"What? You're a freelancer?"
Zhang Jie rolled his eyes inwardly.
So young and already going astray, spouting lies the moment she opens her mouth. Zhang Jie didn't believe a single punctuation mark of Max's claim to be a "freelancer."
What kind of freelancer drives a Chevrolet sports car?
Mrs. Schneider went into the house to make black tea.
Max's gaze swept over Zhang Jie, and then she suddenly smiled.
"Grandma, why do you always take in such paupers? Our house isn't so cheap that even he can live in it."
Goodness, what a devastating blow right from the start.
Zhang Jie felt as if his heart had been pierced by ten thousand arrows.
No, it's like you know you're very beautiful, don't you?
But even if you're beautiful, you can't just say anything, can you?
Although Max did indeed resemble Angelina Jolie, with delicate features, a hot figure, and curves accentuated by her professional attire that made people I couldn't help but take a second look.
Enchanting Angelina Jolie, twin sister
But her mouth... damn it!
How can someone say things colder than -38 degrees from a mouth that's 38 degrees?
"Whether I'm a pauper or not, that definition shouldn't come from you. Whether your family's house can be rented to me isn't for you to decide either, Honey~"
Zhang Jie was not the type to endure taunts silently.
Facing Zhang Jie's verbal counterattack, Max raised an eyebrow.
She pushed up the gold-rimmed glasses on her nose, her eyes behind the lenses narrowing slightly, carrying a scrutinizing gaze.
"Is that so?"
A cold smile played on her lips.
"I heard my Grandma say that you haven't paid several years of rent. According to the law, you're liable for breach of contract..."
"Oh, then your information is outdated."
Listening to Max, Zhang Jie knew what she was about to say next, so he immediately interrupted her 'spellcasting.'
"I've settled all the rent, haven't I, Mrs. Schneider?"
Zhang Jie smiled at Mrs. Schneider, who was just walking forward with two cups of tea, and she immediately nodded in cooperation.
"Oh, yes, that's right, honey, he has settled all the rent. A total of 33,000 US dollars."
Mrs. Schneider smiled like a gangster Old Lady who had just collected protection money, her eyes narrowed to slits.
"Is that so? What a pity."
Max sighed, walked forward and linked arms with Mrs. Schneider, shaking it playfully.
"Grandma, why do you always do such thankless things? Why do you insist on renting out the house for such cheap rent?"
After speaking, she turned and glanced at Zhang Jie, her red lips slightly parted as she uttered a few words:
"This guy doesn't look like a good person at all!"
Zhang Jie: ???
Meow meow meow?
In what way do I not look like a good person?
Asians are universally recognized as the most peace-loving race in the world, okay?
Even an old fox like Mrs. Schneider couldn't quite handle Max's pouting. She patted Max's hand and chuckled, saying:
"Don't worry, Zhang Jie is a good boy; he's very considerate to the elderly."
After speaking, she even winked at Zhang Jie.
No, your grandmother and granddaughter combined must have 800 tricks up your sleeves, right?
Ah, yes, yes, yes, yes!
Everything you say is right!
It's true that you're very considerate, but it's not me being considerate to you; it's you being too considerate to me. The various fees are even longer than a city hall's miscellaneous bill.
In Chinese, it's longer than an Old Lady's foot-binding cloth, and it's long and smelly!
Of course, such words could not be said in front of Max, after all, to give the Old Lady some face, otherwise, once Max left, this Old Lady would surely torment him.
Upon entering the house, Max began to look around like some alert hound.
Her high heels clicked on the wooden floor, making crisp sounds, each step seemingly treading on Mrs. Schneider's taut nerves.
Damn it, I hope she doesn't discover those secret compartments... Mrs. Schneider, though outwardly calm, unconsciously twisted her apron with her fingers.
After all, she wanted to leave a good impression on her eldest granddaughter, so she wouldn't always come back to see her.
Max walked into the living room, her fingertips lightly tracing the armrest of the sofa, her gaze sweeping over every corner.
"Grandma, have you secretly adopted another cat recently?"
"Huh? No."
"Then why are there scratches on the sofa?"
..."Maybe a mouse?"
Max raised an eyebrow, looking at Mrs. Schneider with a half-smile.
A mouse?
What kind of mouse could scratch a genuine leather sofa like a dagger?
Max just listened to the Old Lady's words and let them pass.
But she didn't say anything more and continued walking deeper into the house.
Zhang Jie leaned against the doorframe, arms crossed, watching the scene with interest.
Interesting.
Every movement of Max carried a subtle sense of incongruity.
Her waist swayed as she walked, alluring and captivating, but the landing of her toes was exceptionally precise, a habit only someone with professional training would have.
Although he was just a rookie, he had the guidance of a renowned teacher, so he could tell whether someone was professional at a glance.
Wall Street elite?
Lying to ghosts.
Zhang Jie's intuition told him that this woman had a secret.
And... there was a subtle, almost imperceptible aura of danger about her.
Not the hostility of an ordinary person, but... like some hidden murderous intent.
At dinner, Max elegantly cut her steak and casually asked:
"So, Mr. Zhang, what exactly do you do as a 'freelancer'?"
"Oh, just odd jobs, running errands for people."
"Running errands?"
Max chuckled softly, her red lips curving slightly.
"Running errands can pay 33,000 US dollars in rent all at once?"
"Got lucky, landed a big job."
"Is that so?"
She put down her knife and fork, clasped her hands, and slightly raised her chin.
"Then do you know what I do?"
"Wall Street lawyer?"
"Apprentice lawyer."
She corrected him, but her eyes held a certain challenge.
The Old Lady remained silent, a stark contrast to her previous demeanor, as quiet as a good child.
It truly takes one to conquer another.
Max continued, "However, I've recently been helping some 'special clients' with legal issues."
"Oh? Such as?"
"Such as... the tax issues of certain 'freelancers.'"
Zhang Jie narrowed his eyes.
She's testing me.
What does she know?
Mrs. Schneider pretended to be engrossed in her salad, but her ears were perked higher than Hades's.
Max suddenly smiled, reaching out and lightly patting Zhang Jie's hand.
"Don't be nervous, honey, I'm just curious."
Her fingertips were cold, feeling like the scales of some cold-blooded animal.
This woman... something's not right.
Zhang Jie withdrew his hand and also smiled.
"I'm also very curious, why would an apprentice lawyer from Wall Street be so interested in a 'runner' like me?"
Max tilted her head, her golden hair falling, seductive and dangerous.
"Perhaps because..."
She lowered her voice, her red lips almost touching Zhang Jie's ear.
"I heard that someone recently caused quite a stir at Blackthorn Castle in England."
Zhang Jie's pupils contracted slightly.
How could she know?!
Max pulled back, her smile still sweet.
"Of course, I just heard."
"After all, we lawyers..."
"Are always very well-informed."
--+--
T/N: Although I'm an inexperienced Editor, I do have a Patreon account! Although it seems like I don't have many supporters right now, my webnovel will be released in full every day, and the advanced chapters will be uploaded to Patreon.
It may not be worth it now, but who knows, it might be different in the future. Who knows!
patreon.com/TripleCrown07
If you want to see it, then why not?