54: Chapter 54 is such a wonderful thing!

The sound of splashing water came from the bathroom.

The frosted glass door revealed warm steam, faintly outlining Sun Yiyao's graceful curves.

Although this woman had been tossed around until she felt like falling apart just moments ago, as soon as she recovered a bit, she very perceptively got up to draw the bathwater.

Zhang Qi, with his muscular upper body bare, leaned comfortably against the leather-padded headboard.

He casually picked up his phone from the nightstand and opened the banking app.

On the screen, the balance of over sixteen million lay quietly, exuding a magic that put one's heart at ease.

Zhang Qi stared at this long string of numbers, and two slightly weathered faces suddenly appeared in his mind.

A sense of inexplicable guilt welled up in his heart.

Thinking back on the stupid things he had done in the past, Zhang Qi wished he could travel back in time and slap himself twice.

Ever since he started dating, he had been a textbook example of a total sucker.

He had given his heart and soul in every relationship, and he had taken plenty of money from home.

In the first few years of working, his salary wasn't high. In order to buy gifts for his girlfriends and send red envelopes during holidays, he even shamelessly asked his parents for financial support.

His parents were both honest, hardworking rural folk who hoped their son could put down roots in the city, find a wife, and build a life.

As long as Zhang Qi mentioned it was for dating or marriage, the old couple never hesitated; they would scrimp and save just to scrape the money together to send to him.

And the result?

After all that fawning, he ended up with nothing.

Not a single relationship worked out; he just became fertilizer in other people's fishponds.

Nowadays, back in his rural hometown, the surrounding neighbors and relatives had long since built impressive three-story western-style houses and bought cars.

Only his family's home remained those few old, aging bungalows.

His parents were already in their fifties, an age when they should be enjoying life, yet they still had to work the land every day, facing the soil with their backs to the sky, and do odd jobs at nearby construction sites just to save a bit more money for his bride price.

Zhang Qi took a deep breath, tapped the screen a few times, and found the transfer record for his father, Zhang Jiande.

Now he had money—a massive fortune that ordinary people couldn't earn in several lifetimes.

Providing for his family was only right.

Zhang Qi entered 500,000 in the transfer amount field.

He clicked confirm and entered his password.

As the transfer success notification popped up on the screen, Zhang Qi casually tossed his phone onto the bed and stretched.

To him now, 500,000 wasn't even a drop in the bucket, but it was enough for the old couple to tear down the old house in the village, build a comfortable western-style house, and still have plenty of money left over for daily expenses.

Ring, ring.

Less than two minutes after he put the phone down, the urgent ringtone started blaring.

Zhang Qi picked it up and saw that the caller ID was none other than Comrade Old Zhang.

The bank's notification text message should have already arrived on Old Zhang's old smartphone by now.

Zhang Qi slid the answer button and put the phone to his ear.

From the other end of the line, Zhang Jiande's anxious voice, trembling slightly, came through immediately.

"Xiao Qi, you... why did you suddenly transfer so much money to me?"

Zhang Jiande's voice was loud, and in the background, one could hear Chen Xiaojuan asking anxiously, "What's wrong? What's wrong?"

For an old farmer who had spent most of his life facing the soil with his back to the sky, 500,000 was a massive sum that could definitely knock someone senseless.

The old couple knew exactly how much Zhang Qi, an ordinary office worker, made each month.

Suddenly transferring 500,000 back, Zhang Jiande's first reaction wasn't surprise, but shock.

He was terrified that his son, who had always been honest and steady, had taken some crooked path.

"Dad, don't worry, listen to me," Zhang Qi said in a steady, calm tone that brought comfort.

He had already prepared his excuse.

"Haven't I been working at a financial company? I work in the investment industry."

"I've been making some private investments all these years. I just happened to spot a major market trend recently, and the money I invested multiplied several times over. I made a huge profit."

This excuse was perfect.

Financial investment was an industry prone to overnight wealth myths, and ordinary people had no idea how deep the waters were.

