109. Bowing to Wealth and Power

Still a bit shaken, Yu Jiali did not return to her long-term suite despite having a permanent residence at the hotel. Instead, after showing her VIP card, she chose to sit in the bustling lobby. Unlike typical luxury hotels, this place felt solemn and austere; the cleaning staff moved with a brisk, disciplined efficiency. Sitting in the semi-open café in the lobby, she felt a greater sense of psychological security.

Naturally, Yu Jiali would not tend to Bai Haonan’s wounds herself. Accustomed to giving orders, she had the lobby manager summon a doctor to handle the task while she simply looked on.

Bai Haonan’s left forearm and the back of his hand had been grazed by glass shards—far shallower than the wounds on his right palm. The medic nonetheless performed a formal, elaborate procedure of disinfecting and bandaging. Yu Jiali, holding her phone and stretching her neck to watch, occasionally used her fingers to direct a detail, all while keeping up a constant stream of phone conversations.

Her calls never ceased. Ten minutes later, even before the doctor had left, people began to arrive one after another. Their thick regional accents made it difficult for Bai Haonan to follow the conversation, though they were all unfailingly polite toward him. Most were men—some possessing a rough, underworld edge, others carrying the distinct air of government officials. A few women, likely relatives, came over to fuss over Yu Jiali, asking if she was hurt and thanking Bai Haonan for his valiant protection. Bai Haonan said nothing. When seven or eight people had gradually surrounded Yu Jiali, he rose and slipped out through the side door of the lobby café.

Beyond the floor-to-ceiling glass lay an exquisite open-air courtyard. The shadows of bamboo danced in the quiet, atmospheric lighting, and the lawn was trimmed as neatly as a carpet. Bai Haonan looked up at the sky, breathing in the crisp, cool air of late night; it felt much fresher than inside. Through the tinted glass, he could see the expressions of the people surrounding Yu Jiali, looking as if they were either thumping their chests in promise or venting their rage.

Unaccustomed to such complex social dynamics, Bai Haonan chose to squat down and stare blankly at the grass. Having played professional league football for so many years, he had never seen such a perfect lawn. Reaching out to touch it, he found it incredibly soft. Running, sprinting, and scoring on a pitch like this would surely be a delight.

Just then, Yu Jiali’s voice came from behind him: "What are you squatting there for? I didn't see you and wondered where you'd gone."

Her voice was practically right at his ear. Without turning around, Bai Haonan knew she was leaning over, hands on her knees. If he turned his head, he would certainly catch a glimpse of whatever scenery the open collar of her dress revealed. He chuckled and pointed at the lawn: "Do you know what this is?"

Yu Jiali looked puzzled: "A lawn?"

Bai Haonan grinned: "Women in the dating phase are like this, while those you haven't slept with are like that..." He gestured toward a patch of sparse, messy weeds at the base of the wall.

Yu Jiali wasn't as crude as he was, but she could roughly grasp the implication. She quickly stood upright: "Pah! Why is your head filled with such things!"

Bai Haonan looked toward the bamboo grove, pointing at the wild, overgrown thicket: "Once you're married, it's probably about like that, hahaha."

Yu Jiali was bashful: "You only know how to talk nonsense! Stop it! Give me your car keys!"

Bai Haonan looked confused.

Noticing the bandages on his hands, Yu Jiali reached directly into his pocket: "The car is broken; someone is towing it to be repaired. I'm getting you another one. What kind of car do you want?"

Bai Haonan immediately recalled the luxury cars parked beneath the Yu family building. He rubbed his hands together, his interest suddenly piqued as he stood up: "What kind of car can I drive?"

Seeing his change in mood, Yu Jiali felt she had finally found the key to his interest: "You really like driving? Any car will do. I thought you didn't like driving other cars; you never mentioned it."

Bai Haonan was practically beating his chest in frustration: "I was faking it! I couldn't exactly be drooling and begging to borrow your nice cars all day, could I? I thought you didn't like sitting in my piece-of-junk car, but it turns out you were fine with it!"

Yu Jiali laughed: "A car is just a tool. I don't think the car matters; what matters is who you're sitting with."

Bai Haonan scoffed impatiently: "You don't know what you're talking about. Think about it—if we had been in a heavy-duty vehicle or an off-roader, wouldn't we have easily smashed through them? Why would we have almost been finished off by two measly cars?"

The memory of the danger was clearly still fresh for Yu Jiali: "Right, you're right. So you know which cars are the best and safest? I'll have them find one and bring it over." As she spoke, she dialed on her phone.

Bai Haonan wasn't surprised by her wealth, but he was stunned by the simplicity of it. He intentionally raised the stakes: "A Hummer! The US military uses them. I've seen business owners riding in them."

Yu Jiali noted "military grade" and repeated it to the person on the other end: "A Hummer, I hear it's US military issue and very safe. Find one and send it over immediately..." She then asked Bai Haonan: "He says there are several models. Which one do you want?"

Bai Haonan was impressed: "The biggest, most luxurious one." It was only after she hung up that he felt a twinge of regret: "If I'd known it was this easy, I would have said Rolls-Royce. I've never driven one!"

Yu Jiali replied: "It's fine. We have those downstairs at home. You can drive them whenever you like later."

