Chapter 210: Secrets Along the River

Mixing drinks makes you tipsy faster, so Xu Chen picked up two or three different beers.

They were all small bottles—local Pearl River brew and imports like 1664 white beer.

Teacher Fang Jun was thrilled, her expression blank as she pulled all the bottles close.

Xu Chen glanced back; Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian were still at the bow, enjoying the river breeze.

“Any updates on my dad?” Xu Chen asked quietly.

Fang Jun paused, as if the matter had just crossed her mind again.

She didn’t speak right away but glanced at Xie Bingran beside Xu Chen.

Xu Chen: “It’s fine, Bing Ge. Go ahead.”

Fang Jun leaned in:

“Your dad’s acting strange…

Li Rui tailed him for a day—he wandered around a place called ‘Dongshan Mouth,’ checking every street and alley.

Clearly, he was searching for someone.

Then, that evening, he stepped into a northern dumpling shop and had a bowl of dumplings…”

Xu Chen: “Just a bowl of dumplings?”

Fang Jun narrowed her single-lidded eyes, her expressionless face feigning mystery:

“According to Li Rui, the shop owner is a woman. That’s who your dad was looking for.

When he left, he gave her an envelope—probably two or three thousand bucks in cash.”

Xu Chen: “…”

Xie Bingran looked at Xu Chen, her eyes full of confusion too.

Fang Jun continued: “Running a northern dumpling shop means she’s from up north.

So, it’s likely she’s your dad’s old flame or something…”

Xu Chen frowned, finding it utterly unbelievable.

He thought for a moment: “Has my dad gone back by now?”

Fang Jun: “Li Rui had to beat him home, so after he figured things out, I told him to catch a flight. No idea what your dad did next.”

She took a big swig of beer:

“In the best case, your dad’s flying out tonight.

Yue Jie mentioned he rescheduled his flight for tonight.”

She paused, then leaned closer:

“In the worst case, he might not leave tonight.”

Xu Chen: “Not leaving?”

Fang Jun: “Rekindled passion, old flames burning bright.”

“…”

The usually stoic and logical finance expert Fang Jun now looked like a gossip columnist.

Xu Chen furrowed his brow, pondering it, then shook his head:

“I’ve thought about it these past couple of days—if my dad had an old flame, he’d have told me upfront.”

Fang Jun: “I’ve warned you anyway. Don’t let him bring a new sibling into the picture; that’d complicate the inheritance.”

Xu Chen: “Where’s that dumpling shop?”

Fang Jun: “I got the details; I’ll send you the location on my phone.”

Xu Chen nodded.

Fang Jun: “You’re going tomorrow, right? I’m coming with!”

Xu Chen: “…”

Xu Chen remembered something else: “How’s the City Publicity Department project budget looking?”

The project was for promoting the ‘Tiancheng Support Group’ at the National Games.

Secretary Xia Gang approved a 250,000 budget, and Director Feng Siliang messaged earlier that the final payment hit East Morning Star Advertising’s account.

The promotion got great feedback in the city.

It even boosted Secretary Xia Gang’s standing with the higher-ups, especially when the ‘Tiancheng Support Group’ appeared on national TV, giving the city leaders a real sense of pride.

So, at Xia’s direction, they paid the full amount early instead of dragging it out.

Fang Jun: “The bulk went to media ads, with the rest on travel and materials. Total spend was under 200,000—add in taxes and odds and ends, and we’ve got about 40,000 in pure profit left!”

Xu Chen smiled: “Teacher Fang Jun, you’re amazing—this project’s turning a profit!”

Fang Jun: “I’ve got receipts for your meals these days; we’ll expense them through the company to save on taxes.”

Xu Chen waved: “Waiter, bring two more beers for Fang!”

……

Wu Feifei and Huang Qianqian were still buzzing, darting from the bow to the stern and back again.

They grabbed a couple of beers too, toasting with their bottles while yelling girl talk into the river wind.

Maybe the breeze was cooling down, because Xie Bingran sat next to Xu Chen and leaned in closer.

Bing Ge wasn’t one for chit-chat, even around Xu Chen.

Xu Chen asked casually about her time with the Provincial Team and National Team, and she answered just as casually.

That’s how he learned Xie Bingran shared a dorm with Bai Miao back at the National Team.

They were about the same age and joined together, so they got a double room.

From Xie Bingran’s description, Bai Miao was a clingy type and seemed happy to room with her.

Xu Chen hadn’t seen Bai Miao tearfully asking for a hug from Bing Ge at the end of the competition, or he’d have been speechless.

Bai Miao was from Tonghai University, while Xie Bingran attended Huahai Normal University, so most training was in Shanghai afterward.

At the Xin Zhuang Training Base in Shanghai, he wondered if Bing Ge and Bai Miao shared a room again.

Bing Ge’s cool personality really seemed to attract girls.

No wonder Coach Cheng Hong said Bing Ge was stunning and drew fans easily…

Xu Chen couldn’t help thinking he should try being a bit cooler to boost his own charm.

