"Oh my god, you went into the mountains again? And you hunted so many deer? Where's the meat? Leave some for me!"
Jiang Hai wasn't the type to show off. This could be seen from the fact that, after making his fortune, he didn't go back to flaunt his wealth to his relatives, nor did he seek revenge on classmates who once looked down on him.
However, since Fu Yuan came into his life, Jiang Hai had developed the habit of checking his WeChat when he had a spare moment. Of course, he just looked at it—he didn't engage in conversations. But today, since he was feeling so happy, he couldn't help but upload a photo of himself with four girls and a bunch of deer heads. As soon as he posted it, Fu Yuan liked it and then complained.
"There's no deer meat, but there are deer heads—provided you can take them back," Jiang Hai replied to Fu Yuan on WeChat. He then happily carried the items down to the parking lot at the foot of the mountain, piling them on the roof of his car before climbing into the driver's seat.
To be honest, Jiang Hai wasn't too tired after a whole day of playing. He felt energized because he was in a good mood, and his body was strong. If his heart wasn't tired, neither was his body. In fact, he felt a little reluctant to leave; had it not been for the darkness settling in, he would have stayed longer.
But the others didn't have the same stamina, especially the four girls. While they were still smiling, their faces showed signs of fatigue. It was clear they would sleep well tonight.
As for Bell, although he wasn't as indifferent as Jiang Hai, he wasn't as exhausted as the girls. For him, the day had been quite ordinary.
"Huh, let's head home. We'll eat at my place first, and then I'll take you and your sister back," Jiang Hai said with a smile, looking at Cindy Clive, who was sitting in the passenger seat. He was genuinely glad to have her by his side today.
"Then I'll trouble you. By the way, I heard you did quite well at the New York Beef Show. You must have sold almost all the cattle from your farm," Cindy replied. She was now quite accustomed to Jiang Hai's premium A-grade beef, which she enjoyed a lot. And given the good relationship they had, she was also happy to see his success.
"How could it be that fast? The news spread worldwide in one day, but I'm not planning to sell through second-hand dealers. Those who can afford my beef need some time to prepare. But I've sold 2,000 cattle recently," Jiang Hai answered with a smile, feeling proud of his success.
"Oh? Then I really have to congratulate you..." Cindy said, switching to her broken Chinese, which she had learned from Jiang Hai. She gave a bow, though the posture and pronunciation were off. Nevertheless, Jiang Hai found it endearing, his grin widening.
"How lonely it is to be invincible... How empty it is to be invincible..." Just then, a ringtone interrupted the moment, causing Jiang Hai to feel a bit embarrassed. The song wasn't set by him but by Darlene, and Jiang Hai couldn't help but feel a bit speechless, though Darlene seemed to love it.
"It must be Fu Yuan. I just replied to him on WeChat and now he's calling?" Jiang Hai thought aloud, not bothering to check the screen. He swiped to answer the phone.
"Hello, is this Mr. Jiang Hai? I wonder if you remember me?" A female voice greeted him on the other end of the line. Jiang Hai froze for a moment, then thought carefully. He couldn't recognize the voice immediately, which puzzled him.
After a brief pause, he replied, "I'm sorry, I'm driving and can't hear you clearly. May I ask who this is?"
"I'm Pra Walton. Mr. Jiang is truly someone who forgets easily," came the reply after a brief silence.
"Oh, Miss Walton, hello!" Jiang Hai now recognized her. He had given his phone number to her after meeting her at the New York Beef Show.
Their relationship wasn't very close but wasn't unfamiliar either—at least they had met before.
"Hello, Mr. Jiang. I wonder if you remember what you said about the cows at your farm," Pra Walton continued seriously.
"No problem. But I've already sold 2,000 cattle. If you want to buy some, you'll need to decide quickly," Jiang Hai replied with the same seriousness.
"If that's the case, let's meet tomorrow," Pra Walton suggested calmly. After a few more casual exchanges, they hung up. Jiang Hai resumed driving, feeling elated about the day. Cindy Clive, who was sitting beside him, also looked happy.
She had known for a long time that Jiang Hai's cattle would be a success. Now that they were being sold, she was glad for him.
The two continued chatting, and soon, they arrived back at Jiang Hai's manor.
First, the skinks and pit vipers were placed in separate spaces for processing, along with the deer heads. Afterward, Jiang Hai and the others enjoyed a delicious steak and seafood dinner. Once the Clive sisters were dropped off at their home, Jiang Hai returned to his own house.
However, as soon as he entered, he was surprised to find his two daughters, Darlene and Marianne, who were so tired they could barely keep their eyes open. They were sitting on the couch, watching TV and yawning so loudly it seemed they might shake the house, yet they hadn't gone to bed.
"What are you two doing here?" Jiang Hai asked in confusion.
"You're back!" The two girls scrambled to their feet, trying to act serious but failing miserably, making them look even cuter.
Seeing their faces, Jiang Hai couldn't help but laugh. He walked over, pinched one of their faces playfully, and then sat them on either side of him. "Do you two have something to tell me?"
The girls exchanged looks, and Darlene finally spoke. "Well, we wanted to ask if there's any possibility between you and Teacher Cindy!"
Jiang Hai paused for a moment, his smile fading as he realized they were serious. After a shrug, he began to speak.
"I think I've told you about my past. I was married in China, but that marriage lasted only a year before I realized we weren't meant to be. I decided to leave and start fresh. When I took you in, I used my wife's identity, so I can't just divorce her. As for Cindy Clive, I like her, but because of my past, I'm still conflicted," Jiang Hai explained, taking a deep breath.
"So, we still have a 'mother' in China?" Marianne asked, her voice tinged with concern.
"Yes, but I doubt you'll ever meet her," Jiang Hai replied, shrugging. He knew how powerful Qi's company was, and it was unlikely the two girls would ever cross paths with her.
"Alright, let's not dwell on those unhappy things. As for me and Teacher Cindy, let's let fate decide. At least there's no forbidden love between us right now, right? Haha. You two should head upstairs and go to bed. We'll have guests tomorrow." Jiang Hai patted their heads, trying to lighten the mood.
The girls, no longer worried, quickly nodded and dashed upstairs to sleep.
Just as Jiang Hai was about to turn in for the night, two women boarded a plane from the capital to New York... (To be continued.)