Chapter 196 - 196: I’m Sick, Do You Have Medicine
Gu Ziyu felt as if lightning had struck from the sky when he looked at Jiang Junlin with resentment. With just one sentence from his uncle, his happiness flew away.
“Baby, are your front teeth going to fall out soon? You mentioned a toothache yesterday,” Ji Chi also inquired.
“Ziyu, your teeth hurt?” Gu Ci felt a tinge of jealousy. Why did you tell Ji Chi about it and not me?
Under the gaze of three adults, Gu Ziyu frowned and remained silent. His two front teeth had been loose lately. Just like in his past life, around this time, he was losing his baby teeth. Now both of his front teeth had fallen out, causing him to speak with a lisp, resulting in months of silence, like a mute.
Gu Ci wiped her hands with a wet tissue, touched his front teeth, and found they were quite loose. “1’11 help you pull them out later.”
“No!”
Gu Ci was quite stubborn in this matter. “Better to pull them out sooner, so they can grow back sooner.”
Ji Chi imagined the scene, and his shoulders shook with suppressed laughter. Gu Ziyu glared at him, and Ji Chi continued to smile unreservedly. “Baby, don’t be shy. It’s something that’ll happen sooner or later. Big brother won’t laugh at you.”
You’re already laughing!
Gu Ziyu was infuriated. He kicked Ji Chi under the table without hesitation. Ji Chi tilted his head and continued to chuckle. With Gu Ziyu around, the tension between Ji Chi and Jiang Junlin eased.
Gu Ci and Jiang Junlin exchanged a glance, both feeling a bit displeased. Was Ji Chi too close to Gu Ziyu? Gu Ci’s feelings were complicated. Their son had a toothache, yet he didn’t tell her, only Ji Chi.
The siblings both found Ji Chi slightly irksome!
Chen Fei went to the customs for some business, planning to come back closer to boarding. Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi hadn’t expected that Ziyu would have a military officer assigned to protect him for his trip abroad, and the officer had quite a high rank.
After boarding, they were on an international flight to Country F in the first-class cabin. It was incredibly luxurious and private. Each space had its own suite. Gu Ci and Ziyu’s spaces were connected, and the two beds could be combined into a double bed.
Unfortunately, Jiang Junlin and Ji Chi’s tickets were also connected, and their single beds could be turned into a double bed just like Gu Ziyu and Gu Ci’s. Jiang Junlin asked Gu Ziyu, “Can we switch?”
Gu Ziyu shook his head in retaliation. “I want to be with Mom.”
Ji Chi smirked. Baby, you’re really something!
Once seated, Gu Ci continued to pay attention to Ziyu’s loose front teeth. Since his baby teeth were loose and he was about to lose them, Gu Ci estimated they would fall out in a week or two. She also wanted to take him to see a dentist.
“Try to avoid eating sugary foods lately.”
While browsing the menu, Ziyu’s gaze reluctantly left the dessert options. “Oh, alright.”
Once the plane was stable, Gu Ziyu unbuckled his seatbelt and went to the neighboring seats to see what Ji Chi and Jiang Junlin were doing. He returned after just two minutes. Gu Ci was watching a recording of Lu Zhiyuan’s match and asked with a smile, “What’s going on?”
“They’re giving each other the cold shoulder, not talking to each other.”
Gu Ci chuckled softly, understanding the situation. Black Hawk and Hualan had been engaged in a financial battle recently, shocking the world. Ji Chi lost the financial battle, got demoted, and became the target of ridicule. Once so prestigious, now he was feeling quite stifled. Anyone could come and kick him while he was down.
In the adjacent private space, since boarding, the two hadn’t spoken much to each other. There was zero communication. After Jiang Junlin ordered soda water, he was completely engrossed in his work. Even though Ji Chi’s gaze was fixed on him, he remained unaffected.
