Chapter 362: Too Ambitious?
"You’re overthinking it. I meant exactly what I said, nothing more."
Chuchu saw the playful, mischievous glint in Jiang Xinghai’s eyes, and her expression stiffened.
Thankfully, they were speaking in hushed tones.
’Otherwise, wouldn’t it be mortifying if the other women heard them?’
"Xinghai, what are you and Chuchu whispering about? It’s so secretive," Su Yanyun asked, turning her head.
Shen Lingxue and Yu Lina also looked over, waiting expectantly.
Ever since they all sat down, Jiang Xinghai had been whispering with Chuchu.
Shen Lingxue, in particular, had a faint hint of jealousy on her face, and her gaze was the most intense of all.
"We were just discussing whether we should open a branch in the Imperial City."
Jiang Xinghai looked up, his expression serious as he addressed them. "Since Miss Yu is handling the Provincial City, I’d like to propose that Chuchu take charge of the Imperial City. Lingxue, Yanyun, what do you two think?"
"Xinghai, AM has barely established itself in Jizhou," Su Yanyun said, being the most direct. Her sentiment was shared by everyone. "And the Provincial City branch isn’t even set up yet. You’re already thinking about opening another one in the Imperial City?"
"You think I’m getting ahead of myself?"
But Jiang Xinghai just smiled. "Judging by the market’s reaction since the Anti-Aging Cream launched, this isn’t getting ahead of ourselves—it’s foresight. We should be planning for the future. If we wait until the product is so popular that we can’t keep up with orders, won’t it be too late to open a new branch then?"
"That makes sense. I agree," Shen Lingxue said decisively.
Su Yanyun nodded, still processing it, then turned to Chuchu. "It must take a lot of paperwork to set up a company in the Imperial City, right?"
"It’s a bit of a hassle, but the Chu Family can handle it," Chuchu replied, her expression serious.
’She hadn’t expected Jiang Xinghai to bring it up just to change the subject, only to then decide to actually go through with it.’
’After thinking it over calmly, she had to admit he had a point.’
While the Chu Family couldn’t be called a First-class Clan in the Imperial City, they were constantly striving to reach that level of power.
An AM branch would bring unexpected benefits to the Chu Family.
"But I have a rather selfish proposal."
While the women were quietly mulling it over, Jiang Xinghai tapped the table. "Whether it’s the Provincial City branch or the Imperial City branch, the Shen Family must hold the largest stake. Furthermore, the ’AM’ trademark must include the name ’Shen Corporation’."
"No problem," Su Yanyun was the first to agree.
She knew Jiang Xinghai was always working tirelessly for the Shen Family’s sake, and the founding of AM in Jizhou was inextricably linked to him.
Even though she had come up with the two letters in the name ’AM’, there was no doubt that Shen Corporation was the power behind it.
"Chuchu and I will just be managing the branches; we don’t have any voting rights. It’s all up to whatever Lingxue and Yanyun decide," Yu Lina said, adjusting her black-framed glasses and exchanging a smile with Chuchu.
"Exactly," Chuchu agreed with a nod.
"Xinghai..." Shen Lingxue looked hesitant, wanting to say something but stopping herself several times.
"The Shen Family has earned this," Jiang Xinghai stated plainly, leaving no room for argument.
Shen Lingxue nodded. ’She knew he was still thinking about repaying his debt to her family.’
By the end of lunch, they had roughly finalized the plans for the branch companies.
The Provincial City branch would have three shareholders: Shen Lingxue, Su Yanyun, and Yu Lina.
The Imperial City branch would also have three shareholders: Shen Lingxue, Su Yanyun, and Chuchu.
Yu Lina left Jizhou first to head to the Provincial City and begin preparations for the new branch.
As for Chuchu, she had other business to attend to and couldn’t leave yet. Instead, she informed her father of the development exactly as it had been decided.
And so, the process of establishing the two new branches in the Provincial City and the Imperial City was set in motion.
Jiang Xinghai spent the entire afternoon by Shen Lingxue’s side.
Su Yanyun couldn’t help but feel a pang of sadness watching them.
’But after thinking it over, she gave them her silent blessing.’
’Perhaps only Shen Lingxue is truly worthy of Jiang Xinghai.’
「As evening fell.」
Jiang Xinghai had to leave for Central State to cultivate Spiritual Medicine.
He didn’t tell anyone else he was leaving, only holding Shen Lingxue in a long embrace.
"Go. I hope you achieve your goals soon. I’ll be in Jizhou waiting for you to come back."
Finally, with tears welling in her eyes, Shen Lingxue gently pushed Jiang Xinghai away.
Jiang Xinghai clicked his tongue softly.
’In a month at the latest, he would have news of his parents’ whereabouts. And that included... Mr. Long in the Black Cloak.’
"Go on. But if I’m not pregnant in seven days, I’m coming to find you."
Shen Lingxue watched Jiang Xinghai, all her initial shyness gone, and gave a little wave.
"Take care!"
Jiang Xinghai drove away, resisting the urge to look back.
’If his parents were safe and he had no enemies, he would have already taken Shen Lingxue’s hand and walked down the aisle.’
’But for now, he had to push aside these ’feelings’.’
’If the worst were to happen and he lost his life, at least it wouldn’t cause Shen Lingxue too much grief.’
On the highway, Jiang Xinghai sped south in his Land Rover.
A Porsche Cayenne followed two hundred meters behind him.