Chapter 402: Morning Whispers and New Beginnings

The quilt inside was warm and cozy that early morning.

Xu Chen opened his sleepy eyes and saw Xie Bingran already awake in his arms, staring at him with wide eyes.

She lowered her head and snuggled deeper into his embrace, clearly reluctant to leave.

Like an adorable yet pitiful little puppy.

Xu Chen’s heart softened, and he wrapped his arms around her, holding her even tighter.

Though her body had noticeable muscle lines, she felt soft and pliable in his arms.

The more he held her, the more he liked it; the more he held her, the more he wanted to.

…

“Coach Cheng said you need at least half an hour of training every day to maintain your fitness…”

“We can go to the school’s athletic field in the morning.”

“It’s the weekend, so probably not many people around, but you should still wear a hat.”

“Mm…”

Xie Bingran nestled in Xu Chen’s arms, hugging his back, and whispered,

“When are Uncle Xu and Fang Jun arriving?”

Xu Chen: “They’ll land around noon.”

“Last night, my dad and Fang Jun both messaged me not to drive and pick them up.”

“They’ll just take a cab themselves…”

Xie Bingran: “That doesn’t seem right?”

Xu Chen smiled: “It’s fine, he’s my own dad, he doesn’t care about that stuff.”

“Fang Jun knows the way around, she won’t get my dad lost.”

“I’ll spend the morning with you, and once they arrive, we can all have lunch together.”

Xie Bingran softly agreed and burrowed deeper into Xu Chen’s arms.

…

The two stayed tangled under the covers for another ten minutes before lazily getting up.

After a quick wash, they headed downstairs to the hotel restaurant for some breakfast.

Back in the hotel room, Xie Bingran changed into a long, dark tracksuit.

This outfit wasn’t the typical national team orange-red or red-white colors, and it lacked the national flag on the chest, making it much more low-key.

Over her top, she slipped on Xu Chen’s Louis Vuitton jacket.

Xie Bingran pulled out a pair of training shoes from her suitcase.

That pair of ‘Ran Bing 001’ shoes, she still didn’t want to wear them casually.

Yesterday at the Xin Zhuang Base dormitory, Xu Chen had seen her carefully stow the shoes away in the cabinet.

Xu Chen thought about it—once the next batch of shoes came out, he’d send a few pairs to Bing Ge so the little rich girl could wear them freely.

As Xie Bingran sat on the bed to put on her shoes, Xu Chen approached with a mischievous grin.

He squatted down and snatched the shoes from her hands.

“Let me help you put them on!”

Before Xie Bingran could react, her fair, soft foot was already in Xu Chen’s grasp.

It was as if he’d hit her weak spot; her breathing caught.

Xu Chen held it, feeling how much he liked it.

Xie Bingran gently bit her lip.

She tried to pull away, but Xu Chen wouldn’t let go.

“This is mine, so behave and let me touch it!”

“When… did it become yours?”

“You said it yourself—everything of yours is mine!”

Xie Bingran blinked her big eyes, a hint of grievance showing.

Xu Chen couldn’t resist; he straightened up and planted a soft kiss on her pretty cheek.

…

…

Twenty minutes later, at Tonghai University’s ‘129 Athletic Field’.

This was one of the university’s oldest fields, where they held freshman orientation ceremonies every year.

Xu Chen and Xie Bingran arrived at the field, each wearing a baseball cap.

No students in PE class on the weekend.

But a group of athletes was training on the rubber track—mostly tall, sturdy guys.

Xu Chen glanced over, feeling a bit speechless.

There were even hurdle bars set up on the track, meaning some of those guys were hurdlers.

Xie Bingran said:

“I’ll just train for twenty minutes or so, keeping it to basic fitness…”

The two walked around the training group, crossed the soccer field, and headed to the other side of the track.

Xu Chen looked back and couldn’t help but chuckle.

Especially seeing those two university guys practicing hurdles.

They had no idea that the person who just walked past them had broken the Asian hurdle record…

Xu Chen sat on a bench by the track, watching Xie Bingran stretch on the path.

He thought back to that rundown middle school field in Tiancheng.

Back then, when Xu Chen gave Xie Bingran a pair of running shoes and took her for her first ‘practice run’.

It hadn’t even been a year, yet it felt like a lifetime ago.

