Chapter 63 Three men can make a tiger; the black eats the black, and Shan Zuo is eaten...
“Young Master Shan, is that right?” Jiang Miaomiao pressed.
If you dare to deny it, it shows that you are narrow-minded!
Dan Zuoxi gave an impatient "hmm" and reluctantly raised his hand.
Jiang Miaomiao smiled and continued sipping her coffee.
This society is truly divided into distinct classes.
I climbed up so hard, but the barrier was really hard to overcome.
As Jiang Miaomiao sipped her coffee, she tried to comfort herself, concocting various reasons that made her want to laugh.
Dan Zuoxi said angrily, "What are you laughing at? What's so funny?"
Jiang Miaomiao replied, "People don't only laugh when they're happy."
However, Shan Zuoxi in front of me is really tempting, like bait that's been delivered to my door.
She said seriously, "Young Master Shan, let's change our cooperation method. I don't want to go against the tide to get Xie Ran and Jiang Mian back together. But I can try to match you with that friend from the hospital."
Dan Zuoxi was puzzled: "Just now, Ran-ge was like stinky chewing gum in your mouth, and he even secretly cursed me for being no good either. Now you disagree with helping them but want to help us. Are you looking down on Lu Han's character or are you playing me?"
Oh dear, he knows he's no good, yet he still insists on clinging to this virtuous and kind girl?
Jiang Miaomiao shook her head with a laugh: "Xie Ran and Jiang Mian were married before, and they only separated because they were not suitable for each other. If I were to try to get them back together, it would be like pushing her back into a pit of fire. As for you and your 'doctor friend', you haven't gotten together yet. For such an uncertain outcome, it wouldn't be against my conscience for me to help you get back together."
Dan Zuoxi didn't hold back either, increasing the difficulty: "But she has already said that we are not suitable for each other."
Jiang Miaomiao asked, "What aspects were deemed inappropriate?"
Dan Zuoxi said impatiently, "Temperament, family background, style, and so on."
Jiang Miaomiao countered, "If two people have exactly the same temperament, family background, and style, some say they're a match made in heaven, while others say they're mutually exclusive. If they're different, some say they're mismatched, while others say they complement each other. Young Master Shan, it seems like either way you look right, doesn't it?"
These words were pleasing to the ear, and Shan Zuoxi felt a sense of relief wash over him, as if his limbs were relaxed and his heart, liver, spleen, lungs, and kidneys were refreshed. "Alright, how can you help me?"
Jiang Miaomiao replied, "If I reveal it now, it would be like showing my hand. Let's reveal it gradually later. Also, I demand that I receive a corresponding reward for each step of the revelation. Otherwise, if I work hard to bring them together, what if you, Young Master Shan, turn your back or change your mind? Wouldn't all my efforts be for nothing?"
Dan Zuoxi waved his hand and said, "I won't change partners..."
Jiang Miaomiao retorted, "Did Xie Ran explicitly say he wanted to replace Jiang Mian when he married her?"
Shan Zuoxi: "..."
Dan Zuoxi: "I was just about to say I like you, but your mouth is just too sharp. Let's exchange contact information and stay in touch."
Jiang Miaomiao agreed.
Both parties took out their phones and scanned each other's WeChat QR codes to add each other as friends.
Then, Shan Zuoxi quickly took the packaged coffee to the hospital.
Jiang Miaomiao rubbed her face, which was stiff from smiling, and took out her phone to find Jiang Mian.
[Jiang Miaomiao: Shan Zuoxi has taken a liking to your friend at the hospital. Can you arrange a meeting for me?]
[Jiang Mian: Are you going to sell my best friend?]
[Jiang Miaomiao: If I really betrayed your best friend, would you forgive me? We'd definitely break up.]
[Jiang Mian: That makes sense, so who are you?]
[Jiang Miaomiao: They're in cahoots, so we can use the three of us to double-cross them.]
[Jiang Mian: ...Is this how you're supposed to use Chinese idioms?]
Despite her words, Jiang Mian still planned to organize the gathering.
When visiting someone's home for the first time, etiquette is very important.
Jiang Miaomiao sought help from Yan Yousui via remote video, and then spent a lot of money to urgently purchase the "Human Anatomy Book" that "all doctors dream of but is out of print".
Yan Yousui said jealously, "You know to buy a copy for others, but what about me?"
Jiang Miaomiao coaxed, "Who said I'd only buy one? I'll buy three, and I'll give you two. Take one to read, and take the other to offer as a sacrifice."
Yan Yousui laughed: "No need for that, I already bought it."
Jiang Miaomiao tilted her head and asked, "Then, Dr. Yan, when can we resolve the pain of this long-distance relationship?"
Yan Yousui's smile remained: "20 days left, wait for me a little longer."
...
