Chapter 495: Blind Date Failure

On Saturday night, Wang Yan drove to the Hui Mansion on Julu Road, a three-story foreign-style building. Decades ago, a Qing Gang boss had opened a casino here; now it is a high-end restaurant specializing in Cantonese cuisine. Built in 1923, it can also be considered to have witnessed the hundred years of wind and clouds of the Shanghai Bund.

In the lobby, Jiang Pengfei, sitting on a retro, wide, soft chair, stood up. Wang Yan walked up with a chuckle to shake his hand: "Really sorry, Uncle Jiang. The road was a bit jammed, so I arrived a bit late. You too, why wait for me here? I could have just gone up with the waiter."

"It's me who came early. It's only six o'clock now, just right, just right." Jiang Pengfei shook his hand vigorously twice, let go, and patted Wang Yan on the shoulder: "Let's go, let's go up and talk while we eat. Let me tell you, my daughter is really beautiful. You must seize the opportunity."

Wang Yan shook his head and smiled: "In such a hurry to marry off your daughter?"

"It's not that I'm in a hurry, it's that a grown daughter can't be kept. And my daughter hasn't seen much of the world; she's like a white lotus, always thinking that the world is full of good people. Rather than her being deceived, it's better for me, as her father, to find her someone like you, whose roots and bottom I know. You work hard; I'm optimistic about you."

The two talked and laughed as they went upstairs to a private room. Jiang Pengfei notified the waiter to serve the dishes, then sat down and looked at Wang Yan with a chuckle: "Let me introduce you. He is the young talent in finance I told you about before, Wang Yan. You call me Uncle, so you should call her Auntie Dai."

Dai Qing was dressed dignifiedly, with the temperament of a noblewoman. Come to think of it, she is also quite something. After Jiang Pengfei died, she listened to what Dai Qian and Jiang Nansun said about living for herself, and then ran abroad and remarried.

Setting aside feelings, the Jiang family really did favor boys over girls. It was a fact that she gave birth to a girl and wasn't treated well, but all these years in the Jiang family, she wasn't restricted from doing anything. She didn't worry about food or drink, her spending wasn't short, and she hadn't lived for others. Wasn't it that she had no serious business, just playing mahjong to pass the time all day long? After Jiang Pengfei died, it was as if it had delayed her.

Although he thought this in his heart, Wang Yan still nodded to the dignified Dai Qing: "Hello, Auntie Dai."

"Hello." Dai Qing nodded politely in response, then sat there without a word, silently scrutinizing Wang Yan.

Jiang Pengfei continued pointing to the other side: "This is my daughter, Jiang Nansun."

Jiang Nansun sat diagonally opposite. Her brown hair hung down over her shoulders, and her face, lightly powdered, was naturally very exquisite. She wore a denim outfit with a white shirt inside, looking fresh and clean, and also full of youthful vitality.

She had a polite smile on her face: "Mr. Wang, hello."

"Hello, Miss Nansun." Wang Yan nodded with a smile.

In terms of her performance in the show, Jiang Nansun is very double-standard. Of course, double standards aren't wrong; after all, people are all double-standard, always demanding high standards from others and low standards from themselves. People tend to choose to do things that are beneficial to themselves and make statements that are beneficial to themselves—it's a very normal thing. Wang Yan is also double-standard; after all, his body has always been very honest. It's just that the difference in Jiang Nansun's performance before and after is too great, and the standards are a bit too extreme, which is very problematic.

For example, when the Jiang family was being dunned for debt, Jiang Pengfei didn't even want his face and went to the school to ask Whether Zhang Anren for money. As a result, when Whether Zhang Anren expressed dissatisfaction, Jiang Nansun proposed that Whether Zhang Anren help. This can of course be called seeing true feelings in adversity, but it was just a test of hers. But if Whether Zhang Anren really took the money, would she want it? Would she not say it was a test and thank Whether Zhang Anren with sweet words? This is a question.

And after Jiang Pengfei died, a bunch of creditors appeared from nowhere. She acted as if she were dying to pay back the money, so why didn't she tell Wang Yongzheng she needed help? After all, truly speaking, Wang Yongzheng is also a rich second generation, much wealthier than Whether Zhang Anren. The comparison between the two boyfriends is very wrong.

