Chapter 39 Your son bought it for me
Chapter 39
When Jiang Mingxu noticed that something was wrong with Jin Ran, he had already sent people to investigate the Jin family.
This investigation did indeed uncover a problem.
Before the two agreed to marry, "Jin Ran" had been in a car accident. After regaining consciousness, she seemed to have become a different person. The young lady who used to only know how to have fun suddenly began to interfere in the family business. She shouted in front of the board of directors that the real estate industry was declining and instead asked the family to invest in new energy.
Unfortunately, she seemed to only know the surface but not the underlying reasons, unable to offer anything convincing, so the board of directors naturally wouldn't listen. Due to limited capabilities, coupled with the long-standing problems within the Kim family, she ultimately couldn't reverse the inevitable bankruptcy.
Then, Jin Ran suddenly broke up with her boyfriend, whom she was engaged to, and insisted on marrying herself in an arranged marriage for her cousin.
Thinking of this, Jiang Mingxu's eyes darkened for a moment.
But he quickly lowered his eyes, concealing all those surging emotions.
It is certain that the current Jin Ran is not the same person as the "Jin Ran" during the marriage alliance. As for the reason... it is probably similar to the previous car accident.
Amnesia? Multiple personality disorder? Or perhaps a completely different soul?
After observing her for a period of time, Jiang Mingxu discovered that she was not afraid of the sun, could cast a shadow in the light, and her body was no different from that of a normal person, being warm.
It was a bit strange at first, but upon closer inspection today, it turns out he guessed the wrong direction.
Xiao Sun drove the three of them back to Shuoguo Bay.
As Jin Ran passed the road leading to the residents' clubhouse, she remembered something and quickly told Xiao Sun, "Stop by the flower bed up ahead for a bit, I'm going to pick up a package."
She bought some things yesterday but forgot to tell the housekeeper that the package had been at the courier point for half a day.
I just happened to be passing by, and since I was already there, I figured there was no need to make the housekeeper run the errand again, so I could just take it myself.
However, there were quite a lot of things, and Jin Ran was worried that she wouldn't be able to carry them all by herself, so she naturally invited Jiang Xuli, who was in the front row, to come with her to get them.
Jiang Xuli pursed her lips, and although she didn't respond, she silently pushed open the car door and got out.
Jin Ran didn't think that much about it.
As a math teacher, she instructed Jiang Xuli more often at school, and it had become a habit without her realizing it. In addition, the things she bought were small prizes for studying together, making Jiang Xuli, a student, a perfect candidate for labor.
So she subconsciously ignored Jiang Mingxu, even though he was sitting right next to her.
Jiang Mingxu glanced at it indifferently.
Suddenly, he asked, "Is there a lot of stuff?"
"Huh?" Jin Ran came to her senses. "Oh, it's actually not bad. It's just that the packaging of the small items is a bit loose, and I'm afraid I won't be able to carry them all by myself."
“In that case, I’ll go with you.” He said matter-of-factly.
Jin Ran originally intended to refuse, feeling that it was unnecessary to make a big fuss about everyone going for just a few deliveries, but seeing that he had already unbuckled his seatbelt, she quietly shut her mouth.
The property management of Shuoguo Bay did not expect that they would receive such a rare guest today.
As a high-end villa community, Shuoguo Bay actually has a strict hierarchy. Jiang Mingxu, as a VVVVIP owner, lives in the most expensive row of townhouses in the entire community. The residents there are all extremely wealthy and powerful. The property management treats them like royalty, and they have to carefully prepare gifts to visit them during holidays.
Even when they gave gifts, they didn't see the busy Jiang Mingxu; instead, they chatted with the butler surnamed Cheng.
Upon hearing from the interns below that Jiang Mingxu was coming, the property manager practically dragged himself out of bed and rushed over. At that moment, he was incredibly grateful that he had bought a house nearby for work convenience.
As soon as he entered, the manager saw a man in a suit chatting with Old Zhang, who was on duty. A young and beautiful woman and a boy were standing next to them, whispering to each other, and it was unclear what they were saying.
He quickly straightened his collar, smiled broadly, and stepped forward: "President Jiang, it's so late and you've come all this way in person. It's truly an honor for our humble abode! If there's anything we can help with, please don't hesitate to ask. Our property management team will do our utmost to assist you!"
