As if on the same wavelength, Chen Xiao was also out shopping at that moment. He wasn't at Wansheng Square, but at Ganglong International.
Ganglong International was a high-end mall featuring major luxury brands, whereas Wansheng Square catered to the masses, its best brands being second-tier international labels.
He was there because Xu Wu had asked him out. He had no idea what had gotten into her, to actually take the initiative and invite him for coffee!
He arrived at the designated spot, and had just sat down when a fragrant scent wafted past his nose. Looking up, he saw Xu Wu had arrived. She was dressed casually, but even that couldn't conceal her sizzling figure!
"Hm, not bad!"
He blurted out unexpectedly, leaving Xu Wu baffled. "What's not bad?"
"A 35C, for sure!"
Her face flushed. As she bent over to sit down, her chest was practically bursting, like two volleyballs. Obviously, he was teasing her about that!
"Chen Xiao, if you're looking for a death wish, I'll be happy to grant it today!"
She said "viciously," even raising her handbag!
"Careful, those are some real knockers!"
She glared at him, enraged, not knowing if he meant the weapon she was about to hit him with, or the "weapon" on her chest.
Chen Xiao leaned back in his seat and, after his teasing, said, "So, President Xu, what did you need me for?"
She snorted. "What's the deal with the Central Inspection contract? One day they wouldn't even give you the time of day, and the next they hand you a nine-million contract!"
"That's a trade secret. I'm afraid I can't disclose that."
"Chen Xiao, are you for real? You took advantage of me the other day and I haven't even gotten you back for it yet. Now I'm just asking you a simple question and you're stalling. Are you a man or not?"
'Stalling? What a vivid image that brings to mind. You and me?' Chen Xiao's train of thought went completely off the rails.
"So you don't like stalling? You prefer to 'go in head-on'?"
She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Just be direct. I want you to just spit it out!"
'Not fast enough unless I spit? Lady, believe it or not, I could bust you for lewd conduct,' he thought, indulging his wicked sense of humor.
"Alright, no more games," Chen Xiao said. "A turnaround that fast obviously had a special reason behind it. All I can tell you is that the key factor in this deal isn't something that can be replicated. At least, not by you."
"I know that, of course. That's why I asked you out today—I want to propose a deal. Zhongjian Equipment still has some procurement needs that your company can't fulfill, but mine can. We're talking about an order worth nearly three million!"
"I know, I've seen their procurement list. That's great, you still have a shot. Why aren't you rushing off to schmooze them? What do you need me for?"
"I get annoyed just looking at that fatass Yang Ming. The man's as bald as an egg, and he still has the nerve to ask me to dinner. He makes me lose my appetite. How could I possibly eat a meal with him!"
"So, I was wondering if you could help me close the deal. Once the contract is signed, I'll give you the entire 3% commission!"
'What a joke. You think I'd even bother with such a paltry sum?'
'Hm? Wait a second. I wonder if the system gives a Diligence Reward for this kind of bonus. And what would the criteria be?' He was suddenly interested in testing it out.
"I need to make a call!"
Xu Wu didn't ask who he was calling. She just sipped her coffee quietly.
"President Li! It's me. I have a friend, President Xu of Voyage Aerospace. It turns out they can fulfill some of your current procurement needs. Do you think there's an opportunity for them to work together?"
"Mm... I'll have Xiao Yang handle it. Yes! Have Xiao Yang call President Xu to get in touch."
"Great, great! Thanks! Let's grab a meal sometime. Bye!"
'So it's true, money makes even devils do your bidding,' Xu Wu grumbled to herself. 'But listening to his call... it sounds like it's a done deal. Is business really this easy?'
"All set. Xiao Yang will be in touch with you shortly."
Hanging up, Chen Xiao told her this with a casual air.
"Who's Xiao Yang?"
"Yang Ming. Er, force of habit. I should be calling him Yang."
