"You’re just a wild boar who can’t stomach fine grain."
"What are you doing?"
"I’m at the library with Junjun."
"I’ve contacted a tutor for you two here in Zhonghai. If there’s nothing else at school, come on over. Pack your things. I’ll pick you up tomorrow."
"Huh?! Brother, you really found a tutor for me?"
"Studying on your own is a bit inefficient. I found a professor from Jiaoda. Consider it taking advantage of a favorable position. The rest is up to you."
"Thanks, Brother."
"Don’t mention it. Go back and pack. I’ve arranged everything here. Just bring a change of clothes and your toiletries. I’ll come get you both tomorrow."
"Got it."
After hanging up, Lin Jiang got up and stretched a bit. Just then, his phone buzzed.
It was a message from Xu Yingjun.
Xu Yingjun: "Brother Jiang, I don’t want to cause you any trouble. Thank you for the kind offer."
Lin Jiang: "Don’t worry about any of that. Just tell me if you want to come or not. If you don’t, I won’t force you."
Xu Yingjun: "[Pouting.jpg]"
Xu Yingjun: "I want to, but I’m afraid I’ll be a bother."
Lin Jiang: "It’s no bother. Pack your things and wait for me in your dorm tomorrow."
Xu Yingjun: "Okay. Thank you, Brother Jiang."
CREAK—
Lin Jiang was holding his phone, just about to reply, when he saw Qin Yangyang walk out of the room.
Her hair was a little messy, and there was a hint of fatigue in her eyes.
And above her head, a red exclamation mark appeared.
’A new main quest has appeared.’
"Why didn’t you sleep a little longer?"
"I can’t. I told my mom my train gets into Zhonghai at six. It’s almost time, I have to go back."
Lin Jiang glanced at his phone. It was around 5:30. They really couldn’t delay any longer.
So that meant Qin Yangyang had secretly come back a few hours early.
"Of course. I stayed up all night finishing the materials, otherwise I wouldn’t have made it back in time."
They both knew perfectly well why she had come back early.
This tacit understanding felt quite nice.
"You could just say the law firm was busy and that you wouldn’t be back for dinner. That shouldn’t be a problem, right?"
"It’s my mom’s birthday today. I have to go back for dinner."
"Then I’d better prepare a gift for my future mother-in-law," Lin Jiang said.
"You go touch up your makeup first. I’ll drive you back later, and you can take it with you for me."
"Don’t."
Qin Yangyang refused concisely.
"I was just mentioning it casually. Just pretend you don’t know anything and drop me off. If you’re busy, I’ll go by myself. Don’t worry about me."
"How could I do that? One must observe the proper courtesies."
"There’s nothing wrong with it. Just listen to me and pretend you don’t know anything," Qin Yangyang said.
"Besides, you don’t like these kinds of occasions, so there’s no need for you to go."
Seeing how serious her tone was, Lin Jiang didn’t press the issue.
’He really didn’t enjoy such occasions.’
"Alright, we’ll do it your way."
"Mhm."
Qin Yangyang went to the bathroom to touch up her makeup.
Lin Jiang opened the main quest.
[Main Quest: Business Expansion]
[Quest Description: Open a barbecue restaurant of no less than 300 square meters in Ning’an District]
[Quest Reward: Delicious Hot Pot Base Recipe, 40 EXP]
’The system and I are on the same page.’
Hot pot and barbecue were perfect for chain restaurants, as their taste and style could be highly standardized.
’With these secret recipes and a supply of raw materials, probably very few people in the restaurant industry could be my rival.’
But the designated area was the entirety of Ning’an District. The next new "map" would unfold across the entire district.
Thinking of this, Lin Jiang sent a message to Yang Tao.
He told him to limit the search for a shop to Ning’an District, or else it would all be for nothing.
About ten minutes later, Qin Yangyang finished touching up her makeup.
In the bedroom, her hair had been disheveled and her clothes in disarray. Now, she was like a completely different person, looking exceptionally vibrant and full of energy.
"Alright, we can head out now."
Lin Jiang helped carry the suitcase while Qin Yangyang carried her bag, and the two returned to the car.
"Youyou didn’t offer to pick you up from your business trip?"
"After you acquired 10% of the shares, the pressure on the company eased up a lot, and she was successfully liberated. Lately, she’s been having so much fun she’s forgotten everything else," Qin Yangyang said.
"My mom called me back for dinner today specifically to talk about this. She doesn’t want her fooling around outside anymore."
"Fooling around? From what I know of her, Youyou doesn’t seem like that kind of person."
