"Hao Chen, why are you only arriving now? Oh... and who are these two?"
Seeing Murong Yanran and Liu Zijun beside Li Hao Chen, Xie Baolian's eyes lit up. Her gaze kept flitting between the two young women. One was pure and adorable, the other charming and alluring. Most importantly, both had well-shaped bottoms and ample chests, reminding her of her younger self. She was delighted, finding it difficult to choose. She thought, "I like them both, what should I do?"
"Aunt Lian... Aunt Lian!" Li Hao Chen waved his hand in front of Xie Baolian. "What's wrong?"
"Oh, ah... nothing, nothing!"
"Really nothing?"
"No, why are you more talkative than me?"
"I..."
Murong Yanran and Liu Zijun's faces were flushed from suppressed laughter, but they dared not laugh out loud, making it a difficult feat.
"Alright, introduce them quickly."
"This is my girlfriend, Murong Yanran, and this is her classmate, Liu Zijun."
"Hello, Aunt Lian..."
"Good, good, good..."
Xie Baolian was overjoyed. She looked at Murong Yanran with genuine affection, then glanced at Liu Zijun beside her. "What a pity, three children could provide more than enough."
This catering business was different from running a coconut shop. There were many more permits to obtain, such as health permits, employment permits, and sewage discharge permits. These couldn't be processed all at once.
Xie Baolian was very dedicated. She ran around all afternoon, accompanying Li Hao Chen and the others to handle the paperwork. Fortunately, she found a young man to cover her position, otherwise, she would surely have received complaints.
By the time the afternoon ended, they still hadn't finished. They would have to come back the next day.
"Aunt Lian, let's go, I'll treat you to dinner." Li Hao Chen was not at all reserved. He put his arm around Xie Baolian's shoulder, much like a son would to his mother.
Xie Baolian also liked this kind of interaction. In fact, she had already investigated Li Hao Chen's background. When she saw the information, she cried profusely and had already regarded him as her own son in her heart.
"Go on, you have no manners," Xie Baolian said, rolling her eyes. "What does Yanran like to eat?"
"Aunt Lian, you decide. We're not picky eaters."
Murong Yanran's reply made Xie Baolian extremely pleased.
Before long, Xie Baolian drove them to another prosperous area of Binhai, Huiyue City.
Although Xie Baolian was nearing fifty, she was naturally beautiful and well-maintained. Time had not been too harsh on her, and she looked like sisters standing next to Murong Yanran and the others.
As they walked, the three beautiful women practically drew all eyes in Huiyue City. Li Hao Chen, accompanying them, was labeled as a young master type, like 'Cong Ge,' surrounded by admiring glances, envied by all.
They arrived at the Cloud Top Restaurant on the top floor and booked a private room.
As night fell and the lights came on, sitting in the private room of the restaurant on the 80th floor, the enormous floor-to-ceiling windows offered a panoramic view of Binhai's nightscape, a truly breathtaking sight.
During the ordering process, they pushed the menus back and forth, until finally, Li Hao Chen took charge.
He might not have eaten pork before, but he had certainly seen pigs run. Ordering food was simple, especially since he had been frequenting diners lately.
When the dishes were served, the expressions on the women's faces clearly indicated that it wasn't what they had hoped for. However, they were not picky people. It didn't matter if the food wasn't to their liking, as long as the wine was plentiful. At the same time, they mentally labeled Li Hao Chen as someone who absolutely should not be allowed to order food again.
Speaking of wine, the three women had a surprisingly unified preference: Golden Ice Valley. It was unclear if they liked it solely for its attractive appearance.
Xie Baolian poured three glasses, using up a whole bottle. She gave one to Murong Yanran and one to Liu Zijun. Li Hao Chen eagerly reached out for the last glass, but Xie Baolian slapped his hand. "This one is mine. What are you drinking? You need to protect us later."
"What? Auntie, you're driving, why are you drinking?"
"It's precisely because you're driving that you can't drink. Otherwise, if our designated driver saw three delicate beauties like us, wouldn't he have other intentions? Drink a beverage instead..."
"Designated driver..."
Li Hao Chen's face darkened. He pondered that today he was essentially acting as a bodyguard. "Damn it, I must get my driver's license quickly."
Three women are a lively bunch, let alone three beauties. Their gathering was quite eventful. Fueled by alcohol, they chatted about everything, from everyday matters to their deepest interests, primarily beauty and makeup. Once they started on this topic, there was no stopping them. Their experience was so extensive that it could almost make beauty salons go out of business.
As they talked, they lost track of time. If the restaurant hadn't been closing for inventory, they might have chatted all night.
After safely escorting Xie Baolian back to her doorstep, the three of them took a taxi home.
"Today was so much fun," Xie Baolian said with a happy smile as she watched Li Hao Chen and the others get into the car.
Returning home, she saw the lights were on in the living room and walked out onto the balcony. "Old Ling, why are you back so early today?"
"Did you have a drink?"
"Yes, I had a little because I was happy today."
Ling Han Feng pulled Xie Baolian onto his lap. "I heard you've been spending a lot of time with a young man recently."
"Yes, he's young, handsome, tall, and strong."
"Heh heh, have you found me old and useless so quickly?"
"What, are you jealous?"
Ling Han Feng smiled. "Tell me about it?"
The two had gone through thirty years together, weathering many storms, their love truly stronger than gold. Outside gossip could not affect them. He only asked because he was worried Xie Baolian might be taken advantage of or deceived.
Xie Baolian opened her phone and handed Ling Han Feng a photo of herself and Li Hao Chen.
"This..." Ling Han Feng looked at Xie Baolian. Even as someone in a high position, he was so surprised he couldn't speak.
Tears welled up in Xie Baolian's eyes. "He looks a lot like Liang Liang, doesn't he?"
Ling Han Feng's hand, holding the phone, trembled. He looked very seriously at Li Hao Chen on the screen, and tears began to flow involuntarily.
After a moment, Ling Han Feng wiped away Xie Baolian's tears and said with a choked voice, "Wife, I'm sorry, if not for..."
Xie Baolian covered Ling Han Feng's mouth, preventing him from speaking. "Husband, it's not your fault. Ten years have passed, it's time to let go."
"Ten years, sigh!" Ling Han Feng's face was filled with sorrow, his heart aching with a sigh. "Can I let it go?"
"What about the person?"
Xie Baolian knew what Ling Han Feng was referring to. She pulled up the investigation results of Li Hao Chen from her phone. "Take a look. He's also a pitiable child, very motivated, filial, and an excellent young man."
Ling Han Feng was somewhat surprised. He took the phone and looked at Li Hao Chen's information seriously. He knew how high Xie Baolian's standards were; to receive such a commendation from her indicated how outstanding Li Hao Chen was.
A few minutes later, he put down the phone. "This child opening a shop, you..."
Xie Baolian gave Ling Han Feng a sideways glance. "Would I do something wrong?"
Thinking about it, he realized he was being a bit overly sensitive. "Find some time to invite him over for dinner."
"Okay."
Xie Baolian leaned down and whispered in Ling Han Feng's ear, "Husband, what do you think about us having another child?"
"Can you still get pregnant?"
"I'm not even 50 yet. People overseas are getting pregnant in their fifties and sixties."
"Then, let's do it."
"Wait, we're on the balcony. Let's go to the bedroom..."