Chapter 60: Conquer Tonight

In the presidential suite, Lin Can sat on the sofa, gazing through the floor-to-ceiling windows at the scenic Huangpu River. From this vantage, the city truly looked magnificent. He glanced again at the Douyin post he’d shared—the comment section was abuzz, astonished by the extravagant twenty-one thousand per night presidential suite.

The account had nineteen thousand followers and was still growing. Aside from this promotional clip for the suite, there were no ostentatious displays of wealth; previous videos were just scenery, games, and assorted daily content.

Lin Ran planned that, once he acquired Banruo Games, he’d use this account to promote “Black Yang Jian.” Nowadays, what company owner doesn’t run a Douyin account for publicity? In the age of the internet, it was essential to let more people know about your product.

He had a career strategy, but after learning from his previous missteps with the system, Lin Ran was determined not to become a workaholic. He’d spent three hundred and fifty thousand, leaving a balance of thirty-three million six hundred and fifty thousand, which grew by seven thousand daily. Still, that was far from enough for the development of “Black Yang Jian.”

So, that one hundred million from Ye Fanzhi was crucial—he had to secure it!

“Ye Fanzhi’s birthday is today. What gift should I get her?”

“She’s a rich girl, and all her friends are influential people in the city. Their gifts are bound to be lavish.”

“To stand out among a pile of material gifts, hmm… perhaps I should do the opposite.”

“After all, in that other timeline, I’m Ye Fanzhi’s future husband. I can’t let myself be overshadowed.”

An idea struck him. He searched Douyin for teams in the city specializing in the project and sent a message:

“Hello, are you the drone performance team?”

“Yes, sir, we handle birthdays, weddings, celebrations of all kinds. What sort of drone show are you interested in?”

“A birthday. Do you have videos of similar drone performances?”

“Yes, sir. I’ll send a short video for you to see.” [Video attached.]

Lin Ran clicked to watch. Against the night, about a hundred drones formed dotted patterns in the sky.

“Sir, what do you think of this?”

“Too simple, like fairy lights. I’ll send you a picture—can you do something like this?”

He forwarded a breathtaking aerial video created with drones, resembling a massive 3D projection in the air.

Customer service replied, “Yes, absolutely! Brother, we can do that. We just need a few hundred or even a thousand drones. We’ll program them so they can form whatever images you want in the sky.”

“How much?” Lin Ran asked.

“Three hundred and fifty per drone. If you really want this effect, we can offer a discount—three hundred per drone. The price depends on how many you need.”

“I want it tonight,” Lin Ran said.

“Tonight?”

“If not, I’ll look for another team.”

“Alright, alright.”

“I’ll send you the images I want displayed. You calculate how many drones are needed, and we’ll settle the price at the end.”

Lin Ran found several photos of Ye Fanzhi dressed as a Hanfu maiden in her social feed and sent them over, adding a note that the final image should read: ‘Happy Birthday, Ye Fanzhi. Wishing you joy every day.’

Customer service replied, “Brother, you’re so romantic. She’s beautiful—is she your girlfriend?”

“My wife!” Lin Ran answered. In another timeline, his future wife was still his wife.

A moment later, customer service reported the price: “Brother, you’ll need three thousand five hundred drones. The cost is one million and fifty thousand.”

“Ninety-nine hundred thousand—long and lasting, a lucky figure. If that’s acceptable, we’ll sign. Otherwise, I’ll find another team.”

“Okay, where are you? We’ll come to you.”

“Arrive at J Hotel and tell the front desk you’re looking for Mr. Lin in the presidential suite.”

Customer service was shocked—no doubt he was wealthy, living in the presidential suite, casually spending over a million for a romantic gesture for his wife. Having money was indeed wonderful.

His goal was a hundred million, and a million for investment wasn’t a loss. Besides, Ye Fanzhi had risked offending the board to push for Lin’s mother as the Star of the Year; he owed her gratitude. This birthday gift was certainly high-profile, but Lin Ran understood women: a birthday gift so memorable would surely move her.

…

At five in the afternoon, out in the suburbs, beside a glimmering wetland park lake, a few birds occasionally skimmed across the water, flying deep into the woods.

