Chapter 50 President Jiang must love you very much…

Chapter 50

Jin Ran was inspired by the students' basketball game and decided to use the game instead of the performance.

The core objective of the parents' visit was to foster a deeper sense of identification with Wencheng Middle School among its potential investors—wealthy business executives and socially conscious wives.

While hardware facilities and teaching staff are important, students' mental state is equally important. At this time, a vibrant physical education class can be a perfect substitute for a "student performance" arranged by the principal.

Firstly, it doesn't require rehearsals, and secondly, in the eyes of parents, it's authentic; the passion of competition and the energy of youth are far more infectious than a formulaic performance. Even she was deeply moved by it today. Parents who are used to grand events might, upon seeing this scene, be so inspired that they might even decide on the spot to donate an indoor stadium.

Jin Ran had very bold dreams.

However, she alone could not accomplish this.

During a long break between classes, Jin Ran called Jiang Xuli, who was about to catch up on her sleep, to the corridor: "Jiang, I need your help with something."

In the past, Jiang Xuli would have refused outright without even listening, but now, looking at Jin Ran's smiling face with her eyes crinkling, he found himself unable to say no!

He could only stubbornly express one of his few acts of rebellion: "You... tell me first."

“It’s not really that difficult,” Jin Ran smiled. “Could you help me find a few students who are good at basketball? I’m thinking of organizing a basketball tournament in a few days, and some parents will come to watch.”

Jiang Xuli pondered. He often played basketball with other students, but if it were to be a performance, those people might not agree.

Over there, Jin Ran took out a box of cookies from behind her back, her tone full of temptation: "Chef Wang's new Oreo-flavored cookies are delicious. I specially saved a box for you. Even your dad didn't get any."

Jiang Xuli: "..."

In an instant, the boy's expression became complicated.

He wanted to say that he wasn't a child and didn't particularly like eating snacks.

Perhaps because he had never experienced being pampered like a child before, that subtle, special feeling made him hesitate.

Finally, he reached out and took the items, his other hand in his pocket, his expression cool: "I can only ask them if they will participate; I can't guarantee it."

"Yes, you can just ask!"

Jin Ran's goal was just this; success would be a pleasant surprise, and failure would be insignificant. She didn't put all her eggs in one basket.

When Jiang Xuli returned to the classroom, Chen Xunliang, who had come over by the smell, saw the familiar cookie box and looked at her knowingly: "Teacher Jin brought you food again?"

Jiang Xuli remained noncommittal.

"She asked me to do something for her."

When playing basketball, the two usually act together. Jiang Xuli is not talkative, so Chen Xunliang is responsible for communication. After hearing Jin Ran's request, the latter immediately patted his chest and said, "No problem, I'll go find someone for you."

“However…” Her eyes darted around, her gaze drifting suggestively towards the box of cookies, “Since I also contributed, shouldn’t I get a share of these cookies?”

Jiang Xuli: "..."

Even if he was completely clueless about social niceties, he knew that you had to pay someone for a favor. So he opened the box and took out one of the two pieces... and gave it to the other person.

"Eat."

Chen Xunliang's eyes widened in surprise.

He was incredulous: "That's all?"

There were clearly more than a dozen pieces in that box!

Jiang Xuli glanced at him and reached out to take back the only cookie: "I'll find someone else."

"Hey, no, no, no!" Chen Xunliang quickly stuffed the biscuit into his mouth, thinking to himself that Brother Li was getting stingier and stingier, but soon he forgot about complaining and was attracted by the taste in his mouth.

The melt-in-your-mouth cookies have a rich and mellow flavor, a blend of cocoa and milk, so fragrant that you'd almost want to bite your tongue off. I heard that Jin Ran instructed the Jiang family's chefs to make them, and they really are delicious.

In order to continue to freeload in the future, Chen Xunliang worked extra hard to organize things and quickly gathered a group of friends who often played ball together.

A few days later, the six-person basketball team was formed. Jin Ran did not arrange professional training; she simply asked everyone to come and support her at the event.

Several students immediately patted their chests and readily agreed, guaranteeing that there would be absolutely no problem.

Friday arrived in the blink of an eye.

As the holidays approached, the teachers at Wencheng Middle School began to get busy. Jin Ran, as a substitute teacher, was only responsible for Class 3 of Grade 1, which made her job easier than the others. After the last class in the morning, she left the school early with her bag.

As I was leaving the school, I ran into Wei Ya, who was there to deliver something to her younger brother.

This was the first time the two had met since their last parting. Wei Ya was wearing a simple t-shirt and jeans, her clean face without any makeup, yet she had a fresh and natural beauty: "Miss Jin," she greeted her.

