Pampered by Short-Lived Bigshot

Chapter 344: 228 Wanwan was threatened: Spend a night with me, how about that?

Jiang Jinsang’s arrival was so sudden that even the Tang Family didn’t know until the next day, let alone anyone else.

"...Arrived at night? You child, how could you not give us a heads-up?" Grandfather Tang was obviously delighted to see Jiang Jinsang.

"Thinking of Wanwan, and missing Grandpa and Uncle too, I decided on a whim to come. I didn’t want to disturb you," said Jiang Jinsang smoothly, turning his head to the Shen Family’s old grandmother, "Grandma."

"Good boy, it’s not yet past the fifteenth, so it’s still not the New Year; here’s your red envelope," the Shen Family’s old grandmother, always a very kind-hearted person, had become something like an online friend with him for a while, so this meeting felt like a reunion of long-lost friends, "I think you’ve gotten too thin."

"I’m okay." His fair skin and slender frame always gave off a frail appearance.

"Cough—" Grandfather Tang coughed, continuously signaling Tang Yunxian with his eyes to take initiative.

Tang Yunxian, however, remained motionless. This wasn’t a formal proposal visit after all; one couldn’t just start bothering him as soon as he walked through the door—that would be unreasonable.

Grandfather Tang became frustrated and took advantage of a moment when Jiang Jinsang wasn’t looking to directly kick his shin, but Tang Yunxian continued to play dead.

The old man jabbed his leg relentlessly with his cane, to no response.

It wasn’t until Jiang Jinsang went back to his room to rest that Tang Yunxian stirred, and Grandfather Tang was so angry he almost beat him with the cane, "What happened to the battle plan? You were supposed to play the bad guy, and I would smooth things over. Why are you being so wooden? Didn’t you see me signaling you?"

"Dad, this isn’t a formal proposal. To suddenly make things difficult for him just doesn’t seem right."

...

However, in the following days, Jiang Jinsang suffered from some minor illnesses due to acclimatization and rested in his room for several days, barely leaving the house. This made finding an opportunity to bother him even more difficult.

During this time, everything was calm. Tang Wan was busy with her own affairs, and Jiang Jinsang was either staying in his room or enjoying the sun in the yard, playing with the grass and flowers.

No one could have anticipated the magnitude of the events that were to unfold next.

**

Jiang Jinsang was on the phone with his mother in his room that day...

"Your father and I will be heading over tomorrow by plane, arriving in Pingjiang around ten in the morning," Fan Mingyu was already lying against the headboard, with a face mask on.

The formal engagement was not until the day after next, but the Jiang Family planned to arrive ahead of time, rest a bit at a hotel, and then head to the Tang Family in their best condition. If they were to go on the day of the engagement, there would be too much rush and worry about potential mishaps.

"I’ve arranged everything at the hotel for you, and I’ll be there to pick you up."

"Sure..."

Jiang Zhenhuan glanced at his wife from the corner of his eye. For this matchmaking encounter, she had gone through extensive self-care, customized outfits, and hair appointments, even more so than for their wedding anniversary.

While Jiang Jinsang was talking to Fan Mingyu, he heard a door open from next door. Glancing at the clock on the wall, it was just past 5 P.M.

Tang Wan had been so busy recently that she barely had time for dinner, rarely returning to her room at this hour. He hung up the phone and knocked on her door.

"Wanwan, may I come in?"

"Come in."

When Jiang Jinsang entered, Tang Wan had already changed her clothes and was packing her bag. Out of the corner of his eye, he saw her hurriedly shove something that looked like a self-defense spray into the bag after rifling through a drawer, "Heading out?"

"I’ve got a meeting with colleagues from two studios," Tang Wan said with a smile.

"Want me to drop you off?"

"No need, I’ll be right back."

She seemed to be in a hurry, leaving briskly.

As the evening closed in and a few stars hung in the western sky, Jiang Jinsang stood in the courtyard, pinching a leaf on the plant before him as a cold breeze blew through him, sending a chill across his body.

"Sir, it appeared that Miss Tang has packed something like pepper spray," Jiang Jiu said in a low voice, standing beside him.

"Follow her discreetly. Contact me immediately if anything happens."

"Yes."

...

Jiang Jiu tailed Tang Wan, who stopped her car in front of a hotel. She disappeared into the hotel entrance, and as he sat in the car, waiting to go and check the situation after a few minutes, his car had just turned off when he saw another vehicle pulling up to the hotel entrance. The person that alighted made his pupils constrict sharply.

**

Inside the hotel’s private room

Tang Wan had already arrived. Sitting beside her were the married couple, Deng Shuo and Ding Anran. Since their falling out at the teahouse, this was their first time meeting again.

"You wanted to see me, and now I’m here, so just spit out what you need to say."

"Um... Miss Tang, please have some tea first," Ding Anran spoke in a flattering tone, devoid of the arrogance she had previously displayed in the tea house. Yet, despite her pouring the tea, Tang Wan didn’t touch the cup from beginning to end.

