At this moment, Wang Congcong couldn't care less about the other people present.
Following Jiang Cheng's words, he spoke up, "Brother Cheng, to be honest, you've hinted at real estate a couple of times before. I didn't want to ask in detail with so many people around, but since we're all here today, I'll be thick-skinned and ask for a straight answer."
"My dad has been worrying about transitioning every day for the past six months. He talks about de-real-estatization and moving toward light assets, but he's lost when it comes to actually doing it. If he doesn't sell heavy assets, the capital chain won't hold; if he does, he's afraid of losing his foundation. Our competitors are all expanding, and if we shrink, our market share will be swallowed instantly. The people below are also conflicted, so nothing gets pushed forward. He stays up late in his study, and I'm worried watching him. Can you help point my family in a practical direction?"
Jiang Cheng looked up and scanned Wang Congcong indifferently, his fingertips resting on the rim of his glass, not immediately responding to those earnest words.
"Your father's mindset is simply wanting to hold onto the foundation of real estate while also reaping the profits of light assets. It's not that easy to have it both ways."
He took a sip of wine and didn't elaborate further, only leaving behind one sentence, directed at Wang Congcong but also seeming like it was for everyone at the table: "Trying to bite off more than you can chew will only lead to trouble. Knowing what to let go of is better than anything else."
Having said that, Jiang Cheng stopped and looked up to chat with Wang Zheng again about the party taking over the project in Magic City.
Wang Congcong understood instantly. Jiang Cheng was leaving things unsaid; if he wanted to ask more, he had to find an opportunity in private.
He immediately said no more and nodded heavily. "Understood, Brother Cheng. I'll pass these words to my dad first when I get back."
Shen An glanced at Wang Congcong from the side, clinked his glass against Jiang Cheng's, and smoothed things over. "Brother Cheng's words are spot on. These days, those who can let go are the truly smart ones. Come, let's have a drink!"
The atmosphere at the table warmed up accordingly. No one mentioned the transition again, and they each went back to discussing Company's projects, everything understood without being said.
Jiang Cheng took in everyone's reactions, knowing that his words had achieved their intended effect.
He said no more and picked up his wine glass again, a faint, indifferent smile returning to his face. "The logic is sound, but a meal must be eaten one bite at a time. Let's make sure this current step is steady first. Come, here's to us... successfully closing the deal before the window shuts."
This time, everyone's movements as they raised their glasses were much more solemn. The clinking of the glasses was still crisp, but the previous rowdiness was gone, replaced by a heavy, unspoken understanding.
The back seat of the rolls-royce had been modified.
His model was already quite a bit wider than an ordinary car.
For some reason, after the car door opened, Jiang Churan was actually the first to get in.
Seeing her sit directly in the window seat, Jiang Cheng looked at her, somewhat bewildered.
If she sat by the window, wouldn't he be forced to sit in the middle?
If he sat in now, it would be equivalent to Jiang Cheng sitting in the center.
Then another Girl would inevitably have to sit on his right side.
Would it be Xu Yan or Shen Shuang?
But if he let Xu Yan or Shen Shuang sit in the middle, while he sat by the other window?
That wouldn't be appropriate either, would it?
Or did they plan to have him sit in the passenger seat?
That's impossible; the seating order wasn't like this when they came over... Jiang Cheng couldn't help but overthink again. Could Jiang Churan have really discovered something?
His relationship with Xu Yan had already progressed to this point; there was really no need to do some 'best friend test' nonsense.
If there really were such a thing as a best friend test, Xu Yan should have warned him long ago, right?
Jiang Cheng spoke up, "Ranran, come out, let me sit by the window..."
To his surprise, Jiang Churan actually shook her head.
Then she spoke in a coquettish tone, "I ate a bit too much just now and I'm afraid I'll get motion sickness if I sit in the middle... you sit in the middle..."
Motion sickness? He hadn't noticed her getting motion sickness before.
But since she said so, Jiang Cheng naturally sat inside.
The moment he sat down, Jiang Churan naturally hugged Jiang Cheng's arm and rested her head on his shoulder.
This action caused Jiang Cheng's previous thought to flash through his mind again.
It seemed he was overthinking things.
