em had gone back because Huang Lao fell ill in a deep-sea location, so they must stay to show respect.At this time, a middle-aged man around fifty entered from outside. He walked with great vigor; it...Chapter 50: Meeting an Acquaintance

The car soon entered the commercial center, which was located next to the hot spring bath. Although it was called a commercial center, there were only a few shops—a bank, a supermarket, and a business agency as well as a restaurant.

Chen Ying went to draft the transfer agreement, while Xiao Yu found a place to rest; he had been accompanying his sister all morning without any break.

"Little Brother Xiao" As Xiao Yu was resting in the lounge area, a voice suddenly called out from behind him.

Hearing the call, Xiao Yu opened his eyes and turned around. Song Hushan stood right behind him with a puzzled look on his face.

"Senior Brother Song What are you doing here" Running into Song Hushan was quite unexpected for Xiao Yu.

Upon hearing Xiao Yu's voice, Song Hushan visibly relaxed. All the confusion melted away from his face; he had thought he might have mistaken someone for Xiao Yu!

The improvement in his son’s condition after seeing Xiao Yu had brought immense joy to both him and his wife. Over the years, due to their son's illness, they hadn’t been able to take him out much. Now that there was some improvement, Song Hushan decided to bring his family out for a few days of fun; he never expected to run into Xiao Yu here.

"What am I doing here I should be asking you the same question!" Upon hearing Xiao Yu's response, Song Hushan chuckled and said.

"I came here to buy some things, and my home is also in this city!" Xiao Yu was equally puzzled. He never imagined he would run into Song Hushan here.

"Little Brother Xiao, Little Brother Xiao! The agreement is ready; come take a look!" Chen Ying, who had just stepped out of the business agency, spotted Xiao Yu chatting with someone and called out to him from afar.

When Xiao Yu and Song Hushan heard Chen Ying's voice, they both turned to look. Initially, Chen Ying thought that Xiao Yu must have met a familiar person from the same city when he saw him chatting with someone. However, he was surprised when this person turned around; it wasn't anyone else but the developer of this villa community—Song Hushan, the owner of the powerful Tiger Mountain Group.

"Hello, Mr. Song!" Chen Ying greeted Song Hushan nervously and then handed over the agreement to Xiao Yu, saying, "Brother Xiao, take a look and sign it if everything is okay."

Xiao Yu took the agreement and glanced through it. It was quite simple: how much money would be transferred for what item, with both parties agreeing that there would be no disputes afterward. After reviewing it and finding nothing problematic, he signed his name on the document. He then said to Song Hushan, "Brother Song, wait a moment for me while I attend to something quickly."

Chen Ying's body stiffened; who exactly was this young man How did he know Song Hushan Moreover, it seemed that their relationship was quite good and equal. Could this young man also be someone of the same caliber as Song Hushan While he was lost in thought, he saw Xiao Yu enter the bank and quickly followed.

Inside the bank, Xiao Yu completed the transaction by transferring the money, while Chen Ying handed over the jade to him. The deal was concluded.

Outside the bank's entrance, when Chen Ying saw Song Hushan standing at the door waiting for Xiao Yu, he became even more convinced of Xiao Yu’s identity. He then said to both men: "Mr. Song, Brother Xiao has bought a year's worth of my goods today. Today, I will treat you guys; please accept my invitation!"

"Old Chen! Sorry, but that won't work out today. If my wife finds out I didn’t bring Brother Xiao home, she might make me kneel on the scrubbing board upon returning!" Song Hushan recognized Chen Ying because he had bought jade from him a few times in the past and they were acquaintances. However, it was just an acquaintance due to their vastly different social standings.

Chen Ying wasn't at all embarrassed by this refusal; if anything, it would be unusual if Song Hushan hadn’t refused. Moreover, Song Hushan even gave him a reason for refusing. Not only did Chen Ying not feel humiliated, but his pride was actually boosted when he recalled an instance two years ago where the mayor of Ancient City had been rejected outright by Song Hushan while trying to invite him to dinner at his place.

Chen Ying excused himself and left.

"Come on, Brother Xiao. Come home with me; my sister is also at home!" Song Hushan said, patting Xiao Yu's shoulder.

"Home But Mr. Song, your residence isn't in...

