59: Chapter 59 Friends?

"What do you want to eat?" Jiang Chen asked softly.

"You decide."

Lin Wan leaned lazily on his shoulder, her voice carrying the relaxation that followed the end of the trial, sounding soft and sweet.

"I'm tired of the food near school. I'll take you somewhere else."

"Where?"

"You'll know when we get there."

The car drove away from Xuefu Road. Instead of turning toward the bustling East Gate, it headed south along Jiangbin Road.

Lin Wan leaned back in the passenger seat. The window was left open just a crack, allowing the evening breeze, laden with the faint moisture of the river, to blow in and gently sway the tips of her hair.

About twenty minutes later, the car turned into an old street she didn't visit often.

Jiang Chen parked the car, and Lin Wan sat up straight to look outside.

Both sides of the street were lined with lively little restaurants. In the twilight, neon signs lit up one by one, and the air was filled with the mixed aroma of barbecue, spices, and sizzling oil.

"Where is this?" Her interest was piqued instantly.

"Chengnan Food Street."

Jiang Chen unbuckled his seatbelt. "There's a very authentic sour soup fish place here. I think you'll like it."

The two of them got out of the car and walked side by side. Lin Wan linked her arm through his, her head turning this way and that as her bright eyes scanned the shops. Occasionally, a sign would catch her eye, and she would gently tug him to a stop.

"This barbecue smells so good."

"Let's have the sour soup fish first. We can come back here after we're done."

"This dessert shop..."

"That'll have to wait too."

Lin Wan pouted slightly, but she didn't make a fuss. She obediently followed him into a small shop that was packed to the brim.

As soon as the sour soup fish was served, steam rose from the pot. The bright red soup base bubbled, and the sour, spicy, and fresh aroma wafted right into their noses.

Lin Wan picked up a slice of fish and took a bite. Her eyes lit up instantly.

"It's delicious!"

She took bite after bite until a thin layer of sweat broke out on her forehead. Her lips were slightly reddened by the spice, yet she couldn't stop.

Jiang Chen sat across from her, slowly sipping his water. His gaze remained fixed on her, quiet and gentle.

"Why aren't you eating?" Lin Wan placed the most tender piece of fish belly into his bowl.

"Watching you eat is enough for me."

Lin Wan glared at him, but the corners of her mouth couldn't help but curl upward.

Halfway through the meal, her phone rang. It was a video call from her mother.

She wiped the corners of her mouth and answered.

"Wanwan, have you eaten yet?"

"I'm eating right now."

Lin Wan turned the camera toward the dishes on the table. "A friend recommended this sour soup fish. It's super delicious."

"Eating out again? You should go to those unhygienic places less often..."

"I know, I know."

Lin Wan turned the phone back. The camera inadvertently swept across the person opposite her. Jiang Chen was looking down as he drank water, revealing only half of his handsome profile.

"Who is that?" Her mother's eyes were sharp, and she immediately pressed for an answer.

"A friend," Lin Wan said, her expression unchanged.

"A boyfriend?"

"Mom, I'm in the middle of eating. I'll hang up now."

She quickly ended the call and looked up at Jiang Chen, the tips of her ears quietly turning red.

Jiang Chen looked at her, the corners of his lips curving slightly. "A friend?"

"What else was I supposed to say? If I said you were my boyfriend, she'd definitely interrogate you from head to toe." Lin Wan feigned composure and defended herself in a low voice.

She lowered her head to continue eating the fish, deliberately changing the subject.

By the time they finished their meal and stepped outside, it was completely dark.

The streetlights illuminated the food street, making it as bright as day. The crowd was even more bustling than before.

The two of them went for dessert, each ordering a mango smoothie. They sat at an outdoor table in front of the shop and enjoyed them slowly.

"What made you think of bringing me here today?" Lin Wan asked.

"You mentioned a few days ago that you were tired of all the shops near the school."

"I just said that in passing, and you actually remembered."

Jiang Chen didn't say much, just watched her quietly.

Lin Wan felt a little self-conscious under his gaze. She lowered her head, scooped up a spoonful of smoothie, and held it to his lips. "Try some."

Jiang Chen opened his mouth and ate it.

After finishing their dessert, the two of them walked slowly back toward the parking spot.

Lin Wan held his arm, her steps light as she leaned softly against him.

"I'm so full," she sighed contentedly. "This meal was totally worth it."

"I'll bring you here for barbecue next time."

"It's a promise. No backing out."

"No backing out."

When they reached the car, Jiang Chen opened the passenger door for her.

