Remember that a youth harbors soaring ambitions, once pledging to be the finest in the world. Chapter 156: Journey to the Cherry Blossoms (1)

The meal lasted for a solid hour and a half, during which Xia Churan did not speak a single word to him. Instead, the two girls chattered away endlessly, mostly about Jin Hai, the guy with the thick glasses.

"That Jin Hai is so annoying. It’s a good thing Senior Sister stepped in to help."

"Well, you know how simps are—one more doesn't make a difference. Still, this Jin Hai won't dare come looking for me again after today."

Qin Lu smiled, a trace of envy in her eyes.

"Senior Sister is really so popular. She truly lives up to her title as the belle of the Foreign Languages Department. So, Senior Sister, how is it that you don't have a boyfriend?"

Xia Churan casually tossed her long hair, feigning nonchalance, and cast a deep glance at Fang Yu.

"Well... perhaps the person I like doesn't like me back."

At this moment, Qin Lu harbored not the slightest shred of doubt toward Xia Churan and said indignantly,

"Hmph, is there something wrong with that guy's eyes? Senior Sister is so pretty and so considerate; if it were me, I couldn't help but fall for you."

The amusement in Xia Churan's eyes deepened.

"Ha, maybe so. Who knows, maybe he really does have something wrong with his eyes."

Fang Yu let out a dry laugh and quickly cut in to change the subject.

"Alright, alright, we've finished eating. Where are we heading this afternoon?"

Qin Lu pouted.

"I don't want to run around. Let's just hang out at your internet café this afternoon. It's been so long since I last went online, and I want to watch a movie."

He slapped his forehead.

"Damn it, when I sold off a batch of old computers last time, I forgot to save one for you."

"It's fine. Once summer vacation is over, I'll just have my family bring one over." Qin Lu came from a well-to-do background, so a computer was hardly an issue for her.

Qin Lu stayed at the internet café until after dinner, when he finally drove her back to her dorm. As soon as he stepped back into the door of the snack street shop, Xia Churan cheerfully looped her arms around his neck.

"Hehe, didn't I do a good job acting today?"

Fang Yu could only smile helplessly.

"Yes, yes, yes. The young miss gave a stellar performance, truly worthy of an award."

"Hmph, such a perfunctory answer. Then how are you going to thank me? Hmm, sleep with me tonight! I want you to tell me stories!"

"No way, you're wearing way too little, and I'm afraid I won't be able to control myself!"

"I want you to not be able to control yourself! Hmph, you have no taste!"

The two of them bickered all the way back to the townhouses. Fang Yu still slept on the second floor. As the weather grew increasingly sultry, Xia Churan had changed into thin, lightweight pajamas, and he had no desire to cause a mess by losing his self-control.

On April 15th, a Saturday, Fang Yu and his group set off from the snack street, driving all the way to downtown Songyu. Just like last time, their private cars were parked right below the building of Shen Melan's father's company.

Only this time, Zhang Hao had sent two Previas to pick them up and take them to the airport.

"Fang Yu, is your milk tea company really doing this well? Are you using executive vans for airport transfers now?" Shen Melan asked, pushing up her sunglasses with a puzzled look.

"They're rented. There are a lot of us, after all," he muttered vaguely, brushing the question aside.

Zhang Hao, along with Sun Han and the others, had been waiting at the airport for a long time. Upon seeing Fang Yu, he walked up with a wide smile and pulled him into a bear hug.

"Old Fang, you're finally here! Hurry up, we're boarding soon. Little Sun, go with Old Fang and the others to get their boarding passes."

Sun Han carefully guided the group. When Fang Yu received his boarding pass, he frowned.

"Hmph, why are the seats separated like this? There are first-class, business-class, and economy-class tickets?"

Sun Han offered an apologetic smile.

"Director Fang, the company has strict reimbursement policies. Only you and Director Zhang are qualified for first class."

Except for him and Zhang Hao, everyone else was placed in business class. No, wait—Baozi and Hu Yan were assigned to economy class, along with a few field staff members from the company. At that moment, Hu Yan was raining blows and kicks on the chubby guy.

"Baozi, why are the two of us in economy class? Look, Xia Churan and the others are all in business class!"

