Chapter 421: Stingy with Love

Chapter 421: Chapter 421: Stingy with Love

Han Xiaorui smiled. "It’s normal for parents to think that way. If nothing else, if your mother didn’t have you, her life would have been bleak and without hope."

Zhang Guangnan laughed and nodded. "Yes. I once heard a boss say that children are like nuclear weapons. You might not necessarily use them in the future, but you have to have them."

Han Xiaorui was taken aback for a moment, then thought about it carefully. "That actually makes a lot of sense! Anyway, as your friend, I wish you happiness and a wonderful life."

"Thanks!" Zhang Guangnan said gratefully. "Do you know any good women you could introduce me to?"

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui rolled her eyes. "You’re not bad-looking, you’re rich, and your character is pretty good. You’re not like those guys who get a little money and just spend it on debauchery."

"If you’re sincerely interested in someone and want to pursue a woman, she should be able to see your sincerity and intentions. Why force it by having someone set you up?"

Zhang Guangnan gave an embarrassed laugh at her words. "Well, I want to find someone educated and pretty, who can also take care of the home and kids in the future. I don’t know anyone like that."

Just then, Wu Jiao walked over with a tray of freshly brewed tea. "Sister Xiao Rui, Boss Zhang, he’s hoping you’ll introduce him to a female teacher to be his girlfriend!"

Han Xiaorui was surprised. She did know a few unmarried female teachers in Jinshan Bay, all of them simple, hardworking, and dedicated.

However, she wasn’t one to play matchmaker.

Matchmaking wasn’t like shopping. If something didn’t work out or you didn’t like it, you couldn’t just return it or throw it away.

If the couple couldn’t make it work, they’d get a divorce, and feelings would get hurt.

Zhang Guangnan blinked. "Xiao Rui, do you know any suitable women?"

Han Xiaorui waved her hands repeatedly. "No! I’m a pregnant woman, about to give birth. Where would I find the time to set you up with someone?"

"Nothing is impossible for a willing heart. But finding a partner is about chemistry—it has to come from spending genuine time together and getting to know each other."

Seeing that Han Xiaorui wasn’t taking the bait, Zhang Guangnan didn’t press the issue.

However, Wu Jiao’s words had given him an idea. He wasn’t short on money.

He could absolutely look for a female teacher, or at least someone who had attended a technical college and was educated.

Their work environment would be relatively simple, and she would be able to take good care of the children in the future.

"Got it!" Zhang Guangnan said with a smile. "Let’s talk about the investment! I can put up five million and take out a loan for another ten million. How much of a stake can you offer?"

Han Xiaorui smiled. "I don’t know how much of a stake that would be yet. I’m planning to invite a team that builds water parks to come here for a site survey. We can only decide after a professional team has done an assessment."

"Alright, then you find someone to do the assessment. Since we’re doing this, let’s make it the best," Zhang Guangnan said with a laugh. "I’ll open the seafood restaurant on the small island."

Han Xiaorui smiled. "Okay."

Although it was only a verbal agreement, both Han Xiaorui and Zhang Guangnan were serious.

There were no such projects in the country, so naturally, there were no design firms specializing in water parks.

Han Xiaorui contacted Fudan University, but the professors there and the architectural design firms in Shencheng had no relevant experience.

However, they knew it was a good project.

After all, Hua Country had such a long coastline, and as people’s living standards improved, there were bound to be many more projects like this.

Entering the industry now promised great future potential.

So, a design firm in Shencheng formed a special team to follow up on Han Xiaorui’s project.

Lack of experience wasn’t a problem; they could learn from other countries.

So, Han Xiaorui thought of Kuno Hiroo and gritted her teeth. ’At a time like this, I still have to learn from Japan.’

When Kuno Hiroo received Han Xiaorui’s telegram, he happened to have business that was bringing him to Hua Country anyway. He bought a bouquet of flowers and came to visit her.

However, when his eyes fell on Han Xiaorui’s large, round belly, he couldn’t help but feel a sense of wonder.

It was the first time he had seen a woman whose pregnancy didn’t affect her appearance.

"Ms. Han, you asked me to come over. Is there something you need?" Kuno Hiroo asked, sipping the tea Wu Jiao had prepared.

Han Xiaorui nodded. "I want to build a water park and an aquarium in Jinshan Bay, like the ones abroad. We don’t have any relevant experience, so I was thinking of hiring a design team from Japan."

Hearing this, Kuno Hiroo was surprised. "You’re really expanding your operations, aren’t you?"

Han Xiaorui smiled. "It’s going okay. A water park and an aquarium are necessary. They’ll draw in a lot of visitors."

Kuno Hiroo nodded. "I see. Okay. When I get back, I’ll connect you with the right people, but it probably won’t be cheap."

Han Xiaorui was surprised. "How expensive could it be?"

Kuno Hiroo thought for a moment and said, "For them to design, plan, and build a project of your scale in Japan, it would cost over a billion RMB. Even though land and labor aren’t as expensive here in Hua Country, it still won’t be cheap."

Hearing this, Han Xiaorui was dumbfounded. "That expensive?"

"Yes." Kuno Hiroo nodded. "And based on my understanding of those people, they’ll probably keep wanting to make changes here and there. You’re bound to have disagreements."

Han Xiaorui blinked. "From the way you put it, the prospects for cooperation don’t sound great. Can you ask around for me first? Just inquire. See what the situation is. If it doesn’t work out, we’ll just do it ourselves."

Kuno Hiroo nodded. "Okay. In any case, I’ll do my best."

"Thanks!" Han Xiaorui smiled. "After I have the baby, I’ll be sure to treat you to a proper meal."

Kuno Hiroo waved his hand. "No need to be so polite. Being able to eat at your home is enough to prove we have a good relationship. You don’t have to be so formal."

Han Xiaorui nodded. "That’s true. But you don’t seem to be in high spirits this time. Did you run into some trouble?"

Kuno Hiroo shook his head with a faint smile. "No trouble. It’s just... I’m getting engaged."

"Congratulations, Hiroo," Han Xiaorui said with a smile. "That’s wonderful news. Why don’t you seem happy about it?"

Kuno Hiroo sighed. "She’s just... suitable. There’s no spark."

Han Xiaorui rolled her eyes. "How melodramatic! You’re already preparing to get engaged, so it’s definitely not ’just’ about being suitable. At the very least, you don’t dislike her. She’s willing to get engaged to you, and whether she’s after your money or your family background, there must be something you’re compatible about."

"If you say you don’t have feelings, that just means you’re unwilling to spend time getting to know her, to feel things, to cultivate the relationship. You just see marriage as a duty, a way to answer to both families."

"But marriage is about two people. Aren’t you the ones you should be answering to most of all? You hope for some so-called spark and love, yet you’re too stingy to put in any effort. Where in the world do you find a deal that good?"

’Scumbag, don’t make excuses.’

Kuno Hiroo was taken aback, staring at Han Xiaorui in a slight daze. "The love you and Ye Feng share is enviable."

"That’s because we have each other in our hearts, we love each other, and we’re willing to put in the time and energy for one another. That’s how we earned each other’s love and sincerity," Han Xiaorui replied. "This behavior of yours, in my opinion, is just you being melodramatic for the sake of it. It’s nothing but selfish."