As Lin Wan bent down to fasten her seatbelt, her hand brushed against a bulging document bag on the seat. Next to it were a few loose documents and a large bunch of keys.

"What's this?"

"Open it and see for yourself," Jiang Chen said.

Curiously, she picked up the document bag. It wasn't sealed, and the contents were halfway out.

Lin Wan looked down and saw a bright red Real Estate Ownership Certificate, which looked especially striking under the car's interior light.

She froze for a moment and casually flipped it open.

In the "Rights Holder" column, it clearly stated: Jiang Chen.

The property locations: No. 127, 128, 129 Xuefu Road... all the way to No. 136.

Her fingertips paused.

She flipped through the other documents; they were all identical certificates.

Ten ownership certificates for ten shops, all under his name.

Lin Wan's hand froze in mid-air. Her mouth hung slightly open, and it took her a long time to process what she was seeing.

"You..." She turned to look at Jiang Chen, who was already in the driver's seat. "You went and bought ten shops this morning?"

"Mm." Jiang Chen started the car, his tone as casual as if he were talking about something trivial.

"The entire row opposite the North Gate of Xuefu Road? You bought all ten of them?"

"Mm."

Lin Wan opened her mouth, but for a long while, no words came out.

She looked down at the certificates in her hand, then up at him, and then at the heavy bunch of keys. Her heart was a whirlwind of shock and confusion.

"Didn't you say you had something to do this morning?" Her voice rose slightly without her realizing it. "This is what you meant by 'having something to do'?"

"Mm."

"You're only a sophomore in the Department of Finance. How do you have so much money?" There was a hint of surreal weakness in her voice.

"I earned it," Jiang Chen answered simply and confidently.

Lin Wan stared at him blankly, her fingers gripping the ownership certificates until her knuckles turned slightly white.

She carefully placed the certificates back into the document bag as if she were handling something incredibly precious. Then she leaned back into her seat and turned to look out the window.

The car didn't stop at the school gate; it turned directly into the campus and drove along the main road toward the girls' dormitory.

"Why are you driving straight in?" Lin Wan asked.

"To drop you off at your building."

"There's no need. I can walk from the gate."

"It's dark out."

Lin Wan didn't insist further, but the tips of her ears quietly grew warm again.

The car came to a steady stop in front of the girls' dormitory. Lin Wan unbuckled her seatbelt and turned to look at him.

"Thank you for today," she said softly. "For taking me to eat such good food and for coming to watch my competition."

"You're welcome."

Lin Wan leaned in slightly and gave him a light kiss on the lips.

Just as she was about to pull away, Jiang Chen's palm gently pressed against the back of her head, slowly deepening the brief kiss.

She was stunned for a moment, then closed her eyes, her fingers gently clutching the hem of his shirt.

It was a long while before the two of them pulled apart.

Lin Wan's cheeks were burning intensely, and even the tips of her ears were red. She kept her head down, not daring to look at him.

"I'm going up now," she whispered, reaching for the car door.

"Wait a second."

Jiang Chen took out his phone and tapped the screen a few times.

Lin Wan's phone immediately chimed with a bank notification.

[Your Savings Card ending in 3827 has received a transfer of 50,000.00 CNY]

She was completely stunned and looked up at him. "Why did you transfer so much to me?"

"Pocket money."

"I don't want it."

She hurriedly held her phone out to him. "I have my internship salary. It's enough for me."

"I know you have it," Jiang Chen said calmly. "But I want to give this to you."

"Why?"

"No reason."

Lin Wan frowned and looked at him seriously. "Jiang Chen, I can't just take your money! Being together is one thing, but money is something else entirely."

"I understand."

He interrupted her gently. "I'm not supporting you, and there's no other motive. I just want you to have a bit more cushion so you don't have to constantly budget every time you want to eat or buy something."

"But that's still too much..." Lin Wan continued to shake her head.

However, looking into his serious and persistent eyes, she knew that once he had made up his mind, arguing would only make him more determined.

She was silent for a moment and then sighed softly.

"Fine... I'll take it."

She said softly, "But I won't spend it recklessly. I'll save it for now, and if you ever need it later..."

"Okay," Jiang Chen agreed.

Lin Wan looked at him and suddenly smiled, reaching out to give his shoulder a light playful punch.

"You... you buy millions worth of shops without even blinking, and you're just as decisive about transferring money to me. Just how many more things are you hiding from me?"

"I'll tell you in time."

"When?"

"Slowly, over time."

With a soft, sweet smile dancing in her eyes, she pushed the door open, got out of the car, waved to him, and turned to run into the dormitory building.