Qianshui Rouqing: "So? Do I look good?"
Zhuang Xin: "Not bad."
Qianshui Rouqing: "What do you mean, 'not bad'?"
Zhuang Xin: "I mean... you've got a nice figure."
Qianshui Rouqing: "Are you saying I'm not pretty? You're making me mad."
Zhuang Xin: "Just kidding... You've really changed since you grew up. I almost didn't recognize you."
Qianshui Rouqing: "Seriously, Zhuang Xin... do you really know someone? I'm really in a hurry over this."
Zhuang Xin: "Of course. A beautiful woman asks me for help, and I'll definitely get it done for you."
Qianshui Rouqing: "Really?"
Zhuang Xin: "What, you don't believe me?"
Qianshui Rouqing: "No... I'm just a little worried."
Zhuang Xin: "How about this? Let's make a bet. If it works out... hehehe."
Qianshui Rouqing: "That 'hehehe' is making me nervous."
Zhuang Xin: "Don't worry, I'm not that kind of person. I'll treat you to a meal when the time comes."
Qianshui Rouqing: "Hehe, treating me to dinner? Do you have some weird idea? If you'd agreed back then, I would've been yours already. But fine, I'll have dinner with you. And I'll be the one treating, as thanks. I'll even give you a little gift. Sneaky grin."
Zhuang Xin: "All right, all right..."
The two chatted for a long time before Zhuang Xin finally put down his phone. A moment later, he picked it up again and scrolled back to the first poolside photo. She really was gorgeous!
Pfft, hopefully it wasn't Photoshopped, or he'd be in for a rude awakening when he got there.
Oh boy, he was doomed.
She was a beauty-filter monster.
Zhuang Xin would probably drop dead on the spot.
On an inner street in Juncheng, inside a small warehouse.
A girl in a long black dress looked at her phone and broke into a silly smile.
The girls beside her noticed and could not help asking, "Qiu Qi, are you okay? What are you grinning foolishly about?"
"Wow, look at that expression. Don't tell me she's got spring fever."
Qiu Qi's fair, pretty face flushed red as she protested coyly, "What are you talking about? I was just chatting with an old friend. He said he knows someone who can help us get a contract with New World Mall."
"How could that be? Qiu Qi, have you been scammed? These days, lots of men trick women into sleeping with them. Don't end up losing everything."
"Yeah, Qiu Qi. Shops in New World Mall are already worth their weight in gold. Whenever one gets transferred, brands are willing to pay a huge price for it. That place is prime real estate, and it's in the busiest part of Juncheng."
Qiu Qi's heart tightened at that. "He... he probably wouldn't do that, right? I chased after him back then, and he still didn't agree. If... if he had agreed back then, I would've been his already."
"How is that possible? There's someone even our beautiful Qiu Qi couldn't win over? Take us to meet him sometime. I want to see who turned down a beauty like Qiu Qi."
"You're awful! You girls are asking for a beating."
"Ooh, ooh, she's embarrassed and angry. She's going to hit us."
"Run! Hahaha."
The group of girls broke into a playful commotion.
They had been running their own business for quite some time now, handling everything themselves, busy from morning to night.
They had never asked anyone for help. This leasing opportunity at New World Mall was the only one they had encountered in three years.
If they could secure it, it would be a transformation for their business, which was gradually getting on track and growing steadily.
That was why they had gone to New World Mall again and again, bringing plenty of gifts. They had almost reached an agreement yesterday, but... it had fallen through again.
While Qiu Qi's side was bustling with activity, Zhuang Xin's side was unbelievably laid-back.
"There are too many companies. Which one should I go to first?"
Zhuang Xin glanced at the five contracts in his hand: Shuangjia Group, Longxue Brewery, New World Mall, and the remaining two... one was a plot of undeveloped land, while the other was a contracted stretch of sea.
Neither of those two places had anyone managing them yet, so Zhuang Xin would have to prepare everything himself.
"What a hassle..."
Zhuang Xin scratched his head when he heard a cold voice.
Ding! The Background System had been fully activated!
Current Backgrounds: 4. Activatable Backgrounds: 0. System Abilities: 1. Current Mission 1: Develop the land and sea area using your own abilities and earn at least 50 million in net profit. Reward upon completion: Activation Points +1, System Ability +1. Current Mission 2: Gain Nie Han'er's approval! Nie Han'er agreed to marry you because of her family's arrangements; it was her submission to the family. You need to gain her approval. Reward upon completion: Activation Points +2, System Ability +2.
"Damn!" Zhuang Xin stared at the prompts. The two missions left him completely dumbfounded.
No wonder Nie Han'er had left after saving him and arranging medical care for him that day.
So she did not approve of him at all...
But it made sense. He had been nothing more than an ordinary man before. For a business genius to submit to him, the system was already ridiculously powerful.
He believed that even if Nie Han'er was unwilling, she would still marry him. At most, their relationship as husband and wife would be rather cold.
But if that really happened, Zhuang Xin probably would not like such a life either.
Who could stand facing an ice cube every day?
But for now...
He did not have any good ideas yet. As for Nie Han'er, he could only put that aside for the moment. However... he needed to make proper preparations for the sea area and the plot of land.
If he lacked the ability, he could find people who had it.
Just as Zhuang Xin was considering how to complete the missions, his phone rang. He took it out and saw an unfamiliar number.
After he answered, a familiar voice came from the other end. "Young Master Zhuang, do you remember me? I'm Qu Hongyun."
"Oh, General Manager Qu." Zhuang Xin came to his senses.
"Come on, who am I to have you call me General Manager Qu? Just call me Old Qu. Your older sisters all call me that."
"My older sisters..." It took Zhuang Xin a moment to understand. Qu Hongyun was probably referring to the members of the Zhuang family.
"What do you need from me, Old Qu?"
"It's nothing much. Yesterday, I told you to go to the Wenchang Auto Show and pick up a car. They just called to say the show has opened. I was afraid a busy man like you might forget, so I called to remind you."
"Oh, right..." Zhuang Xin finally remembered.
If Qu Hongyun had not mentioned it, he truly would have forgotten.
"All right, Old Qu. I'll go pick one out. Just don't get reluctant if I happen to like one."
"Come on, what are you saying? Even if you drove them all away, I wouldn't say a word. Besides, if Young Master Zhuang likes a car and takes it, that's my good fortune. How could I possibly refuse?"
By all accounts, Zhuang Xin would become the future head of the Zhuang family.
The Zhuang family would basically be his to command.
Qu Hongyun could not suck up to him fast enough now. Forget a few cars—even giving Zhuang Xin the Wenchang Auto Show venue and the land beneath it would be no problem.
Instead, Zhuang Xin hesitantly asked, "Really? Any kind is fine?"
"Of course, as long as Young Master Zhuang likes it."
"All right, I'll head over now."
"Okay, I'll make the arrangements for you, Young Master Zhuang."
After hanging up, Zhuang Xin saved Qu Hongyun's number under his name before putting away his phone.
He found a taxi by the roadside and told the driver where he wanted to go.
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