Chapter 225: Chapter 224 For Anitaqing Fairy Flower Fate +18 Updates
Qu Chaozong felt his throat was a bit dry, turned the cap to take a gulp of drink, only then did he feel he had thoroughly digested the news and swallowed it into his stomach.
Shi Yang casually brought up the matter of transferring ownership of Naughty Castle.
Qu Chaozong’s mood, which had finally calmed down, immediately stirred up again.
Naughty Castle’s net profit is far more impressive than the installation fee. If it’s let go, there will be no path for reinvestment, especially since the provincial capital’s business has long been monopolized by that old fox Li Shuren. Once truly transferred, it means complete career transition from this line of work.
Having known Qu Chaozong for so many years, Shi Yang could read his thoughts like an open book; seeing his expression, he knew this guy was about to burst, so he quickly started painting a rosy picture to soothe him: "Now Naughty Castle is just gaining momentum, we’re the ones ahead of the curve, such a big piece of pie, don’t you think others would envy us?"
Qu Chaozong was taken aback and realized there was more to Shi Yang’s words.
Sure enough, Shi Yang said, "You know Director Qian from the Fire Department, right?"
Qu Chaozong furrowed his brow, unable to think of any involvement.
Shi Yang smirked coldly: "Director Qian will retire next year, set to transfer to the Civil Defense Office. Once he leaves the Fire Department, his connections with the mall will be cut off. My old man hinted to me a few days ago that Director Qian intends to have his daughter run Naughty Castle and wants me to help make the introduction."
Qu Chaozong was surprised: "Isn’t he afraid of being investigated?"
Shi Yang squinted his eyes: "Investigate what? Once he’s down from the Fire Department, he’s shed the hat of misconduct. Qian Jinqiu, unhappy in the Administration for Industry and Commerce, Director Qian will certainly plan something for his daughter. The fact he has an eye on Naughty Castle shows he’s well aware of our operations and actual earnings."
Qu Chaozong, hearing this, became anxious: "So what’s his deal? Does he want to take over our Naughty Castle directly?"
Shi Yang laughed: "I’ve told you, Director Qian will only retire next year, and Qian Jinqiu is still employed with the Administration for Industry and Commerce. It’s unlikely they’ll approach me about this anytime soon."
Qu Chaozong wasn’t dumb, a few words from Shi Yang and he caught on: "That’s why you’re planning to transfer ownership now; things will eventually get calculated by them, so why not just transfer it now while it’s hot, avoiding this troublesome issue altogether."
Shi Yang rubbed his chin: "It’s not just because of this. I want to expand our franchise network, need to establish in the provincial capital primarily; time is tight, tasks are heavy, requiring substantial capital, transferring ownership of Naughty Castle can relieve my pressing need."
Qu Chaozong somewhat accepted Shi Yang’s decision to switch industry, speaking now in a much calmer tone: "Mother and baby product specialty store, sounds good, but we’ve been operating for nearly half a year without profit, and at this rate, not only will the brand be damaged, but the funds will be tied up without turnover."
Shi Yang, looking shrewd: "Don’t worry, Mu Guangping is capable of achieving great things; our sales not going up is directly linked to the main company’s inadequate promotion. What we think of, he can think of too. I estimate that before spring arrives, sales channels will be formally expanded, and by then, pack up and come to settle with me in the provincial capital, you’ll be managing the specialty store."
Qu Chaozong left the company that day, the cold wind blowing him awake with sudden clarity. He turned abruptly to see Shi Yang driving off slickly, only then did it dawn on him, angrily shouting: "Damn! How come I’m the one managing the specialty store! Shi Yang! You damned lazy bugger!"
When Shi Yang drove home, it was already past eight in the evening. He first swerved to the supermarket near the community, bought some food and supplies to stock up at home, and after everything was set aside ready, he then went to pick up Zhao Meimei from her tutoring class.
Busy the whole day, Shi Yang stood by the streetlamp, watching the parents craning their necks eagerly by the entrance of the tutoring class, lit a cigarette, took a couple of drags, feeling somewhat irritable.
The rosy promise he painted for Qu Chaozong was both to soothe him and to deepen his own conviction, this being the short-term goal he wanted to strive for; but ultimately, a goal requires effort for realization, so while nothing has started being arranged, all was still talks alone; no matter how captivatingly one speaks, only in the end will the prospects of this path be clear.
After thinking for a while, Shi Yang stubbed out the cigarette, threw it into the trash bin nearby, took out his phone to check the time, seeing there were over ten minutes until the end of class, he guessed he’d come early.
He stared at the screen for some time, eventually sending Zhao Meimei a message: Is the teacher keeping you late today?
Zhao Meimei replied relatively quickly: Should be on time, it’s not Robber Hao’s class today. Brother, are you here?
Shi Yang responded: Yeah, I came early.
Zhao Meimei swiftly sent another message: Then I’ll hurry up after class.
Just this short, seemingly meaningless conversation surprisingly calmed Shi Yang’s mood; he thought about Zhao Meimei waving cheerfully to say goodbye in the morning, picturing her pretty arched brow eyes, feeling as though his chest sparked a jumping flame, baking his organs, rather pleasantly.
In the classroom, Zhao Meimei was originally lying on the desk, wrestling with complex test papers. After receiving Shi Yang’s message, chatting briefly, she just couldn’t continue.
She pocketed her phone, held onto her pen, staring blankly at the paper, not really pondering anything—she genuinely let her mind drift.
As she wandered aimlessly in thought, the boy sitting in front slipped a plastic bag onto her desk while the teacher wasn’t looking, whispering: "For Dahei!"
The boy sitting in front of Zhao Meimei’s family owned a video store; classmates used to borrow discs from him if bored, but by senior year, everyone became busy with studies and those thoughts faded away.
Zhao Meimei reached for the plastic bag, and just as she lifted it, its corner got scratched by the sharp edges of the discs inside, things slipped out with a clatter, she hurriedly grabbed them, and inadvertently glanced at the cover: a man and woman embracing in a way that made hearts race with forbidden excitement, the man’s muscular body, the woman’s dazzling fair curves, intimately posed together on the cover image.
Zhao Meimei, startled, eyed the front row boy who had already turned obliviously at ease, silently repackaged the discs, tossed them to the back of the room: "For Dahei!"