Jin Ran had just given Jiang Xuli the pickup code when she suddenly heard an exaggerated flattery. Looking up, she saw a middle-aged man praising Jiang Mingxu incessantly. The obsequious manner made her scalp tingle. In contrast, Jiang Mingxu remained calm, not even raising an eyebrow, as if he were already used to it.
Jin Ran couldn't help but admire the man's composure in the face of honor and disgrace.
Then she turned to look at Jiang Xuli, and the boy also looked disgusted, his reaction even more exaggerated than hers.
Jin Ran felt instantly relieved; it wasn't her fault.
When Jiang Xuli looked over, she even remarked meaningfully, "She's still young and needs to cultivate herself."
Jiang Xuli: ...
I can't understand what this woman is saying.
Over there, the manager made small talk for a while before cautiously getting to the point: "Mr. Jiang, is there anything the property management can do for you so late?"
Jiang Mingxu said calmly, "It's nothing, I just happened to be passing by and came with my family to pick up a package."
The property manager, who had been prepared to handle all sorts of tricky situations, was stunned: "Get...get the package?"
As he said this, his eyes were already fixed on the two people beside him whom he had ignored.
The beautiful young woman was carrying several express delivery boxes and casually stuffed them into President Jiang's hands: "Can you hold these for me first, and I'll go find the rest."
But Mr. Jiang, who was usually elusive, actually accepted it. He could clearly see that the cardboard box was still covered in dust!
Jiang Mingxu seemed oblivious to the shock of those around him and said, "I won't take up any more of the manager's time. I'll go find a package for my wife first."
The manager snapped out of his daze and said with a smile, "It's hardly an intrusion, Mr. Jiang, please make yourself at home."
Jiang Mingxu nodded.
It wasn't until the family of three went to the shelves inside to look for their package that the property manager realized what was happening. He angrily called over the intern and berated him in a low voice, "Why didn't you make it clear that you were here to pick up a package?!"
The intern also complained, "Isn't our Area B just a courier point?"
The implication is that you've misunderstood.
Seeing her so confident and self-assured, the manager was about to have a stroke. He never expected that the company president would personally come to the courier point to pick up a package after get off work. If word got out, he would probably be accused of spreading rumors.
He pointed at the intern and stammered for a long time, but in the end he couldn't say a word in rebuttal. Seeing this, the intern stuck out his tongue and decisively ran away.
Rather than dealing with her menopausal boss, she'd rather help the esteemed homeowner find a courier.
The property manager was left standing there, and after a brief moment of annoyance, his mind started racing.
He recalled Jiang Mingxu's earlier words about "spending time with family," and considering the current situation, the teenager accompanying him was most likely President Jiang's child. The manager had met the boy before, and now that he thought about it, he did indeed look somewhat like him.
The manager hadn't seen the other beautiful woman before, but based on the way she casually ordered two Jiang family men to pick up the package, he had already confirmed her identity.
She's probably the legendary Mrs. Jiang.
This made him take it seriously.
I had never heard of this Mrs. Jiang before and thought she was a timid and incompetent rich girl. Now it seems that she is not incompetent at all, but rather a low-key person who has been crushed by a perfect big shot.
So when Jin Ran and her two companions finished picking up their packages and were about to leave, the property manager came up to them again.
This time, he didn't just flatter Jiang Mingxu alone, but also chatted with Jin Ran for a bit.
"Mrs. Jiang may not know that our property management provides door-to-door delivery service. Next time, you only need to make one call and we will send someone to deliver it to you immediately."
Upon hearing this, Jin Ran was slightly surprised.
She thought the housekeeper would pick up all the packages at home, but she was surprised to find that the property management delivered them to her door. It seems that the service provided by Shuoguowan Property Management is indeed thoughtful and considerate.
Thinking back to the property management company of her previous life, they not only had all sorts of ways to collect money, but it also took her a whole week to top up her water card.
When asked, they said they weren't there, didn't have time, and would come another day.
So much so that when friends asked for her advice on buying a house, her only suggestion was to first check the quality of the property management service!
However, she guessed that the property management fees for such top-tier services as Shuoguo Bay must be quite considerable. Later, when she heard the manager say that they would regularly organize activities for the owners and provide various value-added services to provide a perfect living environment for the community, she readily agreed to join the owners' group.
Regardless of what other homeowners thought when they saw the "newcomer" join the group, once they got home, Manager Cheng and Chef Wang had already sliced the tender beef and mutton into thin slices and neatly arranged them on a long plate.
