DHLM 1
Kept
"No way."
Jiang Heng refused the absurd suggestion without hesitation, his voice firm and resolute. He turned and walked away.
"Don't go! At least think about what I just said."
"Besides my boss, who else can come up with 150,000 yuan at once to pay for your mom's medical bills?"
Jiang Heng kept his eyes straight ahead, ignoring Ji Miao’s words completely. He was in a hurry to get to his next part-time job.
Ji Miao's voice continued from the side. "Even if you worked for a year without eating or drinking, you wouldn't make 150,000 yuan. And you're only 19, just a college freshman. Your mom is sick and can't work. How long do you think it'll take you to save up enough for her medical expenses?"
Jiang Heng lowered his gaze, glancing at his clean but worn-out white canvas shoes. "I'm planning to sell our house."
Ji Miao sighed. "You and aunt only have that old house. On rainy days, it probably even leaks. How much do you think you can sell it for? And where will you live after that? Renting still costs money. Do you think rent is cheap these days? Do you think it's easy to find a place? Besides, with your mom's condition, most landlords wouldn't even want to rent to you."
Jiang Heng said nothing, only quickened his pace.
"Just do me a favor, okay? I just started this job two weeks ago, and my boss is already asking me to find him a young lover who speaks English. The ones I know who speak English aren't as good-looking as you, and the good-looking ones don't speak English as well as you. I really have no choice but to ask you. Just meet him once, so at least I can bring someone to him. He might not even like you, and if he doesn't, I can at least say I couldn't find anyone and back out of this. But if I don't bring anyone, I have no excuse. It's just one meeting—it won't kill you."
Jiang Heng was tall and had long legs, walking fast. Ji Miao was practically jogging to keep up while trying to persuade him.
But the man beside him only furrowed his brows and shook his head in refusal.
"My boss is young, handsome, and rich. He's not even 30 yet. If you like men, this is totally worth it." Ji Miao refused to give up, continuing to praise his boss and list the benefits Jiang Heng would get. But Jiang Heng remained unmoved.
"I don't like men, and I won't agree to being a sugar baby," Jiang Heng said, unwilling to waste more time. He reached the bus stop and got in line to wait for the bus.
Ji Miao had already exhausted himself talking, and seeing Jiang Heng about to get on the bus, he quickly pulled a photo from his folder and shoved it in front of him.
"Come on, bro, I'm begging you."
A man’s photograph suddenly appeared before Jiang Heng’s eyes.
The man sat with his legs crossed in a chair, wearing a black pinstripe peaked lapel suit. His chin was slightly raised, and there was a faint, unreadable smile on his lips, as if even the slight upward tilt of his eyes was part of that smile. His bright eyes reflected unhidden pride and ambition.
Even though it was just a photo, Jiang Heng could almost feel the man’s raw energy, his thriving vitality.
Jiang Heng stopped walking, his gaze locked on the photo, completely unaware that the bus had already left.
Ji Miao waved the picture in front of him. "Well? I wasn't lying, right? This was a candid shot from an event last time. I asked the cameraman for a copy."
Jiang Heng finally snapped out of it, but his eyes remained fixed on the photograph. After a long moment of silence, he spoke. "What's his name?"
A black fountain pen left a bold signature on the last page of the document—two striking characters: Jin Ze.
"All signed. Take it out."
A man in a black dress shirt sat at the desk, raising his hand to hand the contract to his secretary.
The secretary, holding a folder, reported, "President Jin, I met with Manager Feng from Fanshun this morning. He said the remaining three million yuan will definitely be paid next quarter."
Jin Ze didn’t even look up, his eyes still on the bid document. A trace of mockery flickered in his expression. "He said the same thing last quarter. That three million has been delayed for over half a year now. If you have time, make a few more trips to their office and push them harder."
The secretary sighed. "They're such a pain when it comes to money. Every time we ask, it's like we're asking for their life."
Hearing this, Jin Ze's smile became genuine. "Understandable. After all, taking my money is pretty much like taking my life."
The secretary chuckled and made a few jokes.
Jin Ze listened quietly and then said, "You should head back to Mingyao for now. When you have time, push Fanshun for the payment a couple more times."
"Got it, President Jin. I'll get going."
Just three minutes after the secretary left, there was a knock on the door.
"Come in."
Jin Ze was still flipping through documents when his assistant spoke. "President Jin, the person you asked me to find has arrived. Do you have time now?"
Ji Miao had only been working at Rongcheng Real Estate for two weeks and didn’t know much about his new boss. He only knew that the man had a strikingly handsome face, an unrestrained and flamboyant personality, and a ruthless business sense. He was known for making unexpected moves, frequently appearing in major financial magazines—and occasionally, in gossip tabloids.
Last time, they had attended a business conference together. Everything was fine at first, but Jin Ze had to step away briefly. When he returned, his mood had completely changed—his face dark, his brows slightly furrowed with suppressed anger. He immediately ordered Ji Miao to find someone fluent in English for him.
Why was this so urgent all of a sudden?
Ji Miao couldn't help but recall his experience at his previous company.
Back then, his old boss had seriously claimed he was going to a hotel to "learn English from a tutor." Ji Miao had been moved by his dedication—until that same night, the police raided the place and arrested his boss.
These bosses always looked upright and respectable but were actually full of shady thoughts.
With that in mind, and after hearing the rumors about Jin Ze, Ji Miao figured it out—going to a hotel wasn’t safe, so Jin Ze wanted a long-term, safer arrangement.
This time, Ji Miao was even careful enough to ask, "Do you want a male tutor or a female one?"
Jin Ze had no idea about his assistant’s wild imagination. He remained focused on his documents and simply said, "Send him in."
As the sound of the door opening and closing echoed, Jin Ze became aware of another presence in the room.
"President Jin, this is Jiang Heng," Ji Miao introduced.
Jin Ze lifted his gaze, momentarily pausing before closing his document. He stood up, walking around his desk, raising his hand midair as the diamond on his watch sparkled under the chandelier’s bright light.
"Nice to meet you. I’m Jin Ze."
"Hello, I’m Jiang Heng."
As their hands met in a warm handshake, Jiang Heng’s dark lashes trembled slightly, his heartbeat skipping a beat.
Jin Ze withdrew his hand, his emotions well hidden beneath a composed expression. He subtly studied the young English tutor before him—sharp features, a cold and brooding aura.
It was August, yet Jiang Heng wore a fully buttoned white dress shirt, revealing no skin. A thin silver-framed pair of glasses rested on his nose. He kept his gaze down, lips tightly pressed together, staring at the tiled floor in silence.
Sensing the tension, Ji Miao quickly said, "President Jin, I'll leave you two to talk. I'll go make some tea."
Now, only Jin Ze and Jiang Heng remained in the spacious office.