Baozi sheepishly tossed his tousled fringe.

"What's the difference? Isn't it the same plane? Their first-class seats won't get them there any faster than us anyway."

"I don't care, I want to sit in first class too. Go get our seats upgraded." Hu Yan pinched Baozi relentlessly, refusing to let up.

Even though Baozi had a bit of disposable income, airline tickets back then were exorbitantly expensive and far beyond what ordinary people could casually afford. He quickly piled on a ingratiating smile.

"Don't be mad, my treasure. It's only a flight of an hour or two anyway. Wouldn't it be better to save this money so I can buy you bags and clothes?"

Hearing this, Hu Yan's anger subsided slightly. She nodded grudgingly.

"Fine. I'll judge you by your performance later, otherwise don't blame me for locking you out of the room."

While waiting for the boarding call, the two of them had to wait out in the main hall, while the rest of the group grandly strolled into the VIP lounge.

"Tch, what is this nonsense? Business class—this young miss has never flown in it." Only Shen Melan looked reluctant; her family background was far wealthier than anyone else present.

"Oh, come on, business class isn't bad either. Fang Yu said the flight is only two hours, so let's not make a big fuss about it." Xia Churan and Li Jing took turns comforting the young heiress.

As for Cheng Chen and Lu Zhen, the two of them were grinning ear-to-ear as they eyed the young and pretty flight attendants.

"Hehe, this business class is definitely higher-end than economy. The drinks are completely unlimited, too. Wow, the seats are so spacious, you can even lie down and sleep... Ouch, wife, don't hit me..." Zhang Yan was hardly a well-behaved wealthy daughter; with a swift movement, she grabbed Lu Zhen by the ear and dragged him back to his seat amidst a stream of scolding.

The flight to Tokyo was brief. Zhang Hao sat right beside Fang Yu, chatting away endlessly about the company's recent developments.

"As long as this financing round goes through, we can go public by the end of the year. The mobile phone company we acquired last time has been set up for several years now—we can just use their corporate shell."

"Very good. How are things going with the Wall Street fund?" That was what he cared about the most.

"Old Hang has already gone to New York to negotiate. The acquisition will be wrapped up this month, so you can rest easy."

No wonder Hang Lai hadn't come this time; he had gone to New York instead. Fang Yu set his mind at ease, exchanged a few casual remarks with Zhang Hao, and stopped talking. Meanwhile, two young flight attendants kept brushing past him, lingering nearby. Teenagers who were both young and wealthy enough to afford first class were a rare sight—they probably assumed he was some rich second-generation heir from a major domestic corporation.

At 1:00 PM, the plane landed punctually at Haneda Airport. Since they were there to seek out financing, the other party was under no obligation to send a reception party to pick them up.

Boarding the pre-arranged private cars provided by the company, the group traveled to the Conrad Tokyo, located near the Hrikyu Gardens, to check in. It was a well-known five-star hotel in Tokyo; it seemed Zhang Hao had spared no expense in order to leave a good impression on their prospective investors.

"What is the meaning of this, Old Zhang? Why are there so few rooms?" Fang Yu asked Zhang Hao with a clear look of grievance.

"Huh? Is something wrong? Sun Han's paperwork didn't have any mistakes. Aren't you and Ms. Xia a couple?" Zhang Hao looked genuinely puzzled.

"Damn it, you could have asked me beforehand!"

How could Zhang Hao know the complex relationship dynamics between Fang Yu, Xia Churan, and Qin Lu? Naturally, he had assumed the two of them were a couple and that this trip was merely a leisure getaway where Fang Yu brought his girlfriend along. Consequently, apart from Shen Melan, he had booked a single room for every couple.

Seeing that outsiders were present, Fang Yu found it inconvenient to lose his temper. He could only mutter under his breath as he took the room key and headed up to the 36th floor.

Xia Churan, on the other hand, followed cheerfully right behind him. As soon as she entered the room, she let out a soft exclamation of delight.

"Wah, it's so pretty! From this window, you can see the cherry blossoms!"

Just below the Conrad Tokyo lay the Hrikyu Gardens, and right then, it was cherry blossom season, with the sea of pink painting a vast, breathtaking canvas of blossoms.