"I don't want to go."
"Why?"
Li Bingjie opened her mouth, then lowered her head and remained silent.
Xu Zhengyang thought somewhat presumptuously, "Could it be because of me?" He smiled and said, "Bingjie, go to school. You can't just stay at home every day or come to see me. Now that you're better, you should go out more and experience more people and things outside..."
"Oh," Li Bingjie replied softly, "I know, you're busy too."
That's not what I meant.
"Neither do I."
Xu Zhengyang turned to look at Li Chengzong standing under the grape trellis, then turned to look at Li Bingjie and asked softly, "Am I alright?"
"Um."
"Would you like to be my wife?"
"..." Li Bingjie's face turned even redder, as red as if she had applied rouge.
"Ahem, I'm not very good at talking. Well, I should say, will you be my girlfriend?"
"Um."
"I'm relieved to hear that..." Xu Zhengyang breathed a sigh of relief.
Li Bingjie looked at him, and asked in surprise, "What are you worried about?"
"Your dad, your mom," Xu Zhengyang said, pursing his lips.
"Why?"
Xu Zhengyang chuckled softly and said, "We used to have a pretty good relationship. They looked down on me, a country bumpkin, and only wanted to try curing your illness so we could have more contact. Oh, and Old Li was also a part of it. But now that you're cured... I'm thinking, well, to put it nicely, they'll kick you when you've served your purpose. To put it bluntly, won't they kill you after you've done your bidding?"
Pfft... Li Bingjie couldn't help but laugh out loud at Xu Zhengyang's words, then her face darkened, and she said softly, "Grandpa thinks you're pretty good."
This means, of course, that even with Grandpa around, Mom and Dad aren't enough.
"It's not that I have a problem with them, it's just a matter of how you handle things," Xu Zhengyang said with a laugh.
Li Bingjie nodded: "I'll listen to you."
“Go ahead, I have a company in Beijing, and I go there often. I’ll visit you more often,” Xu Zhengyang said earnestly.
"Um."
...
The two wandered around the courtyard for a while, but there wasn't much to see, so they left the courtyard and headed towards the old house in the village.
Along the way, they still chatted idly, a few words here and there. Xu Zhengyang, however, was thinking to himself, "I'd love to be with you every day, but we can't just do nothing and focus on our romance. I'm very busy… If Li Bingjie really goes to study in Beijing, that's fine too. I can then find time to visit the Netherworld and won't have to be with her every day."
However, just as he said, given the character of Jiang Lan and Li Ruiyu, and even that seemingly kind and gentle old man, would they be willing to let Li Bingjie marry Xu Zhengyang? Is it possible that someone who crawled out of a ditch and became a scoundrel can cure Li Bingjie's autism and then expect someone to give their daughter to you in marriage?
This is a very serious and difficult problem.
We can't exactly fall out with Li Bingjie's family and stage a dramatic elopement, can we?
It all depends on human effort!
Xu Zhengyang yawned; he was really sleepy.
Volume Four, City God Chapter 174: This restaurant is really good.
When Xu Zhengyang drove his parents to Beijing, it was almost 3 p.m.
The reason they arrived a little late was twofold. First, they left home late; the family of three got up before dawn, but Yuan Suqin was busy tidying up and getting ready, worrying about this and that, and dawdling until around eight o'clock before finally locking the house and yard gates and getting into the car under the urging of Xu Zhengyang and Xu Neng. Another reason was that Xu Zhengyang couldn't pick up the speed on the road. Actually, it wasn't that he couldn't drive fast, but his parents kept nagging him to slow down... so Xu Zhengyang's highest speed never exceeded 100 miles per hour.
Poor Li Chengzong and Li Bingjie, who came with them, were supposed to arrive in Beijing before 1 a.m., but were forced to drive at a snail's pace on the highway in Xu Zhengyang's Audi A4. This resulted in Xu Zhengyang's phone being frequently answered by his sister, while Jiang Lan called Li Chengzong's phone many times.
Therefore, after arriving at the Fourth Ring Road in Beijing, the cars separated and each went about its own business.
Xu Zhengyang felt a little regretful that they wouldn't even have the chance to have a meal together.
When they finally arrived at the road inside the Zhengqiying residential area where Xu Rouyue lived, Xu Rouyue and Ouyang Ying were already standing in the open space outside the building, looking expectantly in their direction. Upon seeing the white Audi A4, Xu Rouyue and Ouyang Ying excitedly waved in their direction.
As soon as Yuan Suqin got out of the car, Xu Rouyue rushed over excitedly like a little swallow, hugging her mother and jumping up and down: "Mom, you've finally arrived! Why were you so slow!" Then she looked at her father and smiled: "Dad... Yingying and I have been waiting downstairs for more than an hour."
"Ahem, it's not Sunday, why aren't there classes?" Xu Neng muttered as he asked.
