Chapter 45: Mr. Jiang’s Reputation

“Are you truly so heartless? We’ve been together for more than two years—do you really not have a shred of feeling for me?” Liu Hong wept bitterly, her tears streaming down like broken pearls.

Unable to bear the sight, Chen Guang stepped in to mediate. “Young Master Zhao, Miss Liu may be a bit headstrong at times, but she was only acting out of concern for your family today. Why not give her another chance?”

Zhao Ziyun turned to Chen Guang, pausing before he spoke. “Professor Chen, you don’t know the half of it. This troublesome woman has caused me no end of grief—not just once or twice. I’ve always put up with it and never made things clear, but today she nearly cost my father his life! No matter what, I can’t give her another chance. She’s not the kind of woman I like, and it’s better to end the engagement now than drag things out.”

At these words, Chen Guang sighed and shot Liu Hong a helpless look. He had already tried to plead her case, but if Zhao Ziyun refused to listen, there was nothing more he could do.

Liu Hong’s sobbing grew even louder, as if her whole world had collapsed. Watching her wailing, Jiang Hao felt a surge of satisfaction. This woman had repeatedly slighted and even provoked him, always going against him at every turn.

But now?

Jiang Hao had just earned twenty million and won the Zhao family’s immense favor, while Liu Hong was facing the disaster of a broken engagement with Zhao Ziyun. Their fates could not have been more different—one soaring, the other plummeting to the ground.

Yet, as he watched her cry, Jiang Hao couldn’t help but feel a pang of sympathy. He thought of Su Qingli. Last night, she too had cried before him in just this way. The memory of her sobs made his chest ache with a dull pain.

He still couldn’t forget her.

Jiang Hao sighed and took a step forward, addressing Zhao Ziyun. “Young Master Zhao, Professor Chen is right. No matter what happened, you should give her another chance—she is, after all, your fiancée. If you break off the engagement over what happened today, Professor Chen and I will both feel responsible, since we were involved as well.”

Jiang Hao’s intervention surprised Zhao Ziyun deeply. After all, Liu Hong had just slighted and provoked Jiang Hao moments ago. Yet here he was, pleading on her behalf, bearing no grudge.

“Mr. Jiang, I never imagined you’d be so magnanimous, repaying ill with kindness,” Zhao Ziyun said with a wry smile.

Liu Hong looked up at Jiang Hao, disbelief written all over her face. It made sense for Professor Chen to plead for her, but for Jiang Hao to do so was almost inconceivable. She had just gone out of her way to make things difficult for him. Could he truly be as broad-minded as Zhao Ziyun claimed, harboring not a trace of resentment?

“I have no need to hold petty grudges with a woman. Besides, she hasn’t done anything unforgivable,” Jiang Hao replied with a gentle smile.

Since Jiang Hao had spoken, Zhao Ziyun considered for a moment, then nodded. “Very well, Mr. Jiang. For your sake, I’ll give her one more chance.”

He turned to Liu Hong, his tone stern. “Did you hear that? You’ve slighted Mr. Jiang several times, yet he bears you no ill will and even pleads for you. If not for his sake, I wouldn’t give you this opportunity.”

“I... I understand...” Liu Hong quickly stifled her sobs, dried her tears, and looked pitiable.

“Aren’t you going to thank Mr. Jiang?” Zhao Ziyun prompted.

Liu Hong hurried to Jiang Hao, bowed deeply, and said, “Mr. Jiang, thank you. I will never forget your kindness.”

“It was nothing, just a trivial matter,” Jiang Hao replied with a casual wave.

After that, Jiang Hao and Chen Guang took their leave of Zhao Ziyun and got into Jiang Hao’s Bugatti Veyron.

“What an incredible car!” Chen Guang exclaimed, admiring the luxurious interior. This Bugatti Veyron was worth ten million yuan—a true supercar, and likely the only one in Maple Leaf City.

“Where do you want to go?” Jiang Hao asked.

“Just drop me in the city center,” Chen Guang replied offhandedly.

Then, with eager eyes, Chen Guang turned to Jiang Hao. “Mr. Jiang, when will you accept me as your disciple?”

The sudden question took Jiang Hao by surprise, making his hand tremble slightly on the steering wheel. “Professor Chen, you’re older than I am—how can I make you my disciple? That would be far too improper.”

“I don’t care about that—why should you?” Chen Guang replied instantly, clearly determined to become Jiang Hao’s student.

Jiang Hao looked at him, thinking for a moment before he answered. “I can’t take you as my disciple, but I can promise to compile some of my medical knowledge for you to study.”

“Really?” Chen Guang was elated—and astonished. Medical skills were a doctor’s livelihood and most closely guarded secrets. Who would willingly teach their core techniques to someone they barely knew? Chen Guang himself would never hand over his expertise so casually.

That Jiang Hao would make such an offer filled him with admiration and awe.

But for Jiang Hao, his medical skills came from the legacy of the Flame Emperor—a vast ocean of knowledge, impossible to exhaust. Passing on a portion to Chen Guang was no great loss, and it would save him from being pestered to accept a disciple, solving a persistent headache. Why not do it?

“Give me a few days. Once I’ve organized the materials, I’ll send them to you. Of course, without my permission, you mustn’t teach them to anyone else,” Jiang Hao said sternly.

“Absolutely, I swear it! I would never pass your medical knowledge to anyone else!” Chen Guang vowed earnestly.

Soon, they reached the city center. Jiang Hao stopped the car so Chen Guang could get out, then drove to Maple Leaf City’s Bifeng Bank.

Bifeng Bank was a large institution with branches in major cities across the country, especially popular in Maple Leaf City. Most of the city’s residents preferred to deposit their money at Bifeng Bank rather than anywhere else. As a result, even on Sundays, the bank stayed open, and there were always plenty of customers.

Jiang Hao parked in front of the bank’s entrance and walked into the lobby, immediately confronted by a crowded scene.

“So many people...” he thought. He was here to make a deposit, but with so many customers ahead, who knew how long he would have to wait?