Who would still be a social slave when they are so rich?

Parking lot near Central Avenue.

Chen Fei took a document and walked to the Land Rover. He opened the driver's side door and sat down, then turned to look at Su Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed in the back seat.

"Sir, these are the investigation materials from both locations. However, due to the time constraints and the large number of people moving around, the information from the investigation is not very complete and only provides a general overview. For more detailed information, we will need to utilize some special channels."

As Chen Fei spoke, he handed the investigation materials, which had been compiled into a written report, to Su Chen.

Su Chen, who was resting with his eyes closed, suddenly opened them and took the documents Chen Fei handed him. "It's okay, just get a general idea of ​​what's going on."

He understood what Chen Fei meant by "special channels." It was nothing more than going through some official means, and it was just a matter of Su Chen saying a word. However, there was no need to make such a fuss about it.

Seeing Su Chen take the documents, Chen Fei reported on the investigation: "According to the investigation, after Ms. Yang Lan divorced your cousin, she originally planned to return to Chongqing. The reason she came to Northeast China was because she met a girl from Northeast China in Zhejiang Province."

Su Chen's gaze swept quickly across the words on the document, his fingertips unconsciously tapping the edge of the page. The faint sunlight shone through the car window onto Su Chen's cheek, making him difficult to see clearly.

"That girl from Northeast China..." Su Chen began slowly, his voice low, "Have you found out anything about her background?"

Chen Fei immediately responded: "We have made a preliminary investigation. Her name is Dong Yingshi, from Harbin, Heilongjiang Province. She used to work at the same company as Ms. Yang Lan in Zhejiang Province, and was Ms. Yang Lan's supervisor. According to the investigation, the two are indeed very close, and should be best friends."

"Not long after Ms. Yang Lan's divorce, Dong Shiying resigned from her company, and the two came to Harbin together. They currently live in a newly built community in Daowai District, and it's just the two of them."

"Dong Shiying's family is quite well-off, they can be considered a middle-class family. After they came to Harbin, they quickly found jobs, both working at that souvenir shop. By the way, Dong Shiying is also the shop manager, which is suspected to be arranged through family connections."

Su Chen's gaze lingered on the name "Dong Shiying" for a moment, and he gently tapped it twice with his fingertips.

He hadn't noticed these things when he went to the souvenir shop before. If he wasn't mistaken, his cousin's wife must have seen him chatting with her earlier, and if nothing unexpected happens, she should come along tonight.

As someone trusted by Yang Lan, when her best friend's scumbag ex-husband's family came to their house, he would definitely stand in front without hesitation to protect Yang Lan from further harm.

But thinking of the impulsive nature of Northeastern women, Su Chen's brow furrowed involuntarily, and he couldn't help but think, "What if my cousin's best friend rushes up and gives me a stun gun when we meet tonight?"

He shook his head slightly to shake the thought out of his mind, focused his attention, and turned his gaze to the documents in his hand.

The following content roughly describes Yang Lan's life trajectory during this period: she has been working at that souvenir shop, living a life of going back and forth between two points, with almost no social activities. For the first few months, she didn't seem to have gotten over her previous divorce, which prevented her from achieving anything at work and also left her in financial straits. She occasionally needed Dong Shiying's help, and things only started to improve in the last two months.

"Sigh~" Su Chen sighed softly and handed the documents back to Chen Fei. The setting sun outside the car window bathed the buildings on Central Avenue in a warm golden hue. Tourists were still bustling about, but Su Chen's heart was heavy.

"This Dong Shiying..." After a moment of silence, Su Chen spoke again, his gaze fixed on the exotic street scene outside the car window and the souvenir shops that were faintly visible: "What kind of person is she? Is she truly sincere towards my cousin's wife, or does she have ulterior motives?"

It wasn't that Su Chen was judging others by his own petty standards; it was simply that people's hearts are hidden from their eyes. His cousin's wife had just experienced a major trauma in her marriage, and her emotions and judgment were both in a vulnerable state. The timing of Dong Shiying's appearance, the price she paid, and her "excessive" enthusiasm all made Su Chen instinctively maintain a degree of scrutiny.

Think about it, even if the two people have a very good relationship, they wouldn't quit a job they've worked hard for for many years, right? Just for the sake of friendship? Would they really go to such lengths to help a friend who is going through a divorce and going through a low point in their life?

