Transmigrated as the Villain’s Cannon Fodder Ex-Husband - Chapter 11

Even on a weekday, the Central Hospital in South City was packed to capacity.

Jiang Wen was run off his feet. After dealing with his last patient of the morning, he took a moment to wash his face in his office. When he looked up, a familiar face was suddenly reflected in the mirror.

!!!

The office was a mess, cluttered with medical texts and printed research papers. Jiang Wen sat atop a stack of books, frowning reproachfully at his friend.

“Dropping in without a word like that are you trying to scare me to death?”

Gu Jia didn’t respond. He leaned against the wall and pulled out the medicine bottle given to him by the manager at Yuanjiang. His knuckles were pale and well-defined; the bottle let out a soft clack that sounded startlingly loud in the quiet office.

“Jiang Wen, did you give me fake drugs to deceive me?”

“…What?”

Jiang Wen was baffled. It took him a moment to realize Gu Jia was referring to the hallucinogens he had requested previously. Taking the bottle, he poured out a tablet, inspected it, and even broke one open to check the contents. His confusion deepened. “There’s nothing wrong with this medicine.”

Gu Jia’s gaze darkened. “Are you sure?”

“Positive,” Jiang Wen said definitively.

The scene from the previous night replayed in Gu Jia’s mind like a rewinding tape. After a long silence, he took the bottle back. “Thanks.”

Without further pleasantries, he turned to leave. Only then did Jiang Wen realize what he meant. He reached out in a panic. “Wait! You still haven’t told me what you’re using that for—”

The office door creaked shut. The man’s figure vanished into the hospital crowds like a drop of water in the ocean. Jiang Wen slowly lowered his hand, his eyes filled with worry.

In less than two days, the tug-of-war between the Gu Group and Lu Real Estate continued to escalate, even sparking heated debates on online forums.

[Commenter A]: The Gu Group is going too far! They’re using every dirty trick in the book to maintain a monopoly, destroying the industry and crushing smaller companies. The authorities need to step in!

[Commenter B]: Lu Real Estate is no match for the Gu Group. They should have bowed out long ago, but somehow they’re still holding on. I saw people protesting with signs in front of Gu headquarters this morning.

[Commenter C]: I heard President Gu has the Yi family’s young master locked up. Those “Old Money” families backing Lu Real Estate all have ties to the Yi family; they wouldn’t dare act recklessly now!

[Commenter D]: Is this really the year 0102? How are top-tier business wars still using such primitive tactics? This is literally just taking a hostage!

Zhao Yisen had spent the last few days resting on the bed, snacking and sipping the ice-cold cola delivered by the guard captain. He couldn’t care less about the chaos online; he was enjoying his role as a hostage immensely.

The snacks were items he had swiped from the kitchen before his gaming marathon. He had a habit of hoarding things back in school, and he never imagined it would indirectly “save his life.” As for the cold cola, it was a trophy won through repeated “confrontations” with the guard captain.

Zhao Yisen discovered that the original owner’s face had a deceptive quality. He only had to stare at someone for a while and fake a few “sickly” coughs for them to abandon their post.

Even his “hostage plan” while Gu Jia hadn’t explicitly agreed to it was being carried out exactly as he suggested.

Unfortunately, when Gu Jia said he wouldn’t send food, he meant it. Since the original owner’s body was incredibly fragile, Zhao Yisen decided to start taking better care of himself. He looked at the vitamin bottle on the nightstand, deciding to take a few more that evening.

After finishing his snack and washing his hands, Zhao Yisen lay back on the bed and stared at the ceiling. His eyelids grew heavy, but just as he was about to curl into the covers, a sudden thud sounded from outside.

It sounded like an owl hitting glass.

Zhao Yisen: ?

The sound came from the balcony. He threw off the covers and peeked out. The suburban air was fresh, the mountains lush and green. A wave of humid air hit him, accompanied by the drone of cicadas and birdsong.

He looked around but saw nothing. Just as he was about to head back inside, he heard another thud.

A pigeon flew toward him from behind, slamming headfirst into the glass door separating the bedroom from the balcony.

Zhao Yisen: …

The pigeon that had hit the glass stubbornly lifted its head, wobbling on the balcony like a tumbler toy. Zhao Yisen stood in speechless silence. Noticing a small slip of paper tied to the bird’s leg, he reached out and untied it.

Young Master, I’ve come to save you!

The overly familiar tone and exaggerated style immediately reminded him of a long-lost acquaintance.

After delivering Zhao Yisen to the engagement banquet, Wang Baobao hadn’t been in the lounge for long before he was tied up by several burly men. When he woke up, he found himself locked in the Young Master’s villa.

His phone had been taken, and there were no communication devices in the house. The front door was completely locked, with no way out.

Wang Baobao had clutched his head in despair: A Hongmen Banquet! It was a trap all along!

Last night, the door was finally opened. Wang Baobao used the last of his spare change to call the Master and the Young Miss, but neither call went through. Despondent, he sat by a newsstand and caught sight of the latest business gossip.

New Turmoil between Gu Group and Lu Real Estate! Insiders reveal Gu Jia, facing threats from Old Money families, has chosen to “house arrest” the Yi family young master!

