Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

Chapter 44: Chapter 35: Liu Jinyu’s Confession

A longing that had lasted two years, ten months, one hundred thirty-four days, nineteen hours, and forty-two seconds was fulfilled in this very moment.

Compared to others who had lost their parents, Su Ran was fortunate. He had fulfilled the one wish they all dreamed of: to see them just one more time.

In his dream, they were in the courtyard of their farmhouse. The family of three sat around a table laden with all of Su Ran’s favorite dishes: water-boiled fish, twice-cooked pork, and fresh greens picked right from the garden...

It was all his favorite food. To Su Ran, it was the most precious cuisine in the world, because it tasted of his mother’s cooking.

In the dream, his parents were overjoyed to learn that he had gotten into Ninghai University.

Mr. Su sipped his cheap beer and clapped his son on the shoulder. His voice was hoarse and tinged with sadness as he said, "Son, I don’t need you to be some big shot when you grow up. All I want is for you to be safe and healthy in this world, you hear?"

Su Ran’s nose stung. He nodded firmly and hummed in agreement.

Mrs. Su caressed her son’s cheek, her heart aching with love. She knew how pure and kind he was, which only made her worry more that he would be bullied in this cruel, Asura-like world. He was, after all, the flesh of her flesh.

"Promise me you’ll take care of yourself, even when you’re alone. Okay?"

Her voice caught in her throat. Mr. Su heaved a deep sigh and turned his head away.

Su Ran lowered his head, a soft "Mm..." escaping his lips.

Mrs. Su sniffled and forced a smile. "Alright, enough of that. Son, what do you want for dinner tonight? I’ll make it for you."

"I want your braised..."

[Ding! Dream experience concluded.]

Sunlight streamed through the ornate, floral curtains and onto the large bed in the presidential suite of the Maoyue Hotel. The eighteen-year-old boy named Su Ran opened his eyes to an empty room. He was alone.

’The dream was long, but you always have to wake up.’

’The happier the dream, the crueler the awakening.’

For a long, long time.

He finally finished the sentence from his dream. "I want your braised... pork ribs." He sighed.

He sat there on the bed, staring blankly into space for a long while.

A moment later, he picked up his phone. It was 6:20 AM. He sent a message to the still-sleeping Liu Jinyu: [Jinyu, don’t worry about seeing me off. I’m already gone.]

A sudden impulse washed over Su Ran. He wanted to go home, and he wanted to go now.

Su Ran then called his uncle. "Uncle, I’m heading home."

"You’re heading home? When?"

"Now."

"I... Look, kid, can’t you do something about that impetuous Style of yours?"

Zhang Guohua could feel his blood pressure spiking.

He knew this was just Su Ran’s personality—clean and decisive. Once he made up his mind, nothing could change it. The kid was unyielding.

’After all, orphans without parents are bound to have a few quirks.’

"Sigh... all right. Be safe, and give me a call when you get home."

"Yeah."

He hung up, got out of bed, and washed up. Then he had Yasuo rebook him on the earliest flight to Ninghai, which was at seven.

Yasuo didn’t know why Mr. Su was in such a rush, but he handled the request promptly.

He checked out.

Yasuo placed the local souvenirs Su Ran had purchased into the hotel’s chauffeured Phantom. Before closing the car door, he said politely, "It has been a pleasure and an honor to host you these past few days, Mr. Su. We hope to welcome you again soon."

"Mhm, I will."

The door closed, and the Phantom drove away.

Yasuo watched him go, as did the young woman at the front desk. The guest from 1702 had left a deep impression on everyone at the hotel. He was polite and always had a brilliant smile on his face.

He was always happy to help. During his stay, if he saw a staff member struggling with a heavy case of towels, he would offer his assistance. He never put on airs just because he was staying in the presidential suite.

He was tidy. Whenever the housekeeping staff came to clean his room, they would find he had already folded his quilt after waking up. Everything in the room was in its proper place, not lost or strewn about.

All the staff at the Maoyue Hotel respected him, because respect is earned by showing respect to others.

The young woman at the front desk sighed. ’I wonder if he’ll ever come back to the Maoyue.’

At eight o’clock, BEEP BEEP BEEP, the alarm went off.

Liu Jinyu rolled out of bed, ready to go see Su Ran off.

She grabbed her phone and saw the message from Su Ran: [Jinyu, don’t worry about seeing me off. I’m already gone.]

"We’re sorry, the number you have dialed is currently switched off."

"Leaving without saying goodbye... I’m gonna kill you, you little brat."

「Meanwhile, Su Ran was on a plane bound for Ninghai.」

It was the same flight attendant as his flight to Shanghai. She brought him a cup of water.

Su Ran gazed out the window at Shanghai, visible through a break in the clouds. ’The journey home is always the best,’ he thought.

He opened his system interface.

Name: Su Ran

Wealth: 4.27 million

Skill: Tongue Combat Power, Finger Technique Fragrance, Goddess Authority

Inventory: [Transportation] of Life’s Necessities

’I’ll wait until I get back to my hometown to use the [Transportation] item.’

...

「10:00 AM.」

The plane touched down at Ninghai Airport.

Su Ran hailed a cab and headed home.

On the way, he switched on his phone and was greeted by a barrage of missed calls and messages from Liu Jinyu and the others.

RING RING RING.

It was a call from Liu Jinyu.

"Hey! What’s the big idea, Ranran? Leaving so suddenly without telling me? What kind of friend does that?"

"Something came up last minute, so I had to head back early. I figured you guys were still asleep, so I didn’t want to bother you."

"Oh... so, are you still coming to my performance next week?"

"Of course."

"Okay, good."

Liu Jinyu’s mood brightened considerably. Her biggest fear was that things between them would just fizzle out.

She hesitated for a moment before asking tentatively, "So... when are we having those ’formal negotiations’ you mentioned?"

"Next time we meet."

"Oh. Well, you get home then. I’m hanging up."

"Okay."

He hung up.

Liu Jinyu couldn’t sit still and couldn’t relax. She was completely unsettled, unsure of where she stood with Su Ran or how he saw their relationship.

Liu Jinyu was impatient; Su Ran was unhurried.

If you didn’t force his hand, he’d never be in a rush.

It was infuriating. Utterly maddening.

’Next time?’

’I have to wait a whole week?’

Liu Jinyu couldn’t wait any longer. She knew she’d be too anxious to eat or sleep.

So, she threw caution to the wind. She was going to get an answer right now.

She opened her message chat with Su Ran and sent a single word.

[Coward!]

Su Ran opened the message, saw the word, and smiled as he typed his reply.

PING.

Her phone chimed. It was lying face down on the bed, and for a moment, she didn’t dare flip it over.

She took a deep breath to steel herself, then reached out and flipped the phone over. When she saw Su Ran’s reply, a wave of warmth washed over her. Liu Jinyu was satisfied.

Su Ran had also replied with a single word: [Yours.]