After the System Called Me Mom, My Arch-Nemesis Omega Fell for Me - Chapter 40

Jiang Mingyue stood at the entrance of the police station, she had just brought Jiang Mingzhao out.

The situation was simple, a Jiang Group employee had leaked that wages had been arrears for a quarter. Someone else had reported Jiang Mingzhao to the police for embezzlement. Although the police found no evidence of embezzlement, the stock price had already plummeted by 8%.

There was definitely a hidden “landmine” about to explode.

They returned to Jiang Mingzhao’s villa.

Jiang Mingzhao’s Chief Secretary hurriedly reported to Jiang Mingyue: “Eldest Miss, the public opinion monitoring team has verified it. It is indeed the Jian Group pushing things behind the scenes. They spent a fortune bribing a large number of marketing accounts to continuously publish articles slandering us…”

“Eldest Miss, you’ve had a long day. Why not have dinner with the Young Master…”

“Eldest Miss, these are freshly delivered mangosteens, please try some…”

Jiang Mingzhao rubbed his temples. “Mingyue, I really owe you today. Do you want to come home with me for the National Day holiday? Mom and Dad miss you; they’re always talking about you…”

Mid-sentence, Jiang Mingzhao’s phone suddenly rang. He glanced at it and immediately silenced it.

Jiang Mingyue was flipping through the recent financial reports handed over by the secretary. This abrupt movement caused her fingers to pause on the paper. Despite it being just a glimpse, she clearly saw the caller ID flashing on the screen.

An overseas number.

However, the overseas number seemed persistent and dialed in again. In the silent living room, the buzzing vibration sounded particularly piercing.

“Brother, answer it,” Jiang Mingyue looked up. “What if it’s an important overseas client? Don’t let business be delayed.”

Jiang Mingzhao’s eyes flickered. He gave a vague mumble, took the phone, and walked quickly to the floor to ceiling window at the far end of the living room. With his back to her, he lowered his voice and answered.

Jiang Mingyue lowered her gaze and continued reading the third quarter financial report. She wasn’t a finance major, but she was naturally brilliant with a keen insight into data and business, reading basic financial statements wasn’t difficult for her.

The third quarter report looked beautiful. It actually showed a profit.

She mentally reviewed recent events from Jiang Mingzhao changing the brand spokesperson, to the plan to acquire the Peak Hot Spring Hotel, to the failure of that acquisition, followed by the scandal at the hotel, the crash of the Jian Group’s stock, and finally, the report of embezzlement.

That phone call was definitely problematic.

Jiang Mingyue remained calm on the surface. She set down the report and gave a casual instruction to the nearby secretary: “The flowers in the villa have withered. Go to the garden and pick a bouquet of fresh pink roses.”

Once the secretary was sent away, Jiang Mingyue picked up her half-finished glass of water, pretending to go to the kitchen for a refill, and silently moved a few steps closer to Jiang Mingzhao.

“I’m telling you, when the market opens after National Day, the stock will definitely hit the limit-up. I’ll have money then. I will definitely pay you back. Just give me a little more time…”

Jiang Mingyue heard: Limit-up, money, time.

She understood instantly. Jiang Mingzhao was either gambling or dealing with loan sharks.

She stood frozen as a chill spread from the soles of her feet to her entire body.

Jiang Mingzhao finally hung up the phone and let out a long sigh of relief, as if a thousand pound weight had been lifted. When he turned around, his pupils snapped shut. Jiang Mingyue was standing not far away, expressionless, her cold eyes staring at him as if she had already seen through everything.

The siblings’ eyes met.

The air was thick with a deathly awkwardness and an impending storm of rage and disappointment.

A flash of panic, embarrassment, and a hint of shame driven anger crossed Jiang Mingzhao’s face. He stammered: “Mingyue… you, you heard everything?”

“You’re gambling. How much did you lose?”

Jiang Mingzhao’s lips moved, but no sound came out.

“I asked you a question. How much did you lose?”

Jiang Mingzhao remained silent.

Jiang Mingyue took a deep breath. “The third quarter profits, the special funds Mom and Dad allocated for the acquisition of the Peak Hot Spring Hotel… you gambled it all away, didn’t you? Because you didn’t have enough money, you plotted to have Jian Cheng drug Lu Lingzhi, and then you called the police to tank the Jian Group’s stock so you could buy it at a low price. You didn’t expect the Jian Group to retaliate and tank our family’s stock instead.”

