Chapter 57: A Chance Encounter in the City of Magic

The next morning, sunlight streamed through the bedroom window.

Jiang Shuyao awoke to find herself in the presidential suite that Lin Ran had booked.

How did I end up here?

She struggled to recall the events of the previous day; she remembered being exhausted, lying down on the bed and falling asleep. Then she’d had a dream—she dreamed she and Lin Ran lay down together to sleep?

She wasn’t sure; her mind was a mess.

Hearing laughter from the living room, Jiang Shuyao climbed out of bed, pushed open the door, and walked out.

Lin Ran and Jian Weian were chatting at the dining table.

Jian Weian smiled brightly and beckoned to her. “Shuyao, you’re awake! What do you want for breakfast? I’ll order it.”

“I…” Jiang Shuyao hung her head, ashamed to face Jian Weian. “I’m going to take a shower.”

With that, she turned and dashed into the bathroom.

Jiang Shuyao was a woman with strong boundaries. Even in her dreams, when faced with a ‘quake,’ her first instinct was to make sure Jian Weian got out safely.

It went to show how important Jian Weian was in her life.

Yet, thinking of last night’s dream—letting Lin Ran hold her as she slept—made her feel she’d crossed a line.

She felt too guilty to even look Jian Weian in the eye.

But what must be faced, must be faced.

After her shower, Jiang Shuyao emerged, head bowed, nervously intertwining her fingers, biting her lower lip in distress.

Jian Weian said, “Shuyao, I ordered your favorite breakfast. Come and eat.”

Jiang Shuyao walked over and sat down silently, picked up her chopsticks, and started eating.

Jian Weian placed a dumpling on Jiang Shuyao’s plate. “Your favorite: pan-fried dumplings.”

“Thank you…” Jiang Shuyao’s voice choked.

Jian Weian looked at her. “What’s wrong?”

Tears rolled off Jiang Shuyao’s cheeks, landing on the dumpling.

Jian Weian turned her gently to face her. “What’s really the matter?”

“I…” Jiang Shuyao looked up, guilt-ridden, “I’m so sorry. I slept here last night. I didn’t mean to intrude on your time together. I didn’t even mean to dream about sleeping with Lin Ran. I’m sorry…”

Jian Weian wiped her tears. “It’s nothing. It’s my fault. Don’t cry. If you keep crying, I’ll start crying too.”

Lin Ran was dumbfounded. What depth of affection did Jiang Shuyao have for Jian Weian? She’s apologizing for a dream? These two really are close as sisters.

“Let’s eat before it gets cold,” Lin Ran suggested.

Jian Weian shot Lin Ran a glare—see, this is all your fault.

Lin Ran awkwardly smiled.

After breakfast, Lu Man and the others called Jian Weian, asking which hotel she was at—they wanted to take photos at the flower field. Jian Weian sent them the address.

Beep, beep, beep—

An unfamiliar call came in. Lin Ran answered, “Who’s this?”

“Hello, Mr. Lin, I’m Wang Feng, Li Gang’s nephew—the one doing the game business in the city.”

“Oh, hello! How can I help you?”

“My uncle mentioned my game company to you yesterday. Sorry, I got your number from him. I wanted to ask if you could come to the city to check out our game. The thing is… I’m desperate for an investor. I really can’t hold on any longer—the company can’t keep up development. If no one’s interested, I’ll have to listen to my family and shut it down.”

Lin Ran could hear the urgency in his voice.

He had said he’d finish his “first blood” and then get down to business. That was done—time for business.

“Alright, I’ll come over today.”

“Great! What time will you arrive? I’ll pick you up from the airport.”

“No need. Just send me the address—I’ll head there directly.”

“Alright, I’ll wait for you at the office.”

Once the call ended, Wang Feng sent the address.

Lin Ran turned to Jian Weian and the others. “You two wait here for Lu Man and the rest. I’m going to the city for an investment project.”

“Business comes first—go ahead,” Jian Weian said.

Lin Ran had told them he made his money through investments. Now that someone had come to him with a project, a girlfriend—and a girlfriend’s best friend—should be nothing but supportive.

“I’ll bring you something delicious when I get back.”

