Chapter 5: The Enemy of My Enemy Is My Friend

Outside the Jiang family villa, indeed, the old master’s car was parked. However, the old master was not inside; the vehicle was empty.

“Stop looking. The old master didn’t come, but he did want to convey a message to you through me.”

As he left, Jiang Shi took the file folder from the assistant’s hand. Inside were not only Jiang Ming’s card but also a card the old master had specifically instructed Jiang Man to handle.

“This is the card the old master arranged for both of you. Each has one million credited. How you use it is your business, but under no circumstances are illegal activities permitted.”

Jiang Man hadn’t expected her grandfather to remember her at all. After all, within the Jiang family, she had always been inconspicuous, existing only as a pawn for future alliances to strengthen Jiang Sheng’s position.

“Please thank the old master on our behalf.”

Jiang Ming snatched the bank card eagerly. To her, nothing was more important right now than money; it was her foundation.

“Here’s your ID card. The phone already has a SIM card installed, and I’ve only saved my and the old master’s contacts. You’ll have to save the rest yourself.”

Jiang Shi handed over the phone and ID card to Jiang Ming. “The old master had heard rumors about Jiang Cheng’s favoritism, but seeing how Jiang Man was treated—not worse than Jiang Sheng—he didn’t intervene. Seeing you both today, he realized the rumors were true. He told me to remind you two that every situation has a turning point; don’t blindly obey their arrangements.”

“Understood. We know.”

Jiang Ming hadn’t expected the old master to trust Jiang Shi so deeply, even entrusting him with such words without fear he might sow discord within the family.

“I’ve said all I needed to. You should head back. The old master welcomes you to visit the old residence anytime.”

Jiang Shi gestured politely, watching them leave.

“Wait, I have something to say to you.”

Jiang Ming told Jiang Man to wait where she was and hurried over to Jiang Shi.

“Now it’s just the two of us.”

She stood only a few steps away, close enough to see the look in his eyes.

“What’s your real reason for bringing me back?”

Her voice dropped low, afraid Jiang Man might overhear. This matter was theirs alone.

It was Jiang Shi who had found her at her workplace, a restaurant, telling her she might be a Jiang family daughter, even providing the funds and materials for a paternity test.

Otherwise, Jiang Ming alone couldn’t have obtained Jiang Cheng’s hair or afforded a paternity test.

“I just thought you resembled the old lady.”

Jiang Shi’s gaze didn’t waver, calm and straightforward.

Yet this only aroused suspicion. If Jiang Ming hadn’t accidentally learned she wasn’t the biological child of the Jiang couple, she would surely have dismissed Jiang Shi as mentally unstable.

“Do you take me for a fool? You don’t seem like such a kind person.”

“Though I can’t guess your purpose, I am certain you and Jiang Cheng don’t get along.”

Her voice was resolute, the streetlight highlighting the confidence in her eyes.

“It’s none of your business, and don’t make wild assumptions,” Jiang Shi replied coldly, uninterested in a mere high school graduate who posed no threat. Even if she figured it out, so what?

“Haven’t you heard the saying? The enemy of my enemy is my friend.”

“Do you really think I would consider a man whose eyes only see his son, a man bound by patriarchal principles, as family?”

“I wouldn’t, but I can’t be sure you won’t become my enemy later. I don’t want to team up with someone too clever only to turn against me.”

Jiang Shi turned to get into his car.

Jiang Ming suddenly grabbed the hem of his jacket. Perhaps from doing heavy work, she was surprisingly strong, making it impossible for him to break free immediately; or perhaps the ambition and unwillingness reflected in her moist eyes moved him.

He stopped. “Give me one reason.”

“At least we were friends once, weren’t we?”

Jiang Ming would only ask once. She wasn’t indispensable, but working with him could save much unnecessary trouble.

She disliked wasting time on futile matters.

“Fine, I’ll be frank. My goal is to ruin Jiang Cheng’s reputation. Can you be ruthless enough?”

He was gambling too, betting Jiang Ming had no affection for Jiang Cheng or shared the same goal.

“Different paths, same destination. I never wanted him disgraced, but I sure don’t want him to have it easy.”

Considering how he indulged Jiang Sheng, how he used them, and how little he cared for her, if Jiang Cheng had truly cared for this daughter, with the Jiang family’s resources, there would have been no chance of a baby swap. So in the end, it was Jiang Cheng who was heartless.

Jiang Ming reached out her hand. “Then we’re friends?”

“Alright.”

The man’s hand was warm, his broad palm gently enclosing Jiang Ming’s slender one, giving an odd sense of security.

“Let’s work together to completely remove Jiang Sheng from the Jiang family company.”

That was Jiang Ming’s greatest desire. Such a scoundrel didn’t deserve any resources or connections, and if Jiang Sheng had troubles, he wouldn’t have the energy to bother her and Jiang Man.

“Agreed.”

Jiang Shi had no intention of dealing with Jiang Sheng himself; such a petty villain didn’t warrant his intervention.

But since his “friend” made a request, he naturally had to agree.

During the ten or so minutes they were away, the other three at the Jiang family table had already left, leaving only some side dishes and soup residue.

This was a sign of Jiang Cheng’s anger; the remaining food on the table was his punishment.

“You should be full by now. Girls have small appetites, so we didn’t purposely save any dishes for you, to avoid waste,” Li Baizhen said, carrying fruit washed by the servants, ready to bring it to Jiang Sheng and Jiang Cheng.

She clearly knew neither had eaten much before leaving. The claim they were full was just Jiang Cheng’s way of asserting dominance, and she didn’t care whether the two girls had eaten.

Jiang Ming ignored her, but Jiang Man timidly nodded.

“That’s good. Girls look better when they’re slim; otherwise, no man would like them.”

She was pleased with Jiang Man’s response and ignored her dissatisfaction with Jiang Ming.

“By the way, what was Jiang Man going out for?”

“The old master also bought me a phone and told me to attend the banquet the day after tomorrow.”

That was the excuse Jiang Shi had prepared for her.

The recognition banquet had likely been explained to Jiang Cheng by the assistant. The old master’s intention was to openly acknowledge both girls as Jiang family members, though a careless nurse had swapped one at birth.

This was a slap in Jiang Cheng’s face. In Lin City, no nurse would dare steal a Jiang family child. The old master was warning Jiang Cheng not to disregard his daughters; if he had cared, the child wouldn’t have been swapped.

“Alright.” Li Baizhen accepted this explanation. In her view, daughters were useless, and Jiang Man was not even a biological granddaughter—there was no way the old master would show her care.

Everything in the Jiang family would ultimately belong to Jiang Sheng. Jiang Chi’s two daughters would get nothing, and Jiang Yun, the money-loser, wouldn’t get a penny.

After Li Baizhen went upstairs, Jiang Ming headed straight to the kitchen.

“Is it okay if I eat noodles?”

There were still vegetables and seafood in the refrigerator, probably for tomorrow morning, but she didn’t mind.

If money was what she cared about most, eating her fill was second.

This was Jiang Ming’s only act of rebellion in the Jiang family. She had even fought Jiang Yaozu for it, and though she was left battered and bruised, at least she could finally sit at the table to eat.