"Why are you at school?" Jin Ran asked, somewhat surprised.

"I came to bring clothes to my younger brother because the teacher said his clothes got wet."

Upon hearing this, Jin Ran frowned subconsciously. Wei Ya saw her expression and knew that she had misunderstood, so she quickly explained, "This time it was his own carelessness. He saw the fish in the pond and wanted to reach out to grab them, but he didn't pay attention to his footing and slipped into the water."

Autism is like this; it often involves stereotyped behaviors, extreme obsession with specific things, and unusual focus.

Wei Ya, the female protagonist, has been taking care of her younger brother since she was a child. She takes care of everything from his daily life to his rehabilitation treatment without ever complaining. Even when the family is so poor that they can't afford to eat, she always perseveres.

To be honest, most people probably wouldn't be able to make such patient and consistent efforts over the years.

Wei Ya never felt bitter. She had something to be happy about, and looked at Jin Ran gratefully: "Miss Jin, I passed the audition for Director Chen Duo's TV series today and got the role of the third female lead."

In fact, she had just come from Director Chen Duo's side.

The audition for the TV series was arranged in a residential building. Wei Ya didn't have high hopes at first because the place was crowded with people, including popular actresses and beautiful internet celebrities, while she was just an ordinary one among them.

But the opportunity was rare, and Wei Ya was unwilling to give it up. All she could do was try her best to perform her own interpretation, not seeking results, but only to have a clear conscience. Unexpectedly, she was spotted by director Chen Duo and was selected on the spot along with another young actress.

A written contract means that if the other party wants to back out later, they will have to pay a penalty according to the contract. In any case, it is a guarantee of income for Wei Ya, regardless of the circumstances.

Jin Ran was very happy: "This is your first period drama, right? Congratulations!"

Wei Ya's cheeks were flushed, and she was clearly just as happy: "Thank you." She bowed sincerely.

"Oh dear, don't do that," Jin Ran said helplessly, taking a step back. "This is all thanks to you. It was your acting skills that impressed the director, which is why he chose you."

No, Wei Ya thought to herself.

If it weren't for President Jiang's introduction, a busy person like Director Chen wouldn't have had time to interview an unknown actress like herself. She could tell that President Jiang was helping her because of Jin Ran.

Filled with indescribable gratitude, she asked with slight nervousness, "Ms. Jin, do you have time? If so, I would like to invite you to dinner."

"OK."

Jin Ran readily agreed to the invitation from the female protagonist of the original book.

She originally planned to go to a driving school to practice driving, but whether she spent more or less half a day made no difference to her current skill level.

The two went to a newly opened shopping mall nearby.

Wei Ya was initially a little embarrassed to find a cheap and delicious casserole restaurant on Dianping (a Chinese review platform), but Jin Ran said, "I've been craving this lately, and I have to satisfy my craving while no one's watching me!"

Wei Ya was somewhat surprised: "Doesn't President Jiang want you to eat?"

Jin Ran: "No, but he prefers to go to all kinds of restaurants and eateries."

Then he ordered a large table of dishes from different cuisines, savoring each one slowly. While others were already taking their third bite, he hadn't even swallowed his first.

Jin Ran's stomach, however, is more accustomed to the oily and salty taste of street food: "He also won't let me eat ice, it's so annoying."

Upon hearing this, Wei Ya covered her mouth and laughed: "President Jiang must love you very much."

Jin Ran blushed slightly: "I think he just can't stand seeing others eat delicious food."

Even so, she knew in her heart that Jiang Mingxu had developed this habit after she had menstrual cramps last time, and her ears burned with embarrassment: "Let's not talk about him anymore, let's go eat."

Three casserole dishes plus a dessert, candied cherry tomatoes, cost only 120 yuan. The two chatted and ate, and before they knew it, they had finished everything. Their stomachs were so full that Jinran suggested they go shopping in the mall.

"Yes, the weather is getting hotter and hotter, I'm planning to buy my younger brother a new outfit."

Upon hearing this, Jin Ran's heart stirred, and she suddenly remembered that she still owed Jiang Mingxu a birthday present.

Although the other party never mentioned it, she had received two million in pocket money from him after all, so it would be unreasonable not to prepare a decent gift.

"Then I'll go with you."

/

Two attractive female customers visited the major brand stores today.

Those who can become top consultants have long since developed a keen eye. These two are outstanding in terms of both temperament and dressing. Especially the slightly shorter one, whose floral maxi dress is, if I'm not mistaken, Brunello Cucinelli's latest summer collection, which the flagship store next door hasn't even launched yet.

