Chà Chà Novel

After returning from leave, Shang Jianli had apparently lost his mind. He contacted Minister Zhou of the Ministry of Publicity, held several secret meetings, and somehow the Empire’s leadership decided to sever Imperial Capital News from the ministry.

The reason given was that many of its reports were based on hearsay and speculation, without any substantive evidence.

As if Mr. Chang did not know the real reason.

Wasn’t it because their reporting on Ji Shileng had been completely inaccurate?

But at the beginning, Shang Jianli and the Ministry of Publicity had been the ones telling them to publish those stories.

“Rumor-mongering?” Mr. Chang opened his mouth and laughed loudly.

He stepped closer to Ji Shileng and demanded, emphasizing every word, “You’re so clever. Surely you know who gave us our instructions?”

“Every grievance has its source, and every debt its debtor. Whatever happens, Imperial Capital News shouldn’t be first in line, should it?”

So many people had wronged Ji Shileng. Why should Imperial Capital News be the first to suffer the consequences?

He knew the Ji family had acted this time with every intention of bringing the outlet down.

Ji Shileng gave him a puzzled look. “First in line? Haven’t you heard the rumors?”

Su Ke watched Mr. Chang like a hawk, ready to protect Ji Shileng at any moment.

“Shang Shengge. Feel free to look into it” Ji Shileng had no desire to continue this conversation.

Whatever happened, Imperial Capital News had to die.

“Ji Shileng, we could help you”

“Help me?” Ji Shileng looked down at him. “No need. All I want is to see you go under”

“Prepare yourselves”

With those parting words, he walked away beside Su Ke.

During those years when no one cared about him, almost everyone had looked down on him.

Never mind working with him to resolve anything. They had rarely even bothered to consult him.

Now that his status had changed, those same people spoke of helping him, when what they really meant was begging him for mercy.

Why should it be that easy?

If you did something wrong, you had to pay the price.

Mr. Chang gritted his teeth, his gaze full of resentment.

If they had not been severed from the Ministry of Publicity…

If they still had the ministry behind them, Ji Shileng would not dare act so brazenly, even if he were given another few months.

They arrived at just the right time. As they reached the adjoining hall, the host began the auction’s opening remarks.

One by one, the lights went out, leaving only the main light over the auction stage.

Arriving late, Ji Shileng hurried into the darkened hall without noticing the steps. His foot missed one, and he stumbled into someone’s arms.

Shang Jianli reacted immediately, catching him around the waist. Only after making sure he was steady did he breathe a sigh of relief.

Ji Shileng went rigid for a moment. A few seconds later, he frowned. “Are you going to let go?”

“Sorry” Shang Jianli released him as though he had been burned. “There are a lot of steps here. Be careful”

“You don’t need to apologize. I should be thanking you” Ji Shileng thanked him. Without Shang Jianli’s help, he would most likely have fallen to the floor.

He looked around several times, only to discover that Su Ke was nowhere to be found.

The auction hall was packed, and the dim lighting made it impossible to tell anyone apart.

“Looking for Su Ke?”

“Did you see him?”

“He doesn’t seem to have noticed you stumble. He’s already gone ahead,” Shang Jianli told him.

Ji Shileng: “…”

That was certainly something Su Ke would do.

His ankle throbbed. He had twisted it badly just now.

Simply forcing himself to remain standing and pretending nothing was wrong was already taking considerable effort.

Pain brought sweat to his back. Ji Shileng lowered his eyelids and took two small, deep breaths.

He tried to step forward to rejoin his family, but the moment he lifted his foot, a piercing pain shot through him.

Shang Jianli had been watching him out of the corner of his eye. Seeing this, he realized Ji Shileng had indeed injured his ankle.

He sighed softly. After a moment of hesitation, he took Ji Shileng’s arm, allowing him to lean on him and stand upright.

“What are you doing?” Ji Shileng tried to shake off his hand, but his ankle hurt so much that the movement had no strength behind it.

“If it hurts badly, you can lean on me” Shang Jianli lowered his head and spoke close to his ear. “Let me take you to a private room, all right?”

“There’s really no need. It doesn’t hurt that much” Ji Shileng spoke casually, his expression giving nothing away.

But Shang Jianli knew him too well.

If he was putting on this brave a front, the injury was probably serious.

“Let’s go to a private room. I’ll call a doctor?” Shang Jianli coaxed.

Ji Shileng ignored him, concentrating instead on finding a way to make him let go.

Shang Jianli’s grip was like an iron clamp. He refused to release him.

Ji Shileng glared. The man asked for his opinion, asked whether it was all right, and then, without waiting for an answer, simply put an arm firmly around him and took him up to a second-floor private room in the elevator.

Shang Jianli accepted every blow and insult Ji Shileng directed at him.

A faint scent of Darjeeling tea clung to Ji Shileng. He had probably been drinking red wine; up close, his words carried its rich aroma.

“Idiot”

“Wait for the doctor” Shang Jianli locked the door, helped him sit on the sofa, and handed him the catalog from the coffee table. “See if there’s anything you like. If there is, just press its number”

“Do you enjoy forcing people to do things?”

Ji Shileng decided that, since he was already here, he might as well settle in. Mostly because he could not beat Shang Jianli in a fight.

As he leafed through the auction catalog, he also considered how to complain to his family once he got back.

“You’re hurt”

Shang Jianli’s answer did not address the question.

Ji Shileng was hurt. That was why he had forced the issue.

Crouching down, he removed Ji Shileng’s shoe and sock without allowing any resistance.

He folded up the trouser cuff, revealing an ankle swollen into an alarming bulge, mottled blue and purple with tiny streaks of blood beneath the skin.

Shang Jianli felt angry, along with a trace of hurt he barely recognized.

He spoke slowly. “If I hadn’t insisted on bringing you up here, were you just not going to tell me?”

Ji Shileng found that baffling. “Come on, man. Why would I need to tell you I twisted my ankle? Have you lost your mind, or have I?”

What kind of relationship did they have?

Were they close enough that he had to report a twisted ankle?

Even if he were about to lose his life, he would never tell Shang Jianli.

He had not lost his mind.

Shang Jianli pulled a first-aid kit out from beneath the coffee table. “As one of the organizers, I’m someone you’re obliged to inform”

The doctor arrived quickly, evidently having been on standby in the banquet hall.

Carrying a small medical bag, he barely dared to breathe under Shang Jianli’s “gentle” gaze.

He carefully assessed the injury, adjusted his glasses, and told Shang Jianli, “Admiral, we may need to go to the hospital for imaging to determine the extent of the damage”

“Is it serious?” Shang Jianli frowned, his expression darkening.

The doctor drew his neck in and answered slowly, “My preliminary assessment is an injury to the posterior talofibular ligament and the calcaneofibular ligament of the left ankle”