Volume 1: The Golden Years Chapter 49: Zhang Anren's Face
"Aunt, please stay. It will be a great honor for you to hand over the rent to the tenant this afternoon, help Nansun clean up the house, and bring some clothes from home. Nansun and I are going to work. See you in the evening!"
"Okay, you and Nansun, be careful on the road, take good care of Nansun in the hotel, and see you in the evening!"
"Mom, I'm going to work. You slept so late last night. You should rest for a while longer!"
"I understand. Go ahead and do your work. Listen to Xiao Yuan in the hotel and don't act like a child. Got it?"
"I know, I know, you should go back quickly, I'm going to be late for work!"
After saying goodbye to Jiang's mother, Yuan Xudong took Jiang Nansun to the underground parking lot. While helping her open the door on the passenger side of the BMW 7 Series, he apologized:
"Nansun, I'm sorry. I was a little impulsive this morning. I hope you can forgive me. If I'm given another chance, I will definitely not treat you so rudely!"
After saying that, seeing Jiang Nansun rolled her eyes at him and said nothing, but quietly got into the BMW, Yuan Xudong quickly ran to the other side, opened the door, got into the driver's seat, and drove out of the underground parking lot while looking at Jiang Nansun in the passenger seat and said:
"Don't worry, we live in a society ruled by law now. I won't do anything to you unless you are willing. Otherwise, I won't touch you even a finger!"
Hearing Yuan Xudong say this, Jiang Nansun still looked out of the car window expressionlessly. The BMW left the underground parking lot and began to drive into the main road. The high-rise buildings on both sides kept receding. The bustling city center of Shanghai was still prosperous, but her state of mind had undergone a drastic change.
In just one night, she went from being a well-fed and well-clothed Princess Jiang to an ordinary Cinderella, and even had to think about a way out for the Jiang family that was heavily in debt after bankruptcy. Her life trajectory can no longer be described as a change, it's simply an accident!
Thinking of this, she took out a CCB supplementary card from her bag and handed it to Yuan Xudong, saying indifferently:
"This is your bank card. I don't need it. Please take it back. Thank you!"
After taking a look at the CCB supplementary card that Jiang Nansun handed back to him, Yuan Xudong did not reach out to take it. He just drove towards Songjiang Boutique Hotel while persuading in a gentle voice:
"Nansun, having no money and having money are two different things. In other words, without the protection of the king, the princess is no longer a high and mighty princess, but a coveted prey. The knight protects the princess because of her beauty and status. Otherwise, why wouldn't he protect Cinderella?"
After listening to Yuan Xudong's twisted theories and knowing that he was mocking her boyfriend Zhang Anren, Jiang Nansun said with disdain:
"In this world, there is no one else who loves me as much as Zhang Anren. In my eyes, he is an upright and brave knight. No matter if I am a princess high above or a Cinderella who has fallen into the dust, he will always love me as before and protect and take care of me. He is not like some despicable and mean people who call themselves kings, who only know how to covet Cinderella's body and add insult to injury!"
"Honest and brave?"
Hearing Jiang Nansun's evaluation of Zhang A'ren, Yuan Xudong burst into laughter. He didn't know whether Jiang Nansun was too stupid, or Zhang A'ren was too good at disguising himself, or both. He didn't know whether Zhang A'ren loved Jiang Nansun, but to say that Zhang A'ren was an upright and brave man would be overestimating him.
In Yuan Xudong's view, Zhang Anren is just an ordinary person. He can report his competitor Wang Yongzheng in order to stay in school, abandon his first love for Jiang Nansun, and lie to Jiang Nansun that it was his first time to fall in love. An honest person would not do such a thing. It can only be said that he is a smart person who is calculating and planning everything for a better life.
Unfortunately, Jiang Nansun is too emotional and an idealist, while Zhang Ainren is too rational and a realist. In some trivial matters, in order to please Jiang Nansun, Zhang Ainren's realism can bow to Jiang Nansun's idealism, making him appear to be obedient and caring to Jiang Nansun in everything.
