Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

Chapter 37: Chapter 29: Stephen Chow

After Zhou Bailin finished sending the voice message, Su Ran asked doubtfully, "Cousin, that Aina you’re talking about... is she the one from the Shanghai Dance Academy?"

Zhou Bailin’s eyes lit up. With one hand on the Porsche’s steering wheel, he clapped Su Ran on the shoulder with the other. "Whoa, you know about that hottie too?"

"Er... I’ve heard of her."

"She’s gorgeous, right? And not just Aina—the other three are total knockouts too, each in her own way..."

The moment girls were mentioned, Zhou Bailin’s sleepiness vanished. He launched into a rapid-fire analysis for Su Ran, breaking down the "Four Young Actresses": who was what Type, who had the best figure, who had the longest legs...

Su Ran didn’t chime in or join the discussion. It was a matter of respect for the women.

He had no intention of telling Zhou Bailin that the very Aina he was gushing about was currently asleep on the king-sized bed in his presidential suite.

Oh, wait, that wasn’t quite right. It wasn’t just Aina. Xiao Wanqing, Liu Jinyu, and Xie Yiren were there too—the entire lineup of the Demon Dance’s Four Young Actresses.

That was a private friendship between him and the girls, not something to be used as bragging rights to outsiders.

"By the way, Cousin, I hear the scenery at your university is beautiful. You should take me to see it sometime." Su Ran really couldn’t take it anymore and changed the subject.

"Tch, it’s nothing special. The scenery’s not what’s beautiful—the girls are. Especially that Aina, let me tell you..."

Su Ran put a hand to his forehead, speechless.

Zhou Bailin only stopped when a girl messaged him. He immediately switched into "caring boyfriend" mode, starting a long, sweet chat with one of his "babes."

’Well, that settles it,’ Su Ran thought. ’My cousin isn’t just a player; he’s a full-blown "sea king"—casting a wide net, nurturing the most promising catches, and then picking them off one by one.’

To be fair, Zhou Bailin was quite handsome. At 185 centimeters, he was two centimeters taller than Su Ran. As a Shanghai native, he carried himself with an air of superiority. His family was well-off, he had a great sense of style, and he was extremely popular within his social circle.

Objectively speaking, Su Ran, the kid from the countryside, couldn’t compare to Zhou Bailin in terms of family background or upbringing.

Of course, it wasn’t in Su Ran’s nature to be jealous. On the contrary, he was happy that his cousin had grown up in such a comfortable, worry-free environment.

In front of family, it didn’t matter if he was some "Divine Rich" or not. Su Ran was just a junior member of the family.

Half an hour later, the 718 pulled into a parking spot outside a traditional Shanghai lane.

"We’re here. Let’s go, Cousin."

"Okay."

Zhou Bailin led the way, sending voice messages as he walked. Su Ran followed, carrying fruit and milk. Along the way, they passed a few beautiful women filming videos in cheongsams in the lane.

Zhou Bailin locked his phone and came over, grinning as he slung an arm around Su Ran’s shoulder. "See a pretty girl and you’re rooted to the spot?" he teased. "Wait till after dinner. I’ll take you out for some real excitement."

"What kind of excitement?"

"This," Zhou Bailin said, dangling the keys to the Porsche 718. "I’ve got a race at nine tonight. I’ll take you along to see the sights."

"A race? Of course I’ll be there to cheer you on, Cousin!"

"Hahaha, you sure know the right things to say, kid. Come on, let’s go home and eat."

Deep within the lane stood a small, Western-style house, weathered by the passage of time. As the two stepped into the courtyard, they saw Su Ran’s uncle and aunt, along with Uncle Zhou, discussing something around a stone table.

Zhou Bailin called out, "Dad, Mom, Grandpa, Su Ran’s here!"

"Su Ran, my boy! Just having you here is enough, you shouldn’t have brought gifts!"

Waving a folding fan, Zhou Hui swayed over, the fabric of her cheongsam hugging her hips. She spoke in a sweet, coquettish Shanghai-accented Mandarin. "I keep telling you not to speak the Ninghai dialect! No one can understand you! And you insist on doing it every time. Hmph!"

Zhang Guohua nodded sheepishly. "Yes, yes, my dear wife is right."

"Hello, Uncle, Auntie." Then, Su Ran turned to the balding old man in the undershirt, shorts, and flip-flops, calling out politely, "Hello, Uncle Zhou. I brought some fruit and milk for you."

"You shouldn’t have brought anything. Don’t do it again next time," Uncle Zhou said, then turned to his grandson. "Bailin, what are you just standing there for? Help your cousin take those things inside." He looked Su Ran up and down. "Guohua often mentions you to me. Not bad, a fine, handsome young man."

"You’re too kind, Uncle Zhou."

"Now that you’re here, don’t stand on ceremony. We’re all family, so make yourself at home. We’ll eat as soon as the soup is ready."

"Okay."

Afterwards, Uncle Zhou and the others gathered around the table again, muttering to each other as they looked at a photograph.

When Zhou Bailin came back out, Su Ran asked, "Cousin, what are they up to?"

Zhou Bailin said teasingly, "You see how my grandpa’s almost bald? It’s all because of that photograph."

Uncle Zhou retorted, "What nonsense are you spouting, you little rascal? If you’re so clever, then you can find this place for me."

Zhou Bailin threw up his hands. "I’ve asked tons of people for you. Nobody knows where it is. Besides, it’s just a close-up shot with no landmarks. How is anyone supposed to find it? You’d have to be a god."

Uncle Zhou sighed, his face full of disappointment.

His aunt, Zhou Hui, shot her son a reproachful glare.

Zhou Bailin immediately shut up.

It was clear the place in the photograph was very important to Uncle Zhou. Su Ran walked over and said, "Uncle Zhou, may I see the photo?"

"Sigh. Go ahead." Uncle Zhou stood up and walked despondently toward the kitchen. "I’ll go check on the soup."

"Dad, I’ll help," Su Ran’s uncle said, pointing a finger at Zhou Bailin before following Uncle Zhou into the kitchen.

Zhou Hui immediately laid into her son with a barrage of scolding.

Su Ran picked up the photograph and examined it closely. It was very well preserved. In the bottom-right corner was a date: November 22, 1990.

The scene in the photograph was simple: a forest on a mountain, with trees, a thatched hut, and a blue sky with white clouds. That was all.

One minute passed...

Two minutes passed...

Three minutes passed...

Su Ran spoke. "I know where this is."