Su Ping Nan's approach to chasing girls was like his way of navigating the world – simple, brutal, and direct.
For a whole week, the enigmatic man vanished from Li Luo Ran's life without a trace.
Sometimes she would recall his serious, almost negotiation-like approach to striking up a conversation, and a faint smile would cross her lips.
Until, a week later, two young men in black suits found her.
That day, Li Luo Ran was jogging in her white, form-fitting sportswear, her hair tied back in a ponytail. The two young men in black abruptly stood in her path. The college students watching their goddess on the field immediately tensed, fists clenched, ready to leap into action at the slightest sign of trouble, ready to play the hero.
The two young men were equally stunned by Li Luo Ran's beauty. They exchanged a glance, their eyes betraying a shared understanding.
"Miss Li Luo Ran?"
At this time, the word "Miss" had not yet been imbued with the special meaning it would later acquire.
"Yes."
"This is something Mr. Su asked us to deliver. Please accept it."
With that, one of them respectfully handed her an exquisitely crafted box.
Li Luo Ran shook her head, refusing to take it. "What is it?"
"We don't know. Mr. Su only told us to deliver it to you personally, saying it's a gift between friends."
The box was opened, and Li Luo Ran watched the two men disappear like they were being chased by a mob, a smile playing on her lips.
A peacock malachite pendant earring with a delicately set diamond in the center. Li Luo Ran loved it at first sight, but she felt she couldn't accept something so precious. Watching the two figures shrink to mere dots in the distance, she covered her mouth with a laugh and decided to take it back to the dormitory, asking Du Dan Dan to take it home for that fool.
In Li Luo Ran's heart, the feelings Su Ping Nan evoked in her were quite strange. She was both curious and afraid.
That night, when Du Dan Dan uttered her last words, Li Luo Ran remained silent for a long time. These things were unimaginable to her, coming from a well-protected, well-off family.
Zhao Xia, somewhat excited, said, "Real martial arts aren't about young men in white clothes, riding spirited horses. This man is freaking awesome. Luo Ran, say something. This old lady's got a crush."
Listening to Zhao Xia, the most boisterous of their dormitory, Li Luo Ran remained silent. But a phrase her beloved aunt, who studied abroad in England, had often said came to mind: "A woman with a strong heart never fears the challenges that come with love. Be it a precipice or a boundless vista, face it with composure."
The restaurant that Su Ping Nan had named "Jinxiu Ge" was being renovated at an astonishing speed. This was Han Bing's first project where he was in complete control of the design, and he poured his heart and soul into it. His four hours of sleep a day and his meticulous attention to detail drove the construction team to the brink of despair.
They were fine at first, but later on, they simply began to resist. Han Bing didn't say a word and told Su Ping Nan.
Su Ping Nan just smiled and said nothing. That night, Guo Guang Yao hosted a dinner for the construction team. Su Ping Nan showed up for half an hour, refusing all offers of drinks and only sharing three cups with Han Bing.
The next day, Han Bing noticed that, overnight, all the problems had vanished. Everyone was now in a good mood and working diligently.
Su Ping Nan was now focusing most of his energy on Ertai Town.
He knew that next year, Feng City would completely open up its mountain goods trade, and Ertai Town would flourish.
Drawing on the success of his earlier investments, Jinxiu Group had again invested heavily, acquiring a prime location in Ertai Town. With a hefty sum of money poured in, the foundation for the "Jinxiu Ru Jia" chain hotel was already being laid.
Currently, Su Ping Nan had already invested in the construction of a pine nut processing and storage center, a walnut processing plant, and a hotel in Ertai Town. He was now the largest investor in Ertai Town, enjoying a smooth path with every initiative. The Forestry Company under the jurisdiction of Feng City realized the rapid growth of Jinxiu Foods, but by then, pine nuts were continuously being transported to the center and shipped to Wu City.
Su Ping Nan was expanding his operations rapidly and on a grand scale. The taxi company's major revenue source was still in the future, a strategic pre-emptive move. His company's cash flow was completely dependent on pine nuts, so his accounts never had much cash on hand. Finding another cash cow became his urgent priority.
Alone in his office, the door locked, Su Ping Nan diligently reviewed his overflowing notebook, searching for the perfect business opportunity. There were too many opportunities, and he had rejected many projects with low profit margins.
The four words "Sītōng Yīpíng" (meaning "four directions connected and leveled") caught his eye. This was a key infrastructure project that Tiannan Province was about to launch. Next year, several highways and national roads would also start construction. Su Ping Nan's face grew serious. His current capital and scale were not enough to participate in this feast. His only option was to supply materials.
However, sand and gravel pits were low-investment, high-profit ventures, but the biggest risk was the involvement of local power players. It was a chaotic mix, a bloodbath. Su Ping Nan was considering whether it was worth it to enter this arena. There would be conflict once he entered, and he had to figure out how to deal with it.
He decided to do it. Su Ping Nan closed his notebook, his mind made up. Most people hadn't realized the opportunity coming next year. If he laid the groundwork in advance, he might be able to get a big piece of the pie. As for conflicts, he was no longer afraid of anyone, now that his wings were strong.
(I'll be finished with my work soon, and I'll update with 7 chapters today. I'll make up for yesterday's lack of updates. Please give me flowers and reviews. This is the first update.)