Using this to explain the source of the funds was most appropriate.

"Investment?" Zhang Jiande paused; the anxiety in his voice calmed down a little, but he was still suspicious.

"Is this money clean? It's not illegal, is it?"

"It's very clean. It was honestly earned from the financial market; every penny is legal and compliant," Zhang Qi explained patiently.

"You and Mom, take this 500,000 first."

"Find a construction crew, tear down those old bungalows of ours, and build an impressive two-story western-style house."

"Keep the rest of the money for yourselves. Don't go doing manual labor at construction sites anymore. Eat well and drink well; from now on, you won't be able to spend all of your son's money."

There was silence on the other end of the line for a few seconds.

Immediately after, rustling sounds came from the receiver; apparently, his mother, Chen Xiaojuan, had snatched the phone away.

"Xiao Qi," Chen Xiaojuan's voice was filled with unconcealable worry.

"Is investment really that profitable? I heard people in the village say that things like stock trading or futures can easily lead to bankruptcy. Is there a risk of losing money?"

"Mom, don't worry," Zhang Qi smiled, his tone filled with absolute confidence.

"I've been in this industry for five or six years; I know the ropes better than anyone."

"I wouldn't sink money into it without absolute certainty. I know what I'm doing, so stop worrying yourself sick."

Hearing Zhang Qi say this, the old couple's hanging hearts finally settled back into their chests.

After all, their son had joined a financial company right after graduating from college and had been working there for so many years; he could be considered a professional.

Moreover, although Zhang Qi had been foolish in his relationships these past few years, he had always been reliable in his work and character, never causing them much worry.

Since the money was earned legitimately, the old couple naturally felt at ease.

"Alright then, I'll hold onto this money for you," Chen Xiaojuan's tone was noticeably lighter, even carrying a hint of joy.

"But there's no rush to build the house."

"Xiao Qi, since your job is stable now and you've made good money, isn't it time to consider marriage?"

The topic shifted, instantly entering the ultimate mode of Chinese-style parental pressure to get married.

Chen Xiaojuan asked like a machine gun: "How are things going with Little Sun?"

"You've been together for so long, it's time to settle down. Why not take this opportunity to arrange for both sets of parents to meet and finalize your marriage plans?"

The "Little Sun" she referred to was naturally Zhang Qi's ex-girlfriend, Sun Qianwen.

This relationship had been quite long, and Zhang Qi had often mentioned Sun Qianwen to his parents, so the old couple had always assumed the two would end up together.

"We broke up," Zhang Qi said, without any hesitation, cutting off his mother's hopes directly.

"Broke up?" Chen Xiaojuan's voice shot up, filled with surprise and regret.

The older generation was more traditional, believing that if you were dating, you should get married, especially since Zhang Qi had put so much effort into this "Little Sun."

Now that her son finally had money, they had broken up, which she found a great pity.

"Why did you break up so suddenly..." Chen Xiaojuan muttered on the other end of the line.

Zhang Qi didn't respond.

Fortunately, Chen Xiaojuan's regret didn't last long.

She suddenly seemed to remember something, and her voice became high-pitched again.

"Xiao Qi, do you still remember Chen Nianshu?"

Hearing this name, Zhang Qi, who was leaning against the headboard, paused slightly.

A girl with a high ponytail, wearing a loose school uniform that couldn't hide her clear, beautiful face, instantly appeared in his mind.

Chen Nianshu.

He certainly remembered this name, and it left a deep impression.

That was his first love.

The two were not only high school classmates but also from the same village.

As the saying goes, "those near the water get the moon first." During their senior year of high school, when the academic workload was heaviest and there was least time for dating, the two secretly dated for a whole year behind the backs of their teachers and parents.

That relationship was pure and innocent, without any material complications.

However, after they went to college, they went to different cities. Long-distance dating combined with various realistic factors eventually led them to break up peacefully.

"Why are you suddenly bringing her up?" Zhang Qi asked, somewhat surprised.

Chen Xiaojuan said excitedly on the other end of the line.

