C30 Change of Plans!

"You seem to be getting more beautiful by the day, yet I can't quite pinpoint what's changed," Zhang Xiaolong remarked earnestly.

"Stop it!" Yang Jingjing scrunched up her nose, though she couldn't help feeling delighted inside.

That morning, she had noticed something different about herself and had initially dismissed it as a figment of her imagination. But now that Xiaolong had mentioned it, it must be true. Could this be the glow of being in love?

Yang Jingjing let out a small huff, chiding herself for being so smitten, but she managed to say, "Let's eat. After breakfast, I'll go with you to Clear River Village."

"There's no need for you to come; you should rest," Xiaolong replied, not having any pressing matters. "I pretty much settled things with Chen Yaru yesterday..."

"Who?" Yang Jingjing cut in, her voice tinged with sensitivity.

"Chen Yaru," Xiaolong replied, puzzled. "She's the manager at Distant Vast Company and also the boss's daughter. Do you know her?"

"So that's why you didn't want me to come along. You had a date with the wealthy and gorgeous female manager. I'm impressed; you only went out for a few hours yesterday and you've already won over the company's female manager," Yang Jingjing said with a hint of acidity.

"What are you talking about? I was discussing business regarding glass," Xiaolong explained, his face reddening. "If you want to join, by all means, do. Who's stopping you? I just didn't want to wear you out, given your status as a prominent journalist."

"No, I'd rather not be the third wheel," Yang Jingjing declared, attacking her breakfast with more vigor than necessary, her own reasons for jealousy unclear even to herself.

Half an hour later, Zhang Xiaolong and the very person who had insisted on not tagging along entered the gates of Distant Vast Company together.

The atmosphere was far from the previous quiet. The receptionist stood up, greeting them with a warm smile. Upon hearing Xiaolong's name, she promptly escorted them to the manager's office.

Inside, Chen Yaru, hearing the knock and that Xiaolong had arrived, quickly checked her makeup in a compact mirror and straightened her attire. Satisfied that everything was in order, she composed herself and invited them in with a steady, "Please come in."

As Xiaolong pushed the door open, even though he wasn't dressed in yesterday's suit, he still looked just as dapper in her eyes.

As he was about to say hello, he noticed an exceptionally beautiful girl walking in behind her. The two women exchanged glances, both seemingly taken aback.

"Xiaolong, who is this?" Being on her own turf, Chen Yaru was the first to regain her composure, smiling but with a hint of panic in her heart.

If this girl was Zhang Xiaolong's girlfriend, Yaru's chances didn't look good. Aside from anything else, the girl's looks were certainly on par with her own, and her pure, innocent demeanor was like a magnet to men.

"Oh, her name is Yang Jingjing, a journalist from Yanjing," Zhang Xiaolong quickly explained.

"She's also a friend of his," Yang Jingjing chimed in, extending her hand to Chen Yaru, "Manager Chen, you're so beautiful."

"You are as well," Yaru replied, standing up to shake hands. Then she turned to Zhang Xiaolong, "Why aren't you wearing the suit I bought for you yesterday?"

"That suit looks great, but it feels a bit constricting. I prefer something more casual," Zhang Xiaolong replied, oblivious to the silent battle of glances between the two women.

Yang Jingjing, however, was not pleased. She had wondered why Zhang Xiaolong would think to buy such a suit, and now she knew it was a gift from Chen Yaru.

But Zhang Xiaolong had said it was his first time in the city, and he didn't know this woman. Why would she give him a suit upon meeting? And why would he accept it? Was he planning to give up being the College Entrance Examination Top Scorer to become a kept man?

"Yeah, Xiaolong likes to dress more casually," Yang Jingjing interjected, casually flicking at Zhang Xiaolong's clothes. "He took off the suit as soon as he got home yesterday. I was in the shower at the time and got quite the scare when I came out."

Zhang Xiaolong choked on his own cough, his eyes brimming with tears.

Unfazed, Yang Jingjing's sparkling eyes seemed to question, 'Did I say something wrong?'

Zhang Xiaolong admitted defeat. The story about removing his clothes and taking a shower was indeed true, as was the part about being startled. But when put together, it sounded entirely different.

"Let's start with the greenhouse," Chen Yaru said, her expression flickering briefly before she caught Zhang Xiaolong's reaction and realized there was more to the story.

Moreover, Yang Jingjing was from Yanjing, while Zhang Xiaolong had never traveled far from home. He hadn't even reported to school, so it was unlikely that their relationship was close enough for them to have slept together.

"Here's a sketch I made last night. These are the approximate dimensions. Can you estimate how much it might cost?" Zhang Xiaolong passed her a piece of paper with the drawing.

"We'll need to have someone take precise measurements for the data. We also need to assess the geographical location, construction conditions, and other factors," Chen Yaru said after a brief glance at the sketch. "But first, let's discuss the specifics."

Zhang Xiaolong braced himself, "Please, continue."

"Our greenhouses are constructed with a hot-dip galvanized steel frame and the highest quality greenhouse glass. For the roof, I recommend using polycarbonate panels, which are treated to resist condensation. They're lightweight, flexible, and durable. Although not as transparent as glass, they still allow 80% light transmission, which is more than sufficient," Chen Yaru paused to consider, then added, "You asked for a price list, which I haven't written up yet. However, I can give you a verbal estimate. A detailed list will follow, but you're looking at roughly two hundred yuan per square meter."

"Two hundred yuan per square meter?" Zhang Xiaolong inhaled sharply.

With an acre being around six to seven hundred square meters, even at the lower estimate, the cost would be 120,000 yuan.

He had overheard Chen Zhaomin and Chen Yaru speaking in hushed tones at the party the day before. He had intended to get a sense of the prices to plan his next steps, but he hadn't anticipated such a significant gap. Suddenly, he was facing a potential debt of over a hundred thousand yuan.

Chen Zhaomin had mentioned that only the transport fee was outstanding. If Zhang Xiaolong had accepted the goods without fully understanding the situation, he would have found himself owing a favor worth tens of thousands of yuan, a debt that would not be easy to repay.

"You didn't intentionally hike up the price, did you?" Yang Jingjing had a sudden realization. If the negotiation kept going this way, Zhang Xiaolong's trip would be for naught. "Actually, I was just teasing earlier. Xiaolong and I are merely acquaintances; there's nothing going on between us. Please don't give him a hard time on my account."

"Of course not, Miss Yang. The quote I gave you is already the biggest discount we can offer, in line with yesterday's agreement. It's practically our cost price," Chen Yaru responded, her tone now even. "Initially, I was willing to let these items go for five thousand yuan. But then I thought it might not sit well with Xiaolong. Being transparent with each other is essential for a lasting relationship, which is why I opted to present that price."

"You've got a point," Zhang Xiaolong agreed, acknowledging the logic in her words. "However, I apologize, as I don't have sufficient funds at the moment, I'm afraid I won't be able to place an order for these items after all."