Reborn with Consumption System-Chapter 554 - 250 What is hoodwinking?

When did Pan Ge send Xi Luting that text? It must have been when I was driving her home.

Han Lie had seen her in the passenger seat, fiddling with her phone, typing furiously, then receiving no reply. At the time, Han Lie couldn't be sure who she'd messaged, but now he knew.

It had to be Xi Luting! She was rehearsing on stage right then, her phone not with her, so it made perfect sense she couldn't reply immediately. After that, Pan Ge didn't touch her phone again until I zipped up my pants and left. And by the time I walked out of the Pan family's place, Pan Ge was practically dead on her feet, looking like she could fall asleep any second. She wouldn't have had the mind to tattle then. So, it had to be during that car ride.

Having pinpointed the time, Han Lie relaxed slightly.

Xi Luting doesn't know what happened later, which leaves me room to argue. When it comes to spinning a yarn, who has Bro Lie ever been afraid of?!

"What nonsense are you spouting? Pan Ge is just messing around because she's bored. Are you going to play along with her foolishness?"

Han Lie frowned and rebuked her.

The most crucial part of a bluff is absolute self-assurance. Truth or fiction doesn't matter; the aura and attitude must be unwavering.

Once you establish that image, then you have a chance to spin your bullshit later.

"Alright, alright, stop your wild guessing!"

Han Lie waved his hand dismissively, a look of vexation on his face as if troubled by something.

Then, he patiently offered a few words of explanation.

"Pan Ge is my bona fide boss now. Her father invested one hundred and fifty million RMB into that corporate private equity fund of mine, and then transferred 12.5% of the shares to Pan Ge. I went to see her before because I was on a mission. You know what she's like—utterly exhausting. She had me sweating buckets. It took a great deal of effort for me to finally get out of her place.

"President Pan's intentions are pretty clear. Now her mom is also being a bit too enthusiastic. I'm already annoyed enough, so could you please not add to my troubles?

"And another thing, you need to be more careful in the future! Why do you always follow her lead? Her entire family is pulling out all the stops, throwing in money and effort, pushing their daughter to the top. And you? The moment she instigates something, you jump out to be her champion?

"Wake up! Good things won't just fall into your lap!

"Has she even mentioned a single word to you about us planning to upgrade the corporate private equity fund into a formal private equity fund?"

Xi Luting's eyes widened, completely floored by his tirade.

Is… is that really how it is?! 𝓯𝙧𝓮𝓮𝒘𝓮𝙗𝙣𝒐𝒗𝒆𝓵.𝓬𝓸𝒎

What the darned man was saying was all true, but he deliberately guided the conversation to imply "Pan Ge's parents were both home," making it sound as if he'd just endured an incredibly tough business negotiation.

Truthfully, it wasn't particularly tough... just not entirely satisfying... that's for sure... AHEM!

Xi Luting was led astray and also caught another implication in Han Lie's tone—Pan Ge's parents seemed to have actively accepted this darned man as their son-in-law?

Seriously, how old are you two? You're just dating in college; do you really need to discuss things so far into the future already?!

Xi Luting didn't understand, but she was profoundly shaken. Instinctively, she blurted out, "Did Uncle Pan and Auntie Zhao... lay their cards on the table with you?"

Han Lie nodded, then shook his head, leaving Xi Luting even more bewildered.

The darned man leaned in closer, lowering his voice, "Old Pan laid his cards on the table. Auntie Zhao hasn't directly talked to me about marriage, but her enthusiasm is enough to make my scalp tingle...

"You should ask Pan Ge later. She must have received hints or even outright suggestions from her mom, but she might not tell you the truth."

Xi Luting's scalp tingled too.

She had always thought the tangled relationship between Pan Ge, herself, and this darned man was just a messy love affair typical of young people. All their conflicts were internal, purely emotional issues among peers. Even when Pan Ge threw money at her, tempted her, or tried to manipulate her, it all felt like a normal, albeit covert, struggle.

But now...

So the parents of that Black-hearted White Lotus actually got directly involved a long time ago?!

Good heavens! So you two are in a proper, arranged marriage situation, and what does that make me?! Just Little Xi?!

Xi Luting opened her mouth but couldn't force out a single word. Her mind was in utter chaos.

Yes, she had indeed been prepared to be a troublemaker, thinking, "If you make me uncomfortable, I'll make you uncomfortable too." But she really wasn't prepared to go up against that entire family. She hadn't even considered that the darned man's marriage was already on the agenda. Is this something people our age should even be thinking about?!

She had daydreamed, fantasized about wearing a wedding dress, but the actual idea of marriage felt completely unreal, a distant prospect. Now, even the thought of Han Lie visiting her family as her boyfriend seemed preposterous. How utterly presumptuous! But you all... is it really necessary?!

Xi Luting couldn't comprehend it. Her imposing, righteous stance completely crumbled. Her usually capacious mind was now filled with nothing but garbled code, endlessly scrolling.

Something was also scrolling through Han Lie's mind.

*You've bamboozled a poor girl with a mountain of truths until her head is spinning. Your bluffing skills have surpassed 99.99% of your peers. Experience points +38,666...*

Damn, if my experience keeps piling up like this, the Great Bluffer title is about to reach Level 5... With skills like these, even Zhao Benshan would be outclassed.

...

While Xi Luting was still in a daze, the surrounding area erupted.

GOOD HEAVENS!

Did I hear that right? How much money did he just mention?!

Han Lie's venture into establishing a corporate private equity fund was a semi-open secret at school.

Meaning, many had heard that Han Lie was managing a large sum of capital externally, but no one knew if it was true or exactly how large the sum was.