"We know each other. We used to be neighbors, but not after he bought his new place."
Zhao Dongming was the type to look down his nose at people, despising anyone he considered beneath him.
In their few past encounters, he’d always been arrogant, so there was no need to elaborate on their relationship.
"I see."
That one "President Lin" was enough to leave Zhao Dongming completely floored.
’He’s just a guy who runs a noodle shop. How did he beco ’President Lin’?’
But judging by Zhou Hejuan’s attitude, she was clearly being very respectful toward him.
’But he’s just a cook who runs a noodle shop. How could he possibly be connected to soone like Zhou Hejuan?’
’And even be eating at the sa table with her?’
"Manager Zhao, it’s getting late. As for the matter you ntioned earlier, there’s no need to rush it. We can sit down and discuss it properly when I have so ti."
If Lin Jiang hadn’t been there, or if they didn’t have that kind of relationship, Zhou Hejuan certainly wouldn’t have phrased it that way.
But since Zhao Dongming and Lin Jiang knew each other, the situation was naturally different.
She couldn’t be too final with her words; she had to leave so room for maneuver.
But she had a vague sense that Lin Jiang’s relationship with him wasn’t very good.
"Ma’am, then when might you..."
"Wait for my call. That’s all for today. I have other guests."
Zhou Hejuan gestured for him to go ahead. Lin Jiang smiled in response and got into the car with Qiu Yunong.
Once in the car, Lin Jiang gave Qiu Yunong his ho address. As she drove, she tried to think of how to keep the conversation going.
RING RING RING—
The car had barely pulled away when Lin Jiang’s phone rang. It was Xu Lin.
’She’s probably calling to tell the room number,’ Lin Jiang guessed.
’But under the circumstances, he’d have to get dropped off at ho first and then take a taxi to et Xu Lin.’
"There’s been a change of plans. I have to go ho tonight."
"A mole in our midst? Is the deal off?"
"He just called and asked if I was coming ho. I told him I probably couldn’t make it back tonight, but he insisted on coming to find . So tonight’s a no-go. I need to see what he wants."
"Alright. We’ll talk tomorrow."
"Okay."
After hanging up, Lin Jiang figured Zhao Dongming must have been dismissed, otherwise Xu Lin wouldn’t have had the chance to call.
"President Lin," Qiu Yunong said, looking for a way to restart the conversation, "you’ve seen our product. Could you offer us so guidance?"
"I think it’s best to keep it as streamlined as possible. Major categories like the dance and fitness sections could be featured on their own, while the more niche ones could be grouped together."
’So n really do like suggestive content. I can’t bla them, though. I like it too.’
"That actually aligns perfectly with our own thinking. We were planning to keep six main categories—Dance, Fitness, Food, Fashion, Tech, and Travel—and give them extra traffic boosts to attract more users."
"I’d suggest focusing on Dance, Fitness, and Fashion as the primary categories. That’s the stuff that can easily be suggestive, which is what everyone loves to see. It’s also an easier way to get traffic. As for the other three, you can put them on the back burner for now."
Lin Jiang didn’t understand business, but he understood the mind of a perv.
His strategy was to start from a place of demand, hit the pain points directly, and turn this app into the go-to spot for horny guys on a weekend night.
"President Lin, do you have ti tomorrow? Would you like to co see my company? It would be a good chance to learn more about our operations."
"You don’t have to call President Lin. It feels too formal. If you don’t mind, just call Brother Jiang."
"Got it, Brother Jiang," Qiu Yunong said with a smile.
"I’m a creator in the dance section myself now. I occasionally share videos of my outfits and dancing. Brother Jiang, you should check them out soti and give so feedback."
"Your dancing skill is probably fine, I think. But as for your fashion sense..."
Lin Jiang glanced at Qiu Yunong. "I bet not many people watch those, huh?"
"Brother Jiang, you make it sound like I have terrible taste. I think this dress is quite nice."
"It is nice, and it looks good on you, but I feel like it’s missing sothing. The online audience probably isn’t a fan. After all, there’s a difference between the internet and real life."
Qiu Yunong imdiately understood what he ant.
"Brother Jiang, Brother Jiang! Are you saying this outfit isn’t feminine enough?"
"You hit the nail on the head."
"Brother Jiang? How about you give a makeover? Give so pointers from a man’s perspective."
’I could probably turn you into a frumpy housewife, but making you more feminine... that’s going to be a challenge.’
’It’s not exactly my strong suit.’
"Alright, fine."
