Chapter 205: The Second Dragon

Jiang Qin coldly acknowledged and started counting the money while Yu Shasha’s questions continued nonstop during the process.

“Male god, did Feng Nanshu spend the New Year at your place?”

“Male god, when can we start using group-buying at our university?”

“Male god, why do you never come to our gatherings?”

“Male god…”

Jiang Qin looked up at her, getting goosebumps all over. “Yu Shasha, could you not call me male god? It’s giving me the creeps. Just call me dumbass like in high school.”

Yu Shasha’s eyes instantly widened, “I never called you that! At most I called you bookworm!”

“No need to feel guilty, just call me that gleefully. That way when I raise your rent later this year I won’t have any psychological burden. You know housing in this area is getting more and more in demand. I’ll only raise it a tiny bit.”

“No, you’re the male god. I can’t lie,” Yu Shasha said firmly.

Jiang Qin glanced at her and couldn’t help clicking his tongue, “Such a young girl, how can you be so discerning?”

“Then male god, how about lowering my rent a bit?”

“Ha, you must be joking. That would cost me my life, absolutely not.”

Jiang Qin dropped his smile, his face cold as if he was a heartless cash-counting machine.

Yu Shasha didn’t mind his ruthlessness. After all, her parents paid the rent. She had only asked offhandedly to make conversation.

But that “absolutely not” from the male god was no joke.

What defines a male god?

It’s not just someone who casually flashes famous watches or drops the name Ayn Rand, a high-quality man.

Nor is it the kind in web novels who ignore everyone, think they’re hot stuff but actually have no manners, an embarrassment.

A true male god handles everything with ease, more humorous than anyone when being humorous, more humble than anyone when being humble, more flamboyant than anyone when being flamboyant, colder than anyone when being cold.

He can make anything work, letting you see his mature steadiness while also finding him childishly cute.

Call it being a social chameleon or playing the field.

In the end, it’s a quality of being unruffled no matter what.

This kind of person can put on a suit and join high society, or wear a tank top, loose pants and slippers to casually stroll the streets.

Because those with true inner strength never rely on superficial things to win applause.

Just like Jiang Qin now, not hiding his love for money at all, yet not seeming crass in the slightest.

“Alright, it’s the right amount.”

“Male god, want to stay and chat a bit?”

“No need, my time is very valuable.”

After putting away the lovely cash, Jiang Qin waved goodbye and turned to go downstairs.

Seeing this, Yu Shasha returned to the living room thinking that line would only sound right coming from Jiang Qin. If Qin Zi’ang said it, it would probably feel like a kid wearing adult clothes, ridiculous.

People are ultimately different.

She closed the door and turned to look at Chu Siqi, finding her still blankly staring at the doorway, both hands tightly clenched, her exposed fingertips a little white.

Though unable to fully empathize, Yu Shasha knew her class belle best friend’s guts were probably all twisted with regret.

“Turning to leave right away, he’s really a cold, heartless person. But buying apartments to rent out, running a bar, building a website to host competitions, doing online shopping, negotiating partnerships – he’s really too amazing.”

“Our judgment ultimately can’t compare to Feng Nanshu’s.”

“…”

Chu Siqi pressed her lips tightly together, staying silent for a long while.

The winter break was ultimately short, and for the hurried Jiang “Aloof” “Jizhou” “Wu Yanzu” Qin who was busy expanding his business territory, his break was even shorter, as he decided to return to school two days early.

But going back alone was impossible. It would be too lonely on the road with no one to talk to, no one to brag to.

So he called Guo Zihang to make plans.

The fat little guy had been living very comfortably at home recently and didn’t really want to go back.

This phenomenon actually had a lot to do with the ebbs and flows of maternal love.

Children who return home from being away generally go through three stages – the first stage is the parents being super enthusiastic, the second stage is being treated worse than a dog, the third stage is the reluctance to part.

So in the last few days of winter break, Guo Zihang had once again become the apple of his family’s eye, the kind who could laze around eating well without getting scolded.

He didn’t have Jiang Qin’s strong professional drive. The dorm auntie was also on break. He felt there wasn’t much point in going back. So he recommended Yang Shuan go along.

Jiang Qin thought about it and felt this was a good idea. So on the 13th day of the first lunar month, Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan both received a departure text, not leaving anyone out.

“Mom, I’m heading back to school!”

“You’re really leaving early? School hasn’t started yet. What are you going back so early for?”

Jiang Qin put on his backpack and stuffed his keys and phone in his pockets, “I’m the study star. I need to go back early to study and beat them all!”

Yuan Youqin suddenly narrowed her eyes, “I remember when you were at your grandma’s, didn’t you say that study star thing was fake?”

“Impossible, you must have heard wrong. I don’t even remember saying that.”

Jiang Qin said this with a serious expression then immediately opened the door to go downstairs.