"You've taken leave!" Xu Rouyue said with a smile, linking her arm with her mother's.
“You child, classes are important… I told you you shouldn’t have come. You should have come during your vacation. Your mother insisted on coming now, isn’t this interfering with your studies?” Xu Neng frowned, looking at Ouyang Ying with some guilt, and said, “I’m troubling Xiaoying and inconveniencing her too…”
Ouyang Ying said with a smile, "It's alright, homework isn't important these days, really."
Although Yuan Suqin also felt somewhat uneasy, seeing her daughter's joy and not wanting her husband to be affected, she glared at him and said, "What's there to be afraid of? Both girls are smart; they can make up for it later. Honestly, all you do is complain about this and that..."
Xu Neng was speechless and chuckled awkwardly, while Xu Zhengyang shook his head with a wry smile. Who was complaining about this and that?
Amidst laughter and conversation, the group entered the building's elevator.
Xu Neng and Yuan Suqin had never traveled far from home or been to a residential building like this before, so they were naturally very curious about everything. They couldn't help but look around as the elevator started and stopped. A hint of discomfort and worry appeared on their faces. However, they didn't say anything. They couldn't ask about everything that was new and interesting; that would embarrass their daughter and son.
Originally, Ouyang Ying and Xu Rouyue planned to have dinner with them at the hotel after they arrived. However, when they spoke on the phone around midnight, Xu Zhengyang told them not to wait, that they should have a quick bite at the service area and then have dinner together when they arrived. So Ouyang Ying and Xu Rouyue didn't suggest having dinner, but there were clean fruits and snacks like melon seeds and nuts laid out on the coffee table.
Ouyang Ying was busy making tea and pouring water, thoroughly enjoying herself.
Sitting on the sofa, Ouyang Ying and Xu Rouyue sat on either side of Yuan Suqin, chattering about their schedule in Beijing for the next few days, where to go first, and where to visit next... Xu Neng sat quietly to the side, unable to join the conversation. Only when Xu Rouyue and Ouyang Ying occasionally asked for his opinion would he smile and say that anywhere was fine, he would listen to them.
Xu Zhengyang went to the balcony for a smoke, then called Chen Chaojiang to let him know he had arrived in Beijing and would be spending the next few days showing his parents around. He also inquired about the recent situation at Jinghui Logistics and how Chen Chaojiang was doing at the company.
"Everything is fine." Chen Chaojiang's answer was simple and direct, as cold as ever.
Chen Chaojiang's job was actually outside the normal scope of Jinghui Logistics Company's operations, but lately he'd really taken it seriously, spending his days learning and asking questions at the company, and observing its operational methods. Relatively speaking, he knew far more about the logistics company's business model and overall situation than Chairman Xu Zhengyang.
Chen Chaojiang said, "Shall I go over there?"
Xu Zhengyang laughed and said, "No need. Just focus on your work. Oh, by the way, if you have some free time, let's go out and have some fun. Don't keep yourself cooped up all the time. It's not good to be a deputy general manager of a department. You'll be a cold and unapproachable person in the future. It's not good to be cold and unapproachable and never relax."
"Mm," Chen Chaojiang replied softly.
After making the call to Chen Chaojiang and finishing his cigarette, Xu Zhengyang returned to the living room.
The family chatted and laughed, and time flew by. Soon it was past six o'clock in the afternoon.
Xu Zhengyang had only intended to grab a quick bite at a nearby restaurant, but it turned out that Ouyang Ying had already made a reservation at the Honglong Hotel. He couldn't very well refuse, as it would seem too polite. Xu Neng and Yuan Suqin, however, insisted that Ouyang Ying shouldn't pay for the meal, saying they would cover the bill.
They exchanged pleasantries and went downstairs. Ouyang Ying didn't need to drive; Xu Zhengyang's Audi A4 was sufficient.
The two maids sat with Yuan Suqin in the back seat, while Xu Neng sat in the passenger seat. Xu Zhengyang drove out of the residential area and headed towards the Honglong Hotel.
For Yuan Suqin and Xu Neng, this was the first time they had ever been to a hotel that could be considered mid-to-high-end even in Beijing. So when they got off the car and learned that the hotel in front of them was where they were going to eat, they couldn't help but feel a little scared. Goodness, how much would it cost to eat here?
But despite her reluctance, she couldn't say anything and could only follow the three children inside.
Yuan Suqin, with two maids holding her arms inside, smiled with a forced and helpless air, yet also with a hint of happiness; Xu Zhengyang and his father walked behind.
Xu Neng deliberately slowed down a couple of steps, leaned close to his son and whispered, "Zhengyang, this meal at the restaurant must have cost a lot of money, right? We shouldn't let the girl pay for it; we should pay for it ourselves."
"Okay, okay, I understand." Xu Zhengyang nodded repeatedly, thinking that his father was quite honest, not thinking about being reluctant to spend money, but rather about not letting Ouyang Ying pay.
