Chapter 399: A Weekend of Plans

Saturday, the day to meet the Little Rich Lady.

Xu Chen woke up early and headed to the library with his roommates for a solid morning of studying.

With finals approaching, he had a few course projects and evaluations to prepare.

Besides, starting next Wednesday, Xu Chen would be taking some time off…

After lunch at the West Garden Cafeteria, Xu Chen said goodbye to Qian Xin, Huang Hao, and the other roommates, then went to the company alone.

No choice— as the young president, he had to manage several million in ad orders…

Xu Chen first stopped by the Tonghai University Guesthouse and checked into the room he’d reserved in advance.

He checked the room—it was quiet, spacious, and comfortable.

This room, of course, was for bringing the Little Rich Lady to stay in that evening.

A large bed room…

He’d also booked two other rooms for Old Xu and Coach Fang Jun—they could check in tomorrow.

For some secretive and odd reasons, Xu Chen had booked Xie Bingran’s room on a different floor from Old Xu and Fang Jun’s.

…

At the Tonghai Creative Design Building, Xu Chen went straight to the small office on the 8th floor.

It was now empty, essentially his personal space.

From now on, he could use it as a quiet personal studio without anyone bothering him.

Xu Chen thought about adding a bed in the old meeting room so he could rest or even stay overnight here.

The emptied office area outside could hold a big long table.

He’d get a high-end desktop computer and set up spots for fine tea and wine.

On the back wall, he’d put up a bookshelf and display rack for books, figurines, and his personal interests…

…

Back in the general manager’s office, Xu Chen turned on the computer and handled some real work.

He reviewed the proposal draft for next week’s Vanke pitch and organized his speaking points.

He’d already chosen one of Sun Aimi’s design directions; she was refining it, and they could finalize it by Monday or Tuesday.

Theoretically, he should bring Sun Aimi on the Vanke business trip.

But since Xie Bingran would be joining, Xu Chen decided to keep it just the two of them.

Better to enjoy a quiet getaway with the Little Rich Lady.

After sorting the Vanke proposal, Xu Chen opened another document and outlined the creative plan for the Head & Shoulders ad campaign.

Next week, he’d brainstorm with Sun Aimi and Tang Xiaowei—they’d have detailed plans.

Xu Chen didn’t need to go into much detail himself but jotted down the core strategy and creative concept.

Based on Sun Aimi and Tang Xiaowei’s expertise, they couldn’t handle the full creative plan yet.

What Xu Chen outlined was like a safety net.

Though East Morning Star Advertising was the stronger party in this Head & Shoulders deal,

they were putting out public ads, so Xu Chen cared about the company’s reputation—the ideas had to be solid.

Plus, this was Xie Bingran’s project, so it needed to boost her image.

…

He worked until around 3 p.m.

It was just the right time to go pick up the Little Rich Lady.

Xu Chen held back his excitement, grabbed his car keys, and headed downstairs.

…

The white Grand Cherokee pulled out of the parking lot and headed west along Chifeng Road.

The car radio played Zhou Libo’s Shanghai-style stand-up comedy.

Over the next few years, this controversial Shanghai comedian would hit his peak…

Xu Chen listened for a bit but couldn’t get into it, so he switched stations quickly.

After flipping through a few, he caught news about Bing Ge, as expected.

Xie Bingran had just arrived in Shanghai, and local media were framing it like a ‘homecoming for the Asian Games champion’…

Xu Chen couldn’t help but laugh.

If the leaders from Shandong Province Sports Bureau and Tiancheng Sports Bureau heard that, they’d probably be upset.

…

Xu Chen thought again about how Xie Bingran had appeared on TV and in the media after the Asian Games, already like a big star…

He’d need to take precautions when they went out these days.

With that in mind, he turned the car and exited the overpass.

…

Xu Chen drove to Huaihai Road, parked, and wandered through the mall for a bit, buying a few black fabric masks and a pair of baseball caps.

With masks and caps, they’d be hard to recognize.

The caps were the same style—a couple’s set.

