After waking up, Lin Xiangwan lazed in bed for ten more minutes. Thinking about the Huafeng deal finally brought a smile to her face.
It was the first time she woke up in Rongcheng since returning with a good mood.
Both companies tied to Jiang Shijing had agreed to work with her without hesitation.
It wasn’t just their interest in Star Group’s technology it was also out of respect for Madam Jiang.
Lin Xiangwan wasn’t ungrateful. After checking her bank balance, she set aside three thousand for herself and transferred the rest to Xiaoxue.
Xiaoxue was genuinely shocked to receive half a million in the morning, and immediately called.
Lin Xiangwan had already gotten ready, holding a piece of bread in her mouth, waiting by the door for Qin Ou to drive her.
“Help me go to an antique shop and get the items I need. I’ll send you pictures later.”
Xiaoxue couldn’t help being curious. “Spending so much on antiques are you collecting them yourself, or giving them as gifts?”
Lin Xiangwan finished her bite leisurely. “It’s a gift for Madam Jiang of the Jiang family.”
She had emptied nearly all her savings.
Even though Madam Jiang had surely seen countless treasures worth millions in her life, this one came from Lin Xiangwan’s heart. She gave as much as she could, purely as a token of gratitude.
After hanging up, Qin Ou arrived.
But then Uncle Liu, a sanitation worker in the community, ran over waving a broom, blocking Qin Ou’s car, looking quite upset.
Lin Xiangwan was puzzled. Only when she approached did she hear him scolding.
“You can’t use the side path! The soil was prepared for landscaping. If your tires crush it, it’ll leave chunks everywhere don’t you care about the work it takes to clean it?”
“Couldn’t you be a bit more environmentally conscious?”
Qin Ou got out, looking bewildered. He tried to explain several times, but Uncle Liu cut him off each time.
Lin Xiangwan quickly smoothed things over with a light laugh. “Uncle Liu, maybe there’s been a misunderstanding? Yesterday, he didn’t take the side path; he used the community road.”
“Not possible. I was cleaning, and I know exactly what happened. The soil stuck to the tires it disappeared right at your doorstep!”
Uncle Liu spoke firmly and refused to relent, even showing them photos.
Lin Xiangwan didn’t understand what was going on, so she apologized on Qin Ou’s behalf and handed Uncle Liu two hundred yuan as a token for his effort.
On the way to the company, Qin Ou remained thoughtful.
“Judging from the tire tracks, the car looks like a Lincoln.”
Lin Xiangwan didn’t pay much attention, casually muttering, “Hmm, so rude.”
Qin Ou hesitated, then said cautiously, “It’s possible someone is keeping an eye on you, Miss Lin. Should I leave a little later each day?”
“No need.” Lin Xiangwan thought for a moment; it didn’t make sense that someone who knew her would be driving a Lincoln.
It must have been a coincidence the mud on the tires just happened to disappear by her doorstep.
Seeing her uninterested, Qin Ou didn’t press the matter.
At Dingsheng, Zhou Yan was scowling as his assistant hosed down his car tires.
Once the phone connected, he immediately demanded, “Jiang Shijing! That’s my mother’s and your aunt’s favorite car! You got back late last night did you take my car to steal sweet potatoes or what?”
Jiang Shijing held the phone farther away, his voice low and heavy, unlike his usual casual tone.
“I’ll have someone clean your car and bring a good bottle of wine. Satisfied?”
Hearing his tone, Zhou Yan guessed something must have happened. “Why so angry? Is it because of Lin Xiangwan?”
There was a two-second silence on the other end, and then the call abruptly ended.
Zhou Yan hissed, confused.
…
That evening, Lin Xiangwan received a call from Wen Qian after work.
“You didn’t come to the last gathering. You must be free this time, right? It’s just us old classmates getting together!”
Wen Qian was now completely ignoring family business, refusing her parents’ matchmaking, bouncing from one drinking event to another.
Lin Xiangwan had planned to stay at the company reviewing materials, but she couldn’t easily refuse.
After all, she hadn’t properly shared a drink with Wen Qian since returning, and classmates could be valuable contacts.
Within ten minutes, Lin Xiangwan arrived at the private room.
Inside were men and women familiar yet somewhat unfamiliar faces.
Wen Qian stood to greet her, introducing everyone.
“This is the class president, Monkey, A-Shui, Xiao Lan, and our big boss Shen Fan!”
Lin Xiangwan had shared a classroom and dorm with Wen Qian in high school, becoming close friends. A-Shui and Xiao Lan were also dormmates. Their shared interests and easygoing personalities had made their dorm a harmonious space for three years.
The class president was honest and mild-mannered, now an executive at an IT company. Monkey was a neighboring classmate he brought along.
Shen Fan came from a nouveau riche family. After high school, he skipped college and invested in overseas businesses by chance, striking success. He now runs a chain of hotels abroad and had just returned.
Back then, this group was close they copied each other’s homework, raced to the cafeteria after school, and fought for the popular roasted chicken legs.
Lin Xiangwan quickly felt comfortable and blended right in.
Shen Fan waved his hand and opened a bottle of wine worth three hundred thousand yuan.
“Shen, your overseas hotels must be making a lot of money, right?” Wen Qian asked, holding the bottle with a smile.
Shen Fan clicked his tongue, prideful. “Not bad. A few hundred million a year isn’t a problem!”
Lin Xiangwan silently thought when would she be able to make Star Group that big and earn such dividends?
Curious, she asked, “With so many hotels overseas, why are you back in Rongcheng? Wen Qian said it’s your first time back in five years must be for something important?”
Shen Fan shifted his leg impatiently and reluctantly said, “In a couple of days, there’s a birthday party for an old lady. I heard she’s from a prominent Rongcheng family. My dad wants me to build good relations, so he forced me to come back.”
A birthday… and an old lady.
Connecting the dots, Lin Xiangwan hesitated. “The old lady you mean could it be Madam Jiang of the Jiang family? Her birthday’s the day after tomorrow?”
“You know her? Oh, I forgot you and Wen Qian come from well-off families. You’re in the same circles!”
Shen Fan slapped his thigh, exasperated. “My overseas business is booming. Do I really need to come back to please the Jiang family? I have no idea what my dad was thinking. That’s why, today at this gathering, I specially invited the young master from the Jiang family!”
Lin Xiangwan was already surprised he was attending Madam Jiang’s birthday banquet.
Hearing this, her hand trembled, instinctively resisting seeing Jiang Shijing again especially in such a setting.
“Um…” Lin Xiangwan stood up. “I just remembered I have something at my company. I’ll ”
Before she could finish, a waiter’s voice came from outside.
“Yes, Mr. Shen is in this private room.”
As Lin Xiangwan turned, the door opened.
A man in a black shirt, collar loosely open, hands in his pockets, stepped in.
Under the dim light, his face was stunningly handsome, high nose bridge, thin lips pressed lightly.