From the lavishly decorated lobby, we went up to the second floor and entered the elegantly furnished private rooms.
After Yuan Suqin sat down, she patted Xu Rouyue's small hand with some admiration and looked around, saying, "This restaurant is really nice."
“Hmm, these are places only rich people go.” Xu Neng nodded in agreement.
Ouyang Ying laughed and said, "Uncle and Aunt, you are rich now. Brother Zhengyang is a big boss."
Xu Neng chuckled sheepishly. Yuan Suqin grinned from ear to ear and said, "What big boss? He's just a good-for-nothing!"
After exchanging a few more jokes, Ouyang Ying handed over the menu to Xu Neng and Yuan Suqin to order, while Xu Rouyue helped her mother.
Xu Zhengyang got his father a bottle of Moutai, which was served at state banquets, while saying that he wouldn't drink himself because he had to drive later.
Just after ordering, before the food even arrived, the door to the private room was pushed open, and a tall, well-dressed young man paused for a moment at the door. After confirming that he hadn't mistaken the person, he walked in with a smile, saying, "Zhengyang, Rouyue, you didn't even call to let me know you were in Beijing. That's not very nice of you! I heard the security guard say that you were here, but I didn't believe him, so I came over to see for myself. It really is you."
The person who arrived was Huang Chen.
Xu Zhengyang smiled slightly in surprise, stood up, shook hands with Huang Chen, and said, "Brother, what a coincidence! Please sit down, I've just arrived in the capital too."
Huang Chen didn't stand on ceremony. After greeting Ouyang Ying and Xu Rouyue, he sat down and said with a smile, "Hmm, is there something you need in Beijing? I know your company's business has been booming lately!"
"It's just a small business, please excuse my poor attempt to make a fuss," Xu Zhengyang said politely. "I haven't had much to do lately, so I brought my parents to the capital for a visit."
"Huh?" Huang Chen was taken aback for a moment, then quickly stood up, bowed slightly, and said with a hint of apology, "So it's Uncle and Aunt. Hello, hello. My apologies. My name is Huang Chen, and I'm Zheng Yang's good friend."
"Okay, okay, you too." Xu Neng and Yuan Suqin nodded hurriedly, their eyes full of doubt. When did their son have friends in Beijing?
Huang Chen then sat down and said with a smile, "It's rare for Uncle and Aunt to come to the capital, so I'll treat you to this meal today."
"No, that's too formal!" Xu Zhengyang politely declined with a smile.
Ouyang Ying said with a smile, "Since Huang Chen has run into us, let's not be polite. This is their hotel, so let's eat and drink for free today. Hehe."
"Yes, yes, don't be shy, don't be shy." Huanghun nodded with a smile, then stood up and said, "I'll tell the front desk that your table doesn't need to pay today, so I won't bother you anymore. Um, Yu Xuan and the others are waiting for me in room 208. Zhengyang, come over and sit down in a bit... I'll introduce you to a few people."
"Okay, I'll definitely go." Xu Zhengyang said, trying to get up, but Huang Chen held him down.
After exchanging a few more polite words with those present, Huang Chen left.
As soon as Huang Chen left, Yuan Suqin whispered something to Xu Rouyue, and then the two maids got up and accompanied Yuan Suqin to the restroom.
Inside the room, Xu Neng asked with a surprised expression, "Zhengyang, is this hotel owned by that young man's family?"
“Right? I didn’t know that before either,” Xu Zhengyang said with a smile.
He genuinely didn't know that when he returned to Beijing for the second time last year to deal with Huang Chen at this hotel, the Honglong Hotel wasn't owned by Huang Chen; it had only been bought by the Yongcheng Group two months prior. He had dined with Huang Chen and his group here twice in Beijing before, but he was unaware that Huang Chen was already the hotel's general manager.
Of course, given Huang Chen's personality and abilities, he's more of a hands-off manager.
As they were talking, the door to the private room opened, and the waiter began serving the dishes.
Halfway through the meal, they heard Yuan Suqin's indignant voice coming from outside: "So what if I insulted you? What kind of celebrity are you? I don't even know who you are, what are you so arrogant about?"
"Auntie, don't pay attention to this kind of person! Let's go." Ouyang Ying's words of advice were tinged with anger.
Xu Zhengyang frowned slightly, got up and walked out.
Volume 4, City God Chapter 175: I Didn't Mean To
The argument took place just outside the restroom, about ten meters away from the private room where Xu Zhengyang and his group were.
It was quite a coincidence. If the waiter hadn't opened the door to the private room while serving the food, Xu Zhengyang and Xu Neng, who were sitting inside, wouldn't have been able to hear the argument outside.
At this time, more than ten people had gathered in front of the restroom, and two security guards and a waiter were trying to dissuade the two sides from arguing.