She suddenly slammed the light pages of the financial report into Jiang Mingzhao’s face. The papers scattered in the cramped space like ritual paper money at a funeral for the Jiang Group’s reputation.

“Was that phone call a loan shark or someone collecting gambling debts?”

Silence was a confession.

“You have nothing to say.” Jiang Mingyue turned around. “I must tell Mom and Dad immediately so they can find a way to solve this.”

“No, you can’t tell them!” Jiang Mingzhao rushed over, grabbing Jiang Mingyue’s wrist with a force that made her wince. His face was a mixture of desperation and the madness of a cornered beast. “Mingyue, you can’t. I… I have a way to fix this. As long as you’re willing to help me… we’re siblings. Do you really want to see me go to prison?”

Jiang Mingyue flung his hand off, her eyes full of disbelief. “What could I possibly do to fill the bottomless pit you’ve gambled away?”

“There is a way. Only you can do it.” Jiang Mingzhao acted as if he were grabbing a final lifeline. “Go find Pei Ying. Pei Ying from the Shisheng Group. She’s going to officially announce her endorsement after National Day, she’s the National Tourism Ambassador and the National Security Publicity Ambassador.”

He panted urgently, “Do you know who Pei Ying’s girlfriend is?”

Jiang Mingyue was indifferent: “Does it have anything to do with me?”

“She is Xie Zhixia, the eldest miss of the Taiyu Group. The CEO of Taiyu is Xie Fuyun, but Xie Zhixia is Xie Fuyun’s niece, not her daughter.”

“Lately, rumors have been flying online that Xie Fuyun’s daughter has returned. This isn’t just gossip. Do you know why?”

“The Shisheng Group behind Pei Ying is a robotics corporation that needs chips from Taiyu. Shisheng is also one of Taiyu’s board members. Xie Fuyun has been blocking this deal. She knows Shisheng supports Xie Zhixia because her own daughter hasn’t been exposed yet. If the Pei Xie romance is exposed now, it means Shisheng is openly opposing Xie Fuyun.”

“Xie Fuyun loves Chang Xi to death. How could she let their daughter be wronged? To protect her daughter, she will definitely turn against Shisheng, costing them at least several hundred million. If Pei Ying doesn’t help us, then we expose this matter.”

Her brother was no different from a mad dog. Biting whoever he saw. Pei Ying and the Eldest Miss Xie hadn’t even provoked him, yet he wanted to target them.

“Do you have proof?”

Jiang Mingzhao had his secretary hand Jiang Mingyue a stack of photos. They were mostly intimate photos of Pei Ying and Xie Zhixia.

“As long as you go and convince Pei Ying and her team, with her massive influence and official backing, it will definitely reverse public opinion and boost the stock price. A few limit-ups and we’ll be brought back to life.”

Oh, I see, she thought. No wonder he changed the spokesperson earlier. He had planned this all along.

Jiang Mingyue forcefully broke free from his grasp. Looking at the twisted hope in her brother’s eyes, she felt only sorrow and irony. “Jiang Mingzhao, you gambled everything away and brought the sky down, and now you want me to clean up your mess? On what grounds? Go find Pei Ying yourself. You are despicable, your character disgusts me.”

“On the grounds that you are my sister,” Jiang Mingzhao gritted his teeth, watching her retreating back. “And on the grounds that you still want to be with Lu Lingzhi.”

This sentence made Jiang Mingyue stop in her tracks.

“If the Jiang family collapses because of me, saddled with massive debt and a gambling scandal involving the heir… do you think a family with the status of the Lu family would look twice at a fallen Jiang Hotel Group?”

“Even if Lu Lingzhi loves you until the end of time and is willing to marry you regardless of everything… what is the result of a mismatched marriage? Mingyue, if you won’t think for the company, think for your own future happiness.”

