Chapter Sixty-Eight: Settle the Score Before Leaving!

Jiang Tao, weighing nearly two hundred pounds, lumbered forward, attempting to lunge at Jiang Zheng.

Jiang Zheng didn’t even have time to grab her clothes. She slipped through the gap beside Jiang Tao and ran out in a panic.

"Jiang Tao, are you insane!"

Jiang Zheng knew Jiang Tao had always been depraved, frequenting disreputable places without regard for the Jiang family’s reputation. But she had never imagined he would be so brazen as to lay hands on his own cousin.

"What’s wrong with me? I was just worried you might not know how to change and wanted to help you pick out a bikini. Come on, let your cousin measure you properly," Jiang Tao replied, feigning innocence as he leered and advanced upon her.

Jiang Zheng didn’t dare linger; she dashed out immediately.

Jiang Tao had no intention of letting such a perfect beauty escape. He hurried after her, intent on dragging her back into the changing room.

But soon, Jiang Yao and Tan Song had finished changing and come out. Jiang Zheng, quick-witted, rushed straight to Jiang Yao’s side.

"What’s the matter? Why are you so flustered?" Jiang Yao frowned, noticing Jiang Zheng’s alarm.

"Jiang Tao—he tried to barge into my changing room…" Jiang Zheng said breathlessly.

"Nonsense, cousin. I was just bringing you a bottle of water. Don’t make it sound like I was going to do something to you," Jiang Tao retorted swiftly, grabbing a bottle of mineral water and spreading his hands in a relaxed, smiling manner.

"Alright, enough. It’s freezing out here, don’t make a scene. Let’s go to the hot springs," Jiang Yao said, siding with Jiang Tao, though she didn’t seem entirely convinced.

Jiang Zheng shook with rage, her teeth clenched tight.

She should have known—from childhood, Jiang Yao and Jiang Tao had always been thick as thieves. It was only natural they would cover for each other now.

But with Jiang Yao present, Jiang Tao would probably not dare to act recklessly.

Led by the attendant, everyone entered a pool where steam curled thickly in the air. Jiang Zheng kept her guard up, vigilant against Jiang Tao.

Stepping into the hot spring, the heat seemed to simmer down Jiang Tao’s lust, making him less brazen than before.

Still, if he truly wanted to force himself on Jiang Zheng, he had plenty of ways to silence her.

"This hot spring is really something. If Jiang City ever develops this way, it’ll be a major attraction," Tan Song remarked, admiring the surroundings.

"Brother-in-law, you’ve got a good eye. To get this hot spring up and running, considering all the greasing of palms, it must have cost at least a hundred million or two," Jiang Tao boasted.

"A hundred million or two?!" Jiang Yao exclaimed, stunned—she’d never even dreamed of such sums.

"And do you know whose place this is?" Jiang Tao asked.

"Whose?" Tan Song and Jiang Yao were instantly intrigued.

"This is owned by the local kingpin—Zhao Yinghao," Jiang Tao said, showing off as if he were personally acquainted with the big shot.

"Zhao Yinghao!"

At his words, the others immediately understood, except for Jiang Zheng, who found the name somewhat familiar but couldn’t place it.

He was someone of their generation, barely older, notorious as the bully of these villages since childhood.

But who would have thought that after a few years, he would become a tycoon worth hundreds of millions.

As for the Jiang family’s generation, apart from their eldest brother Jiang Zheng, few had amounted to much.

"I’ve heard Zhao Yinghao has influence on both sides of the law. If a village chief here doesn’t listen to him, he’ll be replaced within days," Jiang Yao recalled.

"People like that are terrifying."

Feeling overheated, Jiang Yao wrapped a towel around herself and wandered outside.

She strolled nearly halfway around the hot spring, amazed by the sights.

When she reached the door of a VIP suite, she stopped in her tracks.

The suite was lavishly decorated, with a mink-fur carpet, antique ornaments, and a dozen fine porcelain pieces displayed around the room.

"How beautiful," she murmured.

Seeing no one about, Jiang Yao stepped inside and picked up a piece of blue-and-white porcelain, admiring it closely.

She’d only ever seen such treasures once or twice among her grandfather’s collections.

"Who are you? Who let you in here?!"

Suddenly, a patrolling security guard’s shout startled her. Her hand trembled.

Crash!

A crisp shatter rang out.

She hadn’t held the porcelain tightly enough; it slipped and smashed into countless pieces on the floor.

"You—you dare break Master Zhao’s beloved porcelain!" The guard’s eyes widened in shock.

"What’s going on here?" Tan Song and the others hurried over at the sound.

"I—I didn’t mean to," Jiang Yao stammered, flustered.

Tan Song stepped in front of his girlfriend, telling the guard, "It’s alright. How much is it? We’ll pay."

He glanced at the fragments—such decorative porcelain pieces were worth a few thousand at most; breaking ten wouldn’t matter.

But as he spoke, a mocking voice sounded from behind the guard.

"Pay? How amusing. Do you think you can afford it?"

The guard, recognizing the newcomer, quickly stepped aside and bowed respectfully. "Master Zhao."

"Master… Master Zhao?" Jiang Tao froze, looking towards the voice.

Zhao Yinghao?!

They had just been discussing his power, and now he appeared in person.

"This piece was bought for over ten million at a Hong Kong auction. I’ll count it as ten million even. Can you afford to pay?" Zhao Yinghao strode into the room—tall, powerfully built, dressed in gym clothes, each step making Jiang Yao’s heart quail.

But it was his words that truly crushed her spirit.

Ten million!

Even if she sold herself, she couldn’t pay it back!