"Anyway, I'm really grateful to you. If you ever need my help in the future, just reach out."
As Zhang Zhu spoke, she sighed inwardly.
But honestly, if someone really ran into trouble, they probably wouldn't come looking for her anyway.
"Auntie, there's something else I'd like to ask. If I hadn't bought the shares, how were you planning to handle the company's funding gap?"
Jiang Linyuan asked.
In the book, Haile Biotech hadn't had him step in at this point.
"Well, I do know a friend who isn't afraid of the Xu Corporation causing trouble. But her identity is a bit sensitive—she's connected to the government, you know?"
Zhang Zhu slowly exhaled.
"I'm not too keen on bothering her."
"Surnamed Shen?"
Zhang Zhu lifted her eyes, shooting him a surprised glance:
"Surnamed Zhao, but her daughter is surnamed Shen. Do you know her?"
Future Mother-in-Law, so you were the hidden hand all along.
"I know her, she's a friend. But from what you're saying, Auntie, by investing, am I going to have the Xu Corporation coming after me?"
Jiang Linyuan raised an eyebrow slightly.
This Auntie isn't being straightforward. You telling me the risks yourself and me figuring them out on my own are two completely different things.
"Xueyun's background is complicated. The Xu Corporation doesn't dare to pull any stunts, but you can't stop others from using it as leverage."
"As for you, at worst, people will see you as some rich second-generation. If they dig a little and know about your connection to the Su family, they won't bother looking for trouble."
Zhang Zhu said with a slight smile.
What connection to the Su family? Auntie, why do you keep sticking labels on me?
Xiao Su can be my umbrella now, shielding me from the wind and rain.
But in the future, I'll become Xiao Su's umbrella, so she can hold onto me.
The two of us will become each other's umbrellas on rainy days, clinging tightly together.
Even if the rain turns the city upside down, we'll still hold each other. How wholesome.
"I guess I'm riding on your coattails too. No matter how you look at it, I owe you a lot."
Zhang Zhu added.
Since you know you owe me a lot, then work hard for me in the future! Don't slack off!
Show me that strong, career-woman spirit!
"No worries, Auntie Zhang. If you run into any more trouble, just contact me."
Jiang Linyuan said nonchalantly.
This time, Zhang Zhu's expression turned rather strange. She felt like this wasn't just polite talk.
Because she'd been divorced for so long, she always had a tendency to interpret others' kindness with suspicion, especially from men.
"Shareholder Jiang, I'll call you that for now. You've been all attentive this whole time, from start to finish. What are you really after? Give me a straight answer."
Oh, come on, Auntie Zhang, asking this and that, what are you so worried about!
Do you think I'd harm you or something!
"Auntie, all I can tell you is that I'm doing this for the future."
Jiang Linyuan said.
Zhang Zhu let out a sigh:
"Once the contract is signed, you'll be a major shareholder in the company. People are only betrayed by friends, but enemies never get the chance to sell you out or betray you. Shareholder Jiang, Haile Biotech is one of the few things I've poured my heart into. I don't want to be betrayed."
If she hadn't known back in high school that Jiang Linyuan had helped her daughter, and if she hadn't seen him with the Su family kid at the banquet, Zhang Zhu would have found it hard to agree to sell him the shares.
She could handle the Xu Corporation's tricks, but you never knew when an arrow might strike from the shadows.
"Auntie, you're overthinking it. I can guarantee that I won't do anything to harm Haile Biotech."
This was Xiao Su's medicine, and it was also his own future backbone. What good would destroying it do?
Divorced women really do overthink everything. Since you're Crazy Little's mom, I'll call you Auntie Paranoid!
Jiang Linyuan thought to himself.
"Can't help it. I was deceived for too long when I was young."
A trace of sorrow flickered across Zhang Zhu's brow.
"I'm not as carefree as I used to be back then. Juntang hasn't started working yet. As a mother, I have to think about more things."
True enough. Auntie Paranoid has had a rough life too.
