A Paper Contract GL - Chapter 26

Shi Ya smiled, “Jet lag is basically non-existent for me. Besides the UK, I travel back and forth every year to fashion capitals like the US, Italy, and Germany. If I had to deal with jet lag every time, I wouldn’t be able to get anything done.”

“Oh…” Chen Nan nodded, walked to the dining table, picked up the milk, and took a sip.

“Don’t you have to go to the company? When I called you half a year ago, you were still very busy.” Shi Ya looked at Chen Nan, her eyes sparkling, full of energy.

“My grandfather took back all the businesses under my command. Oh, no, let me correct that, he left me a restaurant that’s not even as big as my villa. Tell me, how am I supposed to manage that tiny place?” Chen Nan shook her head with a smile, wondering why her grandfather still hadn’t returned the businesses to her, even though she had successfully won over Jiang Yuetong. Could it be that he had suddenly changed his mind and favored Chen Yiran, intending to hand over all the family fortune to his grandson?

“There’s such a thing?” Shi Ya was slightly stunned, “Why?”

“I don’t know, maybe he’s getting old. Who cares, it’s good to be idle for a while.” Chen Nan said self-mockingly, taking a big bite of her toast.

Shi Ya smiled and said, “You can’t afford to be idle, though, because I’m back. I won’t be leaving for a while this time, because I want to develop the domestic market. The potential here is huge, immeasurable.”

When Chen Nan heard Shi Ya say she wasn’t leaving, her heart skipped a beat.

“Don’t forget, you also own half of Shi Ya Fashion’s shares. Since you don’t have any businesses to manage right now, we can work together.” Shi Ya looked at Chen Nan and said, “Developing the domestic market is one thing, but the other reason is for you. I still remember when I first started Shi Ya Fashion in the UK, you hadn’t returned to China yet. If it weren’t for your powerful assistance in the initial development phase, I might not be where I am today. You injected the right bl00d into Shi Ya Fashion from the very beginning.”

Shi Ya was right. Before Chen Nan returned to China, she had been helping Shi Ya manage various aspects of Shi Ya Fashion, especially the business philosophy and sales channels, while Shi Ya focused entirely on clothing design. If she hadn’t had a business genius like Chen Nan helping her, things probably wouldn’t have gone so smoothly.

“By the sound of your words, you want me to help you with something again?” Chen Nan looked at her lazily and said, “I always agree to your requests.”

“How is this a request? Shi Ya is your business too; you need to contribute your part.” Shi Ya said, “Today I’m going to visit a few domestic factories to check samples. I’ve already sent them a small portion of the design blueprints. I need to check the workmanship and materials. Are you coming with me?”

“You’re not familiar with the roads in Guangzhou. If I don’t take you, I estimate you’ll get lost.” Chen Nan joked, took another bite of toast, and went upstairs to change clothes.

Shi Ya stood in front of the sewing machine in the workshop, picking up a lacy, elegant dress. It had a sleek and chic European-American style, a very precise cut, sharp and flowing European lines, neat and simple, with the shoulder and waist flowing straight down.

“Not bad.” Shi Ya examined it carefully, not missing a single corner or detail, then turned to communicate with the factory manager. “Can the finished product be even better? Although it’s already quite good, we are a high-end brand, and our finished products cannot be even slightly inferior to brands like LV, Armani, etc.”

The manager said, “We have used the most advanced sewing technology and maximized the restoration of the design blueprints you provided. These goods are not inferior to those big brands.”

Shi Ya nodded, “Then can you guarantee that all the goods will be at this level or above?”

The manager replied, “Of course. Although this is our first collaboration, we have long heard of the Shi Ya brand, and we are eager to seize this opportunity to work with you. Of course, we will do our best; otherwise, how can there be a next time?”

Shi Ya nodded. The commission she offered was already the highest in the industry, so there was no reason why she couldn’t find a factory that would take the work seriously. Money was not the issue; time was the key. Ensuring the highest quality clothes are made within a tight deadline was a challenge. She needed to enter the Chinese market as quickly as possible; there was no time to lose.

Jiang Yuetong was listlessly fiddling with her phone. Usually, after class, she would grade homework or prepare lessons, but today she was completely out of sorts. Even when Chen Nan was busy, she would call her in the morning. Chen Nan didn’t like texting; she always called directly. Sometimes Jiang Yuetong even found it a bit annoying and told Chen Nan not to call her during work hours. The calls were brief, just checking what she was doing at the moment before hanging up. But today it was almost eleven o’clock, and there was still no news from Chen Nan. A hint of unease crept into Jiang Yuetong’s heart. After all, having just given herself to Chen Nan only to be neglected would cause a sense of disappointment in anyone.

Chen Nan glanced at her phone. She hadn’t forgotten Jiang Yuetong for a moment, but she had been constantly busy, talking business non-stop, and really couldn’t spare the time to text, especially with Shi Ya right there.

“What’s wrong? You keep looking at your phone. Do you have something going on?” Shi Ya asked while driving.

“Nothing.” While speaking, Chen Nan quickly sent a text message to Jiang Yuetong: What are you doing? Missed me? I’m really busy today, talking business non-stop.

Shi Ya said, “We’re going to the developer’s office to look at storefronts in a moment. How much would it cost to buy a three-story or taller storefront in Guangzhou? I really don’t know the market price right now.”

