Financial Independence through Cracked Apps-Chapter 107 - 104: In Public

Qin Yuenan couldn’t believe Lin Shen would be so audacious!

They weren’t in a hotel, they were in an exhibition hall!

A bustling crowd was still gathered around watching the pet show. ’I could let it slide when you put your arm around my waist...’

’But you actually dared to touch my ass!?’

Qin Yuenan, who was always aloof and cool in public, was now like a tigress whose butt had been groped. Her cheeks flushed red as she fiercely pinched the soft flesh of Lin Shen’s waist, making him suck in a sharp breath and force a pained smile.

"I was wrong! I was wrong!" 𝗳𝗿𝐞𝕖𝘄𝗲𝕓𝗻𝚘𝚟𝕖𝐥.𝚌𝕠𝕞

"Hmph!"

Qin Yuenan snorted. Seeing that Lin Shen’s exaggerated, feigned expression was attracting curious glances from the crowd, she finally let him go.

Of course, she didn’t forget to add a cold warning.

"Next time you do that, I’ll be seriously angry!"

"It was just a joke."

Lin Shen grinned and put his arm around Qin Yuenan’s shoulders. This time, she didn’t refuse.

After all, having an arm around one’s shoulder or waist were fairly common public displays of affection for a couple, so they were acceptable.

’But touching my butt is an overly intimate act, something that should only be done in a hotel room!’

Even though she thought this, the moment Lin Shen’s hand touched her rear in public, Qin Yuenan’s heart skipped a beat, and a strange heat bloomed within her.

The occasional glances from people around them, in particular, made her extremely anxious. She kept wondering if anyone had seen it.

’If someone saw...’

The more Qin Yuenan thought about it, the faster her heart beat, until she couldn’t even focus on the pet show anymore.

Her only thought now was to get out of there as quickly as possible.

"Let’s go."

"Okay."

Lin Shen and Qin Yuenan returned to the front of the Pet Guardian Home exhibition hall.

There, they suddenly noticed a middle-aged man in a sharp suit chatting with Wang Shuo at the entrance.

His clear speech and gentle smile made him seem very confident.

Furthermore, he was followed by quite an entourage.

Judging by Wang Shuo’s subservient, placating smile, this man in his thirties likely held a high position.

"Has your President Qin returned yet?"

"President Qin should be back soon."

Wang Shuo looked around and his eyes lit up when he saw Qin Yuenan and Lin Shen returning.

"President Zhou! Our President Qin is back."

Oh?

Zhou Chuanfeng eagerly followed Wang Shuo’s gaze.

He had long heard that Pet Guardian Home’s marketing director was an exceptional woman.

Not only was she beautiful with an exquisite figure, but her professional abilities were also outstanding.

Previously, when Zhou Chuanfeng was negotiating business with Pet Guardian Home, he had a brief, unacknowledged encounter with Qin Yuenan in a meeting room.

At the time, he had been deeply captivated by her stunningly beautiful face, feeling as if he had rediscovered the innocent thrill of a college romance.

Now, hearing that she had come to Jinling as the client’s marketing director, Zhou Chuanfeng had specifically requested from his boss to take over the task of negotiating the partnership with Pet Guardian Home.

All for the sake of seeing her nation-toppling beauty once more.

Sure enough, Zhou Chuanfeng spotted Qin Yuenan in the crowd almost immediately.

She still had that cold and proud demeanor, her powerful aura on full display, yet it didn’t inspire the slightest bit of dislike.

"President Qin!"

Wang Shuo hurried over to greet them and began making introductions.

"President Zhou, this is our President Qin."

"President Qin, this is President Zhou, the vice president of Gao Family."

"Hello, my name is Zhou Chuanfeng."

Zhou Chuanfeng stepped forward, extended his hand, and greeted Qin Yuenan with a smile, adding a humorous, self-deprecating remark.

"Our company’s name is Gao Family. Please don’t mistake me for putting on airs."

"Qin Yuenan."

After shaking hands with Zhou Chuanfeng, Qin Yuenan took the initiative to introduce Lin Shen, who was beside her.

"This is my assistant, Lin Shen."

?

Zhou Chuanfeng looked at Lin Shen, a little puzzled.

Generally, in meetings between company executives, only the key figures are introduced. Assistants and the like are usually skipped over.

But Qin Yuenan had brought up Lin Shen on her own.

’What does that imply?’

’It implies she values this assistant of hers very much.’

’Could it be that...’

When he saw Lin Shen’s bright, handsome smile, Zhou Chuanfeng’s sharp intuition told him that the relationship between him and Qin Yuenan wasn’t merely that of a director and her assistant.

’There was likely a much more intimate layer to it...’

"Hello, Assistant Lin."

"Hello, President Zhou."

After shaking hands and greeting Lin Shen, Zhou Chuanfeng suddenly lost much of his interest in Qin Yuenan.

After all, as the vice president of Gao Family, he wouldn’t do something as unethical as trying to poach someone else’s partner.

Doing so would only harm the company’s interests and could cost him his job.

Moreover, Lin Shen was indeed handsome and young, and he wore a very conspicuous Rolex on his left wrist.

’This young man’s background is probably anything but ordinary.’

As a shrewd businessman, Zhou Chuanfeng naturally understood the principle of never underestimating anyone you meet.

Especially when they were from Modu!

"President Qin, would you like to take a look at our booth?"

Zhou Chuanfeng invited her, and of course, Qin Yuenan wasn’t going to refuse.

Under his lead, the large group made their way to the Gao Family exhibition hall.

They specialized in the research and development of cat food and related cat products. Their brand positioning was relatively youth-oriented, which happened to align perfectly with Pet Guardian Home’s marketing philosophy.