That CEO of the Xu Corporation was a real womanizer, with affairs left and right. If you counted the time, he hadn't even divorced her yet.
"Forget it. With you saying that, I feel relieved. You kids have fun."
Zhang Zhu quickly pulled herself together, smiled, and glanced toward the room:
"Hurry back inside, or that Su family kid will get mad again."
Oh, you Auntie Paranoid! Still daring to tease me!
"Hehe, doesn't that just mean Auntie is very charming?"
Jiang Linyuan, thick-skinned as ever, said with a grin.
"You're so disrespectful."
Zhang Zhu shook her head with a wry smile.
After watching Auntie Paranoid leave, Jiang Linyuan turned back to enter the house. But the moment he stepped through the door, he ran straight into Zhang Juntang, who was walking out.
What's this crazy little girl doing?
"What are you doing out here?"
Jiang Linyuan asked.
"Su... Senior Su asked me to call you back."
Zhang Juntang muttered softly.
Man, she looks like a maid being bossed around by a young miss. Crazy Little, you're a little heiress yourself.
"Shareholder Jiang, I'll call you that for now. You've been all eager this whole time, from start to finish. What are you really after? Give me a straight answer."
Crazy Little was basically left to fend for herself. Her childhood probably wasn't great either. It's no wonder she developed such a timid personality.
"Alright, I just finished talking with your mom anyway."
Jiang Linyuan didn't bring up the school bullying directly.
No need for that. It's in the past, why talk about it? Just rubbing salt in the wound?
"Oh..."
Zhang Juntang nodded, pursed her lips, and moved them a few times, but couldn't get a word out for a long time.
"Say what you want to say."
Jiang Linyuan glanced at her and asked.
Zhang Juntang's face flushed red as she asked nervously:
"Senior... Senior Jiang, what did you mean just now when you said my mom is very charming?"
She had come out just in time to see Jiang Linyuan and her mom chatting and laughing together. At first, she didn't think much of it.
But then she heard that line: "Doesn't that just mean Auntie is very charming?"
Suddenly, her vision went dark. Could it be that someone as outstanding as Senior Jiang is still single because he has some weird fetish...
Jiang Linyuan looked at Zhang Juntang, utterly speechless.
Crazy Little is Crazy Little, always going crazy!
Can't even give a compliment now? Are you that starved for fatherly love? Do you want me to be your stepdad that badly!
"Your mom is pretty. I'm just stating a fact."
Jiang Linyuan said.
"Oh..."
Zhang Juntang nodded silently.
She and her mom looked very similar. Did that mean Senior Jiang thought she was pretty too?
The thought made her heart flutter a little.
The two entered the house and went up to the second floor. They found Lin Yilin and Sister Bamboo chatting, while Su Muzhi was drilling Lin Lan like a soldier.
"Relax your shoulders. Chest out, chin up."
Su Muzhi sat lazily on the sofa, casually instructing Lin Lan in front of her.
Lin Lan struck a pose like Tom the Cat sticking out his butt.
"Tuck your butt in. What kind of posture is that? Are you trying out for child soldier?"
"Grr..."
If I became a child soldier, the first thing I'd do is blow you to bits! I'd blast you, Smiling Tiger, into smithereens!!
Lin Family Seven-Kill Technique!
"What's with that look? Too aggressive. Soften it up a bit."
"...Can't do it."
"Hehe, worthless. Eat a piece of chocolate, taste the sweetness, and remember that feeling."
Su Muzhi said airily, pulling a piece of chocolate from her pocket and tossing it over.
Lin Lan's eyes lit up, and she grabbed it happily like an excited puppy.
"What's going on here?"
Jiang Linyuan walked over to Lin Yilin, sat down, and asked.
"Senior Su said they're playing house."
Lin Yilin replied, then turned to look at Jiang Linyuan beside her, her cheeks flushing slightly.
Playing house? More like Auntie Shaqima's second coming.
