Bai Su's Stronghold in His Hometown

The warm dinner at Auntie Jiang's house didn't last very long; in fact, it ended rather hastily.

Zhou Jialu had originally thought about showing off her domestic virtues by helping to wash the dishes, but as soon as she put down her chopsticks, she was ruthlessly pushed out of the kitchen by Auntie Jiang.

"Oh my, no need for you two to busy yourselves! I can just throw these few dishes into the dishwasher."

While untying her apron, Auntie Jiang glanced at the wall clock, her tone carrying a hint of anxiety. "You two better get going, don't waste time here. It's almost seven o'clock, and I have an appointment with Sister Wang from next door and the others to get our nails done and do a hand treatment. If I'm late, the technician will be off work!"

"Get... get your nails done?"

Zhou Jialu was taken aback, clearly not keeping up with this auntie's pace.

In her impression, didn't elders always like to hold the hands of the younger generation and chat about family matters, wishing they could keep them there until the end of time? How could this Auntie Jiang be so trendy, kicking people out just to get a manicure?

That was certainly unconventional.

"Of course."

Su Bai explained with a smile from the side, "Auntie Jiang is now the beauty icon of our square dancing team. Ever since I got her that beauty salon card, she's been busier than me. Let's go, let's not delay her grand mission of becoming beautiful."

"Go, go, go! You brat, always so glib!"

Auntie Jiang scolded them jokingly as she walked them to the door, stuffing a large bag of freshly fried stuffed lotus roots and meatballs into Su Bai's hands. "Take these to eat on the way! Alright, hurry up and go, I need to head out too."

Watching the security door slam shut with a bang, Zhou Jialu stood in the hallway holding the bag of fried food, not knowing whether to laugh or cry.

"Is this what you meant by... a touching farewell?" She turned to look at Su Bai.

"This is great."

Su Bai took her hand and pressed the elevator button. "It shows that Auntie Jiang is happy and has her own life. If she revolved around me all day, that's when I'd really feel a psychological burden."

"True."

Zhou Jialu nodded thoughtfully, a smile tugging at the corner of her lips. "It seems my performance as the 'ugly daughter-in-law' today was acceptable, at least I didn't delay my mother-in-law's manicure."

...

The two went downstairs and got back into the Land Rover Defender.

The winter night in Ancheng, though not as bustling as the magic city of Shanghai, had its own lively charm. The trees lining the streets were draped with colorful lights, and the roadside stalls steamed with heat, full of a strong New Year atmosphere.

"Where to next?" Zhou Jialu fastened her seatbelt. "Are we finding a hotel? I think the Hilton is the only one in Ancheng that's barely passable."

As a Shanghai socialite with extremely high standards for quality of life, she had always been skeptical of the hygiene conditions of hotels in county-level cities.

"We aren't staying in a hotel."

Su Bai started the car and smoothly merged into the traffic. "I have a place in the city center. But it's not a commercial apartment I bought; I built it myself."

"Built it yourself?" Zhou Jialu was a bit surprised.

"Yeah."

Su Bai steered with one hand and used the other to take out his top-tier domestic smartphone, dialing a number. "I have a best buddy from high school named Zhou Shunfei. His family does civil engineering, what you'd commonly call a 'second-generation contractor'. When we were in school, this kid was a true slacker; he couldn't do anything except enthusiastically copy homework."

At this point, a nostalgic smile appeared on Su Bai's lips. "But he is extremely loyal. After I struck it rich, this kid happened to take over his dad's business, so I commissioned him to build a house for me on a vacant plot of land in the city center. It serves as my base when I come back to my hometown."

Beep—beep—

The phone rang twice before being answered.

Immediately after, a highly excited, loud voice with a bit of an Ancheng accent boomed through the car's Bluetooth.

"Hello?! Godfather! Has Your Eminence finally returned to the palace?!"

This shout of Godfather was yelled with such genuine emotion that it made the Meridian speakers in the car buzz.

Zhou Jialu couldn't hold back and burst out laughing.

Su Bai's face darkened with exasperation as he sighed, "Zhou Shunfei, can you be normal for a second? Just use my name."

"Hehe, no way! That was a massive order even my own biological dad has never given me!"