There are also other things, like saying she hates Wang Yongzheng on one hand, while always crowding around him on the other, etc. She isn't really the white lotus she appears to be; she is quite "tea" (manipulative) when she needs to be.

As for her carrying a debt of three million and paying it off in two years, that won't be mentioned much. Maybe she really is a favored daughter of heaven; just graduated and already earning over a million after tax...

Jiang Pengfei laughed: "How about it, Wang Yan, isn't my daughter very beautiful?"

"Miss Nansun is indeed beautiful, beautiful and moving." Wang Yan nodded and looked at Jiang Nansun with a chuckle: "My situation, Uncle Jiang should have told you all, right?"

Jiang Nansun looked at Jiang Pengfei on the side with confusion, her eyes full of incomprehension.

Jiang Pengfei said "Ah" and said with a chuckle: "Wang Yan, he is..."

"Miss Nansun seems not to know that this is a blind date? Then let me introduce myself first. I am twenty-nine years old this year. Ten years ago, my parents both died, leaving some savings. Later, I went abroad to study for a few years and worked on Wall Street for a period of time. Four years ago, I returned to China and, relying on the help of friends, established a private equity fund. Previously, by chance in Fuxing Park, I met Uncle Jiang. We chatted quite congenially, and he knew I didn't have a girlfriend yet, so he said he would introduce you to me."

Wang Yan understood as soon as he saw Jiang Nansun's expression. He was just like that Li Yifan; this old guy Jiang Pengfei had tricked Jiang Nansun out, and she didn't know about the blind date. Of course, he had thought of this before; after all, Jiang Pengfei's conduct was right there.

Sure enough, as soon as he finished speaking, Jiang Nansun's face changed. She turned her head to look at her biological mother on the side, who was avoiding her eyes and not speaking: "Mom, are you and Dad working together to trick me?"

"What are you saying? We are doing this for your own good." In front of Wang Yan, Jiang Pengfei's expression didn't change, and he said with a chuckle: "He is a finance elite and lives in Tomson Riviera; he has a lot of strength. Even if you don't go on a blind date, you should have more contact with successful people like him; it's good for you. Do you think Wang Yan is that idle? Can just anyone sit at a table and eat with him?"

Although this was a fact, it was a bit pretentious. Wang Yan waved his hand: "Don't say that. Everyone has a head on their shoulders; no one is higher than anyone else. We are all the same."

"Nansun, look, how approachable Wang Yan is."

Although Jiang Nansun wasn't treated well because she was a girl, she had been pampered since childhood. It was mainly because the Jiang family grandmother didn't like her, and Jiang Pengfei was okay; he basically didn't manage her much. There was only Dai Qing left, and of course, she pampered her biological daughter. So Jiang Nansun's life was still quite good, and the family of three was roughly of that character.

However, Jiang Pengfei had lived for decades and could hold back from losing his temper in front of outsiders, but Jiang Nansun couldn't. Lacking the beatings of society, she ultimately lacked that depth.

She glared at her biological father unhappily, looked at her biological mother with some disappointment, and then turned to look at Wang Yan, who was smiling on the side: "Sorry, Mr. Wang. My dad might not have told you clearly before. Now I will say it: I have a boyfriend. He is my senior in college. We have a very good relationship and are preparing to get married, so there is absolutely no need for a blind date."

"It doesn't matter, Uncle Jiang. I know you have good intentions, but you can't force it. Don't get angry; it won't affect the two of us." Wang Yan patted Jiang Pengfei's arm and looked at Jiang Nansun: "Your boyfriend should be from an ordinary family, right? Otherwise, your parents wouldn't have done this."

"Yes, he relied on his own efforts to get to where he is today step by step. He is striving to stay at the school to teach, then continue to study for a doctorate, and there is a great hope that he can stay. He also has a three-bedroom house in Sanlin, and it will definitely get better and better in the future."

Glancing at Jiang Pengfei, who was having a liver ache on the side, Wang Yan knew that she should have already met Whether Zhang Anren. He shook his head and smiled: "The housing price in Sanlin seems to be about 30,000, right? A three-bedroom house is mostly about 120 square meters. Then the total house price is 3.6 million. A thirty percent down payment is 1.1 million. A loan of 2.5 million, repaid over thirty years, based on the benchmark interest rate plus some, should be more than five points. The monthly mortgage should be about 15,000 yuan."

