Chapter 7: Controlling Information

He snapped the book to find her in her purple midnight dress and pulled away with his smile still held so mischievously. Gone was that frightening aura around him that he had earlier. AiLin heard him say, "Just admiring something." Admiring what? She raised her eyebrows but decided not to think of it much further. She suddenly recalled that she didn't have that much time with her now and quickly looked around for a watch. She then saw the man reaching out his wrist and offering the watch that was more expensive than this hotel to her view. "Searching for time?" He tutted. He seemed to know everything she was thinking. She nodded and took the offer, noting that she only had half an hour before the time for Jiang NianNian's birthday to be held! Panic set in as she rushed to check her duffle bag on her shoulder and quickly looked around, "Do you know which exit has the taxi cue?" "I do," he answered with the unchanging calm grin. He then stretched out his hand first, "I will walk you there." She muttered a thank you, reconsidering that this man seemed to be more agreeable than the first time she had thought of him. It seemed he was simply in a bad mood since the girl had gone too far against his place of comfort. They both walked toward the exit in where she could feel everyone's eyes all over her. Even the wealthy uncles and aunties whom she had seen before when she was still the "Jiang" AiLin, couldn't help from stare at the man who was standing beside her. After all, how could they not? His face was even better than those actors on TV. His aura was that which would make anyone bow to him. Not to mention that he was dressed from top to bottom with "wealth". As they arrived at the exit, AiLin turned left and right but tilted her head in question when she found not a single taxi in the place. She then turned to the man who seemed to be tapping on his phone. He immediately shut it off when she looked at him, though. "I don't see a Taxi?" She looked and found the writings that showed this place to be the taxi queue, but didn't see any taxis. "You might have to wait. It is usually busy around this time. Give it half an hour," the man remarked with a shrug. "Half an hour? I don't have time for it," she said before biting her lips. She didn't consider her time going to the party because she had just walked out the prison. She knew everything was going far too well! But she didn't plan to back out now. She wanted to see those devils who had destroyed her life and killed her baby. She clenched her fist, determined to do anything to go to the party, even if it means walking or riding a bicycle. "Where are you going to?" The man asked smoothly, "I can offer you a ride." She turned to him, taken aback. But instead, she immediately narrowed her eyes. Although she appreciated kind people, there had never been enough kind people who sincerely only wanted to help others. She felt suspicious when the man immediately explained, "As a thank you since you stopped me from almost murde.. hitting that girl. It would have affected my good name if I did raise my hand to her, even if she did try to assault me first." "Then I won't owe you anything?" She asked with skepticism gleaming in her eyes. The man cocked his head to the side, "Really, that's what you're worried about? Don't worry, you won't owe me anything." His grin appeared wide, but she didn't have time to worry about it. "Then if you would," she said, "Thank you for the kind offer." "Thank me when we arrive," dismissed the man, and as soon as he tapped his phone, all of a sudden, a car immediately stopped in front of them as if it had been waiting around the corner, knowing that she would need a ride. She dismissed the impossible thought and thanked him as he pushed open his hand and opened the door for her before she could. He saw the snake tattoo in his hand again and couldn't help but note that his hands were really large, maybe even the size of her head. As they entered the car together, she found that this luxurious car was something she recalled her family had been wanting to buy six years ago. She could tell it is a newer version, but the car itself is a walking mansion. She didn't think about this from earlier, but it seemed that this man was really rich, maybe only "rich" is an understatement. He had a chauffeur, a billion-dollar car, another billion-dollar watch, and dressed from top to bottom in suits that only those millionaires could afford to wear without going bankrupt from buying a single set. "Liking what you're seeing?" The man turned to look back at her eyes, teasing her who had been staring for too long than necessary. She snapped her eyes and quickly darted her eyes away, schooling herself from being too curious and staring at him, "Sorry, you must have been too uncomfortable." "No problem, I have been stared at by people my entire life. Your stare is rather adorable, so you can continue," he said smoothly, making her feel a sudden knot in her chest. She frowned, dismissing it and telling herself to continue being on her guard. The man had been placing the back of his palm to