110: Chapter 110 Three Million Two Hundred Thousand

Early in the morning, Jiang Chen was woken up by a fuzzy weight pressing down on him.

Something was stepping on his waist, its soft paw pads feeling a bit cool.

He didn't even need to open his eyes to know it was that orange cat.

Su Xiaoxi had given it a very straightforward name.

Orange.

At the moment, Orange was squatting by his waist, its tail brushing against his cheek as it let out a short, clingy "meow."

Jiang Chen opened his eyes.

A thin beam of light leaked through a gap in the curtains, slicing diagonally across the floor.

He raised his hand to rub his brow, his fingertips touching Orange's head, and the cat rubbed back in response.

"So noisy," he whispered, though there wasn't a hint of real annoyance in his tone.

Su Xiaoxi was still sound asleep, her long hair scattered across the pillow, her breathing steady.

She was usually a light sleeper; she must have been truly exhausted today.

Jiang Chen gently moved the cat to the foot of the bed. The orange cat let out a dissatisfied meow, curled into a ball, and went back to sleep.

He sat up and took out his phone to check today's intelligence.

[Today's Intel: East City Second-hand Car Market, Area C, Parking Space No. 17, a silver-grey wuling hongguang, license plate Jiang A·8G37K.

The owner was sentenced to life imprisonment for drug use. The vehicle has been parked for forty-two days without being claimed. There is 3.2 million in cash hidden in a compartment within the center console.

There is a gap in the fence on the east side of Area C. The surveillance camera is angled toward the north, leaving a blind spot of about two meters. It is recommended to handle this before 10:00 AM; there is zero risk.]

Jiang Chen stared at the screen and read it twice.

Three million two hundred thousand.

Cash.

Hidden inside an unwanted wuling hongguang.

He leaned against the headboard, his fingers unconsciously tracing the edge of his phone.

Then he pulled back the covers and got out of bed, his footsteps extremely light.

He walked to the living room. The floor-to-ceiling window was half-ajar, and the morning breeze blew in, carrying the crisp scent of the garden's greenery.

Several pots of pothos hung their vines, their leaves glistening with wet dew.

Standing by the window, he read the message once more.

Jiang A·8G37K.

Area C, No. 17.

Center console compartment.

Three million two hundred thousand.

Jiang Chen went to the kitchen and poured a glass of plain water, gulping down most of it.

The ice-cold water slid down his throat, clearing his head significantly.

He currently had 5.27 million in liquid funds.

The entire 37th floor of the Yangtze International Office Building was something he had recently acquired. Yesterday, Shen Xi had sent over the initial renovation drafts. Following the highest standards for the whole set, it would cost between 4 and 4.5 million.

After paying for the renovations, the remaining money would be tight.

With this 3.2 million added, things would immediately become much more comfortable.

He wasn't an indecisive person.

Hesitation lasted only an instant; the decision was made in a second.

He locked his phone screen, then unlocked it, checked the license plate number again, and repeated it twice in his mind to memorize it firmly.

He went back to the bedroom to change.

Just as he picked up his jacket, a lazy murmur came from behind him.

"What time is it..."

Su Xiaoxi rolled over, her eyes half-open and her eyelashes moist.

Jiang Chen immediately lightened his steps and walked over, crouching by the bed to tuck a stray lock of hair behind her ear.

"It's still early, just past six. Sleep a bit longer."

Su Xiaoxi gave an "mm" and subconsciously rubbed against his palm.

"Are you going out?"

"I have some things to do. I'll be back soon."

"Then be safe."

"I know."

He tucked the blanket around her.

Orange, at the foot of the bed, raised its head. Its green eyes stared at him for a few seconds before it buried its face back into its tail.

Jiang Chen took a black hooded jacket from the closet and quickly put it on.

The clothes were simple and low-profile, convenient for movement.

He went to the entryway and put on a pair of black sneakers, tying his laces very quietly.

Before leaving, he looked back at the living room.

The morning light was gentle, and everything was so peaceful it was reassuring.

He closed the door softly.

As the elevator descended, he sent Shen Xi a WeChat message: "The renovation plan for the 37th floor is decided. Go with the optimal version. The funds will be in place within the next two days."

Sent successfully.

He stuffed his phone back into his pocket.

The chill of the underground garage hit his face.

He sat in the panamera. The engine gave a low, deep growl, the headlights lit up, and he smoothly spiraled up the ramp.

The moment he drove out of the garage, Jiang City's morning had fully awakened.

Steam rose from the breakfast shops along the road, elderly people exercising in the morning walked slowly, and students with backpacks rushed for the bus. The city was full of the bustle of daily life.

He turned right onto the main road and set his navigation destination.

East City Second-hand Car Market.

Estimated arrival time: 7:20.

The market opened at 8:00; he had plenty of time.

Forty minutes later, he parked his car in an inconspicuous spot near the market entrance, turned off the engine, and waited.

At exactly 8:00, the security guard pulled open the iron gate, and he was the first to drive in.

Area C was in the southeast corner. It was mostly vans and small trucks, making it relatively quiet.

Following the intel, he parked his car outside the eastern fence and walked around to the gap.

As expected, the wire mesh had been pulled open to create a person-wide gap, and there were clear footprints on the ground.

He squeezed inside.

Parking space No. 17 in Area C was at the very end of the third row.

The silver-grey wuling hongguang sat there quietly, covered in a thick layer of dust. A parking fee notice from two weeks ago was stuck to the windshield.

Jiang Chen pulled the driver's side door handle.

It wasn't locked.

He bent down and sat inside the car.

The smell of dust and age filled the air.

He reached under the center console, his fingertips feeling along the seams of the plastic panel.

Toward the left, there was an extremely thin, inconspicuous crack.

He pried it with his fingertips.

The panel popped open.

Inside the compartment, three large black duffel bags were neatly stacked.

He unzipped the top bag.

Bundles of red cash came into view. The white bank seals were intact—one hundred thousand per bundle, packed tightly.

Three million two hundred thousand.

Not a cent missing.

Jiang Chen's breath hitched imperceptibly before he regained his composure.

He picked up a duffel bag in each hand, walked quickly to the gap in the fence to pass them through, and then moved all three bags into his car's trunk.

The sound of the trunk closing was very soft.

He sat back in the driver's seat, buckled his seatbelt, and started the engine.

The entire process took less than eight minutes.

He didn't encounter anyone, and no one saw him.

The panamera smoothly exited the second-hand car market.

As he passed the security booth, the guard was busy eating a bowl of porridge with his head down, never even looking up.

Jiang Chen glanced through the rearview mirror at the iron gate receding into the distance.

It felt like a dream that had never happened.

He picked up his phone and sent a second WeChat message to Shen Xi: "The funds have arrived. You can start on-site tomorrow."

Sent successfully.

He put down his phone and looked straight ahead.

Three million two hundred thousand lay quietly in the trunk.

The panamera merged onto the main road, disappearing into the city that had just woken up.