In Lin Jiang’s opinion, although Qin Youyou loved to have fun, she knew her limits and wouldn’t go completely wild.
"She joined a sports car club and hangs out with those people every day."
"Hmm?"
Lin Jiang suddenly remembered that the last time he had dinner with the Qin Family, it was Qin Youyou who drove him home.
Thinking back carefully, her driving skills were indeed quite good, much better than the average girl’s.
’I just didn’t expect her to have a hobby like this.’
"She’s into racing too?"
"She’s not at the level of actually racing yet. She mainly just likes the atmosphere," Qin Yangyang said.
"But she’s been going a bit wild lately, and my mom’s not happy about it."
"She just has a personality that loves excitement—loves to play and have fun."
It seems to be common in families with two children for their personalities to be vastly different.
"Never mind her for now." Qin Yangyang turned to look at Lin Jiang.
"While I was on my business trip, you two didn’t get up to anything, did you? ’Fess up."
"Do you hear yourself? What could the two of us possibly get up to?"
"My mom and dad are obviously trying to set you two up, don’t think I don’t know. Have you been secretly chatting with my little sister?"
"Why would we be chatting secretly? Don’t be so suspicious."
"That’s more like it."
’They were chatting openly and honorably, not secretly at all.’
About half an hour later, Lin Jiang drove to Qin Yangyang’s home.
Since the Qin Family’s company also managed the property of this residential complex, he got in with a simple greeting and drove straight into the underground garage.
Lin Jiang helped Qin Yangyang get her suitcase out.
"Xiaojiang is here."
Just as Lin Jiang was about to get back in his car and leave, a black Maybach pulled up and parked next to his car.
It was Qin Zhengqing’s car.
Lin Jiang and Qin Yangyang exchanged a glance, feeling a little awkward.
The source of the awkwardness wasn’t being caught by her parent.
It was because the Qin parents both hoped he would get together with Qin Youyou, but here he was with Qin Yangyang.
There was a slight thrill in breaking the taboo.
"His company had some business they needed legal advice on. I didn’t drive, so I had him give me a ride," Qin Yangyang said, calm and composed.
"Uncle Qin, I’ve brought her back safely. I’ll be going now."
"You’re already here, why leave?"
Qin Zhengqing looked at Qin Yangyang. "You didn’t ask Xiaojiang to stay?"
"I..."
Qin Yangyang was like a mute who had eaten bitter herbs—she had to suffer in silence.
’How could I invite him when it’s a family member’s birthday? Isn’t that basically asking him for a gift?’
Qin Zhengqing ignored Qin Yangyang and turned to Lin Jiang with a warm gaze.
"Come on, it’s rare that we get to see you. Join us for dinner. It’s a good chance for me to chat with you about company matters."
Under normal circumstances, Lin Jiang wouldn’t refuse at this point.
The crux of the problem was that it was Jiang Rongmin’s birthday, and he hadn’t prepared anything. It felt wrong to go empty-handed.
"It’s your family dinner today. It wouldn’t be right for me to intrude."
"There’s nothing wrong with it. Who knows, we might all be one family in the future."
Qin Zhengqing smiled happily, already treating Lin Jiang as his son-in-law.
Not giving Lin Jiang another chance to refuse, Qin Zhengqing put an arm around his shoulder and guided him toward their home.
Qin Yangyang followed behind, her pretty face set in a pout, thoroughly exasperated.
They took the elevator to the 21st floor. After opening the door, Qin Zhengqing led Lin Jiang inside.
The Qin Family’s home was decorated in a European style, which suited the aesthetic of people their age.
"Look who’s here!"
Qin Zhengqing called out from the doorway, and Jiang Rongmin walked out from the kitchen.
She was wearing a wine-red slip dress with a lace trim at the neckline and hem.
Even though Jiang Rongmin was older, this style of nightgown didn’t seem out of place on her at all. In fact, it gave her an air of mature charm.
"Xiaojiang is here!"
A smile spread across Jiang Rongmin’s face when she saw Lin Jiang.
"Come in, come in."
The way Jiang Rongmin looked at Lin Jiang was also very much like a mother-in-law sizing up her son-in-law.
’[Xiaojiang is here? Why didn’t anyone tell me? How can I face anyone dressed like this?]’
Hearing Jiang Rongmin’s inner thoughts, Lin Jiang glanced at her slip dress again.
’They’re all family, so there’s nothing wrong with her wearing this.’
’But with me here, it is a bit inappropriate. And it looks like underneath...’

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