Chapter 72: The Broad Road and the Single-Log Bridge

Chapter 72: Chapter 72: The Broad Road and the Single-Log Bridge

"Save it. I don’t want to hear it."

"I’ll help you comfort Mengmeng, but just for today."

"Anything else is on you. From now on, you go your way, and I’ll go mine. We’re done."

Jiang Fan did his best to make his voice sound cold and emotionless.

"I..."

Outside the door, Yin Ruxue’s spirits suddenly fell.

"You’re still angry, aren’t you? A man shouldn’t be so petty. I can apologize."

"I’ll prove my sincerity..."

Yin Ruxue had barely finished speaking—not even ten seconds later—when Jiang Fan’s phone suddenly rang.

[Account credited: 100,000!] ℯℯ𝑙.

Jiang Fan’s brow furrowed, and he yanked open the bathroom door.

"Yin Ruxue, what do you think you’re doing?"

"Do you really think money can solve everything?"

"I may be short on cash, but I have never stooped to accepting charity."

Without any hesitation, Jiang Fan sent the money back. Then he splashed some water on his face, pushed past Yin Ruxue, and left the bathroom.

"Mengmeng, are you done with breakfast?"

Jiang Fan walked into the dining room.

"All done! Daddy, take me to school."

Mengmeng gave him a sweet smile.

’This kid is great in every way,’ he thought. ’Especially how she never sleeps in when it’s time to wake up.’

Her self-control was better than most adults.

"Okay, Daddy will take you to school."

Jiang Fan picked up Mengmeng’s schoolbag, scooped her up in his arms, and left the villa.

Watching them leave, Yin Ruxue clenched her fists so tightly her knuckles turned white.

For some reason, a wave of indignation washed over her, and tears welled up in her eyes.

’I already apologized, so what more does he want?’

’And after how he treated me last night...’

Right now, she wanted nothing more than to bite him, hard.

But Jiang Fan was oblivious to her turmoil.

He hailed a cab with Mengmeng in his arms and headed for her school.

In the car, Jiang Fan sat Mengmeng on his lap. "Sweetheart, Daddy has to go away to work for a bit. You’ll be a good girl and listen to Mommy for the next few days, okay?"

"If you need anything, just call Daddy. Daddy will miss you too. No making a fuss at home, you hear?"

Jiang Fan planted a gentle kiss on her cheek.

"Daddy, where are you going to work? What if I miss you? Mengmeng just wants to sleep while hugging Daddy, not talk on the phone."

Mengmeng immediately grew distressed.

"Daddy has to go abroad for a while. There’s some business with the company."

"I’ll be back after a little while."

Jiang Fan gently pressed his forehead against Mengmeng’s, nuzzling her.

"Young fella, a kid’s childhood is when they need you around the most."

"There’s always more money to be made, but you only get one chance at their childhood. Once you miss it, it’s gone for good."

The taxi driver in the front seat mused quietly.

Jiang Fan froze.

He sighed deeply.

"Be a good girl, Mengmeng. Daddy promises he’ll come back to see you."

"Then... can we pinky promise? Daddy has to come back. You can’t leave Mengmeng behind."

Mengmeng rubbed her eyes, blinking back her tears.

She held out her pinky.

"Okay, we’ll pinky promise. Daddy will definitely come back to see you."

Jiang Fan also held out his pinky. "Pinky swear, for a hundred years, no take-backs. Stamp it."

A childish voice and Jiang Fan’s gentle one rang out in unison.

Watching the scene in the rearview mirror, the taxi driver sighed softly. His thoughts were suddenly pulled back to his own son’s childhood.

’To support his family, he’d left home to find work when he was still young, leaving his wife and son behind.’

’But after a few years without coming home, his son barely even recognized him.’

’He wanted to offer a few more words of advice, but every family has its own struggles. Who would willingly leave their home and family if life didn’t force them to?’

’A wife, kids, and a warm home—that’s every man’s dream.’

’But you can’t eat dreams.’

Mengmeng was silent for the rest of the trip, nestled quietly in Jiang Fan’s arms with her little face pressed against his chest.

She only jumped out of the car when they arrived at the school gate.

"You can go now, Daddy. Mengmeng will be fine on her own."

Jiang Fan chuckled, took her schoolbag, and held her small hand. After paying the driver, he walked her to the school gate.

Jiang Fan watched until she disappeared into the school before he finally left.

"Damn it, why are taxis so expensive!"

Jiang Fan pulled out his phone to check his balance and winced. He scanned the code on a random shared bike and headed straight for Wu Qiang’s house.

’My food delivery scooter is still there.’

"This son-of-a-bitch life!!!"

He couldn’t help but curse as he stood up on the pedals.

"Hey, young fella! Just because it’s not your bike doesn’t mean you can abuse it, huh? You’re even standing on the pedals!!!"

A shared-bike manager in the distance saw this and started yelling, jumping in frustration.

"I stand up when I drive my car, too!!"

Jiang Fan rolled his eyes and ignored him completely, vanishing with a WHOOSH.

"Huh? How did you find this place?"

Humming a little tune, Jiang Fan reached the front door, only to find someone squatting there. He took a closer look and was surprised to see it was Li Muwan.

"When you were hired, this is the address you put on your form."

"I’ve been waiting here for you since this morning. I didn’t expect you to be out."

The look on Jiang Fan’s face was priceless.

’So much for her carefully crafted image.’

’How could the cold, icy boss persona shatter so completely?’

"Wait, why are you waiting here for me? I already told you, I’m not coming back."

"There’s a lot I can’t tell you, but you should understand where I’m coming from."

"I know it’s because of Ruxue."

"I also know your relationship runs deep and that you two have secrets you can’t tell."

Li Muwan suppressed her inner discomfort. After a moment’s hesitation, she said, "But I’m here on official business this time."

"Official business?"

Jiang Fan asked, looking at her in confusion as he unlocked the door.

"I would like to hire you as a special consultant for the sales department."

"You can name your monthly salary."

"There’s only one condition. Every month, I need a new sales strategy from you. Also, if any of our subordinate stores run into sales difficulties, you’ll need to do your best to resolve them."

"When you say subordinate stores encountering sales difficulties... you mean like what happened before?"

Jiang Fan stroked his chin, pondering. ’The freedom to name his own salary was certainly tempting.’

’Who’s going to argue with money?’

"Yes. The sales strategies are secondary, actually. We have a professional team for that. The main focus would be on resolving sales difficulties, just like that situation."

Li Muwan sighed.

These subordinate retail stores are spread across the country, and their performance is directly tied to the sales department’s numbers and the company’s profits. You could say they’re the most important part of the entire Xuerong Group.

"And you have the authority to make this decision for the company?"