yournovel Chapter 396 Destiny
Chapter 396 Destiny
Chapter 396 Destiny
A gentle breeze blew by, blending into the joyful laughter that echoed across the square.
"Since you're not going to take any photos, let's find a place to sit down and rest for a bit." Luo Ruiyang's voice was loud and friendly, with a kind smile on his face.
"I'll listen to you, Uncle Luo." Yu Huan's lips curled up slightly as she readily accepted the suggestion.
Seeing that Luo Ruiyang nodded slightly and started walking, Yu Huan followed closely behind him.
The group walked towards the waterfront platform in the direction of the island's head.
The brother and sister walked at the very back. Luo Hao was fiddling with his DSLR camera, turning it off, and then hanging it around his neck.
Just then, he suddenly heard Luo Yue ask him in a low voice.
"Brother, who exactly is this guy?" Luo Yue frowned slightly, her eyes sparkling with curiosity.
Before Luo Hao could respond, she continued, "Dad seemed quite polite to him and that woman, even a bit too friendly. It's so strange that he'd bring up things from decades ago. And... he and that woman always wore masks, never showing their faces, acting all mysterious..."
Luo Hao turned to look at his younger sister, and what met his eyes was a look of great curiosity.
He grinned, and said with a hint of mystery, "Because he's a big boss, didn't you hear Dad say? He's a big celebrity! He doesn't want to be recognized, so of course he wears a mask! Don't you understand?"
"I don't understand." Luo Yue shook her head, her youthful face full of confusion. "Boss, which big company is he a leader of? Or is he an official?"
Luo Yue asked one question after another, her curiosity burning like a raging fire.
Luo Hao leaned closer to Luo Yue with a mysterious look and whispered, "He really is an official. He's been trending on social media a lot. He's quite famous online. You didn't know that, did you?"
"I don't know. Dad won't let me use the computer. Lots of my classmates have cell phones, but he won't buy me one..."
Luo Yue glanced at Luo Ruiyang's broad back and pouted with some dissatisfaction.
Upon hearing this, Luo Hao patted her shoulder decisively and said, "The New Year is almost here. When your older brother comes back, I'll have him buy you some fruit."
The brother and sister behind them were whispering to each other.
Luo Ruiyang, who was walking at the front, turned his head slightly, his eyes filled with emotion, and suddenly said, "Xiao Yu, people's fortunes are really amazing. You were unknown just a few months ago, and now you are already the famous 'Leader Brother'."
Yu Huan smiled and said modestly, "Uncle Luo, it's really just luck. I only appeared in the department's short film. I didn't think much about it at the time. I really didn't expect to become popular online. I'm quite surprised myself."
Luo Ruiyang walked slowly, a warm smile on his face.
He said with a chuckle, "Xiao Yu, you can't say that. Look at those people who don't have real skills, even if luck comes their way, they can't seize it. You're different, you have ability, that's why you can soar to great heights when the opportunity comes."
Upon hearing this, Yu Huan secretly pondered that Luo Ruiyang probably didn't know all the details of his rise to fame and was unaware that he was the dramatic "handsome guy who went viral".
Otherwise, they would at least make some fun of it, right?
He quickly waved his hand and said sincerely, "Uncle Luo, you flatter me. I was just doing what I was supposed to do and fulfilling my duty. I didn't expect it to attract so much attention."
Luo Ruiyang nodded slightly, his eyes full of admiration: "In today's society, many young people become arrogant and complacent after achieving a little success, not knowing their own limitations. It's rare to find someone with such a humble and unassuming attitude."
As they talked, the group quickly arrived at the waterfront platform at the head of the island.
Here, the view is expansive, with the boundless river shimmering under the sunlight, and a warm river breeze caresses your face, making you feel exceptionally comfortable.
There seemed to be a faint trace of moisture and a fresh scent in the wind, as if all weariness and worries had been washed away by the gentle river breeze.
Luo Ruiyang led Yu Huan to a bench to sit down.
Wang Weiwei suddenly became excited upon arriving here. She abruptly let go of Lin Yourong's hand, holding a strawberry candied hawthorn in one hand, and jumped and skipped to the railing, looking down at the river.
Lin Yourong was worried about Wang Weiwei's safety, so she quickly led Xing Yujia to follow.
She walked briskly to Wang Weiwei's side and whispered a reminder: "Weiwei, don't get too close, or you might fall."
Wang Weiwei nodded obediently.
Her eyes were fixed on the river, but her little hand reached through the gap in the fence and pointed down, saying in a childish voice, "Aunt Susu, look, so many fish!"
