Imperial City Center, top floor of the International Trade Building, Mo Zhoujing glanced at the news handed over by his secretary, his dark eyes slightly sinking behind the glasses.
"So, the Jiang Family’s charity company had already purchased the qualification to build the bridge across the river a month ago?"
"Yes, nearly ten days earlier than us."
"Who is managing that company now?"
"It’s Jiang Jianbing’s daughter, Jiang Lai."
"Jiang Lai..."
The man lowered his gaze, looking at the information sheet always at the bottom of his files.
He pulled it out, glanced at it, confirming she was the one he recently chose as a marriage partner, and also the woman who had just rejected him.
"Still in university."
"Yes, but I think this time she was lucky; otherwise, how would a university student have the ability to know that the policy would be released earlier?"
"Lucky? I don’t believe anyone’s luck can be this good. Sixty million is not a small amount for the Jiang Family right now."
At least not an amount that they can allow their daughter to squander at will.
"So you mean, Jiang Lai also knew about the policy opening? But how would she know it earlier than us?"
After all, when they were ready to invest, they found that the construction qualification had already been bought by someone else.
Mo Zhoujing looked at the photo on the data sheet and then casually placed it aside.
"Ultimately, we’ll know in time."
"The Jiang Family just filled the funding gap with this investment, which is why they rejected your proposal as they no longer need our help."
Mo Zhoujing wheeled himself to the window, gazing at the skyscrapers beneath his feet, his voice unwavering.
"She earned much more than that this time."
The Jiang Family was short just a few billion, but the money from reselling the investment qualification should be nearly two billion. It seems the Jiang Family truly made a big profit this time.
——
"President Jiang, here is an invitation to a charity gala for you to review."
The assistant handed Jiang Lai an invitation, with "Fashion volo Charity Gala" written in gold-leaf characters.
This is considered quite a famous charity event in the industry, inviting numerous stars to perform and thereby encouraging wealthy attendees to donate.
"Okay, help me choose an outfit, add it to the schedule."
Returning home in the evening, Jiang’s mother had arranged a whole table of fine dishes to celebrate Jiang Lai’s birthday.
In the original memories, every birthday was celebrated grandly with a group of friends outside; this time Jiang Lai was reluctant to socialize with those frivolous friends, so she directly informed Jiang’s mother to celebrate at home.
Jiang’s mother was, of course, delighted, busily cooking herself and preparing a variety of fine wine and dishes in the dining hall, even inviting the man previously engaged to Jiang Han, now engaged to Zhou Ruantian, Zhao Sili.
The Jiang Family placed great importance on Zhao Sili, who swapped fiancées as easily as changing clothes, especially since his father is the current President of Gaoti Bank, and Father Jiang called him to his office as soon as he arrived, not releasing him until dinner.
Zhao Sili was handsome, tall, and well-mannered, charmingly pulling a chair for Zhou Ruantian and gifting Jiang Lai an expensive set of jewelry as a birthday gift.
Jiang Lai accepted it with great satisfaction, calling him "brother-in-law" more affectionately than anyone else.
Aside, Zhou Ruantian had no significant reaction. Unlike her initial shyness and affection upon meeting Zhao Sili, she now sat composed, coldly towards Zhao Sili.
After dinner, everyone chatted casually to music, and Zhou Ruantian approached Jiang Lai, handing her a small pink box.
Jiang Lai opened it, found a pen inside, thanked her, and set the gift aside.
"What’s the matter? Is there something else?"
Zhou Ruantian, slightly dejected by how Jiang Lai set the gift aside, quickly asked curiously and cautiously.
"Sis, I heard you’re about to get married, right? Why didn’t you invite him over for your birthday for everyone to meet?"
Jiang Lai raised her eyebrows, leisurely sipping her wine, her gaze lowered upon her.
"Your information network is quite up-to-date."
Zhou Ruantian felt a bit nervous inside.
"So is something good happening to our family?"
"Yes."
After a moment of inexplicable loss, Zhou Ruantian opted not to ask further. Yet, she heard Jiang Lai casually add.
"However, it’s not my good news; it’s your good news."
"My good news?"
"Yes, Sili just discussed with Dad in the study, preparing to hold another engagement ceremony for both of you."
Upon hearing this, Zhou Ruantian’s smile slightly faded.
As soon as the gala ended, she quickly went to ask Father Jiang.
"Dad, what did Zhao Sili and you talk about?"
Father Jiang was reading the newspaper, raising his eyes to look at her.
"We discussed your engagement; you can start purchasing some things for preparation in the meantime. Sili is a good kid; go out with him whenever you have the time."
"Dad, he’s already been engaged to Jiang Han; why is he engaging with me? I don’t like him."
Father Jiang raised his head, his gaze stern.
"Feelings can be nurtured. Sili wants to be engaged to you, showing he has feelings for you. He’s such an excellent young man; if you don’t fancy him, who could you possibly like?"
"But he doesn’t only have feelings for me, Dad. Though I grew up in a poor family, I wish to pursue what I truly want. Dad, even though I didn’t grow up by your side, I know you genuinely care for me..."
Father Jiang sighed, taking off his glasses, looking at his little daughter before him; indeed, he felt guilty.
But Zhao Sili is genuinely good; marrying him is already the Jiang Family climbing higher, yet his little daughter before him doesn’t want it.
As Father Jiang’s attitude softened, Zhou Ruantian quietly stepped forward, taking out a box of medicine from her pocket to hand over.
"I heard your voice didn’t sound right yesterday; this is medicine specifically for sore throats, make sure you take it."
Leaving the medicine, Zhou Ruantian turned to leave, letting Father Jiang gaze at the medicine on the table, helplessly sighing repeatedly.
Truly a child that invokes pity.
——
On the day of the charity gala, most attendees brought partners along, except for Jiang Lai, who entered the venue alone.
Finding her seat upon arrival, she immediately noticed the foreign man seated at a nearby table.
Sporting a traditional suit, he looked elegant and affable, yet he dismissed several people who went up to greet him with a few words.
Jiang Lai took a glance at the name on the seat card beside him, then directly took her name card and walked up, calmly placing her name there, incidentally kicking the original name to the side.
The foreign man saw Jiang Lai’s move, frowned, and turned his face away, ignoring her.
Jiang Lai sat down without greeting him, instead pulling out a mirror to touch up her makeup.