Zhou Shunfei chuckled on the other end. "Brother Bai, where are you? I'm already waiting at the entrance of 'Yinlu'! Just now I even had someone turn up the floor heating by two degrees, guaranteeing that the moment you walk in, it'll feel like you've arrived in Sanya!"

"Almost there, five minutes."

Su Bai replied briefly and hung up the phone.

"This guy... is quite interesting," Zhou Jialu commented.

"He is," Su Bai smiled. "Even though he seems loud and brash, he works very meticulously. For this house, I only gave him a rough concept design, and the rest was entirely up to him to figure out and execute. Rumor has it that he almost got into a fistfight with his old-fashioned dad over this house."

...

Five minutes later.

The car left the noisy main road and turned onto a quiet, scenic road along the river.

Not far ahead, an area surrounded by high walls and a bamboo forest came into view. This was originally an abandoned plot of land in the city center. Because of its small size, developers had turned their noses up at it, and it was eventually bought by Zhou Shunfei's family.

At this moment, standing in front of the ultra-modern, all-steel black gate was a slightly chubby young man with a buzz cut, wearing a black puffer jacket.

He had a cigarette wedged between his fingers and was pacing back and forth, occasionally craning his neck to look toward the intersection.

When he saw the Land Rover Defender OCTA, looking like a dark knight, approaching with a low roar, the young man's eyes instantly lit up. He threw his cigarette butt on the ground, stomped it out, and rolled over like a ball (not literally rolling, but his running style was quite comical).

Holy shit! That's sick!

Zhou Shunfei patted the Land Rover's hood, his eyes practically bulging out of his head. Brother Bai! You're amazing! This car... is this that OCTA edition? A V8? This must be worth a few million, right? It's so freaking badass!

Su Bai rolled down the window, looking at his childhood friend whom he hadn't seen in a few years and who had indeed gotten much rounder. He scolded with a smile, Get your dirty hands off, I just washed the car.

Hehe, what's wrong with a little touch? Just trying to rub off some of your wealth!

Zhou Shunfei wasn't angry at all and happily leaned closer.

However, when he saw Zhou Jialu sitting in the passenger seat, the smile on his face instantly froze. It quickly turned into shock, and finally into a sort of profound reverence.

Although Zhou Jialu was dressed rather low-key today (since she was going to meet elders), her innate goddess-like aura was impossible to hide. Especially after she took off her sunglasses, those alluring foxy eyes looked absolutely breathtaking under the glow of the car's ambient lighting.

Th-this is...

Zhou Shunfei stammered, looking at Su Bai. S-sister-in-law?

Hello, my name is Zhou Jialu.

Zhou Jialu generously extended her hand and greeted him with a smile. I'm also Su Bai's senior from school. Your last name is Zhou too? It seems we were one family five hundred years ago.

Oh my! Hello, sister-in-law! Hello, sister-in-law!

Overwhelmed by the unexpected favor, Zhou Shunfei wiped his hands on his clothes before daring to lightly shake Zhou Jialu's fingertips. Just call me Shunfei! I knew it, besides a god like Brother Bai, who else could be worthy of a fairy-like sister-in-law like you! This aura, it's even more stunning than that... that female celebrity on TV!

This kid might look goofy, but he sure had a sweet mouth.

Alright, enough flattering.

Su Bai interrupted his shower of praises. Open the gate, let's go in and see your masterpiece.

You got it! Just watch!

Zhou Shunfei took out his phone and pressed a button.

The heavy black steel gate slowly slid open to both sides, revealing the true face of what lay inside.

...

The car drove through the gate and stopped in front of the spacious entrance to the underground garage.

When Zhou Jialu got out of the car and got a clear look at the building in front of her, a flash of unexpected amazement crossed her eyes.

In a small third- or fourth-tier city like Ancheng, most so-called luxury mansions followed a tacky mix of local and foreign styles—Roman columns, European-style reliefs, and glittering golden doors. They piled on whatever seemed luxurious, reeking of nouveau riche aesthetics.

But this villa was completely different.

It was like an anomaly, standing there lonely yet proudly.

The entire structure was cast in fair-faced concrete, its gray walls exuding the coldness and texture of an industrial style. Huge floor-to-ceiling glass curtain walls were embedded within, breaking the dullness of the concrete. The lines were minimalist with no superfluous decorations, leaving only the geometric beauty carved out by light and shadow on the walls.

