Chapter 347 - 166: You’re So Smooth!

Chapter 347: Chapter 166: You’re So Smooth!

With that, she turned and walked away, striding quickly out of the barbershop and taking a deep breath. ’No, this won’t do. Su Ran is poison!’

"Sister Reba, what’s wrong?"

Su Ran asked as he came out.

"I hate this haircut! It’s turning our brother-sister relationship into a romance!"

"..."

Dinner.

Su Ran was eating, but Reba wasn’t. She had to attend the launch ceremony later and wanted to look good in her gown, so she could only watch as Su Ran shoveled food into his mouth. Reba gulped and said, "Could you please not chew so loudly?"

"Getting hungry, are you? Want a bite? One bite won’t hurt. Here, these braised pork ribs are delicious."

"Don’t."

"Go on, it’s fine."

"Fine, just one bite. But don’t tempt me again, you hear?"

"Let me get you a piece."

Reba watched as Su Ran used his chopsticks to pick up a piece of braised pork and hold it to her lips.

"Sister Reba, you don’t mind that my saliva is on these chopsticks, do you?"

"I won’t touch your chopsticks."

She opened her mouth and took the morsel like a kitten snatching food from its master, chewing happily.

One piece led to another, and in the end, Reba called out, "Waiter, another bowl of rice, please."

...

A room in the Shangri-La Hotel.

Before the event, Reba was changing in her room, inwardly cursing Su Ran. ’He’s so wicked, making me eat all that rice on purpose. He got my belly all big.’

"What? Reba, what did you just say? You’re pregnant? Who’s the father?"

The assistant’s face went white with fright as she rushed over to feel Reba’s stomach.

"What are you thinking about? I meant I’m bloated from that bowl of rice. It’s making it hard to fit into my gown."

"You scared me to death!"

"..."

...

The launch ceremony was held at 8 p.m. in the Shangri-La Conference Hall. Many journalists were invited, as well as major figures from the Beijing Circle.

As Su Ran and Aunt Luo came down from the presidential suite, Aunt Luo looked at his handsome outfit and complimented Reba’s excellent taste in clothes.

"Since you admire her so much, you should throw her a bone if you have any opportunities with luxury brands."

"You seem awfully nice to her."

"She’s nice to me, so of course I should help her get some work if I can. It’s how she makes a living, right?"

"That makes sense. By the way, what exactly is your relationship with her? Are you keeping her? Are you her Sponsor, or something else?"

"No, we’re really just friends. Don’t look at me like that. There’s nothing between us; we haven’t slept together. I only sleep with my girlfriend."

"’My girlfriend, my girlfriend.’ It’s all you ever talk about. Is she that stunning? You like her that much? As a young man, don’t you ever get tired of it?"

’I have several, I just rotate them. How could I get tired?’

DING. The elevator doors opened, and the two of them walked toward the conference hall. Su Ran stopped at the entrance. Aunt Luo asked, "Not coming in together?"

"No, you go ahead. I’ll be in shortly."

"Alright, I won’t drag you in front of the media, then. I’ll find you for a drink during the cocktail reception."

Aunt Luo knew Su Ran liked to keep a low profile. If he walked in with her, the spotlight would inevitably be on the young man at her side. Su Ran didn’t want that kind of public exposure, as it would disrupt his personal life. Besides, if the media took an interest, they would start digging into Young Master Su’s romantic history. That would be a catastrophe. Every revelation would be a bombshell—his love life was colorful enough to have wiped out an entire girl group in Shanghai, and the public absolutely devoured that kind of gossip.

’Low profile, self-preservation.’

’High profile, Gui Yeyan.’

Su Ran entered shortly after Aunt Luo.

The conference hall was buzzing. Reporters crowded around the front, while on stage, the host Wang Han was interviewing the lead actors. When Su Ran entered, Reba noticed him from the stage. Their eyes met for a split second before she looked away, not daring to look back. At these kinds of events, the reporters were eagle-eyed and masters at catching the smallest details. If Reba stared at someone for too long, it could easily start rumors.

