Chapter 456: Surprise

February 5th, morning.

Jincheng Community.

Even though they had stopped running their breakfast shop over a year ago, Li Guohong and Lin Xiuhong still woke up early out of habit.

Even if not as early as three or four in the morning, they would automatically wake up by six in the morning.

This habit was good—they had no intention of sleeping in.

After getting up in the morning, they would wash up, go downstairs for breakfast, take a slow stroll along the street, greet and chat with acquaintances they met, then leisurely make their way to the former breakfast shop's location.

Now the shop had been renovated into their office, and occasionally Li Guoru would drop by for a visit.

Previously, Lin Xiuhong had invited Li Guohong's second sister, Li Xuefeng, over and arranged a cleaning job for her.

Coincidentally, Li Xuefeng was looking for a job at the time, so she agreed to come over and keep Lin Xiuhong company.

Said to be a cleaner, there was actually little to clean—just mop the floor when it got dirty, take out the trash, tidy the desk, nothing troublesome at all.

Since Li Xuefeng came over, she ended up playing mahjong the most... sometimes when she won money, she even felt a bit embarrassed.

After all, Li Guohong's family didn't just find her a job—they also helped her daughter Chen Lu meet several loan contract targets at the bank.

Chen Lu had since been promoted from a regular teller to a customer manager, her salary greatly increased, all thanks to Li Guohong's family's support.

So shortly after Lin Xiuhong and Li Guohong arrived at the office, Li Xuefeng had already arrived early.

Without needing them to say anything, as soon as Li Xuefeng walked in, greeted them, she started sweeping and mopping.

Only after finishing all the cleaning and making everything spotless did she sit down at the desk upon Lin Xiuhong's invitation, and together they watched TV dramas on the computer.

By around nine in the morning, Li Guoru strolled over leisurely from home.

The four of them gathered for a mahjong table right in the office, playing mahjong while chatting.

"Are we still going to the hot pot restaurant this afternoon?" Li Guoru glanced at Li Guohong and asked casually.

"Yeah, let's go take a look," Li Guohong nodded. "And after today, we're closing for the holiday—won't reopen until the seventh day of the New Year. We've prepared some red envelopes for the staff."

"When are you heading back?" Li Guoru asked again.

"Tomorrow," Li Guohong said. "We'll buy some New Year goods in the morning and probably head back to the countryside in the afternoon."

"What about Xuefeng?" Li Guoru looked at Li Xuefeng.

"Lu Lu has to work today, so she'll go back tomorrow too."

"Then ride with us," Lin Xiuhong invited.

"Huh? Will there be enough room?"

"Why wouldn't there be?" Lin Xiuhong laughed. "Our neighbor Zhicheng is driving back too—we've got two cars."

"Then I won't be polite," Li Xuefeng smiled. "I'll tell Lu Lu tonight."

As they chatted, by noon Lin Xiuhong and Li Xuefeng went to the nearby vegetable market to buy some groceries.

Back at the office, they cooked lunch in the kitchen that had been left behind.

The four of them ate a simple meal, then Li Guoru went out for a stroll.

Li Guohong drove off to check on the hot pot restaurant, leaving Lin Xiuhong and Li Xuefeng to continue watching TV dramas.

By around three or four in the afternoon, Lin Xiuhong and Li Xuefeng finished work, went back to the vegetable market to buy more groceries, then headed for Bihai Lanting.

But when Lin Xiuhong arrived at Bihai Lanting and was about to go upstairs, she saw a very prestigious car parked beside it.

Although Lin Xiuhong didn't know cars, she could tell from the logo it was a Mercedes, probably expensive.

And the car had no license plates—clearly brand new, its black paint gleaming like freshly painted, very beautiful.

"That Guohong, when's he going to get a new car too?" Lin Xiuhong muttered under her breath—not out of envy, but simply because Li Guohong's used car was truly uncomfortable to ride in.

Since their son had money now, he should just replace it.

But Li Guohong himself was stingy and kept refusing to change it, so it had been delayed.

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuhong carried the groceries upstairs. As she stepped into apartment 1502 and was about to slip off her shoes, she saw a familiar figure sitting in the living room and froze.

"Xiufeng? What are you doing here?" Lin Xiuhong was surprised.

Seeing Lin Xiufeng chatting with Li Luo on the living room sofa, Lin Xiuhong was taken aback.

Lin Xiufeng turned his head at the sound, looked toward the door, then smiled: "Sister, I just came by to take a look around, and maybe mooch a meal—is that okay?"

"You say that," Lin Xiuhong laughed. "You should've told me earlier—I could've bought more groceries."

"No need, just eat something simple."

"Why did you come over here? What about your milk tea shop?" Lin Xiuhong walked toward the kitchen, carrying the groceries, asking casually.

"The milk tea shop closed down," Lin Xiufeng said. "A few days ago, when their university went on winter break, I shut it for rest—there weren't many orders anyway after the holiday started."

"It's because Jian Xuejie also went home for the break," Li Luo chuckled. "Staying alone in the shop is boring."

"Who's Jian Xuejie?" Lin Xiuhong frowned, turning back from the kitchen doorway, curious.

"Don't listen to him—he's just a college student who worked at my shop," Lin Xiufeng scowled at Li Luo, then waved his hand to explain to Lin Xiuhong.

"Oh?"