Lin Yourong looked in the direction Wang Weiwei was pointing and indeed saw many white streaks appearing and disappearing in the river, swimming nimbly.
Her voice carried a gentle smile: "Weiwei, although these little fish are cute, we should stay away from the railing."
Wang Weiwei obediently took a small step back, opened her big round eyes, and said intently, "These little fish swim so fast!"
Lin Yourong responded with a smile: "These little fish swim fast because the sun is warm and the water is more comfortable, so they swim happily."
Wang Weiwei tilted her head and asked, seemingly understanding but not quite, "Aunt Susu, is it because the sun warms the water, and the little fish are happy just like we are in a warm room, that they swim fast?"
Lin Yourong bent down slightly, patted Wang Weiwei's head, and said softly, "Weiwei is right."
Two big and one small.
The silhouettes of the three women, bathed in sunlight, appeared exceptionally gentle.
Luo Ruiyang smiled as he watched this scene unfold, then pulled out his bag and a cigarette from his pocket, casually saying, "Xiao Yu, want one?"
Yu Huan quickly waved her hand and replied with a smile, "Uncle Luo, I don't smoke, you can smoke."
Since Luo Ruiyang already knew that Yu Huan didn't smoke, he didn't force her, took out a cigarette and put it in his mouth.
The plastic lighter clicked, the flame leaped, and the cigarette was lit.
The smoke rose in wisps, like light ribbons, and was quickly dispersed by the gentle breeze.
Looking at the boats coming and going on the river, Luo Ruiyang's eyes were filled with reminiscence. Suddenly, he said with emotion:
“When I was a child, my maternal grandmother lived in Hexi. At that time, there was no bridge across the river, and everyone took the ferry to cross the river. Back then, life was tough. My parents were quite frugal, so they would always take me to Orange Isle and then walk to Yingwan Town to take a tricycle. This way, we could save half the ferry fare.”
Orange Isle is a long island in the river, surrounded by water on all sides.
Upon hearing this, Yu Huan pondered for a moment and couldn't help but ask curiously, "Uncle Luo, did Orange Isle used to have a bridge that led directly to the west bank of the river?"
Luo Ruiyang turned to look at his two children by the flowerbed not far away. They were sharing a strawberry candied hawthorn. The younger sister seemed to think her brother had eaten too much, and turned her body to protect the candied hawthorn from him. Watching the two siblings laughing and playing, a smile appeared on Luo Ruiyang's face.
He took another puff of his cigarette and then slowly said, "There is a wooden bridge, mainly for the convenience of the island's residents, but it's only for pedestrians; even tricycles can't cross. During floods, the river often submerges the bridge, and walking on it is like walking on water with light-footed skill."
talking.
Luo Ruiyang glanced at Yu Huan's thoughtful expression and asked, "This bridge should have been demolished around the year 2000. You must be quite old now, don't you remember it?"
Yu Huan jokingly said with a smile, "Uncle Luo, I'm a genuine country bumpkin."
These humorous words made Luo Ruiyang chuckle.
He glanced at Lin Yourong's retreating figure, and following Yu Huan's words, half-jokingly said, "You're a lucky guy, you married a city girl."
Yu Huan scratched his head: "We came together because of fate."
Luo Ruiyang narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked at the shimmering river surface and said, "The face of society has changed a lot now, and people's thoughts are indeed different. Back in our day, we valued social status and family background the most. When my parents married from the west bank of the river to the east bank, their relatives and friends joked that they were marrying up, not to mention the gap between urban and rural areas."
Yu Huan didn't dwell on the issue of social status matching, and said with a bright smile, "There used to be a saying: 'I'd rather have a bed on the east bank of the river than a house on the west bank.'"
Luo Ruiyang nodded, took a deep drag of his cigarette, slowly exhaled the smoke, and said:
"Yes, but in recent years, Hexi has also developed. Take Orange Isle for example. It used to be just an ordinary little island with farmland and houses. It wasn't as beautiful as it is now. People from all over the world come here to travel."
Luo Ruiyang flicked his cigarette ash, and before he could finish speaking, he suddenly turned around and called out, "Hao Hao, come here!"
"Dad, what's the matter?"
Upon hearing Luo Ruiyang's call, Luo Hao quickly swallowed the strawberry in his mouth, steadily held onto the DSLR camera hanging around his neck, and immediately ran over.