“Buy? You don’t need to be so extravagant, do you? You can rent first. Because housing prices in Guangzhou are not low. A three-story or taller storefront on a bustling street would cost at least ten million.” Chen Nan waited for a text.

Soon, her phone lit up. Chen Nan smiled slightly and opened it: I thought you had forgotten about me and weren’t going to contact me.

Chen Nan immediately replied: I told you I was busy… I’ll treat you to dinner tonight.

Shi Ya saw the blissful expression on Chen Nan’s face and knew that the person texting her must be someone special. She then said coolly, “It’s not that I’m being extravagant. This will be the first storefront for the Shi Ya brand in China, and it’s a flagship store. How can we just rent it? What if they decide not to rent it to us after a few days? Close down or move to another location? Ten million or more is indeed not a small amount and needs careful consideration for a company that requires working capital, but it’s not that much money either.”

Chen Nan received a text message: Tonight? Didn’t we just see each other yesterday? Didn’t you say we had to wait a week?

Chen Nan replied: A week? Forget it, I can’t wait that long. I miss you so much right now that I can’t focus on anything.

Seeing that Chen Nan was preoccupied, Shi Ya, sensing the situation, wisely stopped talking and drove directly to their destination.

Shi Ya was very generous, spending fifty million to directly purchase two three-story storefronts in the most prominent location in Guangzhou. As they left, Chen Nan looked at her smiling face and couldn’t help but ask worriedly, “Shi Ya, are you sure you want to buy them? As we develop the brand domestically, we need funds for product production and sales, advertising, and various other aspects. If you put so much money into real estate, it’s like that money is dead.”

Shi Ya said, “What’s there to be afraid of? It will be fine.”

Chen Nan escorted Shi Ya to the parking spot, opened the car door, and said, “It’s almost five o’clock in the afternoon now. Is there anything else you need me to accompany you for? I have something to do and need to leave for a bit.”

Shi Ya, who was already sitting in the driver’s seat, suddenly grabbed Chen Nan’s hand, leaned over, and gave her a kiss. “I’m meeting a few sales agents for dinner tonight, and I can’t do it without you.”

“You can handle it yourself. Why do you insist on me accompanying you? I’ve made plans with a friend.” Chen Nan said.

“Who?” Shi Ya raised an eyebrow, but her tone remained elegant.

“Actually, it’s not a friend; my grandfather asked me to go home for dinner.” Chen Nan lied.

“Then I’ll call your grandfather and borrow you for a bit.” With that, Shi Ya was about to make a call.

“Hey, alright, alright, I won’t go. I’ll stay with you, okay?” Chen Nan compromised; she didn’t want her lie to be exposed.

At seven o’clock in the evening, everyone at the school had already left, but Jiang Yuetong was still foolishly standing by her car, waiting. The Guangzhou air, after the peak of summer, carried a slight coolness. Jiang Yuetong was dressed a little too lightly and wrapped her arms around herself.

She kept looking around, but Chen Nan was nowhere to be seen.

Jiang Yuetong called Chen Nan’s number again.

Chen Nan’s phone rang, but because she was meeting the sales agents at a slow-tempo bar, Chen Nan couldn’t hear the phone ringing at all. Shi Ya chose this kind of place not for discussing business—she could do that in an office—but mainly to foster good relations. It’s said that Chinese people are the most emotional; as long as the feelings are right, everything else is not a problem.

Another hour passed in the blink of an eye, and Chen Nan still hadn’t arrived.

Jiang Yuetong dejectedly got into the car, turned on the in-car music, and listened to some melancholic songs, which intensified her feeling of unease. This had never happened before. Chen Nan had promised to come but didn’t, and her phone was unreachable. Now, Jiang Yuetong was most worried that Chen Nan might have been in trouble. Her mind was in chaos. She wondered if Chen Nan had driven too fast to rush over and had gotten into a car accident, but as soon as the thought occurred to her, she quickly dismissed it, trying not to think about such bad luck.

Chen Nan glanced at her watch. It was already 8 o’clock. She was startled, thinking, How did time pass so quickly! She told Shi Ya she needed to use the restroom, then secretly called a cab and left.

Upon getting into the car and seeing dozens of missed calls on her phone, Chen Nan felt a surge of alarm and immediately called Jiang Yuetong back.

When Jiang Yuetong saw Chen Nan’s call, she felt angry and excited at the same time, and her eyes instantly reddened. Did the call mean that Chen Nan was okay?

“Hello, Yuetong…”

It was Chen Nan’s voice.

“Chen Nan! You promised to pick me up at 6 o’clock, look at what time it is now! What are you doing? Your phone was unreachable! Don’t you know how worried that made me? Don’t you know…” Jiang Yuetong’s voice was tearful, as if she had suffered a great grievance.

“I know, I know, listen to me explain…” Chen Nan hadn’t finished speaking when Jiang Yuetong cut her off: “Don’t bother explaining to me. I don’t want to hear it, and I don’t want to see you.” With that, Jiang Yuetong hung up the phone and drove home alone. She couldn’t understand Chen Nan’s behavior. No matter how busy she was, even if she ultimately couldn’t make it, she should have called to let her know and prevent her from worrying. But Chen Nan did nothing and just let her wait there foolishly. What did that mean? Jiang Yuetong thought painfully, it meant that Chen Nan didn’t truly care about her.