My American magical life
Chapter 136 - 136 50 Awful Evil Woman!_2

136: Chapter 50 Awful, Evil Woman!_2 136: Chapter 50 Awful, Evil Woman!_2 Pressing the pause button on the projector remote, Zhao Hongjin climbed up from the couch.

First, she turned off all the lights in the living room and carefully inspected every corner of the house.

After confirming there were no cameras in the living room, she returned to her original spot.

Picking up her cell phone, she resumed the same posture she had when she’d replied to Cheng Daqi.

Zhao Hongjin further confirmed that even if Cheng Daqi had hacked her phone, he couldn’t see through the phone’s camera what movie she was watching.

In the dark living room, the white light from the phone’s screen illuminated Zhao Hongjin’s face.

She felt a bit creepy inside.

She had already confirmed that there were no pinhole cameras in the house, and even if her phone was hacked, it couldn’t show what she was watching.

But Cheng Daqi had guessed right on the nose that she was watching “Forever Young”.

She was really a little scared now.

If it were an ordinary girl, she would just think it was a coincidence.

But Zhao Hongjin was a thoughtful person; she tended to overthink many things.

The first time Cheng Daqi met her, he guessed she was studying at PPD with zero information.

Now, during their third conversation, without her saying anything, Cheng Daqi had directly guessed which movie she was watching.

Who wouldn’t be confused?

Zhao ‘I’ll watch it, thanks for the recommendation.’

After much hesitation, Zhao Hongjin mustered the courage and replied succinctly.

After typing those words, she bolted from the living room like a startled rabbit and went back to her bedroom, diving straight into bed.

She was truly scared!

Now Cheng Daqi was a bit stumped.

Zhao Hongjin seemed to have no intention of continuing the conversation, ending it with a closed-off response.

Is she really that busy?

Or did she really have a misunderstanding about me?

Cheng Daqi thought it over and realized he still had far too little contact with Zhao Hongjin.

Seeking divine intervention would still require more incense burning.

Cheng Daqi’s shallow brain couldn’t fathom the true extent of the situation.

A master’s carefully prepared strike had delivered a fatal blow.

Zhao Hongjin didn’t want to chat with him not because she didn’t want to but because she was scared half to death by him!

Cheng ‘I wanted to invite you to my housewarming PARTY, I’ve sent you the address, it starts at six in the evening the day after tomorrow.’

Since there was no chance of communication, then a face-to-face meeting was in order.

Offline socializing had always been Cheng Daqi’s forte.

Lying in bed, Zhao Hongjin looked at Cheng Daqi’s invitation, pondering how to decline.

‘Cheng, you’re a good person, but you’re too scary, I’m afraid.’

No, that was too outrageous, it would seem very impolite.

‘I have too much homework, no time to go, sorry.’

No, the homework was already done, and there was time to go.

A straightforward refusal would have been fine, but trying to find excuses to refuse was too clownish.

‘I don’t want to be friends with you anymore, sorry.’

Are we even friends?

But he is indeed a very capable person…

The nineteen-year-old sister was still very innocent.

Zhao Hongjin was usually very mature, but tonight, Cheng Daqi’s astounding trick had broken her usual psychological state.

She wanted to decline Cheng Daqi’s invitation without making up an excuse to brush him off.

And Cheng Daqi was indeed a man with ideals, capability, and a kind heart; deep down she admired this friend very much.

‘Ding!’ Another message came through on her phone.

Zhao Hongjin was afraid to look, worried it might be Cheng Daqi.

Cheng ‘Director Zhao, since coming to America, things have not been going smoothly, but meeting you has been delightful.

I’ve been in a difficult spot and didn’t have the chance to meet or chat with you, so I wanted to take the opportunity of the housewarming party to invite you over.’

The core element of this message was ‘no chance to chat’, referencing the ending of their last conversation.

Cheng Daqi was sure that conversation had left a tremendous impact on Zhao Hongjin.

(Qingshan, plum blossoms, Prism Gate, Zhao Zhenhan stood up tall and straight)

He couldn’t believe that with all he’d said, Zhao Hongjin would continue not to reply!

Editing and re-editing the chat box, the nineteen-year-old girl with peach blossom eyes felt extremely uncomfortable, stuck between options because of Cheng Daqi.

Of course, she wanted to go to Cheng Daqi’s housewarming PARTY, to have the fun of the party and the chance to clarify things that were inconvenient to discuss over social apps.

But…

Zhao ‘You’re bothering me, can you apologize?’

Cheng Daqi felt like he had inadvertently achieved a strange milestone.

What terrible things had he done?

