Chapter 29: Becoming a Model

It seemed as if the two shared a telepathic connection; Chen Xiao was also shopping at a mall, though not at Wansheng Plaza, but at Ganglong International.

Ganglong International catered to a high-end market, featuring luxury brands, whereas Wansheng Plaza leaned toward the mass market, with its top offerings being merely international second-tier labels.

He had been invited there by Xu Wu. For some unknown reason, she had taken the initiative to ask him out for coffee.

Upon arriving at the designated spot and sitting down for only a moment, a fragrant breeze brushed past his nose. Looking up, he saw Xu Wu, who had arrived dressed in casual attire that still failed to conceal her provocative figure.

"Hmm, not bad!"

He blurted out suddenly, leaving Xu Wu stunned. "What’s not bad?"

"The 35C, for sure!"

Her face flushed. As she had bent over to sit down, her chest had been quite prominent, and it was clear he was teasing her about it.

"Chen Xiao, if you're looking to die, I'll grant you your wish today!"

She looked "fierce," even raising her handbag.

"What a scary weapon!"

She glared at him, unsure if he was referring to her lethal temper or her "assets."

Chen Xiao leaned back, finished with his teasing, and asked, "What does President Xu want with me?"

She gave a cold snort and said, "What's going on with that order from Zhongjian Equipment? One day they wouldn't even give you the time of day, and the next, they handed you a nine-million-yuan contract!"

"Trade secret, I'm afraid I can't tell you."

"Chen Xiao, are you even human? You took advantage of me that day, and I haven't even settled the score. Now I ask you something, and you're dragging your feet. Are you even a man?"

Dragging his feet? What an evocative image. You and me? Chen Xiao’s mind wandered off on a tangent.

"If I don't drag my feet, do you prefer a 'straightforward approach'?"

She rolled her eyes. "Of course. Be quick and direct. I hope you'll just spill the beans!"

Spill the beans? My dear, are you trying to get me to accuse you of being suggestive? he thought, amused by his own dark humor.

"Alright, enough jokes," Chen Xiao said. "Such a rapid reversal definitely has a special reason. All I can tell you is that the key factor in this order is non-replicable—at least, not in the way you're currently operating."

"I know that, of course. That's why I invited you out today. I want to make a deal with you. There are still parts of Zhongjian Equipment's procurement that you can't fulfill but we can—there's about three million yuan worth of orders left."

"I know. I've seen their procurement list. That's great! You still have a chance. Why aren't you busy networking with them instead of coming to me?"

"I get annoyed just looking at that fat guy, Yang Ming. He's as bald as an egg and still keeps trying to ask me out to dinner. He makes me lose my appetite; how could I possibly eat?"

"So, I'm asking if you can help me negotiate it. Once the deal is closed, I'll give you the entire three percent commission!"

What a joke. Does she think I care about such pocket change?

Wait... no. I wonder if the system provides 'Professionalism' rewards for this kind of bonus, and what the criteria might be? He suddenly became interested in testing it out.

"Let me make a call."

Xu Wu didn't ask who he was calling; she just sipped her coffee quietly.

"President Li? I have a friend, President Xu from Yufei Zhihang. Their company happens to be able to meet some of your current procurement needs. Do you think there's an opportunity for cooperation?"

"Hmm... Arrange for Xiao Yang? Good! Then have Xiao Yang call President Xu to coordinate."

"Great, great! Thank you. Let's grab a meal sometime. Bye!"

Money really can make the devil turn the mill, Xu Wu thought to herself. But hearing his side of the call, it seemed done. Could business really be that simple?

"It's settled. Xiao Yang will contact you shortly." Chen Xiao said as he hung up, looking completely unbothered.

"Who is Xiao Yang?"

"Yang Ming. Er, I’m used to calling him that. I suppose I should call him Old Yang."

Xu Wu rolled her eyes. How old are you, calling him 'Little Yang'? And really, was it that easy?

She voiced her doubts, prompting Chen Xiao to exclaim, "Hey! If you didn't trust me, why did you come to me? It turns out asking me to talk business was just a pretense—you really just wanted to see me!"

"Get lost," she muttered. She had too much time on her hands to be here letting him trash-talk her. She sipped her coffee, still skeptical that he had actually pulled it off. When had business ever been this easy?

Just then, her phone rang. Checking the caller ID, it was indeed Yang Ming from Zhongjian Equipment.

She picked it up.

"President Xu, this is Yang Ming. Regarding that cooperation, when would be convenient for us to touch base?"

Xu Wu gave Chen Xiao a meaningful look and said, "President Yang, I'm available anytime. I'll bring my team over when it's convenient for you!"

"Good... good. President Yang, happy to be working with you!"

"Chen Xiao, you've made me look at you in a whole new light!"

"As the saying goes, after three days' separation, one must view a man with new eyes," Chen Xiao said, looking as calm as if he had just done something utterly insignificant.

"I'm very curious how you managed to do that," Xu Wu said, her eyes blinking, shining like bright stars.

"Curiosity killed the cat. You'd better put that curiosity away and think more about how to repay me."

"You don't seem like the type to hold favors over someone's head," Xu Wu said, cutting him off.

"If you're going to burn bridges like this, there won't be a next time!"

Xu Wu pouted. "Fine. What do you want as a reward? How about I treat you to dinner?"

"A single meal is supposed to settle it?"

"Then what do you want?"

"Come on, be my model!"

What? Xu Wu didn't immediately grasp what he meant, but seeing Chen Xiao already rising to his feet, she had no choice but to follow.

Chen Xiao walked to the second floor of Ganglong, where most of the shops were light luxury women's wear. He intended to buy a few outfits for Zhao Xiangjun.

He didn't like seeing her in cheap online-bought clothes every day. It wasn't about vanity; he simply felt that Zhao Xiangjun deserved better, and those things didn't suit her, even if she didn't mind.

He stepped into an outdoor brand store, Descente. They specialized in ski wear, and Chen Xiao liked their craftsmanship and fabrics; they were very comfortable to wear.

A sales associate immediately greeted them enthusiastically. Chen Xiao said, "Help me pick out a few outfits for a gift."

The associate's eyes lit up. A few outfits—knowing Descente, a basic top was over a thousand yuan, so a few sets would easily exceed ten thousand.

"Sir, would you like to browse yourself, or should I help? If you can tell me the height and build of the person you're gifting, we can even have someone try them on for you to see."

"Here, she's a bit taller than her—about 178 cm—and her measurements are slightly more perfect!"

The associate looked in the direction he was pointing and saw Xu Wu. She thought to herself, *Wow, this woman is stunning and so elegant!*

But hearing this handsome man say the person he was buying for had an even more perfect figure, she wondered, *Do such women really exist? How beautiful must she be?*

Xu Wu snorted, thinking Chen Xiao was saying that on purpose. Everywhere she had gone since she was a child, she had been the center of attention, and no one had ever outshone her in appearance.

However, based on Chen Xiao’s description, the girl he was buying for must have an incredible figure.

The associate introduced several classic combinations, and Chen Xiao asked her to have Xu Wu try them all on.

Xu Wu froze. Only then did she realize why he had asked her to be a "model"—she was there to try on clothes for someone else.