Chapter 2305: A Great Honor

The next day, it was time for Ma Lan to return to her country.

Ye Chen had specifically taken Ma Lan to New York to buy twenty or thirty thousand dollars' worth of various local specialties and gifts. Although he didn't say anything, in his heart, he considered it a hardship allowance for Ma Lan coming to the United States to help keep Xiao Churan company.

At five in the afternoon, Ye Chen and Xiao Churan dropped Ma Lan off at New York's JFK Airport.

Because she had bought a first-class ticket, Ma Lan wasn't in a hurry to go through check-in. Instead, she said to Ye Chen and Xiao Churan, "Churan, good son-in-law, you two don't need to go to the trouble of taking me inside and watching me go through security. The friend that Sister Chen introduced happens to be on the same flight back. She just told me on WeChat that there's a first-class lounge right after entering the airport. She asked me to wait for her there for a while, and once she arrives, we'll go in together to check in."

Xiao Churan didn't think much of it, feeling that since her mother had to fly for over ten hours, having someone to keep her company on the road—even if it was just to chat—would make things much easier.

However, Xiao Churan suddenly remembered that Sister Chen, as well as her family members who seemed slightly strange, so she quickly urged, "Mom, it's fine to have company on the flight, but you must be careful. Don't trust others too easily, especially don't trust others when they try to lead you into making money or playing the stock market. And absolutely do not lend money to others casually. Do you understand?"

Ma Lan laughed and said, "Oh my, who would even look at my meager savings? Her family background is very wealthy."

As she spoke, fearing Xiao Churan would nag, she quickly added, "But don't worry, your mother isn't someone to be trifled with. I've traveled north and south for so many years; when have I ever suffered a loss?"

Xiao Churan's expression was a bit awkward, thinking to herself, "Have you really suffered so few losses over the years..."

However, seeing that they were about to part ways, Xiao Churan didn't want to say too much, so she said, "Then Mom, take care on the road. Also, make sure to get some rest. Don't chat with others for too long. You'll still have to deal with jet lag after returning home. If you don't rest well on this trip, it will be very painful when you get home."

"Oh, don't worry!" Ma Lan said with a chuckle, "Mom will definitely be able to take care of herself, so don't worry. And my good son-in-law, you don't need to worry about me too much either. Just stay in the United States and keep Churan company. Mom will wait for you two to return home!"

Ye Chen nodded gently and said with a smile, "Alright, Mom. Remember to let us know once you're on the plane."

"Okay!" Ma Lan readily agreed.

The car soon arrived at the entrance of the airport's departure level. Because Ma Lan wouldn't let Ye Chen and Xiao Churan take her inside, Ye Chen parked the car directly on the side of the road. After helping Ma Lan take out her luggage, he and Xiao Churan watched her push her suitcase toward the airport entrance.

Just as she was about to enter, Ma Lan waved at Ye Chen and Xiao Churan and shouted loudly, "Churan, Ye Chen, you two hurry back!"

Seeing her mother returning to the country alone, Xiao Churan suddenly felt a bit sentimental and reluctant to part. Tears couldn't help but stream down her face, and she waved, choking up, "Mom, you must let us know before you get on the plane!"

"Alright, alright, alright, don't you worry!"

As Ma Lan spoke, she waved at the two of them and then walked into the airport with a flourish.

At this moment, she still didn't know what exactly was waiting for her next.

Ma Lan entered the airport but didn't rush to go through security. Instead, following the instructions of that Zong Qiuhua, she found the first-class lounge.

She had been sitting there for less than ten minutes when a woman dressed very luxuriously walked in, pulling a suitcase and carrying a handbag.

Based on the WeChat profile picture and the photos in the Moments, Ma Lan recognized this woman at a glance as her newly added friend, Zong Qiuhua.

So, feeling a bit nervous yet excited, she waved at her and said with a smile, "Oh my, Ms. Zong, hello! I'm Ma Lan! It's a pleasure to meet you!"

Seeing Ma Lan, Zong Qiuhua couldn't help but be pleasantly surprised and said, "Oh my, Ma Lan, we've finally met! You've been waiting here for quite a while, haven't you? I'm really sorry. I was hosting a meeting before coming to the airport. You have no idea how many things I have to deal with all day long; it really makes my head spin."

Ma Lan said with a smile, "A strong woman like you must be very busy all the time."

Zong Qiuhua sat down beside Ma Lan and said with a smile, "Ma Lan, you're Sister Chen's friend, which means you're my friend too. We must not be so formal with each other. Always 'you' this and 'you' that—to be honest, I find it awkward. At the company, everyone talks to me like that. Now that I've finally made a new friend, please don't use that word anymore."

Ma Lan truly hadn't expected that someone with Zong Qiuhua's net worth could be so approachable and have absolutely no airs. It was truly something not everyone could achieve.

She couldn't help but sigh in her heart, "Oh my god, people say the richer someone is, the higher their quality. I didn't believe it before, but now I'm starting to! Just look at her speech and manners; that's not something an ordinary person could achieve. Being able to make friends with someone like this is truly a great honor for me, Ma Lan!"

Thinking this in her heart, Ma Lan quickly smiled and said, "Alright, since you've said so, I won't be so formal with you either. After all, we're friends; always being so formal just makes us seem like strangers."

"Yes." Zong Qiuhua smiled slightly and sighed, "Oh, to be honest, I still feel a bit regretful. It's our first time meeting, and it's such a coincidence that we're returning to the country on the same day. I really should have let you take my private jet back so we could have had a good chat on the way... But things just happened to be so inconvenient. The more I think about it, the more depressed I get."

Ma Lan quickly said, "Oh, what does that matter? You mustn't think like that. We'll have plenty of opportunities in the future. Maybe next time I come to the United States, I'll be able to ride on your private jet!"

Zong Qiuhua said with a smile, "How about this: once we get to Hong Kong, you cancel the second leg of your ticket and stay in Hong Kong with me for a few days to have some fun. By then, my plane should have finished its routine maintenance from Gulfstream. I'll have the flight crew fly the plane directly to Hong Kong, and then I'll personally use that plane to send you to Jin Ling!"

Ma Lan felt a surge of joy, but she quickly and politely said, "Oh, how could I impose like that? It would really be too much trouble for you. The flight from Hong Kong to Jin Ling is only two or three hours; I can just take a regular flight myself."

Zong Qiuhua waved her hand, "You don't need to worry about that. Once you reach Hong Kong, that's my territory. You're the guest, and I'm the host. Just follow my arrangements. Besides, I've never been to Jin Ling, so I can go take a look while I'm at it."

Hearing this, Ma Lan stopped being formal with Zong Qiuhua and said with a smile, "If you come to Jin Ling, I'll definitely drive you around to see the sights! I don't have a private jet, but I do have a Rolls-Royce Cullinan. I'll definitely make sure you have a grand entrance!"