What's this man doing here? Damn, is he an art student too?
Chen Jing instinctively stepped in front of Ji Xia, then looked back at Ji Xia's expression. Ji Xia was calmly signing the form and registering.
Chen Jing also turned around, but stood further back, trying his best to completely block Ji Xia's presence so that the man couldn't see her.
He also knew that this was a self-deceiving idea.
If that pretty boy were to study here, no matter how much we try to stop him, it won't last long.
Hopefully, after a few months, the pretty boy will have found another target and forgotten about Ji Xia.
He had just begun to pray when an annoying voice sounded behind him.
Jiang Qingci's voice was clear and sweet, but Chen Jing found it utterly unpleasant to listen to.
"Ji Xia, you're back? I thought you weren't coming back. I was planning to invite you out for mutton tonight."
Ji Xia put down her pen, turned around with a smile, and said, "Thanks. Brother Jing also treated me to stewed mutton. It was stewed with medicinal herbs, and the soup was so white and delicious."
Tonight's soup was indeed lamb chops stewed with medicinal herbs, and Ji Xia drank two large bowls of it.
As she spoke, she naturally took Chen Jing's arm: "Jing, let me introduce you. This is my roommate, Jiang Qingci. She's from Jiangnan and lives not far from my second brother and sister-in-law! This Mr. Lin is Qingci's cousin."
"This is my fiancé, Chen Jing. Let's get to know each other!"
Upon hearing this, Jiang Qingci gracefully extended her hand: "This is my brother-in-law? He and Sister Xia are indeed a perfect match, a match made in heaven."
Ji Xia smiled shyly and said, "We're childhood sweethearts, just like you guys."
"They're already showing off their love as soon as we meet. Luckily we were full earlier."
Chen Jing immediately felt a sense of goodwill towards the sweet-smiling girl, and his dislike lessened a bit. He reached out and gave her a light handshake: "You like mutton? Next time you come back with Xia during your vacation, I'll treat you to mutton hot pot."
"Great! That's wonderful!"
The little girl excitedly hugged Ji Xia's arm, while Chen Jing extended his hand to Lin Chen with a forced smile: "Jiangnan is a land of outstanding people and beautiful scenery. Mr. Lin is a handsome man, and you seem somewhat familiar?"
"Mr. Chen is a very busy man. We met twice a few months ago, and you've already forgotten about him?"
Lin Chen smiled insincerely and squeezed Chen Jing's hand back, only to feel a sharp pain in his palm as Chen Jing's hand gripped his tightly like an iron clamp.
He curled his lips into a slight smile, as if to intimidate Chen Jing. Was he trying to scare him? Did he think Chen Jing was being threatened?
On the other side, Ji Xia waved to Chen Jing: "Jing, let me carry the luggage up. Men are not allowed to go up to the girls' dormitory."
Chen Jing released Lin Chen's hand: "It's okay, this luggage is a bit heavy, I'll carry it downstairs for you."
"Alright."
On the other side, Jiang Qingci waved his hand: "Cousin, I'll see you off here. Goodbye!"
Lin Chen waved and watched Ji Xia and Jiang Qingci walk hand in hand, with Chen Jing following behind carrying a duffel bag and a sketchbook.
He pursed his lips, stared intently at the three figures for a moment, then turned and left.
It's alright, there's plenty of time. Give him some more time to understand the Lin family, and then she'll know what the best choice is.
Back in the courtyard, he squinted at the vibrant garden. It was a three-courtyard siheyuan he had bought in Beijing two months ago. Not only was the location excellent, close to Shichahai, but the courtyard's design also leaned towards the exquisite style of southern gardens.
He was thinking, how about inviting Jiang Qingci under the guise of flower viewing and sketching another day, and having her invite a few of her roommates? Let them see what it's like to be part of a wealthy family?
Just then, assistant Liu Jin walked in carrying a folder.
Lin Chen beckoned him over: "Liu Jin, do you remember the man who robbed our Wangfujing shop a few months ago? That man named Chen Jing."
"That? Didn't he go back to the south? And now he's back in the capital?"
Liu Jin had not received the news yet, and was surprised to hear it.
After all, they had been watching that man for months and found out he owned two shops, but he hadn't opened either of them.
Lin Chen, his face grim, plucked a chrysanthemum from a blooming flower: "Ji Xia has enrolled at the Academy of Fine Arts, and he's gone back to Beijing with her. Tomorrow, check her background and see what she's doing back in Beijing."
"Understood. I will definitely find out what he's been up to lately and make sure he can't stay in Beijing."
...
Chen Jing escorted Ji Xia to the girls' dormitory building, arranged to pick her up after get off work the next evening, and then left reluctantly.
Back in the compound, he pondered deeply, feeling somewhat depressed and uneasy.
Although Ji Xia acted as if she didn't know the pretty boy at all and never paid him any attention.
Chen Jing was still annoyed by the pretty boy's efforts towards Ji Xia.
After looking at the wholesale site setup, he suddenly beckoned to Hou Fang and led him to tidy up an empty room in the outer courtyard.
This room is one of the rooms in the rear building, and it's at least 20 square meters, which isn't small.
The courtyard had been completely renovated, and he emptied out all the belongings to make room for them.
The two of them also dragged Chen Qiuyu and Hou Xiaolian to the front yard that night to display hundreds of new autumn clothes and six mannequins dressed in them.
He instructed Hou Fang: "Starting tomorrow, remind those close brothers not to mention to anyone that there's a small workshop in the backyard, lest someone investigate."
"Wholesale operations should only be conducted in the front yard. They are not allowed to go to the back yard unless necessary, so that no one will find out that there is an unlicensed workshop in the back yard."
That's the advantage of a siheyuan (courtyard house): it's spacious enough to separate the outer courtyard from the backyard. People aren't allowed to enter unless necessary, so nobody knows what's going on inside.
Logically speaking, no one should be investigating unlicensed businesses, because the economy has been liberalized, and he has received a hint that the higher-ups are now discussing liberalizing the economy and allowing private businesses to operate legally.
But who knows what underhanded tricks that pretty boy surnamed Lin might pull? It's best to keep it a secret as long as possible, even if it means keeping it a secret for a while longer.
The next day, when wholesale was open, several of his close associates arrived early. Chen Jing had privately spoken to them, telling them not to mention the small workshop to his former brothers.
In addition, following the old practice of Ji Xia giving commissions to Boss Song, Chen Jingyi signed a private agreement with several of his underlings, asking them to bring clients to him.
If the people they bring purchase goods, they will receive a 1% commission based on the value of the goods sold.
It's not uncommon for a small vendor to purchase goods for a single time, ranging from a few thousand to three or five thousand.
If the people they bring also get a commission on their purchases, it would be a pleasant surprise for the group of underlings.
If you bring three or five people over each day, wouldn't you earn tens or hundreds of yuan a day? If you come a few times a month, you might earn several hundred yuan.
Their sales haven't been great these past few months; sometimes they don't even earn 500 yuan a month!
Six or seven henchmen settled the matter, readily signed the agreement, and promised never to leak the information.
Are you kidding me? If word gets out, will they still be able to bring people over to wholesale and make money? Or what if someone else snatches up this great opportunity?
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