Chapter 674 - 327: Preparing to Go Home with Lin Shen!
Chapter 674: Chapter 327: Preparing to Go Home with Lin Shen!
Huamao Mansion, ground floor commercial space: a chicken pot restaurant.
In the luxurious CBD of Modu, opening such an ordinary restaurant was quite extraordinary in itself. After all, people usually expected chicken pot places to be tucked away in bustling markets or alongside residential streets. The idea of one surviving in a high-end CBD was truly unimaginable.
But as the owner of this establishment, Old Chen knew very well that he owed it all to Lin Shen.
Lin Shen had used rent-free offers to attract tenants, a move that had left the owner in disbelief at first. He had been told he could open a chicken pot restaurant right below an office building full of hungry corporate workers without paying a single dime in rent. He would absolutely make a fortune! As a result, numerous vendors had fought tooth and nail for the spot, and Old Chen had ultimately won the bid.
Though deeply grateful for the rent exemption, Old Chen was also puzzled as to why President Lin would do such a thing. After all, ten or twenty thousand a month was no small sum.
However, when he saw Lin Shen come in for a meal with a tall, stunningly beautiful, and aloof older woman with incredibly long legs, Old Chen understood everything.
Just as ancient kings lit beacon fires to amuse their queens, a modern man opened a chicken pot restaurant to please his girlfriend. What a guy!
Old Chen’s impression of Lin Shen was filled with fondness, not just because of the waived rent, but because of his deep devotion. He looked exactly like a good, faithful man who was entirely dedicated to his relationship.
"Here we go." Once the chicken pot was ready, Old Chen personally brought the steaming dish to Lin Shen and Qin Yuenan, offering a polite smile. "President Lin, enjoy your meal. Please let me know if you need anything at all."
"Will do," Lin Shen replied.
Because Lin Shen had waived his rent, Old Chen had naturally given him a permanent free-meal pass, along with a dedicated, private corner booth. Whenever Lin Shen visited his restaurant, everything was on the house. After all, compared to the cost of rent, what was a little food?
Old Chen brought over some drinks for the two of them before tactfully excusing himself.
PSSHH!
Lin Shen cracked open a can of cola and picked up the conversation he and Qin Yuenan had been having. "Nan, you’re saying we should head out first thing tomorrow morning?"
"Mhm." Qin Yuenan used a spoon to scoop some rich broth over her rice. She took two delicate bites before continuing. "Because there will definitely be a lot of people traveling for the National Day holiday. If we leave a day early, we can avoid the traffic."
"Nan," Lin Shen asked out of the blue. "Have you never actually driven home yourself during the National Day holiday?"
"No, I haven’t." Qin Yuenan shook her head honestly. "I usually fly home."
"That explains it!" Lin Shen snapped his fingers and flashed a knowing smile. "You’re too naive. During a holiday, the worst traffic isn’t on the actual holiday—it’s the day before! Because there are too many ’geniuses’ out there who all think it’s a great idea to leave a day early, and they all end up stuck on the highway."
"Huh?" Now it was Qin Yuenan’s turn to panic. "Are we going to be stuck on the road for a long time?"
"Pretty much," Lin Shen chuckled. "It’s not too late to back out. We can just go to our respective homes."
"Are you messing with me?" Qin Yuenan glared at him coldly. "I’ve already bought the gifts, and now you want to back out?"
"I’m not backing out, I’m just considering how grueling the drive will be."
"It doesn’t matter." Qin Yuenan gave a soft hmph. "I’ve worked for twenty-four hours straight without sleeping; do you think I care about a little driving? We can take turns behind the wheel."
"Alright." Lin Shen couldn’t help but sigh softly. "Ah, if only our small county town had an airport. We could just fly there and have my parents pick us up."
"Driving is fine too."
Truth be told, Qin Yuenan didn’t have a strong preference between flying or driving home. Both modes of travel were perfectly acceptable to her. In fact, she might even prefer driving. Although flying was more convenient and faster, the prospect of spending alone time with Lin Shen in the car sounded rather blissful. Therefore, she didn’t mind the inconvenience at all and was actually looking forward to it.
But as a seasoned corporate drone used to holiday travel, Lin Shen knew exactly how exhausting the trip would be. Thus, he made a mental note: in the future, he would just build an airport in his hometown. That way, it would be much easier to go back and play local king.
"Then it’s settled." Lin Shen finalized their holiday itinerary. "This afternoon, after we hand out the holiday gifts to the employees, we’ll swing by my place first so I can grab my luggage and some things. Then we’ll head over to your house, Nan, and set off from there tomorrow morning. Sound good?"
"Okay."
With their travel plans tentatively agreed upon, Lin Shen suddenly asked out of curiosity, "You’ve told your family that you won’t be coming home for Mid-Autumn Festival this time, right?"
"Not yet."
Her words made Lin Shen’s right hand pause just as his chopsticks were about to grab a piece of chicken. He stared at her in utter astonishment. "You haven’t?"
"Right."
Seeing Qin Yuenan’s dead certain expression, Lin Shen was completely dumbfounded.
He had assumed she had informed her family ages ago, given how long they had been discussing this trip. But she hadn’t said a word? Didn’t that make him the main culprit who was stealing another family’s daughter away on a holiday meant for family reunions?
"Nan, why didn’t you tell your family?" Lin Shen probed carefully.
Qin Yuenan, however, offered an explanation he hadn’t anticipated at all. "My older sister is returning from abroad for the Mid-Autumn Festival. With her there to keep them company, they won’t need me."
"Huh?" Lin Shen was taken aback, exclaiming in surprise, "Your sister came back to the country?"
"Yes." Qin Yuenan placed a piece of chicken into Lin Shen’s bowl before replying softly.