Why do some people manage to be handsome, intelligent, and incredibly lucky?
They casually buy a piece of land, and within two years, it faces demolition, instantly doubling their assets. The exact multiple is still uncertain, depending on how Xie Qian negotiates with the relevant departments.
Even if it only doubles, that’s still a substantial sum!
If Xie Qian knew Wen Ying’s thoughts, he would earnestly explain that choosing the Hongqiao land wasn’t purely luck but a judgement based on studying Shanghai’s recent urban planning.
Wen Ying isn’t jealous, just envious.
Perhaps because Xie Qian first shared the definite news of the demolition, Wen Ying was preoccupied with calculating how many zeros would be added to Xie Qian’s personal assets. So when Xie Qian candidly revealed other matters, Wen Ying’s heart barely rippled.
Xie Qian mentioned he had long placed someone close to Zhao Dong, who could provide updates on Zhao Dong’s situation, though not too detailed to avoid arousing suspicion.
Wen Ying found this quite normal.
“You did the right thing. Knowing your enemy is key to winning the battle.”
Uh, the hamster wasn’t angry or even curious about further details.
Xie Qian felt slightly reassured and brought up Zhao Dong’s deep collaboration with the He family, mentioning the existence of Silan Bio and the 20% stake held by a proxy, actually belonging to Xie Jinghu’s illegitimate son.
Wen Ying, as expected, showed more interest in this, asking a few questions. Xie Qian considered and shared that He Zhen had withdrawn from Silan’s management.
He Zhen withdrew from Silan?!
Wen Ying no longer cared about eating fried skewers.
This was explosive news!
In her previous life, Silan was He Zhen’s main business, through which he proved his capabilities, taking full control of the He family’s other ventures in his early thirties.
Silan and the He family’s other businesses were relatively independent yet mutually beneficial. High-end medical aesthetics projects allowed He Zhen to connect with social elites with such needs, expanding the He family’s original network and elevating their status.
Now He Zhen had exited Silan. Could Silan, without him, reach the scale of the previous life and boost the He family’s status?
Wen Ying personally thought not!
“Great, that’s really great.”
Wen Ying was genuinely thrilled. In her previous life, Silan Bio existed, and it does in this one too. The difference is that Silan was founded earlier this time, and He Zhen isn’t “Young Master He.” Upon learning the He family’s closeness with Xie Jinghu was due to Xie’s mistress, He Zhen fell out with his family.
The timeline changed, and many things shifted!
These changes thrilled Wen Ying the most.
Xie Qian’s tragic fate was gradually being rewritten, and He Zhen’s clear rejection of aligning with his parents made Wen Ying delighted.
No wonder Xie Qian invited her for fried skewers today. With so much good news to share, her 92nd place in the monthly exam seemed trivial!
Wen Ying’s joy was visibly overflowing, and Xie Qian, influenced by her, felt unusually light-hearted.
When Xie Qian mentioned acquiring a film company from Xie Jinghu and, after months of effort, finally producing projects, Wen Ying’s first reaction wasn’t anger but confusion.
“Why take a film company?”
A film company didn’t seem like a key asset of Jinhu Group, did it?
In her previous life, that illegitimate son appeared in the public eye managing Jinhu Real Estate!
Even starting this year, the real estate industry would remain booming for over a decade. Jinhu Real Estate was undoubtedly a core part of Jinhu Group’s assets.
Wen Ying’s straightforward perspective left Xie Qian momentarily speechless.
He had worried for so long.
Afraid of revealing his intentions or tarnishing his perfect image, he hesitated multiple times, missing chances to confess.
So, all his hesitation was unnecessary because this hamster didn’t understand anything!
Xie Qian laughed in exasperation. “Why do you think I took the film company?”
Wen Ying met Xie Qian’s gaze.
The boy’s calm face, carved like white jade, held emotions in his strikingly beautiful eyes that Wen Ying couldn’t decipher.
In this silent stare, Wen Ying faltered first. The skewer shop’s background music had shifted from “Nocturne” to “Rooftop,” the melody and lyrics striking her heart.
“I’m still not sure/How there’s a captivating melody on the opposite rooftop/I quietly close the door/Heading up with hope/It’s the person who often appears in my dreams.”
“…The blurry person in my dreams/We share the same unspoken understanding.”
Who’s the blurry person in her dreams?
Is it He Zhen?
No.
Did she like He Zhen?
She definitely did.
Why could she quickly accept missing out on He Zhen?
Because liking and loving are different.
Wen Ying had never thought this through so seriously. Looking at Xie Qian again, the emotions she couldn’t read earlier became clearer.
“So you fought for the film company because…”
“Hey!”