"You have cash on you, right?" Luo Ruiyang leaned back comfortably in his chair. Before Luo Hao could answer, he continued, "Go and buy some water for everyone. Be quick."
"Okay," Luo Hao replied.
Without the slightest hesitation, he turned around to look at his surroundings, confirmed his direction, and quickly started jogging.
Yu Huan watched Luo Hao's retreating figure, which seemed to disappear like a gust of wind, and said with a smile, "Uncle Luo, your son is so proactive; he's bound to be successful in the future."
Luo Ruiyang shook his head and said, "I just lost my temper and told him that he needs to control his temper when he's out and about, otherwise he wouldn't be so honest and straightforward."
Yu Huan smiled brightly, but asked curiously, "Uncle Luo, how many children do you have?"
“Three,” Luo Ruiyang said unhurriedly. “The eldest is almost thirty, and the two little ones were born after his second marriage. The eldest is always away from home and rarely comes back. The two younger ones, although sometimes naughty, are still quite obedient.”
Yu Huan nodded knowingly, thinking to herself that Luo Ruiyang was in his fifties, no wonder he had such a young daughter.
Looking at Wang Weiwei's small figure, Luo Ruiyang suddenly asked curiously, "You must have a good relationship with this little one's mother, right?"
Without hesitation, Yu Huan said, "Sister Ru is not only my wife's friend, but there are also some interactions between our elders."
"Oh!" Upon hearing this, Luo Ruiyang immediately raised his hand to remove the cigarette from his mouth, a look of surprise in his eyes.
He sat up slightly and said, "This Sister Ru is no simple character either!"
Yu Huan smiled gently upon hearing this.
This multi-billionaire entrepreneur chatted casually with him, like a kind elder sharing the little things in life, without any sense of superiority. It was hard to associate him with the once powerful head of Jiangxin Group.
Having witnessed Luo Ruiyang's angry outbursts before, I knew he was definitely not a nice guy.
Yu Huan initially approached Luo Ruiyang with some wariness, but now she found herself being charmed by his affability.
I couldn't help but sigh in admiration; no wonder they succeeded.
Yu Huan pulled her mask down to the tip of her nose, breathing in the suddenly fresh air, and said with a smile in her eyes, "Sister Ru's name is Wang Jingru. I heard that her grandfather used to drive for my wife's father-in-law, but later he went into business. Of course, I only know a little about it and don't know much about it."
“If that’s how you put it, then this relationship is indeed extraordinary.” Luo Ruiyang nodded slightly, the thoughtful look in his eyes disappeared, and he suddenly smiled and said, “Xiao Yu, the fate in this world is truly wonderful. Sometimes people who seem to have no connection become connected through various coincidences.”
Yu Huan nodded and said with a smile, "Yes, Uncle Luo, just like our meeting here today is also a matter of fate."
"A chance encounter? That idiom is quite fitting!" Luo Ruiyang's voice was full of admiration.
He caught sight of Luo Hao carrying a plastic bag walking towards them, but pointed towards Lin Yourong and said, "Send this to my sisters first."
"Okay," Luo Hao replied breathlessly.
Luo Ruiyang watched Luo Hao's retreating figure, his gaze falling on the colorful bottles in the plastic bag in Luo Hao's hand, and immediately shook his head.
He smiled and said to Yu Huan, "I never allow them to drink beverages or eat junk food normally, but look at you, I just asked him to buy water, and he immediately took it as a big deal."
When Yu Huan saw Luo Hao halfway there, Luo Yue quickly went to meet him and picked out a bottle of fruit-flavored milk tea from the plastic bag.
The little girl's eyes sparkled, and her face was full of excitement.
Yu Huan glanced at the large Burberry logo on her sweater and couldn't help but chuckle at the stark contrast, saying, "This is the Pandora effect; the more something is forbidden, the more people want it."
Luo Ruiyang nodded upon hearing this, and said, "Xiao Yu, I'll treat you tonight. It'll be at that Shandong restaurant you didn't get to eat at last time. Let's invite Ru—Is her name Wang Jingru?—to come too. What do you think?"
Yu Huan explained in detail: "Uncle Luo, I've already made a dinner appointment with Wang Han from 'Day Day Up' tonight. I'm really sorry."
As soon as he finished speaking, Luo Ruiyang waved his hand dismissively: "It's okay, there will be plenty of opportunities in the future."
"Thank you for your understanding, Uncle Luo."
"How did you end up meeting Wang Han? You two seem like complete strangers. Could it be some kind of coincidence?" Luo Ruiyang asked jokingly.
(End of this chapter)