Chapter 464

Chapter 464 I Already Have Someone I Like

After sending the email, Su Rui was leisurely sipping his coffee when he saw three people walk in.

A man and a woman among them looked to be in their fifties, dressed plainly and neatly, while the other man appeared to be around thirty, wearing clothes covered from top to bottom in “LV” logos, as if he had just walked out of a luxury goods store.

“Uncle, Auntie, what would you like to drink?” the young man asked with a smile. “Order whatever you want, the drinks and food here are very affordable.”

Very affordable?

Hearing that, Cao Tianping nearly spat out blood.

Just how rich and pretentious would someone have to be to find the prices here affordable?

Su Rui looked up and sized up the young man. His looks were passable at best, and his overall bearing was decent enough, but there was always a trace of arrogance between his brows, and alongside that arrogance, a hint of flippancy.

The moment the middle-aged woman saw the menu prices, she immediately waved her hands repeatedly: “Shi Cheng, everything here is too expensive. A random cup of coffee costs over a hundred yuan. Why don’t we go somewhere else?”

Shi Cheng smiled and said, “Auntie, Uncle, you rarely come to Ninghai. Last time you came I was abroad, so this is finally my chance to play host. You have to let me put on a good show, don’t you?”

This man had a very sweet tongue. He was clearly skilled at charming people.

The middle-aged woman still looked a little reluctant: “Shi Cheng, it’s not easy for you to earn money. It’s best if we save where we can.”

“Auntie, it’s really no big deal. I’m currently the president’s assistant for Tenghui Pharmaceuticals’ Greater China region. My annual salary isn’t huge, but it’s still one to two million. This is nothing.”

The middle-aged man beside her nodded: “Ma Lan, just let Xiao Shi treat us. We watched him grow up. Why stand on ceremony with family?”

“Exactly, Auntie. Besides, this café is right downstairs from Xia Qing’s company. Didn’t we agree to give her a surprise? This is the perfect place to wait for her.” Shi Cheng said with a grin, and the moment he mentioned Xia Qing, his eyes lit up with intense brightness.

Hearing this, Su Rui frowned. It seemed the uncle and auntie beside Shi Cheng were none other than Xia Qing’s parents.

When Xia Qing was on the phone, the two of them had said they hadn’t gotten off the train yet. How had they suddenly appeared here in the blink of an eye? A surprise?

Cao Tianping lowered his voice, pointed at Shi Cheng, and said, “Xia Qing is easily one of the top five most stunning women in our company. Over the years, countless men have tried to pursue her and been turned down flat. But this guy’s credentials are pretty impressive. To become the president’s assistant for Tenghui Pharmaceuticals’ Greater China region at such a young age — that’s one of the biggest pharmaceutical groups in the world.”

Su Rui shot Cao Tianping a disgruntled glance, his tone dripping with contempt: “You think everyone is as useless as you? Xue Ruyun isn’t much older than you, yet she made it to director of the marketing department. And you’re still just a little team leader.”

“Su Rui, that’s a personal attack!” Cao Tianping said furiously.

“So what if I’m attacking you? Don’t talk back to me, or your ticket is gone.” Su Rui had found exactly where to squeeze Fatty Cao.

Hearing that, Cao Tianping instantly deflated like a defeated rooster.

The middle-aged woman named Ma Lan could only nod: “Then I’ll just have something to drink.”

“Alright, Auntie, you and Uncle sit down first. I’ll go order.” Shi Cheng’s every move radiated powerful confidence.

Xia Qing’s parents picked a table at random and sat down, which happened to be right next to Su Rui and Cao Tianping. Shi Cheng ordered a whole bunch of things and then came to sit with them.

“I haven’t seen Shi Cheng in a long time. So many years have passed and you’ve changed so much. Speaking of which, among everyone who grew up in our compound back then, you’re probably the most successful one, aren’t you?” Xia Qing’s father, Xia Min, looked at Shi Cheng with a hint of admiration.

“Uncle, you flatter me. Xia Qing is very impressive too. Not only did she get into a prestigious university, she also won a full scholarship to study abroad. And although Bikang Pharmaceuticals can’t compare to Tenghui, it’s still a very formidable company domestically.” Shi Cheng appeared modest, but his words carried a thread of self-satisfaction that wasn’t particularly well hidden.

Ma Lan smiled and said, “See how well Shi Cheng speaks. This child has always been so sensible. He’s always looked after Xia Qing like a little sister. Oh, by the way, Shi Cheng, do you have a girlfriend right now?”

Hearing that, Shi Cheng smiled a little sheepishly: “To be honest with you, Auntie, I’ve never been in a relationship.”

“A young man as outstanding as you — how can you not have a girlfriend?” Xia Qing’s mother seemed genuinely surprised by this.

“When I was studying abroad, the pressure was just too intense. I couldn’t even keep up with my studies, let alone think about dating. And now work keeps me so busy I’ve never found the time.” Shi Cheng said with a smile.

Hearing this, Ma Lan seemed very pleased: “Shi Cheng really is such an outstanding young man. You don’t see many ambitious young people like you these days. Xia Qing doesn’t have a boyfriend either. Why don’t you two give it a shot?”

“Finally, those words!” Shi Cheng pumped his fist inwardly with excitement, but outwardly he said with feigned reluctance: “Auntie, Xia Qing is wonderful, but I’m not sure what her feelings toward me are.”

