CHAPTER 391: CHAPTER 391: GIVING AND ASKING ARE DIFFERENT

After resolving some troubles between the Mystical World and the present world, Xia Mian and Lu Zechuan’s life suddenly slowed down.

With things slowing down, Lu Zechuan started contemplating taking Xia Mian out for a trip, since he always had a plan in his heart to give Xia Mian a surprise before getting married.

Xia Mian had been quite stressed lately, so now with Lu Zechuan planning to go on a trip, Xia Mian was very supportive.

Lu Zechuan made a travel plan, and after informing both families, they started a road trip from north to south.

From north to south, the scenery transitioned from a vast icebound expanse at first to lush greenery and picturesque mountains and rivers. The two of them traveled through all four seasons.

Perhaps it was Xia Mian’s imagination, but from the moment they stepped out of the villa’s gate, it seemed like someone was following them.

However, with her keen senses and extraordinary divine sense, she searched several times but couldn’t find anyone who might be following them, so she let it go.

After all, she was out with Lu Zechuan to have fun and didn’t want uncertain people and things to affect her mood.

"The company plans to invest in a resort. Since we’re passing through here, we’ll see where might be suitable for development," Lu Zechuan said softly while driving.

Xia Mian turned to look at him. The plan to develop a resort was something Lu Zechuan told her about only after they were on the road.

But, since this was a matter of the Lu Group, she didn’t pry.

"Developing a resort isn’t a small project. When the time comes, I might need you to check the feng shui," Lu Zechuan’s voice was calm as it drifted into Xia Mian’s ears.

Xia Mian blinked gently, "You want me to help you with the feng shui?"

Lu Zechuan held the steering wheel, his gaze on the scenery outside, "Why not?"

"You know my feng shui services are expensive," Xia Mian chuckled, deliberately teasing Lu Zechuan.

"How about I give myself to you?" Lu Zechuan said softly, not looking at Xia Mian.

Lu Zechuan’s side profile was handsome, with defined features as if carved.

Xia Mian’s eyes flickered playfully, "Lu Zechuan, aren’t you already mine?"

Not only was Lu Zechuan already hers, but Lu Zechuan’s assets were also managed by Xia Mian!

Lu Zechuan’s lips curled into a smile, "Then, how about the place you check becomes yours?"

Xia Mian’s bright black eyes showed a hint of surprise. Did Lu Zechuan mean to give her a resort?

"You’ve already given me a betrothal gift," Xia Mian glanced at Lu Zechuan, finding his seriousness somewhat amusing.

It seemed he was always trying to please her. Was her affection for him not obvious enough?

"That’s different," Lu Zechuan chuckled softly and said no more.

The pleasure of giving is different from the desire to receive...

Xia Mian smiled and didn’t say anything further.

Lu Zechuan wanted to give her a resort, which was his idea, and whether she accepted it would depend on her wishes.

However, helping Lu Zechuan to find a location for a resort, she felt no burden at all.

Even if she didn’t accept it, she could help Lu Zechuan pave a financial path.

As Lu Zechuan mentioned planning a resort, their trip from north to south involved a lot of exploring.

They both saw forests and beaches, witnessed sunsets over mountains and seas, saw forests under canopied skies, and watched clouds roll in mysterious ways...

After seeing a lot of scenery, Xia Mian took a liking to a coastal village. Even during winter, the seaside village had its unique charm.

Backed by mountains and surrounded by water, the feng shui was superb.

Lu Zechuan immediately sent someone to negotiate with the village’s leaders.

This was a small village that developed through tourism, and the village chief knew well the value tourism could bring.

Though winter was low season for tourism, the village chief was not panicked.

Therefore, during negotiations with Lu Zechuan’s envoy, they kept making demands.

The demands were unreasonably high.

The negotiations reached a deadlock. Despite Lu Zechuan’s wealth, he wasn’t willing to be taken advantage of knowingly, which would have been foolish.

Lu Zechuan decided to stay in the village; the negotiations could continue slowly.

His offer was tempting, but the village chief, blinded by immediate gains, failed to see the bigger picture. As long as Lu Zechuan remained patient, what he wanted would eventually be his.

On the night Lu Zechuan and Xia Mian stayed in the village, another party approached the village leaders.

It was a woman, seemingly of considerable age but well-preserved, dressed neatly and behaving with elegance.

Upon meeting the village leaders, she immediately proposed more tempting terms than Lu Zechuan’s to secure the development rights of the village.

The village chief didn’t immediately agree with the woman but employed a tai chi strategy, while secretly notifying Lu Zechuan.

The chief had a simple goal: to make Lu Zechuan realize the village’s worth; if he didn’t secure it, somebody else would.

However, Lu Zechuan wasn’t swayed.

He wanted to surprise Xia Mian, indeed, but if buying the village under such obvious exploitation, he feared Xia Mian would think he was a fool.

Lu Zechuan wasn’t falling for it, yet the woman’s offer was very tempting, causing the village chief to waver.

But as he considered reaching an agreement with her, news came that the west side of the village had caught fire!

The village chief immediately abandoned the cooperation talks and rushed to organize firefighting efforts.

In the chaos, the woman was left unattended.

The woman watched the frazzled village chief leave in a hurry, remaining unhurried and sipping tea at her leisure.

With the village on fire, its value was significantly reduced.

She lightly curled her lips as a glimmer of intention flashed in her eyes.

The village chief, along with the villagers, worked hard to put out the blaze.

The fire ravaged half of the village, leaving the chief’s face even darker in the dim light.

Originally, as the village was by the sea, every household had a steady income stream.

But now, with homes destroyed, most people needed to rebuild, making it difficult to turn a profit soon again.

The villagers gathered on the open ground, looking at their homes ravaged by fire, faces filled with resentment, "Village chief, this fire was strange; it must be related to those outsiders!"

It was right after those outsiders proposed developing their village, and after the village chief disagreed, the fire happened.

It had to be the outsiders’ doing!

"Let’s go confront them!" someone shouted angrily from the crowd.