Wang Wanjin, the Richest Man in Zhonghai, had a life that was the stuff of legends. To describe it as a rollercoaster of “great rise and great fall” would not be an exaggeration in the slightest.

During his two years in Ghost Capital Prison, Qi Dengxian had taken good care of him. Moreover, Wang Wanjin’s ability to overturn his case and see the light of day again was inextricably linked to Qi Dengxian.

Though young, Qi Dengxian was his great benefactor, like a parent who had given him a second life.

“President Wang, I’ve really troubled you, making you come all the way to the airport to pick me up,” Qi Dengxian said with a smile.

“Second-in-Command, you are too polite. This is what I should do!” Wang Wanjin laughed heartily. “This is a gift I prepared for you, Second-in-Command: two bottles of fifty-year-old Maotai.”

Qi Dengxian was stunned. “Why prepare a gift for me?”

Wang Wanjin smiled. “When the Second-in-Command goes to propose marriage, surely you need some good wine? I’ve treasured these two bottles of fifty-year-old Maotai for many years. They are the perfect gift for you!”

Qi Dengxian thought about it and agreed. He couldn’t exactly visit the elders of the Qiao family empty-handed.

Qiao Guotao was his elder. Back in the day, Qi Dengxian’s father had helped Qiao Guotao build his fortune. After Qi Dengxian and his father were kicked out of the Qi family together, the Qiao family had supported them for a time.

The woman his father wanted him to marry was Qiao Guotao’s daughter, Qiao Qiumeng.

Qi Dengxian carried his luggage and the two bottles of old Maotai into the Qiao family compound. In the living room, Qiao Guotao, whom he hadn’t seen in years, sat in the seat of honour.

“Hahaha, my virtuous nephew! I received Old Qi’s letter two weeks ago. I’ve been waiting and hoping, and finally, you’re here!” Qiao Guotao spoke loudly, his voice full of vitality, as he stepped forward to shake Qi Dengxian’s hand vigorously.

Seeing Qiao Guotao, Qi Dengxian couldn’t help but smile. “Uncle Qiao!”

Qiao Guotao said, “You’ve come at the perfect time. Go with Qiumeng to the Civil Affairs Bureau right now and get the marriage certificate done!”

From the side came the cold snort of a young woman, her face filled with disdain and disgust.

She wore a snow-white dress, with a delicate golden belt outlining her slender, willow-like waist. The exquisite makeup on her pretty face was enough to shame flowers and sink fish, and the long, slim legs beneath her skirt were nearly impossible to look away from.

Qiao Guotao’s wife, Pang Xiuyun, frowned repeatedly. She couldn’t understand why Qiao Guotao would refuse a marriage alliance with the Zhang family and choose this unremarkable little prison guard instead!

“Uncle Qiao, this… isn’t this too rushed?” Qi Dengxian scratched his head, speaking somewhat awkwardly.

“This is something we decided on long ago!” Qiao Guotao laughed.

Qiao Qiumeng sized up Qi Dengxian with a frosty expression, saying coldly, “I didn’t expect you actually to become a prison guard. You reek of bad luck!”

Qi Dengxian nodded to her with a smile. “Qiumeng, long time no see.”

Qiao Qiumeng looked at this childhood playmate, with whom she had once had a good relationship, and shook her head. Time had taught her that they were not from the same world.

However, her father’s command left her no room to rebel. But two worlds forcibly kneaded together would eventually shatter, wouldn’t they?

Pang Xiuyun pointed at Qi Dengxian and said, “Old Qiao, if you marry our daughter to a toad like this, what will our relatives think? What gossip will our friends spread?”

“Look at him. After muddling along for so many years, he’s still just a broken-down prison guard!”

“Coming to our house for the first time, he actually brings two bottles of fake wine. Are you sure you want to marry your daughter to such a person?!”

Qi Dengxian said calmly, “Auntie Pang, this wine is fifty-year-old Maotai. Wang…”

Pang Xiuyun immediately sneered, her face full of contempt. “I still have a few cases of Maotai at home. Do you want me to bring them out so you can see the difference? Fifty-year-old Maotai? Do you know how much two bottles of fifty-year-old Maotai are worth? Is it something a little prison guard like you can afford?”

