Going home for Chinese New Year, I squeezed onto a bus with three energetic young women.

The next morning.

Bai Li opened his eyes and felt a heavy weight pressing on his chest.

Looking down, he saw Zhang Qian sleeping soundly, breathing evenly, clinging to his chest like an octopus.

We made noise until very late last night, and eventually we both fell asleep without even realizing it.

Bai Li held her breath and slowly withdrew with extremely light movements...

The weary bird had returned to its nest to rest for the night, and now, freed, it walked to the window and pushed open the glass.

A crisp, cold wind blew in, finally dispelling much of the salty, damp smell in the room.

I turned around and picked up my phone from the bedside table. The screen showed that it was exactly eight o'clock.

"Get up, you sleepyhead." Bai Li walked to the bedside, reached out and pinched Zhang Qian's smooth shoulders, shaking her hard twice.

Zhang Qian groaned sleepily and rubbed her eyes.

Once her gaze focused and met Bai Li's face, the girl immediately became more alert.

She gripped the corner of the blanket with both hands and quickly buried half her face in the blanket.

She curled up into a ball, with only a wisp of blue hair peeking out from the edge of the blanket.

Her fair neck and even the roots of her ears were flushed with a burning crimson, and she no longer dared to look Bai Li in the eye.

Since following Bai Li, although he has done those kinds of things quite a bit, he always goes crazy without a care in the world.

But what... what do you mean by "tearing it open yourself"...?

Zhang Qian bit her lower lip in bed, so ashamed that she dug three bedrooms and a living room into the sheets with her toes.

Bai Li found it quite amusing to see her suffocating like this.

He sat down on the edge of the bed and patted the bulge through the blanket.

"Stop hiding it, you'll get sick from holding it in. Get up, wash up, and have breakfast. We still need to go look at the studio location today, so hurry up."

After a long silence in bed, Zhang Qian's muffled, weak protest finally broke the stillness:

"I...I'm not going, I need to rest." After saying that, she scooted further inside: "Just leave me some breakfast, I'll heat it up and eat it when I get up."

Bai Li chuckled softly, not forcing her to get up.

"Okay, you stay home and rest." He stood up and picked up the clothes that had fallen to the ground.

"If you miss me after you wake up, give me a call and I'll come back to pick you up."

He had just finished saying that.

Zhang Qian poked half her head out from under the covers, her beautiful eyes filled with undisguised joy.

"Hmm..." She nodded emphatically.

This seemingly ordinary piece of advice had a far greater impact on Zhang Qian, a girl who desperately craved love, than any gold or silver jewelry.

The lingering shame vanished, leaving only a heart full of tenderness and affection.

The older brother doesn't see himself as a handy tool to be called upon at any time; he genuinely cares about his own feelings.

I'm so happy to have met a man like him.

Even if I were to die right now, my life would have been worthwhile.

[Ding! Investment target Zhang Qian's favorability has increased by 2 points. Current favorability is 92 points.]

The system notification sounded in my mind.

Bai Li walked towards the bathroom, in a great mood.

This trick really worked...

Sincerity begets sincerity, speed begets speed, and honesty is no lie.

After this combination of punches, even the wildest girl will have to submit.

But what he said was true, without the slightest hint of pretense.

After washing up, Bai Li changed into a neat turtleneck sweater and black pants, and went downstairs.

As soon as I stepped into the living room, I heard a noisy commotion coming from the bathroom downstairs.

Chen Tingting, Lin Xiaoshuang, and Li Jiaxin, the three girls, squeezed in front of the spacious washbasin.

These three young women had only recently started out; their hair was messy, and they were all wearing oversized cartoon pajamas.

Lin Xiaoshuang's mouth was covered in white toothpaste foam. Holding up a toothbrush, her fluffy yellow head poked out and she greeted him indistinctly:

"Big brother, wake up! We just ordered takeout, it should be ready to eat in a bit!"

Just as he finished speaking, the doorbell rang at the front door outside the foyer.

Bai Li walked over and opened the security door.

The person standing outside was not a deliveryman in a yellow and blue uniform, but a property manager from Genting Palace wearing a sharp suit and white gloves.

The butler was carrying several plastic bags with the words "Xiaoyao Town Spicy Soup" printed on them in bold, which looked out of place in front of the magnificent gate of Villa No. 1.

"Good morning, Mr. Bai." The property manager bowed slightly and handed over the takeout with both hands, his attitude impeccably respectful. "This is the takeout you just ordered. Also, let me explain something to you."

The butler spoke at a steady pace, with a professional smile on his face.

"We have a 24-hour Michelin-starred private chef team at Genting Highlands. If you have any dining needs, you can call the internal phone number directly."

"Whether it's Chinese food or Western pastries, they will be made to order and delivered by a dedicated person. All costs are included in your premium property management fee, so there is no need to settle separately."