"Yes, is there a problem?"

"You said he relied on his own efforts to get to where he is today step by step. So, as a student, how did he earn 1.2 million? And how does he have the ability to pay the monthly mortgage?"

Wang Yan raised an eyebrow: "I'm not splitting hairs with you, just want to say that without his parents' help, he couldn't buy a house. And being able to come up with 1.2 million and pay a monthly mortgage of over 10,000, his family conditions are quite good. It's just that in Shanghai, a place where rich people gather, he looks very poor. If it were in his hometown, with his family conditions, he should be able to live very comfortably. Perhaps he is very motivated, but at this time, to say he relied on himself, before leaving campus, to reach the current stage, is still not very possible."

In this show, among the characters who appeared, except for those extras without clear names, Whether Zhang Anren should be the second poorest, and the poorest is his ex-girlfriend Yuan Yuan. But even so, it seems that the later Yuan Yuan is more glamorous than Whether Zhang Anren.

So the current TV dramas are really not good; they are truly detached from the masses. After all, a down payment of 1.2 million is not something every family can come up with; this is cash. And Whether Zhang Anren, in such an unrealistic situation, says everything is earned by himself—this is a hard flaw in the plot.

People see too much on the internet, which seems to have weakened the masses' cognition of money. They don't feel that a certain amount of money is a very difficult number, which is very bad. Being alive in this world, one still needs to have a bit of self-awareness. No matter how hard one's mouth is, there will be a day when it swells...

Jiang Nansun was stunned for a moment. She wanted to defend her boyfriend, but this was indeed the fact. For a moment, she didn't know what to say.

Seeing she had nothing to say, Jiang Pengfei said: "As expected of someone in finance, you calculate the accounts in such detail. Let me tell you, Wang Yan, before she told me how hard her boyfriend worked and how good he was to her, I felt something was wrong. It must be that the kid took a fancy to her conditions and wanted to use..."

"Dad, Whether Zhang Anren is not that kind of person. Can you stop talking?"

"You dead girl..."

Dai Qing said "Oh my": "Alright, today is to treat Mr. Wang to a meal, not to lecture your daughter. The dishes are served; let's eat."

Soon, dish after dish was placed on the table. Drinking the dry red wine that had been decanted long ago, they began to eat.

Not talking about stocks with Jiang Pengfei again, Wang Yan looked at the unhappy Jiang Nansun with a chuckle: "I heard you are studying architecture?"

"Aren't you in finance? You also understand architecture?" Although Jiang Nansun wasn't very polite, she still had a brain. If Wang Yan didn't understand, then why would he open his mouth? Was he just trying to show off in this regard?

When a person has an opinion about someone, it is inevitable to wear colored glasses. But the fact is, with Jiang Nansun, she isn't worthy of Wang Yan showing off. It's just that there aren't many topics on the table now, and he didn't want to talk about stocks with Jiang Pengfei again, so he picked something Jiang Nansun knew to start chatting.

He raised his glass to signal the others, took a big gulp of red wine, rolled it three times, and savored it before nodding: "I know a little bit. I wonder how you view architecture?"

This question was very broad, but Jiang Nansun's coursework was okay, and she had the intention to make things difficult. She rattled off a bunch of professional terms, speaking in a way that was confusing, appearing to be very knowledgeable.

Of course, Wang Yan understood. After all, it hadn't been long since he became an architectural master, and his professional knowledge was naturally solid. From man and nature, architectural structure, to domestic and foreign architecture, he talked about specific interior design, building materials, and other world-famous buildings, etc.

So the result was no surprise. At first, it was Jiang Nansun trying to expose Wang Yan's pretentiousness, to make him unable to step down and lose a little face. Later, it gradually turned into mutual discussion, and finally, it naturally became asking for advice.

During this process, Jiang Nansun's impression of Wang Yan naturally improved. At least she didn't speak with thorns anymore, and she even took out her phone to add him on WeChat, saying that she would ask him if she didn't understand anything in the future...

"Mr. Wang, I didn't expect you to have such high attainments in architecture. It's really a pity to work in finance. If you were in architecture, I believe with your strength, you would definitely be able to win the Pritzker."

