Chapter 4: Negotiating with the Villain

Jiang Nanxing did not take the bait, instead saying directly, "Oh, then that means President Qin was quite satisfied with this performance."

She tilted her head, her eyes shimmering like water with a hint of cunning, "In that case, shouldn't President Qin pay for the performance?"

Qin Jiu’s gaze flickered, and he let out a low chuckle, "And what kind of payment would Miss Jiang like, I wonder?"

Jiang Nanxing went straight to the point, "I want to move my mother to a different hospital."

Qin Jiu narrowed his eyes. He knew Jiang Nanxing would eventually ask for a favor, but he had not expected it to be something like this. If he recalled correctly, Sheng Ting had promised to provide her mother with the best medical care. Why would she suddenly want to transfer her?

Qin Jiu scrutinized her. Given Jiang Nanxing’s financial situation, she certainly wouldn’t be able to afford top-tier treatment for her mother after a transfer. The woman who had firmly rejected him last time was now initiating contact and asking for a hospital transfer. There was only one possible explanation: her mother was not receiving the quality of care she was promised.

A flash of disdain crossed Qin Jiu's eyes. Sheng Ting was even more despicable than he had imagined. However, Qin Jiu said nonchalantly, "This performance alone is not enough to cover the price of that request. Watching a show is one thing, but making enemies with others is quite another. Businessmen do not engage in loss-making deals."

Jiang Nanxing smiled, her eyes curving into crescents, her tone airy. "Oh, what a pity. Then I suppose I’ll have to find someone else who wants to crush Sheng Ting once and for all to help me."

She looked pure and harmless, but the words she spoke were anything but.

"Oh?" Qin Jiu asked, intrigued. "And how exactly do you plan to crush him?"

A rabbit, no matter how desperate, could hardly bite a wolf to death. It was truly curious.

Jiang Nanxing smiled sweetly. "President Qin, you are quite greedy. I have already shown my sincerity. Why are you still trying to get something for nothing? That’s not very gentlemanly, is it?"

Qin Jiu stepped closer, his smile failing to reach his eyes. "And how would I know that Miss Jiang isn't lying to me?"

An intense pressure filled the already cramped elevator. Even trapped in the narrow corner, Jiang Nanxing did not yield.

She reached up to tuck a lock of hair behind her ear and looked up at Qin Jiu, her almond-shaped eyes clear and innocent, like a small rabbit caught in a trap. "President Qin, why would you think a small fry like me could deceive you? Wouldn't it be effortless for you to handle me?"

Qin Jiu chuckled, bluntly exposing her, "A 'small fry' who talks about crushing Sheng Ting?"

*Hiss*, this villain was truly immune to both soft and hard tactics. Jiang Nanxing dropped her smile, "So, President Qin, are you going to do it or not?"

This little creature changed her expression quickly. Qin Jiu smiled and reached out to pinch Jiang Nanxing’s chin, forcing her to look up. "I’ll help you this once. But if I find out you’re lying to me..." He left the sentence unfinished, but the ruthlessness in his eyes said everything.

Jiang Nanxing brushed his hand away nonchalantly and pushed her luck, "Then could I also trouble President Qin to play the role of my 'white moonlight'?" She would have more tasks to complete in the future, and it wouldn't do to keep changing her 'white moonlight.'

If it were any other woman, Qin Jiu would suspect it was a ploy to get close to him. But Jiang Nanxing... he couldn't see any ulterior motives toward him. Still, that didn't stop him from refusing. "No."

Jiang Nanxing opened her mouth to argue, but the elevator reached the ground floor. She decided not to waste words. "Then I’ll leave the hospital transfer to you, President Qin. A public hospital will do."

Qin Jiu was puzzled for a moment. A public hospital? How would she continue to pay for her mother's treatment there? But who cared? That wasn't his business.

The two remained silent.

The system, which had been holding back for a long time, finally spoke up, "The heartbreak value just went up by 15 points! 15 points!" The system was baffled but deeply shocked. If it were once or twice, it might be a coincidence, but three times? The system couldn't fathom it. "How is this heartbreak value even calculated?!"

Jiang Nanxing replied with a hint of disdain, "You're the system; why are you asking me?"

The system felt aggrieved but stayed silent. "I'm a rookie on the job, after all."

Jiang Nanxing clicked her tongue and brushed it off. "Maybe the male lead's 'crematorium' phase also counts toward the heartbreak value." The system thought that sounded plausible, but added, "Even so, your life is going to be hard. You only have thirty-five yuan and eighty cents in your bank account. You've always lived at Sheng Ting's place, now... where will you go?"

"Hiss..." Jiang Nanxing tilted her head and pointed at the reflective glass wall, exclaiming, "You really can run into ghosts on the Ghost Festival! Look, a broke ghost!"

The system felt its CPU freeze; the joke was just too cold. "Anyway, the host should think about what to do."

What to do... She would, of course, use part of that thirty-five eighty to take a taxi to her blood-sucking brother, Jiang Yao, beat him up, and force him to transfer all the money back to her. They were all scumbags, so Jiang Nanxing felt no psychological burden in beating them up. What was wrong with taking back her own money? Nothing at all. Sheng Ting had given those two plenty of money to keep her under his thumb, claiming it was all a debt she owed him. *Hiss*, no, the more she thought about it, the higher her blood pressure climbed.

Outside the hospital, Qin Jiu’s driver had already pulled the car to the curb. He offered a perfunctory courtesy, "Where are you headed, Miss Jiang? Need a lift?"

Upon hearing this, Jiang Nanxing immediately closed her ride-hailing app, opened the car door, and sat inside. She even took charge, tapping the seat next to her as she looked at a stunned Qin Jiu. "What are you waiting for, President Qin? Get in."

Qin Jiu gave her a long look; he hadn't expected the woman to be so thick-skinned. He stepped inside with his long legs, and the once-spacious backseat instantly felt cramped. "Drive."

Jiang Nanxing immediately gave an address. Qin Jiu rested his arm on the window, closing his eyes to rest.

Jiang Nanxing asked the system, "Xiao Er, what's the next task node?" She needed to know in advance to prepare.

The system complained, "Could you change the nickname? It feels weird."

Jiang Nanxing drew out her tone, "Oh, this heartbreak value is so hard to earn."

The system jumped to attention, realizing it had been too greedy. "The next task node is: Mother in critical condition; humiliated at the banquet while raising funds for surgery." Its voice sounded much more sycophantic.

Jiang Nanxing’s lips curled. Oh, the keywords for the task nodes were still missing a subject. Humiliated at the banquet—it didn't say who would be humiliated. She liked that. She would have to see exactly how this "humiliation at the banquet" plot would play out.

Jiang Nanxing opened the script again and began to read.