Regarding Wang Zheng’s past, Ye Xiyan wasn’t entirely clear, but she was well aware of his present situation. Wang Zheng worked as a musical instrument salesman, spending his days running all over the city, frequenting various instrument shops and schools. When he spoke of “closing a deal,” it was more about saving face than anything else. If he were really doing big business, would he be living here? Yet, despite knowing this, Ye Xiyan was convinced that Wang Zheng was not an ordinary person.
Her suspicion stemmed from the subtle differences she noticed after they started living together—small details in his daily life that set him apart. Ye Xiyan had once read an article with the phrase: “Rather than cling to each other, it’s better to forget each other in the rivers and lakes.” Though she didn’t have much formal education, having left school after vocational training to work, she understood the meaning of those words. If Wang Zheng ever made it big, she would quietly leave, even if it hurt her heart. She didn’t want to see pity in his eyes.
To Wang Zheng, Ye Xiyan was merely a companion during a low point in his life. They were together to keep warm, mutually needed, and nothing more.
Perhaps because of this mindset, Wang Zheng always treated Ye Xiyan with great care, hoping that when the time came to part, it would be easier for both of them. They lived together without any grand expectations, finding contentment in their current situation.
Meanwhile, Zeng Yu, living across the hall, wasn’t in the best mood after witnessing this display of affection.
Back in his cramped rental room, Zeng Yu dropped his backpack, turned on his computer, and took a quick shower in the small bathroom. The weather was hot, and the old air conditioner in the room buzzed loudly. A small computer desk served as both a desk and a bedside table.
Lying on the bed, Zeng Yu’s mind wasn’t on the company but on Xiao Xiao. Truth be told, Zeng Yu didn’t resent Xiao Xiao; everyone has the right to choose their own path in life. Xiao Xiao left because he wasn’t good enough.
“Come on, Zeng Yu, don’t give up. You can do this!” He encouraged himself, then turned to his computer and got to work.
Back at home, Jiang Nan was sprawled on the sofa in a very unladylike manner. Her mother, Han Jiayi, had gone out for a beauty treatment and wasn’t back yet. If Han Jiayi saw her daughter lying like this, she’d undoubtedly pull her ear.
Their housekeeper, Aunt Zhang, was an excellent cook. She had once run a successful restaurant in her hometown, but her husband’s gambling habits ruined everything, leaving them in debt. Aunt Zhang had to sell the restaurant to pay off the debts and then chose to divorce him without hesitation. Just then, Jiang Nan’s family’s previous housekeeper resigned to take care of her grandchildren, and Aunt Zhang stepped in. She had been with the Jiang family for eight years now, staying on because Han Jiayi paid her well and even helped her son get an education. Now that her son had graduated from university, even when asked to retire, Aunt Zhang refused.
“Why are you so tired? Go take a bath. I’ll get your clothes. Have you eaten yet?” Jiang Nan was always warm and affectionate with Aunt Zhang, never acting spoiled, which made Aunt Zhang adore her.
Jiang Nan hugged Aunt Zhang around the neck, grinning, “Auntie, you’re better to me than my mom is.”
Aunt Zhang loved hearing this. After all, she had taken care of Jiang Nan’s daily life for eight years. Han Jiayi, as a mother, was always busy with beauty treatments, yoga, or managing her café—living a carefree life.
“Don’t talk nonsense. If your mom isn’t good to you, then who is? And why do you need to start a company? Isn’t it better to just stay at home?” Aunt Zhang said, half-jokingly.
Jiang Nan laughed, “I have to, Auntie. I have a family business to inherit.”
“You could always marry a man who moves in,” Aunt Zhang suggested simply. With no son in the Jiang family, why not have a son-in-law move in? She couldn’t let such a large inheritance go to waste.
After taking a bath, Jiang Nan returned to her bedroom and, staring at her computer, suddenly thought of Zeng Yu.
She sent a message on QQ: “What are you doing?”
There was no response. This guy was so dull. Jiang Nan left her room and went downstairs to wait for her mother, hoping to hear her thoughts on starting a business.
Not long after, Han Jiayi returned. Despite being fifty years old, she looked no older than thirty. Jiang Nan always hated going shopping with her mother; whenever they met someone they knew, her mother would introduce her with, “This is my daughter,” and the other person would be amazed. Jiang Nan found it boring, but her mother enjoyed it.
“Xiao Nan Nan, you’re home earlier than me today?”