The gossip about his love life had already spread like wildfire at grandma’s house. The intelligence center of Nanya Village had probably been discussing it for days. He had to preserve this last bit of honor as the study star.

Once out of the apartment complex, Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan had already arrived with their luggage and were wrestling by the side of the road.

“I heard it was you who recommended me as the attendant?”

“No no, it’s all a misunderstanding. Don’t bare your teeth, you’re scaring me.”

“Old Guo, you’re really not loyal. You want to stay home a few more days, don’t I want that too?”

Yang Shuan spat at him, really wanting to go home, grab a leg of lamb and come back to beat him to death with it.

But when Jiang Qin waved at them, the two instantly transformed into fawning lackeys, not showing a hint of unhappiness, fighting to be first to get in the car, really displaying their exceptional EQ.

Actually, their thinking was quite simple. Since they couldn’t resist, they might as well enjoy it.

Then, after a two hour journey, the three arrived in Linchuan.

Jiang Qin’s first stop was Wanzhong Mall, because He Yijun had called a few days ago saying the mall’s reforms had already begun and asked when he would have time to come take a look and provide some guidance.

According to Jiang Qin’s previous plan, it would take at least two to three months to promote group-buying at the University of Technology and the Normal University.

By that time, Wanzhong Mall’s reform would have shown initial results, and the offline group-buying service could be immediately integrated, smooth as silk.

Just like how the Xitian Milk Tea Shop provided ample appeal for the forum’s advertising, Wanzhong’s integration was also a key step for Jiang Qin to expand to all of Linchuan.

So Jiang Qin gladly accepted He Yijun’s invitation.

After arriving at the mall, they were received by Zhao Zuchang who was in charge of the early stage reform work. As soon as he saw Jiang Qin, he eagerly began showcasing the results.

It was like a student who had just achieved some success and couldn’t help but want to gain the advisor’s praise and recognition.

“President Jiang, we’ve already divided the third floor into two areas. One side is used for home appliance liquidation, the other side has begun store renovations. The other floors are following roughly this model.”

“The original plan for the third floor was to make it a food area. Current tentative projects include hot pot, buffet, steak, regional cuisine, and half a snack street. Some are franchises, some are chain introductions. We plan to launch them simultaneously.”

Jiang Qin followed Zhao Zuchang to the east area and found that indeed, over half the space was enclosed by dark green protective panels.

With the overall area half occupied, the original appliance section became very crowded, looking a bit stuffy, making the whole mall feel cramped.

“Old Zhao, I suggest you don’t waste these panels. You should make full use of all of them.”

Zhao Zuchang paused and glanced at him, “President Jiang, what do you mean by not wasting them?”

Jiang Qin walked over and patted the panels a couple times, “Put up promotional ads on these panels. Piece together the business items that will be offered later and paste them up. Give customers an upgrade preview. Don’t leave it so bare. Or even printing a black-stockinged beauty on it would be better than this.”

“Will it have a promotional effect?”

“It will definitely have a promotional effect. A black-stockinged beauty goes without saying. But that’s not the most important thing. The key is to have some color and patterns so consumers don’t feel like your mall is about to go out of business.”

Zhao Zuchang paused, “Do we look very much like we’re about to close down?”

Jiang Qin turned to Guo Zihang and Yang Shuan, “What do you think?”

“I think after you sell this last wave of stock you’re probably going to run.”

“Why do I feel like you’ll run before selling it all?”

After hearing this, Zhao Zuchang thought for a moment then immediately took out his phone and made a call, probably arranging for someone to reorder new renovation panels.

From their previous interactions, Jiang Qin had already proven his insight to them through his capabilities. So the suggestions he gave were basically all implemented. He Yijun had instructed this in advance.

Next, Jiang Qin went to the second and fourth floors to look around.

Some of the purely loss-making departments had been cut off. The shelves were adjusted to reduce repetitive displays of homogeneous products, leaving ample space for the transformation. This aligned with the plan. It seemed the Wanzhong Mall staff, while not good at layout, had strong execution ability.

After a round of touring, it was already evening, magnificent clouds blazing across the sky.

Zhao Zuchang remembered the entertainment funds from last time hadn’t been used up yet, so he suggested going to a “one-stop”.

Jiang Qin thought, the New Year had just passed, the break wasn’t over, there were probably few people at the school. The whole dorm building might be empty. Going back was pointless.

Might as well do the “one-stop” to pass the time.

“What’s a one-stop?”

“It’s an all-inclusive service.”

Yang Shuan dazedly followed along to the lavishly decorated hall with dragon and phoenix carved columns. Sitting on the sapphire blue sofa, he was greatly shocked seeing the escort girls in super short skirts.

Seeing his expression, Guo Zihang instantly felt emboldened, “How about it Old Yang? I didn’t swindle you right? If I hadn’t recommended you as the attendant, wouldn’t you have lost out big time?”

“Not sure about losing out, but the adult world is really something else.”