How did this look like a house in a county-level city? This was clearly a master-class private residence that one would only see in top-tier architectural magazines.

How is it, sister-in-law? Does it catch your eye?

Zhou Shunfei rubbed his hands together on the side, asking with a face full of expectation.

It's wonderful.

Zhou Jialu praised sincerely. Minimalism, with a bit of a Le Corbusier vibe. In Ancheng... this is definitely one of a kind.

Of course!

Zhou Shunfei proudly puffed out his chest. When I first showed the blueprints to my dad, he almost scolded me to death. He said I was building an unfinished project and didn't even put up tiles. But I knew Brother Bai didn't like all that flashy stuff and wanted this kind of frigid style... ah, no, minimalist style!

Su Bai patted him on the shoulder. Good job. Your aesthetics are on point.

Hehe, mainly because the money was in place.

Zhou Shunfei led the two of them inside. Let's go, let's go, it's cold outside. Let's go in and look. The inside is the main event.

...

Pushing open the front door, a wave of warmth rushed over them.

If the exterior was a cold industrial style, then the interior was a tech style full of futuristic vibes.

The entire house had no main light fixtures; instead, it used hidden linear LED strips and wall washers, providing lighting that was soft and premium. The floor was gray micro-cement, yet it felt as warm and smooth as jade to step on (the floor heating effect was excellent).

The most eye-catching feature was the giant curved screen wall in the center of the living room, which displayed various data about the house: temperature, humidity, air quality, and even real-time traffic conditions in Ancheng.

"Welcome home, Master."

A soft synthesized voice sounded, and the interior lighting adjusted to the most comfortable "welcome mode." The curtains slowly closed, and the background music automatically switched to the jazz Su Bai usually loved to listen to.

"It is a whole-house smart system. I specifically found a team from Shencheng to customize it."

Zhou Shunfei introduced it like a salesman, "Brother Bai, you just need to say a word, or use your phone, or even a look (actually a gesture), and you can control everything in the house. The refrigerator in the kitchen is imported and already stuffed with ingredients and drinks. That bathtub in the bathroom... hehe, it was installed according to five-star hotel standards. It has a surf massage function and a river view (even though it is just Ancheng's little river)."

Su Bai looked around.

This house indeed somewhat exceeded his expectations.

Originally, he just wanted a place to stay, but he didn't expect this kid Zhou Shunfei to give him such a big surprise. This wasn't just a place to stay; it was simply a budget version of Iron Man's Stark Tower.

"How much did it cost?" Su Bai asked casually.

"Not much, mainly the equipment was a bit expensive."

Zhou Shunfei waved his hand. "The land belongs to my family, and the construction was done by my dad's team, so it only cost a bit for materials. As for the renovation... hehe, Brother Bai, that five million you gave me earlier was just enough. I didn't dare to pocket a single cent, the account books are all right there."

Su Bai smiled.

Five million, to achieve this kind of result in a place like Ancheng, this kid definitely subsidized it with his own money or used a lot of his family's connections and resources.

"Thanks for your hard work."

Su Bai didn't offer any polite cliches; he simply took a bank card from his overcoat pocket and tossed it onto the coffee table.

"There is two million in here. Consider it maintenance fees for later, plus a red envelope for you. Don't refuse, those are the rules."

"Brother Bai! Now you are being boring!"

Zhou Shunfei got anxious and tried to push the card back. "Who are we to each other? How could I ask for money to do a little work for you? Besides, if it weren't for that sum of money you lent me for turnover back then, my dad's company would have gone under long ago..."

"Take it."

Su Bai held his hand down, his tone leaving no room for doubt. "Business is business, and brothers are brothers. If you don't take it, I won't live in this house."

Zhou Shunfei looked at Su Bai's serious eyes, hesitated for a moment, and finally accepted the card.

"Alright! Then I will brazenly accept it! From now on, leave the maintenance and upkeep of this house to me. Even if a lightbulb breaks, I will come change it myself!"

...

After touring the first floor, Zhou Shunfei had the good sense not to stay long.