Jiang Mian truly lived up to her reputation as a woman who could swiftly sever her ill-fated relationship with Xie Ran.
Jiang Miaomiao proposed organizing the gathering in the morning, bought the book in the afternoon, and then notified me to come home for dinner in the evening.
The family dinner starts at 7:00 PM sharp.
Jiang Miaomiao and Lu Han, two women with a strong sense of time, came out of the garage on different floors, but they both stood at the door of Jiang Mian's house at the same time.
Jiang Miaomiao raised an eyebrow: "Dr. Lu?"
Lu Han was taken aback: "Chairman Jiang from Gangcheng?"
Without saying a word, the two parties confirmed each other's identities on the spot based solely on their intuition.
First impressions and aura are mysterious and elusive things.
Although it was their first time meeting, they felt like they had known each other for a long time.
Jiang Mian brought Xie Ziqi to open the door. Judging from their expressions, they had met before and their auras blended together.
Xie Ziqi stood on tiptoe behind Jiang Mian, tilted his chubby face up, and shouted energetically, "Welcome, aunties, to my house!"
Lu Han habitually reached out and pinched the little face, saying succinctly, "When are you finally going to start calling me godmother?"
Xie Ziqi shook his little head and said firmly, "I just won't change it."
“Okay.” Ever since he was able to speak, this has been an answer he has never changed.
Jiang Miaomiao crouched down to look Xie Ziqi in the eye, and was also charmed by his chubby cheeks. He was definitely much cuter than her three unruly younger brothers!
She handed over the toy car, saying, "I also appreciate your invitation. It's a small gift but carries great sentiment; I hope Xie Ziqi won't find it offensive."
She squatted down to his height.
The words were long and drawn out, and although he didn't understand a word of them, they sounded just as impressive as the brick-breaking incident that night.
Xie Ziqi picked up the toy car and loudly said "Mmm," his four-year-old voice revealing immense joy.
Jiang Mian and Lu Han both glanced at him with some surprise. It's rare for someone to be liked on the first meeting. Not to mention that at the dinner table, Xie Ziqi excitedly proposed, "Mom, I want Aunt Miao to be my godmother."
Lu Han, whose eyebrows and eyes were slightly curved, was bribed by Jiang Miaomiao with a book: "?!"
Jiang Mian quickly got up and left: "I still have soup in the kitchen that I haven't brought out."
Dr. Lu lowered her head and wiped her face. When she looked up again, her expression was one of both cold beauty and ruthlessness.
She stared coldly at Jiang Miaomiao across the table: "How did you do that?"
Jiang Miaomiao said slowly and deliberately, "Treating a child's thinking should be done in a child's way. I was just comparing fists with him."
They played rock-paper-scissors, arm wrestling, building block battles, puzzle-solving contests, and even now they compete to see who can finish eating the fastest. Xie Ziqi, though young, was a cunning little man and lost every single one of them, so naturally he accepted his defeat.
Is tonight's dinner meant for her to witness how four years of hard work couldn't compare to Jiang Miaomiao's single punch?
Lu Han reluctantly pushed the book away and buried her head in her food. The faint sound of teeth grinding could be heard.
Jiang Mian, who had just sat back down with a bowl of water, sensed that something was wrong and got up again to take the bowl of hot water back to the kitchen: "I forgot I didn't make a second pot of soup, I took the wrong one."
She distanced herself from the chaotic scene twice, letting the guests do as they pleased.
As for Xie Ziqi, who ignited this war, all he knows is how to do nothing.
Jiang Miaomiao casually served food to Lu Han, saying, "First of all, congratulations on my successful challenge."
Lu Han replied sullenly, "I can't congratulate you. I'm jealous of you."
Jiang Miaomiao advised, "A godmother isn't like a biological mother; you can only have one. You guys failed repeatedly in the early stages, but I succeeded. You can learn from my experience."
Well, Dr. Lu still needs to prioritize. She looked up: "That's true. How can we learn from this?"
Jiang Miaomiao thought to herself, "My boyfriend is also a doctor, so he's incredibly steady when it comes to taking photos and videos."
Lu Han: "Me too, so I'm 100% accurate when shooting and throwing darts."
Jiang Miaomiao slammed her hand on the table and made a decision: "That's settled then. When Xie Ziqi is a little older and can play around, you can crush him and make him call you godmother for 365 days a year."
Lu Han pulled the book back into her arms with her left hand and slammed her right fist on the table: "Okay!"
The atmosphere of silent confrontation completely dissipated.
Jiang Mian then returned to the dining table empty-handed.
She greeted Lu Han, "This steamed pork with rice flour is your favorite."
He then said to Jiang Miaomiao, "The gravy from the braised pork is delicious when poured over rice. Would you like to try it?"
It's like offering hindsight advice to treat everyone fairly.
