Sneaky Sheng Sheng

【Rainstop: [Cat peeking]】

【CrispyWhiteGoose: What’s up? Done with work at the company?】

【Rainstop: Actually, I wasn’t really busy…】

【Rainstop: It feels different working here compared to the lab. The seniors here are pretty impressive.】

【CrispyWhiteGoose: Oh? As long as you’re learning something, that’s good…】

During the National Day holiday, Chen Yusheng didn’t stay in the lab. Instead, she went to Shengxi Tech to familiarize herself with the company’s business pipeline alongside the algorithm team.

The project they were currently developing was considered top-tier in the industry, ranking among the first-tier solutions. However, AI products were notoriously difficult to commercialize. Unless they stood out as exceptional, profitability was practically out of the question.

And even if they did excel, making money wasn’t guaranteed… Cutting-edge technology was always a gamble.

Many entrepreneurs who had toiled for years only managed to cash out by selling their companies or playing the stock market.

The capital world was hard to predict.

The only thing Su Bai could see clearly was Chen Yusheng’s talent.

His solution? Just throw money at it.

It seemed the academic prodigy had quickly grasped the differences between industry and academia and was now integrating them seamlessly.

The seniors in the algorithm team treated her well, and unlike that lab senior who had ulterior motives, none of them harbored any inappropriate thoughts.

After all, Chen Yusheng had appeared as the boss’s girlfriend.

Oh, speaking of that lab senior…

Professor Luo had pulled him aside for a half-hour talk, giving him a stern warning.

Then, he was sent on a business trip.

The research group had a collaboration with a company in another southern city—or rather, it was essentially a company founded by Professor Luo himself.

Exiling the senior there was meant to cool his head and prevent any further inappropriate thoughts toward Chen Yusheng.

Hmm, Professor Luo really knew how to handle people.

Su Bai didn’t mind dealing with shrewd individuals. Being shrewd meant they were bound by social norms, making them easier to negotiate with.

Chen Yusheng, on the other hand, was someone Su Bai adored for the opposite reason—her mind was pure, unclouded by scheming.

But today, knowing that Aunt Jiang was coming to Jiangcheng, Chen Yusheng’s thoughts had taken a few twists and turns.

After all, Aunt Jiang was Su Bai’s legal guardian.

And also Jiang Qiuran’s mother.

That identity was… a bit complicated.

【Rainstop: WhiteGoose, should I come meet your godmother?】

【CrispyWhiteGoose: Sure, if you want.】

【Rainstop: But didn’t you say Xia Lin was shopping with you guys? Hmph~】

【CrispyWhiteGoose: What’s with the “hmph”?】

【Rainstop: I feel like I’m gonna lose to her!】

【CrispyWhiteGoose: [WhiteGoose_Clown]】

In the passenger seat of the Audi A7L, Su Bai burst into hearty laughter.

“Xiao Bai, what’s got you cackling now?”

Aunt Jiang was, of course, the one driving.

They had a top-spec model in stock, so she placed an order and drove it off the lot immediately.

Aunt Jiang wasn’t one for customization—just give her the default, no questions asked.

She also had zero interest in car mods.

The Porsche Panamera, meanwhile, was handed over to Xia Lin.

The two cars were now on their way back to the Ascott.

Su Bai straightened up. “My girlfriend’s overthinking whether she should come see you.”

“What’s there to overthink? If she wants to come, let her. If she’s shy, it’s fine—she’ll meet me eventually.” Aunt Jiang flashed a sly grin. “Besides, she’s just a girlfriend. With your situation, Xiao Bai, you’ll have plenty more in the future. Am I supposed to meet every single one?”

“…If you want to, I won’t stop you. Consider it a parade.”

“But let me give you some advice, kiddo. Dating is whatever, but when it comes to marriage, find someone with a solid background. You’re rolling in it now—you need a safety net. Otherwise, to certain people, you’re just a fattened lamb waiting to be slaughtered.”

“Damn, that’s spot on!”

Su Bai nodded emphatically.

For once, Aunt Jiang’s expression turned uncharacteristically serious, her usually playful eyes gleaming with the wisdom of an elder.

It made Su Bai wonder…

Was Aunt Jiang actually some hidden sage, incredibly sharp and worldly, only playing the fool for her livestreams?

“Haha, don’t overthink it, Xiao Bai. That was just stuff I picked up from reading urban web novels. Might not even be true.”

Su Bai: …

Now that was a facepalm moment.

Seriously, Auntie? You’re parenting with web novel logic now?

Ah~ the profound wisdom of Tomato Novels~

No wonder Jiang Qiuran’s personality was so… abstract—outwardly calculating, inwardly… whatever.

Turns out her mom wasn’t exactly normal either.

But credit where it’s due, Aunt Jiang had accidentally stumbled onto something this time.

Xia Lin could indeed be Su Bai’s safety net.

The real question was how the other members of his harem would feel about that…

“Director Xia, wanna come up to the duplex for a bit?”

In the underground garage, after parking, Su Bai invited Xia Lin upstairs.

At this hour, his senior (girlfriend) should be home.

He was kinda looking forward to seeing her and Xia Lin go head-to-head… Both girls were EQ geniuses, but one was a scrappy, sales-hardened go-getter, while the other was the epitome of a refined lady.

But Xia Lin seemed to see right through his mischief. She pinched his cheek and said, “Nah, I’ve got a dinner appointment tonight—meeting my parents. You show Aunt Jiang a good time, alright? See you.”

With that, she pulled out her phone, called a ride, and headed up via the elevator.

Completely dodging Su Bai’s trap.

What a shame.

Su Bai loved nothing more than watching women fight… though it’d probably just be verbal sparring. No actual hair-pulling.

Aunt Jiang chimed in, “Well, I’m off to rest too. Xiao Bai, you booked my room here, right? Which floor was it again?”

“Seventh, I think? Let me check the booking… Yep, seventh.”

The Ascott had short-term stays too. Since Su Bai had been living there for a while, he’d booked Aunt Jiang a room for a few days.

“Aunt Jiang, you’re not even gonna check out my new place?”

“What’s there to see? Your little girlfriend’s waiting for you to dote on her. Young people’s business—I’ll stay out of it… Oh, and tomorrow I’m going shopping by the way. Meeting an old middle school friend. Don’t worry about me. Us old folks have our own activities—generational gap and all.”

Wow, now you’re old?

Su Bai’s eye twitched. Aunt Jiang was seriously unpredictable—sometimes desperately clinging to youth, other times declaring herself a “soon-to-retire auntie.”

But the most baffling moment came when Aunt Jiang, before leaving, waved at… seemingly empty air.

Following her gaze, Su Bai realized it wasn’t air at all.

Chen Yusheng had somehow appeared in the garage.

Hiding behind a support pillar, peeking out like a sneaky little cat.

The second Aunt Jiang spotted her, her entire face turned beet red.