CHAPTER 123: 120: YOU REALLY ARE A HANDFUL (2 UPDATES)

At the top level of Baiyu Palace were guest rooms. Virtually every major corporate leader in Shencheng had rooms booked year-round here, ensuring they had a place to rest temporarily if they ever got drunk during business entertainment.

That night, after discussing official matters with Chi Zhengjun and Qiao Yishen, Quan Yu didn’t return to the old mansion but stayed upstairs in the guest rooms at Baiyu Palace instead.

He had drunk a bit too much the previous night. Although he could hold his liquor well, he still woke up late the next day. He rarely woke up this late.

His phone kept vibrating. Rubbing his aching temples, Quan Yu picked it up and saw it was an overseas call from Canada. He tossed it aside without answering.

After his bath, the phone was still vibrating. The handsome man’s brows knitted slightly. He walked to the bedside, picked up the phone, and seeing it was Lai Yang’s number, answered, "Hello?" His voice was a little hoarse, as he hadn’t spoken all night.

On the other end of the line, Lai Yang almost dropped her phone upon hearing his "hello."

Why did he sound so sexy? Oh my god!

"Se-Second Uncle..." Lai Yang swallowed. Oh my god, what is Second Uncle doing right now? Why can’t I stop picturing those kinds of inappropriate scenes?

"So... are you coming back home for lunch?" Lai Yang asked. "Grandpa Hai and his grandson have come to visit, did you know?"

Quan Yu massaged his temples with his thumb; he had indeed received the news last night.

"I’ll be right there." Elder Mr. Hai was an old friend of his late father, and it was rare for him to visit Shencheng. It was only right, emotionally and logically, for him to be there to accompany him.

"Then hurry up!" Lai Yang urged him. "Your Grand-aunt is trying to set Grandpa Hai’s grandson up with Xiaowan, and the two have already started talking..."

Quan Yu didn’t reply.

Lai Yang, worried he was angry, quickly clarified her stance, "I’m on your side. Xiaowan went too far. Arguing with you is one thing, but then insisting on breaking up..."

She spoke for quite a while, but there was no response from the other end.

"Second Uncle? Are you still listening?"

"Hmm," Quan Yu’s voice came through, very faint, betraying no emotion. "Is there anything else?"

"No... nothing," Lai Yang stammered, despite his even tone.

"Then I’m hanging up."

"Okay." Only after Lai Yang replied was the call disconnected.

Holding her phone, she momentarily zoned out. She had immigrated to Singapore with her parents at the beginning of her senior year of high school. Initially, she struggled to adapt, often suffering from insomnia. One sleepless night, she went downstairs to find her mother but accidentally overheard her parents at the door, discussing matters she knew nothing about.

About the Quan Family, about that second son of the Quan Family who had returned to the country not long ago.

She heard how, even at a young age, he was profoundly cunning and ruthless, deeply scheming—in short, a terrifying man.

Lai Yang was very young when Quan Yu went overseas and hardly remembered him. After he returned, Lai Yang had seen him from a distance on a few occasions. He was indeed cold and taciturn, perfectly matching the image of the profound and ruthless figure her parents described, so she was very afraid of him.

But from their interactions recently, she had discovered he wasn’t like that at all.

He would protect her when she was being bullied.

He would agree to her requests without hesitation.

Even when he seemed impatient, he would still patiently listen to every word she said, just as he had moments ago.

...

In the backyard, there was a sunroom furnished with a coffee table and sofa. Because it was heated around the clock, several precious, out-of-season orchids were in bloom.

Ning Guiwan sat on the sofa, a white porcelain teapot and teacups on the coffee table.

Hai Chengzong sat opposite her, a strikingly handsome young man of about twenty-six or twenty-seven.

Ning Guiwan understood Elder Madam Quan’s intentions and didn’t want to see disappointment in the old woman’s eyes, so she hadn’t refused.

In the past, she might have tried to interact with Hai Chengzong, just as she had with Li Annan and Su Liang. But now, she couldn’t bring herself to feign interest.

