The hotel lobby was silent.
Even Jiang Rongmin looked at Lin Jiang in shock.
’The Gulf Hotel was worth at least a billion yuan. When did he buy it?!’
Most of the others around them were thinking the same thing.
Acquiring a hotel this large would cost at least a billion yuan.
Such boldness and capability were extremely rare among the younger generation.
"Manager Feng, did you collect payment for today’s thank-you banquet?" Lin Jiang asked.
"Only the forty-thousand-yuan deposit."
"Aunt Zhang is a long-time friend of Aunt Jiang. Waive the fee, and return the deposit later."
As soon as he said this, everyone’s gaze shifted back to Jiang Rongmin.
The banquet cost a little over four hundred thousand yuan, and Zhang Wenqian certainly wasn’t short on that kind of money.
But by doing this, Lin Jiang had elevated Jiang Rongmin’s prestige to the heavens.
"Rongmin, your son-in-law is too generous. This is so embarrassing."
Zhang Wenqian was grinning from ear to ear. This gesture also gave her a great deal of face.
"Just think of it as a small token from the younger generation," Jiang Rongmin said with a smile.
"But we have to agree on one thing. If your Old Sun has any good projects in the future, he has to keep our Xiaojiang in mind."
"That’s a certainty."
"Well, we’ll be leaving then. Call me if you need anything."
"Come, I’ll see you out."
"Oh, don’t trouble yourself. You still have other guests to see off."
"Let’s go. Don’t be so formal with me."
The Sun Family saw their other guests off in the hotel lobby, but when it came to Jiang Rongmin, they walked her all the way to the entrance.
The groom even personally opened the car door for Jiang Rongmin—a level of treatment no other guest received.
The moment Lin Jiang stepped out of the hotel, a game notification appeared in his mind.
[Task Complete (Thank-You Banquet): Reward: Singing Card x1, 5,000,000 cash]
’Use Singing Card,’ Lin Jiang thought to himself.
In an instant, all the knowledge and techniques related to singing flooded into Lin Jiang’s mind.
Another new skill. ’Excellent.’
Since Lin Jiang had been drinking, the task of driving fell to Qin Youyou.
On the way, Qin Youyou was so happy she was practically bubbling with joy. Jiang Rongmin, sitting in the back, was also filled with pride, unable to hide the smile on her face.
’That boy, Lin Jiang, he really is quick on his feet. He handled things beautifully.’
’Looking at it now, with Youyou together with him, it’s my silly daughter who’s getting the better end of the deal.’
But at that moment, Lin Jiang couldn’t bring himself to be happy.
Yesterday, while playing cards with Qin Yangyang, they had agreed to go out today and return to Century Triumph together in the evening.
But plans change. He had been dragged off to a thank-you banquet instead.
Tonight, Qin Yangyang was probably going to explode with anger.
They drove into the residential complex’s underground garage. After getting out of the car, Qin Youyou linked her arm with Lin Jiang’s, clearly not intending to let him go home.
Even Jiang Rongmin tacitly approved of bringing Lin Jiang home to stay.
They got in the elevator and went up to their apartment.
Qin Youyou opened the door and saw that the lights were on.
But she didn’t see Qin Zhengqing. Instead, Qin Yangyang was sitting on the sofa watching TV.
She was wearing a silk nightgown and holding a bag of snacks, binge-watching a show while she ate.
’She came back to check up on me.’
"Ah! Sis, you’re back!"
Seeing Qin Yangyang, Qin Youyou’s face lit up with joy. After taking off her shoes, she hurried to her sister’s side and linked her arm.
"Sis, let me tell you, Brother Jiang was so amazing tonight! After seeing him, everyone was so polite and respectful."
"How was he amazing?"
"Let me tell you..."
And so she chattered on...
Qin Youyou recounted everything Lin Jiang had done at the thank-you banquet in one breathless rush.
Lin Jiang sat to the side, feeling helpless.
Qin Yangyang’s gaze was sharp enough to kill.
It seemed like Qin Youyou was just reporting Lin Jiang’s accomplishments, but in Qin Yangyang’s eyes, it sounded more like she was showing off.
"He really is quite amazing, isn’t he."
The "isn’t he" she added at the end completely changed the flavor of her words.
"You two can stop chatting. Go wash some fruit for your Brother Jiang."
After saying that, Jiang Rongmin went to her room to change.
"Okay," Qin Youyou chirped, getting up cheerfully to wash fruit for Lin Jiang.
Qin Yangyang narrowed her eyes, staring at Lin Jiang who was sitting by the dining table.
Lin Jiang could only offer a helpless smile and a shrug. He felt like Qin Yangyang was already grinding her teeth, getting ready to bite someone.
"Sis, come have some fruit."
Qin Youyou placed the washed fruit on the dining table in front of Lin Jiang.
"You guys eat. I’m going to take a shower."
Qin Yangyang got up and went to the bathroom. Qin Youyou said,
"Brother Jiang, you go ahead and eat. I’m going to change my clothes."
"Okay, go ahead."
With both sisters gone, Lin Jiang moved the fruit to the coffee table in the living room.
Just then, Jiang Rongmin came out in her pajamas and sat down next to Lin Jiang.
Lin Jiang snuck a glance and felt that the Qin Sisters had definitely inherited Jiang Rongmin’s genes. Her legs didn’t look like they belonged to a middle-aged woman at all.