Both sides have completely fallen out over the villa development project; the highly anticipated business marriage is in jeopardy!

The crowds at the Gu Group headquarters stopped protesting this morning. Regardless of whether the house arrest is true, Gu Jia’s goal of pressuring Lu Real Estate has been achieved. Truly a scorpion’s heart!

After peeking at the full report, Wang Baobao practically shattered. Having been a butler for a wealthy family for over twenty years, he had ample experience dealing with kidnappings. He spent days scouting for information and accidentally learned that President Gu’s assistant had purchased a mansion in the suburbs. After much effort, he pinpointed the address.

Currently, he was dressed like an old farmer working the fields, standing in a paddy field behind the mansion waving at Zhao Yisen. Three spare “communication tools” were flapping about in a pigeon cage at his feet.

Holding the slip of paper, Zhao Yisen remained silent for a long time.

Old Wang, you are a goddamn genius!

Tucking the note away, Zhao Yisen cautiously checked the door. Ensuring he hadn’t attracted the guards’ attention, he waved to Wang Baobao in the distance, signaling that he was safe and that the butler should leave immediately.

However, the nearsighted Wang Baobao misinterpreted the gesture. In his eyes, Yi Sen looked like a prince abducted by a dragon, waving desperately for rescue.

Wang Baobao was instantly overcome with grief. He was about to send another pigeon when a voice that sounded remarkably like an urban management officer rang out near his ear.

“You there! I haven’t seen you around here before.”

His body shook. He turned to see the owner of the paddy field accompanied by a dark-faced community worker hurrying toward him.

The field owner pointed at Wang Baobao and complained to the worker in a thick local accent: “I saw this guy lurking around here suspiciously this morning. He’s a stranger, doesn’t look like a good person, and he was catching pigeons in the woods nearby…”

Before the owner could finish, the “suspicious element” grabbed his pigeon cage and bolted. To the shock of the onlookers, he left the hardworking staff in the dust.

Sorry, Young Master! I have an eighty-year-old mother and three unweaned children! I can’t go to jail yet!

Next time… I will definitely come back next time!

On the balcony, seeing Wang Baobao vanish, Zhao Yisen assumed his message had been delivered. He let out a sigh of relief, placed the dizzy pigeon into a flower pot on the balcony, and returned to the bedroom.

The little interlude was unexpected, but it proved that even Wang Baobao believed Gu Jia had truly placed him under house arrest. Thinking about how many more days he’d have to stay here to keep up the act, Zhao Yisen decided to speed things up.

He walked to the door and knocked loudly.

“Bro Guard! Are you there?”

That afternoon, at the Gu Group headquarters, in the President’s office.

Gu Jia sat behind his desk, looking at a mountain of documents. Jiang Mingze stood before him reporting: “President Gu, the protesters didn’t show up today, and the board members haven’t applied further pressure…”

The good news was that, regardless of whether the house arrest was true, the other Old Money families wouldn’t act until the Yi family made a move.

However—

Gauging Gu Jia’s mood, Jiang Mingze offered a cautious suggestion: “Should we schedule a time to talk with Lu Real Estate?”

In the current situation, the Gu Group seemed to have the upper hand, but a total fallout wouldn’t benefit either side.

Jiang Mingze waited for a long time, but Gu Jia remained silent. When the assistant looked up in confusion, he saw the man push a document forward without raising his head.

“This is the new contract. Relay it to the families backing Lu Real Estate.”

Gu Jia’s voice was firm. “The moment they sign is the moment I release the person.”

“President Gu, you can’t do that!” Jiang Mingze panicked instantly. Using threats to force a signature might bring short-term profit, but not only would the wedding definitely be called off, but the Group would also be surrounded by enemies, walking on thin ice.

“…” Gu Jia looked up at Jiang Mingze’s face.

In his previous life, it was this very loyal assistant who had tearfully announced the end of the Gu Group at a press conference. Gu Jia would never forget that day.

Not only that, he remembered every milestone of the Gu Group’s expansion over the last decade, every opportunity that could be seized, and every weakness of his opponents. The contract he had been preparing since his rebirth was finally ready. He tapped the document, his sharp tone carrying a rare hint of gentleness.

“Go.”

A sudden knock at the door broke the heavy atmosphere. The guard captain hurried in, looking frantic. “President Gu…”

Gu Jia’s silence signaled his attention. Jiang Mingze took the documents and left the office, full of worry.

“What is it?” Gu Jia’s gaze darkened. It definitely involved Yi Sen.

The guard captain stood before the desk, his mind in a jumble. After hesitating, he finally found the words: “It’s… well… this morning, Young Master Yi suddenly said he wanted to read the newspaper.”

“The newspaper?” Gu Jia raised an eyebrow. What was his ex-husband up to now?

“Besides the paper, he wanted other things,” the guard said, sounding increasingly guilty. “Scissors, glue, A4 paper…”

Gu Jia’s frown deepened. Then, the man pulled a “letter” of uneven thickness from his pocket.

“Young Master Yi said we must deliver this to Mr. Lu Ming as soon as possible.”

Under Gu Jia’s cooling gaze, the guard swallowed hard and added: “He also said… whatever we do, don’t let you find out.”