Jiang Mingyue: “…”

Jiang Mingzhao placed a hand on Lu Lingzhi’s [sic – text says Lu Lingzhi but likely means Jiang Mingyue’s shoulder in this context, or he is referring to her] shoulder, meeting those deep eyes. “Sister, Lu Lingzhi already has an excellent heir for an older sister studying Finance. Given that setup, why would Lu Lingzhi give up Philosophy or Art to study Finance at Jingda’s top-tier program? Do you know what that means?”

What did it mean?

It meant she really could be the heir to the Taiyu Group. It meant the gap between her and Lu Lingzhi would only get wider. It meant she would have many rivals in love.

A Certain District Police Station

“Captain, we’ve confirmed Jiang Mingzhao’s embezzlement. He’s lost 300 million in overseas gambling over the last three years, and that’s just the visible ledger. He’s also using internet platforms to wrap up several ‘grey’ industries. Using institutions as a disguise, he’s actually selling illicit adult content.”

The Captain asked: “Have we figured out his methods?”

“He uses small cards posted in universities and public restrooms. Some cash strapped but beautiful Omegas get tempted by vanity and fall into the trap.”

The Captain began assigning tasks: “National Day is approaching. We will launch a ‘Clean Web’ operation with superior departments. Keep Jiang Mingzhao under strict surveillance.”

Beijing Grand Theatre – VIP Box 2

The show hadn’t started yet. The dazzling crystal chandeliers made the box as bright as day, and the thick, soft carpet absorbed all noise, creating an atmosphere of ultimate quiet and luxury.

Lu Lingzhi arrived early, sinking into a wide, comfortable leather sofa.

The marble coffee table was already meticulously set by the theater staff. A basket of colorful imported fruit, fresh juices, high-end sparkling water, and over ten types of chilled drinks in ice buckets. There were more than twenty types of exquisite French pastries: macarons, chocolate mousse, and delicate cakes. There was also a tub of caramel scented popcorn and two dream like rainbow cotton candies.

Slurp, slurp…

A faint sound of drooling, audible only to Lu Lingzhi, echoed in her mind.

[System (excited electronic voice trembling): Mama, Mama! So much good food. That rainbow cotton candy, the chocolate lava cake, the raspberry mousse. I… I want them all!]

Lu Lingzhi’s gaze swept over the table. she nodded calmly and began delegating:

[Lu Lingzhi: Fine. Leave the pineapple juice and coconut water for me. For the cakes, leave the pineapple passionfruit one and the sea salt caramel one. The rest is yours.]

[System: Wuhu! Wuhu! Thank you, Mama! Mama is the best!]

As soon as the words were spoken, a large chunk of the massive rainbow cotton candy vanished as if bitten by something invisible, the popcorn level in the tub also dropped visibly…

Lu Lingzhi didn’t bother with the system immersed in its feast and pulled out her phone to scroll aimlessly.

Suddenly, an ad popped up on the wall mounted TV.

[Pei Ying officially announced as the Global Brand Ambassador for Shisheng Group’s Smart Mattresses.]

Below were several promotional photos of Pei Ying lying on the smart mattress. The lighting was soft, highlighting the mattress’s technology and comfort. The copy emphasized the “black technology”: how it precisely relieves body fatigue, promotes deep blood circulation, and improves sleep quality.

Smart mattress?

Ji Yunyan had recommended it a couple of days ago, was it really that good?

Lu Lingzhi took a sip of pineapple juice. Jiang Mingyue’s arm seemed to have gone numb from her leaning on it yesterday at the hospital, she seemed to be rubbing it constantly. If she had one of these, would it help her sleep better?

The price was predictably high-end. Five figures.

I want one too, which means I’d need to buy two. No, I’m being a bit of a spendthrift. Though I’m not short on cash for two right now… I’m just afraid of being scammed by “IQ taxes.”

Is there a way to get Pei Ying to give me two for free? Forget it, Beijing is so big, where would I run into Pei Ying?

Ding-ding-ding.

The timer she set to snatch a “Blind Box” went off.

Refresh, refresh… A circle was spinning…

She refreshed for two minutes, but the page wouldn’t load.

“One star review! I’m never coming back. Beijing Grand Theatre, claiming free WiFi and full network coverage is a lie. Tongtong, rewind ten minutes. I’m going to the rooftop to snatch it.”

Whoosh.

Just as Lu Lingzhi finished grumbling, time rewound ten minutes.