Lin Xiuhong glanced at Li Luo, who was grinning, then walked into the kitchen, her thoughts turning active as she recalled Li Luo's earlier words.

When Li Luo had suggested handing the milk tea shop over to Lin Xiufeng, he'd said the shop was right by Qian Gate, surrounded by many young girls.

Being in that environment, he'd be exposed to girls every day—far more likely than driving a truck and encountering them by chance.

If he ever met someone he liked, wouldn't finding a partner naturally fall into place?

Thinking of this, Lin Xiuhong felt a quiet anticipation.

But she also knew her brother's nature—this couldn't be rushed or pressured; better to let things unfold naturally.

So Lin Xiuhong said nothing more, merely quietly filed the thought away and began preparing the ingredients.

Around five in the evening, Li Guohong returned from the hot pot restaurant, his face glowing.

Seeing Lin Xiufeng there, Li Guohong was momentarily stunned, then sat down on the sofa and began chatting with him.

"I originally thought I'd feel bad about it," Li Guohong pulled out a red envelope containing two hundred yuan, squeezing it in his hand and tapping it lightly. "First time giving employees red envelopes—ten or so people—that's two or three thousand yuan gone."

"But now that I've actually handed them out and seen each of them smiling so happily, I feel it was worth it."

"Sometimes I think, whether you make money or not is secondary—this kind of satisfaction is more precious."

After gaining wealth, a person's pursuits gradually change.

Li Guohong was no exception.

In the past, if someone had told him to hand out two or three thousand yuan as red envelopes, he would've felt actual pain.

Now, it instead made him feel at ease, as if his entire being had been elevated.

Under different circumstances, many things become utterly different.

Seeing his father so happy, Li Luo smiled along.

But after finishing this little aside, Li Guohong added, "Just now when I went upstairs, I saw a new car downstairs—looks like a Mercedes SUV. That car's super expensive, and it looks really beautiful."

"I saw it too," Lin Xiuhong said, stepping out of the kitchen with a dish in hand, nodding upon hearing Li Guohong mention the car. "Is that car really expensive? Aren't they all Mercedes?"

"Can they be the same? A regular Mercedes versus an SUV—the price difference is huge," Li Guohong said. "That car probably cost over a million yuan after all fees. I wonder whose new car it is."

"Dad, which one are you talking about?" Li Luo smiled, exchanged a glance with Lin Xiufeng, then rose and walked to the balcony window, looking down. "That one parked at the corner?"

Hearing this, Li Guohong also stood up and leaned over to peer down. After a moment, he confirmed the car: "Yes, that one—see it?"

"I see it," Li Luo nodded, then noticed the car's signal lights flash once, followed by the sound of the locks unlocking.

Li Guohong clearly noticed too: "Look, someone just unlocked it. I wonder whose car that is."

As he spoke, the Mercedes SUV below flashed again—the door locked, then unlocked, then locked once more.

This time, Li Guohong was left stunned.

"Is this guy crazy?"

"Dad… you shouldn't curse like that," Li Luo said with a grin, pulling a car key from his pant pocket and pressing the unlock button right in front of Li Guohong.

The Mercedes SUV below flashed again, leaving Li Guohong frozen in place.

"Wait… you…?"

Li Guohong was momentarily bewildered, staring between the key in Li Luo's hand and the new car below.

When he realized what had happened, his heart began pounding violently, as if it might burst from his chest.

"Here, take it," Li Luo pried open Li Guohong's clenched fist and slipped the key into his palm, smiling. "It's almost New Year—consider this your New Year gift."

"You bought this?" Li Guohong looked down at the key in his hand, his throat dry, a mix of emotion and rising excitement swelling inside him.

"Bought in the company's name," Li Luo smiled. "From now on, this car is the exclusive ride of Chongran Culture's general manager."

"You little rascal," Li Guohong laughed at that.

His position as general manager was entirely honorary—he had virtually nothing to do.

But now, this exclusive ride belonging to the general manager was real.

"How did you get this car here?"

"I had Uncle help drive it over," Li Luo said, pointing to Lin Xiufeng beside him.

"That explains it," Li Guohong realized. Now he understood why Lin Xiufeng had come over for dinner today—he'd been on a mission.

Now that the situation was clear, Li Guohong couldn't wait. He turned and rushed into the living room, then hurried to the door, reaching for his shoes.

Lin Xiuhong stepped out of the kitchen with a dish, seeing his actions, stopped him in confusion: "Hey hey hey! What are you doing? Dinner's ready—where are you going now?"

"I'll be right back, wait for me!" Li Guohong only wanted to touch his beloved car—he couldn't care less about eating.

Li Luo, just stepping in from the balcony, chuckled and said, "Mom, come with him. Go see the car, then come back to eat."

"What car?" Lin Xiuhong hadn't heard the earlier conversation on the balcony and was still confused. "What are you two talking about?"

"Ah, the car I just mentioned—the new one downstairs! You saw it too, right?" Li Guohong rushed to explain. "That car was bought by your son—for me!"

Though Li Guohong spoke urgently, eager to rush downstairs, when mentioning how the car came to be, his voice carried an unmistakable note of pride.

His lips nearly curled up to the sky.

Watching his father's expression and Lin Xiuhong's surprised reaction, Li Luo stood to the side, smiling.

He had worked hard to earn wealth after his rebirth.

Wasn't it all for moments like this?