After returning to the country, Shi Cheng had specifically gotten together with Xia Qing, and the moment he saw her, he was completely blown away. He had made up his mind on the spot that he absolutely had to get this woman.

As for what he said about never having been in a relationship — that was complete nonsense. During all those years abroad, he had played around with countless pretty female students.

Especially after joining Tenghui Pharmaceuticals, the number of female subordinates he had taken advantage of using his position was at least twenty or thirty.

At Shi Cheng’s level, women were not in short supply. What he lacked were exceptional women — and Xia Qing was exactly that.

Whether it was her figure or her face, every woman he had been with before looked utterly outclassed compared to Xia Qing.

However, Shi Cheng was smart. He didn’t rush in and start pursuing her frantically. Instead, he patiently started with Xia Qing’s parents, first winning the favor of the two elders, and then using them to subtly influence Xia Qing.

Shi Cheng and Xia Qing had grown up together as children. Though that group of childhood friends had long since scattered to different corners of the world, they all kept in touch. Xia Qing had always seen Shi Cheng as an older brother and had no idea about the schemes he harbored.

Of course, in Shi Cheng’s view, Xia Qing was also a fine candidate for a wife — gentle in personality, great figure. It would be a real shame to let her slip away.

“Xia Qing isn’t getting any younger. If she keeps dragging it out, she’ll drag herself all the way to thirty.” Xia Min let out a sigh. “Ma Lan, I think Shi Cheng is really good. He genuinely cares about Xia Qing. Why don’t you help bring them together?”

“Right, when I was her age, Xia Qing was already four or five years old. This girl isn’t in any hurry, but we’re all anxious to death on her behalf.”

“Shi Cheng, would you be willing to pursue something with Xia Qing?”

Ma Lan asked, beaming with joy.

“Of course I would. Xia Qing is the finest girl I’ve ever met.” Shi Cheng stated his position directly, his expression resolute: “From childhood until now, she’s the only one I’ve ever had my heart set on.”

Hearing that, Ma Lan was nearly beside herself with happiness.

Xia Min also nodded. Shi Cheng was the son of his colleague, and he had watched the boy grow up. For a young man to have come this far — though it was inseparable from his father, who was now a mayor — it also showed that this young man was genuinely capable.

“Then let’s have Xia Qing come down soon. We can all have dinner together tonight and help bring these two young people together.” Ma Lan was now like a mother-in-law meeting her son-in-law for the first time — the more she looked at him, the more she liked him.

Su Rui sat at the next table feeling thoroughly disgruntled. What was going on? He was the one who was supposed to have dinner with Xia Qing tonight. How had this guy swooped in and taken over?

At that moment, Ma Lan started calling Xia Qing:

“Daughter, we’re right now in the café downstairs from your office.”

“We wanted to give you a surprise, so your dad and I came early.”

“It’s not just the two of us. Your Brother Shi Cheng is here too. Come down if you have time, or wait until you get off work if you’re busy.”

Less than five minutes after hanging up, Xia Qing’s figure appeared at the entrance of the café.

“Xia Qing, over here.”

Seeing Xia Qing walk in, Shi Cheng immediately waved.

His voice was very loud and somewhat out of place in the quiet café. Several customers had already turned disapproving looks in their direction.

Her parents’ sudden arrival clearly caught Xia Qing off guard. She walked over and said, “Brother Shi Cheng, thank you for the trouble. Coming all the way to the station to pick up my mom and dad.”

“Don’t mention it. I happened to have business near the station, so it was on my way to pick up Uncle and Auntie.”

With that, Shi Cheng quickly handed Xia Qing the coffee he had ordered: “This is the latte you love most.”

The group chatted for a good half hour, and Su Rui and Cao Tianping listened in from the next table for just as long.

During that time, Shi Cheng did everything he could to show off, subtly helping Xia Qing recall memories from their childhood, all aimed at deepening the emotional connection between the two of them.

“Daughter, you did say you’d bring a boyfriend home for the New Year this year. Do you have someone now?” Ma Lan asked with a smile.

They say that going home for the New Year means dreading two things: relatives asking about your income, and relatives pressuring you to get married. Ma Lan was the most classic example — she dreamed day and night of her daughter bringing a son-in-law home soon.

Hearing Ma Lan ask this, Shi Cheng perked up his ears, and the two eavesdroppers next door listened with great interest.

“Mom, stop rushing me. I’m still single. It’s not like finding a boyfriend is that easy.” As she said this, Xia Qing’s expression turned troubled.

Hearing that, Shi Cheng immediately lit up with excitement!

Ma Lan was equally delighted. Xia Qing had no boyfriend, Shi Cheng had no girlfriend — wasn’t this the perfect chance to bring these two young people together?

Winking at Shi Cheng, Ma Lan said, “Xia Qing, how about I introduce you to a boyfriend? Your dad and I have both taken a look at him. He’s very outstanding and absolutely worthy of you.”

“A blind date? No thanks.” Xia Qing refused right away.

It seemed that young people these days had an instinctive aversion to blind dates.

“Why not? If you keep putting it off you’ll end up an old maid.” Ma Lan said anxiously.

Xia Qing lowered her head slightly: “Because there’s already someone I like.”