Chapter 114: Real and Fake Girlfriend
TL: Etude
The next morning dawned with a clear sky and fluffy clouds, making it an ideal day for an outing.
Employees of Room 208 boarded their bus under the organization of Dong Wenhao and Su Nai, while Jiang Qin drove to the girls’ dormitory to pick up Feng Nanshu and headed first to University of Science and Technology.
Guo Zihang had been waiting early at the school gate. He was a bit uneasy upon seeing Feng Nanshu, speaking in a nervous, quiet voice.
The cold moonlight of Chengnan High School seemed to exert an intimidating aura, as if it was something to be admired from a distance.
“Old Guo, where is that milk tea shop you mentioned?”
“It’s in the same place you parked last time.”
Jiang Qin nodded, drove through the main gate, and headed towards the B area of the girls’ dormitory along the plaza road.
Choosing a location for the milk tea shop was a small matter, and typically not something that would require the owner’s personal involvement. However, since the location was crucial for forum advertising and future traffic monetization, Jiang Qin felt it necessary to take a more hands-on approach to ensure the best outcome and avoid ineffective promotions later on.
The milk tea shop in University of Science and Technology, named “Encounter”, specialized in taro-flavored milk tea. The owner, a man in his forties named Gao Dawei, was stubborn and hard to persuade. After much back-and-forth, they couldn’t agree on a price.
Jiang Qin believed in winning hearts before winning deals, so he tried to engage in small talk, asking why Gao Dawei wanted to sell.
“I’m divorced and just don’t want to do this anymore. I plan to travel with the money from the sale.”
“…”
Jiang Qin found such people the most troublesome: they had plenty of time, were stubborn, and not easily swayed.
Yet, the milk tea shop was crucial for the forum’s promotional strategy. In this situation, Jiang Qin was at a disadvantage, sometimes forced to make concessions. But the shop owner was incredibly inflexible, refusing to budge on the price.
Jiang Qin turned to Feng Nanshu, who had been following him: “If you’re bored, you can go back to the car.”
“I find it interesting,” Feng Nanshu said earnestly.
“You were almost falling asleep just now, and you find it interesting? Go on, I’ll be done soon.”
“Okay.”
Feng Nanshu nodded at his words and returned to the car with a patter of steps.
Actually, Guo Zihang also found it quite dull, especially the haggling part. It really wasn’t interesting after a couple of rounds, and he felt sleepy.
Eh? Since I’m here, why don’t I meet with Senior Cui?
After some thought, Guo Zihang decided it was a good idea and called Cui Yating on his phone.
Cui Yating, who had been sleeping in late in her dormitory, was initially annoyed by Guo Zihang’s call, but his straightforward mention of Jiang Qin’s presence significantly eased her irritation.
She got out of bed to wash up and woke her roommate, Guo Rongrong.
“Rongrong, get up. I’ll introduce you to a rich second-generation acquaintance. He drives an Audi. You better seize the opportunity,” Cui Yating briefed her while washing up.
Rubbing her eyes after getting up, Guo Rongrong expressed disbelief: “If he was really a rich second-generation, you would have gone for him already. Why would you leave him for me?”
“I wish I could, but he has a girlfriend, and I’m not good at stealing someone else’s man. But you are.”
“Stop it, who says things like that to their best friend? When have I ever poached someone else’s boyfriend?”
Cui Yating looked at her friend: “Just tell me if you want to try or not.”
Getting out of bed, Guo Rongrong clarified: “I’m not interested in poaching. I just genuinely want to meet a rich second-generation friend.”
“Do you think I’d believe that?” Cui Yating scoffed.
“Hey, tell me the truth. What’s his situation, and what about his girlfriend?”
“He’s a freshman at Linchuan University, drives an Audi, about 1.8 meters tall, pretty handsome, and quite witty when he speaks.”
Guo Rongrong was skeptical: “Sounds like a dream guy. His girlfriend must be gorgeous. I don’t stand a chance.”
“You’d be surprised. His girlfriend isn’t pretty at all. She’s quite short, a bit dark-skinned, wears knock-offs, and I even noticed calluses on her hands. Her family’s financial situation is probably not great.”
“Impossible, right? A prince charming with a Cinderella? Why would that be?” Guo Rongrong couldn’t grasp the concept.