Facing Pang Xiuyun’s questioning, Qi Dengxian simply laughed it off and said nothing.

Qiao Guotao shouted angrily, “Enough! This matter is not up for debate! Qiumeng, take Dengxian to the Civil Affairs Bureau to register immediately!”

Qiao Qiumeng looked entirely unwilling, but she gritted her teeth and went with Qi Dengxian to the Civil Affairs Bureau to get their certificate.

“So, we’re married just like that?” Looking at the booklet in his hand, Qi Dengxian looked helpless. In the photo, Qiao Qiumeng’s face was frosty; it didn’t look like a wedding photo at all.

Qiao Qiumeng looked at Qi Dengxian coldly and said indifferently, “You need to understand, we are not people from the same world.”

“You are merely a tiny Rank 2 Prison Guard, while I am already the CEO of the Qiao Corporation!”

“I hope you can be sensible. Don’t think that just because we have the certificate, you can have any improper thoughts. The moment my father relents, we will divorce immediately!”

After saying this, Qiao Qiumeng got into her car, slammed the door shut with a bang, stepped on the gas, and sped away.

Qi Dengxian watched the taillights of the luxury car, shrugging helplessly. She just dumped me here?

Also, do these women only have one script? “Not from the same world” Is she an alien or something?

Qi Dengxian shook his head, then pulled a key card from his pocket, muttering, “Forget it, I’ll find a place to settle down first. If that kid ‘King of Eternal Night’ dared to trick me, when I get back to Ghost Capital, I’ll hang him in the toilet to enjoy himself for three days and three nights…”

Upon learning that Qi Dengxian was coming to Zhonghai, the “King of Eternal Night” had directly sent him a key card. It was for his villa in Zhonghai, which he claimed was the most awesome villa in the entire city.

Just as Qi Dengxian walked out of the Civil Affairs Bureau, he saw Yu Xiaolong jumping down from a jeep that clearly belonged to someone of high status.

“It seems you’ve married Qiao Qiumeng and successfully became the Qiao family’s live-in son-in-law. This is a good thing for you. At the very least, you won’t have to worry about food and clothing in the future,” Yu Xiaolong said plainly.

“What business is it of yours?” Qi Dengxian really disliked this woman’s attitude and retorted with a faint, mocking smile.

Yu Xiaolong’s expression didn’t change as she continued, “For an ordinary prison guard like you, gaining a foothold in a wealthy family like the Qiao family is not an easy task.”

“Considering we once had an engagement, and I was the one who broke it, I’m giving you a chance to ask me for help.”

“Don’t feel that being a live-in son-in-law is shameful. Qiao Qiumeng is quite a good woman. Many people are chasing her. The opportunity you’ve obtained is something countless others dream of.”

“If you need my help to stand firm in the Qiao family, you can contact me at any time.”

Qi Dengxian’s face turned cold. He gave Yu Xiaolong a deep look, then said, “I’m certain of it now, you really are sick in the head!”

“Forget about standing firm in the Qiao family, even your Yu family is nothing more than clay chickens and pottery dogs in front of me.”

“Please put away your superiority complex. How I live my life has not a single cent to do with you!”

After saying this, he strode away.

Yu Xiaolong’s expression darkened. She felt somewhat guilty about breaking off the engagement, so she wanted to make up to him. She didn’t expect him to be so ungrateful.

“He talks big. But if you really had that kind of ambition, why be a live-in son-in-law?” Yu Xiaolong got into her car and slammed on the accelerator. The jeep roared away, and even the exhaust seemed to spray out a kind of disdain for Qi Dengxian.

Alone, Qi Dengxian arrived at Cloud Top Mountain. This was the wealthy district of Zhonghai, and the “King of Eternal Night’s” villa was at the very peak of Cloud Top Mountain.

NOTES

Clay chickens and pottery dogs: An idiom referring to things that are useless or easily destroyed; paper tigers.