"Your company now has restaurant chains, commercial real estate, film and entertainment, animal husbandry, investments, and now you’re involved in the hotel industry. Is your financial situation still secure?"
Jiang Rongmin didn’t doubt Lin Jiang’s ability, but being involved in so many industries at once meant that if the cash flow had a problem, it could cause a domino effect.
"It’s a little tight, but overall, we have enough," Lin Jiang said.
"Once the box office share from *Xia Luote’s Troubles* comes in, there won’t be any more funding issues."
At the banquet table, Wang Qingyun had already analyzed it. If the box office hit 2 billion, they would get a share of nearly 700 million.
If it broke 3 billion, they would get a 1 billion share.
With that much money on hand, he’d have enough to splurge for a while.
"I’ve always been confident in how you handle things, but you must pay attention to the speed of your expansion. Sometimes, it’s not a bad thing to slow down and be steady."
"I know."
"Next time something like this happens, you don’t have to waive the bill for them."
Lin Jiang’s move just now had certainly given Jiang Rongmin a lot of face.
But Lin Jiang was one of her own, so she couldn’t bear to see him spend money on others.
"I mainly wanted to teach that woman, Liu Shuli, a lesson, so she’ll behave in the future."
"You rascal," Jiang Rongmin chuckled and said,
"I suspect Wang Qingyun will contact you afterward about potential collaborations. You don’t need to do it for my sake. Just follow your own plans. If you need to cooperate, get in touch with them. If not, just ignore them."
Lin Jiang nodded, listening intently.
"This circle is all about interests. Remember not to get emotional about it."
"Understood."
"Alright, that’s all I have to say. Get some rest."
"Mm."
With that final piece of advice, Jiang Rongmin left, just in time to see Qin Youyou, having changed her clothes, emerge from her room.
She came out wearing just her underwear, the same set she had worn during the day, which barely covered anything in the back.
"Why did you come out dressed like that? You’re a grown woman now, have you no shame?" Jiang Rongmin said.
Because there was so little fabric in the back, combined with her figure, it looked especially sexy. In Jiang Rongmin’s opinion, it was a bit inappropriate to wear something like that around the house.
"Brother Jiang is in the living room, he can’t see."
Jiang Rongmin wanted to say more, but on second thought, she realized there was no need.
Whatever was going to happen between them had already happened. At this point, aside from not having a marriage certificate, they were no different from a married couple. There was no point in stopping her now.
"Get to bed early tonight. Don’t stay up too late."
"I know."
With that last reminder, Jiang Rongmin went into her room.
’I know my own daughter best.’
’Qin Youyou used to only wear cotton, whatever was most comfortable. When she came back from overseas, she was still wearing cartoon pajamas.’
’I even nagged her about it a few times.’
’Back then, she’d argue with me, insisting they were comfortable and refusing to wear any other style.’
’And now, without me saying a thing, she’s changed on her own.’
’Having a man really changes things.’
As she thought about it, a smile appeared on Jiang Rongmin’s lips.
’I guess I was the same way...’
Outside the door, Qin Youyou went to the shared bathroom, grabbed the black nightgown she had hanging there, and put it on.
Qin Yangyang had just finished her shower and was drying herself with a bath towel before putting on her nightgown to blow-dry her hair.
When she saw Qin Youyou’s underwear, the same thought as Jiang Rongmin’s crossed her mind.
’She always used to wear cotton. Why the sudden change in style to something so sexy?’
’Even my underwear doesn’t seem as nice as her set.’
’Could it be... she’s wearing it for Lin Jiang to see?’
’And what’s with her lacy nightgown?’
’Did she just buy it?’
"Sis, come here, let me share a super-effective face mask with you. You should try it later," Qin Youyou said enthusiastically.
"I don’t really use face masks anymore. You can keep it for yourself."
Ever since she started using Lin Jiang’s "special" face mask, Qin Yangyang found that other masks, no matter how expensive, had no effect. So she just stopped using them altogether.
"Are you trying to show off how good your skin is?"
"Yep, I’m showing off to you."
"Hmph, I’m not interested in your secret beauty regimen anymore," Qin Youyou said smugly.
"Your face mask can’t even compare to my secret beauty regimen."
"It has nothing to do with face masks. It’s a different skincare method."
Qin Youyou cockily brought her face closer.
"Look, isn’t my skin much better too? I had a pimple before, and it’s only been a few days, but even the mark is gone."
Qin Yangyang leaned in for a closer look and saw that her skin had indeed improved. It looked much more hydrated than before.
Suddenly, Qin Yangyang thought of her own secret beauty regimen.
’Could it be... the two of them slept together?’
’Did Lin Jiang put it on her face, too?’
’Tonight, I absolutely will not forgive him!’
"Sis, I’m done here. I’m heading out."
With that, Qin Youyou left the bathroom and returned to her room.
Qin Yangyang continued to dry her hair, muttering to herself inwardly:
’Good thing I came back today. Otherwise, who knows what might have happened...’
CREAK—
The sound of a door opening interrupted Qin Yangyang’s thoughts. She saw Qin Youyou come out again, and she was going into Lin Jiang’s room!
’What is the meaning of this!’
’So they’re not even trying to hide it anymore, are they?’

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