Xie Qian had subdued a potential love rival.
He Zhen saw it but did not interfere, and was even glad to see it happen.
It is better to befriend a clever person than to have one as an enemy. Xie Qian was precisely such a clever person. Some academic achievers excel at studying but struggle with practical matters, yet Xie Qian was outstanding at both. He Zhen had not fully appreciated this before, but after experiencing entrepreneurship himself, he now realised just how formidable Xie Qian was.
Wen Ying quickly finished reviewing the materials He Zhen had given her. Combined with He Zhen’s explanations, she now had a clear grasp of the medical aesthetics company’s current situation. Of course, when facing He Zhen and Pang Jinglong, she still insisted that she knew nothing about company operations and had no interest in them.
“I do not understand anything, but I fully respect any decisions you make.”
He Zhen suspected Wen Ying was feigning ignorance but had no proof. Only Pang Jinglong was particularly straightforward. “Even if you are not interested, we still have to explain. It is our duty.”
Pang Jinglong’s mouth addressed Wen Ying, but his eyes dared not meet hers.
Deep down, Pang Jinglong had accepted Xie Qian and felt that Xie Qian and Wen Ying were well-matched.
Understanding was one thing, but human emotions could not be turned on and off at will. Pang Jinglong still needed time to dilute his affection for Wen Ying.
He Zhen had already begun discussing company management with Xie Qian.
The company’s products were popular, so the company would expand its scale.
When the team was small, management was relatively easy. With more people, chaos was inevitable.
From what He Zhen knew, Xie Qian was studying while simultaneously running two companies, both developing steadily without any disorder. Xie Qian’s management methods were worth learning from.
Her boyfriend from the previous life and her boyfriend from this life were actually sitting down and chatting calmly.
Wen Ying had long let go of He Zhen, yet she still found the scene somewhat amusing. Young Master He was actually seeking advice from Xie Qian on how to run a company.
As she smiled, a bitter feeling rose in Wen Ying’s heart.
In her previous life, “Young Master He” had been a dragon among men. Xie Qian might not have surpassed him by much, but he certainly would not have been inferior.
Young Master He dominated the business world, while Xie Qian never again shone brightly.
Was it that Xie Qian had been “precocious as a child but unremarkable as an adult”?
No.
It was because people like Zhang Zhijun and Sara Zhuo had denied Xie Qian the chance to shine.
Wen Ying felt a bitter ache in her heart and ground her teeth in anger.
While Xie Qian chatted with He Zhen, Pang Jinglong seized the opportunity to steal two glances at Wen Ying.
Wen Ying’s fierce teeth-grinding expression caught Pang Jinglong’s eye. He jumped in fright and whispered, “Who has made you angry?”
Wen Ying brazenly denied it. “Angry? No one has made me angry.”
Pang Jinglong did not believe her. “I know that expression too well. I look just like that whenever I think of Pang Zhigang.”
Wen Ying had no choice but to admit, “I was indeed thinking of something unpleasant.”
Pang Jinglong’s gaze burned with curiosity, clearly eager to know what had upset her.
Wen Ying made something up on the spot. “I am worried that the film I wrote will flop at the box office after release. I have already boasted that ‘a film script is worth no less than five million.’ What if people mock me later?”
So that was it.
Pang Jinglong comforted her. “With your talent, how could the film do poorly at the box office? Do not listen to the media nonsense. I think your fee is already too low.”
If he did not have Zhang Liqun’s money, Pang Jinglong could not even scrape together five million.
Yet this did not stop him from believing Wen Ying’s single film script was worth far more than five million.
Pang Jinglong was even thinking that, after this meal, he would proactively contact Pang Zhigang and tell him to give two properties if he was going to give any.
One property for his mother Zhang Liqun, to repay her investment in his startup.
The other to keep for now. When Wen Ying’s film “God’s Capital: Youth Journey” was released, if the box office underperformed, Pang Jinglong would sell the property and buy tickets to boost it.
“Rest assured, the box office will be fine.”
Pang Jinglong’s tone was part encouragement, part guarantee.
