This night, Li Haochen indulged in a full day of eating, drinking, and having fun; he couldn't have been happier, wishing only for a beautiful companion to share it with.
The next day, Li Haochen visited Nanputuo during the day and then took a night tour of the Yunshuiyao Ancient Town Tulou, even experiencing a night at a characteristic inn within the Yunshuiyao scenic area.
Before he knew it, his five-day, four-night trip to Xiamen was coming to an end. These days had been packed with excitement and wonderful memories. The only regret was not being able to visit Gulangyu Island. Li Haochen had indeed gone, but after queuing for over two hours, he still couldn't get a ferry ticket. He understood, though; the island wasn't large, and its visitor capacity was limited, so restricting numbers was understandable.
In the evening, Li Haochen headed to Zhongshan Road Pedestrian Street. He was returning tomorrow, and one couldn't leave on a trip without bringing back some souvenirs. Tonight was for a major sweep.
The crowd here was immense. The variety of goods was extensive, with numerous famous shops and a vibrant atmosphere, truly living up to its reputation as Xiamen's commercial leader and economic center.
With a slight sigh of reflection, Li Haochen began his search. He wasn't here for leisurely shopping; buying souvenirs was the main objective, with a casual appreciation of old Xiamen's prosperity as a secondary aim.
Everything could be bought here, and souvenirs were no exception. Not far away, he found them: various kinds of pastries, pineapple cakes, nougat, shredded meat, and dried meat. Li Haochen tried each one before making his purchases.
The taste was quite good, though the portions were delicate, and the prices weren't cheap. However, when traveling, few people cared about such minor expenses, as it wasn't as if one had to buy them daily.
Even if reluctant, they had to be bought; it was a matter of face. Otherwise, upon returning to work, colleagues or neighbors would undoubtedly gossip if there was nothing to offer.
Li Haochen had many people to give gifts to, so he bought a substantial amount, at least several large boxes. Fortunately, the shops were very thoughtful and offered SF Express delivery, though he had to pay for the postage himself.
After handling the shipping, Li Haochen returned to his hotel. There wasn't much for him to do alone.
The next morning, after packing his luggage and having breakfast in the restaurant, he took a taxi to the airport.
The same procedure followed: getting his ticket, taking a number, checking in his luggage, and boarding. This time, he wasn't near a window, so he couldn't even look at the scenery.
Having experienced it once, the discomfort during takeoff didn't make Li Haochen feel nervous this time.
With no beautiful scenery to admire and no pleasingly beautiful women beside him, Li Haochen could only close his eyes and rest.
He woke up to find himself back in Binhai. After collecting his luggage and exiting the airport, Murong Yanran was already waiting outside, having apparently arrived quite early.
Upon seeing Li Haochen, she first circled him and then started sniffing him with her nose.
"Did you get possessed by a puppy?"
"You're the puppy! I'm investigating, checking if there's any trace of other women."
Li Haochen pulled her into an embrace and kissed her, then said with a chuckle, "Look, there's the scent of a woman named Murong Yanran. Hahaha!"
Murong Yanran gave him an annoyed look, picked up the luggage, and put it in the trunk. "Get in the car, let's go home."
"Yeah, let's go home and 'plow' my own cabbage, hehe!"
"Plowing" was just a figure of speech. After a journey, engaging in such activities would be seeking trouble, and overusing the engine could lead to premature aging, leaving only the ability to "watch with eyes but not touch" in the future.
After dropping Li Haochen off at his home, Murong Yanran returned to her hotel. The opposite side was about to open, and she needed to go back and brainstorm some strategies.
The five days of leisure had greatly refined Li Haochen's state of mind. Some accumulated negative emotions from many days were also released. Only with a balance of relaxation and intensity could one achieve a better work status; constantly being on edge, even if much was accomplished, would not yield good results.
After putting down his luggage, he enjoyed a luxurious aromatherapy bath, which was incredibly refreshing.
While Li Haochen ended his pleasant trip here, He Qian and her daughter had also concluded their month-long trip to the United States. They were currently on their Gulfstream 650 business jet en route back to Yanjing. This past month had been incredibly satisfying for them, both inside and out.
"Oh, this trip was so much fun, I'm really a little reluctant to leave."
"Reluctant about what?"
"Hehe!"
The two shared a knowing smile, letting the unspoken understanding pass between them. These were matters that only heaven, earth, they themselves, and their families knew; they were unspeakable!
"Mom, why was Dad so willing to give us so much money to go on this trip?"
"I don't know. Why worry about it? I'd be delighted if we could do it again, hehe!"
He Qian's eyes flickered with a deep gaze. Her purpose? She had long guessed it; if it wasn't to protect Murong Yanran, what else could it be? However, she was still a daughter-in-law of the Li family and knew better than to bite the hand that fed her. Moreover, she was quite afraid of that woman. Even if she revealed the secret, not only would she gain no benefits, but she might also invite trouble.
But paper could not contain fire forever. As soon as they landed, Li Xiuyan had arranged to meet Chen Pengfei, the second young master of the Chen family, at a private villa for a rendezvous that evening.
Upon meeting, the two couldn't hold back and, of course, started with some foreplay.
"Why were you abroad for so long this time? I missed you."
Chen Pengfei, smoking a post-coital cigarette, pinched Li Xiuyan's chin and said with a smile.
"Tch, while I was away, those little starlets were flocking to you every day. Don't think I don't know."
"That was just for show; you are the one in my heart."
Li Xiuyan rolled her eyes at him, pushed Chen Pengfei away, and stood up. Her perfect figure was fully revealed, with no intention of dressing. She pulled open the curtains, letting the sacred moonlight spill onto her body, feeling a sense of melancholy.
For her, this was the reality of a large family, a chaotic mess. As long as no open conflict erupted, they would maintain their seemingly virtuous and loving facade.
Chen Pengfei's gaze lingered only briefly, without any further action, as he leisurely continued to smoke his post-coital celestial cigarette.
"What's wrong? You seem preoccupied."
After finishing his cigarette, seeing Li Xiuyan sitting on the sofa lost in thought, he walked over and hugged her.
"Oh? You want to help me?"
"Tell me about it first?"
"My cousin has a hotel with good potential, and we want to invest, but this girl refuses outright. Sigh!"
"When did you get a cousin? Aunt Qian's?"
"Don't mention Aunt Qian; she's chosen to remain unmarried for life, so where would she get a daughter? It's my second aunt, whom she just found. This darn girl."
Thinking of Murong Yanran, Li Xiuyan felt a surge of dissatisfaction and muttered resentfully, "My little uncle is also quite something; he's already in a governing position, yet it's taken so long to sort things out."
"Second aunt?"
Chen Pengfei frowned slightly, feeling like he'd heard the name somewhere before.
"Second aunt… Li Sisi?"
Suddenly, Chen Pengfei was internally shaken. He remembered his father mentioning the relationship between his eldest uncle, Chen Junlin, his eldest aunt, Zhantai Liya, and this Li Sisi.