I remembered Zhu Suosuo mentioning earlier, when she was so eager to buy the Cullinan, that she was attending a banquet in a few days.
Working backward from the timeline, it must be tomorrow, right?
"Yes, it's my best friend's birthday party," she confirmed. "Her house is far from the city center, and transportation is inconvenient, which is why I wanted a car. But tomorrow, I'll have to take a taxi."
"Why take a taxi? I can drive you there."
"Really?"
Zhu Suosuo was well aware that she and Song Chuan weren't a real couple. She was already deeply grateful to him for helping her escape her toxic family, and she didn't want to impose on him too much.
"Really," he assured her. "But these kinds of banquets usually require a male companion, don't they? Do you want me to accompany you?"
Zhu Suosuo was stunned. She hesitantly asked, "You... you'd really go with me?"
She hadn't agreed to Driver Ma's offer, but the truth was, she had no male companion. She had originally planned to bring him along, but now that she knew his true nature, she'd decided to go alone.
She hadn't expected Song Chuan to offer to accompany her.
Of course, she wanted him to!
"Judging by your expression, you seem eager for me to join you?"
"Hmm?"
Unconsciously, Song Chuan had moved closer to Zhu Suosuo as he spoke, until her back was pressed against his firm chest.
"I... I don't care about that..."
"You were the one who suggested it... not me..."
"If you want me to go with you, it's not impossible."
As she felt his large hand settle on her thigh, a tingling sensation spread through Zhu Suosuo's body.
"W-what are you doing?!"
"Relax, I'll just keep my hand here. I won't go anywhere else."
Before Zhu Suosuo could react, her body was forced to turn, pressing her front against the warm tiles.
"Ah..."
"Y-you promised not to go anywhere else!"
The young couple embraced, and Song Qian and Tong Wenjie merely glanced at them, unfazed.
They were both experienced lovers.
When they were younger and first dating, they had loved to cling to each other and kiss endlessly.
Seeing the young couple like this suddenly reminded Song Qian and Tong Wenjie of their own youth.
Song Qian sighed. "Ah, time flies so fast. I can't believe the children are already grown up."
"But Xiao Chuan is truly remarkable. At such a young age, he's already achieved so much. He must have made some powerful connections—otherwise, why would someone be gifting him land and a Cullinan?"
"You should talk to him more often," Tong Wenjie casually suggested. "Ask him to invite this important figure over for a visit. Getting to know them would be a great help to you and Lao Qiao."
Song Qian had already considered this. "But I'm his elder. Asking directly would be too obvious."
"Yingzi is so close to him. Why not let her ask?"
"Ah, I truly think highly of Xiao Chuan. If Fang Yifan were a girl, I'd want him as my son-in-law."
With Tong Wenjie's suggestion, Song Qian's mind began to stir.
"Brother Song Chuan, I'm back!"
Footsteps approached, and Yingzi appeared, clutching a collection of tall and short, colorful beverage cans.
She froze when she saw Song Chuan in the spring pool, so close to Zhu Suosuo.
Yingzi gritted her teeth and let out a cold snort.
"Brother Song Chuan, hurry over and have a drink!"
"Yingzi, you're really doting on Xiao Chuan, buying so many drinks."
"Normally you can't be bothered to run errands for your mom, but you're so attentive to Xiao Chuan."
In the past, Song Qian wouldn't have thought much of it.
But Tong Wenjie's earlier words had suddenly struck her with the force of a revelation.
Only then did she realize how much her daughter cared about Xiao Chuan.
Yingzi has fallen for Xiao Chuan!
Now that all eyes on the bank had turned toward them, Song Chuan and Zhu Suosuo swam toward the shore, still clinging tightly to each other.
When they reached the bank, they remained pressed together, not a sliver of space between them.
Zhu Suosuo's cheeks flushed slightly. "Little sister, thank you for the drinks."
As she raised her hand to take a can from Yingzi, Yingzi shifted her grip, shot Zhu Suosuo a cold look, and offered the drink to Song Chuan instead.
"Brother Xiao Chuan, this is for you."
"What about mine?"
"It's fine. We can share one. You shouldn't drink too much right now anyway."
Song Chuan accepted a can of orange soda. He popped the top and took a small sip before passing it to Zhu Suosuo.
"You must have lost a lot of water after soaking for so long. Drink more to rehydrate."
"You'll lose even more later."
Understanding what Song Chuan meant, Zhu Suosuo's ears turned crimson. Even her exposed shoulders flushed a faint pink.
The two clung to each other intimately.
Yingzi watched, her jealousy nearly driving her mad. She wanted to rush forward and tear them apart.
Just as she was about to make her move, Song Qian called out, "Yingzi, come here. Mom needs to talk to you."
Yingzi had nearly charged at them, making Zhu Suosuo break out in a cold sweat.
"You... you... hurry up and get out!"
"You scared me to death!"
"What's the rush? Am I not perfectly fine in your heart? Don't worry, I've been keeping an eye on things the whole time."
A phone buzzed on the shore. Fortunately, Song Chuan was leaning against the bank. This time, however, it was his phone ringing, not Zhu Suosuo's.
When he answered, it was Zhou Xun, his voice brimming with excitement. "Boss!"
"Puling Capital just invested in a project, and it's already hit the ground running! We made a huge profit! I haven't let you down!"
"I'm transferring your share of the profits right now!"
Song Chuan showed no surprise.
His voice remained calm. "Good."
As if all of this had been foreseen.
-----------------------
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