This airline provided internet access, which didn’t hinder Jiang Junlin’s work at all. He even conducted a video conference midway. Ji Chi seemed to have more leisure time, handling a few documents and reading financial reports.
“Mr. Jiang, my stomach hurts. Do you have any medicine?” Ji Chi clutched his stomach, his face turning pale from the pain.
Jiang Junlin glanced at him. “If you have a stomach perforation, you should be in a hospital. Didn’t you bring any medicine on this business trip?”
“I was in a rush and forgot.”
Jiang Junlin fell silent for a moment, then opened his carry-on backpack and handed him some medicine. Ji Chi looked at the label and purpose of the stomach medicine, took it with warm water, and behaved well. He didn’t misbehave apart from asking Jiang Junlin for medicine.
“Mr. Jiang, I’ve been having a really tough time lately.” Ji Chi leaned against the single bed, his eyes seemingly indifferent, yet with a hint of pity.
“In the financial world, only the fittest survive.” Jiang Junlin looked up from his busy work, “If you can’t adapt to the pace of our domestic market, it might be better for you to return to Country M sooner. That’s where you can truly shine.”
Wall Street is Ji Chi’s domain.
The financial markets in Country M and the domestic market are two different systems.
Jiang Junlin said, “Two years ago, I heard about your legendary story on Wall Street. You commanded there, won numerous battles. But you don’t seem to understand the domestic financial market. We’re subject to policy controls, and only in our own financial system can we truly understand the game.”
“Mr. Jiang, do you really want me to go back to Country M?” Ji Chi asked, his eyes carrying a hint of tenderness. Half sincere, half teasing, he said, “How much time did it take me to come to City A? Are you so eager to send me away while I’m by your side?”
Jiang Junlin was taken aback by the fiery look in Ji Chi’s eyes. His ears reddened, and he averted his gaze. “People thrive where they’re most suited. It’s a matter of suitability.”
“Why do you insist on me leaving?” Ji Chi asked persistently, “Am 1 just an enemy from Black Hawk to you?”
Jiang Junlin said, “For Black Hawk’s Asia Division to establish a solid footing, it has to surpass me. That’s my duty as the President of Hualan Bank, to safeguard the domestic financial market. Do you understand?”
“Hualan Bank is an investment bank, not a state-owned one!” Ji Chi furrowed his brows, “How did this become your responsibility?”
“Protecting our country’s financial market order from the intrusion of international capital is the responsibility of every citizen. Though Hualan Bank isn’t state-owned, it firmly holds the leading position in the domestic financial sector. Can’t you see that?” Jiang Junlin’s voice was cold but resolute, “How many times do I need to say it for you to understand? Our domestic financial system is under policy control.”
“You’re portraying yourself as so righteous, yet you’re openly seizing the gold needed by national security.” Ji Chi burst into laughter, “I don’t believe you’re truly a guardian of financial order.”
“The gold wasn’t seized by me.” Jiang Junlin vehemently denied it. After all, no one had any evidence. Why would he admit it?
“I will find evidence.”
“Go ahead!” Jiang Junlin said nonchalantly, confidently, looking at Ji Chi, “Ji Chi, ever since you came to City A and became the deputy head of Black Hawk’s Asia Division, I’ve eased the relationship between Black Hawk and Hualan. I’ve even facilitated some of your projects, but I’ve always obstructed the ones you really want to undertake. It’s because I want you to give up. If we continue in this stalemate, either you will fall or I will.”
He gazed directly at Ji Chi. “Do you really want to step on my body to reach the position of Black Hawk’s president?”
“Must it be this way?” Ji Chi asked.
Jiang Junlin nodded. There was no hint of compromise in his eyes. “Unless 1 die, or unless I’m incapacitated, you won’t achieve your goal.”
He averted his gaze, took a sip of soda water, and looked out the window. The night had fallen, and outside the window was pitch-black. A deep darkness gathered in Jiang Junlin’s eyes as well.. Ji Chi, must we end up in a confrontation?