Song Hushan, upon hearing Xiao Yu's words, knew what he was about to say. He chuckled and interrupted Xiao Yu: "Little brother, this place is my development project, so I naturally have a house here. Look, that one!" Song Hushan pointed with his finger at a five-story detached villa in the far end of the neighborhood, which occupied around ten mu of land and was the largest villa in the entire hot spring villa community.

Xiao Yu and Song Hushan walked to the front door of the villa. Song Hushan opened the door, and they entered. As soon as they stepped inside, a young woman came out from within the house. She seemed to be the nanny for the Song family and respectfully bowed to Song Hushan, saying, "Boss is back!"

Song Hushan nodded slightly and, with Xiao Yu, walked straight towards the sofa.

After they sat down, the nanny came out of the kitchen carrying a teapot. She walked to the dining table in the living room, poured Song Hushan a cup of tea, then stepped aside.

Song Hushan's nanny was Wang Xiaocai; she had been working for the family for two years. During her time at the Song household, Wang Xiaocai had seen all kinds of people come and go from the villa. Initially, when she offered to pour tea for guests, they politely refused and treated her with respect. Later on, she learned that among these visitors were company presidents and mayors and party secretaries. Gradually, Wang Xiaocai's sense of self-importance grew; since no one else was often in the villa except herself, she began to think of it as half hers. She felt no need to serve anyone other than her boss and mistress.

Moreover, given that Xiao Yu was so young and poorly dressed, Wang Xiaocai had already regarded him as someone trying to curry favor with the Song family; such a person certainly wasn't worthy of being served tea, so after pouring one cup for Boss Song Hushan, she stepped back.

Just as Xiao Yu and his companions sat down, Zhou Ruoying heard them and came downstairs from the second floor.

A few days ago, because of her son's illness, Zhou Ruoying had been gloomy; though not aging visibly, she lacked vitality. But now that her son's condition was improving and he was basically back to normal for a child his age, she had regained all the youthful energy.

"Sis, it’s been a few days since we last met, but you look years younger! Now if you say you're eighteen or nineteen, people will believe it!" Xiao Yu said in surprise as he saw Zhou Ruoying, who looked about thirty, brimming with youthful vitality.

"Ah... little brother Really, is that you What are you doing here" Zhou Ruoying exclaimed when she recognized Xiao Yu.

Xiao Yu smiled and explained to Zhou Ruoying.

"Fate! Little brother, we really have a connection!" Zhou Ruoying exclaimed in surprise when she heard that Xiao Yu's family was from the same city and coincidentally encountered Song Hushan while he was out shopping today.

The three of them were sitting on the sofa. Seeing that Xiao Yu’s teacup was still covering the tea set, Zhou Ruoying was taken aback for a moment and glanced at the nanny Wang Xiaocai. However, instead of saying anything, she picked up the kettle and said, "Little brother, my big brother brought his good tea this time when he came here. Wait a minute; I'll brew it for you!"

Xiao Yu now knew how precious that tea was, plus he couldn't distinguish between different types of tea himself. Tea to him was just quenching thirst, so upon seeing Zhou Ruoying about to make the tea, he quickly said, "Sis, no need! I don’t know much about tea; drinking any kind is fine!"

"That's not right. Wait here, let me brew it for you!" As she spoke, Zhou Ruoying had already walked away.

"Sis..."

Xiao Yu wanted to say something else but was stopped by Song Hushan who said, "Let your sister do it! That's her intention."

The nanny Wang Xiaocai saw how familiar Xiao Yu was with the Song family and secretly blamed herself for not being perceptive enough. Since she started working here, nobody had ever received a personal tea service from Zhou Ruoying in the Song household; yet this plain-looking young man actually enjoyed such treatment. Furthermore, he even used what was presumably Song Hushan's favorite tea—there once was an occasion when a provincial-level secretary of Shanyang city visited and didn't manage to get to drink it.

Soon Zhou Ruoying came out with the tea and told the nanny, "Xiaocai, go make dinner. Prepare some dishes you’re good at!"

"Yes, madam!" Wang Xiaocai hurriedly went to the kitchen.

"Where’s Xiao Yu Why haven't I seen him" Xiao Yu casually asked.

"Xiao Yu has gone to my sister's place in Old Town for a visit," Zhou Ruoying replied crisply upon hearing his question about Xiao Yu. ashes and could not possibly be more dead.But for Xiao Yu, who was a shadow soul, after the skeleton vanished from sight, he saw a black specter sitting in its place."Who are you How did you get here...