After Rebirth, I Married My Rival - Chapter 07

Chapter 7: Is « Business Risk Gone Red » Supposed to Mean It’s Hot?

« Store… standardized business operation model, one-click installation, full-service package. » The manager was clearly struggling to keep his temper, but since this was the client’s son, he really couldn’t afford to lose his cool.

The main reason was that what Xu Yuan said was completely correct, and he simply couldn’t refute it.

Not only do you charge franchise fees, but your company also handles renovations?

« Xiao Yuan, what are you doing? » Xu Donglai frowned. This person was introduced by a friend of Lin Jiadong, and he was worried Xu Yuan’s interference would embarrass Lin Jiadong.

« Young man, you can’t just say things like that. Our company is completely legitimate! » The manager finally couldn’t take it anymore and retorted.

« Longteng Barbecue? » Xu Yuan glanced at the contract on the table.

« Wow~ This company seems pretty impressive. » Xu Yuan was browsing on his phone, doing a quick search.

« Of course! Our company already has over 1,000 franchisees. » The manager, thinking Xu Yuan had found their company’s positive publicity online, replied with great confidence.

« Registered capital of 30,000, with 10 insured employees. The business risk is marked red—does that mean the company is really popular? » Xu Yuan waved his phone.

He had considered the possibility that this company specialized in scamming franchise fees, but he never expected them to be this ruthless! Every standard was set at the bare minimum—they were really treating people like fools!
Xu Donglai didn’t understand what Xu Yuan was talking about and looked somewhat bewildered.

But Lin Jiadong immediately became unsettled upon hearing this. As a minor executive in the company, how could he not know what these numbers represented?
« Our… our company mainly focuses on brand marketing, » the person in charge said nervously upon hearing this, hastily offering an explanation.

« Brand marketing couldn’t possibly mean only ten people in the entire company have insurance. What kind of company is that? » Lin Jiadong was about to lose his temper. This project had been introduced by a friend, so he had trusted it, but never expected it to be a fraudulent company.

If it weren’t for Xu Yuan suddenly showing up, the contract might have been signed by now. By the time they realized they’d been scammed, it would’ve been too late to do anything.

Xu Yuan looked at the fidgety person in charge with nothing but contempt in his eyes.

This scam was too low-level, yet plenty of people still fell for it. In today’s information age, where people can access information more conveniently and cheaply, many can still spot the problems.

But back in the day, these companies scamming franchise fees could just spend a little money on a local TV ad, and plenty of people would rush to get cheated.

Once the contract is signed and their promised « one-stop service » reaches its conclusion, merchants will be shocked to discover that they themselves are that « one-stop » being exploited.

In reality, truly brand-supported catering alliances do generate a significant portion of their revenue through franchising. But for sustainable profits, killing the goose that lays golden eggs is the dumbest strategy.

Merchants can accept earning slightly less, but they absolutely cannot tolerate earning nothing at all—or worse, operating at a loss.

With their deception exposed, the so-called person in charge could only slink away in disgrace.

Xu Donglai still didn’t know what had happened, but Lin Jiadong looked at his old friend with deep remorse.

I’m truly sorry. This project was introduced by a friend of mine, and I never expected he’d screw me over. Luckily Xiaoyuan arrived in time today, otherwise I would’ve really gotten you into serious trouble, old brother.

As someone who’d risen to become a junior executive at the company, Lin Jiadong’s mind worked quickly – he now understood why Xu Yuan had suddenly paid this visit.

Xu Yuan hadn’t spelled it out directly, preserving Lin Jiadong’s dignity.

..

..

Xiao Yuan, we really owe you this time. Otherwise, we’d never be able to face you again with any dignity.

Lin Jiadong kept saying this, and his guilt was genuine. He had originally wanted to help an old friend start a small business, but never expected to nearly ruin him instead.

« Uncle Lin, out of ten projects, nine fail—that’s just how business investments go. You meant well, wanting to help my dad start something small. » Xu Yuan knew Lin Jiadong’s character well.

In his past life, to compensate for Xu Donglai’s losses, Lin had even sold the family car they used for daily commutes.

« Yeah, Old Lin, don’t say that. It’s not your fault. » Xu Donglai patted Lin Jiadong’s shoulder, offering comfort as well.

« Xiao Yuan is truly remarkable. You’re blessed, old friend. » Seeing both the elder and younger comforting him, Lin Jiadong felt too embarrassed to remain reserved, and his gaze toward Xu Yuan grew increasingly admiring.

He handled things with such poise and maturity—alerting him today while still preserving his dignity. It was a level of shrewdness uncommon for someone so young.

Xu Donglai couldn’t help but beam with pride, his face glowing at the praise for his son.

« Dad, Uncle Lin, I have something to attend to, so I’ll take my leave first. » With matters settled here, Xu Yuan took his leave early.

« That kid’s been leaving early and coming back late these past few days. Probably off to see that classmate of his, Li Xinran again, » Xu Donglai remarked casually as he watched Xu Yuan’s retreating figure.

The speaker might not have meant much by it, but the listener took it to heart. Lin Jiadong felt a slight surprise upon hearing this and asked, « Old Xu, is young Yuan seeing someone? »

How could Lin Jiadong not notice Xu Yuan’s feelings for his daughter? He wasn’t an old-fashioned man, so even though he’d picked up on it, like Bai Qiu, he hadn’t brought it up. In fact, he rather approved of Xu Yuan—after all, he knew the boy well, and their families had always been on good terms.

Because of today’s incident, Lin Jiadong’s approval of Xu Yuan reached new heights, so he was quite taken aback when he heard Xu Donglai say that.

..

At noon, despite the ample food at the Lin family’s table, Lin Jiadong kept sighing incessantly, leaving Bai Qiu and Lin Wan’er utterly confused.

