Chapter 50 Old Acquaintance

Chapter 50: An Old Acquaintance

The landline phone rested on the bedside table. Jiang Luo lay on the bed, one arm serving as a pillow, a leg bent, his gaze fixed on the hotel room ceiling as he drifted into thought.

Love?

He had never, ever experienced it.

In his previous life, Jiang Luo relentlessly tried to connect with his birth parents, Su Lan and Zhao Guangyuan, but they offered him no love.

As for everyone else, Jiang Luo categorized them into two groups: those with whom he had a vested interest, and those with whom he had none.

Friends?

He had far too few friends.

Only Wang Chuang, and later, Wang Chuang’s wife, Mo Wanzhen.

He was virtually friendless.

He had spent two years at Oriental No. 1, where he gained an early, stark understanding of human nature and the world's ways. By his early twenties, he already grasped that there were only two kinds of people: the rich and the poor.

Jiang Luo yearned to be rich, not poor, which led him to leave Oriental No. 1 to carve his own path and start a business.

But that climb was arduous, fraught with difficulty. He witnessed enough of human hearts, human nature, and all manner of unsavory characters in the business world.

Consequently, even in his twenties, he had ceased to believe in friendship or anything of the sort.

There were no friends in this world, only interests and compromises.

Yet, he was also a carefree playboy, enjoying life with a devil-may-care attitude. After his dalliances with women, he discovered he was actually attracted to men, and so began a new chapter of romantic pursuits, switching genders and embracing multiple partners.

Back then, he had many women, and later, many men.

He was wealthy and generous, attracting numerous companions, all of whom were attractive and well-proportioned.

He knew deep down that these people were with him not because they loved him.

Perhaps they admired his looks, but they certainly loved his money, his generosity, and his lavish spending.

They were all just having fun, engaging in superficial encounters without emotional attachment—how could that ever be called love?

But people, damn it, they change.

Jiang Luo had been a delinquent since before eighteen, a hedonistic playboy in his early twenties, but after falling ill and lying in a bed at Peking Union Medical College Hospital, he suddenly yearned for genuine affection.

What made Jiang Luo himself find it ironic was that, on his deathbed, he felt it was all karma.

He had so many women and men, yet he never offered his true heart to anyone. Thus, fate had not granted him true love either, leaving him to live nearly thirty years and die a solitary soul.

So why, after his rebirth, did Jiang Luo not revert to his old ways with men and women?

Because he had died once and regretted it.

His mindset had shifted; he longed for true love.

He wished that in this life, he could have a lover.

He would love them, and they would love him in return.

But now he was being told that in his previous life, there was a powerful admirer who harbored feelings for him?

Jiang Luo naturally disbelieved it, deeming it utterly impossible.

He knew best what a mess he had been back then.

Inside and outside the business world, who didn't know that CEO Jiang was a dissolute playboy?

He didn't even bother to conceal it, never pretending to be an upright gentleman.

Who would like him?

Back then, Huo Zongzhuo had only met him a few times at formal events, and whenever he saw Jiang Luo, he would scowl coldly.

Let alone others who knew him or were familiar with his reputation.

Jiang Luo didn't believe it and was certain no one had secretly loved him back then.

Because he didn't deserve it.

This life…

Jiang Luo lay there, dangling his leg, and casually thought to the heavens: "See? Do you see?"

"A virgin."

"Still a virgin to this day!"

"Please reconsider, do me a favor, and 'bestow' a lover upon me."

"This isn't a request or a negotiation—you must comply, understand?"

And while lost in this moment of rich inner monologue, Jiang Luo thought of something else:

Who reported his business to the tax authorities?

Currently, his business was just starting, his contacts were limited, and he hadn't accumulated many enemies. Those who openly opposed him were few, countable on one hand.

Guo Ronghai from Pacific Department Store?

You Junyu, who competed with him for small market business?

Director Liu from Tongcheng, whom he had told to get lost?

Could it be Zhao Mingshi?

Jiang Luo pondered, feeling any of them were possible.

But whoever it was, Jiang Luo curled his lips in a sneer, a look of disdain on his face.

Yet, within a couple of days, one of those very individuals actively sought him out.

It was Guo Ronghai from Pacific Department Store.

As it turned out, Guo Ronghai had taken a liking to the "Vilanido" brand and business, wanting to establish a Vilanido counter in their Pacific Department Store as well.

Guo Ronghai's office, representing Pacific Department Store officially, called Jiang Luo's company. A colleague answered the phone, and after the conversation, relayed the message to Jiang Luo.

The colleague informed Jiang Luo: "Pacific Department Store said they're offering us half off on the entry fee, providing a good floor and location for the storefront, and the commission rates are also negotiable."

Pacific Department Store, huh.

Jiang Luo snorted inwardly.

An old "friend," indeed.

Jiang Luo instructed his colleague to continue communicating and following up.

Soon, the colleague reported that the manager at Pacific Department Store wanted to invite him to an informal dinner.

A meal?

Jiang Luo chuckled: "Fine, a meal."

Of course, he would attend Guo Ronghai's dinner.

The meal was booked at Huating, a small private room for six.

When Guo Ronghai arrived in the evening, it was just past five. He entered the room, sat down, hadn't even touched his water yet, and checked his watch, pondering how to discuss the brand's entry with the owner of Vilanido later.

He had already arranged for someone to investigate—this "Vilanido," with its pleasant, sophisticated name, wasn't a foreign brand at all. It was domestic, registered right there in Haicheng, with its factory even located in the Haicheng countryside.