This friendship is certainly valuable, but its purity must also be confirmed!
Chen Fei clearly understood Su Chen's concerns and replied, "According to our preliminary investigation, Dong Shiying has a very good reputation. She is straightforward and outspoken, but also loyal and righteous. She has a good reputation among her friends and colleagues and is the kind of person you can get along with!"

"All indications at present suggest that she has a purely sisterly relationship with Ms. Yang Lan and provides her with unreserved support. No evidence has been found in the investigation that she has used or harmed Ms. Yang Lan."

Chen Fei paused briefly, then added, "Sir, there's something I might need to tell you. During the investigation of Dong Shiying, we discovered that she was also divorced, and had been for many years. However, the specific reasons are still unclear. But considering Ms. Yang Lan, it's possible that Dong Shiying went through something similar before. Perhaps she saw her past self in Ms. Yang Lan, which is why she went to such lengths to help Ms. Yang Lan."

Su Chen nodded thoughtfully. If what Chen Fei said was true, then everything made perfect sense.

Dong Shiying may not only be protecting her friends, but also protecting her past self. Only by walking this path can one know how arduous it is.

"I understand." Su Chen nodded slightly. "It's also her good fortune to have met such a close friend."

Having such a close friend by her side at least proves that Yang Lan did not have to bear the hardship alone during the most difficult times, and that she had someone to rely on emotionally.

"Sir, what are the next steps?" Chen Fei asked.

Su Chen glanced at his watch. The time for their appointment that evening was drawing closer, and he could almost foresee that the dinner party would not be easy with that protective manager, Manager Dong, present. She would be on guard the whole time, and her words would likely be full of probing and veiled remarks.

"Have you found a place to eat tonight?" Su Chen looked up at Chen Fei, who was sitting in the driver's seat.

Upon hearing this, Chen Fei quickly replied, "It's already booked. It's a private restaurant near Central Street, which is said to be one of the top restaurants in Harbin. To avoid any disturbances, I booked the whole place!"

"Hmm~ Not bad!" Su Chen responded softly, having no objection to Chen Fei booking the private restaurant; on the contrary, he approved of Chen Fei's move.

This dinner tonight is not just a simple family reunion; it naturally requires sufficient sincerity and respect.

The first step is to build trust, and the foundation of this trust is, first and foremost, an absolutely quiet, private, and undisturbed environment.

Booking the entire private restaurant, though seemingly a grand gesture, best demonstrates Su Chen's emphasis on this meeting and his consideration for Yang Lan's feelings—he didn't want their conversation to be spied on or disturbed by anyone, which in itself is a sign of respect.

After thinking for a moment, Su Chen took out his phone, made a call, gave a few brief instructions, and then hung up.

...At six o'clock in the evening, the bells of the Hagia Sophia rang precisely on time.

Su Chen's car was already parked quietly at the agreed location, and his gaze fell on the entrance of the souvenir shop through the car window.

Soon, he saw Yang Lan come out, still wearing the same dark blue uniform with a plain-colored light jacket over it, and carrying a cloth bag. Beside her was a woman of similar age, dressed more fashionably, with a slightly wary expression. The woman was holding Yang Lan's arm, her eyes scanning the surroundings, seemingly searching for Su Chen.

If this person is not mistaken, it is the same person Chen Fei had told him about before – his cousin's best friend, Dong Shiying.

Upon reaching the intersection and not seeing Su Chen, Dong Shiying asked, "Lanlan, where's your ex-husband's cousin? It's past six o'clock, why hasn't he shown up? Is he playing a trick on us?"

Yang Lan gently patted her best friend's hand and comforted her, "Don't worry, he's not from Bingcheng. Maybe he's been delayed on the way. Let's wait a little longer!"

"You!" Dong Shiying poked Yang Lan's head with her finger and said in a slightly reproachful tone, "You're just too kind-hearted. You always think of others first. I really don't know what to say about you!"

Yang Lan smiled but didn't say anything. Instead, she scanned her surroundings, hoping to spot Su Chen as soon as possible, completely unaware of the Land Rover that was right next to her.

Seeing this, Su Chen, who was sitting in the car, naturally overheard the conversation between the two. A smile appeared on his face, and he opened the car door and got out.

"Sister-in-law!" he called out to Yang Lan first, then looked gently at Dong Shiying, who was standing beside him in a protective posture, and nodded with a smile as a greeting.

"Xiao...Xiao Chen?" Yang Lan stared in astonishment at Su Chen getting out of the Land Rover, not quite understanding what was happening.

