"Did you and Jiang Minghao have some sort of shady deal? Your relationship can’t be that close, right?"
Before entering the main hall, Xia Xiwei couldn’t conceal her curiosity and pulled Zhou Wang aside to ask softly.
Earlier, she was shocked, but after thinking it over carefully, Xia Xiwei felt something was off. After all, Jiang Minghao isn’t an ordinary person. After Yan Lingchuan announced his withdrawal from the "Beidou Four Young Masters," Jiang Minghao undoubtedly became the leader.
The fact he can give Zhou Wang such a big face must involve deeper interests.
Sure enough, Zhou Wang showed a slightly helpless expression upon hearing this, "It’s nothing, really... It’s just that the soon-to-be-established Wangzhou Pharmaceutical might have to accept investment from Mingchuang Capital."
"Wangzhou Pharmaceutical?"
Xia Xiwei curiously asked, "Isn’t it the company you’re planning to use to sell that Little Blue Bottle?"
"Yes."
"Why do I feel like you’re secretly happy about it?"
Xia Xiwei quickly picked up on Zhou Wang’s lack of reluctance and instantly guessed his thoughts, confidently stating, "You never intended to refuse Jiang Minghao, right?"
Zhou Wang wasn’t surprised that Xia Xiwei figured out the truth. He just smiled without responding further.
After successfully gaining a foothold in Beidou with the help of Wangyuan Association, although Zhou Wang’s momentum was skyrocketing, many wanted to attach themselves to him. But whatever you gain, you also have to pay something.
At this stage, Zhou Wang is still keeping others interested, but the cake has to be shared. Even as close as Qiu Zeyu, in such times, he can’t be vague because he represents more than just himself.
Besides related interests, attracting more people from the Beijing Circle has other considerations.
For example, even for the mere registration of Wangzhou Pharmaceutical, if it weren’t for Yan Lingchuan’s efforts, just obtaining a "Pharmaceutical Operating License" could have taken an unknown amount of time.
Also, the establishment of the pharmaceutical company requires a large amount of capital and involves setting up factories. With these people joining, everything becomes unbelievably simple.
Zhou Wang didn’t explicitly state his position when he had tea with Jiang Minghao that day, but both knew the Jiang family can’t be excluded. Even with such tacit understanding, Zhou Wang might recklessly make a stubborn move, which is why Jiang Minghao won’t easily turn against Zhou Wang, leading to the scene just now.
Moreover, his so-called engagement with Xia Xiwei had never reached a substantive phase. Given Zhou Wang’s familiarity with Xia Xiwei, Jiang Minghao, knowing his own character, wouldn’t sacrifice for a woman that was never meant to be.
Everything was within Zhou Wang’s expectations.
...
Bai Qiu was probably still a bit perplexed, looking at Zhou Wang with uncertain eyes. But given her experience and knowledge, even if previously biased, she finally realized something from Jiang Minghao’s unusual behavior, making it finally impossible to ask Zhou Wang to leave.
Only now did Zhou Wang feel like he was entering the normal rhythm of visiting the girl’s family for the first time.
Having managed to silence Bai Qiu, Xia Xiwei, who achieved most of her goal, became cheerful and led Zhou Wang around the yard, introducing her relatives again.
Xia Xiwei’s grandfather had three daughters and a son in total. Bai Qiu was the eldest, there was a second sister who couldn’t return because of work, and Yan Siyun was the youngest.
The aunt in the yard was Xia Qixian’s brother’s wife, and Third Aunt was Xia Qixian’s sister. Additionally, two men sat in the main hall, one was Xia Qixian’s brother, and the other was the second sister’s husband.
Zhou Wang was a bit dizzy listening to this. He sighed at how easier it would be with foreign languages—every man an "uncle," every woman an "aunt"—avoiding the need to remember so many complicated relationships.
In fact, both Xia Xiwei’s parents’ sides had comparatively few relatives. After all, Zhou Wang’s mother had six siblings, and bringing girlfriends home later would really scramble their brains...
As he pondered this, Zhou Wang couldn’t help but smile a little, which looked odd to the aunt and Third Aunt opposite him.
Is this young man really as capable as Siyun said, able to persuade Jiang Minghao with a single sentence?
He doesn’t seem that smart...
Prompted by Xia Xiwei, Zhou Wang quickly came back to his senses and took out the pre-prepared gifts from his bag for the two aunts and his little aunt Yan Siyun.
"Bulgari?"
Third Aunt smiled and said, "Xiao Zhou, this bracelet isn’t cheap, right? It must cost ten thousand?"
Beside her, the little aunt Yan Siyun, who had been examining another Van Cleef & Arpels bracelet for a long time, suddenly said, "Not just that. These should all be custom jewelry, starting at six figures."
"What?"
The aunt, who had been maintaining a reserved smile without speaking, almost dropped the jewelry box from shock.
She initially thought Zhou Wang’s jewelry wouldn’t be too cheap, but ten thousand yuan would fit Zhou Wang’s first visit etiquette.
But over a hundred thousand was too much...
"This is too valuable, it’s not appropriate. Xiao Zhou, we can’t accept it..."
Realizing this, Third Aunt hurriedly declined.
"Yes, yes, Xiao Zhou, we appreciate your intent, but you should take back these jewels."
"Aunt, Third Aunt, and Little Aunt, the jewels were all bulk bought abroad. They’re piled up at my place and I have no space left. If you don’t accept them, I have nowhere to put them..."