CHAPTER 337: CHAPTER 336 STABLE RELATIONSHIP

After resting at home for a day, Zhao Meimei accompanied Shi Yang’s mother to go shopping and for a beauty treatment. Shi Yang dropped them off at the entrance of the beauty salon and then drove to the maternity and baby store in the city center.

It was snowing heavily in the county, but here at home, the sky was clear and the snow on the ground had been thoroughly cleaned.

Shi Yang got out of the car and saw Qian Jinqiu standing in front of the maternity and baby store from afar, directing the staff to clean the dust and trash blown onto the red carpet spread out at the entrance.

As Shi Yang approached, Qian Jinqiu noticed him immediately, surprised and taking two steps forward to ask, "Why are you suddenly here?"

Shi Yang smiled slightly, "There’s something I want to discuss with you. Is it convenient for you to leave for a bit now?"

Qian Jinqiu nodded and followed Shi Yang to the coffee shop across the street.

Shi Yang stirred his coffee with a small spoon and went over the whole situation with Third Brother.

Qian Jinqiu was incredulous, "Is he crazy?"

Shi Yang brought the cup to his lips, took a sip of coffee, and slowly said, "I’ve handed over the Naughty Castle installation part to him."

Qian Jinqiu showed a look of surprise and shock, opened her mouth, thinking to herself, you must be crazy?

Shi Yang got straight to the point with his intention, "I called you here today because I want to ask if you’re interested in getting involved in the Naughty Castle installation part?"

Qian Jinqiu’s expression froze for a moment, her eyes widened in shock, stuttering, "You want me to take over the Naughty Castle installation? Didn’t you hand it over to him?... I, even if I take over, I wouldn’t know how to do it?"

Shi Yang’s lips curled, "I’ll send someone over to assist you, teach you everything thoroughly."

Qian Jinqiu studied Shi Yang’s expression, "Are you trying to use me to bring him down?"

Shi Yang chuckled, his tone still gentle, "No, whether he falls or not, I don’t care. I only care about the profit from this business."

Shi Yang handed over the financial records of his years of running the Naughty Castle installation to Qian Jinqiu for review.

After reading them, Qian Jinqiu’s eyes lit up.

Shi Yang then added in a timely manner, "I can provide the materials and channels; you just need to hire professionals to manage this business."

Qian Jinqiu considered for a while and asked, "But haven’t you already handed this business over to that guy called Third Brother?"

Shi Yang just smiled, "That’s why I want to cooperate with you."

Qian Jinqiu understood now, Shi Yang intended to be a behind-the-scenes boss, and all she needed to do was establish an installation team for which she would have to find someone to manage.

Qian Jinqiu pondered, asking, "What benefits will I get from doing it this way?"

Shi Yang smiled mildly, "The installation fees are yours, and you can take a twenty percent profit from the toy sales. Don’t worry, with that twenty percent, it’s enough to pay workers’ wages.

Before Qian Jinqiu could speak, Shi Yang threw in another tempting condition, "Since you’re just starting to handle this business, I’ll need to send people over to help manage things and liaise with intermediaries, and stay with you for a while. Once you can truly take charge independently, I’d still hope you could fully take over and officially assume responsibility for the Naughty Castle installation.

Qian Jinqiu felt quite emotional, "Actually, if Third Brother hadn’t messed things up behind your back, you probably really intended to hand this business over to him at first, right? He’s followed you for so long; you must have trusted him quite a bit. But this man ended up cutting off his own financial path with his schemes."

"After transferring to me, you won’t turn around and transfer it to someone else, will you?"

Qian Jinqiu spoke softly and slowly. Shi Yang lowered his eyes, hmming in response.

Shi Yang seemed a bit distracted, suddenly hesitated for a moment, and stared at Qian Jinqiu.

Qian Jinqiu also looked up at Shi Yang, her eyes carrying a complex emotion that couldn’t quite be expressed.

Due to Shi Yang’s silence, Qian Jinqiu suddenly felt a sharp sense of loss, but she’d long known that Shi Yang was willing to cooperate with her, inviting her to become a franchisee, simply because he was attracted to her father’s powerful backing.

Some things, when imagined, are nothing to worry about; as long as they are not seen or heard firsthand, the hurt will never truly form.

While Qian Jinqiu was feeling a bit lost and hurt, Shi Yang spoke softly, "I won’t do that; you’re not like him."

"You’re my partner, my friend, while he’s just my subordinate, an employee I value more than others."

The emotion in Qian Jinqiu’s heart surged, realizing for the first time how clearly Shi Yang categorized people in his heart—family together, friends together, employees together—and how he treated those who mattered and those who didn’t, with entirely different weight and methods.

At the end of that day, Qian Jinqiu said, "Being your friend is actually pretty good, at least from what I know about you, you never use or betray your friends."

"I accept the Naughty Castle installation business."

"Rest assured, as a friend, I will never betray you either."

Often, the decision to persist or give up, hold on or defend, is just a momentary thought. During that time, Qian Jinqiu faced her failed love for the first time, unable to avoid or continue, so she sincerely accepted the identity of Shi Yang’s friend.

Qian Jinqiu understood, she could never escape this identity for the rest of her life. Shi Yang also knew he had successfully turned an admirer into a partner. In the end, aside from family and lovers, only friendship and interests form the most solid bonds between people.

On the afternoon of New Year’s Eve, Shi Yang’s parents drove to the provincial capital. The two families gathered to celebrate New Year at Liu Xiue and Zhao Dazhuang’s rented house.

Liu Xiue started preparing the New Year’s Eve dinner early in the morning: braised pig’s trotters, stewed chicken, roasted fish, oil-braised prawns, all strong dishes.

Everyone sat around the table, as they did every year, yet it felt different. Because of the children’s engagement, the two families had truly become one; their conversation, behavior, and the interactions around the dining table became more harmonious and pleasant.

Zhao Meimei sat next to Shi Yang, with her mother and Shi Yang’s mother to her left, and Zhao Dazhuang and his father to Shi Yang’s right. Shi Yang accompanied the fathers drinking.

Shi Yang raised his glass, turning towards Zhao Meimei’s parents and said, "Uncle, Auntie, I toast to you. You’ve worked hard this year."

Shi Yang downed his drink and refilled his glass, "This one is to my parents; thank you for raising me."

"The third toast is to the whole family, Happy New Year."