Having been a daughter-in-law of the Chen family for so many years, she also knew about the Su family, where her sister-in-law had married. In addition, she would visit the Su family during holidays, so she naturally knew what kind of situation the Su family was. To put it bluntly, in terms of how much money they made, the Chen family was far ahead of the Su family, and there was no comparison at all.

After a brief moment of surprise, Dong Shiying quickly recovered. She glanced at the car, lingered on the license plate for a moment, and a strange look flashed in her eyes. She already knew the answer in her heart.

Before she could speak, Yang Lan, who had come to her senses, asked first, "Xiao Chen, is this car yours? Or is it rented?"

"This car?" Su Chen glanced back at the Land Rover and replied with a smile, "I'd say it's mine!"

He had naturally noticed the subtle changes in Dong Shiying's expression, and he knew exactly what she was thinking.

As expected, when Su Chen said it was his responsibility, a hint of mockery flashed in Dong Shiying's eyes, as if she was laughing at Su Chen for putting on a brave face.

Su Chen smiled knowingly, stepped aside to open the back door, and gestured for her to get in: "Get in, sister-in-law, although the place to eat isn't very far!"

Yang Lan was still a little hesitant and uneasy, seemingly feeling uncomfortable in such a car. Dong Shiying, however, took the initiative and gently nudged Yang Lan, "Lanlan, get in the car. Since your cousin is so 'sincere,' let's not be polite."

She deliberately emphasized the word "sincerity," with a hint of barely perceptible sarcasm.

Su Chen wasn't stupid, so how could he not understand the meaning behind Dong Shiying's words? However, he didn't refute her; instead, his smile deepened.

After the two of them got into the back seat, Su Chen opened the passenger door and sat down, giving Chen Fei a look to indicate that they could leave.

A moment of silence fell over the car. Yang Lan seemed still reeling from the news of the "luxury car," her hands resting somewhat awkwardly on her knees. Dong Shiying, on the other hand, was much more relaxed, her gaze sweeping unabashedly over the car's interior. She noticed a considerable amount of snacks, especially in the trunk, which slightly swayed her suspicions.

"Sister-in-law, who is this?" Su Chen looked at Dong Shiying with a curious expression, but in his heart he already knew her perfectly well.

"Ah~ Xiaochen, this is my best friend, Dong Shiying, who is also the manager of our store." Yang Lan quickly introduced, "Shiying, this is Su Chen, my ex-husband's cousin whom I mentioned to you before!"

"Miss Dong, hello!" Su Chen smiled and nodded. "My cousin's wife has been in Harbin for a while, and you've had a lot of trouble taking care of her!"

Dong Shiying forced a polite smile, her tone neither humble nor arrogant, yet carrying a distinct sense of distance: "Mr. Su, you're too kind. Lanlan and I are best friends, it's only natural for us to take care of each other. But Mr. Su, at such a young age, to be able to drive such a nice car, you are truly a promising young man!"

As Yang Lan's best friend, I must know about her family situation and the circumstances of her relatives. We've naturally talked about these things during our conversations.

Don't expect... there could be any secrets between best friends. Dong Shiying naturally knew about the Su family's situation. They weren't exactly poor, but at most they were just above the poverty line.

Her comment about Su Chen's youth and potential was clearly a mockery of him—a pig trying to act like an elephant.

Su Chen seemed oblivious to her underlying meaning, his smile remaining unchanged: "It's just a means of transportation, to make things easier. Miss Dong, you flatter me!"

Even if Yang Lan was slow-witted, she could sense the tension between her cousin and best friend, and immediately interjected, "Xiao Chen, where are we going to eat?"

"It's a private restaurant nearby, called 'Big Cousin's Restaurant.' I heard the food and the ambiance are pretty good, and it's quiet and perfect for chatting!" Su Chen replied, turning his head.

As soon as he finished speaking, the car stopped in front of a building with a courtyard style.

As a native of Harbin, Dong Shiying immediately recognized that this was the only two-star Sichuan private restaurant in the city, requiring reservations to be made one to two weeks in advance, with an average cost of over 10,000 yuan per person.

"Linjiang Banquet?! This is the private kitchen you were talking about?" Dong Shiying's voice immediately rose several octaves, her tone filled with astonishment and disbelief.

Su Chen smiled, said to Yang Lan, "Get out of the car," and then opened the door and got out. (End of Chapter)