In that short time, so much had changed.

Xie Bingran went from being expelled from school and heading to a factory in the south to winning a gold medal at the Asian Games.

And that poor desk mate who once went hungry—her financial situation had completely turned around, with every business deal starting in the millions…

Xu Chen himself was doing well too; the companies with his dad were now on solid footing.

And things would only get better from here.

…

As Xu Chen lost himself in thought, his phone buzzed.

He pulled it out and saw a message from Wu Feifei.

[Heard you picked up Bing Ge?]

Xu Chen: [Yeah, yesterday evening. She’s at my school now. Did Fang Jun tell you?]

[Yesterday evening already? Fang Jun mentioned we’re all having dinner with President Xu tonight. I invited Su Rong too.]

Xu Chen: [Thanks for that. It’s better if you invite Su Rong.]

[Su Rong’s thrilled to hear Bing Ge will be there!]

Su Rong, the young heiress, was someone President Xu specifically wanted to meet on this trip.

Now, the collaboration with ‘Wanrong Materials’ wasn’t just for ‘Ran Bing Sports’ but also ‘Chenfeng Technology’.

Part of ‘Chenfeng Ice Power’s high-polymer plastic components had already sealed a deal with ‘Wanrong’.

Originally, ‘Wanrong’s quotes were on the expensive side.

As Yang Congxin put it, their material specs were top in the industry…

But thanks to Su Rong’s connection, ‘Wanrong Materials’ founder Su Qitai not only gave exclusive TPU foam material to ‘Ran Bing Sports’ but also offered ‘Chenfeng Technology’ a very favorable procurement deal.

With President Xu coming, they naturally had to host Su Rong properly.

And ‘the leader’s daughter’ Wu Feifei was another must-see for President Xu.

Luckily, Wu Feifei was already familiar with the Xu family, so no extra formalities were needed.

…

…

The academic department head, senior Zhao Siting, had set up a QQ group for communication.

Xu Chen checked it out—it was for next week’s trip to Kun City for the ‘China Advertising Festival’.

He scanned the group list: a total of 16 students, all award winners from this year’s university advertising competition.

These sixteen were the first to third place winners from the national and Shanghai divisions.

The ‘excellent award’ recipients—over twenty of them—didn’t get the Kun City trip reward.

The university was probably considering travel costs.

Zhao Siting shared a form in the group.

Xu Chen skimmed it: details on travel bookings and the two-day itinerary in Kun City.

Since Xu Chen was covering his own travel, his hotel wasn’t with the group, so he had more freedom.

As ‘Little President Xu’, his plans focused on picking up the two first-place awards for the ‘University Advertising Competition’ on the 28th and the ‘Great Wall Advertising Award’ on the 29th.

As for the lectures and activities the university arranged, they probably wouldn’t be that useful.

Making a couple of industry connections would be great, but he wasn’t pushing for it.

The ‘Great Wall Advertising Award’ organizers had sent an official invite to ‘East Morning Star Advertising’.

Xie Bingran would go as an ‘East Morning Star Advertising’ employee, accompanying Xu Chen.

For the two days of the event, he needed to keep the little rich girl close; leaving her at the hotel or outside wouldn’t sit right with Coach Cheng.

Of course, the main goal of bringing ‘the little rich girl’ was to let her relax and have fun.

A professional athlete’s life was pretty monotonous, almost like military routine, so Bing Ge rarely got out to explore.

Xu Chen had asked Gu Xinxi to rent a car, so they could drive around Yunnan Province if they wanted.

If not, they’d just stick around Kun City.

If Xie Bingran felt like running more, they could hit places like Dali or Lijiang—it sounded exciting.

…

…

Xie Bingran walked back from the track, and Xu Chen gazed up at her long legs, lost in thought.

“I’m done…” Xie Bingran said.

She adjusted her baseball cap, smoothed her hair back, and put the hat on properly.

Xu Chen: “You don’t even look sweaty.”

Xie Bingran: “This amount of exercise is enough to keep my fitness up.”

If I started a serious session, it would take two or three hours, and you’d get bored waiting…”

Xu Chen smiled, stood up, and handed her the Louis Vuitton jacket:

“Don’t catch a cold.”

Xie Bingran took it and draped it over herself with a cool flair.

