Chapter 158

Chapter 158 - What Conspiracy Is There??

Was she willing to give up?

Certainly not, thought Yang Jingjing, but she didn't want to stay and get in the way of the couple's relationship. Even though Chen Yaru was on board, Zhang Xiaolong's strong aversion made her question why she should linger and be a source of discontent.

“After yesterday's incident, I realized we were both mistaken. Xiaolong isn't like most men,” Yang Jingjing stated with composure. “It's precisely because he's different that we're so drawn to him. He's made his choice, and it's not likely to change. Reluctantly, I must admit that I've truly given up this time.”

An ordinary man would have considered himself lucky to have a woman seeking out additional companions for him. If that were the case, Zhang Xiaolong wouldn't have left the room last night; he might have even suggested that she and Chen Yaru share his bed.

But that wasn't what happened. As soon as he sensed something was amiss, he immediately ceased all actions and firmly exited the room.

“Jingjing, I know you can't just give up like that, and you can't possibly stop liking him so quickly, can you? Stay, and let's look for another chance, okay?” Chen Yaru extended the invitation with genuine intent.

“Aren't you worried that Xiaolong will really be mad at you, to the point where he might not want you anymore?” Yang Jingjing inquired, puzzled.

“Of course, I'm scared,” Chen Yaru admitted, playfully sticking out her tongue and glancing around. “That's why we can't be as upfront as before. As you mentioned, Xiaolong isn't an ordinary man. What might be irresistible to others doesn't necessarily work on him. If he were to catch on, he'd blame us. But if we're not overt about it, we can explore other strategies.”

“What other strategies?” A flicker of hope sparked within Yang Jingjing.

Chen Yaru breathed a sigh of relief, having successfully captured her interest.

Her desire to keep Yang Jingjing around was sincere, but she couldn't deny the business angle. Losing a valuable ally now would mean that Soaring Dragon Company would be missing out on a significant boost for rapid growth.

“We can help him gradually recognize his feelings for you,” Chen Yaru whispered. “I'm confident he has feelings for you, but they clash with his usual principles, leading him to reject you without seeing clearly. Our task isn't to pressure him but to give him time to realize his love for you on his own. Eventually, he'll come around and accept you.” Findd new stories at novelhall.com

Zhang Xiaolong struggled to find fault with her quirky nature. Thus, she was likely to err, correct herself, and err again—a person seemingly refined through relentless trials.

When Chen Yaru descended the stairs, Zhang Xiaolong watched her warily. She didn't flinch but boldly met his gaze.

Zhang Xiaolong found himself unable to read anything from her eyes. He turned instead to Yang Jingjing, who wore an innocent look, seemingly unconnected to yesterday's events.

“What's going on here?” Zhang Xiaolong finally asked outright.

“We were just discussing the success of Elegant Dragon Drinks and our vegetable line. It's only a matter of time before we break into the market. The question is, what's next? Clear River Village has so much unused land. We've seen such great profits from just a small portion—if we were to develop it all, imagine the benefits. Not only would you, Xiaolong, become very wealthy, but the entire village would prosper,” Chen Yaru replied, skillfully capturing his attention without directly answering his question.

Hearing about future prospects, Zhang Xiaolong's thoughts shifted. “Hmm, that's good. I've been considering the same thing. As soon as spring arrives, we should plant fruit trees on those hundreds of acres of barren land. It's such a waste to leave it unused. That land is Clear River Village's treasure!”

“True, but we can't manage all that land alone. We'll need to recruit labor from the village, stable workers, similar to factory employees—consistent and reliable,” Chen Yaru chimed in.

“Absolutely. With the New Year approaching, many people are returning from jobs elsewhere. It's the perfect time to hire. If we offer good conditions, they won't be tempted to leave home,” Zhang Xiaolong said confidently.

After all, if there are good jobs at home, who would choose to wander? A golden nest and a silver nest are no match for one's own humble abode.

Liu Mei, noticing the children's endless work chatter, interjected, “Alright now, let's continue this conversation after we've eaten. The food's getting cold.”

“Auntie...” Chen Yaru began, suddenly bashful again, “There's something else. Xiaolong mentioned yesterday he wants to get married. I've called my dad, and he'll visit in the next few days. It would be a good opportunity for you both to meet him...”

She left her sentence hanging, but the deep blush on the other person's face spoke volumes.

Typically, this sort of encouragement would come from the man, but now it fell to the young woman to speak up, which understandably made her a bit bashful.

“Absolutely, oh my, we really should be the ones heading into the city to visit the in-laws. How can we let them come all the way out to our humble spot?” Zhang Daniu was grinning from ear to ear, eagerly nodding in agreement.