"When you have ti, we can go shopping and you can help pick out so clothes."
"No problem."
They chatted the whole way, and soon they arrived at Lin Jiang’s ho.
Ever the gentleman, Lin Jiang walked Qiu Yunong out and waited until she was safely in a taxi before heading back himself.
Back ho, Lin Jiang went to the bathroom to take a shower.
anwhile, Xu Lin and Zhao Dongming had also driven back.
Zhao Dongming’s heart pounded with excitent when he saw Lin Jiang’s Maybach parked in its spot.
Just a short while ago, at the restaurant entrance, Lin Jiang and Zhou Hejuan’s daughter had gotten into this very car.
Zhao Dongming didn’t think the car belonged to Zhou Hejuan’s daughter. Given her mother’s prominent status, even if she was allowed to start her own business, she wouldn’t be driving such a flashy car.
Therefore!
’This had to be Lin Jiang’s car!’
But Zhao Dongming couldn’t fathom how Lin Jiang, a re noodle shop owner, could afford such an amazing car.
Nor could he understand why Lin Jiang was connected to Zhou Hejuan.
"This car must be Lin Jiang’s, right? Did you rent the parking space to him?"
Xu Lin’s expression faltered, her delicate brows knitting together. She hadn’t expected Zhao Dongming to bring this up.
’How did he know the car was Lin Jiang’s?’
’Was this why he’d called back in such a hurry?’
"I took our son to his shop for noodles, and he ntioned he needed to rent a parking space. Since we have a spare one, I rented it to him."
"You should talk to him. Offer him a fifty-percent discount on the rent, or even let him use it for free."
Huh?
Xu Lin was utterly baffled.
’What on earth was he playing at?’
"Why for free?"
"You’ll see in a minute. Let’s go ho and I’ll explain everything."
Zhao Dongming turned and glanced at Lin Jiang’s car. "This car is huge. It’s a tight squeeze even in its own spot. I’ll move my car tomorrow. You two can use all three spaces, it’ll make parking easier."
Xu Lin was even more confused.
’What was any of this about?’
The two took the elevator up and went into their apartnt, one after the other.
Xu Lin changed into slippers and sat down on the sofa.
"Alright, out with it. Why did you call back in such a hurry?"
"You’re pretty close with Lin Jiang from next door, right?"
"We’re on good terms. I often take our son to his noodle shop for als. Sotis he even helps pick up our son from school. He’s been a big help."
Xu Lin didn’t hide anything. Aside from *that* side of things, she described their relationship quite clearly.
"You’re being so weird and mysterious. What is it you really want?"
"I went to see that official today. She was eating at Crab Mansion, and guess who I saw there."
Xu Lin gave Zhao Dongming a suspicious look.
"You saw Lin Jiang?"
"That’s the one!" Zhao Dongming said.
"And what’s more, Zhou Hejuan was the one who invited him. She was incredibly respectful, like she needed a favor from him or sothing. I was completely floored."
Xu Lin looked skeptical.
She rarely pried into Lin Jiang’s affairs; she didn’t feel she had the right to.
But he had definitely co into money. And with wealth cos status; the people and circles he associated with were bound to change.
So, it seed possible that he’d sohow gotten to know Zhou Hejuan.
But as for how they t or what their connection was, she had no idea.
"So what? Why are you telling all this?"
"I get the feeling Zhou Hejuan doesn’t really want to deal with . I was thinking... since you’re on good terms with Lin Jiang, could you put in a good word for ? Ask him to help get in touch with Zhou Hejuan, maybe act as a go-between?"
A look of disgust crossed Xu Lin’s face.
"You’ve always called him a bottom-feeder. Every ti his na ca up, you’d sneer. And now you want to go suck up to him?"
"He *was* a bottom-feeder, but not anymore. I don’t know how he got rich, but if he’s useful to us, we need to take advantage of this connection."
Zhao Dongming sat down next to Xu Lin with a sycophantic grin.
Xu Lin instinctively got up, putting so distance between them.
"Honey, you’re on good terms with him. Please, go put in a good word for ."
"Don’t call that. We’re nothing to each other now."
Xu Lin was speechless.
’I must have had the worst luck in the world to end up marrying a man like him.’
"Alright, fine. I won’t," Zhao Dongming said awkwardly.
"I’m going to find him now."
"Yes, go! You two are close, just talk to him nicely. I’m sure he’ll help ."
Xu Lin said nothing. She just gave a scornful smile and walked away, her expression impassive.
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