This was the setting for Ye Fanzhi’s twenty-second birthday. She hadn’t booked a hotel; instead, she’d invited friends and family to enjoy barbecue on the lakeside grass. It was still early, and Ye Fanzhi, apron tied, was busy at the makeshift cooking station, cutting meat and preparing marinade.

Not far away on the grass, her good friend Lou Shishi—a girl in a black JK pleated skirt and stockings—lay lazily on the green lawn, playing on her phone and watching Ye Fanzhi bustling about.

“Fanzhi, you must’ve been a cow in your last life. You refuse to celebrate at a hotel, insist on doing everything yourself, and after a whole afternoon of work, you still look so pleased. Is being busy your idea of fun?”

Ye Fanzhi kept prepping dinner. “What’s so special about hotel food? It’s always the same. Eating barbecue outside, chatting with friends, it’s so relaxing. Besides, it’s my birthday—I’m making food for everyone myself, and I love it.”

“Oh, Ye Fanzhi, you can manage the household and cook, you’re beautiful, educated, and have a great family. You’re practically perfect! I wonder which lucky guy will get to marry you—ah! Ugh, disgusting! Fanzhi, a bird just flew over my head and dropped poop on my leg!”

Lou Shishi rolled over and sat up, glancing around the spacious lawn. Not many people were present, so she reached under her skirt, grabbed the waistband of her stockings, quickly peeled off the soiled black tights, revealing her fair, slender legs. She took out a wet wipe and cleaned the mess, grumbling all the while.

Ye Fanzhi was speechless. “Be careful, don’t expose yourself.”

Lou Shishi replied, “I’m wearing safety shorts. Want to check?”

“Who’d want to look?” Ye Fanzhi turned her head away.

Lou Shishi exclaimed, “Huh? I forgot to wear my safety shorts?”

Ye Fanzhi teased, “Ha! Shishi, you’re amazing—even your safety shorts have gone missing.”

“Stop it! I just forgot. Do you have any?”

“No.”

Just then, Lin Ran called. Ye Fanzhi answered, “Hello, Lin, you’ve arrived at the wetland park? Okay, I’ll send you the location. Come on in.”

Lou Shishi whispered, “Fanzhi, safety shorts! Ask your friend to bring a pair. It’s too far to walk out, and I’m wearing a short skirt—it’s not convenient.”

Ye Fanzhi shot her a look and said into the phone, “Lin, could you do me a favor and bring in a pair of safety shorts?”

“Ah!” Lin Ran was startled at the park entrance. “Fanzhi, come out for a bit—did you lose your safety shorts?”

“Nonsense, it’s not me, it’s my friend who forgot hers. Please bring a pair.”

“Alright, what kind? Ice silk, seamless, or tummy control?”

“You know so much about women’s safety shorts?”

“Well…uh…remember Aunt Wang’s son? He likes wearing them. He told me all about it.”

“I see. Just buy whichever.”

“Okay.”

After hanging up, Lou Shishi asked, “What kind of friend is he?”

Ye Fanzhi replied, “We met in Shudu, he’s a teacher’s son. He happened to be in the city on business, so I invited him to join.”

“Is he handsome?” Lou Shishi asked.

“I think he is,” Ye Fanzhi answered honestly, as was her nature.

…

Lin Ran bought a pair of seamless safety shorts nearby, then rode a bicycle through the picturesque wetland park. By now, most visitors were heading out, while couples sought hidden spots in secluded groves.

“Hey!” Lin Ran shouted, pedaling forward.

“Damn you! What are you yelling for?” A man in the woods, startled, cursed at him while pulling up his pants.

After a while, Lin Ran slowed down, turned toward the lakeside lawn, parked his bike by the road, and looked out. A tent was pitched by the lake, and Ye Fanzhi was busy preparing barbecue.

“Fanzhi!” Lin Ran called out. He only ever used the title ‘Principal Ye’ when at school.

Ye Fanzhi looked back, the sunset casting a golden glow over her figure. A radiant smile blossomed on her exquisite face.

“Lin, you’re here!”