After the interviews, it was time for toasts and mingling. This was a chance for all the guests to get acquainted—a small gathering for entertainment industry insiders and powerful investors. Naturally, the reporters were asked to leave first. It wouldn’t do to have a picture of some big-shot boss with his arm around an actress.

Led by her agent, Reba made the rounds, offering toasts and taking delicate sips of champagne. As she laughed and chatted, her eyes drifted across the room, where the silhouette of one young man was all she could see. When she turned back to accept compliments from some older investor, she knew that in her heart, none of it could compare to that one sentence from the man across the room: ’Sister Reba, you were my goddess back in high school.’

"...It looks like that actress has a crush on you," Aunt Luo said to Su Ran, swirling the wine in her glass. When she saw he didn’t believe her, she added, "A woman can’t hide the look in her eyes when she likes a man."

"I’m this handsome, so it’s only natural she’d like me. Don’t worry, I don’t play around. I have self-control."

Su Ran glanced at his hand. ’I’ve already got six Red Dust Lines. At this rate, I’ll have to start using my other hand. If I get any more, I’ll have to use my feet. And after that... I’ll have to wrap them around my junk.’

"But... she’s been really good to me. Could you look out for her in the entertainment industry for me?"

"Me?" Aunt Luo chuckled. "She’s nice to you, so you’re asking me to protect her for you? You sure don’t hold back, do you? Why should I do you that favor? What’s in it for me?"

"Whatever you want. If it’s within my power, I’ll do it for you. You have my word!"

Looking at Su Ran’s determined gaze, Aunt Luo smiled. "Reba was right about you. If someone is good to you, you’ll really move heaven and earth to help them. Have you ever considered that someone might use that ’weakness’ to hurt you someday?"

"You can’t be on guard with everyone. Treating people with sincerity is the principle I live by."

Aunt Luo fell silent. She thought Su Ran’s simple kindness was a good thing, but also a weakness. Perhaps he would suffer a major setback because of it one day. But that’s just how people are, isn’t it? Everyone has their own principles. You can’t change me, and I can’t change you.

"Fine! I’ll watch over her for you. But you have to promise me one thing. If one day I stop replying to your emails, it means I’m dead. You are to take my ashes, scatter them into the sea, and let the wind and waves carry me to find my husband. That is my condition."

Sigh...

Su Ran sighed, not knowing what comforting words he could offer. ’At Aunt Luo’s age, it makes sense to prepare for one’s passing. But she has no family left. Since she considers me a friend, this is her way of asking me to see to her final rites.’

"Okay."

"Thank you." Aunt Luo set down her glass. "I’m feeling a bit dizzy." With that, she turned and left, Ah Wei following close behind.

"Why did Aunt Luo leave?"

Reba asked, walking up to Su Ran’s side.

"She’s missing her husband. Anyway... come on, congratulations on getting ready to shoot another melodramatic xianxia drama."

"Tch. Can’t you say something nice for a change?"

...

The Courtyard House.

In Aunt Luo’s room, all the furnishings were old, relics from the 1950s and 60s. They were her dowry. On the wall hung a yellowed marriage certificate bearing two names: Luo Shumin and Qin Liheng.

Half a century they had been apart. But whenever she closed her eyes, she could still see him: the handsome, dashing young Qin Liheng. Memories of the past came flooding back.

"Liheng..."

...

Shangri-La Hotel.

Reba was also staying at the hotel tonight, though not in the presidential suite. She had a room with a king-sized bed on a lower floor. Su Ran said kindly, "The presidential suite has plenty of space, Sister Reba. Why waste money on a separate room? Just stay here. I’ll give you the big bed."

"I wouldn’t dare. I’m afraid something might happen."

"You’re afraid something might happen?"

At that, Reba lost her composure. She shut the door to the presidential suite and started playfully hitting him.

’Does he really think I’m that easy? I’m not that kind of actress!’

Su Ran just smirked, which made Reba so angry she wanted to plop down on his face and suffocate him.