Come pick us up

After a few seconds of thought, Su Yang replied, "Forget it, let's go with the Rolls. It's more upscale, and an SUV is more convenient for trips to the countryside. Might as well max out the prestige for my buddy's wedding."

With that settled, Su Yang turned and carried the empty bowl into the kitchen to wash it. Then he walked over to the bar and made himself an iced Americano, taking a satisfying sip.

"Mmm~~ That hits the spot!"

[Ding! Detecting the host's current state of comfort—rewarding 1 million yuan.]

Su Yang tilted his head back and finished the drink in two gulps before tossing the cup into the sink to rinse it.

"Next up, I need to pick a location for building my countryside cottage. Ugh, what a headache. Oh well, might as well treat it as a fun little project."

As he spoke, he walked over to the couch, sat down, and pulled out his phone to start searching.

The system required a scenic spot for construction, so the suburbs were the only option—the city definitely wouldn’t meet the criteria.

When it came to choosing the city, Su Yang didn’t hesitate. He immediately locked in Haicheng. Building in Yangcheng would’ve been cheaper, but he wasn’t short on cash right now.

Plus, going to Yangcheng would’ve been a hassle—over a hundred kilometers back and forth, way too exhausting. Totally unnecessary.

After browsing through several suburban areas in Haicheng, he found that each had its own pros and cons.

Half an hour later, Su Yang finally settled on a place called Lianwu Lake Town in the Jiangyue District of Haicheng’s northern suburbs.

He’d been there once before on a company retreat, and the memory stuck with him.

Lianwu Lake got its name from the thin mist that often rose over the water during autumn and winter, thanks to its pristine ecosystem.

It was also a well-known open scenic area in Haicheng, with many villages dotting the lakeshore.

The entire Lianwu Lake scenic zone covered about 260 square kilometers, boasting breathtaking views—serene waters, lush mountains, like something out of a fairy tale. Perfect for the system’s requirements.

The area also had plenty of rural guesthouses, and in the summer, crowds would drive over for barbecues, fishing, and relaxation.

It was only about 25 kilometers from downtown Haicheng—not too far, making trips back and forth convenient.

"No second thoughts, this is the place!"

Su Yang shut off his phone, ready to head over for an on-site inspection.

The last time he’d been there was two or three years ago. Who knew if things had changed since then?

No time to waste. Su Yang got up, grabbed the Bentley Bentayga’s keys by the door, and stepped out.

"Time’s tight! Just over forty days to build a house from scratch. Wonder if I could just buy an existing one and renovate it..."

"Let me check."

—System? If I buy a place, can I just renovate it instead?

[No. The task requires construction from the ground up.]

—Tch, figures. Alright then.

"Guess I’ll check it out first. If it’s too much, I’ll ask Old Meng—guy’s got connections. He’ll know what to do."

Two minutes later, Su Yang reached the parking lot, slid into the Bentayga’s driver seat, pulled up navigation, and started the engine, easing out of the spot.

Just as he turned onto the road, his WeChat rang.

Glancing at his phone, he saw it was a call from Meng Qianyu.

He tapped to answer, and her cheerful voice filled the car.

"Hey, Su Yang, where are you?"

"Just left the house. What’s up?"

"Nothing major. Just wanted to hang out~"

"Hang out? Your foot better already?"

"That spray you bought me works great! I used it a few times yesterday, and today it’s way better—I can walk a little now."

Su Yang chuckled. "If you can barely walk, what’re you gonna do for fun? Wait till it’s fully healed."

"But staying home is so boring!"

"What about your sister?"

"Her? She’s glued to her laptop binge-watching dramas. Won’t even talk to me."

"Hah, sounds rough. But I’ve got something to take care of—heading out right now."

"Where to?"

"Lianwu Lake."

"Lianwu Lake? I think I’ve been there once."

"You have?"

"Yeah, ages ago. You going with friends?"

"Nah, just scouting. Planning to buy a place there."

"Buy a place? Why? Don’t you already have one?" Meng Qianyu sounded confused.

Su Yang couldn’t explain it all in a few words, so he kept it simple. "The scenery’s great. Gonna see if there’s a good spot to build a countryside cottage. When city life gets old, I’ll invite friends over for fishing and gardening."

"That sounds amazing!!" Meng Qianyu sounded genuinely excited.

Su Yang laughed. "Yeah, no big deal. Just checking it out."

"Can I come with you?"

"You? Your foot’s still hurt."

"I can’t stand being cooped up. I wanna get some fresh air, see the views. Please??"

Her tone turned slightly pleading by the end.

Su Yang hesitated. "But I’m already on the road..."

"Just turn around and pick me up! I’ll drag my sister along too—she’s been rotting on the couch all day."

As Su Yang debated, Pan Ning’s voice cut in from the other end: "Come get us."

"Hah! Hear that, Su Yang? My sister’s orders."

"Ugh, you’re killing me. Fine, fine. Get changed quick—I’ll be there soon."

"Yay!! Best news ever~"

Su Yang shook his head with a smile. "Alright, talk later. Bye."

Hanging up, he sighed. "No personal time at all. Thought I’d go alone, but nope—gotta bring people along. Whatever. U-turn it is."

He turned at the next intersection.

Twenty minutes later, he pulled into the Qianshan Peninsula villa district.

Su Yang called Pan Ning, and she picked up after two rings.

"Hey, almost there."

"Got it. We’ll head out."

A few minutes later, he stopped outside Pan Ning’s villa.

Meng Qianyu stood beside her sister, slightly tiptoeing. Both were dressed lightly for the weather.

Pan Ning wore a purple baseball cap, sunglasses, a gray tank top, ripped denim shorts, and white LV sneakers.

Meng Qianyu had on a yellow floppy hat, a pale yellow floral sundress, and white bunny slippers.

When a Bentley Bentayga rolled up, Pan Ning frowned slightly.

Su Yang lowered the window and called out, "What’re you staring at?"

"Su Yang!" Meng Qianyu beamed, waving excitedly.

"Hey, Qianyu."

"You bought another car?" Pan Ning eyed the vehicle skeptically.

"Uh, had it for a while. Just never drove it much."

"Really? This looks brand new."

"It is new. I’ve got a bunch of cars—plenty you haven’t seen yet."

"Whatever." Pan Ning reached out to steady Meng Qianyu as they walked toward the car.

"Need help?" Su Yang asked.

"No."

Pan Ning replied, then moved to the back seat, opening the car door and helping Meng Qianyu settle in. She didn’t choose the passenger seat either, instead sliding into the back alongside Meng Qianyu.

"You two would’ve been better off staying home. Why insist on tagging along? It’s not like I’m going out for fun."

"We were bored. I just wanted to get some fresh air and take in the scenery. Whether it’s fun or not doesn’t matter."

Su Yang chuckled helplessly. "Fine then. Buckle up—let’s go."

"Got it~"