his chin, leaning on the left side of the seat while he stared at her, reading every expression she made. He then spoke and startled her, "Jiang NianNian." Her eyes widened, and suddenly a fit of anger took over her. "What?" She snapped. The man saw that for a moment her eyes widened, and a dark, murderous expression appeared on her face. But a second later, that expression was gone, and she was back to a face of calmness with a smile. "You are going to her birthday, is she someone you are close with?" Close? AiLin would rather tear her own heart apart than be close to the woman who had taken part in pushing her life to hell. "Close maybe," she said ambiguously, "I know her so I was just going to show my face a little. It had been such a long time since we saw each other. I'm sure she will be screaming when she sees me," out of fear that is. "Hm," he pressed his thumb over the lower part of his red lips and muttered in mirth, "Isn't she the young mistress of the Jiang Family? After Jiang Corporation, which had been taken over by their eldest son Jiang MengYao, their family has flourished so well that the young mistress could be said to be the most beloved and wealthiest young mistress in Beijing." "You know her?" AiLin's face was cold, but she didn't let her anger show through behind her mask. "No. I have only heard a little about the news here and there. As a businessman, information is the most important thing, and I quite love having as much information as I can." She could see that he was being truthful, but rather than liking having information on people because it was his "job," she could feel that he loved the idea of gathering information because it gives him a sense of "control." She could tell with a glance that he is a man who controls every breath the people underneath him take, a rather cold and unswerving man. "Tell me about it more," AiLin sang, smiling back at him, "Seems like that's not the only information you have about them." "What are you curious about?" The man asked with a smirk, "I seem to be in a good mood today. I won't mind answering one or two questions you have for nothing." AiLin didn't know if this was a normal behaviour given by the man. Deep ddowne doubted he was someone who would treat other people around him so well and so friendl, but she didn't want to read too much into it. "Well, do you have any important information against them?" "Against?" He pointed, "Ah, so you want to know the rumors surrounding them?" "Well, whatever you have," she shrugged her shoulders, "Anything that you're free to speak about?" "I do have a few," the man reached out his finger and slowly tiptoed toward her side of the seat.t, "It seemed that for the past six years Jiang Family had been living in fear. It had come to the point that they were no longer hosting such a big party like they used to in the past. Rumors had it that they were paying off so many tabloids to hide certain news from circulating to the outside world. But don't worry, they were living well. The only reason why they decided to make such a big birthday party for their young daughter is that a week ago, they received some news." "A news?" AiLin was curious. Her family was living in fear, perhaps because they feared she would escape prison to hunt for their lives. That was the one thing that they should indeed be scared about. But paying off a tabloid to hide a "certain" information? And what's the reason why their fear's sudden disappearance, and for them to lower their guards now? "Do you know about the fake daughter of the Jiangs?" The man raised his question, and her body froze. She turned to him as he eyed her, slow and careful. "It's impossible not to have heard about it, right?" She asked, but as she sp, she could hear her heartbeat thudding against her chest. Not out of fear, but an immediate sense of range, she wanted to relish so badly. "I suppose," he commented. "She had killed someone six years ago, and that's why the Jiangs had been fearful she would come back to kill them. They say she was called "Miss Fox" not only because of her known beauty but for how she never once let a grudge slip from her fingers and made sure to avenge all her hardships. They even say that even when she had been kept in prison, every time it was her birthday, she would send someone from inside the prison to attack her own family and put them to death." Every birthday? Funny. She was fighting for her life in prison this entire time. It was instead the Jiang family who had sent her people to kill her, because they feared that if she left the prison, she would kill them. They knew what was coming, and it's about to come after them. She promised that. The man's finger almost landed on her palm, "But last week—" "—Sorry to interrupt, Boss, we have arrived at the Five Season Hotel," the chauffeur dictated before the man could finish his words. The man stopped for a while, let out a chuckle, and turned back to her. His hand raised, and she could feel his fingers that were so hot rubbing over her forehead, "What had gotten you so sweaty? Let's continue this conversation inside the party, what do you say?"