Just ten seconds before market close, the fluctuating steel futures price suddenly spiked—finally closing at 7000 yuan per ton in the last moment.
The data refreshed on the screen.
Zhou Momomo stared blankly at her phone, her eyes wide in disbelief. Her 10 million yuan investment had turned into 35 million yuan.
It wasn't just the massive gain that shocked her... it was the strange feeling in her chest.
> "Could it really be fate...?" she murmured under her breath.
She looked at Lin Fan, then back at the phone. Something inside her felt like it shifted slightly.
Then, without hesitation, she said with a light smile, "Well... if we exclude the initial 10 million, that's 25 million in profit. Let's split the earnings. You get half."
With a few taps, 7.5 million yuan was transferred to Lin Fan.
Just then, the airport broadcast rang out.
> "Attention passengers: Flight MU1705 to Modu City is now boarding. Please proceed to Gate A3 immediately."
Zhou Momomo's expression changed slightly, almost flustered.
"Xiao Fan, we're about to take off. Let's go!" she said and grabbed her luggage.
Lin Fan nodded and followed beside her.
They boarded the plane together and entered the premium first-class cabin, each seated in a separate, private pod.
After takeoff, Zhou Momomo remained silent, occasionally scrolling through her phone. Lin Fan leaned back and shut his phone off.
His assets now exceeded 200 million yuan—but for Lin Fan, this was only the beginning. His ambition reached far beyond that.
---
Time passed. The plane landed in Modu City.
Zhou Momomo and Lin Fan walked out of the terminal together, laughing and chatting. Their rapport had grown naturally.
Just outside the arrivals gate, a young man in designer sunglasses held a bouquet of flowers. His appearance was neat, but his expression twisted the moment he saw them.
> "Zhou Momomo... you little vixen," he cursed internally. "I've been humiliating myself to please you, and you barely give me a glance. Now you return from a trip with a pretty boy on your arm?"
Despite the bitterness churning inside, he forced a fake smile, raised the flowers, and walked toward them.
"Xiao Momomo!"
Zhou Momomo immediately frowned when she heard the voice. She didn't even need to look to know who it was.
Shen Qingqiu.
The son of the Shen Family from the Qingmen Sect, one of the five major families in the antique industry.
Ever since an auction encounter, Shen Qingqiu had been chasing her relentlessly—interested in her beauty, while his family had their eyes on her status as the only heir to the Zhou family.
Zhou Momomo didn't know about the family agenda. All she knew was that this guy was an absolute headache.
What annoyed her even more was that, for some reason, Shen Qingqiu had won her father's favor.
Her father even called her multiple times, encouraging her to "be polite" to him.
Zhou Momomo sighed inwardly.
> "Dad must've told him my travel schedule..."
Shen Qingqiu maintained his gentlemanly act. "Uncle Zhou said you were returning today. He was worried, so he asked me to come pick you up."
Before he could say anything more, Zhou Momomo quickly turned to Lin Fan with a sweet voice.
"Xiao Fan, I was thinking of taking you out to play, but it seems we'll have to do that next time. I'll contact you when I'm free, okay?"
Shen Qingqiu's face twitched. If looks could kill, Lin Fan would've been incinerated on the spot.
Lin Fan smiled faintly. "You've been away for a few days. Go see your father first. We'll meet again when the time's right."
They parted ways.
Zhou Momomo got into the car with Shen Qingqiu, who couldn't help but probe.
"That guy just now—who is he? I've never seen him before."
Zhou Momomo sat in the backseat, swiping on her phone.
"Oh, just a new friend I met recently."
Shen Qingqiu felt a bit relieved.
> "Just a new friend... that means not too close yet."
He gave a fake chuckle. "He's good-looking, sure, but people like that are often unreliable. You should be careful."
Zhou Momomo didn't respond.
Undeterred, Shen Qingqiu asked again, "So, how did you two meet?"
Zhou Momomo didn't even bother this time. She put her phone away and leaned back.
"I'm a little tired. I'll rest for a bit."
Seeing her close her eyes, Shen Qingqiu had no choice but to shut his mouth.
---
Soon, the car arrived at the Zhou family's private villa.
As Shen Qingqiu's vehicle pulled up, the guards at the gate immediately opened the way.
The car drove through the beautifully maintained gardens and stopped at the entrance of the grand estate.
Zhou Momomo stepped out quickly. Shen Qingqiu followed, still trying to maintain his gentlemanly demeanor.
In the living room, Zhou Fusheng, the head of the Zhou family, was reading a newspaper.
Upon seeing him, Zhou Momomo brightened up and ran over.
"Dad~ I missed you so much these past few days!"
Zhou Fusheng chuckled.
"Oh? You missed me? Aside from calling me about that raw jade stone, I don't recall you checking in."
Zhou Momomo wrapped herself around his arm like a spoiled child. "Even if I didn't call, I was thinking about you every day~"
Zhou Fusheng patted her head affectionately.
"Alright, alright. You must be tired and hungry. I'll have someone cook your favorite dishes."
"You're the best, Dad!" Zhou Momomo giggled, kissing his cheek.
Zhou Fusheng laughed. "You and that sweet mouth of yours—go take a seat."
He then looked at Shen Qingqiu and nodded. "Xiao Shen, thank you for picking up my daughter. Sit down and eat with us later."
Shen Qingqiu bowed politely. "Uncle Zhou, no need to thank me. It was no trouble at all."
His eyes flickered slightly before he turned to Zhou Momomo again.
"By the way, Xiao Mo, that friend you met—what does he do? How did he end up flying back with you?"
Zhou Momomo silently munched on fruit, ignoring him.
Zhou Fusheng, however, looked interested. "You made a new friend? Why didn't you bring him over?"
Zhou Momomo glanced at Shen Qingqiu with annoyance and sat beside her father.
"Dad, I did mention him to you before. Remember when I called about that raw stone?"
Zhou Fusheng set his newspaper down.
"You mean that young man—Lin Fan?"
"Yes," she nodded. "That's him."
Zhou Fusheng's expression lit up. "Why didn't you bring him over for dinner? He helped you, didn't he?"
Zhou Momomo pouted slightly. "I wanted to, but he had something to take care of, so he left first."
Zhou Fusheng stroked his beard thoughtfully.
He had been curious about this Lin Fan ever since Zhou Momomo mentioned his precise judgment and the decisive final cut at the raw stone market.
To be able to make such a call under pressure… that kind of boldness was far from ordinary.
---
To be continued…
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