Chapter 355: Friendship with a Plastic Flower

Translator: Dragon Boat Translation Editor: Dragon Boat Translation

“Lin Qing’s desire for the underworld dark web couldn’t have been a spur-of-the-moment decision. With such meticulous planning, it must have been in the works for three or four years. If I were Lin Qing, wanting to access the underworld dark web, I’d definitely send an intermediary to sound out Jiang Junlin’s attitude first. After Jiang Junlin’s resolute refusal, he would start looking for Jiang Junlin’s weaknesses. Since they have an unclear relationship, Lin Qing aims to catch Jiang Junlin’s vulnerabilities. Would Jiang Junlin be oblivious to this?” Lu Zhiyuan asked Ji Chi, “What do you think? Would Jiang Junlin have no defenses at all?”

Ji Chi shook his head and said in a very matter-of-fact manner, “He must have anticipated the worst-case scenario and would have some counter measures in place.”

“Let’s wait!” Lu Zhiyuan said, “Before the Lantern Festival, this matter will surely be resolved.”

Ji Chi furrowed his brow keenly and asked, “Third Master, this matter has nothing to do with you, right?”

Lu Zhiyuan countered, “What if it does?”

Ji Chi hesitated.

Gu Ci invited Jiang Minghua to the Blue Fields Villa and inquired about Lin Qing. Jiang Minghua was very sensitive and asked, “Is it Lin Qing who wants the underworld dark web?”

“Uncle… he’s your best friend, right?”

Jiang Minghua was greatly shaken but quickly regained his composure and began discussing his relationship with Lin Qing. “Lin Qing and I aren’t childhood friends; he grew up in the same courtyard as Chen Liangdong. We met during middle school and got along very well. We’ve been close friends since childhood. When I got married, he was my best man. When Hualan Bank faced several crises during the financial storm, he generously helped us. He’s been on the rise, and our families have supported each other. He even wanted to be Junlin’s godfather back then. How could it be him? Our families often went on trips and had gatherings together. Junlin and Linnan, even his daughter, Zhang Jiaqi, had a good relationship. I can’t believe it would be him.” Dr. North said, “You may know someone’s face, but not their heart. He and Chen Liangdong were childhood friends and had a deeper connection than you did. However, they had a falling out and became estranged. Have you never asked why?”

“He said they had different political views, couldn’t agree, and went their separate ways. And…” Jiang Minghua awkwardly added, “Lin Qing mentioned that Chen Liangdong liked Zhang Jiaqi, who is his wife. To this day, she’s not married, and their meetings would only increase the awkwardness, gradually leading to estrangement.”

Dr. North was taken aback and clenched her fist.

He had never married all these years. Had the love of his life married someone else?

Gu Ci didn’t care about the romantic affairs of the older generation, but she recalled the refined figure of Chen Liangdong. A man of such noble character, would he really be interested in a married woman, maintaining his purity for decades?

Qin Wan curiously asked, “Cici’s mom also had a complicated relationship with Lin Qing, didn’t she? She even caused a scene at Lin Qing’s wedding. Lin Qing seems to have quite a way with women, spreading his affections everywhere.” “Who said that!” Jiang Minghua said helplessly. “Mingyue has only one flaw, she fell in love with Gu Wenliang, which wasn’t a suitable match. My mother strongly opposed her marrying Gu Wenliang. Lin Qing was fond of Mingyue at the time and wanted to take advantage of the situation. I was fine with it because Lin Qing was a better choice than Gu Wenliang in every way. Later, Zhang Jiaqi fell in love with Lin Qing at first sight. He pursued Mingyue for a long time but lost patience and agreed to Zhang Jiaqi’s advances. But since we had more interactions, Lin Qing often visited my house. For him, Mingyue was an unattainable ideal, which always caused some confusion. Zhang Jiaqi had a fiery temper and misunderstood Lin Qing, and rumors started that Mingyue was interfering with their relationship. Mingyue also misunderstood, thinking it was Zhang Jiaqi’s doing, so they fought whenever they met. The feud escalated. She was spoiled by us and couldn’t stand the humiliation, so she had dozens of young men perform a strip dance at their wedding. Zhang Jiaqi used to visit the young men’s club a lot before marriage, and she couldn’t bear the humiliation, leading to a big scene. The Jiang and Zhang families have been close for generations; otherwise, this matter wouldn’t have been resolved.”

Gu Ci was speechless.

Qin Wan commented, “Drama alert, Cici. Like mother, like daughter.”

Jiang Minghua continued, “Because of this incident, Zhang Jiaqi spread rumors after the wedding, jealous that Mingyue had a happy marriage. So, it gradually subsided after Mingyue married Gu Wenliang. For me and Lin Qing, it was a trivial farce. Although Zhang Jiaqi deviated from the path a bit, she was raised by the Zhang family, and her character wasn’t too bad. The rumors were spread by troublemakers, not her, and she has gotten along very well with your aunt over the years.”

Gu Ci listened in silence to her mother’s lively past and couldn’t help but ask, “Uncle, what if Lin Qing initially wanted the underworld dark web to get close to you? If 1 remember correctly, before his uncle came to see you, you and Lin Qing were already good friends.”

“But, Cici, before his uncle came to us, Lin Qing and 1 had been friends for many years.”

“But now he wants to take the boss’s life!” Qin Wan said. “Your friendship is as fragile as plastic flowers, not worth a dime.”

Jiang Minghua felt uncomfortable. There are few friends in life who have known each other for almost forty years. Why would Lin Qing want the underworld dark web and, in turn, Junlin’s life? When there were happy events in the Zhang or Lin families, he and Junlin would attend to offer their congratulations. Junlin also respected him.

“Does Lin Qing have only one daughter?”

Jiang Minghua nodded. “Lin Nan is his only daughter. She’s currently a junior clerk, and her position may not be high, but she holds significant power. She’s quite steady. Cici, what are you planning?”

“Uncle, don’t worry. I’m just asking for information about Lin Qing,” Gu Ci couldn’t help but remind him. “Uncle, is there anything else you can tell us about Lin Qing? The more information we have, the better our chances.”

Jiang Minghua, not one to be obtuse, hesitated for a moment before divulging, “After Zhang Jiaqi gave birth to Nan Nan, it wasn’t suitable for her to have more children. Lin Qing wanted a son, so he had an extramarital affair and has a pair of twin sons studying in college.”

Qin Wan sneered, “He still favors sons over daughters? What’s wrong with having a daughter?”

Jiang Minghua spoke softly, “Lin Qing’s parents passed away early, and he was raised by his uncle. Their family was small, and his uncle’s son was a frontline special agent who died on duty overseas. Lin’s family was left with only him. After his uncle’s death, the Lin family didn’t have much foundation, so he took his work very seriously, never engaged in corruption, and was determined to climb the ranks. He wanted a son because he didn’t want the Lin family line to die out.”

Gu Ci furrowed her brow, “He’s already the eldest son-in-law of Colonel Zhang, with a wide network of contacts and resources. Why is he so eager to make a name for himself?”

“Colonel Zhang has three sons-in-law. The second and third sons-in-law are younger and have better prospects than him. Colonel Zhang also has a biological son who competed for a position with the Mu family three years ago and lost. Colonel Zhang didn’t use his influence to help him, and even afterward, he took his son to visit the Mu family to offer congratulations. This has been a thorn in his side.” Jiang Minghua couldn’t help but reveal, “He works in an office, and competing with the second son of the Mu family for the position of Colonel is impossible. If he really took that position, Colonel Zhang would be drowned in criticism. Because of this, the Mu family has been rising rapidly in recent years, and it has always been a sore spot for him..”