"Well then, Brother Bai, Sister-in-law, you guys rest up first. I had someone tidy up the master bedroom on the second floor, and the bedding is all brand new. It is that kind of... ahem, Egyptian long-staple cotton, super comfortable."

Zhou Shunfei gave a wicked wink and a smirk. "I won't be a third wheel anymore. Tomorrow! Tomorrow at noon, I will play host and call up our old classmates to welcome Brother Bai back! We can chat in detail then!"

With that, the kid slipped away like a gust of wind, not forgetting to lock the front door for them before leaving.

In the huge villa, only Su Bai and Zhou Jialu were left.

The air instantly quieted down, leaving only the flowing saxophone sound of the background music.

Zhou Jialu took off her overcoat and casually hung it on the rack in the entryway, revealing the slim-fitting black cashmere sweater underneath, completely exposing her perfect S-shaped curves.

She walked a circle around the room, her fingers lightly tracing the highly textured fair-faced concrete wall.

"This friend of yours really put his heart into it."

Zhou Jialu walked to the floor-to-ceiling windows, looking at the not-so-bustling but peaceful night view outside. "This kind of house can only be made by someone who truly understands you and keeps you in their heart."

"Yeah."

Su Bai walked over to the bar, opened the double-door built-in refrigerator, and took out a bottle of whiskey and two ice spheres.

"When we were in school, he always copied my homework. Every time he got caught by the teacher, he would take the blame all by himself, saying he forced me to give it to him."

Su Bai poured two glasses of liquor, walked over, and handed one to Zhou Jialu. "I knew back then that this brother was someone I could count on."

Zhou Jialu took the glass and took a gentle sip.

"That is really nice."

She leaned into Su Bai's embrace, her voice a bit languid. "To have an elder like Auntie Jiang, to have a friend like Zhou Shunfei... Su Bai, you are actually richer than a lot of people. And not just in terms of money."

"And now I have you."

Su Bai looked down at the slightly tipsy face of the beauty in his arms, his eyes gradually deepening.

"Yes, you have me."

Zhou Jialu looked up, her fox-like eyes shimmering with a hint of allure. "Then... as the first hostess of this new home, shouldn't I exercise my rights as the lady of the house?"

"Oh? What rights?"

"For example..."

Zhou Jialu extended a single finger, gently hooking it into Su Bai's collar, and tugged him toward the stairs.

"Like going to test if that legendary Egyptian long-staple cotton bedding is actually comfortable? And that... jacuzzi bathtub, can you really see the river view from it?"

This blatant invitation, paired with her sultry, mature voice, was simply a lethal poison.

Su Bai chuckled.

He set down his wine glass and scooped Zhou Jialu up into his arms in one smooth motion.

"For testing like this, it's only scientifically rigorous if two people do it together."

"Besides..."

Su Bai leaned into her ear and smirked. "Didn't Zhou Shunfei just say the whole house is smart-enabled? I happen to want to test if this voice-control system... can recognize certain specific sounds."

"You... you're so bad!"

Zhou Jialu playfully slapped his chest, but her arms wrapped tightly around his neck.

...

The master bedroom on the second floor was a massive eighty-square-meter suite.

Huge floor-to-ceiling windows looked directly out over the river outside.

As Su Bai carried Zhou Jialu into the bathroom, the smart system had already drawn a hot bath. Ambient lights at the bottom of the tub illuminated, dyeing the water a dreamy blue.

That night.

In this uniquely minimalist villa, Su Bai and Zhou Jialu engaged in a profound exploration of architectural acoustics and ergonomics.

The facts proved it.

Zhou Shunfei's engineering quality was indeed rock solid.

Whether it was the weight-bearing capacity of the bathtub, the shock-absorbing performance of the large bed, or the soundproofing of the entire house, everything passed with flying colors.

As for the Egyptian long-staple cotton...

Well, it was indeed very soft and smooth.

But no matter how soft or smooth, it couldn't compare to the creamy, flawless skin of the woman in his arms.

Outside the window, the night in An City deepened, with a few sparse stars twinkling in the sky.

And this villa, named Cloud Mansion, became Su Bai's warmest and most private haven in this small city on this cold winter night.

Tomorrow, there would be reunions with old friends, and memories of their youth waiting to be unlocked.

But tonight.

It belonged only to the two of them.