The Pritzker Architecture Prize is the highest international award in the field of architecture. Last time, Pritzker of course awarded Wang Yan, but he didn't pay any attention to it at all. What many people see as the pinnacle of architecture really doesn't matter to him. After all, he designs and builds himself, and doesn't rely on raising his name to mix, so why would he need others to recognize his level?

He shook his head: "I did think about engaging in architecture, but designing according to other people's ideas and enduring the pointing fingers of the party A is really not my wish. And if I want to design projects and build them myself, I don't have that much money, so it's just an amateur hobby, occasionally understanding a little."

"So you did finance, an industry that makes money fast?"

"It's fast without money too." Wang Yan shook his head with a chuckle.

Jiang Nansun was very approving, her eyes looking at her biological father on the side: "Indeed."

"What kind of look is that?" Jiang Pengfei looked at his daughter unhappily: "How many times have I said it? Investment is about winning and losing, it's just that my luck is bad. One must be able to afford to lose, and even more, be able to hold one's breath. Earning back what is lost is just a matter of time."

Seeing Jiang Nansun rolling her eyes with impatience, Dai Qing, who had been quiet and only eating silently on the side, shook her head at Jiang Nansun. Wang Yan asked at the right time: "Uncle Jiang, I see this isn't the first time you've lost? You didn't tell me the truth?"

"If you want to gain, you must first pay. It's just that my luck is bad, and I always pay. But this time, I believe I will definitely be able to break even." Those who sell houses, wives, sons, and daughters at the gambling table mostly have this kind of thinking.

"Then you've paid too much. How did those houses in our family disappear?"

"You..."

Wang Yan stopped Jiang Pengfei's anger and gave a calm, humanitarian piece of advice: "Uncle Jiang, I suggest you don't take such risks. Gambling on a momentary win or loss is never wise. Still, consider what I told you before. Although my performance isn't terrifying, beating the broader market is easy. And I can reveal to you that I adjusted my strategy this year, and the expected return is conservatively thirty percent. You just invest ten million with me, and after management fees and so on, I guarantee you a return of two million at the end of the year."

"Money cannot be put in one basket, and the bet cannot be placed on one hand. You believe in your own judgment, but you must also leave yourself a way out. Putting all your eggs in one basket is not the act of a wise man. What do you think, Uncle Jiang?"

He was truly sincere. After this year passes and the performance comes out, he doesn't intend to let people play with ten million anymore; he wants to raise the threshold again. Now he doesn't expect Jiang Pengfei to withdraw completely, just hopes he can withdraw a portion of the principal and leave a way out. After all, two million in living expenses a year is enough to be worry-free and carefree, and he probably wouldn't be unable to accept it and think of suicide. He can be considered to have taken great pains; after all, the last one who didn't cooperate had been comfortable in prison for many years...

Jiang Pengfei pondered for a moment and nodded: "You are right, but let me consider it again. I'll give you an answer in two days."

"Good, I'll wait for your news." Wang Yan raised his glass to clink with him, and signaled to Dai Qing and Jiang Nansun, and everyone drank a mouthful together.

Looking at her biological father who seemed to be listening to advice, Jiang Nansun shook her head. She actually still held hope... Then she changed the subject and said: "By the way, Mr. Wang, I have something I don't understand. Since you understand architecture and renovation, I'd like to ask you."

"No need to be so polite. Even if this blind date didn't work out, I'm still friends with your dad. I'm a few years older than you; just call me Brother Yan. Tell me, what is it?"

"It's like this, Brother Yan..." For some reason, calling him this, Jiang Nansun felt a bit strange. She continued: "My aunt is going abroad, and she plans to rent out her house. So I asked my boyfriend to help design it. His meticulously made design drawing was to partition the original three bedrooms and the living room into nine rooms. But it couldn't compare to someone else's casual drawing on a napkin—it was just changing three rooms into two, while retaining the public living room area, and there was nothing strange about it. Why do you think that is?"

Isn't this asking a rhetorical question? Wang Yan shook his head: "Wouldn't it be better if you asked your aunt directly?"

"She didn't tell me."

"Your aunt isn't short of money, right?"

"Not short."

"Where is the house?"

"Just nearby."

