The dinner party continued as usual. Zhu Wan’Er showed no signs of anything being amiss, her deanor as warm and pleasant as ever.
But the more she acted this way, the more wary Wu Liangchen beca.
He refused to believe that this Zhu Wan’Er’s intentions for Flower Square were as simple as opening a restaurant.
After all, this was different from her previous gestures of goodwill. If she were truly allowed to establish a presence in Flower Square, it would be tantamount to binding them together.
Even if no such partnership existed in reality, outsiders wouldn’t see it that way.
After all, Third Brother Xie had run Flower Square with an iron fist, making it impenetrable. For a restaurant run by the Zhu family to suddenly appear inside would cause all sorts of speculation.
Moreover, he was only managing the place on Third Brother Xie’s behalf, so he certainly couldn’t agree to such a thing.
However, Wu Liangchen buried all these thoughts deep inside. On the surface, he didn’t betray a hint of his true feelings and even continued to chat with Zhu Wan’Er with a smile.
Their conversation ranged from art and literature to the common affairs of the martial world, from martial Cultivation to the intricacies of human relationships, and eventually, it even turned to matters of business.
At first, Zhu Wan’Er was rely being polite, responding out of her excellent upbringing, but the more they talked, the more surprised she grew—and the more shocked she beca.
She discovered that beyond his astonishing talent for the martial arts, the young man before her also possessed unique insights into business. At tis, just a few of his words were enough to give her a sudden flash of enlightennt.
As he watched her eyes grow brighter and brighter, Wu Liangchen had to stifle a laugh.
’Trying to talk business with ? Isn’t she just asking to be embarrassed?’
In his previous life, after becoming a successful businessman, he had dealt with countless people pitching him for investnts.
And regardless of their industry, they all had one thing in common: they spoke in buzzwords.
Things like "granularity," "product empowernt," "closed-loop ecosystems," "information distribution"...
Wu Liangchen was sick to death of hearing such jargon, but these concepts and terms, so commonplace to him, were like a blow from a higher dinsion to the people of this era.
So now, just by dropping a few of these phrases, he could easily leave the inexperienced Zhu Wan’Er completely stunned.
However, Wu Liangchen also knew to quit while he was ahead. If he kept going, he was bound to slip up and expose himself.
Thus, after successfully drawing Zhu Wan’Er into his conversational rhythm, Wu Liangchen abruptly stopped the topic and glanced at the sky outside.
"It’s getting late. Have you all eaten your fill?" Wu Liangchen asked.
The two girls beside him, who had been listening half-asleep, imdiately perked up.
"We finished ages ago!"
"Alright, then it’s ti for us to go!"
As he spoke, Wu Liangchen stood up, clasped his hands in a polite gesture toward Zhu Wan’Er, and smiled. "Thank you for your hospitality today, Miss Zhu. We’ll take our leave now."
Zhu Wan’Er, who had been listening with rapt attention, hadn’t expected Wu Liangchen to leave so abruptly. She rose sowhat reluctantly to return the courtesy, then spoke.
"’A single conversation with a wise man is worth ten years of study.’ I never imagined that not only is your martial talent astonishing, Young Master Wu, but you also possess such novel and unique insights into business. It’s truly breathtaking."
"They are rely so humble thoughts. You flatter , Miss Zhu."
Zhu Wan’Er shook her head. "If those are just humble thoughts, then I truly don’t know what would be considered brilliant ones."
At this, Zhu Wan’Er suddenly asked, "I wonder if I might have the opportunity to sit down and discuss these things in detail with you again in the future, Young Master Wu?"
"Haha, we’ll see about the future when it cos. No need to see us out."
With that, Wu Liangchen led his sister and Yang Lian’Er straight down the stairs and departed without a second glance.
Zhu Wan’Er sat by the window, watching their departing figures, a strange light flashing in her eyes.
’He is quite a talent. If I could recruit him, forget Wei Tiantong and Hua Ziqi—they would all have to step aside!’
At this thought, Zhu Wan’Er felt the ambition she had long suppressed deep in her heart suddenly surge, swelling uncontrollably.
Though a woman, she had harbored a grand ambition since childhood: to surpass her own father in business, to best every man, and to beco the first and greatest female rchant magnate in history.
Unfortunately, this was far easier said than done.
Because no matter how hard Zhu Wan’Er worked, the outside world would always view her with prejudiced eyes.
People had no patience for her accomplishnts; they were only willing to admire her superficial beauty.
This often filled her with a deep sense of frustration.
It was not until she t Wu Liangchen today and heard the unheard-of yet incredibly logical business concepts from his lips that Zhu Wan’Er found she could no longer restrain herself.
"Tao’Er, do you think it’s possible to recruit this Wu Liangchen to our side?" Zhu Wan’Er asked suddenly.
The little maid, Taotao, was taken aback by the question, then she giggled. "Isn’t that simple? If you’re willing to offer yourself to him, I’m sure no man in this world could resist such a temptation."
Zhu Wan’Er scoffed. "You silly girl. If you dare spout such nonsense again, I’ll tear that mouth of yours right off."
Taotao just giggled, not the least bit afraid.
She had been with Zhu Wan’Er since childhood. Though their official relationship was that of mistress and servant, they were as close as sisters.
That was why she dared to joke around like that.
After their playful bickering, Zhu Wan’Er frowned in thought for a mont before saying, "Actually, when I said I wanted to open a restaurant in Flower Square, I knew he would never agree to it easily. I was just testing the waters. But now... I suddenly think it might be a great idea after all."
"Huh? But didn’t Young Master Wu disagree?" Taotao was getting dizzy from her mistress’s train of thought and asked in confusion.
"Heh. My father once told there’s no such thing as a deal that can’t be made—only a price that isn’t right."
User Comments
0 comments from readers