She wasn’t even willing to make a token effort.

She couldn’t say why.

"Miss Ning seems to have reservations about the elders’ arrangements," Hai Chengzong said, looking at her as if he could read her mind.

Ning Guiwan gave a slow smile, making no effort to hide her thoughts. "I don’t want to disappoint the elders, and I presume Mr. Hai feels the same way."

Which young man of twenty-six or twenty-seven would willingly let their family arrange their life?

Upon hearing this, Hai Chengzong laughed heartily. "If I hadn’t agreed, my grandfather would have nagged my ears off. But Miss Ning is still young; being pushed into marriage like this is rather unfair to you."

Ning Guiwan’s lips curved into a smile, bright and captivating. "Unfair is too strong a word; the elders are acting out of good intentions."

Hai Chengzong gazed at her. The girl sat with her back to the courtyard, where the winter scenery was bleak. She was dressed in red, her lips vividly colored and enticing, exuding a beauty that was at once coolly elegant, noble, and utterly captivating.

"Red suits Miss Ning very well," he remarked, a peculiar light in his eyes. "It seems a life constrained by elders isn’t entirely a bad thing."

"Xiaowan..." Hai Chengzong’s fingers held the white porcelain teacup. "May I call you that?"

Ning Guiwan smiled. "That’s what my friends call me."

Hai Chengzong paused, then smiled. "Does Xiaowan have someone in her heart?"

Ning Guiwan’s hand, raising the teacup, paused for a moment. Then, as if nothing had happened, she asked, "Why would you say that, Mr. Hai?"

"Generally speaking, if a blind date partner isn’t too bad, and one doesn’t already have someone they like, most people would choose to try getting to know them. After all, feelings can be cultivated later. Those who are quick to refuse usually already have someone in their heart."

Ning Guiwan lowered her long lashes, a faint smile on her lips. "Mr. Hai, you’re reading too much into it."

Hai Chengzong picked up the white porcelain teapot and refilled Ning Guiwan’s cup. "Then shall we give it a try? As you said, we can start as friends, but with the aim of developing things further."

Amidst the gurgling sound of tea being poured, Ning Guiwan, however, looked past him to the area behind.

Quan Yu, dressed in a white shirt and black trousers, hands in his pockets, strolled over. His calm, dignified presence alone was captivating enough.

Hai Chengzong, noticing Ning Guiwan’s gaze, turned around. Upon seeing Quan Yu, he set down the teapot and stood up. "Second Uncle Quan."

His tone unconsciously carried respect.

Quan Yu nodded and sat down on an empty sofa, carrying himself with the air of an elder. As the guest, Hai Chengzong poured him tea, which Quan Yu accepted with composure. "When did you arrive?"

"It’s been a week," Hai Chengzong replied, handing the tea to Quan Yu before sitting down himself. He was only six or seven years younger than Quan Yu, yet in Quan Yu’s presence, he always found it hard to be completely at ease.

"When are you planning to leave?" Quan Yu asked.

"I was planning to leave tonight, but I’ve changed my itinerary. I intend to stay a few more days," Hai Chengzong said, glancing at Ning Guiwan. His meaning was self-evident.

Ning Guiwan lowered her head to drink her tea.

Quan Yu lowered his gaze, took a sip of tea, and said in an extremely light tone, "As it happens, I have several construction projects to inspect. You can accompany me."

"Hmm?" Hai Chengzong didn’t immediately understand.

"Uncle Hai has been looking to enter the mainland property market for the past two years. If he knew you were this diligent, he would certainly be gratified."

The Hai Family in Macau primarily relied on the gambling industry. However, with increasing competitive pressure in recent years, their major casinos were showing subtle signs of decline. Consequently, Elder Mr. Hai had set his sights on the mainland’s real estate sector.

This was precisely why Hai Chengzong and Elder Mr. Hai had come to Shencheng: they planned to acquire a medium-sized real estate company to serve as the Hai Family’s entry point into the mainland property market.