This study reveals the use of enlarged parallel speech as guānxì (relationship) management strategy without negative evaluation disclosure by non-familial equal-status Mandarin speakers in daily speech in a southeastern mainland Chinese city. It indicates the significance of positioning research in broad local contexts, covering participants’ relational history, age, sex, social distance and occupation, and the need to explore expanded concurrent speech, turn-taking and topic swapping in diverse Chinese varieties. The findings can foster grasp of intercultural communication implicating native Chinese speakers.