Everyday Romance After Becoming a Billionaire

In the late-night hospital corridor, nurses occasionally hurried past, and the sounds of family members wailing could be heard from time to time. Xiao Wanqing leaned on Su Ran’s shoulder as they sat on a bench. Having him there made her feel secure. She hugged his arm tightly, her eyes fixed on a baby nestled in a woman’s arms on the bench opposite them.

"Su Ran, would you rather have a daughter or a son?"

"...I’m still a kid myself. Why are you asking me this?"

"I’m asking you, so just tell me," she wheedled.

"Are your tonsils acting up again? Is that why you’re talking in that cutesy voice?"

"Are you going to tell me or not!"

"Hmm..." Su Ran looked at the baby across from them and gave it some serious thought. "A son, I guess."

"A son? Why? Aren’t daughters cute?"

"Daughters are plenty cute, but I’d worry that when she grows up, she’d find a man just like her dad—me. I’d probably have to break her legs!"

Su Ran’s deadpan reply made Xiao Wanqing burst out laughing, and she playfully slapped him.

"Why? Are you not good enough? If I had a daughter, I’d definitely want her to find a boyfriend like you."

"No way. My daughter could absolutely not end up with someone like me."

"Yes, she should! She totally should."

"Really, no. I’m no good."

"What’s not good about you? I think you’re great. And what’s this preference for boys? You want a son, but have you ever considered that if he takes after you—thoughtful with every girl he meets, and a super-rich heir to boot—he’ll just go around breaking the hearts of innocent young women?"

"You have a point. My son really would be a super-rich heir... Hmm... I’ll have to be strict about his upbringing. Instill the right values in him. He’ll have to be as outstanding as his father—me—and not go around breaking girls’ hearts."

"Hah." Xiao Wanqing rolled her eyes. "Young Master Su, and how many hearts have *you* broken? Besides me, the other three girls in our dorm are completely infatuated with you. You’re hardly innocent, okay? Ugh, forget it. This is like talking to a brick wall."

’Xiao Wanqing knew it was pointless to argue. That was just Su Ran’s personality. He was so considerate and kind to girls that they couldn’t help but fall for him. Ugh. Maybe he’ll fix that bad habit of his in his next life,’ she thought with a sigh.

"So what about you? Do you want a daughter or a son?"

Su Ran turned to look at Xiao Wanqing, who was still leaning on his shoulder.

"Boy-girl twins would be ideal. Get it all done in one go, right?"

"Boy-girl twins would be the best outcome. It all depends on your future husband’s ’ability,’ you know. Honestly, for a girl as amazing as you, I’m pretty envious of your future husband. Ouch! Why’d you bite me?"

Xiao Wanqing bit down hard on his shoulder.

"I really hate it when you say things like ’I’m envious of your future husband’."

"Fine, I’m not envious, alright? Hiss... You’re still biting me?"

"Su Ran, you’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? Fine! You win. From now on, I’ll just tell my future husband that I..."

Su Ran covered her mouth, glancing awkwardly at the odd looks they were getting from passersby. "My dearest Sister Wanqing," he pleaded, "have a heart. By the way, has it been hurting recently?"

"It’s been much better recently, just a little bit sometimes."

Su Ran glanced at the people in the hallway and said, "I’ll find a chance to give you your ’treatment’ later."

"Hmph. Whatever makes you happy."

She stood up, pushed open the door, and entered the hospital room.

Mr. Xiao was still asleep. After a quick word with Xiao Wanqing, Su Ran went to get a folding cot. He set it up, then stretched and yawned. "It’s past 1 AM. You should get some rest. I’ll go sit in the hallway for a while."

"Why don’t you sleep instead."

"Don’t worry about me, you get some sleep. Just focus on your dad. Call me if he wakes up." As his phone rang, Su Ran pointed to it and stepped outside to answer. "Hello, Jinyu."

Liu Jinyu and the others were still worried after getting back to the hotel, so they’d called to check on the situation.

"Don’t worry, everything’s fine. You all should stop worrying and get some sleep. Good night."

After hanging up, Su Ran glanced through the small window in the room’s door. He saw Xiao Wanqing sitting on the cot, keeping watch over Mr. Xiao. He then sat back down on the bench and opened the latest Chapter from Shan Weizi.

’Lately, Su Ran had barely dared to read this woman’s Chapters. They were too sweet—cloyingly so—filled with the sappy stink of love.’

Su Ran once again tipped an Alliance Leader’s worth of 10,000 yuan and left a comment: [You damn author, post an extra Chapter!]

DING DING DING...

「Hangzhou. West Lake Shore, Taohua Village. A quaint, antique-style building.」

Light from a desk lamp shaped like an ancient lantern cast the silhouette of a young woman named Shan Weizi onto the carved windowpanes.

In her chambers, she held an embroidery needle, slowly stitching a golden Phoenix onto a bright red robe with gold thread. It was a wedding robe, the kind worn in ancient times.

She had always loved traditional ancient clothing and was dedicated to the proud work of promoting and popularizing this national cultural style.

She felt her life had been led astray.

In ancient lore, Guo Xiang met Yang Guo at Fenglin Ferry, and a single glance sealed her fate for a lifetime of unrequited love.

And now, there was Shan Weizi, who had fatefully met Su Ran through *The Peacock Flies Southeast* and was similarly led astray.

Some people are true believers in fate.

The Hanfu she wore were all of her own design. Some were produced by partner factories, while others were pieces she personally embroidered using the Su Embroidery technique.