"Some of the food outside...does not meet the hygiene standards here."

Bai Li took the plastic bag, inwardly sighing.

This is truly a well-equipped service for an exorbitantly priced luxury residence; their approach is incredibly thoughtful.

However, this butler greatly underestimated the young women.

"Who says food outside isn't good!"

After rinsing her mouth, Chen Tingting hastily wiped her face with a towel and rushed out of the bathroom.

With her striking red hair, she snatched the plastic bag from Bai Li's hand and rummaged through it to peek inside.

"Hot soy milk and freshly fried dough sticks!" Chen Tingting said, biting her tongue piercing. "We just love this! We can't stand Michelin-starred private chefs and all that raw meat and bloody stuff!"

Lin Xiaoshuang and Li Jiaxin, who were following behind, nodded in agreement.

These energetic young women didn't become coy or pretentious at all just because they moved into a multi-million dollar mansion.

They won't forget the taste of street food just because they're wearing designer clothes.

In their eyes, Bai Li could sit comfortably in his Panamera, and he could laugh out loud just as easily if he sat on the back of a broken electric scooter.

They have their own set of standards for measuring the world, which are not changed by rules.

Bai Li turned to the side, one hand in his pocket, adopting a very protective stance.

"There's nothing I can do; my younger sisters just love down-to-earth food." Bai Li looked at the property manager, her tone gentle yet weighty:

"From now on, I'll trouble you property management to deliver any takeout I need."

"As for errand fees or other service charges, just put them on the property management bill."

"You're too kind, Mr. Bai. Serving the residents is our job." The property manager showed no disdain and bowed deeply.

"From now on, our security department will deliver your takeout orders as soon as possible. Enjoy your meal."

Watching the butler turn and leave, Bai Li closed the door.

These high-end properties are worlds apart from the shady management practices in ordinary residential communities.

They treat homeowners like royalty, instead of worrying about how to deal with lone delivery drivers, how to subdue ungrateful homeowners, or how to escape from criminals.

On the long table in the restaurant.

Steaming hot soy milk and spicy soup filled the air, while a few golden-brown, crispy fried dough sticks emitted a fragrant aroma of oil.

Bai Li tore a fried dough stick in half and soaked it in the spicy soup.

"I'm going out in a bit to handle some location selection for the short drama studio." Bai Li glanced at the three girls who were engrossed in their rice: "Do you want to come along?"

"Of course we're going!" Li Jiaxin swallowed the food in her mouth, her purple ponytail swinging behind her head. "Staying at home will only make us grow mushrooms."

Lin Xiaoshuang held the soy milk cup in both hands and replied in a soft, sweet voice, "If Big Brother wants to do something serious, we definitely have to help."

At this point, Chen Tingting nudged Lin Xiaoshuang's arm with her elbow, muttering:

"Xiao Shuang, you mean you'll have our older brother contact us for serious matters, but Zhang Qian for less important ones?"

Lin Xiaoshuang shrank her small body further into the chair:

"Of course not, we can do frivolous things too..."

But despite the complaints, the bond between these young women is higher than the sky and wider than the earth!

Knowing that Zhang Qian had a tragic past and was extremely lacking in love, they generously gave up their companionship last night.

They have the magnanimity to say that sisters are more important than anything else.

Bai Li ignored the girls' lewd remarks, took out his phone, found Wang Wei's number, and dialed it.

The phone was answered after two rings, and Wang Wei's excited voice came through.

"Brother Li! You've finally remembered our bond?"

"Let me tell you, I've looked around for a great location for short drama studios!"

"Get to the point." Bai Li leaned back in his chair.

Wang Wei seemed to be eating as well, mumbling indistinctly:

"Over in the old street, there are several large, empty apartments. I measured them myself; the area is astonishing, over a thousand square meters! It would be more than enough to convert into various indoor sets!"

"Most importantly, the rent is cheap! We can use the money we save to buy equipment!"

Wang Wei is usually unserious, but he is very serious about his work and has a strong sense of execution.

"Alright, let's go to the old street." Bai Li made the decision: "You wait over there, I'll bring the men over."

After hanging up the phone, Bai Li took out a tissue and wiped her hands clean.

He packed the remaining two untouched fried dough sticks and a cup of soy milk into a thermal container, and thoughtfully put a sticky note on the container that read "Remember to eat."

After doing all this, he walked to the entrance, took off his trench coat, and put it on neatly.

Chen Tingting, Lin Xiaoshuang, and Li Jiaxin had already finished eating.

They don't need to spend hours applying makeup; they're already at the most tender age of girls, and their youthful energy and figure are sure to turn heads on the street.

Bai Li turned around, looked at the three energetic young women who were all dressed up and looking radiant, and cleared his throat.

"Have you all finished eating?"

Bai Li put her hands in her trench coat pockets, pushed open the door, and faced the warm sunshine outside:

"Let's go out."