So this was Jiang Yan’s cousin, the Young Master Jiang who had a feud with Pan San and forced him to leave his post early?

He appeared to be a few years older than Zhou Cheng, but not by much—probably around thirty. He could still drive, and at first glance, one couldn’t tell where his disability lay.

His features somewhat resembled Jiang Yan’s. Since Jiang Yan was a beautiful woman and they were cousins, Jiang Wu naturally couldn’t be ugly. He was quite handsome.

As Xia Xiaolan sized up Jiang Wu, his gaze fell on her as well.

Jiang Wu looked her up and down, his voice dripping with contempt: “Zhou Cheng, so this is your chosen one? So this is your type. No wonder that foolish Ah Yan couldn’t move you no matter how hard she tried! How could she force someone who prefers carrots to eat meat—”

Zhou Cheng probably didn’t even want to speak to Jiang Wu. If Jiang Wu hadn’t brought up Xia Xiaolan, he could have treated him like air.

Hearing Jiang Wu’s snide remarks comparing Xia Xiaolan to a carrot, Zhou Cheng grabbed the car door handle and yanked it open.

“Weren’t you going to play host? Then get out. What kind of man hides in a car judging my woman? Jiang Wu, you used to be a bastard, but at least you were a man. Now you’re nothing but a snake with a venomous tongue!”

After Zhou Cheng’s words, Jiang Wu had no choice but to get out of the car. Only then did Xia Xiaolan notice his strange gait—his left foot was lame.

So this was Jiang Wu’s disability?

Jiang Wu glared at her, “What, never seen a cripple before? This is the gift Pan San left me. I only regret I was too soft-handed then and didn’t blind him.”

So the scar on Brother Pan San’s right eye was left by Jiang Wu.

Xia Xiaolan replied coldly, “Perhaps it wasn’t mercy, but rather a lack of ability.”

Jiang Wu’s steps faltered. This time his look at Xia Xiaolan wasn’t just contemptuous—it had become dangerous.

Xia Xiaolan felt as if she’d been targeted by a venomous snake. Jiang Wu turned to Zhou Cheng and sighed: “I was wrong. This woman you found not only has natural charm but an interesting personality too… Zhou Cheng, you’d better keep her under close watch. The world isn’t peaceful—beautiful women should be kept at home. Show them off outside, and you might invite trouble!”

“Are you threatening me?”

Zhou Cheng suddenly smiled, “Well, that’s just like you—talking tough and playing dirty tricks. Now you’re no match for Third Brother, or anyone else for that matter.”

Jiang Wu’s Adam’s apple bobbed.

In his fight with Pan San, while Pan San had been forced to leave his post, Jiang Wu had been left permanently disabled!

Pan San’s future was ruined, but Jiang Wu hadn’t preserved his either.

How could a cripple lead a team?

A cripple couldn’t go on missions.

Jiang Wu could only transfer to administrative work!

But he wasn’t a technical expert—he didn’t understand rocket research, atomic bomb theory, or know how to build aircraft. While transferring to administrative work still offered opportunities for promotion, it was exceptionally difficult. Jiang Wu couldn’t see a bright future ahead. When Pan San had crippled his leg, he had destroyed the man himself!

Zhou Cheng’s words had undoubtedly struck Jiang Wu’s sore spot. His Adam’s apple bobbed repeatedly, veins bulging on his forehead. After catching his breath for a while, he somehow managed to swallow this anger.

“Playing dirty tricks? You’re wrong. Pan San and I are locked in a death feud. As long as he doesn’t kill me, I’ll kill him.”

Jiang Wu spoke casually, but Xia Xiaolan was terrified.

Jiang Wu was truly arrogant, completely unrestrained, openly admitting his intent to kill Pan San right in front of her and Zhou Cheng.

Was it because Nanjing was Jiang family territory?

What kind of people were the Jiang family—were they unable to control Jiang Wu, or unwilling?

Xia Xiaolan thought of Jiang Yan; compared to Jiang Wu, Jiang Yan’s behavior seemed quite innocent.

Zhou Cheng frowned—Jiang Wu was truly a mad dog.

He had tried to gather information last night but came up empty.

The person who had been at the Nanjing unit had been transferred six months ago, right when Zhou Cheng was in coastal training, and he hadn’t caught wind of it at all. Counting the time, it was exactly when he was under isolated investigation… Thinking about it now, that isolation investigation wasn’t just to attack Brother Pan San—it had also temporarily blocked his sources of information.

The Jiang family had made quite a few moves during those days.

After coming up empty-handed, Zhou Cheng had prepared to leave, but the Jiang family had still caught wind of his presence.

The Jiang family must have people constantly watching.

Were they really that vigilant?

Zhou Cheng had initially only believed one-tenth of the materials Jiang Yan had given him. After Zhou Guobin had people investigate, he believed three-tenths.

Now, he believed five-tenths.

“Jiang Wu, is this your idea of hospitality? If all you can do is spout threats, I don’t have time to waste with you. Go back wherever you came from.”

Jiang Wu narrowed his eyes:

“Since you rarely come, I must properly entertain you. Your last visit to Nanjing was during the unit’s competition.”

He treated Xia Xiaolan like air and spoke directly to Zhou Cheng about Jiang Yan, “I have no objection to you siding with Pan San. My death feud with Pan San has nothing to do with Ah Yan. I heard you went to the academy for further studies, and that foolish girl followed you there… That fool just doesn’t understand that you never took her seriously.”

Was Jiang Wu actually standing up for Jiang Yan?

Xia Xiaolan was bewildered.

Was he deliberately trying to drive a wedge between her and Zhou Cheng, or was this genuine sibling affection?

But if it was genuine sibling affection, why had Jiang Yan given Zhou Cheng materials that could harm Jiang Wu?

Xia Xiaolan listened silently, trying to extract more information from Jiang Wu’s words.

But Jiang Wu’s speech was erratic, jumping from wanting to kill Pan San to defending Jiang Yan, then quickly switching to other topics.

His idea of hospitality was to find a place to drink with Zhou Cheng.

This man was extremely wary of Zhou Cheng’s sudden appearance in Nanjing, and every word he spoke to Zhou Cheng had a purpose—he was probing to see how much Zhou Cheng knew.

White liquor went down glass after glass.

Jiang Wu became belligerent when drunk, cursing Zhou Cheng thoroughly.

Zhou Cheng’s face grew increasingly pale, but his body remained steady and his eyes seemed clear. Xia Xiaolan hadn’t known his alcohol tolerance was so good!

Finally, Jiang Wu retched and collapsed drunk on the table.

Zhou Cheng stared at him for a long while, his gaze deep and dark. Xia Xiaolan became somewhat frightened:

“Don’t do anything rash.”

Jiang Wu was completely defenseless now, and Zhou Cheng could easily end his life. But no matter how detestable this man was, Zhou Cheng couldn’t kill him himself.

“Xiaolan, help me up.”

Zhou Cheng finally showed signs of swaying.

So it wasn’t that he couldn’t get drunk—he had been forcing himself to appear sober. Jiang Wu had truly tried to drink him to death, and it must have taken immense willpower for Zhou Cheng to maintain his composure. Xia Xiaolan angrily kicked Jiang Wu:

“We can’t stay in Nanjing anymore. Let’s hurry back to Beijing. Having someone like him around really ruins everything!”