They had a trip to Kun City next week.

It was a highland area with strong sunlight.

The hats would help block the sun too.

…

Forty minutes later, at the Shanghai Track and Field Sports Center entrance.

Xu Chen drove right up to the gate.

The security guard came out with a logbook, and Xu Chen showed him Coach Cheng Hong’s text message.

The guard squinted at the phone from a distance, then carefully noted it in his book and raised the barrier.

Xu Chen slowed down, turned left, and drove straight to the parking area by the Athletes’ Apartment.

He pulled the handbrake and turned off the engine.

Xu Chen pulled out his phone and sent Xie Bingran a message: [‘Silly girl… I’m here to pick you up…’]

After waiting about ten minutes, he got her reply.

[‘Just a moment, I’m still in a meeting at the training hall.’]

[‘No rush, Bing Ge, take your time.’]

[‘Where are you?’]

[‘Right downstairs at the Athletes’ Apartment.’]

[‘Oh…’]

Xu Chen leaned his seat back and settled in comfortably.

He’d planned to nap a bit—after all, he’d gotten up early and hadn’t rested at lunch.

But after closing his eyes, he found he couldn’t sleep.

His mind kept racing with thoughts of the food-loving Little Rich Lady and her playful side…

…

Ten minutes later, Xu Chen looked up and smiled.

From a distance, a group of seven or eight people emerged from the training hall and headed toward the Athletes’ Apartment.

Men and women mixed in.

And right in the middle, standing out, was the cool and sharp Bing Ge.

Maybe it was his imagination…

But among that group of athletes, Xie Bingran seemed even taller.

Perhaps after rising from ‘national champion’ to ‘Asian champion,’ her whole presence had leveled up.

…

Xu Chen stayed in the car, watching his Little Rich Lady from afar.

Xie Bingran and the group reached the Athletes’ Apartment, where the others said goodbye and went up.

Xie Bingran stood there, hands in the pockets of her white athletic jacket, glancing around.

Xu Chen saw her purse her lips and blink her big eyes, searching.

Then she pulled out her phone and typed a message.

His phone buzzed—it was from her: [‘I’m downstairs at the apartment, but I don’t see you.’]

…

Xu Chen watched a few more seconds before opening the door and getting out.

He walked toward Xie Bingran.

She finally turned and spotted him coming.

Bing Ge gave a cool smile and hurried over.

…

“The coach was giving a talk—did you wait long?”

“Yeah, forever… How are you going to make it up to me?”

Xie Bingran seemed to think it over seriously:

“How should I compensate you?”

“Let me kiss you silly…”

“…”

…

Xie Bingran stepped closer, almost touching him, but still a half-step away.

Both felt like hugging, but it was broad daylight with people around…

Xu Chen reached out and gently squeezed her hand.

Xie Bingran pursed her lips in a smile, her big eyes sparkling.

“I need to grab my things from upstairs… Let’s get dinner first, at the cafeteria.”

“Sounds good!” Xu Chen said with a grin.

…

The athletes’ cafeteria didn’t focus on fancy flavors, but the ingredients were top-notch fresh and safe.

Xu Chen loaded up on fish, beef, and plenty of quality protein.

“Is everyone on break, or just you?”

“Just me—they’re off until New Year’s Day. Some teammates don’t even get that. We had a group winter training planned, but after the Asian Games, they canceled it this year.”

“So Bing Ge’s break is like a special reward for the Asian champion?”

“Yeah, pretty much. No big events coming up, so I can rest…”

“Tomorrow my dad and Coach Fang Jun are coming—I’ll take you to the airport to pick them up, then we’ll all have dinner.”

“Great!”

Xu Chen thought for a moment and added:

“On the 25th, we have our company year-end party—it’s also your company, Ran Bing Sports. Fei Jie, Wu Feifei, Su Rong will be there, plus Aimi and Qian Xin, who you know. There are three new guys too… Could Bing Ge join us?”

Xie Bingran chewed a piece of beef and said:

“Sure.”

