Chapter 365: The Gift and the Boss - Pretending to Cultivate in Kindergarten

Chapter 365: The Gift and the Boss "Avoiding us on purpose?" "Yes, I only discovered this company a few days ago. They used to operate quietly, but now that they've grown, it's hard to remain unnoticed." Lin Zhengran put down his utensils after finishing the last bite of his meal. Jiang Qian, observing his thoughtful expression, asked curiously, "How was dinner tonight?" Lin Zhengran noted Jiang Qian's abrupt topic change and complimented, "Quite impressive. This restaurant certainly justifies its cost, especially because... these dishes are basically all my favorites." Jiang Qian took a sip of wine and looked at Lin Zhengran with a cool gaze, "What a coincidence, they're my favorites too." Jiang Qian wasn’t picky about food; she believed that any dish could be delicious if prepared by a skilled chef. Since discovering Lin Zhengran’s preferences, her taste in food had aligned with his. After all, she ate like him every day, so saying the food was her favorite wasn’t exactly untrue. A knock sounded at the door. Jiang Qian said "come in," and the restaurant manager entered, carrying a dessert tray. "Honored guests, I am the manager of this establishment. In light of your patronage tonight, we are offering complimentary desserts, meticulously crafted by our chefs. Please enjoy." Jiang Qian remained expressionless, while Lin Zhengran thanked him. The two of them cut a piece with their forks and tasted it. The desserts were rich in flavor, but not overly sweet, leaving a delightful aftertaste. Jiang Qian commented, "The taste is nice." The manager nodded, "Thank you." As Lin Zhengran ate the dessert, he absentmindedly glanced at the view outside the floor-to-ceiling window. The manager smiled and said, "If you had come a month earlier, you could have seen the flower bed." Lin Zhengran was intrigued, "Flower bed?" The manager pointed towards a darker silhouette in the city. "That place, in the summer, bursts with vibrant flowers, and there are fountain shows in the evening. It's very famous around here as a lovers’ confession spot. They say couples who confess there will stay together forever." Lin Zhengran looked at the dark circular area but didn’t pay much attention. Such legends about couples being together forever for marketing purposes are common worldwide. He casually remarked about a similar tale Han Wenwen mentioned in a dream when she was ill during middle school, "Is that so? Fascinating." However, Jiang Qian seemed to take Lin Zhengran’s casual comment seriously as she gazed toward the dark spot. "Really fascinating, do you truly think this place is amazing?" she coldly inquired. The manager laughed, "Of course, everyone says it's very effective. Otherwise, it wouldn’t be so famous. It’s a pity though... the spot will be demolished soon." With a helpless chuckle, he explained, "They're planning to turn it into an art installation landmark. Perhaps by next year, it won’t be there. That’s why I mentioned how unfortunate it was you didn’t arrive a bit earlier." Jiang Qian frowned, "Demolished? But why?" The manager explained, "It's said to hinder city development. Given its considerable size and proximity to the road, demolishing it for tourist safety is reasonable. But admittedly, it's a loss of a beautiful attraction." As Lin Zhengran gazed at the spot, he softly remarked, "That's really a shame." Listening to Lin Zhengran’s lament, Jiang Qian refocused on the dark flower bed, pondering something silently. Confessing there would mean staying with their beloved forever... The evening meal ended, exceptionally ordinary. Jiang Qian and Lin Zhengran walked side by side down the stairs. Gazing at the bustling, brightly lit city, Jiang Qian said, "Well, that’s it for tonight, thank you for dining with me." "No need to thank me," Lin Zhengran replied, pulling out a delicate little box from his pocket, offering it to Jiang Qian. "For you, a gift." Jiang Qian looked at the box in Lin Zhengran's hand, slightly dazed, "A gift?" She was a bit incredulous, "For me?" Lin Zhengran explained, "Last week, you helped me. Originally, I should’ve treated you to this meal, but when you mentioned the place this afternoon, I called, only to find you had already paid. So, I thought I’d give you a gift instead, as a token of thanks. I made it myself." Jiang Qian was momentarily stunned, her usually cold eyes softened, "You made it yourself..." Taking the box carefully, she gazed at it, "Can I open it and see what's inside?" "Of course." Jiang Qian slowly untied the ribbon and cautiously opened the box to reveal a finely crafted piano model. Though small, the piano was rich in detail, luxurious and exquisite, complete with every part. Jiang Qian couldn’t help but praise, "What a beautiful piece of craftsmanship... Did you really make such a complex model yourself?" For Lin Zhengran, anything intricate could be swiftly crafted as long as the materials were there. He infused a bit of spiritual energy into it while making it in the afternoon, giving it a calming and relaxing effect when placed in a bedroom. “It just looks complex; making it was quite simple.” Jiang Qian held it like a treasure, her cheeks glowing red, "Thank you... I'll cherish it." Lin Zhengran bid her farewell, "I’m off then. Tonight’s meal was delightful, and I’ll keep in mind what you mentioned. Bye." Jiang Qian, her typically icy tone softened only for him, replied, "Bye, see you tomorrow." "See you tomorrow." Lin Zhengran got into a taxi and left. Jiang Qian continued watching until Lin Zhengran disappeared at the street corner, then looked back at the exquisite piano model in her hands with a smile, her eyes sparkling, "He made this gift for me himself... I'm so happy." Half an hour earlier, on a street in this bustling city. An Audi drove smoothly along; in the back seat sat a man in a suit, resting his head on his hand. Both the driver and the passenger seat were occupied. The driver chuckled, "Yang Zong, we closed another deal tonight. Our boss is really something. After her training, everything’s been going smoothly for us." The person in the passenger seat added, "Our boss may be young, but she's truly a genius in every way." From the backseat, the man reminded the driver, "Stop calling her 'boss lady' like before. Call her 'boss.' Let me remind you again, fix your bad habits from before. No more of that cheeky tone that could cause trouble for me or the boss. If you can’t, you should know where to go." The driver reflexively slapped his face, a bit frightened, "Sorry, sorry, we should call her 'boss.' I forgot again." The passenger seat occupant also broke a sweat, remaining silent. As the Audi slowly came to a stop at the corner, the men got out. They walked to the end of the street until spotting a figure. The man, Zhang Yang, headed the group and nodded respectfully upon seeing the woman, "Boss." The two others echoed, "Good evening, Boss." The woman stepped out of the shadows, her silver-white hair cascading over her shoulders drawing attention. Her beautiful, youthful face was expressionless as she addressed them, "How's business going lately?" Zhang Yang smiled, "Everything's fine. No worries." He handed her a folder, "These are the documents you requested. Our company’s business is running smoothly." The woman took it and began to carefully review it, "I've been busy lately, so I can't visit the company as often as during my break." Zhang Yang offered loyally, "I’ll keep you posted. Have you eaten? If not, I can treat you." Without looking up, she replied, "No need. I have things to attend to shortly; I can only step out briefly." Zhang Yang hesitated but then nodded. "If you need anything, reach out to me anytime. I’ll handle it right away." Continuing to scrutinize the documentation, she added, "I don’t have any issues. Just follow my instructions and handle the tasks I assign. Remember, the Jiang Group's profits aren’t good as they're developing a new product. If our business overlaps, even at a loss, don’t cause them any trouble." Zhang Yang affirmed, "Understood. As you’ve instructed before, even if we lose money, we shouldn't mess with Jiang Group or Zhengshi Company’s business." "Just remember that." (End of this chapter)