"Maybe you should eat something to settle your stomach," Deng Shuo suggested with a smile.

Tang Wan knew they were deliberately stalling for time, waiting for someone to arrive.

They were longstanding employees of the studio and had suddenly disregarded their contracts to make a scene, which was unreasonable in the first place. Moreover, they had been insisting on meeting her, which surely meant there was someone behind this. Coming here today could only mean that the person behind it all wanted to meet with her.

Originally, Tang Wan thought it might be a competitor trying to sabotage her, especially since her studio had suddenly become incredibly successful after the official announcement of "Feng Que," bursting into flames overnight.

The Qi’s project was a juicy piece of business, and it had fallen into her hands, a turn of events even she hadn’t anticipated. The tall tree catches the wind, and surely there were many who envied her.

Recently, many people had approached her through Chen Zhi, trying to cooperate with them. Qi Zeyan’s project was huge, and it seemed like Tang Wan might not be able to handle it alone, prompting many to want a slice of the pie.

It was not surprising that they used her employees to lure her out; she just wanted to see who was behind such underhanded trickery.

Though it was getting late, the hotel was a public place, and she had taken some precautions. Tang Wan thought nothing too serious could happen, naturally unaware that some would act so outrageously.

Still, when she saw the person who walked in, she couldn’t help but her pupils shrink slightly. noveldrama

A bit overweight, lacking in ferocity, with a leisurely gaze and squinted eyes looking at Tang Wan, laughing with a sleazy and frivolous air.

"Miss Tang, we meet again."

This was none other than Xie Jing, the person who had been kicked out of the Xie family’s annual meeting by Elder Xie!

Ever since then, he seemed to have vanished into thin air, and with everyone’s attention on Shen Zhixian at the time, no one paid him any mind.

"Mr. Xie," Tang Wan glanced at the two people beside her.

How did they end up working together with Xie Jing?

"I heard you’re getting engaged soon? Congratulations." Xie Jing had grown thinner than before and reached out to shake hands with her. However, Tang Wan didn’t even lift an eyelid, and he didn’t seem to get angry.

"Please, take a seat," Deng Shuo invited Xie Jing to sit down. It was then that he realized that the man’s surname was Xie.

"Meeting Mr. Xie here is quite unexpected," Tang Wan said, her expression unchanged.

"Deng Shuo and I have known each other for a while. A few days ago, he mentioned he had offended you, and he’s been looking for a chance to apologize. Knowing that we’re acquainted, he asked me to join him," Xie Jing spouted nonsense, with his fabricated story sounding quite polished.

"Is that so?" Tang Wan smirked.

"Miss Tang, regarding that previous matter, it was our fault as a couple, and we hope you, being the bigger person, won’t hold it against us. Let us raise a toast in your honor," Deng Shuo and his wife stood up, "We’ll stick to the contract and won’t cause you any trouble."

Tang Wan had not intended to come out at all, but when Deng Shuo called her, his demeanor implied that if she didn’t show up, they would go to the Tang Family instead.

The Tang Family was well-known in Pingjiang, so finding her home wouldn’t be difficult. But doing so could alarm the elderly at home and worry them.

"It’s fine, all is past," Tang Wan said, her lips curved in a perfunctory smile, her pleasure or displeasure unreadable.

After an awkward conversation, Tang Wan was ready to make an excuse to leave. She just wanted to know who was stirring up trouble behind the scenes. Now that she knew it was Xie Jing, there was no need to stay any longer.

"Um, I need to go to the restroom for a moment," Ding Anran suddenly stood to leave.

Soon after, Deng Shuo’s phone rang, "Sorry, I need to step out to answer a call."

Neither of them was a born actor, and having been rebuffed by Tang Wan at the tea house, they still appeared somewhat nervous in front of her, their acting overly conspicuous. It was clear that they intended to leave the two of them alone.

"Mr. Xie, what exactly do you want?" Tang Wan cut to the chase, "Using them to draw me out can’t just be for the sake of dining with me."

"I’ve heard this studio is very important to you." Xie Jing fiddled with the wine glass in front of him. Tang Wan had not drunk a drop, but he was already tipsy, his gaze towards her saturated with desire and nearly greedy.

"Just spit it out,"

"I know that the Jiang family will be coming to your home to formally propose in a few days. You’d probably prefer that the marriage goes smoothly, right? What would happen if a scandal emerged right now, right in the public eye? What would the Jiang Family do?"

"You’re trying to trip me up?" Tang Wan chuckled lightly.

"I could also let you go."

"Conditions!"

"Miss Tang, I knew you were a smart person the first time we met. The condition is actually very simple..."

Tang Wan sat in her seat, catching a glimpse out of the corner of her eye of the man leaning in closer, his breath reeking of strong liquor, his voice almost pressing against her ear, enough to make one nauseated.

"Spend the night with me, how about that?"