Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

As Su Ran stepped out the main gate, Liu Piaopiao called out to him. She said with a beaming smile, "Su Ran, my daughter can be a bit headstrong. Please be patient with her."

With that, she closed the door.

"???"

It suddenly dawned on Su Ran. The reason Sister Piaopiao had been so warm to him was all due to a misunderstanding. He shook his head and chuckled, thinking, ’I’ve never even met your daughter. How could I possibly have a crush on her?’ He turned and began to stroll along, admiring the beauty of West Lake on his way to meet his online friend at Louwailou Restaurant.

...

Liu Piaopiao returned to the backyard to find the old man playing with his bird. She complained, "Dad, how could you do that?"

"What did I do?"

"Don’t you know exactly what I’m talking about?"

"Know what about what?"

"..." Liu Piaopiao was at a loss for words. She explained, "How did Su Ran know that painting was Weizi’s, and not her father’s?"

"Weizi must have told him. That’s obvious, isn’t it?"

"Exactly."

"What’s exactly right about it?"

"Dad, let me ask you this: why did Weizi paint that *Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix* in the first place?"

"Well..." The old man continued playing with his bird as he thought back for a moment. "I remember it was right before Wang Changyue’s wedding. Weizi had a little to drink and got tipsy. She was envious that Wang Changyue and his partner, two people in love, were finally tying the knot. So, she was moved to pick up her brush and paint the *Hundred Birds Paying Homage to the Phoenix*. The reason the Phoenix isn’t soaring in the painting is probably that Weizi felt she didn’t have a sweetheart of her own back then. So she painted the Phoenix perched on a branch, waiting... facing southeast? What does this have to do with Su Ran?"

"Have you forgotten? Li Tai told us Su Ran is from Ninghai, and Ninghai is southeast of Su Hang."

"Oh?" The old man was suddenly intrigued.

"And there’s more..." Liu Piaopiao continued, channeling her inner detective. "The whole point of Weizi’s painting is Su Ran! Weizi told Su Ran that she painted it, which is how he was able to see through Wang Changyue’s ploy. Su Ran is from the southeast, and Weizi told him about her painting... Don’t you see what’s in your granddaughter’s heart?"

"Are you saying Weizi likes Su Ran? That can’t be right. When I asked her if she knew a Su Ran, she said no."

"Girls are too shy to admit things like that! Besides, haven’t you noticed how Weizi’s always staring at her phone and smiling lately? Kids these days love chatting online. She must be talking to Su Ran."

The old man shook his head. "I just don’t see it. I really don’t think there’s anything between them."

The father and daughter were at an impasse. Just as Liu Piaopiao was about to try and convince him, her phone started ringing.

"See, Dad? Su Ran has barely walked out the door, and Weizi’s already calling to demand an explanation."

"Answer it. Put it on speaker."

She hit the speakerphone button.

"Hello, Weizi? What’s up?"

"Mom, I won’t be home for dinner tonight."

"If you’re not eating at home, where are you going to eat?"

"A friend of mine is visiting Hangzhou, so we made plans to have dinner together tonight."

"A guy or a girl?"

"A guy."

Liu Piaopiao shot the old man a triumphant look that clearly said, ’See? What did I tell you?’

Then she asked, "What’s this friend’s name?"

"Oh, Mom, he’s just a friend. We’re just grabbing a bite. Why all the questions? I’ll be back right after dinner."

"Why don’t you bring him over after dinner?"

"He’s not my boyfriend. Why would I bring him home?"

"Well, if you bring him home, then he will be, won’t he?"

"...Oh, Mom, I have to go. I’m hanging up now."

The call ended.

Liu Piaopiao turned to her father. "So, what do you think now?"

The old man scratched his head in confusion. "You really think it’s Su Ran?"

Liu Piaopiao said, "I’m 100% sure it’s Su Ran. The only question is whether she’ll bring him home or not."

...

「Meanwhile.」

Su Ran stood near the Broken Bridge at West Lake, admiring the scenery while thinking about the painting.

Matters like this have always required mutual agreement. The old master had laid out his condition: a subject that was "my absolute favorite, and also his."

Su Ran was born in the 2000s, while the old master was born in the 1950s. Where were they supposed to find common ground like that?

It was obviously a polite way of turning him down.

It had nothing to do with money. Even if Mr. Ma himself came asking, if the artist didn’t want to paint, he wouldn’t paint.

He shook his head and let the matter drop.

After contacting "Young Master Shi Wushuang" on QQ, he learned they were finished with their work and on their way. Su Ran sent them a photo of his location and waited by the Broken Bridge. To pass the time, he took photos of the West Lake scenery. Having taken so many pictures of his four little ones, Su Ran’s photography skills had improved tremendously.

After a short wait, a sudden drizzle began to fall. PITTER-PATTER. The fine raindrops danced on the surface of West Lake, creating expanding ripples. A misty, rainy West Lake like this possessed a unique, classical Chinese charm.

Su Ran looked toward the Broken Bridge. Most tourists were covering their heads as they hurried across to take shelter from the rain. But amidst the crowd, one figure stood out: a woman with waist-length hair, dressed in a pale cyan Hanfu. Holding an oil-paper umbrella, she walked calmly and composedly toward his end of the bridge, her every step unhurried. The gentle breeze and fine rain made the hem of her robes and her long hair sway gracefully.

Su Ran raised his phone to capture the beautiful scene. He zoomed in, focused, and was just about to snap the picture when the girl in the Hanfu in his viewfinder offered a faint, cooperative smile. Her lips parted slightly, and she called out to him from across the bridge.

"Brother Kuang~"

Her delicate voice drifted softly through the pitter-patter of the rain as the woman with the oil-paper umbrella continued toward him, braving the wind and drizzle.

In a flash of insight, he realized: this woman in Hanfu was the author, "Young Master Shi Wushuang."

He was shocked. It was unbelievable.

Su Ran had seen plenty of pretty girls in Hanfu before, but this one... she could only be described with a single word: ethereal.

He lowered his phone, a smile forming on his face, and stepped onto the Broken Bridge to walk toward her.

They met in the middle of the bridge, standing still and sizing each other up.

"The author?"

"The reader?"

"This is my first time meeting an online friend."

"Mine too."

"Mainly because I love that super fluffy novel you write."

"Mainly because you’re such a big supporter of that super fluffy novel I write."