Chapter Eighteen Ordinary Women

Afterward, Qilin and Zhao Mengmeng went to make the payment. Once the formalities were completed, Zhao Mengmeng led Chen Fan and Qilin to the Mountain and Water Pavilion to activate the system.

On the way, Chen Fan learned that Zhao Mengmeng was actually a sophomore in college, only working part-time during her summer vacation to earn some living expenses.

“Miss Zhao, you’re so beautiful. I bet you’re quite popular at your school,” Chen Fan remarked.

“There are a few admirers, but I feel like their intentions are just to get something for nothing. None of them are actually thinking about the future.”

“Well, you could date someone and just not let him touch you—just let him spend money on you first.”

“I couldn’t do something like that. If someone spends money on me, he’s obviously hoping for something in return. If I can’t give him that, I don’t want to lead him on.”

Hearing her answer, Chen Fan saw the sincerity in her expression, and a trace of admiration flickered in his eyes. He believed Zhao Mengmeng wasn’t speaking this way just to please them; otherwise, she wouldn’t be working as an intern saleswoman during her summer break.

After walking for more than ten minutes and passing through a bamboo grove, Zhao Mengmeng pointed ahead to a building that resembled the mansion of an ancient noble and said, “That’s the Mountain and Water Pavilion!”

Chen Fan surveyed the area and noticed a stone bridge connecting the bamboo grove to the entrance. Beneath it flowed a crystal-clear stream, with no place for anyone to hide. High walls flanked either side of the gate.

Noticing Chen Fan’s interest in their surroundings, Zhao Mengmeng kindly explained, “This stream is fed by a branch of the Donghua River. Inside the Mountain and Water Pavilion, there’s a naturally formed hill. When you have leisure time, you can stand on it and overlook the entire eastern city. That’s why it’s called the Mountain and Water Pavilion.”

With that, she took out a magnetic card and walked to the gate to operate the system. Then she called Qilin over to input his biometric data: retinal scan, palm print, and then set a password.

When everything was done, Zhao Mengmeng handed the card to Qilin and reminded him, “Please keep this card safe. If you want to allow someone access, just repeat the procedure and enter their information. If all else fails and you forget the password, you can swipe this card, but only twice. After that, you’ll have to report it for maintenance.”

“Thank you,” Qilin replied calmly, then glanced back at Chen Fan.

Once the procedures were complete, Chen Fan came over with a smile. “Miss Zhao, why not add my friend’s WeChat? He’s much more reliable than those boys at your school—and you already agreed to let him treat you to a meal.”

Naturally, Qilin didn’t object. He took out his phone and exchanged WeChat contacts with Zhao Mengmeng.

Zhao Mengmeng asked, “By the way, I still don’t know your names.”

“I’m Chen Fan, and he’s Zhou Yuan.”

“Well, I’ll have to wait until I get paid this month before I can treat you two to dinner. I don’t have much money right now.”

“That’s fine, just remember it. I just want to help match you with my friend.”

“Brother Fan, you—” Qilin started to protest.

Chen Fan’s words left both Zhao Mengmeng and Qilin a little embarrassed.

...

The next morning, in the president’s office of Meiting Group.

The phone rang on the desk. Xia Xin picked it up, and Leng Shuang’s voice came through the line, “Miss Xia, congratulations on winning the development rights for the old city district. I hope you won’t disappoint the expectations placed upon you.”

Xia Xin was momentarily stunned, her mind blank.

“Miss Leng, is this true?”

“What, you don’t believe me?”

“No, it’s just that I can hardly believe I actually secured the development rights!”

“The official announcement will be made soon. I’ll be coming over to your company this afternoon to sign the agreement.”

“Thank you!”

After hanging up, Xia Xin sat in a daze. She hadn’t expected to truly win the development rights. Her excitement quickly gave way to a new problem—how to resolve the funding issue?

After discussing with Chen Fan last night, she’d come in early to talk with the finance department and learned that the company only had 180 million in liquid assets. Even with anticipated profits, the total would barely reach 200 million.

But redeveloping the entire old city district would require at least two billion.

At this thought, Xia Xin instinctively grabbed the phone to call her father for advice, hoping he could help her borrow money from the family. But suddenly she remembered Chen Fan’s words and hesitated.

She knew he was right. In business, it was best not to involve family. If she borrowed money from her relatives, they’d demand steep returns, and she might end up with nothing.

Besides, this was a test of whether she could become the family head. She couldn’t give up so easily.

After thinking it over, she called Chen Fan to tell him the news.

“You don’t sound excited at all,” he said.

“I told you, with Leng Shuang’s help and your own capabilities, winning was only natural.”

“Oh, so you have that much faith in me?”

“Of course. Who else would I bet on if not my future wife? But right now, I imagine your biggest headache is funding.”

A flash of delight passed through Xia Xin’s eyes as she teased him, “That’s right. Why don’t you introduce me to another one of your friends?”

“I could, but I’m afraid he’d fall for you, and I’d be handing you over on a silver platter. Wealthy men are very attractive, you know—most women can’t resist them.”

“Are you saying I’m just like any other woman?”

Xia Xin didn’t realize how much she sounded like a lovesick girl flirting with her boyfriend.

Chen Fan laughed, “Of course you’re not like any other woman. Otherwise, I wouldn’t have gone to all this trouble to fulfill your father’s conditions just to marry you. But remember to tell your father it was thanks to me you won the development rights.”

“All right, all right. So, are you going to introduce your rich friend or not?”

“Fine, I’ll ask if he’s willing.”

A few minutes after hanging up, Chen Fan called back. “He says he can’t make it to Dongcheng for now, so he won’t be able to help you. But I believe my wife’s luck will never run out.”

“Oh, get lost! Who’s your wife, you narcissist!”

Disappointed, Xia Xin cursed him and hung up, her mind racing to think of anyone else who could help. But aside from her relatives, only the young heirs of other families came to mind. If she asked them, she’d lose the initiative.

Just as she was at her wit’s end, the phone rang again.

“Hello, is this President Xia of Meiting Group?”

“Yes, this is she. And you are?”

“This is Chu Yunfei, general manager of Xingfan Limited. I’d like to discuss partnering with you on the old city redevelopment.”

“What?”