On a hot summer day, it is indeed a pleasure to eat hot pot in a cool air-conditioned room, but looking at the clear broth, Jin Ran always felt that something was missing.
She couldn't help but glance towards the spicy hot pot broth next to her, but Jiang Mingxu stopped her in time: "You haven't been feeling well lately, so it's best not to eat spicy food."
Jin Ran was stunned for a moment, then her face turned red instantly when she realized what was happening.
How did he know? I don't think I mentioned it.
Or is the relationship between the two so good that he knows the original owner's menstrual cycle perfectly?
Just as Jin Ran was wondering what was going on, Jiang Xuli, who was eating without even looking up, suddenly choked on the clear broth. After covering her mouth and coughing wildly, she frantically grabbed a water glass. The way she looked away made Jin Ran understand what was going on.
She squinted.
No wonder the boy was so well-behaved today, doing whatever he was asked. No wonder the family specially prepared nourishing beef and mutton, and no wonder Butler Cheng looked so hesitant when he saw her return. Now it all makes sense.
Forgetting her embarrassment for a moment, she looked at Jiang Xuli with amazement, wondering if this counted as unintentionally winning over her stepson.
Across the table, feeling the intense gazes fixed on her, Jiang Xuli blushed from her face to her neck, and stammered, "I just mentioned it casually."
Jin Ran smiled kindly: "Alright, no need to say more, I understand."
Jiang Xuli: ? No, what do you understand?
When he gave Jin Ran the hand warmer and ginger brown sugar powder, the woman's smile became even more mischievous, making Jiang Xuli's expression stiffen. As he left, it was as if a raging flood was behind him.
Jin Ran clutched her waist and laughed.
Jiang Mingxu, who was passing by, cast a curious glance at her, so she simply opened the plastic bag to show him: "Your son bought this for me~"
Jiang Mingxu raised an eyebrow: "He treats you quite well."
"Really?" Jin Ran tilted her head and thought for a moment, feeling that it seemed to be true. Although she was a bit stubborn and acted like a crab with its claws outstretched, she had never actually done anything excessive and her attitude towards her was even respectful. "Maybe it's respect for teachers and elders, it can't be filial piety, can it?"
As she spoke, she laughed at herself.
Jiang Mingxu shook his head helplessly: "He has never bought me anything."
Jin Ran has a lot to say about this: "That's because you always criticize him. He must be afraid of you, his strict father. How could he dare to buy you anything? He might not even like what he buys, and he'd have to worry about being scolded by you."
"Is he afraid of me?" Jiang Mingxu seemed very confused. In his memory, Jiang Xuli was rebellious and disobedient since childhood. When he was brought over from his hometown, he was dirty and ate ravenously, which drove away five nannies in a row.
Jin Ran nodded firmly, mimicking a man's expression and putting on a stern face. She was pure and beautiful, and even with this expression, she looked charming. Her almond-shaped eyes narrowed, her lips were tightly pursed, and she glanced at him with a hint of nonchalance and a touch of cold indifference: "Even just looking at you like this makes me scared."
Jiang Mingxu: "..."
Seeing "himself" from an outsider's perspective for the first time was a very strange feeling, since he never cared about external opinions and his mind was as firm as a rock. Once he made a decision, no matter what others said, it could not shake his resolve.
But at this moment, her words stirred a few subtle ripples in his heart.
He took a deep look at the woman in front of him and, seeing the smile in her eyes, knew that she was teasing him on purpose.
"It's really terrifying,"
Jiang Mingxu lowered his brows and showed a regretful expression, saying seemingly casually, "Then you probably don't dare to accept the project promotion plan we agreed on before."
Jin Ran, who was happily imitating, suddenly froze with a smile.
"A promotional plan? What promotional plan?"
Jiang Mingxu raised an eyebrow: "Regarding the 'One, Two, Three Plan' for attracting investment and businesses to Wencheng Middle School."
He was reading the title of Jin Ran's proposal. Instantly, Jin Ran realized her mistake. If she had known he had already revised her proposal, she would never have teased him.
Even if you're going to tease someone, you can't wait until you get your hands on it before you tease them, right?
While brainstorming in her mind, in reality, Jin Ran hesitated for a mere fraction of a second between stubbornness and sliding to her knees, ultimately choosing the latter with great difficulty.
She changed her tune, saying, "I was just joking, it's not scary at all."
"Huh? You just said you were scared..."