She was, by nature, a girl who lived and breathed a more traditional, ancient style. She loved this way of life.

As for the wedding robe she was working on now, she was making it for herself. It was being crafted entirely with Su Embroidery, an incredibly slow process that would take several years to complete.

Of course, since it was for her own use one day, she was more than willing to invest the time. Once finished, it was bound to be a peerless masterpiece, a classic in the annals of Su Embroidery.

For Shan Weizi, it was all or nothing. If she was going to do something, she would do it so well it would be unmatched in all the world!

Furthermore, she even brewed her own Nu’er Hong—a "daughter’s red wine"—and buried it to age, all for her future wedding. Her family wouldn’t have to worry about a thing.

A girl like that was truly one of a kind.

Just then, her phone chimed. It was the notification for Su Ran’s tip and his demand for an extra Chapter.

Shan Weizi set down her needle and picked up her phone. A smile graced her stunningly beautiful face as she read the message.

She typed back: [Are you trying to work me to death? Demanding an extra Chapter for an Alliance Leader tip every day... Su Ran, is your plan to spend ten thousand yuan a day to keep me so busy writing that I won’t have time to see what you’re getting up to?]

Su Ran: [You’re overthinking it. I just genuinely like your novel. So you’re not going to post another Chapter? Fine. I’ll just go into your VIP group and tell everyone the author’s gotten arrogant. Can’t even be bothered to post an extra Chapter for a Silver Alliance Leader. I’ll tell them all to drop the book.]

Shan Weizi: [I’ve recently learned a new style of Swordsmanship. It’s fast, precise, and ruthless. A single strike seals the throat without spilling a drop of blood. Care to try it out next time?]

Su Ran retracted his previous message.

Shan Weizi: [Haha... So what are you doing?]

Su Ran: [(Photo of a hospital corridor)]

Shan Weizi: [What happened to you?]

Su Ran: [It’s not me. My friend’s dad drank too much during the holiday, had a sudden heart attack, and was hospitalized. I’m here to help.]

Shan Weizi: [Lots of people get into trouble drinking during the holidays. The emergency services are completely overwhelmed. My mom just got home drunk, too—she had a bit too much to drink. In her excitement, she even painted a ’Little Chick Eating Rice Painting,’ haha. She also asked when that ’kid’ Su Ran is coming to Hangzhou.]

Su Ran: [I’ll come see Sister Piaopiao in a few days :) Happy New Year!]

Shan Weizi: [You too, Mr. Su. Good night.]

...

’Time passed slowly in the dead of night. Su Ran, who never did well in the cold, kept dozing off on the bench. He’d glance at his phone, only to see that a mere five minutes had passed. This is torture,’ he thought.

At some point, Xiao Wanqing opened the door and patted Su Ran’s shoulder.

"Go inside and sleep."

"I’m fine."

"You have to."

Xiao Wanqing pulled Su Ran into the room and pushed him down onto the small folding cot. Then, she slipped off her shoes and climbed in after him. She grabbed his wrist and lay down on his arm, the two of them pressed tightly together like two nested spoons. She pulled the blanket over them.

"Still cold?"

she asked in a whisper.

"I’m not cold when I’m holding you."

Su Ran answered honestly.

"Why are you so afraid of the cold?"

Xiao Wanqing asked.

"Maybe I was just meant to spend my winters holding a girl."

"Tch. You’re getting smoother with your words." Xiao Wanqing turned to face him, their noses nearly touching. Tenderness filled her beautiful eyes. "Su Ran, thank you. Thank you so much for today. I don’t know what I would have done without you."

"Of course."

After all, he had overheard her New Year’s wish: "I hope Su Ran will be happy."

"I want you to be happy."

Xiao Wanqing hummed softly.

’When they went to that Japanese restaurant earlier, Xiao Wanqing had felt a pang of sadness. She and Su Ran had been there before, but back then, *she* had been the one sitting next to him. Today, it had been Liu Jinyu. To be honest, setting aside her friendship with Jinyu, as a woman, she was jealous. She had to force a smile the entire time. But now, seeing how Su Ran was helping her father, Xiao Wanqing felt her own perspective was too narrow. She shouldn’t be so petty. Besides, her friends were wonderful to her. She couldn’t let herself be ruled by something like jealousy.’

"Su Ran."

"Zzzzz..."

"You!"

"Go on, what is it? You’ve got a lot on your mind."

"Are you annoyed with me?"

"Sigh. No, I’m not. Go on, say what you want to say."

"I just wanted to say... that being able to spend the first night of the New Year with you, waking up together, and feeling the first rays of sunlight of the year shine on us through the window... that’s enough to make me happy... Okay, I’m finished. You can give me my ’treatment’ now!"

With that, she turned her back to him, wiggled a little, and pressed herself against his chest.

"???"

’A bonus?’

’Or the ’treatment’?’

’Let’s just call it ’treatment’.’

He started to whisper, "Just a second, let me just... you..." Xiao Wanqing suddenly whipped her head around, biting her lip and glaring at him. She had just discovered her posture corrector, which had somehow been magically removed by Su Ran, was now lying on the pillow.

"What is it, Sister Wanqing?"

"...It’s nothing. As long as you’re happy."

She lay back down. Su Ran’s hands had warmed up, and she snuggled comfortably in his arms, accepting her ’treatment.’

"Su Ran."

"What is it?"

"Can you stop talking about my ’future husband’ from now on? I don’t like it when you say that."

"Okay. I won’t say it again."

"Mm-hmm."

"Why the double ’mm-hmm’?"

"You’re infuriating."