That's nothing, after all, even the most expensive dress is only a few tens of thousands of yuan, but the bag she's carrying is a long-discontinued diamond-buckled crocodile skin bag, worth as much as eight figures!

Without hesitation, the consultant immediately and warmly greeted them.

"Ladies, is there anything I can do for you?"

Jin Ran coughed and said, "We'll take a look ourselves, and we'll call you if we need anything."

Many people nowadays don't like being followed when shopping for clothes, and the consultant understood this perfectly. So she stood at a distance that was neither too close nor too far from the two of them, so that she wouldn't disturb them, but also so that she could notice if they had any requests.

After everyone left, Jin Ran carefully flipped over the clothing tag.

80,000.

"Wow, that's expensive!" Her eyes widened instantly.

Wei Ya nodded with deep emotion.

She only earns a thousand yuan per scene now, and the company takes a portion of that money. Although she hopes to buy her younger brother better clothes, she can't afford it. Before coming here, they went to the underground shopping mall and bought two suits for a few hundred yuan, averaging fifty or sixty yuan per piece.

Jin Ran simply couldn't imagine that Jiang Mingxu would wear clothes that cost only a few dozen yuan. For a man of his status, dressing up was not only about quality, but more importantly, about his outward image.

If people saw Jiang Mingxu wearing cheap street vendor clothes, his business partners would probably think that Mingji Technology was having financial problems.

So even though she felt bad, she still dragged Wei Ya to the high-end stores on the second and third floors.

Neither of them had experience in choosing gifts for adult men, but fortunately, they had good taste. Jin Ran considered that Jiang Mingxu only wore shirts, so this time she specially picked out a conservative wool and silk blend polo shirt.

The design is mature, stable, classic, and elegant, and the material is so warm that you don't have to worry about it getting hot in the summer.

Buying one item is the same as buying two, so she simply picked out a younger-looking t-shirt for Jiang Xuli. After all, she felt a little guilty that her stepmother had received four times more pocket money than her biological son.

Consider it a thank you to the other party for helping me form a basketball team.

After a thorough shopping trip, the top consultant in charge of the two of them was all smiles, quickly packing up the clothes so fast that Jin Ran had no chance to back out.

However, she never intended to go back on her word.

While waiting, Jin Ran couldn't help but take out her phone, pointing at a certain profile picture and muttering to herself, "Do you know how good I am to you?"

She has never bought herself such expensive clothes!

Just as I was clicking away, a red dot suddenly appeared on my profile picture.

Jin Ran was so startled she almost threw her phone away, but after a moment she realized it wasn't an accidental touch. Jiang Mingxu: [Not at school?]

Does this person have clairvoyance?

Jin Ran breathed a sigh of relief, still shaken, and typed back: 【Yeah, I ran into Wei Ya, and we went shopping together】

Jiang Mingxu: [That newly opened shopping mall on the west side? I happen to be nearby. Which floor are you on?]

Jin Ran paused. Was he planning to come over?

Then I remembered that I wasn't sure if the clothes I just bought would fit. Although the consultant said I could return them, it would save me the trouble later if I could try them on in person.

So they told each other their location.

The accompanying consultant politely led the two to the VIP lounge and served them tea, desserts, and cakes. The service was so good that it put them in a good mood. Jin Ran ate a few bites of the cake, but then she thought about how both men in her family had bought things, and she was the only one who hadn't bought anything. The more she thought about it, the more unreasonable it seemed.

He decisively put down his tea and pulled Wei Ya to look at women's clothing.

As soon as the two stepped into the women's clothing section, a deliberately raised female voice rang out behind them: "Wei Ya?"

Looking back, I saw a woman still wearing sunglasses and a mask indoors, feigning surprise as she covered her mouth and said, "Oh my, it really is you."

She lowered her voice, feigning concern, "Did you come to the wrong place? The clothes in this store aren't cheap. Last time I saw a dress I liked, it cost five figures... By the way, I remember you've never bought anything for more than a hundred yuan. You'd better hurry up and leave before anyone notices."

He acts like he's looking out for you, but every word he says is sarcastic and sarcastic.

Wei Ya's expression remained unchanged.

She came from a poor family, but she never felt inferior because of it. She was poor but had integrity and virtue: "I don't need you to worry about me."

Jin Ran was wondering which cannon fodder in the book this stupid person was when, unexpectedly, the person, having failed to attack Wei Ya, turned his attention to her instead, and then chuckled.

"Hey, your bag looks familiar, but I remember this series was discontinued a long time ago, with no more than twenty produced in China... Could it be that you got it through 'special channels'?"

Jin Ran: "?"

Jiang Mingxu had Wang, her assistant, deliver this bag; it shouldn't be a counterfeit, right?