Wen Ying took it as ordinary consolation. Xie Qian, while speaking with He Zhen, spared a fraction of his attention. His gaze swept over Pang Jinglong. Even after subduing him, was such pure, innocent affection so hard to uproot?
If it could not be uprooted, what then?
Xie Qian could only guard rigorously, allowing these potential rivals not the slightest opening.
In exams, Xie Qian liked to score full marks.
In relationships, Xie Qian could be the “perfect boyfriend.”
Xie Qian did not follow others’ paths. He walked only his own, and the path he took could not be replicated by anyone else, so naturally no one could ever reach Wen Ying’s heart.
The meal was eaten amid undercurrents. On the way home afterwards, Wen Ying’s mouth never stopped.
She talked about Pang Jinglong’s changes and the medical aesthetics company that He Zhen and Pang Jinglong had founded together.
“I never expected them to develop a product that could compete with ‘Si Lan’ so quickly. Zhao Dong and Sara Zhuo must be furious. Zhao Dong is petty, and Sara Zhuo is no better. I fear the two of them will stoop to shameless, illegal tactics to compete with He Zhen’s company.”
Xie Qian thought Wen Ying had misspoken. It should be: when had Zhao Dong and Sara Zhuo ever had any shame?
The “perfect boyfriend” would not play devil’s advocate with his girlfriend. Xie Qian nodded earnestly. “I reminded He Zhen earlier to be wary of Zhao Dong. I hear his relationship with his family is not good either. I wonder, when the two companies clash, whose side his mother will take.”
Dai Chenglan was a major shareholder in ‘Si Lan’, holding nearly as many shares as Zhao Dong.
If Zhao Dong wanted to deal with He Zhen, Dai Chenglan’s stance would be crucial.
Xie Qian’s impression of Dai Chenglan was very poor. He was unsure what choice she would make, but Wen Ying was utterly certain. “Need you ask? Madam Dai will definitely side with He Zhen.”
Dai Chenglan was indeed snobbish, yet she also loved her son deeply.
In the previous life, she had clearly disapproved of Wen Ying as a daughter-in-law, but because He Zhen was resolute, Dai Chenglan had never taken any major action against Wen Ying.
When He Zhen wanted to strike out on his own, Dai Chenglan was angry, yet in the end she would certainly stand with him. This was what Wen Ying had most envied about He Zhen. The He family might have internal disagreements, but externally they were extremely united. No wonder the He family business grew ever larger.
Xie Qian felt another strange suspicion. “You seem to understand the He family very well?”
Wen Ying remained composed. “That is how most mothers are. If you were in trouble, Aunt Zou would help. If I were in trouble, my mother would help. Of course Madam Dai will help He Zhen.”
The explanation was perfectly reasonable.
Yet it could not gloss over Wen Ying’s inexplicable connection to the He family.
Xie “Perfect Boyfriend” Qian pretended to be convinced.
“If He Zhen is plotted against by Zhao Dong, we can step in to help him then. For now, He Zhen’s interests align with ours. Helping him is helping ourselves.”
Xie Qian was not optimistic about ‘Si Lan’s future.
Not only because of He Zhen, but also because another major shareholder was Zhao Dong.
Zhao Dong and Sara Zhuo’s affair had already been exposed to Xie Jinghu last time through the account comparison. Xie Jinghu might not be able to finish off Zhang Zhijun quickly, but could he not deal with Zhao Dong?
Xie Jinghu had been scheming for so long. Was he trying to figure out how to strike Zhao Dong hard while preserving Zhuo Chen’s interests?
Zhuo Chen held twenty percent of ‘Si Lan’. If Xie Jinghu wanted to punish Zhao Dong yet could not bear to destroy ‘Si Lan’, he would naturally hold back.
Xie Jinghu, could he be planning to leave the entire ‘Si Lan’ to Zhuo Chen?
Dream on.
While opening the car door for Wen Ying, Xie Qian silently resolved: ‘Si Lan’ must collapse. This company could not be left to Zhao Dong, nor to Dai Chenglan, and certainly not to Zhuo Chen.
