73. Song Youzhen V/S Ye Manman
Su Yan received a call from Ye Manman.
"Hey, Aunt Ye."
"You naughty boy, you haven't even called me. Do you know how much Auntie misses you?"
Her tone was playful, but there was warmth behind her words.
"I passed through Okushima last night."
Only then did Ye Manman realize how empty her life felt without Su Yan around.
"You're back from Deep City?"
"Yeah, I'm planning to come visit you."
"Are you busy?"
"I'm heading to Yancheng soon."
"I see, you've got things to take care of, so you might not have time for Auntie," Ye Manman teased.
Though Su Yan knew she was joking, he also understood the importance of prioritizing his business. Even with Lao's influence, he had to focus on securing his livelihood. After all, having enough money was the foundation for a stable life.
"Xiaoyan, are you going to the Olympics?"
"Yeah."
Ye Manman had a lot on her plate, but the thought of spending time with Su Yan brought back some fond memories. She remembered how he took control of the casino on Oudao Island and how he effortlessly knocked out Liu Changgeng. A wave of excitement welled up inside her, reminding her of how thrilling it was to be around him.
"Would Auntie like to come along?"
Hearing this, Su Yan thought for a moment. It wouldn't hurt to bring Ye Manman with him. They'd have time to spend together in the evenings, and it seemed like a harmless idea.
"Sure, Aunt Ye, meet me this afternoon."
"You cheeky boy! Should Auntie bring you anything?"
"The clothes aren't important, Aunt Ye. Just don't forget the black stockings."
"Auntie hasn't worn those before! I'll go buy them right now."
After chatting for a bit longer, Ye Manman happily headed off to purchase the stockings, feeling a youthful excitement she hadn't felt in a long time.
At three in the afternoon, Su Yan received another call—this one unexpected. It was from Song Youzhen, the mother of his former class monitor, Liu Hua.
"Aunt Song, it's been a while."
"Xiaoyan, has Ye Manman come looking for you?"
Su Yan was surprised. How did Aunt Song know about that?
"How did you know?"
"I'm heading to Yancheng for some small business, and I heard Aunt Ye is going with you."
Hearing this, Su Yan was even more impressed by her intuition.
"You're right."
Though her tone remained calm, Song Youzhen couldn't help but feel a pang of frustration. Every time Su Yan came back, Ye Manman was the first to find him, not her. She recalled the day on Okushima when she had hoped to meet him, but once again, Ye Manman had beaten her to it. A flicker of jealousy surfaced in her heart.
"I knew it."
Curiosity gnawed at her. She wondered what kind of "small business" Su Yan was handling.
Su Yan chuckled and said, "Aunt Song, I'm going to the Olympics. You're welcome to join us if you'd like."
Without hesitation, she agreed.
"Alright, Xiaoyan. I'll pack and meet you."
After hanging up, she opened her closet and carefully selected her most beautiful and elegant clothes. This time, she was determined to show Su Yan her most stunning side.
With her suitcase packed, she walked into the living room, where her son, Liu Hua, noticed her preparations.
"Mom, where are you going?"
"I have something to take care of."
Song Youzhen's aloof demeanor made it clear she didn't intend to explain much to her son. As Liu Hua watched his mother's graceful figure disappear, an uncomfortable feeling crept into his heart. It felt like he was losing something important, but he couldn't quite understand what it was.
---
Su Yan arrived at the airport first. When Ye Manman showed up with her suitcase, she immediately spotted him waiting. Excited, she rushed over and hugged him tightly.
"Xiaoyan, you naughty boy! Auntie missed you so much!" she exclaimed, kissing him on the cheek.
Su Yan hugged her back, smiling as he let her go.
"Let's get going," Ye Manman urged eagerly. She was already thinking about their time together in Yancheng, imagining how intense their chemistry would be.
But Su Yan stopped her with a grin.
"Wait a minute, Aunt Ye. We're waiting for someone else."
"Someone else? Who?" she asked, her surprise evident.
Before he could respond, a taxi pulled up in front of them. Stepping out was none other than Song Youzhen, dressed in an elegant black outfit that accentuated her poise and class, making her look like a lady from high society.
"Xiaoyan," she greeted warmly.
"Aunt Song," Su Yan responded, keeping his tone polite.
The moment Ye Manman saw Song Youzhen, an uneasy feeling settled in her chest. Something about this encounter didn't sit right with her, and she couldn't shake the sense that things were about to take an unexpected turn.