That was why the higher-ups at both companies had decided to negotiate a partnership, sending Qin Yuenan to go through the motions.

But even so, Zhou Chuanfeng still had his staff give a detailed introduction of their products.

After all, he was the supplier, and the client’s experience had to be well taken care of.

After about half an hour of presentation, Zhou Chuanfeng glanced at his watch and extended another invitation.

"President Qin, we’ve arranged a luncheon for you. How about we head back to the company to talk more after we eat?"

"Okay."

Having been on her feet all day, Qin Yuenan was also a bit tired and was thinking of finding a place to sit and rest.

So the group left the International Convention and Exhibition Center and headed to Jinling Hotel·Meiyuan.

Don’t be fooled by its ordinary name; it was a bona fide state-guesthouse-level establishment and also Jinling’s first five-star hotel restaurant.

Its magnificent and classically styled exterior was breathtaking, and the carved walnut screen and cloisonné lamps at the entrance highlighted a national aesthetic unique to the 1960s and ’70s.

Lin Shen couldn’t help but look around in awe after walking into the Jinling Restaurant, and Qin Yuenan was also visibly stunned.

Seeing this, Zhou Chuanfeng’s face broke into a proud smile, the smile of a Jinling native.

"This Meiyuan brings together the essence of all Jinling and Huainan Cuisine. If you have any dietary restrictions, please let me know in advance, and I’ll have them change the dishes."

"I don’t, and neither does he."

Qin Yuenan specifically indicated Lin Shen. It was the first time Zhou Chuanfeng had seen a director so considerate of her assistant’s experience, which further confirmed his inner suspicions.

’This young man named Lin Shen is definitely not just an assistant!’

’He’s very likely Qin Yuenan’s boyfriend, posing as her assistant to travel on the company’s dime.’

"This way, please, our distinguished guests."

Led by a restaurant server, the group arrived at a private business dining room.

Because Zhou Chuanfeng had ordered in advance, the dishes were served quickly.

Jinling Salted Duck, Master Hou Xinqing’s Braised Pork Belly, Rain Flower Stone Sweet Dumplings...

Any one of these dishes, if served at another restaurant, would absolutely be considered an exquisite signature course.

The sight, smell, and taste were all perfect, making the already hungry Qin Yuenan swallow involuntarily.

However, at a business occasion like this, she had to make small talk with Zhou Chuanfeng at the table, and she was too embarrassed to reach for food in the middle of it.

’This is where an assistant comes in handy.’

Taking advantage of a pause as a dish was being served, Qin Yuenan whispered quietly in Lin Shen’s ear.

"In a bit, if I tap your thigh under the table, it means I want to eat the dish that’s rotating in front of me. You can get some for me."

?

Lin Shen raised an eyebrow, then nodded.

"Okay."

And so, while Qin Yuenan chatted with Zhou Chuanfeng, she would occasionally tap Lin Shen’s thigh under the table.

Once he got the signal, he would act like a thoughtful assistant and help her get some food. They worked together in perfect sync.

Seeing this, Zhou Chuanfeng didn’t feel it was appropriate to chat too much with Qin Yuenan, and the luncheon proceeded in a relatively harmonious atmosphere.

At 2 PM, the group arrived at Gao Family’s factory in Jinling.

This visit was the main event of the day.

Under Zhou Chuanfeng’s guidance, Qin Yuenan was to tour their cat food production line and discuss the contents of the contract they were about to sign.

This included the specific partnership plan, the quality of the cat food provided by Gao Family, and the types of products Pet Guardian Home intended to purchase.

From details as small as the price per pound of cat food to matters as large as the future direction of their partnership, Qin Yuenan had to discuss everything with Zhou Chuanfeng.

It was then that Lin Shen finally witnessed Qin Yuenan in her final form.

When she held meetings with subordinates at Pet Guardian Home, she at least showed some consideration for them as colleagues, so her attitude was relatively gentle.

But when negotiating business as the client, her cold, proud aura was on full display. She meticulously questioned every clause of the contract and even insisted on personally inspecting the product quality on the factory’s production line.

This went beyond being thorough; it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to call it "nitpicking."

But what could they do? She was the client, after all.

Zhou Chuanfeng had no choice but to explain everything to Qin Yuenan in detail, and by the end of the meeting, he was covered in sweat.

Fortunately, however, the two parties finally settled on the contract.

*

「6:00 PM.」

"President Qin, a pleasure doing business with you!"

After signing the contract, Zhou Chuanfeng let out a long sigh of relief, then stood up to shake Qin Yuenan’s hand with a smile.

"We’ve prepared a dinner banquet for you, also at Jinling Restaurant. We can head over by car in a moment, if that’s alright?"

"There’s no need."

Qin Yuenan gently declined.

"You’ve already gone to so much trouble for lunch. I’ll just get dinner on my own tonight. I’d like to get back to the hotel and rest."

"Alright, then."

In truth, Zhou Chuanfeng had expected Qin Yuenan to say this, so he didn’t press the issue.

And so, the group parted ways at the entrance to the Gao Family factory.

After getting into the Toyota Alphard driven by Wang Shuo, Qin Yuenan couldn’t help but let out a long sigh, leaning back wearily against the seat and closing her eyes to rest.

Seeing this, Lin Shen started massaging her shoulders and arms, teasing her.

"You worked hard, President Qin."

"President Qin, should we cancel our research for tonight?"

Seeing how tired Qin Yuenan was, Wang Shuo suggested this, but she turned him down.

"No need."

Qin Yuenan said softly, then shot Lin Shen a cold glance.

Because his hands were starting to misbehave again.

Qin Yuenan realized that Lin Shen’s hands, which had been massaging her shoulders, had suddenly moved to rest on her thighs, right over her suit skirt!