Chi Linyue nodded slightly: "I feel the same way as you. When I first met him, I was very serious and couldn’t let go. He helped me to liberate my nature and guided me. Qingqing, can you understand the feeling of being led? That’s why, in my heart, I have a kind of admiration for him as a leader. I like how he guides me, and I am willing to follow him."

Pei Danqing: "He was the same with me. At first, I thought he was bad. But on second thought, his worldview was different from mine, or maybe both of us are similar, since we both had a proper upbringing and come from very good families. His worldview seemed to come from a higher dimension, creating a kind of cognitive dissonance for us, like a dimensional reduction attack at the level of thinking.

In fact, I also really enjoy this feeling, like you mentioned, the feeling of being led. I like how he breaks rules and is completely unrestrained. You could say that deep down, I have a bit of a rebellious streak.

So even when I found out that he had other women outside, although I was a bit angry, it wasn’t much, and I didn’t reject it much. I felt that I couldn’t control him, nor could I solely have him."

"Moreover, he is incredibly courageous, giving me the impression that he is completely fearless. I have lived over twenty years and haven’t seen anyone braver than him, but I’m not talking about the kind of courage that people generally discuss. I’m talking about the courage to conquer everything. He gives me the feeling that a true male should be like him, like a leader, always leading others."

"Speaking of his courage, earlier, when we were abroad..."

The two women began analyzing Xu Lin’s various strengths.

While chatting, they realized that it seemed, other than being a bit of a flirt, Xu Lin had no weaknesses and was a complete hexagonal system warrior.

Chi Linyue: "Honestly, I feel quite lucky to have met him. If it weren’t for Xu Lin, I wouldn’t even know which so-called young talented officer I might marry in the future. And perhaps, the two of us wouldn’t have any real marital affection.

Marriage would mean having one or two kids according to plan, and then I would start a life of being a wife and mother, followed by a widow-like existence. It’s tough for women like us with such backgrounds to possess the happiness of ordinary people. We may never have true love in our lifetime. Our marriage partners may never come via free love. In the end, it would be our parents deciding our partners through matchmakers."

"I am much the same way. Before meeting Xu Lin, my family already set up many blind dates for me. The men were in their late twenties or thirties, or even older, all considered very excellent. Some were officers, and others did different things, all young talented individuals from extraordinary families, yet I didn’t like a single one of them.

I wanted to escape. At that time, I felt like my destiny was to marry a man with worldly achievements and then have one or two kids, and then my life would just pass like that. So, sometimes I am fortunate to have met Xu Lin, though he’s just too much of a flirt!"

"Isn’t that better? Now that we’ve met, we might as well become sisters! Qingqing, do you have friends?"

"No, I had them when I went to school. Back then, the relationships were pure, and I had a few good playmates, but later on, there were none left. Looking back, it’s quite regrettable. The gap was too big, and there was no one to play with me. What about you?"

"Same here. During college, I had several sisters. Later, they learned about my family situation, and we couldn’t be friends anymore. They were all from ordinary families. The best among their family conditions was middle class but still nowhere near mine. So, after graduation, we lost contact. For people like us, having friends is really difficult."

"Just like Lu Xun and Run Tu."

"Yes, Lu Xun and Run Tu, how good was their relationship when they were young? But when they grew up, Run Tu had to call Lu Xun ’sir.’ When I read that article as a child, I didn’t feel much, but recalling it as an adult, it’s quite poignant."

The two chatted for over an hour in the bathroom.

It wasn’t until their stomachs started growling that they thought of eating.

After a period of intense interaction, Chi Linyue and Pei Danqing became incredibly familiar with each other, calling one another Qingqing and Yueyue.

Moreover, there’s only a few days difference in age between the two. Practically, there’s no age gap.

Now they’ve become friends, and very close ones at that.

Plus, the two have common topics of conversation.

They’ve become friends unexpectedly.

Their profound camaraderie is not an exaggeration.

Even today, the two have agreed, in tacit understanding, that before the end of 2028, they will select a good day for Xu Lin to impregnate them both. They plan to be pregnant together, and if they succeed by the end of the year, the babies will be born around Xu Lin’s senior year, and he would likely have graduated by then.

The two of them will get pregnant just before turning twenty-eight, which isn’t old for having a child.

The timing fits perfectly.

Pei Danqing spent the entire day at Chi Linyue’s home, sharing everything without reservation.

Because they had too much fun, both encountered difficulties walking and had to rest for a good while.

Pei Danqing canceled her flight tickets and decided to return the next day.

As for Xu Lin.

He got up at ten in the morning, fully refreshed.

After noon, Xu Lin and Rong Xiyi officially departed for Suzhou.

"Is your dad home?"

"No, I think he’s on a business trip?"

"Oh."

Xu Lin let out a small sigh of relief, mainly because he didn’t want to meet Jiang Mingyang.

It would be awkward.

"How’s your stepmother?"

"Not good, she’s a wicked stepmother!"

"Oh."

Xu Lin hadn’t met her yet. He planned to see how things go in the afternoon.

Xu Lin wasn’t one to be intimidated.

Actually, the situation at Rong Xiyi’s home is quite complex. Everyone in the family is surnamed Jiang, except for Rong Xiyi’s stepmother who married into the family. The dynamic is different.

Rong Xiyi and her father, Jiang Mingyang, have different last names, making her seem somewhat like an outsider in the family.

The surname issue, trivial as it may seem, is just a name after all.

But if a man’s child does not bear his surname, his affection for that child may not be as strong.

Fatherly love is conditional. Having his name is one important prerequisite.

Otherwise, when it gets out, people will think, "Your child doesn’t share your surname? Are you of low status in your family? Are you sure the child is yours?" Questions like these can make a man uncomfortable.

Actually, Rong Xiyi’s grandfather and Jiang Mingyang had agreed that Jiang’s first child would bear the surname Rong, to preserve the Rong family lineage. The subsequent children would bear the Jiang name, but the development took an unexpected turn.

However, Xu Lin was unaware of these messy details.

In reality, a wealthy girl wouldn’t even consider a poor man; such things wouldn’t happen.

An ancient saying goes, "Family status should match."

These mere four words sound easy, but the blood and tears behind them, the world does not know. But those who have been through it can understand some of it.

"My stepmother was my mom’s close friend."

"Close friend?"

"Yes, that’s why you have to guard against fire, theft, and your girlfriends!"

Like Xia Xiyao, isn’t she a close friend? Xu Lin felt a bit awkward.

"So your mom’s close friend took your dad?"

"Yes, yes."

"Your family seems complex."

Xu Lin asked, "Has your dad cared for you lately?"

"He recently wired a million into my account, said it’s for my pocket money."

"That’s pretty good."

That guy still has some conscience... well, wiring a million, you can’t quite call him a guy without any conscience.

At least Jiang Mingyang knows to care for his daughter.

Giving money is care, right?

Of course, it is.

And giving financially is much more tangible than giving emotionally.

The former gives direct support.

The latter offers emotional care.

Around three in the afternoon, Xu Lin drove into a villa district in Suzhou.