Xu Wu rolled her eyes. 'You're calling him *Xiao Yang*? How old do you think you are?' And besides, was the deal really settled that easily?
She voiced her doubts aloud, prompting a dramatic cry from Chen Xiao. "Hey! If you don't trust me, why come to me in the first place? Don't tell me this whole 'talking business' thing was just an excuse to see me!"
'Screw you. As if I'm that bored, just looking for a chance to let you make fun of me.' Xu Wu took a resentful sip of her coffee, too lazy to continue the verbal sparring. But she was still skeptical that he had actually handled it. Since when were deals this easy to close?
Just then, her phone rang. A glance at the caller ID revealed it was none other than Yang Ming from Zhongjian Equipment Co., Ltd.
She picked it up and answered.
"President Xu, it's Yang Ming. About the potential collaboration—when would be a good time for us to connect and discuss the details?"
Xu Wu shot Chen Xiao a deeply meaningful look before speaking into the phone. "President Yang, I'm available anytime. Just let me know when it's convenient, and I'll bring my team over."
"Good... good. President Yang, I look forward to our collaboration!"
"Chen Xiao, you've made me see you in a whole new light!"
"'A lot can change in a few days. You should look at me with new eyes.' Chen Xiao was the picture of nonchalance, as if he'd just accomplished something utterly trivial."
"I'm so curious. How did you do it?" Xu Wu asked, her eyes fixed on him, shining like brilliant stars.
"Curiosity killed the cat. You'd be better off retracting that curiosity and thinking about how you're going to repay me instead."
"You're not the kind of person who holds a favor over someone's head!" Xu Wu cut him off.
"If you're going to burn your bridges like this, there won't be a next time!"
Xu Wu pouted. "Fine. You tell me how I should repay you. Is treating you to dinner okay?"
"You think you can fob me off with just one meal?"
"Then what do you want?"
"Come on. Be a model for me."
Huh? Xu Wu didn't get what he meant at first, but Chen Xiao was already getting up, so she had no choice but to follow.
Chen Xiao led the way to the second floor of Ganglong, which was mostly filled with affordable luxury women's clothing stores. He planned on buying a few outfits for Zhao Xiangjun.
He couldn't stand seeing her in cheap, online-ordered clothes every day. It wasn't that he was vain—he just felt Zhao Xiangjun deserved better. Those things truly didn't suit her, even if she didn't seem to care.
He walked into an outdoor apparel store, Descente, a brand that specialized in skiwear. Chen Xiao was a fan of their craftsmanship and materials—their clothes were incredibly comfortable.
A sales associate immediately greeted them with enthusiasm. "Help me pick out a few outfits as a gift," Chen Xiao said.
The sales associate's eyes lit up when she heard him. A few outfits as a gift! A single base layer shirt at Descente started at over 1,000 yuan; a few complete outfits would easily break the 10,000 mark!
"Would you like to browse on your own, sir, or would you like me to help you choose? If you can tell me the height and build of the person you're buying for, we can also have someone try on the clothes for you."
"He pointed at Xu Wu. 'Taller than her—around 178 cm. And her measurements are just a little more... perfect.'"
The associate followed his finger to Xu Wu and thought, 'Wow, she's gorgeous! And she has such an elegant air about her!'
'But according to this handsome man, the woman he was buying for had an even *more* perfect figure. Could someone like that really exist? Just how beautiful would she be?'
Xu Wu snorted. She assumed Chen Xiao was saying it just to spite her. She had been the center of attention wherever she went her entire life; she'd never heard of anyone who could supposedly outshine her in the looks department.
Still, based on Chen Xiao's description, the girl he was buying gifts for had, at the very least, a bombshell figure!
The sales associate presented several of the store's classic outfits, and Chen Xiao told her to have Xu Wu try on all of them.
Xu Wu froze. So *that's* what he meant by "be a model for me." She was supposed to be his fit model for clothes he was buying for another woman.