« Just eat your meal—why keep sighing? » Bai Qiu frowned and complained.

Lin Jiadong put down his chopsticks, a hint of anger in his voice. « How could your brother’s friend be so unreliable? That company he recommended is nothing but a scam, specifically targeting franchisees. »

If it weren’t for Xiao Yuan coming over in time to stop it today, not only would our family have been scammed, but we’d have dragged Old Xu into it too. »

« Scammers? That can’t be right? How could this happen? » Bai Qiu was startled and still found it hard to believe.

« Dad, how did Xu Yuan know that company was a scam? » Lin Wan’er raised her head, her white teeth nibbling on her chopsticks as she asked curiously.

How would I know? » Lin Jiadong paused for a moment before adding with a sigh, « Xiao Yuan and our Wanwan would actually make a good match. Too bad he seems to already have a girlfriend.
« Eat! Can’t even eating shut you up? Our Wanwan is so beautiful, it’s not like she can’t get married. » Bai Qiu glared fiercely at Lin Jiadong upon hearing this, while secretly glancing at Lin Wan’er.

Lin Wan’er held her chopsticks and absentmindedly poked at the rice in her bowl, showing no particular reaction, just seeming slightly dazed.

Looking at his suddenly furious wife, Lin Jiadong was utterly confused—had he said something wrong?

..

Are you okay?

Li Xinran noticed that Xu Yuan’s first words were filled with concern. Xu Yuan gently patted her head and said, « The problem is solved. »

After spending these past few days together, their relationship had taken a step forward. Li Xinran was no longer as resistant to him as before.

« That’s good. Actually… my foot is almost healed now. I can deliver takeout on my own these days. Thank you for taking care of me all this time. » After wrestling with her thoughts for a long time, Li Xinran finally spoke up.

She didn’t want to keep troubling Xu Yuan, as it felt unequal. Even if he had feelings for her, there was no reason for him to take care of her every little thing like this.

« Xinran, do you dislike me that much? » Xu Yuan spread his hands helplessly—was this an indirect rejection?
« No! Not at all! » Li Xinran waved her hands in flustered denial.

I just don’t want to keep troubling you. It wouldn’t be right. You have your own things to do too.

Leaning against the wall with one hand, Xu Yuan sighed and said, « What would you have done if you hadn’t met me? »

« Ah? » Li Xinran was momentarily stunned upon hearing this. Was what Xu Yuan said even related to their current conversation?

Xu Yuan looked at Li Xinran’s blank expression and lightly flicked her forehead with his fingers.

Li Xinran didn’t dodge—she was used to it. Xu Yuan seemed particularly fond of her forehead, flicking it from time to time.

What I mean is, if a girl as wonderful as you hadn’t met me and got pursued by someone else, what would I do?

Xu Yuan smiled, realizing that he might genuinely have feelings for Li Xinran.

Having experienced all sorts of things in his past life, Xu Yuan’s criteria for a partner were simple: beauty, a good figure, no drama, and ideally someone who could assist him in his career.

Li Xinran perfectly matched all these points. Coupled with some past friction between them, Xu Yuan found himself wanting to pursue her.

But now, Xu Yuan suddenly felt a pang of fear—what if he missed out on such a wonderful girl and someone else snatched her away?
Li Xinran’s delicate face flushed with embarrassment. She didn’t know how to respond to Xu Yuan, her eyes darting around as she avoided his wolfish gaze that seemed to devour her like a little lamb. Her small hands kept nervously twisting the hem of her clothes.

« Let’s go! » Xu Yuan abruptly hooked his arm around Li Xinran’s slender neck, forcefully dragging her along with domineering confidence.

« Ah… what are you doing? » Li Xinran grabbed Xu Yuan’s hand, momentarily flustered.

Delivering takeout! Since your foot is better now, I’m not helping you anymore. Instead, I’m pestering you, got it?

« Huh? » Li Xinran’s usually sharp mind couldn’t quite grasp Xu Yuan’s bizarre logic at that moment.

Why did he make pestering sound so righteous?

What do you mean ‘ah’? I just want you to feel indebted to me, so you can never escape my clutches!

How can you be so…?

..

As night fell, Xu Yuan had just finished a delivery and hadn’t even left the neighborhood when something jolted his bike, causing the tire to go flat.

« The tire’s punctured. » Xu Yuan scratched his head—this was going to be troublesome.

« I’ll do it. » Li Xinran looked at Xu Yuan, who was at a loss, thinking to herself that it was finally her time to shine.

She retrieved a screwdriver, adhesive strips, a bottle of vacuum tire repair fluid, and a small air pump from the trunk.

Kneeling down, Li Xinran turned her head back toward Xu Yuan and said, « Give me some light, will you? »

Only then did Xu Yuan snap out of it and turn on his phone’s flashlight.

Li Xinran deftly located the punctured spot, squeezed in the self-sealing fluid, then used a screwdriver to poke the rubber strip into the gap. After dusting off her hands, she turned her head with a triumphant little tiger-tooth grin and said to Xu Yuan, « All done! »

« You know how to do this too? » Xu Yuan was clearly surprised.

Of course! Patching a tire costs 10 yuan each time, but all these tools together cost less than 15. After two patches, it’s pure profit.

« I have bad luck with this—it happens often. Getting someone else to fix it every time would be too expensive. » Li Xinran was quite pleased, even somewhat proud, of her money-saving strategy.

You can even manage accounts, how clever.

« I know I’m clever, thanks for the compliment. » Li Xinran raised an eyebrow, even appearing a bit smug. She was becoming increasingly comfortable around Xu Yuan.

Have you heard this saying before?

What saying?

« A girl who smiles often won’t have too bad luck. »