Chapter 26
Zhou Chao and Guo Yan had ordered several signature dishes at the Cantonese restaurant, Hakkasan. These dishes were known to be representative of the cuisine, and even Zhou Chao, renowned for his culinary skills at a state banquet level, couldn’t help but nod in approval after tasting them.
By the time they returned home, it was already past 1 p.m. Guo Yan neatly organized the things she had bought and went to her bedroom for a nap. Perhaps it was a habit she had developed as a resident of Fog City, to take an afternoon nap. Zhou Chao reclined on the sofa, playing with his phone.
“Ring, ring,” the phone rang.
“Hello, Third Brother.”
“Second Brother, when are you coming to the Northeast? I’m getting married next month. Remember to come over and play. Got it?” Zhou Chao felt a strong sense of the Northeastern accent in his brother’s words.
“You’re getting married already? That’s quick. When did you meet, and what’s the exact date?”
“It will be on August 15, next month. We recently confirmed our relationship. Having known each other since childhood and with our families being acquainted, we have decided to proceed directly with our marriage.”
“Oh, childhood sweethearts. Well, I have some free time, so I’ll come over early.”
“I need to inform the others. We can chat properly when you come to the Northeast. I’ll hang up now.”
Zhou Chao calculated the time. It was currently July 25, and there were about 20 days left until August 15. He considered his recent plans and realized he had enough time. He decided that he would visit Peng City and Hang City, and then head directly to the Northeast once he finished his commitments.
As the month came to an end, Guo Yan was returning to Fog City today. Zhou Chao had purchased a first-class ticket online in advance, ensuring her safe journey back alone.
Early in the morning, Guo Yan had already packed her belongings and placed the gifts she bought for her family in her large suitcase.
“Brother, I’m all packed. When are we leaving?” Guo Yan emerged from her bedroom, struggling to carry her oversized suitcase. Zhou Chao quickly got up and took the suitcase from Guo Yan’s hands.
“Let’s go.” Zhou Chao carried the suitcase and walked towards the door. Guo Yan took a last look at the place they had lived for the past half month and followed Zhou Chao out with her backpack.
After placing the luggage in the trunk of the Rolls-Royce Phantom, Zhou Chao looked at Guo Yan standing beside him and said, “Get in the car.” They drove out of The Palms Residence towards Hongqiao Airport.
Upon arrival at the airport, it was only 9:30 a.m., still more than an hour before the flight. Zhou Chao carried the suitcase and accompanied Guo Yan to check-in. Then, he took her to the VIP lounge to wait for the boarding process.
“Xiaoyan, keep the things in your backpack with you. Give them to your dad for safekeeping when you land. Also, don’t wear that watch to school; your classmates might think you’re showing off your wealth. Remember to have the right mindset and focus on your studies. If you don’t, I’ll deal with you when I come back.” Zhou Chao pretended to be serious.
“I understand, Brother. Why are you acting like my dad? I’m not a child anymore. I know what to do.”
“I’m just worried about you. By the way, will Uncle come to pick you up when you land?” Zhou Chao suddenly remembered something and asked.
“Yes, Dad will come to the airport to pick me up. Why do you ask, Brother?” Guo Yan looked at Zhou Chao curiously.
“Just concerned about your safety when traveling alone.”
The two chatted for a while before immersing themselves in their phones to pass the time. Soon, it was time to board the plane. The suitcase had already been checked in, and Guo Yan, carrying her backpack, entered the aircraft through the fast-track lane.
Zhou Chao watched Guo Yan’s figure disappear and then turned to leave.
After nearly three hours of flying, Guo Yan, with her backpack and a large suitcase, walked out of Jiangbei Airport. As soon as she exited the airport, her father, who had been waiting for a long time, spotted her.
“Xiaoyan, over here!” Guo Yan’s father shouted and waved his hands in the air.
Guo Yan saw her father yelling in the distance and dragged her suitcase toward him. “Dad, have you been waiting for long?”
“I haven’t been waiting for too long. Give me the suitcase, and you can get in the car first.” After saying that, Guo Yan’s father took the suitcase and headed towards the car’s trunk.
It took Xiaoyan over an hour to travel from Fog City Jiangbei Airport to Fuzhou. By the time they reached home, it was already past 3 p.m. Xiaoyan immediately saw her mother, who was busy in the kitchen, as soon as she entered the house. “Mom, I’m back! Haha, I’ve brought gifts for you. Dad, Mom, come and see.” Xiaoyan took off her backpack, took a deep breath, and exclaimed, “Whew, I’m exhausted.”
“Dad, Mom, come here,” Xiaoyan called as her mother came out of the kitchen. “These are the gifts my brother bought. What kind of gifts made you so excited?”
Xiaoyan’s father and mother sat beside her, watching as she took out several boxes from her backpack. Xiaoyan handed two boxes to her father and the remaining boxes to her mother.
“These are all bought by my brother for both of you. Dad, your watch cost 880,000 yuan.” As Xiaoyan casually mentioned the price, her parents were instantly shocked. “How much money did your brother spend on these gifts? Just the watch alone costs 880,000 yuan.”
Looking at the items displayed, Xiaoyan thought for a moment. “It’s about 2 million yuan.”
Xiaoyan’s mother exclaimed, “What is your brother doing in Modu City? How could he spend so much money at once? He hasn’t done anything illegal, has he?”
“You haven’t even seen the house where my brother lives. It’s worth several billion yuan. The luxury cars in his garage alone could buy us several houses. My brother is really rich now. These gifts are nothing compared to his wealth.”
Xiaoyan’s father held the Patek Philippe watch in his hand, admiring it and then put it on his left wrist. He extended his hand to show Xiaoyan’s mother and asked, “How does it look?”
Xiaoyan’s mother rolled her eyes at her husband and stood up, taking out her phone to call Zhou Chao.
Meanwhile, Zhou Chao had already returned from the airport and was lying by the pool, leisurely sipping an ice-cold cola.
“Ring, ring,” the phone rang, and Zhou Chao picked it up. “Third Aunt, has Xiaoyan reached home?”
“Xiao Chao, why did you buy so many things and spend so much money? You should keep it for yourself.”
“Third Aunt, they’re just small gifts. It’s nothing. You and Uncle are welcome to visit Modu City whenever you have the chance.”
“We’ll visit another time. Both your uncle and I really like the gifts you bought. You’ve put in a lot of effort.”
“Third Aunt, it’s unnecessary to say all this among family. As long as you like them.”
After chatting with his third aunt for a while, Zhou Chao hung up the phone and lay back on the lounge chair. He couldn’t help but drift into a daze. In both his past life and this life, he had people who cared about him in the family. Although they might not be together, he could still feel the love and concern from his relatives. If he had the opportunity, he would bring them over and have a lively gathering. After all, who wouldn’t want to have an adorable sister constantly pestering them? As he thought about it, a smile unconsciously appeared on Zhou Chao’s face, making him look like a fool, but a happy one.