The Protagonist Joins the Establishment and Isn't Coming Back!

As soon as he pushed open the door, Senior Jiang Cheng felt a fragrant breeze hit him in the face.

He looked up and froze on the spot.

Jiang Ruoxue?!

What was she doing at his place, what was this all about?

Jiang Cheng rubbed his eyes—he must be hallucinating.

"Jiang Cheng, you're back."

Jiang Ruoxue stood up and blinked at him.

Jiang Cheng's mouth twitched. "Why are you here?"

"Your Aunt and Uncle Jiang went on a business trip to Jinling. It's a bit dangerous for Ruoxue to stay alone as a girl, so she's crashing at our place for a few days."

Dangerous?

Mom, have you forgotten what Jiang Ruoxue does for a living?

If some thug actually broke into the Jiang Family, she could kick him so hard he'd never have kids.

Honestly, I think I'm the one in more danger with her here!

"Jiang Cheng, aren't you happy to see me?"

Jiang Ruoxue let out a soft laugh, deliberately stressing the last few words.

A threat.

A blatant threat!

Jiang Cheng gritted his teeth, forced a smile, and looked at Jiang Ruoxue with pleading eyes.

"How could I not be? Welcome!"

Mother Jiang watched them with a knowing grin—her gut told her something was up between these two.

Li Shiyao eyed Jiang Ruoxue warily, while the latter shot back a smug look.

"Xiao Cheng, why are your clothes wet?"

At that, a flicker of unease crossed Jiang Cheng's face.

It was only for a moment, but Jiang Ruoxue caught it.

"Nothing, just wasn't paying attention when I was drinking water."

"A grown man and still so careless. Go change in your room before you catch a cold."

Mother Jiang gave Jiang Cheng a scolding look and spoke with mild irritation.

Watching Jiang Cheng's back as he went upstairs, Jiang Ruoxue clenched her fists, her eyes dark and unreadable.

Don't forget what she did for a living.

She'd deliberately stood at the stairwell just now, and she clearly smelled a woman's perfume on Jiang Cheng.

Time quickly slipped into the dead of night.

A figure gently opened a door and crept out.

"This time, I have to succeed!"

Li Shiyao wore a light yellow nightgown embroidered with white patterns, looking pure and adorable.

"What is Sister Shiyao up to?"

Before she could make a move, Jiang Ruoxue's voice drifted out softly.

This woman, ruining my plans again!

Li Shiyao turned around angrily.

"Sister Ruoxue, staying up so late isn't good for your health. At your age, you should get plenty of rest."

"Thank you for your concern, little sister."

Jiang Ruoxue stretched, crossed her arms over her chest, and chuckled.

"I really am bigger than you, though!"

Agh!

Li Shiyao glanced down and felt like pulling her hair out.

Hmph—what's there to show off? Senior Jiang Cheng doesn't even like that.

With a light snort, Li Shiyao turned and went back to her room.

Having achieved her goal, Jiang Ruoxue didn't linger either. She had more important things to do tomorrow.

She wanted to know—who was that woman?!

The sun was high in the sky.

Jiang Cheng got up and had a simple, unpretentious breakfast.

Suddenly, the doorbell rang.

When he opened the door, no one was there—only a gilded name card lay on the ground.

"Huatai Auction House."

Why did that name sound familiar?

Jiang Cheng frowned, muttering to himself.

Wasn't this under the Qin Family of the Capital?

In the plot, Ye Bufan successfully bid on a Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma at the auction, then used it to break through to Internal Strength.

"Brother Cheng, check the news—that kid Ye Bufan..."

Just then, Lu Ming called, his voice a bit agitated.

Ye Bufan?

What now?

Jiang Cheng quickly opened the Jiangcheng Official Account. The first headline read:

"Recently, Jiangcheng police dismantled an Underground Boxing Ring. Suspect Ye and others have been apprehended."

He clicked on the image.

Holy shit!

Jiang Cheng couldn't help but curse.

Right in the center, front and center—wasn't that Ye Bufan?

Damn, the protagonist had gone and joined the system!

But what was going on? With the Protagonist's Halo in play, things shouldn't have blown up this big.

Looked like, for the short term, Ye Bufan wasn't getting out anytime soon.

In that case, Jiang Cheng's gaze slowly fell on the name card in his hand.

Before he left, might as well milk the protagonist for all he was worth!

At the Jiangcheng Police Station, Jiang Ruoxue stared intently at the computer screen.

One hand gripped her teacup tightly, and a chill radiated from her entire body.

Through gritted teeth, she said, "Mu Qingcheng, so it's you!"

Taking a few deep breaths, Jiang Ruoxue forced herself to calm down.

She wasn't worried. The surveillance showed Jiang Cheng had been in and out of the hotel in under twenty minutes.

Subtracting the time to go up and down stairs, in such a short window, there was no way the two of them could have done anything serious—that was her confidence in Jiang Cheng!

On the other side, Jiang Cheng, along with A Long, arrived at the Huatai Auction House without any trouble.

Though the auction hadn't officially started yet, the entrance was already packed with luxury cars.

Entering the main hall, many wealthy young masters and socialites had already arrived early, chatting in small groups.

Going upstairs, they entered the Jiang Family's VIP Room.

Jiang Cheng sat on the sofa by the window.

Sipping tea, he observed the main hall.

Something was off!

According to the plot, most of the people at this auction should be top-tier socialites from Jiangcheng. So why were there so many unfamiliar faces?

Just as he was puzzling over it, Jiang Cheng saw a line of young waitresses in cheongsam walk in through a side door.

Each one had excellent looks and bearing—the kind of beauties ordinary people rarely saw in the outside world.

After all, the Huatai Auction House was backed by the Qin Family of the Capital. Anyone chosen to enter such an upscale venue was naturally one in ten thousand.

The lights in the hall gradually brightened, and the auction began.

"Now, let's welcome the host of today's auction, Miss Qin Yan, to give her opening remarks."

VIP Room, Jiang Cheng's eyes went wide, like he'd seen a ghost.

Was he hearing things?

The next second, a coldly beautiful woman in an elegant evening gown stepped onto the stage.

Tall and slender, her jade-white skin glimmered with a cool sheen, her long black hair pinned up with a hair stick.

Her figure was graceful, exuding femininity.

Just standing on the stage, she drew everyone's gaze like a magnet.

Compared to her, the society ladies and misses present were like fireflies daring not to compete with the bright moon, instantly reduced to common, gaudy types.

At that moment, Jiang Cheng's mind was in chaos.

No way—in the original plot, Qin Yan wasn't supposed to show up yet!

A mere Huatai Auction House, why would it need the Qin Family's Miss herself to take the stage?

No wonder so many unfamiliar faces had appeared—they must have gotten word and wanted to make an impression in front of Qin Yan.

Though he didn't know why Qin Yan was here, there was one thing Jiang Cheng could rest assured about.

Before this, he and Qin Yan had never met, no connection.

He just needed to get the Thousand-Year Blood Ganoderma and slip away quietly.

If nothing went wrong, Qin Yan would be the last Heroine he ever saw.

Once he went overseas, he, Jiang Cheng, wasn't coming back!