Chapter 59: Bai Jing Meets Liu Yuling

On the other side, Bai Jing, anxious as an ant on a hot pan, hurriedly approached when she saw Cao Kun coming over.

“Xiao Kun, are you alright?” she asked, scanning him worriedly from head to toe.

Cao Kun smiled brightly and said, “Sorry to worry you, Aunt Bai. I’m fine, really.”

Seeing that Cao Kun was safe and sound, Bai Jing’s expression shifted instantly. Lowering her voice, she said, “How—did you and that girl do anything in the restroom? If something happened and she reported it, what would you do? Why were you so impulsive?”

Cao Kun chuckled, placing his hands on Bai Jing’s shoulders and telling her to sit down. “Aunt Bai, don’t worry. That girl has some moral issues. I just gave her a good lesson, a sort of ethics class. Nothing serious happened.”

“Really?” Bai Jing asked suspiciously. “Then why do you smell like that?”

“Oh, that’s just the smell of the train’s restroom. Don’t worry, I promise nothing happened.”

With Cao Kun’s repeated assurances, Bai Jing finally felt somewhat at ease.

Then, as if remembering something, she changed the subject. “Xiao Kun, how come I never knew you were so capable? Two punches and that troublemaker was down—so impressive.”

Cao Kun laughed. “Scared you?”

Bai Jing shook her head, her eyes fixed on his. “At first, yes—it seemed so cruel and violent. But now, it just makes me feel so safe.”

“That’s right!” Cao Kun said earnestly. “If I can’t even make Aunt Bai feel safe, then what’s the point of me accompanying you on this trip? I have to make sure you feel completely secure.”

...

Despite Cao Kun’s repeated reassurances, Bai Jing still couldn’t shake her unease.

Because she honestly thought that smell was strange.

She didn’t fully relax until the bald troublemaker and the little punk got off the train.

Finally, when the clock struck four in the afternoon and nothing had happened, her tense heart began to settle.

As the tension released, she seemed unable to hold on any longer. Leaning against Cao Kun’s shoulder, she fell into a deep sleep.

After all, she and Cao Kun had talked late into the night the previous evening about the development and future of Xihe City. Had she not been worried about Cao Kun’s safety, she would have gone to sleep early.

...

Five o’clock in the afternoon!

On the train, while Bai Jing was sound asleep with her head resting on Cao Kun’s shoulder and holding his arm, Cao Kun gently shook her.

“Aunt Bai, we’ve arrived. It’s time to get off.”

Hearing this, Bai Jing immediately opened her eyes. Though still a little groggy, she quickly gathered her belongings and followed Cao Kun, lining up to disembark.

...

More than ten minutes later!

After Bai Jing and Cao Kun stepped out of the train station and looked around, their expressions turned to shock.

Could a third-tier city, barely a pseudo second-tier city, really be this developed?

Not far off, skyscrapers rose like a forest, and massive advertising banners stretched across the area. Even the first-tier cities on TV—Beijing, Shanghai, Guangzhou—could hardly compare.

Are you sure this is a third-tier city?

At that moment, a group of people hurried past them.

One man complained, “I planned to invest in real estate in Haicheng two or three years ago, but my wife wouldn’t allow it, saying housing prices had peaked.”

“Now that the Yundong District has become a special zone, damn it, if I had bought property there back then, I’d be making a killing now!”

Another said, “Enough talk. There’s no use crying over spilled milk. Just find a way to buy a house quickly.”

“Old Jia’s luck was good. Yesterday, a young couple from Yundong District urgently needed money and sold their house. He bought it for 50,000 yuan per square meter. That’s a steal. In a few years, the price will at least double—minimum 100,000 yuan per square meter. He really hit the jackpot.”

“Yeah, yeah,” a chorus of agreement followed. “Old Jia hit the jackpot. We have to find a way to buy too. Now that the special zone is established, 100,000 yuan per square meter in the future is nothing...”

Listening to these people discussing real estate matters she didn’t understand as they hurried past, Bai Jing was taken aback and quickly looked at Cao Kun.

She showed a wry smile. “Xiao Kun, we got off at the wrong station. This is Haicheng; the next stop is Xihe City.”

Seeing Bai Jing’s amused yet troubled expression, Cao Kun’s lips curled slightly. “We didn’t get off at the wrong station. This is where we’re supposed to be—Haicheng.”

What?

Bai Jing was stunned.

Haicheng?

They had talked so much yesterday—wasn’t it supposed to be Xihe City?

Just as Bai Jing wondered if she had misheard or Cao Kun had, a voice suddenly called out.

“Mr. Cao, over here!”

Bai Jing instinctively looked in that direction. A woman in a tailored women’s suit, looking very capable, was waving at them while hurrying over.

Cao Kun smiled back and waved to her.

Someone they knew?

Here to pick them up?

At that moment, Bai Jing felt her mind struggling to keep up.

They had agreed on Xihe City, but now it was Haicheng.

Not only that, Cao Kun even had a friend here to meet them.

When had he ever been to Haicheng?

In an instant, the image of Cao Kun in her mind became shrouded in mystery.

Liu Yuling quickly approached Cao Kun and first looked at Bai Jing.

Just one glance, and shock flickered in Liu Yuling’s eyes.

Wow, what a woman!

That face, that figure—definitely a beauty!

Liu Yuling subtly concealed her surprise, smiling warmly at Cao Kun as she extended her hand. “Mr. Cao, long time no see.”

Cao Kun chuckled. “Don’t pretend—it’s only been a short while.”

Liu Yuling blushed and teased, “One day apart feels like three autumns. By that logic, it’s been years.”

Then, turning to Bai Jing, she said with delight, “This beautiful lady must be Sister Bai, right? Are you really 37 years old?”

“Could Cao Kun be joking? Your skin can’t possibly belong to a 37-year-old. You look more like 30. You even look younger than me.”

Liu Yuling’s words weren’t flattery—Bai Jing’s skin was genuinely good.

And Cao Kun had a say in this matter.

He knew the condition of their skin, even different areas, like the back of his hand.

Judging by skin alone, Bai Jing indeed looked younger than Liu Yuling.

Of course, that didn’t mean Liu Yuling looked old—she just showed age normally, while Bai Jing was naturally blessed with great skin.

Though Bai Jing didn’t recognize the woman and wasn’t sure what was going on, she could tell the woman was complimenting her.

She smiled and replied quickly, “No, no. My skin’s nothing special—just average, not as good as yours.”

Then she glanced at Cao Kun, signaling him to introduce them.

Cao Kun finally did the honors. “Liu Yuling is a real estate agent I met a while back when I came to Haicheng to rent a place.”

Then, turning to Liu Yuling, he introduced Bai Jing. “This is Bai Jing, my closest and dearest sister.”