In the adult world, someone like Bing Ge’s straightforward style didn’t always fly—for instance, in the workplace or systems, those smooth operators did better.

But her type still won fans, maybe because deep down, everyone rebelled a little against those rules.

If they could, who wouldn’t want to be as cool, direct, and carefree as Bing Ge, ignoring everyone else?

……

……

Teacher Fang Jun was getting tipsy and started rambling incoherently.

She suddenly grabbed Xu Chen’s shoulder, squinting as she said:

“Bing Ge has such a great figure!”

Xu Chen: “??”

Xie Bingran: “!!”

“I was a bit drunk yesterday, but I vaguely peeked when Bing Ge was showering…”

“Those long legs… that firm thigh muscles…”

“That fullness…”

“Athletes are just on another level…”

Before Fang Jun could finish, a hand shot out and covered her mouth.

Xie Bingran’s long arm reached over Xu Chen and clamped it shut…

With a mix of embarrassment and irritation on her face.

She glanced at Xu Chen, who was staring at her in confusion.

Xie Bingran shot him a cold look: “Why are you staring like that?”

Xu Chen: “?”

Innocent here!

I didn’t do anything—just looking isn’t a crime?

Fang Jun pulled Xie Bingran’s hand away and turned to Xu Chen with a mischievous grin:

“You little…”

Xu Chen: “??!”

……

……

In the night air.

The tour boat’s horn cut through the river sky.

It wobbled to the dock, and passengers filed off in line.

Xu Chen and the others strolled toward the parking lot, where the driver waited.

Wu Feifei glanced back at the river: “Leaving Yangcheng tomorrow—I’m already feeling nostalgic!”

They all had a flight back to Tiancheng at 7 PM, so they’d arrive without it being too late.

Xu Chen’s day was wrapped up with the ad shoot, timing out just right.

Of course, with this new detour, they’d hit ‘Dongshan Mouth’ on the way to the airport to check out that mysterious dumpling shop.

Of course, with this new plan, they’d stop by ‘Dongshan Mouth’ on the way to the airport to check out that mysterious dumpling shop.

Wu Feifei added:

“Too bad you can’t show us around tomorrow, Xu Chen!”

Xu Chen: “What else do you want to eat or see? I can suggest some spots.

But you’ve covered most of Yangcheng already—the old and new parts.”

He thought for a second: “Let me recommend a couple more.

Try Shamian for seafood or visit the Huangpu Military Academy Memorial.”

Wu Feifei laughed: “Let’s do both!”

Xu Chen: “That means an early start—they’re pretty far apart.”

……

……

Back at the hotel, it was already 10 PM.

Teacher Fang Jun was still buzzed, so Xie Bingran helped her to her room.

Xu Chen yawned, headed to his room, stripped down, and took a refreshing hot shower.

After drying his hair, a soft knock came at the door.

Smiling, Xu Chen opened it to find Xie Bingran.

She held two pieces of clothing, glanced around, and slipped inside like she was up to something.

Acting a bit sneaky…

Xu Chen: “Is Teacher Fang Jun asleep?”

Xie Bingran: “Yeah… she’s already mumbling in her sleep.”

Xu Chen chuckled and grabbed a bottle of orange juice from the mini-fridge to hand over.

Xie Bingran twisted it open and sipped, eyeing Xu Chen.

“Are you sleeping on that bed again?” Xu Chen asked.

Xie Bingran thought: “I’ll take the one you slept in last night.”

Xu Chen smiled, not seeing the difference.

“I’ll go freshen up first,” Xie Bingran said, setting the half-finished juice on the table.

“Okay, I won’t peek,” Xu Chen joked.

Xie Bingran froze for a moment with her clothes, a hint of embarrassment and annoyance on her face.

Xu Chen: “I promise I won’t look. Just lock the door.”

Xie Bingran gave him a wary, icy stare, still not satisfied.

Xu Chen: “Or I could head downstairs for half an hour and come back.”

As he stood to leave with a grin,

Xie Bingran reached out and stopped him: “No need for that—just stay out of the bathroom.”

Xu Chen: “Oh.”

……

……

……

Xu Chen returned to the desk, fired up his computer, and reviewed tomorrow’s ad shoot plan.

The rush of running water distracted him a bit.

Hmm…

All Fang Jun’s fault for being so descriptive.

……

Soon, Xie Bingran stepped out.

She wore a loose white T-shirt and baggy athletic shorts.

Her hair was still damp.

“Why didn’t you dry your hair?” Xu Chen asked.

“The hair dryer seems broken.”

Xu Chen thought: “You probably didn’t find the right outlet.”

He got up and went to the bathroom, with Xie Bingran following.

“It’s got a special plug for the hair dryer here.”

“Oh.”

Xu Chen handed her the dryer.

Xie Bingran hesitated, then said:

“Blow-dry it for me.”

“…”