“I’m going to start a company, Mom. Aren’t you going to support me?” Jiang Nan hugged her mother’s waist, “If I’m starting a company, you should sponsor me a bit.”
Han Jiayi scoffed, “You’ve never even worked in the family business, and you spent eighty thousand yuan on a cruise ticket, not to mention the cost of the world tour. Calculate how much you’ve spent from the family funds. You’ve graduated, you’re an adult, and if you want to start a business, you need to rely on your abilities.”
“I just don’t have experience with loans and company registration. Can you give me some tips?” Jiang Nan clung to her mother.
“Sorry, you’ll have to figure it out on your own. Don’t rely on others,” Han Jiayi refused bluntly.
“Then at least help me find a cheaper car. My car is too flashy; it doesn’t fit the image,” Jiang Nan tried another tactic.
This time, Han Jiayi didn’t refuse and nodded, “Go talk to your uncle. But remember, don’t ask him for money, or I’ll make sure your company fails.”
Han Jiayi had no intention of giving her daughter any advice. Some things you need to experience firsthand to remember deeply. Whether good or bad, going through it when you’re young is not necessarily a bad thing. Right now, Jiang Nan could make mistakes because her parents were there to support her. But when they were gone, a child who had always been protected might not recover if they suffered a significant setback.
Seeing that her soft approach wasn’t working, Jiang Nan had no choice but to return to her room and continue researching. After working for a while and realizing it was late, she finally went to bed.
Many things seem simple until you start doing them and realize they’re much more complicated. Early the next morning, Jiang Nan woke up early and went to Hongda Company to ask Han Liren for a car. Han Liren found her request amusing but didn’t question her motives, giving her a BMW X3.
After Jiang Nan left, Han Liren called Han Jiayi to express his concerns, “What’s Xiao Nan up to?”
Han Jiayi proudly responded, “Xiao Nan doesn’t want people to know who she really is. That’s not a bad thing.”
When Jiang Nan arrived at the old house, Zeng Yu was already there. He didn’t have a key and was waiting downstairs.
“Sorry, I went home and brought my mom’s car,” Jiang Nan quickly explained, telling a little lie.
“Time is running short. As we agreed, you handle the loan, and I’ll prepare the preliminary work for the company’s registration.”
Seeing that Zeng Yu didn’t ask further, Jiang Nan breathed a sigh of relief. She took a bag from the car and handed it to him, “Change into these clothes. Image is important in business.”
Jiang Nan worried that Zeng Yu might refuse, but he only hesitated briefly before accepting, “How much? I’ll pay you back later.”
“No need. It’s a gift my dad received at a conference. He didn’t like the color, so it’s been sitting at home unused. I thought it would be a waste, so I brought it over.” Jiang Nan lied again. She had actually bought the clothes at a Versace store on her way back from Hongda Company.
The T-shirt was bright red, and Zeng Yu found it too flashy. But he didn’t doubt Jiang Nan’s good intentions, so he took the clothes and went to the bathroom to change.
When he emerged, Jiang Nan shook her head, “Better not wear this today.”
Zeng Yu was puzzled, and Jiang Nan explained, “Your hairstyle and shoes don’t match the outfit. It looks out of place.”
Zeng Yu didn’t argue and changed back into his original clothes. When he came out again, Jiang Nan felt more comfortable. His simple outfit was much more coordinated.
“Let’s get to work. Keep the clothes for later. I’ll look for suitable shoes, and we can get you a proper haircut when we have time. You’re a businessman now; image matters.”
Zeng Yu remained silent. Jiang Nan sensed that he was feeling down and, feeling she might have been too harsh, approached with a smile, “What’s wrong? Are you upset?”
Zeng Yu shook his head, “No, I’m just ignorant about this stuff, but you know better. As long as it’s good for the company, I’ll do it.”
Jiang Nan felt the need to explain seriously, looking at Zeng Yu earnestly, “I should have clarified this earlier. We’re representing a wine brand, which means our target audience won’t be from the lower classes. People who appreciate wine usually care about style. To put it simply, it’s a lifestyle thing. For example, if you wear clothes from a street stall paired with cheap shoes to sell wine, do you think people will trust you to sell a high-end product? To elevate Sofi’s brand, you need to elevate your image as the marketing lead.”
Zeng Yu smiled, “No need to explain. I understand. I’ll work on it when I have the time.”
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