177: Chatting in traffic jams

Bai Yan raised her hand and smacked him. “Stop messing around. Do you have preserved plums?”

“Yes.” Wu Fan handed them over.

“Xiao Ai, what do you want to eat?”

Xiao Ai made a “shush” gesture and looked gently at Yaoyao.

Wu Fan opened the eight-treasure porridge and finished it in no time.

The traffic jam lasted for several hours without any movement. It was almost time for dinner.

Wu Fan was truly bored, so he casually took a photo of the traffic jam and posted it on his Moments: “We aren't going to have to eat dinner in the car, are we?”

Within minutes, the post accumulated a pile of likes and comments.

Lin Daixi: “Hahaha, Brother Fan, didn’t you check the almanac before you left?”

Wu Fan: “I did, but it wasn’t accurate at all.”

Lin Daixi: “Hahaha.”

Liu Lei: “Brother Fan, you must have checked a fake almanac.”

Mao Jiajia: “Brother Fan, where is Bai Yan? Is she doing okay?”

Wu Fan: “She’s doing great. Eating snacks, listening to stories—she’s completely calm.”

Zhou Ruyan: “Where are you going? Back to your hometown?”

Wu Fan: “Yes.”

Zhou Ruyan replied somewhat sadly, “You left secretly without coming to see me?”

Wu Fan: “It was too rushed. When I return to Island City after the New Year, I’ll bring you a gift.”

Zhou Ruyan was surprised: “No way? You won’t be back until after the New Year?”

Wu Fan: “That’s right.”

Zhou Ruyan: “Okay. [Sad face emoji].”

Chu Ying: “You’re heading back to your hometown for the New Year so early? How is Yaoyao doing?”

Island City is a small place, and many children who don't often travel get carsick as soon as they leave home.

Chu Ying was a little worried about Yaoyao.

Wu Fan: “She’s in great shape. Eating and sleeping, sleeping and eating.”

Chu Ying: “[Smirking face emoji].”

Chen Lu: “You could stay in Shanghai for a night and take Yaoyao sightseeing. That would be nice. This is Heaven telling you to stop, so you should be happy.”

Chen Lu certainly knew how to cheer people up and be considerate.

Wu Fan: “That’s exactly what I was thinking. You’re absolutely right.”

Fang Hanyu: “Oh, this is a chance for you to have a romantic encounter in Shanghai! What a great opportunity. You have to seize it, you know?”

Wu Fan: “Your mouth is something else.”

Fang Hanyu: “In a place of decadence, remember to take precautions. Don’t get caught, understand?”

Wu Fan: “My body is immune to all poisons, don’t worry.”

Fang Hanyu: “[Rolling eyes emoji].”

Qian Ning: “Where is this?”

Wu Fan: “Shanghai.”

Qian Ning: “Why are you going to Shanghai?”

Wu Fan: “Just passing through. Heading back to my hometown.”

Qian Ning: “I’ve been waiting for you to come see me in Hengdian, but I waited in vain. [Naughty face emoji].”

Wu Fan: “I’m working hard to make money. I want to establish a massive business empire in Island City.”

Qian Ning: “You already have so much money, why are you still working this hard?”

Wu Fan: “To earn more money and give back to society.”

Qian Ning: “Impressive. Your ideological awareness is very high.”

Wu Fan: “Of course. I’ll definitely make time to see you next year. Is Yang Mi with you?”

Qian Ning: “Yeah, we’re good friends now. We get along well.”

Wu Fan raised an eyebrow. “Alright. It’s beneficial to spend more time with a big star; it will subtly increase your visibility. You need to seize the opportunity, okay?”

Qian Ning: “Hahaha, understood.”

Chen Liyun interjected, “Wu Fan, don’t lead Qian Ning astray. She’s still an innocent girl.”

Wu Fan quickly replied, “Teacher Chen, please excuse my poor joke. How is Liu Xiaoyun doing?”