Jin Ran interrupted him with a serious expression: "That's because I'm afraid I'll never find a ghostwriter who can write such a perfect plan again."
After saying that, I silently gave myself a thumbs up in my heart.
He doesn't praise people directly, but every word he writes is a compliment.
This is the ultimate form of flattery.
As expected, Jiang Mingxu couldn't help but laugh, pressing his finger bone against the tip of his nose.
/
Jin Ran finally got her promotional plan as she wished.
It must be said that he is indeed a master. He was able to accurately summarize the advantages from Jin Ran's long and complicated straightforward description, and even added the latest market data, investment return calculations and risk assessments.
Looking at the plan, she suddenly realized why her first attempt to test the waters had failed.
She carefully put away the valuable proposal, thinking that if there was another opportunity, she would definitely not let Jiang Mingxu down.
/
On Friday, the results of the teacher recruitment exam were released, and Jin Ran passed with a high score.
The reason we knew it was a high score was because in their temporary hiking group, none of the other teachers had a score as high as Jin Ran's.
Group member: [Congratulations!]
Group member: [This score probably ranks among the top in our district, right?]
Group member: [I didn't expect there to be such a top student in the group. I'll definitely have to admire their brilliance when we go hiking tomorrow.]
They were all young people and in the same teaching profession, so they got along very well. Jin Ranzi expressed her gratitude in the group chat, and after finding out the meeting time for tomorrow, she left.
Xu Zhen sent her a message asking what she should wear for hiking tomorrow.
Jin Ran thought about it and decided that it would be more comfortable to wear stretchy sportswear for hiking, but she was afraid of getting a tan. Just as she was struggling with this decision, the housekeeper came down from the third floor with a fruit platter.
Upon learning that Jin Ran was worried about what to wear for tomorrow, he immediately offered her the business cards of several business partners: "These sports brands have been cooperating with you for many years and send you new products every season. However, since there was no lady of the house before, they only sent men's clothing. You might want to take a look at their sun protection series."
He sighed, "The weather is perfect for spring outings right now. The young master used to love going out to play, but these past few days he's locked himself in his room as soon as he gets back, and he doesn't even go to the garden anymore."
Upon hearing this, Jin Ran was surprised: "Has he been like this lately?"
Although the two lived together, one lived on the second floor and the other on the third floor, and their schedules were not synchronized, so she had no idea what Jiang Xuli was doing.
"That's right. He's been reading non-stop and has lost weight. As the old saying goes, learning is a long-term process; you have to take it one step at a time. You can't become fat overnight." The butler's voice was full of worry.
Jin Ran nodded secretly.
Studying requires a balance between work and rest, otherwise you'll collapse before the final exams.
The butler looked at Jin Ran, and a sudden idea struck him. He suggested, "Why don't you take the young master hiking with you, Madam?"
"Huh?" Jin Ran hesitated. "This... he might not be willing."
The butler chuckled, "Young Master likes Madam very much. If Madam asks him, he might agree."
Jin Ran was speechless for a moment, because she really didn't know where the housekeeper got the idea that Jiang Xuli liked her.
However, thinking of the "ginger and brown sugar water" she had a few days ago, she did not refuse.
On Saturday morning, Jiang Xuli was sound asleep when he was suddenly awakened by a knock on the door. He opened the door impatiently, only to be met with a woman's bright and beautiful eyes.
"Want to go hiking?" Jin Ran invited with a smile. "The weather is especially nice today, perfect for going out and getting some fresh air. We're also going with a few Chinese language teachers, so you can ask them for advice on any problems you've been having lately."
Jiang Xuli: "..."
He glanced at the blinding sunlight outside the window as if in a dream, and his first thought was—would he get sunburned like a dried fish if he went hiking in this sweltering heat?
Jin Ran was quite resistant and was about to refuse when her phone rang. Xu Zhen's clear voice came through the receiver: "Ranran, have you left yet? My cousin is driving today, do you want to pick you up?"
Jiang Xuli, who was about to turn around and go back to her room, suddenly stopped.
cousin?
He asked calmly, "Are there many people climbing this mountain?"
Jin Ran thought he was shy and said considerately, "There are probably seven or eight people, but we can walk on our own."
Before he could finish speaking, Jiang Xuli nodded decisively: "Okay, let's go then."
Now it was Jin Ran's turn to be incredulous; she had clearly looked unwilling just a moment ago—
"Never mind," she shook her head, "I've already achieved my goal anyway."
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