Xu Chen thought for a moment:

“We still have time, so I’ll show you around the campus first.”

“Then, I can take you shopping.”

Xie Bingran: “What are we buying?”

Xu Chen: “Our company year-end party is next Monday, and it’s also Christmas—we’re exchanging gifts.”

He paused, smiling as he added:

“Do you want to join, Bing Ge?”

“They’d all love to see you, but I didn’t promise anything.”

Xie Bingran blinked and thought for a second:

“Sure.”

Xu Chen: “They’ll be over the moon.”

“Fei Jie, Wu Feifei, Su Rong, Aimi, and Xinxi will be there.”

“Plus three new guys you haven’t met—our colleagues…”

“As a company shareholder and boss, it’s a good chance for you to meet your employees.”

Xie Bingran: “Then I should prepare gifts too?”

Xu Chen: “I’ll take you to buy some!”

He thought again:

“Actually, I want to get you a gift too!”

Xie Bingran: “You don’t need to get me anything…”

“I can buy my own. I have plenty of money now!”

Xu Chen: “I know you’re the little rich girl!”

“But if I’m giving you a gift, I should buy it.”

Xie Bingran, a bit defiant: “Then I’ll get you one too!”

Xu Chen laughed: “What would you get me?”

Xie Bingran blinked, seriously considering:

“I’ll buy you a car!”

“I have so much money I can’t spend…”

Xu Chen looked speechless.

He took her hand:

“I just bought a car not long ago!”

Xie Bingran said “Oh,” sounding a little disappointed.

Xu Chen: “When I need to change cars, I’ll come to you.”

Xie Bingran perked up: “Okay! You have to tell me!”

Xu Chen: “I’m not stupid—I’d rush right over if the little rich girl is offering a new car!”

He pinched her cheek and added:

“Keep your money safe, don’t let anyone trick you out of it.”

Xie Bingran thought for a moment and said:

“What about Li Rui, Zhao Feng, and Fang Tao…”

Xu Chen: “Huh?”

Xie Bingran hesitated then continued:

“I’ve been thinking of helping them buy houses…”

“They’re my brothers, and their families aren’t well-off.”

“I have so much money, and houses in Tiancheng aren’t that expensive…”

Xu Chen fell silent, feeling a wave of emotion.

True to Bing Ge’s loyal nature…

He thought and replied:

“Even for your close brothers, handle money matters carefully—it’s for their own good.”

“They’re still young, around eighteen or nineteen, and might not see through things, especially with money.”

“One wrong move could backfire.”

Xie Bingran blinked, looking a bit confused.

Xu Chen tried to explain:

“They’re doing well at my dad’s company now—stable, good income in Tiancheng.”

“My dad treats your brothers generously…”

“They won’t have issues with food or clothes, so don’t worry about that.”

“Fang Jun even set up insurance for all employees, so big problems are covered.”

“They’re living in company dorms, so they don’t need extra houses…”

“Oh…”

Xie Bingran nodded, half-understanding.

Xu Chen smiled, squeezed her soft hand, and went on:

“You can wait for the right moments.”

“Like if Li Rui or Zhao Feng gets married, give them a big red envelope—or even help with the wedding!”

“And if anyone runs into real trouble, you can step in then.”

“In that way, you’re their support.”

Xie Bingran nodded thoughtfully:

“Got it.”

Xu Chen: “Just keep your money in the bank to earn interest!”

Xie Bingran: “Oh.”

…

Xu Chen led Xie Bingran around the campus, chatting and laughing as he shared university stories and pointed out sights.

Xie Bingran listened quietly, smiling now and then.

They wandered back to the hotel and freshened up a bit.

Xie Bingran changed out of her tracksuit and into the Louis Vuitton outfit.

She looked even more striking in it.

But she frowned slightly and said:

“This jacket doesn’t have much of your scent on it.”

Xu Chen said, “Ah?” then added:

“That designer stuff is too flashy; I’ve only worn it once or twice.”

Xie Bingran eyed him:

“Let’s swap then—I’ll wear the one you have on!”

Xu Chen looked amused but helpless.

Still, he took off his oversized thick jacket and handed it to her.

Xie Bingran leaned in, sniffed it, and nodded in satisfaction.

Xu Chen chuckled and put on the Louis Vuitton she’d taken off.

…

…