At this, Bai Haonan started to think that marrying into the Yu family as a live-in son-in-law might not be the worst idea after all. He rubbed his hands together incessantly, almost pulling off his bandages.

Usually laid-back and indifferent toward everything, Yu Jiali rarely saw him this excited, so she struck while the iron was hot: "If you want to enjoy these things, you have to work hard and strive for them."

Bai Haonan felt like a bucket of cold water had been dumped on him: "Oh, come on. It's not like everyone is like you—where hard work always leads to results. For most of us, failing after a little effort is no big deal; it’s usually after you've tried your hardest that you realize what despair really feels like!"

Yu Jiali didn't believe him: "How could that be?"

Bai Haonan couldn't be bothered to argue: "Forget it, forget it. If I have to go through all that trouble, I'd rather just drive my piece-of-junk car. Fine, although they were targeting me, it has something to do with you all. Just give it back to me once it's fixed... I'm leaving. Give me my car keys; I need to go let Ada out."

Yu Jiali regretted her haste and quickly softened her tone: "No rush, no rush. Take it slow..."

Bai Haonan found it amusing: "Why are you doing this? Your situation is so good; I’m sure plenty of people in your company are dying to pursue you. Why are you acting so humble and subservient toward me?"

Yu Jiali felt a bit wronged: "What else can I do? I just want you to pull yourself together and change. I believe you'll become someone great. You have the mind and the talent for success; you're just stuck in a rut. Even as an investment—setting aside my own foolish infatuation—I want to turn you into a highly profitable venture, rather than watching you give up like this."

Bai Haonan looked at the plump girl in the black dress, his gaze softening, though he remained self-deprecating: "I’m damn lucky to always meet such good girls. But the more you do this, the more pressure I feel. What can I do? Be a driver or a fitness coach? That’s the best I can manage. I’m uneducated, impatient, and I don't want to give up my aimless life. Don't waste your time on me."

Yu Jiali shook her head: "Your mindset is just trapped. Actually, you are very focused and eager to learn when it comes to things you're interested in. As for your aimless life, you don't smoke or do drugs. Your dalliances with women are less about sensory stimulation and more about seeking comfort without responsibility. You’re afraid of taking on responsibility, Lao Bai. Responsibility is eternal; everyone has their own burden to bear..."

Bai Haonan turned and walked away: "You love lecturing me too much. I don't want to hear it!"

Yu Jiali pouted and took a deep breath before hurrying to catch up.

Outside, a crowd of people was waiting to pester him. They must have seen the young man and woman arguing through the glass, and with Yu Jiali appearing to be on the defensive, the relatives were chattering endlessly. They spoke of how fortunate it was that the two were together today, and while the incident was caused by the Yu family, it proved that Jianguo was fated to be with them. Jiajia was truly wonderful—capable of earning money and virtuous as well...

Bai Haonan couldn't very well start throwing punches, but he was on the verge of losing his temper. Fortunately, Yu Jiali stepped in to rescue him: "Alright, I'm going out with him to pick up the car. I won't be back tonight; I'm going to stay with him for a few days to lay low. I'll leave the matters here to you all. If anything comes up, contact my father and have him relay it to me. I'm changing my SIM card; it’s highly likely they tracked us through Jianguo’s phone."

A group of people escorted them out. Bai Haonan loathed the cacophony. Fortunately, the provincial capital wasn't large. As soon as he walked out and unlocked the battered little white car to get Ada, a massive, bright yellow off-roader slid to a halt in front of the hotel entrance. The temper he had felt seconds ago vanished instantly, and he happily carried Ada over to take delivery of the new car.

It was practically a new vehicle. Bai Haonan’s own old Cayman had been bought second-hand, so after a brief observation, he realized this was a nearly-new vehicle that had been meticulously maintained—perhaps even a complete teardown-and-reassemble job—but that didn't matter to him. He put Ada in and was overjoyed, itching to take it for a spin.

Yu Jiali was slightly taken aback by the vehicle's sheer size, but seeing Bai Haonan’s joy was what mattered most. She handed the keys to the little white car to the driver and climbed into the passenger seat with some effort: "Oh, this really feels completely different. Why has no one ever told me about this?"

Bai Haonan gestured to the driver who had brought the car, trying to maneuver the wide off-roader: "Damn, it's like driving a boat! This is awesome!" Any lingering irritation was long gone. Being rich was truly great!

Yu Jiali felt as though she had moved from a one-room studio to a villa. She looked around: "My father... he started out smuggling cars, so he still has connections in that area. You..." She stopped herself from lecturing, focusing only on the immediate situation: "I'll have to rely on you to look after my safety for the next two days. Who knows which of those people back there has ulterior motives? So, when I get to the office tomorrow, I have to pretend nothing happened. All the security and transport teams are to be pulled back tonight. I've already notified the police to make arrests. This matter turned out to be more intense than expected, which actually works to our advantage. They say three of the people who tried to hurt us were injured, one of them seriously. The police have already opened a case."

Hearing the word "police," Bai Haonan still felt an instinctive tension: "Do I have to face the police, too?"

Yu Jiali said lightly: "It's fine, they're my father's old connections."

Bai Haonan finally found a chance to strike back: "See! You said I could solve this with hard work alone? At the end of the day, it’s all about connections!"

Yu Jiali took a deep breath, deciding to save the lecture for later: "Where... are we staying tonight?"