Have I actually done something that a jerk would do?

Why does every girl I get to know unanimously put me through the “apology” scene?

First was Lisa, second was Sani, and third was Zhao Hongjin tonight.

Next time, will it be the turn of a wealthy woman with black hair?

Even if Cheng Daqi didn’t know why he had to apologize, his heart was set.

It is said, “A mighty man cannot bend, a man of poverty cannot be shifted.”

Apologizing is out of the question, what kind of man would shrink back so easily?

‘Surrender five cities today, ten tomorrow, and then you may sleep in peace for one night.

But when you arise and look to your borders, the Qin army has arrived once more.

Thus, with the limited land of the princes and the insatiable desires of the Qin, tribute becomes more burdensome and aggression more urgent.

Therefore, without fighting, the outcome of strength and weakness, victory and defeat, is already decided.

As for overturning the situation, it is naturally so.’

I clearly haven’t done anything wrong, where is the reasoning that I have to apologize just because you say so?

That’s not being gentlemanly, that’s being spineless.

If I don’t apologize but still want to keep talking, it’s time to be clever.

Cheng ‘Life is hard, Daqi sighs.’

Being clever is just being smart in a sneaky way, equivalent to taking a shortcut, but it’s useful.

Laughter echoed out of the bedroom in the Chinese-style villa, Zhao Hongjin found Cheng Daqi to be really interesting.

‘He seems to have no idea what I am watching, does he?’

With a frown, Zhao Hongjin hesitated whether to explain to Cheng Daqi what he had done.

Zhao ‘What’s so hard about it that you’re even sighing?’

Zhao’s sister’s gentleness still existed, and Cheng Daqi nodded in satisfaction.

Being clever might not reverse the overall situation, but it could easily handle a little headwind.

Cheng ‘Making money is not easy, I’ve started a media company back home, and it’s quite troublesome.’

Media—Culture—High-end.

This logic is brainless, but it is indeed most people’s perception, Cheng Daqi is not sure whether it would spark Zhao Hongjin’s interest.

But the logic remains: you have to try for a jujube, otherwise, you’re sure to get none.

Cheng Daqi hadn’t forgotten the purpose of his conversation with Zhao Hongjin; he was still hoping the “God” would offer direction to his company.

Zhao ‘What exactly do you do?

Publishing?

New media?

Or film and television?’

Zhao Hongjin has seen her fair share of celebrities and has no misconceptions about media companies.

She knows full well that media companies are beggars on their knees, earning hard money.

Cheng ‘Not really any of those, we’re involved in personally IP incubation and management under a new model, dedicated to recognizing the value of individuals, with our core competitiveness being our unique training system.’

New model = short videos.

IP incubation and operation = creating internet celebrities.

Dedicated to recognizing the value of individuals = exploiting information advantages to recruit people.

Unique training system = casting a wide net, mass training, winning through volume.

Zhao ‘…Can you speak human language?

I’m not an investor, why the sales pitch to me?’

Zhao Hongjin studied business, and the influences of her family and her social circle had made her understand many things that some people never grasp in a lifetime.

For example, right now, she could see right through Cheng Daqi’s nonsense.

Cheng ‘It’s an MCN.

We currently only work with Douyin videos, but we are about to expand to YouTube after reaching a cooperative intention with an American potential hit with millions of views.’

An American potential hit with millions of views refers to Scott, who despite his blond hair, had the misfortune of being robbed by a black guy.

Zhao ‘I’ve actually never looked into MCNs.

You’ll have to explain it to me the day after tomorrow.’

That meant she had agreed to come to the party.

Zhao ‘Do you know why I wanted you to apologize?’

Zhao launched two topics at once, seemingly in good spirits.

By rights, now was the time to follow up on the victory and bridge the gap in their relationship, but Cheng Daqi truly couldn’t think of an answer to Zhao Hongjin’s question.

Cheng ‘Maybe because my excellence is too dazzling, and I accidentally hurt you?’

Understated self-mocking humor.

Cheng Daqi is an entrepreneur; he sought Zhao Hongjin to discuss a collaboration, all for business purposes, so he is truly in a bind right now.

If you want to be a successful entrepreneur, how can you not know to PUA your employees?

And not just employees.

Shareholders, partners, distribution channels—all must be treated equally to thoroughly scrape out profit margins.

Zhao ‘Yeah right, see you the day after tomorrow!’

Cheng ‘But you haven’t told me the reason yet.’

Zhao ‘With your brilliance, you must be able to guess the reason, right?

You must, right?’

Curse it, wicked woman!

Cheng Daqi clenched his fists.

He had been sarcastically mocked.