Who Would Fall in Love After Being Reborn?

TL: Etude

On a Saturday morning, the sun shone gently, the sky was clear, and the vast azure expanse was nearly devoid of clouds.

Jiang Qin arrived at the girls’ dormitory to pick up Feng Nanshu, planning to take her to visit He Yijun’s house.

Today, the little rich lady was unusually aloof. Dressed entirely in cool black attire, she did not display her usual naïve demeanor upon seeing Jiang Qin. Her lips were red and glossy, seemingly touched with a hint of lipstick.

“Big brother, let’s go.”

“Why start with ‘big brother’ as soon as you see me? You’re being a bit disrespectful today!” Jiang Qin felt numb.

Sitting seriously in the passenger seat, Feng Nanshu emitted a cold aura: “Big brother, take me to see another woman who calls you big brother.”

“What the hell? Who taught you this?”

“I learned it from Wenhui.” Feng Nanshu was a bit sheepish yet defiant.

Jiang Qin looked at her for a long while, then his gaze narrowed: “Do you feel unhappy when others call me big brother?”

Feng Nanshu nodded obediently: “A little sad.”

“Do you know why you feel sad?”

After asking, Jiang Qin held his breath, nervously awaiting her response, praying she wasn’t jealous, as that would be disastrous.

After a moment, Feng Nanshu pursed her lips: “I don’t know. I don’t understand anything.”

Jiang Qin breathed a sigh of relief, feeling suddenly capable again: “Actually, many people feel this way. It’s nothing special. You don’t need to ponder the reason or dwell on it.”

“However, the person He Manqi wants to see is actually you. I’m just tagging along. She’s your little fan, sworn to become like you, even imitating your hairstyle.”

Feng Nanshu could no longer maintain her aloof expression, reverting to her silly self: “Jiang Qin, what kind of person am I?”

“A big fool.”

“I’m not that foolish, am I?”

“Foolish and childish, going to see another woman. Have you been reading some weird s again? I told you not to read those.”

Jiang Qin fastened her seatbelt and drove out of the campus. The little rich lady in the passenger seat became lively again, her gaze sweeping over the scenery outside.

Arriving in a bustling area of the city, Jiang Qin parked the car and went to a nearby tobacco and liquor store to buy some gifts.

It was only proper to bring something when visiting for the first time, otherwise, it would seem impolite.

Professor Yan was right about the downside of a society driven by human relations. Knowing full well He Yijun had ulterior motives, he still had to bring gifts. Where was the law in this?

Half an hour later, they reached Donghu Mountain Residence.

It was a row of European-style villas, even featuring bas-relief sculptures of Greek mythological figures on the gate pillars.

Such architectural mishmash was popular in this era, as the internet had broadened people’s horizons but aesthetics hadn’t quite caught up, leading to many such East-West hybrid buildings.

Everyone associated Europe with nobility, so it made sense for villas to have a European touch, right?

Driving in through the main gate, Jiang Qin spotted a statue of Manneken Pis, the Belgian boy who famously extinguished a bomb with his urine, saving an entire city.

He held the steering wheel with one hand and covered the little rich lady’s eyes with the other.

A statue was just a statue, but why depict it so explicitly? It was blatantly obscene.

Jiang Qin quickly bypassed the urinating boy and located Villa 506 in the fifth row.

After ringing the doorbell, He Yijun, dressed in home attire, personally welcomed them.

“Mr. Jiang, please come in. Is this your girlfriend?” He was surprised by Feng Nanshu’s beauty.

Jiang Qin nodded nonchalantly: “Yes, this is my good friend, Feng Nanshu.”

“?”

As the two entered the living room, they were greeted by He Manqi, who eagerly called Jiang Qin “Big brother” and Feng Nanshu “Big sister”. She was exceptionally warm and welcoming.

He Yijun asked his daughter to show Feng Nanshu around while he pulled Jiang Qin aside to sit in the living room.

“Mr. Jiang, your holidays are coming up soon, right?”

“Yes, after the final exams we’ll officially be on holiday.”

He Yijun poured a cup of tea for him: “Where is your hometown?”

“Jizhou.” Jiang Qin thanked him as he took the cup.

“Jizhou is a wonderful place. I’ve visited a few times when I was young. It’s a land of outstanding people and rich history. It’s no wonder someone like you, a star student, comes from there.”

Jiang Qin hissed softly, his toes curling inside his shoes.

Flattery needs the right approach.

For instance, if I have a bit of literary talent and you praise me as a great writer, I’d be happy because it’s an exaggeration of a truth I possess.

But if I’m bald and you praise my hair as stunningly cool, that’s like hitting the horseshoe – it’s baseless and makes me feel insecure.