However, once their own vital interests are involved, such as a house or the qualification to stay in school, the realism that Zhang Anren has adhered to for many years will never succumb to Jiang Nansun's idealism. The contradiction between the two will be exposed unconcealed, and they will eventually part ways and go their separate ways. You go your way and I go mine, and the two end up parting ways!
Thinking of this, he looked at Jiang Nansun and said provocatively:
"We made a bet before, betting whether Zhang Anren is your first love, but the winner has not yet been decided. Now let's make another bet, betting whether Zhang Anren is an upright and brave person. What do you think?"
After that, without waiting for Jiang Nansun to respond, he explained directly:
"If Zhang Anren is an honest and kind person, I will lend you 50 million yuan with an annual interest rate of 10%. On the contrary, if Zhang Anren is not an honest and kind person, you will break up with him. Do you dare to take this gamble?"
Holding the CCB supplementary card in her hand, Jiang Nansun hesitated. She really needed the money. She also thought about how Zhang Anren had always been praised for his conduct and how he was indeed an upright and brave man. Thinking of this, she secretly made up her mind and looked at Yuan Xudong and said:
"I'm going to make a bet with you that Zhang Anren is an upright and brave man. Thank you for lending me 50 million yuan. Don't worry, I will definitely pay you back!"
Seeing Jiang Nansun's confidence in Zhang Anren, Yuan Xudong couldn't help but say:
"That's not necessarily true. If you lose the bet, it's no use crying to me. I'll leave the bank card with you. When everything is settled, you can make the final decision.
As for the Jiang family's debt problem, I have talked to your father, and he will mortgage your garden house to the bank, which will help them survive for a while and avoid a financial crisis."
After that, he looked at Jiang Nansun and gave her a heads-up:
"I don't know about the vows of love between Zhang Anren and you. From my personal point of view, let alone a girlfriend, even if it's a wife who has children, there are not many men in the world who can bear a lifetime of debt for a woman.
If the money lost by your Jiang family is put on you and Zhang Anren, it's not that I look down on you and Zhang Anren, but from a realistic point of view, he is a university assistant professor, and he may not stay in school, and you are a spoiled young lady. How much money can the two of you make every month if you work hard together?
Not to mention paying off the debt, you can't even afford the monthly interest. I bet that if you were to be frank with Zhang Anren, this guardian knight would either desert the battlefield or abandon you.
Or they will say that they have no other choice and ask you to not worry about your family's life or death and let them fend for themselves, and then they will live happily with you, and they will also say that they do this for you and for the future of both of you. Isn't it touching?"
Although she understood what Yuan Xudong wanted to express, Jiang Nansun couldn't help but sneered:
"Before you talk about others, think about yourself. Can you do this?"
Yuan Xudong shrugged his shoulders and said in a relaxed tone:
"Of course not. Unfortunately, I have money. 50 million is indeed an astronomical figure for Zhang Anren. It is difficult to earn that in a lifetime. For me, it is just a house. Ordinary people have to take out loans for decades to buy houses and cars to marry a wife. The 50 million I have is completely insignificant. According to yesterday's circuit breaker stock market crash, it only took half an hour. I made at least 1 billion. I took out one twentieth of it to get you. Do you still think it is expensive?"
Looking at Yuan Xudong who was showing off his wealth blatantly, Jiang Nansun said with disdain:
"What's the difference between what you do and those lickers?"
Hearing the word "licking dog", Yuan Xudong frowned slightly. The animal he hated most in his life was the dog. What licking dog, what single dog, and what dog thing, thinking of this, he looked at Jiang Nansun and smiled:
"What's wrong with licking a dog? If you can't eat the grapes, you say the grapes are sour. If you can lick them, a young and beautiful girl like you can open a dog pet center at home!"
