Why did you make me reincarnate?

Xu Lingyi didn't rush to reply, but slowly turned the wine glass around.

She vaguely remembered the child her best friend was talking about; he had a master's degree in finance from Stanford, was good-looking, and had a gentle and refined manner.

In any mother's eyes, this would be an impeccable choice for a son-in-law.

But Xu Lingyi didn't like this kind of person. She had been working in the business circle of Yanjing for more than ten years, rising from a junior purchasing manager to a senior executive of the group. She had seen too many young talents of the same kind.

Shi Yanci is a perfect template, nurtured by family resources since childhood. You could find ten or eight people like her in her company, and their private personalities are different from what they show.

The Shi family had a considerable business in southern Jiangsu, but it was all in the hands of his father and several uncles. Apart from his Stanford degree, Shi Yanci himself didn't have anything else to offer.

Their confidence stems from their background; these rich kids have a high floor but also a low ceiling.

She was afraid that Zhou Jingran would become like that, so she didn't send him out to gain experience, but kept him by her side to hone his skills.

She had watched Shen Ju grow up. On the surface, she was gentle and obedient, but deep down she was more insightful than anyone else. She definitely wouldn't look down on someone who was all show and no substance.

But Xu Lingyi only thought these words and didn't say them out loud.

She understands Lin Shuqiu too well. This young lady was pampered since childhood and was protected by Shen Zhiyi after marriage. She has never experienced hardship in her life, so her standards for judging a person are still based on family background and education.

If you talk to her about market validation and personal value, she will not only not understand, but she also won't take it to heart.

"My older brother has met that kid who studies words a few times and said he's very steady and reliable."

Lin Shuqiu's tone carried a hint of self-consolation: "If Ju Zi can be with him, I'll feel very at ease. His family has a strong foundation in China, and he has a master's degree from Stanford. Whether he stays overseas or returns to China in the future, he won't have a bad career."

Xu Lingyi put down her wine glass. "Shuqiu, did you ask Ju Zi what he meant?"

Lin Shuqiu's expression stiffened slightly. "She's still young. She'll understand later."

Xu Lingyi didn't say anything more. Many years ago, Lin Shuqiu had experienced the exact same scenario. At that time, her father arranged an arranged marriage for her, but she refused and chose Shen Zhiyi.

Twenty years later, Lin Shuqiu ended up living the life he once hated most.

It was already 10 p.m. when the banquet ended, and everyone said goodbye at the restaurant entrance.

Xu Chaoyang exchanged business cards with several real estate bosses before heading to his car. Just as he opened the car door, he heard a voice behind him.

"Chaoyang, wait a minute."

Xu Lingyi gestured to the driver and then stood in front of Xu Chaoyang.

"Your car?"

"I just bought it last week. It's inconvenient not having a car when I have a lot of work."

"You have good taste. My first car was also an Audi. This car is stable and reliable, unlike those young people who insist on buying red or yellow ones, as if they're afraid others won't see them."

Xu Chaoyang smiled and said, "Red is too eye-catching. I'm afraid people will think I'm a nouveau riche if I drive it out."

"You weren't originally either."

Xu Lingyi's gaze lingered on him for a moment: "I've heard a bit about the Hongyi Apartment project. It turned a profit in just over thirty days. The method was very clever."

"Just lucky."

"You're too modest; you truly have real skills."

Xu Chaoyang chuckled and scratched his head. There was no air conditioning outside. Xu Lingyi took off her coat and draped it over her forearm. The doorway light accentuated her figure perfectly.

Underneath the trousers were a pair of black stilettos, with thin black stockings at the ankles that had a matte finish.

Xu Chaoyang's gaze lingered on that for less than half a second before he subtly looked away.

"Could you take me back to the company? There's something I need to tell you."

Shen Zhiyi had just said she would talk to Lin Shuqiu, and Xu Chaoyang had nothing else to do that evening, so he didn't refuse.

Xu Lingyi bent down and sat in the passenger seat, her shirt collar slightly open, revealing a small section of her collarbone. Her long legs were together, and her trousers made a slight rubbing sound against the leather seat.

Upon hearing the sound, Xu Chaoyang stared at the steering wheel and kept repeating to himself: This is Zhou Jingran's mother, this is Zhou Jingran's mother.

As the car smoothly drove away from the Oujiang Hotel, Xu Lingyi, feeling the coolness from the air conditioning, said, "Chaoyang, I've heard about what happened between you and Ju Zi."

Xu Chaoyang nodded slightly, gripping the steering wheel, waiting for her to continue.

"I know Shuqiu very well. She has been too well protected in her life. When she was young, she was the apple of everyone's eye in the Su Nan circle. Even after she got married, Shen Zhiyi never wronged her. Even when their relationship broke down, she still protected her very well. So her perspective on things is still very shallow. Don't blame her."

"I understand, I don't resent Aunt Lin."

"real?"

"She's not targeting me personally; she's just wary of all men like Uncle Shen. I can understand that."

Xu Lingyi turned her head and glanced at him: "You seem to understand things quite well."

"Uncle Shen mentioned it to me."

Xu Lingyi was surprised that Shen Zhiyi had told Xu Chaoyang all these things. She tapped her fingers lightly twice on the folded coat: "Chaoyang, I have a question for you."

"Please speak."

"What will you do if Shuqiu insists on taking Juzi with her?"

Xu Chaoyang slowed down the car a bit: "If you're traveling by plane, I'll bomb the airport; if you're traveling by sea, I'll bomb the port."

He said this with a smile on his face, but Xu Lingyi's back was pressed tightly against the seat. She could tell that Xu Chaoyang was joking, but she still caught the seriousness in his tone.

Seeing her expression, Xu Chaoyang laughed and said, "Buying it is fine even if you don't want to fry it."

Xu Lingyi glared at him. "You almost scared me."

Even so, she no longer planned to tell Xu Chaoyang that Shen Ju was going to be taken on a blind date.

I should try to talk to Shuqiu privately some more, so that he doesn't do anything really outrageous.

The car stopped in front of the office building of Lianhua Wenzhou branch. Xu Lingyi opened the car door, straightened the hem of her shirt, bent down and said to the car window, "Drive carefully," before turning around and walking into the building.

Xu Chaoyang watched her figure disappear behind the revolving door, then let out a long sigh. The joke he had made to Zhou Jingran back then was now a bit too much to swallow.

He stopped on the side of the road for a full minute before starting the car again.

The crowd had mostly dispersed from the entrance of the Oujiang Hotel.

Lin Shuqiu stood on the steps waiting for the driver, the night breeze causing the hem of her cheongsam to flutter slightly.

Shen Zhiyi walked over from behind and gently draped the coat she was holding over her shoulders.

"Old Zhou isn't coming. I'll drive you home tonight."

Lin Shuqiu frowned but did not respond. In the past few years, every time Shen Zhiyi wanted to talk to her, she would send the driver away first.

She countered, "You really think highly of Xu Chaoyang?"

She had never seen Shen Zhiyi care so much about any young man. Or was she bringing him here just to make her angry?

Shen Zhiyi sighed: "Shuqiu, I owe you a lot over the years. I have no right to comment on education, but when it comes to Ju Zi's future happiness, I think guidance from parents is more important than obstruction..."