Twilight.
The sky above Anling City was like a gradually changing scroll, touched by the afterglow of the sunset, draping the city in a golden veil.
Lin Chuan sat in the back seat of the Little Landlady Zhang Xinxin's car, inhaling the faint scent of flowers and earth along the way, passing through the bustling city, on the crowded roads, driving toward a corner of the city—Youran Villa.
He was in an excellent mood.
On one hand, he had reported 'Hand of Justice' in the morning and sent a flag to the Old Street Factory District in the Myanmar area.
The only downside was that Lin Chuan had only canceled all the ongoing fraud activities in the Old Street Factory District and had not found the core data of the Old Street Factory District on this server.
If he had found the core data of the Old Street Factory District, it wouldn't be as simple as just sending a bright red flag.
On the other hand, Lin Chuan's novel "All-In" was unblocked.
Relisted, reborn from the ashes.
First, it was taken down and blocked, and now unblocked, "All-In" once again gained the boost of traffic, and its subscription data steadily rose.
The system calculates the Average Subscription based on the VIP chapters after the book is completed.
"All-In" has a total of 280 VIP chapters (including unreleased ones), so the total subscriptions need to reach 2.8 million for the Popularity Value (Average Subscription) to be considered achieved at ten thousand.
Currently.
Lin Chuan's "All-In" had published nearly 500,000 words, and the VIP chapter subscriptions amount to 2.1 million.
The goal of 2.8 million subscriptions was not far off.
"Chairman, we've arrived," said the Little Landlady as she parked the small electric vehicle in front of Youran Villa, took off her helmet, revealing her pretty face.
The gentle afterglow of twilight fell on her, highlighting her straight nose and the fair, glowing skin of her cheeks.
The Little Landlady was wearing a light gray dress tonight, with a shapely waist, the hem not passing her knees, and a pair of fair long legs that she dangled in front of Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan was dressed in a casual gray suit with a white T-shirt underneath, a simple style.
However, standing 186 centimeters tall, his upright stature was naturally like a clothes rack, and his clean, handsome face complemented the Little Landlady, giving off the impression of a talented man and a beautiful woman.
Youran Villa was located in the suburbs.
It was the place where Old Zhang and Zhang had agreed to meet.
As the two walked into the villa, a fresh breath of air hit them, carrying the fragrance of mountain flowers and plants, filtering through the gaps in the leaves onto the ground, creating a dappled play of light and shadow, somewhat peaceful.
"Zhang, over here," called Old Zhang, standing at the entrance of the private room and waving to them.
Lin Chuan looked in the direction of the voice.
Old Zhang was dressed in a casual black suit, his hair lustrous and black, his face radiant, brimming with energy, showing none of his past dejection and lassitude.
Indeed, love is the best cosmetic for a man.
When a man falls in love, he becomes more handsome!
Next to Old Zhang stood a woman in a light yellow cheongsam, about thirty-seven or thirty-eight years old, not particularly voluptuous but with a pleasing curve, an oval face, wearing light makeup, and smiling warmly as she looked at Lin Chuan and Zhang Xinxin.
Lin Chuan had been told by the Little Landlady that her name was Liu Qing.
The Little Landlady showed a small smile and pulled Lin Chuan towards the private room.
"Aunt Liu," both Lin Chuan and the Little Landlady, out of politeness, greeted her.
"Old Zhang, who is this?" Liu Qing asked, glancing at Lin Chuan and addressing Old Zhang.
Before Old Zhang could reply, the Little Landlady wrapped her arm around Lin Chuan's, smiling and saying, "He's my boyfriend, Lin Chuan."
"Zhang, your boyfriend is quite handsome," Liu Qing commented with a smile.
"Of course," the Little Landlady said, slightly tilting her face upwards proudly and smiling.
Lin Chuan nodded with a smile, but inwardly he spat, coming out for a meal only to have the Little Landlady take advantage of him with the kind of ploy used ad nauseam in novels.
Old Zhang seemed to have anticipated it.
After all, his darling daughter had been sticking close to Lin Chuan all day long, working on their studio and discussing partnerships with several internet cafes, and now they were expanding their scale, making a big show at the Zhongcheng Building in Qingxiu District with their 720 Network Security Company.
He had even heard they were cooperating with the police.
Such a big commotion, how could he not know?
He could tell just by thinking with his toes, he knew exactly what his darling daughter was thinking.
Alas... a grown daughter was like water flowing away.
"Let's go inside and talk," Old Zhang suggested with a smile after giving Lin Chuan a glance.
In the private room, there was a square table.
The two parties sat across from each other.
The main characters of the evening were not the Little Landlady and Lin Chuan but Liu Qing sitting opposite them.
Looking at Liu Qing with some curiosity, the Little Landlady asked, "Aunt Liu, how did you come to know Old Zhang?"
Liu Qing, composed and smiling, replied, "Zhang, the connection between Old Zhang and me is also fate. One month ago, during an anti-gambling event, we met for the first time; later, we bumped into each other again at a friend's gathering."
Old Zhang nodded, took Liu Qing's hand, and added:
"Your Aunt Liu hasn't been in Anling for long, and she likes to play a couple of hands of poker, so she often calls me to join. As time went by, we felt quite compatible, so we just..."
Although Liu Qing was already in her late thirties, she blushed upon hearing Old Zhang's words, turned her head to look at him with a smile in her eyes.
Old Zhang sported a bright smile, gripping Liu Qing's hand tighter.
"Old Zhang, you play poker too?" Lin Chuan, as someone who once shared a 'detention room' with Old Zhang, laughed and said.
Old Zhang chuckled, "We don't gamble with money, purely for entertainment."