Cui Yating, having finished her washing up and now applying makeup, casually responded, “Don’t be so skeptical. After all, he’s a freshman. It’s not impossible that he got pursued by a Cinderella during his early days in high school and fell for it.”
“That makes sense.”
“You’re not even getting ready, and they’re already here!”
Taking her time, Guo Rongrong sat down: “No worries. I’ll dazzle him the moment I appear, making it hard for him to leave!”
Ten minutes later, the two elaborately dressed friends appeared at the bottom of the building.
By this time, Jiang Qin was running out of patience. He took the milk tea shop owner’s phone number, planning to hand it over to Wei Lanlan for negotiation. It wasn’t that he was incapable, but the shop owner was in no rush to sell, going in circles with his endless chatter. Jiang Qin could tell there was no progress being made.
Especially with Mr. Gao’s peculiar way of chatting, drifting off to talk about his ex-wife.
He lamented how tough it was for men nowadays, not only working outside but also cooking at home, handing over all their wages, and being questioned about not buying gifts during holidays.
“I even have to ask you for money to buy a pack of cigarettes, how can I buy gifts? With my life?”
Jiang Qin was baffled, thinking that the owner wasn’t really keen on selling the shop but rather venting his frustrations under the guise of a sale.
“Young man, never get married.”
“Sure, I’ll take your advice.”
Jiang Qin stood up and left, exhaling deeply once outside.
Business was like this, full of minute issues. It wasn’t as simple as wanting things a certain way. But even the hardest bones had to be chewed; if not this one, then find another. However, the market at the Polytechnic University was too important to give up.
As he walked forward, he saw Cui Yating approaching with an unfamiliar girl, both dressed up and smiling at him.
“Jiang Qin, let me introduce a friend, my bestie, Guo Rongrong.”
Guo Rongrong greeted him politely: “Hello, nice to meet you. Please take care of me.”
Jiang Qin, feeling irritable, responded briefly: “Guo Zihang was just here. Wait for him; he should be back soon.”
“We’re not here for Guo Zihang. We came to see you. Rongrong heard about you from me and is quite interested. I took this opportunity to bring her over.”
“…”
Jiang Qin immediately sensed an attempt to set him up: “Senior Cui, did you forget I have a girlfriend?”
“So what? It’s not like you’re married. Can’t you change girlfriends? Getting a prettier one would be nice to show off.”
Cui Yating eagerly promoted her friend.
Jiang Qin turned to Guo Rongrong, asking with a hint of sarcasm: “Miss, what do you think of me?”
“I think you’re quite nice. What about me?” Guo Rongrong threw the question back.
“I also think you’re beautiful, and I do want to change girlfriends. You might not know, but my girlfriend and I have been on the verge of breaking up. She just won’t leave me. If you can help drive her away, I think we can give it a try.”
“Your girlfriend is here?”
Jiang Qin pointed to the Audi across the street: “She’s in the car.”
Truth be told, Guo Rongrong didn’t want to agree. What did he mean by ‘help drive her away’? Although she was interested in poaching, such blatant confrontation was too demeaning. But the sight of the Audi made her heart waver.
Since they were about to break up, why not give it a final push?
Taking a deep breath, Guo Rongrong walked towards the Audi and peered inside.
The Audi’s windows were tinted, obscuring the view, so she knocked on the window, ready to start the confrontation.
Cui Yating had told her that Jiang Qin’s girlfriend wasn’t attractive, so Guo Rongrong wasn’t worried about her own competitiveness.
Soon, the car window slowly rolled down, but Guo Rongrong’s face stiffened instantly, and she turned and left without a word.
“?????”
Witnessing this scene, Cui Yating was bewildered.
Her friend hadn’t said a word after approaching the car; she just looked inside and left. What was going on?
Driven by curiosity, Cui Yating also went over and saw an incredibly beautiful girl sitting inside the car, casting a cold, questioning glance at her.
“No, sorry, wrong car…”
Cui Yating took a deep breath and quickly ran towards Guo Rongrong.
Seeing this, Jiang Qin couldn’t help but laugh. He needed some amusement to lighten his mood after being irritated by the shop owner.
“Old Jiang, I just went to buy milk tea. Where’s Senior Cui?” Guo Zihang ran over at this moment.
Jiang Qin sighed: “Old Guo, I think that auntie suits you better.”
“?????”
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