Chapter 655: Chapter 358: Maintaining a Superficial Friendship
Chen Feng specifically mentioned Wu Mengting to avoid making his mom overthink.
Sure enough, after hearing what Chen Feng said, Zhao Xiaolan’s previously stern gaze softened.
Guo Mengyao quickly stepped forward with a smile and greeted Zhao Xiaolan, "Hello, Auntie. Chen Feng and I were classmates seated front and back in high school. We had a pretty good relationship back then and have kept in touch on and off since then. I used to live in Guang City, so I didn’t come back to Lin Nan often. However, I moved back to Lin Nan last year to develop my career and started a business partnership with Chen Feng. Now, Chen Feng is also my business partner."
Guo Mengyao’s introduction was aimed at emphasizing her ongoing contact with Chen Feng, clearly trying to tie their relationship closer.
In fact, after graduating from high school, the two hadn’t met or contacted each other for about ten years. It was only last year that they reconnected and started keeping in touch.
But could Chen Feng expose her lie? Obviously not.
"Nice to meet you too." Zhao Xiaolan looked at Guo Mengyao with a gentle expression and asked with a smile, "You said you’re in business with Ah Feng. What kind of business?"
Chen Feng didn’t want his family to know that he’d invested thirty million in Guo Mengyao’s company, so he quickly said, "Mengyao is in the cosmetics business. It’s going quite well, so I partnered with her and invested some money in her company. It’s not a lot."
After speaking, Chen Feng gave Guo Mengyao a meaningful look.
Guo Mengyao got the hint, even though she didn’t know why Chen Feng wanted to hide it from his family, she still cooperated and said, "Yes, I used to be in the cosmetics business in Guang City and have my own brand, but it was mainly outsourced production. Last year, I planned to manufacture and sell ourselves, so I acquired a cosmetics factory here, and Chen Feng put in some money and became a shareholder in our cosmetics company."
Upon hearing this, Zhao Xiaolan frowned and looked at Chen Feng, "Why haven’t you mentioned this to the family before?"
Chen Feng smiled awkwardly and said, "I was worried you’d be concerned or overthink, so I didn’t tell you."
Zhao Xiaolan wasn’t so easily fooled and asked with a frown, "How much did you invest?"
"Not a lot."
"Exactly how much?"
"One or two... million."
Chen Feng really had no choice; he couldn’t be honest about this matter with his family. It might be too shocking for them.
"Does investing in stocks really earn you that much money? Another one to two million?" Zhao Xiaolan looked at Chen Feng skeptically.
"I was lucky." Chen Feng said calmly, "Otherwise, how do you think I made my money? It’s not like I won the lottery or robbed a bank."
Zhao Xiaolan thought it over and realized it made sense. She knew her son well; smart enough, but never very bold, and always upright since childhood, never engaging in illegal activities.
"I don’t want to meddle in your affairs, as long as you know what you’re doing."
Zhao Xiaolan said with a double meaning.
"Auntie, you don’t have to doubt Chen Feng’s ability to make money, and he won’t do anything illegal, so rest assured."
Guo Mengyao defended Chen Feng in a righteous manner.
"Seems like you know Ah Feng quite well." Zhao Xiaolan said with a smile.
Guo Mengyao nodded with a smile and said, "I’ve known Chen Feng for over ten years, so of course I know him well. We get along quite well, and he helped me a lot when the company was restructured last year. Our company is doing great now, with fast-growing profits in recent months. Our sales have exceeded a hundred million, and this year’s total sales may reach two or even three hundred million."
Zhao Xiaolan originally thought that Guo Mengyao’s cosmetics company was small, but hearing this, she was slightly surprised and couldn’t help but ask, "If the sales exceed a hundred million, how much do you make?"
Guo Mengyao smiled slightly and responded, "The profit margin in cosmetics is relatively high, but our costs are also high, including production costs, promotional costs, and channel costs. After deducting those, our company’s profit is about 30% of the sales."
"So with a hundred million, you earn around 30 million?" Zhao Xiaolan was a bit taken aback.
Guo Mengyao calmly smiled and nodded, "About right."
This was the first time Chen Feng heard about the profit margin. He hadn’t seriously checked the accounts after investing thirty million in her company.
So Chen Feng was somewhat surprised by the huge profits in cosmetics, but upon reflection, it was understandable. Cosmetics have always been a highly profitable industry; it’s a global secret that women’s and children’s money is easy to earn.
Just as Zhao Xiaolan was about to ask more, Wu Mengting came over, having just finished breakfast, from the room at the back.
"It’s been a while, Sister Mengyao." Wu Mengting greeted Guo Mengyao cheerfully.
"Yes, it’s been a while." Guo Mengyao also wore a broad smile and affectionately put down the gift box she was holding, then opened her arms to hug Wu Mengting.
This gesture left Wu Mengting a bit bewildered. Although they knew each other, they weren’t that close. Such a warm hug made her feel uncomfortable.
"Haha, I heard you were at Chen Feng’s, so I immediately came over to meet you. I haven’t played around here before, so you and Chen Feng have to show me around this time."
Guo Mengyao’s cozy, intimate demeanor with Wu Mengting gave Chen Feng a bit of a headache.
"Sure, of course, I can take you out now." Wu Mengting readily agreed.
"No need to rush. I just got here and haven’t chatted much with Auntie yet."
Zhao Xiaolan laughed, "What could there be to chat about with an old lady like me? You young folks go have fun. Come back for lunch at noon. Ah Feng, Little Ting, make sure to take good care of Mengyao."
"Thank you, Auntie," Guo Mengyao said with a bright smile, "I’ve heard so much from Chen Feng about your delicious cooking, so I’ll get to try it at noon."
"Alright, I’ll cook a few signature dishes for you to enjoy." Zhao Xiaolan, confident in her culinary skills, said.
"That’s great, I’m in for a treat today. Auntie, you’re so nice! I find you so endearing, just like my mom!"
Guo Mengyao complimented Zhao Xiaolan with a sweet demeanor, leaving Zhao Xiaolan feeling flattered but a bit embarrassed, considering it was their first meeting.
Chen Feng and Wu Mengting were finding it hard to watch.
Chen Feng was the first to speak, "Mengyao, how about we head out now? I’ll take you for a stroll down one of our old streets."
Wu Mengting added, "After the old street, we can visit the Taiyin Palace. There are many murals and a big well with beautiful koi fish inside. Let’s go."
With that, Wu Mengting pulled her hand and walked out, leaving Guo Mengyao unable to refuse, so she quickly said to Zhao Xiaolan, "Auntie, we’re going to have fun now, we’ll be back for lunch. Sorry to trouble you."
"Not a problem, I’ll call you when the food is ready."
"Alright, we’ll rush back by then for sure."