A lively female voice interrupted. Li Mengjiao stood by the table, hands on hips, visibly annoyed. “You’re eating alone? That’s so not friendly!”
Peng Guoqing, behind Li Mengjiao, wished he could blind himself.
He swore on his future hair-dyeing sessions that he tried his best to stop Li Mengjiao but failed.
The atmosphere was so charged just now, with Wen Ying and Xie Qian locking eyes, something about to happen, only for Li Mengjiao to barge in.
How could someone have such low emotional intelligence?
If someone with such low EQ could be a popular idol, then his goal of getting into a Shanghai 211 university wasn’t too ambitious.
Xie Qian frowned at Li Mengjiao, who, oblivious to her impending doom, kept shouting for the owner to add more dishes.
The interruption broke the mood. Xie Qian’s rationality returned, and he swiftly corrected Wen Ying’s guess.
“Of course, it’s because less important assets are easier to take. You know the strategy of encircling cities from the countryside, starting from the edges and moving to the core.”
Huh?!
Wen Ying’s face burned.
So she had overthought and misread it, being overly sentimental?!
Thank heavens Li Mengjiao showed up, or she’d have been mortified if she’d finished her sentence.
Wen Ying nodded vigorously. “You’re absolutely right!”
Li Mengjiao finished ordering, plopped down beside Wen Ying, and called Peng Guoqing to sit. “This place’s skewers are so good. Wang Shuang went to Shanghai for university and keeps texting me about missing skewers, saying the cafeteria food doesn’t suit him. So picky! That fool only cares about food and drink, unaware he’ll be drowning in mortgage payments after graduation. Let’s see if he cries then… Oh, what were you guys talking about?”
Li Mengjiao called Wang Shuang a fool, but Xie Qian thought no one could rival her for the title.
Wen Ying glanced at Xie Qian for approval. He nodded slightly, and she cleared her throat.
“Xie Qian said he took over a film company and already has a flagship project. He’s amazing!”
Li Mengjiao wasn’t surprised, instead looking relieved. “Oh, you’re talking about that? Xie Qian finally told you?”
Wen Ying blinked.
What did she mean by “finally”?
Peng Guoqing, barely seated, nearly jumped up.
It’s over. Li Mengjiao was done for!
He glanced at Xie Qian’s expression, ready to bolt.
Li Mengjiao felt fine, relieved of a burden.
“Teacher Zhang’s script was written for Xie Qian’s company! I asked Teacher Zhang, and he told me to keep it secret. It’s been killing me. Why can’t Teacher Zhang just keep quiet if he’s going to do it?”
Wen Ying stopped blinking and calmly asked Li Mengjiao, “So Teacher Zhang knew, you knew, who else?”
“You should ask who doesn’t… Oh, probably no one else knows. I just found out.”
Li Mengjiao felt her chair wobble, Peng Guoqing kicking her.
The kick snapped her out of her skewer-induced haze.
Oh no, she was in trouble!
Li Mengjiao gave a dry laugh. “Boss Xie, congrats, you’re a boss again.”
Xie Qian’s face was warm and gentle. “Thanks. Order whatever you want, my treat today.”
Li Mengjiao nearly teared up.
“I, I don’t dare eat.”
“You call me Boss Xie and think I can’t afford to treat?”
Li Mengjiao shook her head frantically. “No, I’m scared of Teacher Yuan. She told me to watch my figure.”
…Nonsense.
Yuan Fenghui was strict, but since senior year started, she eased up on Li Mengjiao, ensuring she got enough nutrition. Using Yuan Fenghui as an excuse was hilarious.
Wen Ying grinned, pushing fried potatoes to Li Mengjiao. “Eat. If Teacher Yuan scolds, I’ll cover for you. While you eat, tell me, who else knows about Xie Qian’s film company?”
Li Mengjiao swallowed hard.
Could she really cover for her?
Well, she’d already offended Xie Qian, so she needed a backer!
Pinning her hopes on Wen Ying, silently praying, “Sis, you gotta step up,” she sold Xie Qian out completely in front of him.
Great.
So many people knew.
Yuan Fenghui knew, Zhang Guangzhen knew, even Peng Guoqing knew.
Those who didn’t? Probably just Wen Ying and… Wang Shuang.
Wang Shuang not knowing was normal. He didn’t even know he’d be a mortgage slave!
Hearing that the first artist signed by Xie Qian’s Jiaxin Film Company was Xu Mei, Wen Ying’s feelings were indescribable.
In business terms, signing Xu Mei wasn’t wrong.
But when did Xie Qian become a “business-first” person?
That trait suited He Zhen, but on Xie Qian, it felt out of place.
Wen Ying looked at Xie Qian again. She felt both familiar and unfamiliar with him.