Lin Ran went downstairs. Thinking it over since it was the weekend, he extended the room for two more days and messaged Jian Weian: [I’ve paid for two more days—enjoy yourselves with your friends.]

He returned to his Bentley and drove to the airport.

Beep, beep, beep—

A call from his mother came in. “Son, I’ve got great news! This morning, Principal Ye announced I’m the school’s Star of the Year. They’ll make it official at the opening assembly.”

“Really? That’s fantastic, Mom! Congratulations—you’re amazing.”

“Why do you think Principal Ye picked me?”

“Why worry about it? You were chosen, and that’s that. Who’d dare complain?”

“Well, someone did. After Principal Ye announced it, a teacher wasn’t happy and threatened to resign—went to her office to argue. Principal Ye just signed her resignation letter on the spot.”

“That tough?” Lin Ran hadn’t expected Ye Fanzhi to be so decisive—anyone who questioned her was simply let go.

A woman with real authority.

“No one else dared say a word. I tried to ask Principal Ye why, but she’s gone on a business trip. Son, I’m thinking when she returns, I’ll take her out for dinner to thank her and ask about it. What do you think?”

“Let’s talk when I get back. Your son’s on a business trip, too. I’m heading to the city—will bring you something nice.”

“Good boy, bye! I’ll go tell your father the good news. You know, I used to think Principal Ye was a bit stern, but the more I see her, the more I like her now, haha!”

Lin Ran hung up and made for the airport, buying the earliest flight out.

Back when he was at Zhejiang University, he’d visited Shanghai.

There’s a saying: for the rich, it’s the “Magic City”; for the poor, it’s just “Shanghai.”

In the past, Lin Ran had gone to Shanghai.

Now, he was headed for the “Magic City.”

At half past eleven, he arrived and took a taxi directly to Wang Feng’s company.

It was near Yongkang Road, down an alley lined with old houses and several vintage villas from last century.

There weren’t any office buildings here—Wang Feng must have truly been broke, moving his startup to an alley. The house numbers inside were a mess, and Lin Ran wandered around, unable to find the address. Finally, he leaned against a Cayenne parked outside an old villa’s wall and called Wang Feng to come get him.

On the other side of the wall—

“Dad, ask the board if they’ve found a new principal yet. If they have, let them come quickly—I want to go teach in Guizhou.”

In the courtyard, Ye Fanzhi was arguing with her father.

This was Ye Fanzhi’s home.

Her father wasn’t on the board, but a university literature professor. His old classmate, who was on the board, had heard about Ye Fanzhi’s plans to teach in the countryside and had recommended her for the interim principal’s post.

As for her mother, she was a biology professor.

Both were highly educated, native to the city, living in an old villa in a traditional alley—a true scholarly family, which explained how they’d raised such a talented MIT graduate as Ye Fanzhi.

Her father said, “They haven’t found anyone yet. You just got back and you’re already thinking about this—what, do you have a boyfriend in Guizhou?”

“I’m single! Who has a boyfriend?” Ye Fanzhi shot back.

“Then you must be afraid of being principal.”

She stood abruptly. “Since when have I ever known fear?”

“Then keep doing it. It’s good experience. When they find the right candidate, I’ll let you know—or if you have a recommendation, let me know.”

“That’s all we can do. I’m going out for a bit.”

Ye Fanzhi grabbed her car keys and stepped out. She pressed the unlock button: the Cayenne’s lights flashed.

Lin Ran, who’d been playing with his phone, immediately stepped aside, glancing up as the distracted owner approached.

This woman looked awfully familiar.

Lin Ran rubbed his eyes and looked again—wasn’t that… Ye Fanzhi?

“Principal Ye?” he called out.

Ye Fanzhi looked up, startled—she hadn’t expected to see this man here in the city.

Lin Ran walked over with a broad smile. “It really is you, Principal Ye!”

Ye Fanzhi immediately assumed her principal’s air. “Lin, what are you doing at my doorstep?”

“This is your home? I’m here for a business meeting—the address is nearby, but I couldn’t find it, so I waited here for the other party to pick me up. Who’d have thought we’d be neighbors—what a coincidence.”

“It is quite the coincidence. Let me see the address.”

Lin Ran handed over his phone; Ye Fanzhi glanced at it. “It’s just ahead. I’ll take you.”