78. As tranquil as if by appointment

"Xiaohua, do you know Mr. Chen too?" A chubby middle-aged man spotted Gao Xiaohua in the crowd and waved him over, asking eagerly.

"Dad, this is Chen Fengyun, the one I told you about—my best buddy, top scorer in the provincial college entrance exam," Gao Xiaohua said with pride.

"Good boy, you've got an eye for people. Stick close to Mr. Chen from now on. Oh, and your monthly allowance, I'll add another two thousand. Remember to invite him over for dinner someday," Gao Zhijun patted his son's head, making promises in his excitement.

"This is what a real big shot looks like—quietly luxurious, refined, and so many important people moving because of him. When will I ever reach such heights myself?" Qian Qingping was deeply moved, but he reckoned he’d have to at least reach his father's status before anyone would treat him like that.

"Remember this: never offend Mr. Chen. Anyone who does is going against the Qian family," Qian Qingping solemnly warned the other rich heirs once they returned to their private room.

"Don’t worry, Qian, we wouldn’t dare," the others nodded repeatedly. Seeing even the city’s most influential figures trying to curry favor with Chen Fengyun, they wouldn’t provoke him even if they had the courage.

"And be nicer to Fatty Gao, too. The kid’s got luck—knowing Mr. Chen as a friend," Qian Qingping added with a sigh.

After Chen Fengyun left, Gao Xiaohua was taken away by his father, who mainly wanted to ask about Mr. Chen. Little did he know, his son didn’t know much either.

"The Gao family is about to rise. It’s clear that Chen Fengyun truly values his friend. With him backing them, every power in Rong City will have to show respect," Mao Yuqin suddenly said, her eyes shining.

"Why, Yuqin, are you thinking of investing in that fat guy?" Chen Yanyan laughed. They all knew the gap between themselves and Chen Fengyun was enormous, but if they could win over Fatty Gao, the effect might be similar.

Chen Fengyun paid no attention to any of this, returning straight home, and didn’t give the matter another thought. He had no idea that stories about Mr. Chen were beginning to circulate through the upper circles of Rong City.

Two days later, Chen Fengyun received a call from An Jingru. "Top Scholar, are you free?"

"Jingru, are you fully recovered? I’m at home watching TV, nothing much going on," Chen Fengyun replied with a smile.

"My health is great, actually better than ever. Um, could you come out for a bit?" An Jingru asked hesitantly, worried about being refused.

"What’s up? I can come out, is something wrong?" Chen Fengyun inquired.

"Can’t I tell you after we meet? Half an hour from now, I’ll wait for you at Tianfu Square," An Jingru said quickly, then hung up without waiting for a reply.

Chen Fengyun was baffled. What was that girl up to, hanging up before finishing her sentence? Still, he didn’t mind. He hadn’t made much progress in his cultivation at home lately, so a walk might be nice.

Twenty minutes later, Chen Fengyun arrived at Tianfu Square. He never liked keeping girls waiting, so he set off early. On the way, he wondered what An Jingru needed from him, but when he found no answer, he stopped pondering.

He hadn’t been waiting long when he saw An Jingru approaching from afar. Suddenly, he noticed something had changed about her—her usual quiet demeanor now carried a gentle, alluring softness, so much so that people nearby couldn’t help but turn their heads.

"Hey, sorry to keep you waiting," An Jingru called out as she jogged over, her face blossoming with a smile that seemed to brighten the whole world.

"I just got here myself. You look beautiful today," Chen Fengyun couldn’t help but comment. An Jingru was wearing a light yellow short-sleeved dress, perfectly revealing her fair, jade-like arms and calves.

She ran up to him like a daisy swaying in the breeze, carrying a delicate fragrance, a touch of shyness and grace, giving Chen Fengyun the sense of an orchid blooming in a secluded valley.

"It might have been bold to invite you out, but I wanted to thank you and didn’t know how. So I thought I’d ask you to go shopping with me," An Jingru said candidly, though two blushes lit up her cheeks, making her look all the more charming.

"Sure, I’ve been bored at home these days and looking for an excuse to go out," Chen Fengyun replied with a smile, seeing her nervousness and choosing not to refuse.

He could sense An Jingru’s little thoughts, but he didn’t mind. Though he was a cultivator, he had no idea what the future held, and wasn’t against doing things appropriate for his age, like dating girls.

"You really agreed? Is it true? I was so afraid you’d say no," An Jingru’s eyes widened with delight, showing she’d gathered all her courage to invite him.

Although Chen Fengyun had saved her and stayed at her house for a night, they’d only met twice before, so she was worried he’d reject her request.

"Having such a beautiful girl invite me out is something I could only wish for—why would I refuse?" Chen Fengyun laughed.

In fact, Chen Fengyun had already swept his spiritual sense over An Jingru and understood what had happened to her. The night he destroyed the evil spirit, the dark aura around An Jingru dissipated, but her body absorbed some mysterious Yin energy.

He also gave her a cup of spiritual spring water, which greatly benefited her body. Now, her physique was gradually transforming into a Yin body, unconsciously radiating a fatal attraction to men.

Of course, this effect was stronger on ordinary people, but for Chen Fengyun it was negligible, given his powerful spiritual strength, which had already evolved into divine sense.

"If you’re not afraid of me, can I invite you out to play again sometime?" An Jingru chirped, bouncing lightly as she asked.

"As long as I’m free, of course. We’re good friends now," Chen Fengyun nodded with a smile, and the two strolled from Tianfu Avenue all the way to Chunxi Road.

Later, they went to Jinli, had lunch at the snack street, and found a cool, shady tree to sit beneath and talk for a long while.

Though it was only their third meeting, they’d never had the chance for a real conversation before. This time, they shared stories from childhood to present, gaining a deeper understanding of each other.