"Then isn't that very simple?" Wang Yan smiled: "Your aunt isn't short of money, so why would she partition a perfectly good house into nine rooms? Haven't you seen the news about renting houses? Nine rooms mean nine people or even more living there. Troubles are one aspect, and not cherishing the house is another. By comparison, two rooms are much better. The housing price in this area, renting the whole thing, must be seven or eight thousand, right? At this price, it's not that easy to rent out. Two rooms mean two people sharing, which is also easier to rent out."

Wang Yan felt that this was also somewhat intentionally making things difficult for Whether Zhang Anren, to set off his pettiness. After all, he had no money, but it wasn't that he wouldn't spend money, not to mention that he was spending it for others. He was a high-achieving student, could stay at the school, and his professional skills were naturally sufficient. When designing renovations for rich people, he should have had considerations.

Jiang Nansun nodded understandingly: "Understood, thank you."

"It's nothing."

Under Wang Yan's leadership, the meal was eaten quite well. Anyway, Wang Yan was full; he ordered so many dishes, and not a single bit was left—Wang Yan ate it all. Jiang Pengfei had seen it when they were drinking before, but Dai Qing and Jiang Nansun, mother and daughter, were shocked enough; he really could eat too much.

As for who paid the bill, of course, it was still Jiang Pengfei. Although he wanted to introduce Jiang Nansun to Wang Yan, it was a bit unpleasant. And at the beginning, it was Jiang Pengfei who said he would treat.

Of course, Wang Yan wouldn't fight with him, leaving an excuse to treat him back later, pulling Jiang Pengfei out, and having a connection.

After saying a few more words at the door to say goodbye, Wang Yan got into the car, let the designated driver found by the restaurant drive, and he sat in the back seat and left.

Lowering the car window, Wang Yan flipped his wrist to check the time; it was only past eight o'clock. He lit a cigarette and instructed the designated driver to drive and take a stroll where the scenery was good. Going back was also idle, so it was quite good to look at the scenery...

Compared to his leisure, Jiang Pengfei was extremely irritable. He trembled his hands, pointed at his daughter, and gritted his teeth: "You, what do you want me to say about you? Don't you know what Wang Yan's conditions are? Living in a 90-million Tomson Riviera, driving a 2-million car. What's so good about Whether Zhang Anren? How can he compare? Ah? Wholeheartedly wanting to follow Whether Zhang Anren to eat chaff and swallow vegetables? Are you stupid..."

"Stop worrying about me; you don't need to manage my affairs." Jiang Nansun turned to look at Dai Qing: "You guys go first. I'm going out for a while and will be back later." Having said that, she turned and ran.

"Nansun, where are you going?" Dai Qing shouted hurriedly.

"I'm going to find Suosuo."

"Pay attention to safety."

Jiang Nansun waved her hand and ran away.

Jiang Pengfei let out a long sigh: "Look, now she talks back to me every day, wishing she could anger me to death. It's all because you pampered her."

"Now you say it's because I pampered her? What were you thinking earlier?" Dai Qing glanced at him: "Your mother doesn't like our mother and daughter, looking at us with displeasure all day long. You only know how to ruin the family, managing nothing. If I don't pamper my daughter, who else cares about her? Although this Wang Yan is indeed good, if the daughter doesn't like him, what's the use of you forcing her? It's always her who marries out to live with someone, not me, and not you. I think it's not that she wants to anger you to death, but that you want to force her to death."

"Rebellious, rebellious..." Jiang Pengfei constantly vented his anger and turned to leave: "What are you staring at? Go home!"

Dai Qing rolled her eyes, also let out a long sigh, and followed him away...

In a small snack shop, Zhu Suosuo held a bowl of wonton noodles, looking at Jiang Nansun eating heartily opposite her: "Didn't you say you were coming over after eating? Why are you still eating so deliciously?"

"Eating with outsiders, you know, have to pretend." Jiang Nansun shook her head: "But I saw something different today. He really can eat... Forget it, I don't want to think about him. I get angry just thinking about him."

"You came to find me so late, isn't it still because you want me to be a tree hole and listen to your inner voice? Really, hurry up and say it. Let me hear what's going on."

"Isn't it my dad? He arranged a blind date for me behind my back. Today he suddenly asked me to eat..."