Chapter 290: Chapter 280: Sucking Up to Tang Yan, Putting Down Qiao Jing
Upon hearing about shopping, Lin Xiuxiang’s gloominess due to Jiang Ning was swept away, and she immediately agreed.
Qiao Jing and Lin Xiuxiang took a taxi to downtown’s shopping mall where they quickly bought a few pieces of clothing they liked and planned to head to the snack street next.
During their shopping spree, Qiao Jing also bought a bag and gave it to Lin Xiuxiang as an early New Year’s gift before she reluctantly accepted it.
Exiting the mall, they followed the crowd toward the direction of the snack street.
On a parking spot by the street, there was a small car, inside which sat someone they knew.
Jiang Ning, who was idly looking at the scenery outside the window, caught a glimpse of two familiar figures in the corner of her eye. She had just had a quarrel with them that morning and had a deep impression of them; she recognized Lin Xiuxiang and Qiao Jing in one glance.
She saw that each of them was carrying several shopping bags but couldn’t make out what they had bought from afar.
She sneered inwardly, certain that the items were from some cheap street stalls.
However, just as Jiang Ning thought this,
Lin Xiuxiang passed by the car.
Jiang Ning suddenly could see the logos on those shopping bags clearly!
Her mouth opened wide in shock, and she even rubbed her eyes in disbelief, thinking she might have seen wrong.
After rubbing her eyes three times, she confirmed that she wasn’t mistaken.
Those items weren’t cheap street goods at all!
Everything they had bought was from luxury brands favored by the wealthy. But why did Lin Xiuxiang have the money to buy those?
Most importantly, the brand of the bag Lin Xiuxiang carried was the most eye-catching—it was one of the top three luxury bag brands!
Wasn’t Lin Xiuxiang at the welfare institute? Why was she spending so much, able to afford these items?
Just then, Chen Jingling opened the car door and sat in the driver’s seat.
Jiang Ning pointed in the direction of Lin Xiuxiang, saying, “Look over there.”
Chen Jingling followed Jiang Ning’s pointed finger and also noticed the two figures.
“Isn’t one of them your sister? What about it?” he asked.
His gaze lingered on Qiao Jing for a few seconds.
Full of confusion, Jiang Ning didn’t notice this detail and withdrew her hand.
“Look at the stuff she’s bought—all big brands! How could she afford them?” she asked.
This remark reminded Chen Jingling, who took another look at Lin Xiuxiang and indeed noticed, just as Jiang Ning had said, which made him a bit perplexed too.
“Yeah, I had someone check. She’s just teaching at the welfare institute; how could her salary ever afford these?”
Suddenly, Jiang Ning remembered something.
“I heard she got married. Could it be her husband is very rich?”
Chen Jingling paid no heed to this idea.
“I’m not sure about that,” he replied.
He felt rather displeased about Lin Xiuxiang; not only did she show no respect to his wife, but she also went against their wishes.
He had tried to speak nicely to no avail, so he thought, let her be.
Jiang Ning was very curious about Lin Xiuxiang’s husband and hesitated a bit before speaking.
“Should we follow them, see what’s going on?” she suggested.
Chen Jingling frowned, his tone displeased.
“Is that necessary? Since she doesn’t want to come back, why bother about her matters? She’s not even considered a part of the Jiang family anymore; let’s leave her alone.”
Only then did Jiang Ning withdraw her gaze from them, muttering quietly,
“True, she chose not to come back herself. She better not beg me later, wanting to return home.”
Chen Jingling started the car, ready to drive away.
They saw a man in a suit walking towards Lin Xiuxiang.
Chen Jingling instantly recognized the man in the suit and became visibly excited.
“It’s Assistant Tang!”
Jiang Ning, seeing how excited Chen Jingling was, grew curious herself, especially about why the man was heading towards Lin Xiuxiang.
“Who is that man in the suit? Do you know him?”
Chen Jingling, excited and slightly thrilled, nodded.
“You know about Zhan Corporation, right? He’s QiPei’s personal assistant, Assistant Tang, Tang Yan, President Zhan’s right-hand man!”
Jiang Ning was shocked; she had never imagined that the man worked at Zhan Corporation and held such a high position.
But why would such an impressive man know Lin Xiuxiang?
She is just a teacher at an orphanage; how could she possibly know such an influential person?
Yet they spoke as if they were very familiar with each other, seemingly well-acquainted.
Before Jiang Ning could finish her surprise, her jaw almost dropped again.
Tang Yan took a service strap from Lin Xiuxiang’s hand and stayed close to her, serving her intimately.
Lin Xiuxiang also smiled at Tang Yan, and the two of them appeared very close.
Jiang Ning guessed that Lin Xiuxiang’s husband might actually be this Tang Yan?
If that were true, no wonder she was unwilling to go back with them.
Chen Jingling also noticed the closeness between the two and decisively turned off the ignition and pulled out the car keys.
“I just went to discuss a twenty-million raw materials wholesale partnership, but couldn’t strike a deal. However, if we leverage Lin Xiuxiang’s connection, they will definitely extend courtesies for Tang Yan’s sake.”
With this thought, he immediately opened the car door and got out.
Jiang Ning immediately understood Chen Jingling’s intention; by aligning well with Lin Xiuxiang, they could mention this opportunity to Tang Yan and secure the twenty-million contract.
Fearing Lin Xiuxiang and the rest would leave, they virtually sprinted over.
Just as Jiang Ning reached them, she grabbed Lin Xiuxiang’s arm, sporting a hypocritically sweet smile, feigning deep sisterly affection.
“Sister, what a coincidence running into you here. Why didn’t you tell me you were going shopping? I would have come with you!”
Lin Xiuxiang was completely baffled by Jiang Ning’s attitude.
Just this morning, her sister had been so impatient. How did she suddenly switch to acting like they were best sisters?
Qiao Jing slightly raised her delicate eyebrows, ready to watch what drama these two would play out.
Jiang Ning, thinking it was about the right moment, turned around and introduced herself to Tang Yan.
“Hello, I am Xiangxiang’s elder sister, Jiang Ning, and this is my husband, so, Xiangxiang’s brother-in-law. Are you her husband?”
She even emphasized the word “elder.”
Tang Yan nodded politely, confirming his relationship with Lin Xiuxiang.
“Hello, my name is Tang Yan.”
Jiang Ning laughed, feigning a sudden realization.
“I knew you must be my brother-in-law! My little sister is so lucky to know such an outstanding person. How did you meet? Never mind, we’re all family now, so how you met doesn’t matter.”
She then adopted a look of feigned distress.
“Such a pity I couldn’t attend your wedding.”
Seeing that Jiang Ning had almost wrapped up her side of the conversation, Chen Jingling immediately switched to a sycophantic manner.
“Brother-in-law, hello! I am Xiuxiang’s brother-in-law, Chen Jingling.”
After glancing at Tang Yan, Qiao Jing’s eyes lingered on Chen Jingling for a second, formulating a rough hypothesis in her mind.