"Little Chen's dad returned to the village a couple of days ago. Your dad happened to run into him while he was out, and they got to chatting."

"While chatting, they mentioned Little Chen. Her dad said she's doing well now, studying for her PhD in Shanghai."

"Why don't... you two get back in touch?"

The more Chen Xiaojuan talked, the more she felt this was a real possibility.

For rural parents like them, their son getting married was the biggest thing in the world.

And Chen Nianshu, who was from the same village, whom they knew inside and out, who had been as pretty as a star since childhood, and who was now a PhD intellectual, was practically the perfect daughter-in-law candidate that they couldn't find even with a lantern.

Most importantly, Zhang Qi and Chen Nianshu had dated before and had an emotional foundation, which made it even more suitable.

On the other end of the line, Zhang Jiande also leaned into the microphone and chimed in.

"I think it's a good idea too."

"That day, I heard from what Little Chen's dad said that he also kind of wanted to set you two up."

If it were in the past, Zhang Jiande and Chen Xiaojuan definitely wouldn't have dared to suggest this.

After all, the other family's daughter was a PhD student with a bright future, while their own son was just an ordinary worker with average family circumstances; they really couldn't aim that high.

But now, it was different.

Their son had made big money from investments and could casually pull out 500,000; such conditions were definitely unique in the village.

Moreover, Chen Nianshu's father was now worried about his daughter's marriage. After all, a girl who had studied to the PhD level wasn't young anymore, and in the eyes of the villagers, that was an "old maid."

One was a PhD daughter struggling to find a husband, and the other was a successful young man.

This was practically a match made in heaven.

"Forget it," Zhang Qi replied instantly, without even thinking.

Chen Nianshu was indeed the prettiest of all his many romantic experiences.

But as the saying goes, "a good horse doesn't return to the same pasture."

No matter how pure the feelings were in high school, they were a thing of the past.

Moreover, he now possessed a system and had assets in the tens of millions; he wasn't lacking for women at all.

He just wanted to enjoy life now and live for himself.

Go on a blind date with his first love?

That would be asking for trouble when he had nothing better to do.

"What do you mean 'forget it'!" As soon as Chen Xiaojuan heard Zhang Qi refuse, she immediately brought out her motherly authority.

"Whether it works out or not, you should at least get in touch and see."

"In today's society, it's good to make more friends. Little Chen is a PhD now, she's cultured and well-bred."

"It's settled."

"I'll head over to your Uncle Chen's place in a bit to visit, and I'll get her contact information for you. You can add her on WeChat then and have a chat."

Without allowing for any argument, Chen Xiaojuan unilaterally made the decision.

She didn't give Zhang Qi any chance to refute it.

"Alright, we're working, I'm hanging up now."

Beep, beep, beep.

The call was disconnected.

Zhang Qi held the phone, listening to the busy signal, and shook his head helplessly.

When it comes to pressuring children to marry and playing matchmaker, Chinese aunties always have world-class execution.

He tossed the phone back onto the nightstand.

Just then, the bathroom's frosted glass door was pushed open.

A wave of warm steam, accompanied by the fresh scent of body wash, drifted out.

Sun Yiyao was wrapped in a white bath towel, her fair, long, beautiful legs bare, as she poked half her body out.

Her cheeks were flushed from the steam, and a few strands of wet black hair clung to her slender neck.

Those moist, peach-blossom eyes looked at Zhang Qi, filled with obedience and desire to please.

"Brother Qi."

Sun Yiyao's voice was soft, sweet, and gentle, carrying a charm that made one's bones feel like they were melting.

"The water is drawn, the temperature is just right."

"Let's bathe together."

Looking at the top-tier beauty before him, a satisfied curve tugged at the corner of Zhang Qi's mouth.

A blind date?

To hell with a blind date.

This is what life is all about.

Zhang Qi threw off the covers and strode toward the bathroom.

The bathroom door closed again.

Although both of them were too exhausted to continue, cuddling with such a beauty in the bath was still a wonderful thing!