyue. She had indeed been feeling cold lately, and even in the summer, she wore a fox-fur stole around her neck. She figured Jiang Zhiyue must have noticed the stole and guessed she was cold—a cheap, shallow trick.

With that, she turned and headed into the hotel, feeling that arguing with someone like Jiang Zhiyue was pointless.

Watching her back, Jiang Zhiyue couldn't help but call out a warning: "She says she’s so cold and wants you to keep her company and hold her. If you still have a conscience and don't want to die a miserable death, you’d better apologize to her and hire a high-level Taoist priest to perform a ritual for her."

Lu Jiahui stopped in her tracks and turned around. "What are you talking about?!"

"I'm not talking nonsense. She told me herself."

"Who?" Lu Jiahui’s voice trembled as she asked.

Jiang Zhiyue pointed at her shoulder. "She’s right there. She says she’s very cold and she hates you. But as long as you apologize to her sincerely, she might consider forgiving you. After all, you are her..."

"Shut up! Stop it, stop it!"

Lu Jiahui shouted to silence Jiang Zhiyue and scrambled away in a panic. She couldn't see it, but a naked infant, covered in frost, was clinging to her back, wrapping its tiny arms tightly around her neck.

Once the crowd dispersed and the hotel entrance returned to normal, Pei Heng scratched his head, looking puzzled. "Little Jiang, why did she run off all of a sudden?"

"I don't know, maybe she needed to use the bathroom. People with bad kidneys are like that. Can't hold it once they step outside. Let's go."

"Oh!"

Pei Heng made a mental note never to mention anything about kidneys or bathrooms in front of Little Jiang again. His kidneys were fine! Excellent, even!

The auction was being held in the hotel’s penthouse ballroom. It was ironic—an underground, illicit auction being held in the most luxurious hotel in Kyoto.

With her invitation, she and Pei Heng passed the verification, received their bidding paddles, and entered the hall. Jiang Zhiyue finally understood why Jiang Chen had said she wouldn't even be qualified to stand before them if not for the DNA test. It wasn't an exaggeration at all. To enter this auction, one didn't just need an invitation; they had to verify their assets on the spot. Anyone without a billion in liquid assets wasn't even qualified to enter!

*Sigh*, how many fortunes would she have to tell and how many ghosts would she have to catch before she could become such a big spender?

It was still early, and the hall wasn't full yet. People were busy greeting their acquaintances. Jiang Zhiyue didn't know a soul, and Pei Heng had no interest in anyone else. He led her into a small side booth, where hotel staff quickly brought out an array of delicacies—fruits, drinks, desserts, and various exquisite meat appetizers. Seeing this, Jiang Zhiyue’s spirits, which had been dampened, instantly lifted.

*Wuwuwu...* If only she hadn't finished the noodle soup at lunch!

Pei Heng enthusiastically pushed all the food in front of her. "Little Jiang, the auction won't start for a while. Have some snacks to pass the time. I'm going to see what kind of items are up for bid this time."