Without outsiders interrupting, just two people discussing how to arrange their house was naturally very pleasant.

From the overall layout to the furniture.

Though the actual house wasn’t even built yet, these two were already envisioning their future home.

Owning property was one thing.

Making a home was another.

Zhou Cheng had bought several courtyard houses in the capital, but hadn’t lived in any of them yet – those were all investments, not homes.

Only a house you would live in yourself deserved such devoted attention.

After talking for a while, Xia Xiaolan became somewhat distracted-

Zhou Cheng immediately understood.

“Let’s go, we’ve been here for hours, let’s get something to eat.”

If you’re invested, be fully invested; if your mind’s elsewhere, why waste time?

Zhou Cheng wasn’t angry – he knew Xu Changle’s visit had interrupted his wife’s focus.

Xia Xiaolan smiled apologetically: “I’m not thinking about the Xu family matters. Let them do the DNA test if they want, it’s the Xu father and son’s decision, outsiders shouldn’t interfere. Though asking Klaus for help to find someone – I hadn’t thought much about that. But I am indeed distracted, don’t mind me.”

“Because of Ji Ya – you heard she hasn’t raised enough for the bank loan.”

Yes, because of Ji Ya!

Sheng Xuan had given Ji Ya a final deadline – the Lantern Festival, which was tomorrow.

All these days, Ji Ya hadn’t raised the money for loan repayment. When Sheng Xuan’s ultimatum expired, what would she do to recover this money?

Sheng Xuan wouldn’t even need to appear – she’d let the bank deal with Ji Ya.

“I think, it’s a shame that the sales channels Ji Ya built with money will just disappear like this!”

Being unable to repay loans and having the bank seize collateral was a normal procedure.

There might be some haggling in between, but it wouldn’t change the outcome.

“If you think it’s a shame, let’s take over her channels. Luna still has some money in its accounts this year, we can gather some more, have Chen Xiliang contribute some, plus bank loans – incorporating Ji Ya’s brand into Luna shouldn’t be a big problem!”

Zhou Cheng didn’t concern himself with how much professional knowledge this involved.

The first wave of entrepreneurs in the 80s didn’t need much professional knowledge either.

Zhou Cheng only saw the benefits of this matter.

Sales channels were too important!

Back when he and Kang Wei were dealing in cigarettes, why could they make money? Because he could connect with people from different places – the profit in cigarette dealing lay in these “channels” of movement and exchange. He and Kang Wei exchanged cigarettes carton by carton with others, letting them figure out how to retail them.

Unlike the clothing industry, cigarette sales were state-regulated, and he and Kang Wei were indeed making money by pushing boundaries.

Of course, he had pulled out early, giving up this business despite its profitability.

The clothing industry was more open.

With money to set up factories and purchase goods, you could enter this industry.

However, private capital entry was always small-scale, not like Xiaolan and Ji Ya’s scale. Until now, only Luna and Ji Ya had tried to establish brands.

Though Ji Ya’s brand wasn’t successful, she had indeed built sales channels with money.

Zhou Cheng felt there were problems with management and positioning, but the channels were real. If Luna could absorb them, wouldn’t it be an opportunity for Luna to expand?

Xia Xiaolan’s eyes brightened – she loved being able to communicate so freely with Zhou Cheng:

“I thought the same thing. I told Chen Xiliang before the New Year. But even if Ji Ya ruins her brand, she absolutely won’t let Luna take over. Ji Ya’s personality won’t let her think about cutting losses – she doesn’t have a businessman’s mindset.”

Businesspeople, while maybe not as thick-skinned as Xia Xiaolan, rarely acted on impulse.

Ms. Ji Ya, however, was a pampered young lady who thought the whole world should spoil her.

“Buying from Ji Ya directly is impossible, but we can buy from the bank.”

Not being able to repay loans wasn’t Xiaolan’s fault. In business, everyone relied on their abilities. If Ji Ya couldn’t manage costs well and her capital chain collapsed, she had to bear the consequences.

“The bank seizing her assets and us buying them from the bank – there’s nothing wrong with that… though Ji Ya would probably be furious if she knew.”

But would this make Ji Ya kneel on Chang’an Street and admit her mistakes?

Xia Xiaolan wasn’t sure.

Ji Ya had just failed in business – she hadn’t suffered any physical losses yet.

But thinking again, the fact of failing in business would already torment Ji Ya immensely, given how proud she was!

…

Five in the afternoon.

In the hotel room, Ji Ya was alone.

She still hadn’t raised enough money to repay the loan.

Others could negotiate installment payments, but when it came to her, the bank wouldn’t allow it!

She had tried to borrow from other banks, rob Peter to pay Paul, hoping to get through this immediate crisis first, but all those connections she could find, those former students of her father, hemmed and hawed with excuses.

In her youth, these bookworms would go to great lengths just for her to glance their way.

They called her “Junior Sister Ji,” their eyes lighting up at the sight of her.

Even after her divorce from Tang Hongen, many had shown interest – if she had nodded, who knew how many men would have lined up to marry her!

Now? One after another said they couldn’t help.

Some worked in the banking system – surely they could arrange a loan of a few million with just a word, but they cited all sorts of difficulties and regulations, refusing to help.

Ji Ya really couldn’t understand.

She couldn’t understand why those who called her “Junior Sister Ji” could be so heartless.

The reality was a combination of various factors.

Her father Ji Huaixin had passed away two or three years ago – when people die, relationships need maintenance. If Ji Ya had developed well in China these years, maintaining connections with Ji Huaixin’s former students, feelings wouldn’t have deteriorated this much.

But Ji Ya had been abroad for over ten years, not maintaining relationships or showing concern. When she suddenly needed help, nine out of ten people would hesitate.

Even if the remaining one wanted to be a devoted admirer, they had to consider the consequences of helping Ji Ya.

At their age, everyone had families and careers. Even if they wanted to help “Junior Sister Ji,” their families wouldn’t agree.

Helping Ji Ya was one thing, but what about afterward?

Ji Ya was too difficult – forcing her ex-husband Tang Hongen to sever ties with the Ji family had exceeded many people’s expectations.

Helping Ji Ya – wouldn’t that offend Tang Hongen?

These people had little psychological burden refusing Ji Ya because Ji Lin had already contacted everyone Ji Ya might approach!

Ji Ya’s elder brother had truly been scared by her actions. If Ji Ya used their father’s reputation again and borrowed money she couldn’t repay, the reputation their father had cherished for most of his life would be completely ruined.

Ji Lin felt that Ji Ya could live well enough relying on George – a business that couldn’t succeed even with so much investment should just end. Without business, Ji Ya might stop causing trouble.

Why must she compete with Tang Hongen’s current wife?

Couldn’t they just live their own lives separately?