Chen Liyun said, “She is extremely well-behaved and studies Yue Opera very diligently. Given time, she will certainly make a name for herself on the Yue Opera stage.”

Wu Fan was very happy watching this reply.

Liu Xiaoyun could be considered to have defied fate and changed her destiny.

He had never forgotten Liu Xiaoyun; from the moment he saw her selling flowers, he felt she was especially sensible.

He now transferred money to Chen Liyun every month, all so Liu Xiaoyun could have a good life.

Flight attendant Chen Menglin asked: “Are you really in Shanghai?”

Wu Fan: “Yeah, why? Want to meet up?”

Wu Yixuan interjected, “Watch what you two say! I can see this too!”

Wu Fan: “Oh man. If you see it, you see it. It’s no big deal.”

Chen Menglin: “I’m in Yunnan and can’t get back tonight. [Crying face emoji].”

Wu Yixuan: “Girl, why are you crying? Aren’t you satisfied having me with you?”

Chen Menglin: “After work, shall we go eat flower cakes together? Want to go?”

Wu Yixuan: “OK.”

Wu Fan felt helpless. Since both sisters were in Yunnan, there was nothing left to chat about.

He had originally wanted to invite them out, but the timing was wrong.

This rotten almanac was too misleading. He felt like nothing had gone smoothly throughout the entire trip.

Liu Xiaofei didn't leave a comment under the Moments post but sent a wechat message directly: {Wu Fan, are you in Shanghai? Let me treat you to a meal. I never properly apologized for scratching your car last time, and I feel really bad about it.}

Liu Xiaofei's appearance immediately popped into Wu Fan's mind—what a cute little loli.

{I have a huge appetite. If you’re treating me to dinner, you need to be mentally prepared. If it's not a hundred thousand or so, it won't be enough.}

Liu Xiaofei replied with a laugh, {That’s fine. As long as you don’t waste food, I won’t frown no matter how much you eat.}

Wu Fan: {Okay, where should we meet?}

Liu Xiaofei: {What do you want to eat?}

Wu Fan: {Anything is fine for me. I’m not picky at all. You just arrange it.}

Liu Xiaofei: {Then let's go to Tianhe Restaurant. What time?}

Wu Fan glanced at the time. {We’re still stuck in traffic. I don’t know when we’ll move.}

Liu Xiaofei: {That’s okay. Contact me when you’re free, alright?}

Wu Fan: {Sounds good, no problem.}

Wu Fan truly hadn't expected Liu Xiaofei to contact him proactively and offer to treat him to a meal.

After his car was scratched last time, Wu Fan simply replaced it with a new one and never asked Liu Xiaofei to pay for any repair costs.

That small amount of money was nothing to him.

But Liu Xiaofei truly cared, which showed she was an honest person.

Some women would have been overjoyed to save money, so why would they proactively reach out?

Wasn't this something only a rich fool would do?

Liu Xiaofei didn't think that way. She believed that people should be trustworthy and that one should bravely bear the necessary consequences.

Bai Yan suddenly exclaimed excitedly, “Look, the cars are moving!”

Wu Fan looked up, and they really were moving.

The sky was filled with sunset clouds, signaling that night was approaching.

He started the engine and said, “Let’s stay in Shanghai for a night. We might as well take Yaoyao sightseeing tomorrow.”

Yaoyao was happily eating chips and said, “Daddy, can we go to Disneyland?”

Bai Yan interjected, “I really want to see it too.”

Wu Fan had been hesitant about going, since Disney rarely had an off-season throughout the year, and waiting in line for rides could be agonizing.

But now that even Bai Yan wanted to go, he readily agreed.

Once the cars started moving, the traffic cleared quickly.

Wu Fan told Xiao Ai, “Hurry up and book a presidential suite at the Bulgari Hotel. One room is enough for the four of us.”

He had stayed there once with Chen Menglin and thought it was quite nice.

Xiao Ai happily said, “Okay.”