Jiang Nansun rolled her eyes at Yuan Xudong and put the CCB supplementary card back into her bag. She believed that she had won the bet. By selling the house and adding the 50 million from Yuan Xudong, it would be enough to pay off the debt.
As for the money she owed Yuan Xudong, she believed that she and Zhang Anren would both be successful one day, and 50 million was not a debt that they could not repay in a lifetime.
There was no conversation along the way, and the two went straight to Songjiang Boutique Hotel.
At the same time, in the teaching assistant's office at the School of Architecture in Shanghai.
Lillian walked into the teaching assistant's office holding Wang Yongzheng's hotel brochure and Zhang Anren's school anniversary design exhibition. Knowing that the other party was Professor Dong's daughter, Zhang Anren hurriedly greeted her and said politely:
"Lillian , what are you holding? Do you need my help?"
"No!"
Lillian shook her head slightly, looked at Zhang Anren and explained:
"I'll help Wang Yongzheng get some things and leave. This is your school anniversary design exhibition and Wang Yongzheng's Songjiang Boutique Hotel brochure. My father and the leaders in the department need to take a look!"
After hearing Lillian's explanation and knowing that Professor Dong and the department leaders would decide the final number of students who would stay in school based on his and Wang Yongzheng's works, Zhang Anren's expression changed slightly. He looked at the innocent Lillian and asked tentatively:
"Lillian, can I take a look?"
"sure!"
After hearing Zhang Anren's request, Lillian handed a copy of Wang Yongzheng's work to Zhang Anren and said:
"I'll leave this one for you. Take it home and read it slowly. I have a few more copies here, enough for my father and others."
"Thank you, Lillian!"
Zhang Anren took the Songjiang Boutique Hotel brochure from Wang Yongzheng and roughly browsed a few pages. They were all very beautiful renderings. He looked at Lillian beside him and asked:
"Lillian, tell me the truth, whose work do you prefer, mine or Wang Yongzheng's?"
"You want to ask who can stay in school?"
Looking at Zhang Anren who looked a little embarrassed, Lillian smiled and said:
"How should I put it? Your work is steady, while Wang Yongzheng's work is beautiful. They each have their merits. To be honest, I prefer Wang Yongzheng's work."
Hearing Lillian say this, Zhang Anren's expression changed slightly and said:
"Lillian, can you tell me why? Is there something I didn't do well enough?"
"It's not what you think!"
Looking at Zhang Anren's serious expression, Lillian shook her head repeatedly and said:
"You've done well enough. I'm a girl, so I like pretty and cute things. Wang Yongzheng is so handsome, so I like him, so naturally I like his work!"
After that, worried that Zhang Anren might misunderstand, she quickly explained:
"I'm not saying you're not handsome, it's just that you're too boring. You're not my type. Don't get me wrong!"
"It's okay, I understand!"
Zhang Anren shook his head slightly, and while browsing the Songjiang Hotel brochure in his hand, he asked Lillian indirectly:
"Lillian, Nansun is also in this project. She is your good friend. Can you talk to Professor Dong and ask her to add Nansun's name to the list? This way, when Nansun graduates, she will have a great resume!"
Lillian rolled her eyes at Zhang Anren and reminded him directly:
"The Wang Yongzheng you mentioned has already taken this into consideration. Just turn to the last page. There is Jiang Nansun's name and the specific project she is in charge of. Okay, take your time to read it. I'm leaving now. See you next time!"
"see you later!"
Seeing Lillian taking a document from Wang Yongzheng's desk and walking out of the teaching assistant's office, Zhang Anren turned to the last page of the hotel brochure in his hand and saw Jiang Nansun's name.
Thinking of Lillian's words, girls all like beautiful and cute things, including sunny and handsome guys like Wang Yongzheng. Zhang Anren's face darkened slightly. He also hoped that he could be as free as Wang Yongzheng.
Unfortunately, if you want a good life, you have to be cautious at every step, and the one who laughs last is the real winner. Thinking of this, he returned to his usual smile, with a humble and polite face.