Guo Ronghai inwardly disdained the brand, but he couldn't ignore the fact that his boss had recently inspected the department store and brought up this brand, asking him why their store didn't carry it, why the Wing On department store next door did, and whether Wing On's manager had better judgment than him.

"It's just ripping off designs from those foreign brands," Guo Ronghai thought, believing he had it all figured out.

But he couldn't deny that Vilanido had been selling exceptionally well lately.

If he didn't introduce it, he feared the other two department stores would, and if his boss found out, he'd be reprimanded for incompetence.

As the waiter bent to pour water, Guo Ronghai leaned back in his chair, contemplating what to say when he met the owner of Vilanido.

Begging, pleading, or sweet-talking was definitely out of the question.

He was the manager of Pacific Department Store, a man of considerable standing. It was always others who sought him out, never the other way around.

He figured he'd employ some clever rhetoric to make the owner of Vilanido understand what a tremendous honor it was for their brand to be featured in Pacific Department Store, and to prompt the owner to be sensible, humble themselves, and come begging him properly.

He wondered what kind of person the owner was.

Local or from out of town?

Guo Ronghai took a sip of water, pondering silently.

"Who cares," he thought, "he's already invited me to dinner—that's showing me enough respect."

"If he tries to play hard to get, then he shouldn't blame me…"

Just as he was thinking, the door opened. Guo Ronghai paused, put down his cup, and rose with a smile.

But the moment he looked up and saw who it was, his expression instantly froze.

Him…

It's him?!

Jiang Luo?!

Jiang Luo entered alone, looked at Guo Ronghai, and smiled: "Manager Guo, fancy meeting you here again."

"What are you doing here?"

Guo Ronghai's expression darkened. Without thinking, he blurted out: "Get out! I have business here; I'm expecting someone. Why are you causing trouble?"

Jiang Luo walked around the small round table to the main seat, pulled out the chair, and said unhurriedly: "Didn't Manager Guo say you were treating me to a meal?"

As he sat down, he looked at Guo Ronghai, curling his lips. "Manager Guo, important people like you often forget things."

Guo Ronghai's mind raced, and he suddenly realized something. Flabbergasted, he looked at Jiang Luo, his face full of disbelief: "You… you're the owner of Vilanido?!"

The waiter came in, brought water and poured tea for Jiang Luo. Jiang Luo crossed his legs under the table, smiling coolly: "Yes."

Then he added: "I told you, Manager Guo, I'm in Haicheng, doing business in Haicheng. What goes around comes around. We were bound to meet again sooner or later."

Jiang Luo raised his water cup, gestured toward Guo Ronghai, and took a sip: "See? Told you so."

"And we really are 'destined to meet again,' aren't we?"

When he spoke the last two words, Jiang Luo slowed his speech and slightly emphasized the tone.

To Guo Ronghai, it sounded utterly mocking.

Guo Ronghai silently pieced things together, knowing Jiang Luo wasn't bluffing—he might indeed be the owner of Vilanido.

A thought flashed through his mind. Guo Ronghai's eyes darted, switching his cold expression to a smile: "Ah, Jiang—oh, now I should call you Mr. Jiang. Young Mr. Jiang, it's been a while. It's been months, but you're still as handsome as ever. Now that you're a boss, you really look the part."

As he spoke, Guo Ronghai casually sat down, exuding an air of calm composure.

He called to the waiter: "Serve the food now. Start with the cold plates. Everyone's here."

"Understood."

The waiter acknowledged and left.

"Young Jiang, you've started your own company now," Guo Ronghai said with a casual smile. "That's excellent."

"Back when we collaborated on selling dolls, I knew you were an exceptional talent, Jiang. I was sure you'd make a name for yourself."

Jiang Luo also smiled: "Is that so?"

"Manager Guo, you're an exceptional talent too. Otherwise, you wouldn't be the general manager of a major department store."

As if deliberately glossing over their past, he cheerfully changed the subject: "Manager Guo, you're usually so busy. How do you have time to treat me to a meal today?"

He asked knowingly: "Is there something you need?"

These few sentences made Guo Ronghai's stomach churn.

Guo Ronghai considered himself the general manager of a major department store, no ordinary person. He looked down on even the owners of the brands in his mall, let alone Jiang Luo, whom he saw as a mere greenhorn.

He had offered a perfunctory compliment, and now this young upstart was acting like a big boss?

"Something I need?"

"Since when is it your place to ask 'what's the matter'?"

"Who do you think you are?!"

Guo Ronghai looked at Jiang Luo across the small table, the facade on his face slowly crumbling as his smile vanished.

Guo Ronghai stopped pretending—he couldn't be bothered to waste the effort.

Without even waiting for the food to be served, he said bluntly, "Jiang Luo, let's get straight to the point, no beating around the bush."

"We've worked together before—no need for pleasantries."

Arrogance gradually surfaced on Guo Ronghai's face as he leaned back in his chair and crossed his legs. "I know why I'm here today, and you know it too. Just say it outright."

"Can Vilanido come to Pacific? When your brand first entered Wing On's counter, was it an exclusive deal?"

"If it's not exclusive, I'll do you this favor and let you bring it to Pacific too."

"If it is exclusive, then never mind. We can cooperate another time."

Jiang Luo remained casual and didn't answer directly, only saying, "Manager Guo said you were treating me to a meal—so are we not even eating now?"