“Then I’ll take you shopping for a gift tomorrow—we exchange them at the party.”

“Oh.”

“For the next few days, let’s plan… Tomorrow’s about hosting my dad and Coach Fang Jun. Monday and Tuesday, I’ll be in classes, so you can stay at my school’s hotel or hang out with Fei Jie, my dad, and them in Shanghai…”

“I’ll stick with you.”

Xu Chen burst out laughing.

“Wednesday I’m taking off, so we’ll spend another day with my dad. That evening, we fly to Pengcheng, then noon the next day to Kun City. There are events for two days—you can come along. After that, for the New Year’s mini-holiday, I’ll show you around Yunnan Province!”

“Oh.”

Xu Chen looked puzzled: “You don’t seem too excited?”

Xie Bingran ate a broccoli floret and said flatly:

“I’m really looking forward to it.”

Xu Chen: “…”

…

…

They left the cafeteria and walked back to the Athletes’ Apartment together.

Athletes and students they passed, young or old, greeted Xie Bingran as ‘Bing Ge’…

She kept her cool boss vibe, hands in pockets, nodding slightly.

Xu Chen remembered Bing Ge’s bold high school days and felt a bit worried…

Would he look like her sidekick standing next to her?

…

Xie Bingran led Xu Chen straight into the Athletes’ Apartment.

It was before 6 p.m., so visitors were allowed.

The Dorm Auntie recognized Bing Ge and just smiled, letting them through.

…

Xu Chen had been in Xie Bingran’s room before—it looked the same.

Bai Miao wasn’t there; her bed and desk were all pink and cute.

“Bing Ge’s” spot was simple and plain—dark gray sheets and pillows.

The big Labrador plush toy Xu Chen had given her sat on the bed, looking funny yet warm.

Xie Bingran pulled out a chair: “Have a seat, I’ll just pack my suitcase.”

As she said that, she opened the wardrobe and started gathering clothes into a black case…

Xu Chen didn’t sit; he said with a hint of grievance: “You haven’t even hugged me yet…”

Xie Bingran glanced at him, looking amused, then her expression softened from cool Bing Ge to a happy girl as she threw her arms around him…

Xu Chen buried his face in her hair and skin, inhaling deeply—the scent of his Little Rich Lady was wonderful.

…

After hugging, Xu Chen leaned in for a kiss, but she pulled back, blinking: “What if Bai Miao walks in?”

“Let her watch and learn…”

Xie Bingran: “…”

She quickly pecked his lips and said: “Be good… I’ll finish packing first.”

With that, she slipped out of his arms.

Xu Chen sat down with a mix of longing and resignation.

…

As Xie Bingran packed clothes from the wardrobe, Xu Chen noticed two jackets hanging inside.

The outer dark gray one was his; the inner black one was hers…

He felt a wave of emotion—Bing Ge seemed tough but valued these little rituals.

Xu Chen glanced at her desk—it was spotless.

He decided to get her a laptop as a gift.

The thought of buying for the Little Rich Lady made him happy…

Then he spotted something on the shelf and sucked in a breath: “Bing Ge… You’re just tossing the Asian Games gold medal around like that?!”

The medal from Doha, symbolizing Asian supremacy, sat casually on the shelf…

Xie Bingran paused, shrugging: “I’ve got a few—I don’t know where to put them…”

She grabbed a black pen holder from the shelf.

Xu Chen stood up and shook his head in disbelief.

Inside were several stacked medals.

He pulled them out: besides the Doha one, there was from the Osaka East Asian Youth Games, Yangcheng National Games, Shanghai National Youth Track Championship, and Chang’an National Middle School Track Championship…

“Any one of these could be someone’s lifelong dream, and you’re just leaving them like this…”

Xu Chen was truly speechless.

Was this what being a champion meant?

Xie Bingran thought: “Want me to give them to you? You can keep them…”

Xu Chen frowned, then smiled: “Actually, yeah! I’ll set up a safe or display case at the company just for your medals!”

“Sounds good. They’re just in the way here.”

Xu Chen: “…”

…”