Liu Qing then shot Old Zhang a playful glance, lightly tucking her long hair behind her ear, and said with a light laugh, "Old Zhang is very good at poker. Every time I play with him, he always wins. I wouldn't dare gamble with money with him."
"If it were real money, I wouldn't win against you either," Old Zhang said with a laugh.
At that moment,
the waitress gently knocked on the door before serving the dishes.
Liu Qing thoughtfully served Old Zhang some food, "Old Zhang, try this, the steamed fish from this restaurant is outstanding."
"Hmm, very fresh and tender."
As Old Zhang took a bite, his face immediately lit up with a radiant smile.
To be honest, Old Zhang was quite handsome in his youth.
Even now, when he dresses up, he doesn't become a greasy middle-aged uncle.
He is, after all, an eligible bachelor.
Little Landlady watched Old Zhang and Liu Qing's public display of affection and exchanged a glance with Lin Chuan before continuing her inquiry, "Aunt Liu, I still don't know what do you do for a living."
Liu Qing blinked her eyes and smiled, "I'm in the antique collection business. I surveyed the Antique Market in Anling a while back. The development prospects here are quite significant, so I decided to develop here. I didn't expect to meet Old Zhang."
"Antique collection?"
Little Landlady pouted her lips.
She really didn't understand this business.
Old Zhang chuckled, "Zhang, there are many collectors of antiques in Anling City. Your Aunt Liu wants to create a large antique market here. Currently, the project is going through the approval process."
At that moment,
Liu Qing slowly stood up, took off the bracelet she was wearing, walked over to Little Landlady, "Zhang, Aunt Liu rushed over and didn't have time to buy you a gift. This century-old red agate bracelet is for you as a meeting present."
"Aunt Liu, isn't this too valuable?"
Little Landlady looked at the red agate bracelet in her hand and asked in shock.
"Not expensive at all."
Liu Qing smiled, "This quality is worth just a little tens of thousands."
"It's too valuable," Little Landlady shook her head.
"Zhang, just accept it if your Aunt Liu is giving it to you," Old Zhang said with a chuckle.
Liu Qing personally put the 'century-old red agate bracelet' on Zhang Xinxin and smiled, "Zhang, this bracelet can balance the positive energy in your body, relieve mental stress, improve endocrine circulation, and it also has a beautifying effect."
"Thank you, Aunt Liu."
Little Landlady Zhang Xinxin felt the coolness of the red agate and nodded in thanks.
Liu Qing looked at Little Landlady and smiled.
Afterward, she started a conversation related to Little Landlady.
"Zhang, what does Lin do?" Liu Qing asked with a smile.
Little Landlady turned her head to look at Lin Chuan and said with a smile, "His main job is a web novel author, and then he has a bit of a sideline business."
"Literary creator?"
Liu Qing's eyes lit up with curiosity as she looked at Lin Chuan.
Lin Chuan took over the conversation and said with a smile, "I can't really claim to be a literary creator; I just write nonsense."
"Old Zhang, young people have wild imaginations," Liu Qing turned her head to look at Old Zhang, then back at Lin Chuan, "Young people should try different things, daring to try. When I was young, I dared to do anything, but now, even investing to build an antique market, I hesitate a lot."
"Where do you plan to build this antique market?" Lin Chuan asked curiously.
"It's set to be located in the southeast corner of Qingxiu District, on that vacant lot. Once the approval comes through, we can start construction!" Liu Qing said with a smile.
"Must be fun dealing with antiques, right?" Little Landlady asked first.
Liu Qing shook her head with a smile and said with pursed lips, "It's not fun. Dealing with antiques is a task that strains the eyes and brain."
"Yes, I've been wanting to learn for a long time, and I still haven't managed to," Old Zhang chimed in.
In the private room.
Liu Qing laughed again, "Zhang, I've heard from Old Zhang that you and Lin have started a Network Security Company. I think that's very cool."
"Really?" Little Landlady's eyes brightened.
"Of course," Liu Qing said with a radiant smile and then added, "You dared to invest and start a business before graduating from college. I wasn't like you when I was younger; I'm a bit in awe of you."
In the private room, at the dinner table.
Everyone engaged in conversation.
Especially Liu Qing, who occasionally complimented Little Landlady subtly.
The dinner went smoothly with a warm atmosphere.
Leaving Youran Villa, Old Zhang took Liu Qing back, and she waved goodbye to Little Landlady and Lin Chuan, "Zhang, Lin, see you later."
"Aunt Liu, goodbye,"
Little Landlady waved her hand, then she got on her electric bike and patted the back seat, "Chairman, the CFO will take you for a spin."
Lin Chuan laughed, "Alright!"
Little Landlady twisted the throttle, and the electric bike 'swooshed' away, the cool evening breeze blowing against the two, with the trees swaying gently in the wind on both sides of the road.
"Chairman, what do you think of Aunt Liu?" Little Landlady asked.
"It's a bit hard to say," replied Lin Chuan.
"Why is it hard to say?" Little Landlady asked, puzzled, "Just tell me straight."
"From tonight's perspective, she seems genuinely affectionate towards your father," Lin Chuan pondered for a moment before answering.
"But?" Little Landlady smiled.
"How did you know there's a 'but'?" Lin Chuan asked with a smile.
Little Landlady laughed, "Based on what I know about you, hahaha, tell me, 'but what'?"
Lin Chuan pondered again and said, "Aunt Liu appears perfect in her appearance, speech, and demeanor, as if she's had professional training. That's just a guess, not ruling out that it's just her natural way."
Little Landlady's brows furrowed slightly.
Lin Chuan continued, "But she gives me a very familiar feeling, her words are filled with strong implications and suggestiveness."

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