“Mr. He, didn’t I come here for a meal? Where’s the food?” Jiang Qin changed the subject.

“It’s on the way. To be honest, I’m not good at cooking, so I ordered a table from Juxianlou.”

Jiang Qin’s mouth twitched: “Ordering from a restaurant for a home dinner? That’s a new one for me.”

“I had no choice, I’m divorced.” He Yijun said nonchalantly.

Typically, this would be where the conversation ends, as further inquiry would be rude. But not for Jiang Qin. He excitedly patted the sofa, calling for the little rich lady to come and listen to the story.

However, the little rich lady had been taken upstairs by He Manqi, likely unable to hear Jiang Qin’s friendly call.

“Mr. Jiang, you’re being somewhat impolite.”

“Mr. He, no need to beat around the bush. If you can’t cook, why invite me for a meal? What’s the real reason?”

Hearing this, He Yijun stopped beating around the bush and shared his concerns about the retail industry and his desire for reform to adapt to the evolving era and transition into the online shopping age.

He had thought long and hard but couldn’t find the right direction, so he decided to seek Jiang Qin’s advice.

Yes, the head of a major retail mall was asking for advice from an obscure university student.

After hearing this, Jiang Qin internally exclaimed in surprise.

Honestly, as someone who had lived through the future, it was normal for him to foresee changes. How could he not know what his own lived experiences would lead to?

But for Mr. He, a man deeply involved in the industry, to not be deluded and quickly sense danger was indeed surprising.

Why?

Because people usually react slowly. Without feeling the whip on one’s own skin, one does not realize the pain.

The crisis awareness inherent in businesspeople who struggled through hardships was not to be underestimated.

“Mr. Jiang, help me solve this puzzle.” He Yijun looked serious.

Jiang Qin displayed a simple grin similar to Feng Nanshu’s: “Actually, I don’t know either. Mr. He, I’m just an ordinary university student!”

“You’re being too modest. I don’t like this modesty. There’s no one else here, be a bit more arrogant!”

“Actually, if you use the traditional business owner mindset to think about this problem, it’s easy to overcomplicate it. Why not switch to the consumer’s perspective? The internet has its limitations and blind spots, just like urinating. Consumers can’t exactly do that online, can they?”

After hearing this, He Yijun’s eyebrows shot up: “Are you suggesting I turn my mall into a public restroom?”

Jiang Qin set down his teacup: “My point is, put yourself in the consumer’s shoes. Think about what things require their personal involvement. That might just be the right direction for reform.”

“Things that require personal involvement…”

He Yijun’s scalp tingled suddenly, sensing that he had grasped something significant.

“What is the current layout of Wanzhong Mall?”

“The first floor has daily necessities and clothing, the second floor cosmetics and jewelry, the third floor home appliances, the fourth floor furniture, and the fifth floor is the office area.”

Jiang Qin looked at He Yijun: “All these items will be available online in the future. They’ll be cheaper than what you offer and with more perks. You indeed have no advantage. You’re in trouble.”

He Yijun seemed to catch onto something: “So, only things that can’t be bought online will continue to survive in the mall?”

“Exactly. For instance, dining, cinemas, lifestyle services. When you want to hang out with friends, watch a movie, take your kids out, get a massage, a haircut, or a manicure, you can’t do these online, can you? My suggestion is to cut down a large part of the cumbersome retail business, re-plan the mall’s layout, and shift from pure sales to service. You need to give people a reason to come; that’s how the mall will survive.”

“…”

As soon as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang again.

The delivery staff from Juxianlou pushed in a cart, setting the dishes on the table. Although it wasn’t homemade, dishes like sea cucumber and abalone showed sincerity.

He Yijun ate a few bites, seemingly triggered by a thought, and without much regard for his guests, he abruptly left for his study halfway through the meal.

“Uncle Jiang Qin, would you like a drink? I can pour one for you.”

“When you came in, didn’t you call me ‘big brother’? Why suddenly ‘uncle’ now?”

Jiang Qin said this and instinctively glanced at Feng Nanshu sitting beside him.

Feng Nanshu picked up her water glass, her innocent eyes flickering lively as she looked at him, as if ripples were dancing in her eyes.

“My dad said he’s your peer, so calling you ‘big brother’ is impolite.”

“But as far as I know, you never listen to your dad, right?” Jiang Qin was somewhat skeptical.

He Manqi coughed: “I’m obedient now. By the way, uncle, can you tell me more about Sister Nanshu? Would you please?”

Jiang Qin put down his chopsticks and looked at her: “Is it you who wants to hear, or is it for someone else who wants to eavesdrop?”

“…”

The little rich lady was picking up peanuts with her chopsticks. Hearing this, the peanut dropped from her chopsticks.

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