Because his Danger Perception Skill and Mind Perception Skill hadn't signaled anything unusual.
So there probably wasn't a chance of the'ship sinking' yet, right?
However, Jiang Cheng still overlooked one point.
What if the Danger Perception Skill didn't consider this a danger and thus didn't provide a prompt?
And what if Jiang Churan didn't feel angry or repulsed in her heart because of this?
If she could tolerate this, then how would the Mind Perception Skill manifest it?
Looking at the situation before her, Shen Shuang's expression began to turn strange again.
She looked at Jiang Cheng and Xu Yan with some conflict.
However, although she had discovered the relationship between Jiang Cheng and Xu Yan, she didn't cause any trouble.
She even proactively walked toward the passenger seat.
As she got in, she complained with feigned naturalness, "Gosh, even in a car you have to be all huggy and clingy. Is having a boyfriend that amazing?"
Seeing this, Jiang Churan replied giggling, "That's right! It is very amazing. Leaning on him is just so comfortable..."
"Ugh~" Hearing this, Xu Yan immediately followed up with a meaningless agreement.
Then she followed behind Jiang Cheng and sat in the car as well.
But,
although she was very afraid that Jiang Churan would discover the thing between them, for a young Girl who had just fallen in love, as long as there was a chance to be close, she couldn't help but want to be naughty.
As soon as she sat down, her fingers pretended to accidentally press down on Jiang Cheng's hand which was placed at his side... Unlike when they first arrived, Shen Shuang was now pulling her seatbelt to buckle up while turning her face, her peripheral vision looking toward the back seat.
In just a second, she saw Xu Yan's movement.
Just then, Wang Sheng got into the car to ask for the destination.
"Brother Wang, no need to go around to the Dance Academy. Just go to Renji Mountain Villa. After Yan Yan and I get there, we can just take a taxi back..."
Hearing this, Jiang Cheng instead spoke up, "Don't go to all that trouble. You two can just stay at Chu Ran's place tonight. I'm leaving Kyoto tomorrow at noon, and I'll feel more at ease with the two of you accompanying Chu Ran..."
Jiang Cheng didn't have this thought before.
But now he felt that the three Girls living together seemed quite good.
Although he didn't know what the future would hold,
things had to be done step by step; he couldn't rush.
Something like a 'compliance test' also required time.
By slowly infiltrating things, as they lived together, everyone might eventually stop distinguishing between themselves and others, right?
"Ah? Big Boss, you're going back?" Shen Shuang asked.
Since Shen Shuang kept looking back, Xu Yan didn't dare to keep pressing Jiang Cheng's hand, her eyes only showing her reluctance to let him go.
Jiang Cheng nodded and then looked at Jiang Churan:
"By the way, have you gotten your driver's license yet?"
Seeing Jiang Cheng suddenly bring this up, the three Girls' eyes all brushed toward him.
Jiang Churan shook her head upon hearing this. "I haven't taken the Subject Four exam yet. I haven't had time lately."
Jiang Cheng asked, "How did you do on your previous exams?"
At this, Jiang Churan had a face full of pride.
"It was alright. I passed Subject Two and Subject Three on the first try. My driving skills are very steady, you know..."
Seeing her looking at him proudly, the corner of Jiang Cheng's mouth curled up. "Mm, I'll admit that. Your core is strong, your chassis is steady, and you don't suddenly speed up or slow down. You have a good grasp of the rhythm..."
Seeing Jiang Churan shyly poke his waist with her hand, Jiang Cheng smiled and added another line, "No wonder you could pass on the first try..."
Shen Shuang, who 'drove' daily, understood Jiang Cheng's double entendre immediately.
But Xu Yan hadn't been 'developed' by Jiang Cheng yet, and plus, she and Jiang Churan had signed up for the driver's license together.
So she couldn't help but ask, "Eh? Have you practiced driving with Chu Ran? Usually, it's me and her who go to practice. The two of us took the Subject Two and Subject Three exams together..."
Jiang Cheng turned his head upon seeing this. "Oh, then did you pass too?"
Xu Yan also nodded. "I passed. Driving is just too simple..."
Hearing this, Shen Shuang turned her head while stifling a laugh. "Big Boss, Yan Yan's 'driving skills' are also very steady..."