AMRWFA -Chapter 144 Paid Gratitude

This was something Jian Lichang had learned recently—paid gratitude.

No matter the situation, whenever someone offered her something, there was always a price quietly attached behind the scenes.

If she didn’t want to be “controlled” or “toyed with,” she had to show her own value in advance and clearly set her price. Only then could she avoid others making outrageous demands—or worse, demanding something she couldn’t afford to give.

If it weren’t for her godmother’s “kind intentions,” she might have already fallen into a trap.

So she was deeply grateful.

Grateful for Ruan Yaoyao’s act of kindness, and also grateful for her own luck—for being able to hear her godmother’s inner thoughts and recognize who was truly reliable.

“If you really want to thank me, it’s simple,” Ruan Yaoyao said. “When you become a big star in the future, just remember to give the Xu Group a discount when you endorse us.”

Jian Lichang froze. Before she could respond, Jiang Ying burst out laughing.

“Godmother, how can you be so scary? A discount? She’s not even famous yet—she’s just an eighteen-tier nobody,” Jiang Ying said. “Instead of counting on her, you might as well count on me!”

“Count on you? You only like filming horror and suspense movies, and you always play villains. Are you sure anyone would dare buy products endorsed by you?” Jian Lichang shot back.

So what if she was a yandere female lead?

Did that mean she could just compete with her for their godmother?

With Father Nation backing her up, she wasn’t afraid at all.

Jiang Ying smirked. “I might not be much, but I have a boyfriend—a real one.”

Jian Lichang choked. “That’s your boyfriend, not you! How do you know your boyfriend would even agree to give Xu Group a discount?”

Jiang Ying immediately pulled out her phone and waved it in front of her. Sure enough, Yu Yang had replied, saying that if he ever got the chance to collaborate with Xu Group, he’d definitely offer a discount.

Jian Lichang gritted her teeth. “So what if you have a boyfriend?”

Jiang Ying lifted her chin. “Of course it’s a big deal. Unlike someone whose boyfriend is fake! Not only fake, but he even caused trouble for Aunt Xu! I wonder if you’ll ever be able to repay the losses Xu Group suffered.”

“I’ll repay it!” Jian Lichang snapped. “Even if I have to work my whole life, I’ll pay it back.”

Ruan Yaoyao: “…”

【Why are these two always clashing?】

【Could it be some kind of ‘female lead magnetic field’?】

【Same type of female leads… repelling each other?】

Yu Xiangqiao covered her mouth, laughing like crazy. Hahaha… magnetic repulsion!

Mom, haven’t you noticed? It’s not just them—your sons don’t get along with each other either!

Oh, and they don’t get along with your sons either!

The Xu family’s three brothers: Argue all you want, but behave in front of Mom. Don’t upset her!

Unlike those two—no self-awareness at all!

Jian Lichang & Jiang Ying: “…”

Heh! As if you guys aren’t competing with us for favor too!

If you’ve got the guts—then stop competing!

…

After his first plan failed, Lu Yuanqing came up with another.

Pick on the weakest—he began snatching business from Xu Chengyan, the second son of the Xu family, threatening them to “control” their mother and stop her from causing trouble.

The “soft persimmon” Xu Chengyan was furious.

“Why me?!”

“Why come after me?!”

“If you’ve got the guts, go after my big brother!”

…

Yun Jinxian remained calm. After he finished venting in the office, she closed her laptop and said, “Then tell your brother that from now on, anything involving Mom will be his responsibility?”

“How is that acceptable?” Xu Chengyan immediately objected. “That would just inflate his ego! He’d love nothing more than to take care of Mom alone and kick us all out—dream on! If he hadn’t been born before me, do you think he’d be the one temporarily managing Xu Group? It’d definitely be me!”

“If I were in charge, I’d grow the company several times over in a year. In just a few years, we’d be the richest in the world. I’d give Mom huge red envelopes every day—she’d be over the moon.”

Yun Jinxian didn’t respond.

Sure, Aunt Xu would be happy receiving red envelopes—but if something went wrong with Xu Group and affected her year-end dividends, she’d skin Xu Chengyan alive.

“So what now? Lu Yuanqing keeps stealing your company’s business. If this continues, it’ll affect your operations. Will you still have enough dividends for your mom by the end of the year?”

“Hmph! He thinks he can just take whatever he wants? If he’s so capable, let him try stealing national daddy’s business.”

…

Not long after, Lu Yuanqing received news: the deal he had been negotiating with Xie Group had fallen through—and had gone straight to Xu Chengyan.

He immediately called Xie Xiuming to ask what happened. Weren’t they almost done negotiating?

Sitting behind his desk, Xie Xiuming replied calmly, “The company doesn’t belong to me alone. This is normal business operation.”

“Who are you fooling? Xie Group has never had dealings with Xu’s company. What ‘normal operation’ is that?” Lu Yuanqing suddenly thought of something. “Is it because of that woman, Ruan Yaoyao? I saw her at your building that day—was she there to see you?”

“Which day? Aunt Xu comes to see me often. I don’t know which one you mean.”

“The day I went.”

“Oh, that does ring a bell. But she wasn’t there for business—she came looking for her lost bird. She has a bird at my place.”

Xie Xiuming’s office was enormous. At some point, a bird perch had appeared inside. A black crow was sitting on it, sleeping.

Hearing its name mentioned, the crow opened one eye to glance at Xie Xiuming. Realizing he was on the phone, it shifted its claws and went back to sleep.

Xie Xiuming’s lips twitched.

Only after Ma Xi came to stay with him did he realize that the creature did nothing but sleep—almost all the time.

After hanging up, he asked, “When you were human, were you this sleepy too?”

Ma Xi, about to doze off again, replied: 【What else would I do? I’m a bird now. I’ve got nothing to do.】

“Who says you’ve got nothing to do? Don’t you like studying computers? I can sign you up for classes.”

【I’m a bird now!】

“So what if you’re a bird? Birds don’t need to learn? You’ll turn back into a human eventually. I’ve already tested it—when you transform back, you’ll retain your memories from being a bird.”

Ma Xi: 【…】

Suddenly recalling that he used to be a student, Ma Xi felt a chill run down his spine.

When he turned back into a human… would Xie Xiuming force him to become a top student?

He’d heard from the housekeeper that Xie Xiuming used to be an academic ace—someone who couldn’t stand people who didn’t study.

Should he run away now?

Sure, Aunt Xu’s “golden finger” was a bit terrifying—but at least she wouldn’t force him to study. Once he went back, he could even have her call Xie Xiuming and urge him to help “find his family.”

“Achoo—”

Ruan Yaoyao sneezed, feeling like someone was cursing her.

【Could it be that guy Lu Yuanqing again?】

Yu Xiangqiao looked up at the sky.

As long as it wasn’t her, she was fine. These days, every time her mom sneezed, it somehow ended up being Lu Yuanqing’s fault. Well, serves him right—he did have a grudge against her mom.

Just then, Ruan Yaoyao received a call from Shi Yanli, bringing good news—

Her cousin Shi Wenqin had finally regained consciousness in the hospital.