Chapter 407: 407

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The meal started out quite dull, as Feng Jun and Sister Hong were both uninterested in making conversation, and Li Shishi was afraid to speak up.

It was only after downing several glasses of alcohol that Sister Hong, bolstered by the liquor, asked, “Are your parents planning to settle down here permanently?”

“They’ll stay for a while but eventually they’ll return,” Feng Jun felt conflicted about this as well. Living in Zhengyang, he always felt like an outsider, yet to date, he had also invested a considerable sum into renovating Luohua Manor.

Now, Luohua Manor was essentially meeting his short-term needs. If he were to set up another foundation like this back in Chaoyang, it would not only cost a great deal more money but also waste a lot of time.

As for long-term development, he was somewhat inclined to return to his hometown.

Setting aside sentimental reasons, the Chaoyang area at least had more mountains. To lease a piece of mountain forest there would be incredibly enjoyable and carefree. Besides, the barren mountain he was currently subcontracting was still a bit too close to Zhengyang—it could be urbanized at any moment.

Thus, he indicated with some uncertainty, “Not only will they go back, but perhaps one day, I will return as well.”

Sister Hong glanced at him, her look rather complex, “What about Luohua Manor…didn’t you just spend a billion on the fence?”

It wasn’t quite a billion! Feng Jun didn’t feel like clarifying and just smiled nonchalantly, “Well, my money comes and goes quickly, which is normal… I’ll have to trouble Sister Hong to sell more Jade.”

Sister Hong fell silent for a moment, emptied her glass in one gulp, and exhaled a breath laced with the scent of alcohol, “If Jade sells well and that makes you leave earlier, I’d rather the sales be slow.”

“Hmm?” Feng Jun looked at her, her meaning quite clear now. He smiled faintly, “And here I thought Sister Hong didn’t think much of me. So, you don’t want me to leave after all?”

Sister Hong’s eyelids drooped indifferently as she said, “I’m just thinking that, if you leave… there won’t be such easy money to make.”

Her words seemed a bit like disclaiming responsibility, but Feng Jun was tired of beating around the bush, “Wanting Jade is simple; I’ll have someone send it to you. You are a trustworthy business partner, sending money my way consecutively when I was short for the fence repairs.”

Just a business partner? Sister Hong was slightly annoyed, “Do you know that someone was about to audit my taxes back then?”

I could guess you were under pressure, and I tried, Feng Jun too raised his glass and drank it in one gulp, “In moving the money, I made quite the effort… all because I was afraid it would affect you.”

Her heart warmed at his words. Sister Hong had actually heard about quite a few things Feng Jun had done, but she still didn’t mince words, “You could’ve simply told me… Sister Shen has contacts in the bank.”

I can’t be bothered with you, Feng Jun thought to himself with a bit of annoyance. There I was about to close my account, and there you were, transferring money again.

However, no matter what, she had his best interests at heart, so he managed a slight twist of his lips, passing for a smile.

Seeing him stay silent, Sister Hong too sighed softly, “The Forestry Bureau was actually looking for you.”

Feng Jun hadn’t considered that at all and after a moment of being stunned, he responded, “Then… I really owe Sister Hong my thanks.”

“No need for thanks,” Sister Hong returned to her queenly demeanor, commenting lightly, “As partners, we should help each other out… I didn’t realize that’s why you were moving money from the bank. If I had known, I wouldn’t have sent the money later.”

Speaking to someone who understands is such a relief. Feng Jun didn’t dare to say it, but she had figured it out on her own—she had inadvertently caused him trouble.

Feng Jun chuckled dryly, “Yes, very good partners, both willing to consider the other’s position.”

After acknowledging each other’s intentions, the atmosphere became much more harmonious. By the end, they nearly returned to their old ways of joking without any reservations.

But Sister Hong indeed had something on her mind today: she didn’t know how to face Feng Jun’s parents.

She felt a tinge of happiness knowing his parents wouldn’t stay for long, but the thought of him leaving made her heart ache.

Ever since their confusingly intimate moment, she had been deeply ambivalent. Not sure how to interact with him, she felt both reluctant to part and a bit scared.

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What she couldn’t let go of was him as a person—if she didn’t have a fondness for him, how could she have drunk the liquor that was spiked with a sedative?

What scared her was that she couldn’t control this young man, and now she had an additional worry—his parents.

Later, due to a twist of fate, she caught what seemed to be evidence of his philandering, not just once, and she wanted to end this unfortunate entanglement, which was why she had been so cold to him.

However, when Feng Jun’s parents appeared, she felt a real pressure: was this how it was going to end, without clarity?

When she saw the clothes Feng Jun had bought in the car, she became even more conflicted: willing to spend over a million to buy clothes for his parents meant he was filial, which was good, but if he listened too much to his parents, then… perhaps this relationship was doomed to end without illness.

So tonight, all she wanted was to get drunk and not think about, upon waking, on which bank of willows she would be, gazing at what morning’s remaining wind and waning moon.

It wasn’t even nine o’clock, and she had already consumed nearly eight liang (approximately 300g) of white liquor, her speech beginning to slur, “Alright, I’ve drunk enough… from now on, let Hai Feng deliver the Jade to me.”

Feng Jun glanced at Li Shishi, “I feel like she’s had too much to drink… right?”

“Mhm mhm,” Li Shishi said, her chopsticks holding a piece of shrimp paste. She put it into her mouth, chewed twice, and swallowed, nodding incessantly, “Sister Hong… she needs to rest.”

“Go call a car,” Feng Jun looked at her, “and by the way, settle the bill, I’ll pay you back later.”

The car arrived quickly, Feng Jun helped Sister Hong into the car, “Penglai Grand Hotel.”

“No,” Sister Hong spoke with a slurred tongue, “take me back to the Grain Bureau… Feng Jun, Cai Xin really likes you.”

The driver glanced in the rearview mirror.

“What are you looking at,” Li Shishi sat in the front passenger seat, “drive, my sister-in-law and my brother are having a disagreement.”

In less than 400 meters, they arrived in no time. Feng Jun escorted Sister Hong inside; the staff at the grand hotel recognized her and dared not stop them.

In public, Sister Hong always cared about her image, and even if she was drunk, she maintained a social grace. However, once inside the elevator, she became weak, not only in speech but her whole body, “Feng Jun, Sister Hong is drunk today, can you take me back, is it okay?”

“It’s not okay,” Feng Jun replied decisively—you’ve already said you’ve been paying attention to me, how could I fail to live up to your expectations?

Opening the suite, walking in, and closing the door behind them, he finally spoke, “You said you wanted to have dinner with me, after dinner there should be some activity.”

…

Sister Hong’s lips twitched slightly. She really wanted to ask, will you marry me?

However, in the end, she didn’t ask. In fact, she had never thought about marriage until she met him.

After a long time, she let out a soft sigh and closed her eyes again, “You are the bane of my existence… Let’s get this straight, once you find someone to marry, our relationship should end.”

At this moment, if you dared to propose to me, I would dare to marry you!

Feng Jun chuckled lightly, “Then if I never get married, our relationship… can last till the end of time, right?”

This little rascal, how could he be so good at sweet-talking? Sister Hong’s lips curled slightly, although it wasn’t a proposal, it was still touching.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

The next moment, Feng Jun spoke softly again, “Sister Hong… do you do yoga?”