...
After the meal, Xie Ziqi played with the dog by himself.
The three women quickly cleared away the dishes and made tea in the living room before getting down to business.
"Xie Ran threatened me, wanting me to match him up with Jiang Mian and get them back together." Jiang Miaomiao loved to reveal her secrets right from the start, making everyone's hearts race.
Jiang Mian raised an eyebrow: "So what's your answer?"
Jiang Miaomiao said, "I will change my choice to matchmaker Zuo Xi and Dr. Lu."
Lu Han was slightly taken aback and said, "?"
Jiang Miaomiao tilted her head and looked at Lu Han: "Young Master Shan is using the installment reward method, so I just need to stall for time and not really match them up."
Lu Han frowned: "So you want me to deceive his feelings? That's a bit unethical."
Jiang Miaomiao pulled out a thick document detailing Shan Zuoxi's history of changing girlfriends every week. "Does he think he's moral just because he plays with other people's feelings? Besides, our goals are different from his. We're trying to protect ourselves; this is an extraordinary measure for extraordinary times."
She said righteously, "My foundation is not stable, and Jiang Mian has made too many enemies. I can only take advantage of the situation to protect myself and then quickly become stronger. Dr. Lu, you can just sacrifice a little time to have a coffee or a meal with him. Anything more is fine with you, I won't stop you."
Lu Han clicked his tongue and shook his head: "Dream on!"
Jiang Miaomiao immediately turned to Xie Ziqi and coaxed him, "Godson, you must remember this. You only have one biological mother, and you only have one godmother, me."
Lu Han immediately retorted, "You're despicable! You said you could have multiple godmothers!"
Jiang Miaomiao shrugged: "At this critical moment, I don't mind changing my English name to Baby."
Lu Han was too lazy to argue anymore: "I'm the one who suffers the hardship, all the benefits go to you guys..."
Jiang Miaomiao reached out and gave him a loving hug: "We will remember you for the rest of our lives."
Lu Han refused: "No, I don't want you to remember this. I want your mall membership card."
Jiang Miaomiao swiftly pulled out a stack of gleaming gold membership cards. "No problem. Take as many membership cards as you want. 5% off everything!"
Lu Han was about to put it away when she suddenly heard Jiang Mian ask doubtfully, "Isn't this kind of gold membership card the lowest level?"
She quickly turned her gaze back to Jiang Miaomiao.
The latter shamelessly replied with an "um": "Above that are platinum, diamond, and black cards."
Jiang Miaomiao hurriedly said, "Dr. Lu, I also learned installment payment from Young Master Shan. You treat him to coffee once, he does me a favor once, and I'll help you upgrade your card. The three of us form a closed loop, with fair prices and no deception."
Jiang Miaomiao immediately sent a message to Shan Zuoxi.
[Jiang Miaomiao: Young Master Shan, are you free on Saturday? I've arranged for Dr. Lu to come and attend the opening ceremony of my Longgang shopping mall.]
[Shan Zuoxi: You need to do your homework before you try to fool me. Lu Han even finds it hot to go downstairs to pick up a package, let alone go shopping!]
Jiang Miaomiao's playful gaze suddenly turned melancholic.
She said thoughtfully, "Dr. Lu, Shan Zuoxi seems to know you very well?"
Lu Han didn't take it seriously: "He can change women every week because he's good at putting his heart into women. If you say I'm just accompanying Ziqi, he'll believe you."
Jiang Miaomiao thought to herself: Lu Han doesn't seem to have any complete indifference towards Shan Zuoxi.
[Jiang Miaomiao: Don't you know Jiang Mian has opened a family-friendly restaurant in my online store? Dr. Lu needs to be present to help look after Xie Ziqi.]
[Shan Zuoxi: That's a perfectly reasonable reason. What favors do you need my help with?]
[Jiang Miaomiao: Please encourage your relatives, friends, and media to attend. Each person should post this on their WeChat Moments and get 48 likes. Send me a screenshot. (Note: Xie Ran is also welcome to attend.)]
[Shan Zuoxi: ...What are you trying to do?]
Lu Han asked doubtfully, "I thought you were going to help him get through government procedures or raise funds, but that's all?"
***
On Saturday, Jiang Miaomiao's long-planned Longgang Mall finally opened.
She allowed ample time in advance, building anticipation from all sides.
Before the opening ceremony, they were constantly moving around and creating momentum.
Jiang Miaomiao and her team stood side-by-side in front of the mall's grand entrance, smiling at the cameras and phone lenses coming from all directions. She calmly and confidently delivered a speech thanking everyone for their support, and extended her gratitude by offering a 10% discount on all items during the first week of opening.
As she expected, the news of the port city's opening immediately dominated the top headlines of Shenzhen's economic news and entertainment searches that day.
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