Since students had held him up, Lin Feng got home quite late.
As soon as he entered, he saw his mother alone at home, sitting on the sofa looking attentively at something, and he didn't see his father.
"Mom, where's Dad?"
Upon hearing Lin Feng's voice, Zhang Lan noticed her son had returned and got up with a smile. "Your dad started working again today, he'll be back soon. I've already prepared dinner; just waiting for you two now."
Lin Feng felt happy to hear this. Yes, for a science fanatic like his father, not working was torturous, and he too was glad to see his father resume work.
Seeing that his father hadn't returned yet, Lin Feng decided to sit down and keep Zhang Lan company while they waited for him.
He had just sat down when he glanced over and noticed his mother was looking at a business plan. Curious, he picked it up to have a look.
"Mom, did you make this business plan?" Lin Feng inquired.
"Mm-hmm, I did, helping someone else out. Now that I'm at home with nothing much to do, I thought I'd lend a hand," Zhang Lan answered casually.
"This plan is good, but there are a few points that aren't perfect. For instance, you need to pay attention to the sales aspect. The sales ideas and concepts here are slightly outdated. There are a few new strategies that could be utilized now, especially in the area of..."
Zhang Lan initially giggled as Lin Feng spoke, thinking to herself that her son was actually examining her business plan.
This reminded her of the past when she would take him to meetings, and he could fall asleep, or when she wanted his opinion on certain matters, and his words could infuriate her.
Although her son had changed—having been through experiences, becoming sensible and growing up—she didn't believe he could understand the intricacies of her business plan.
But she sat down to listen, initially with a fond, gentle smile. Gradually, Zhang Lan's expression became more animated, revealing her shock and growing concentration as she listened.
All other thoughts faded away, leaving only her awe.
Eventually, she became entirely absorbed, much like when she first entered the business world and met her first mentor, whose every word seemed so enlightening, reaching places she had never considered.
It was a moment of sudden insight, like a divine revelation that cleared her vision,
Oh my God!
When had her son learned all this? These ideas were brilliant. Why hadn't she thought of them herself? Not to say she had wasted five years, even if she had spent those five years in business, she couldn't have come up with something so comprehensive.
There were aspects she had never delved into, never understood, but once Lin Feng pointed them out and connected them, she grasped the brilliance of it all.
At first, she was astonished, but as she continued to listen, Zhang Lan couldn't bear to interrupt, waiting for Lin Feng to finish before she quickly began to take notes on everything he had just mentioned.
Because these insights were too precious, too important. And this was just from Lin Feng casually flipping through and quickly sharing his thoughts, which was simply unbelievable. She knew that such a refined business plan required multiple revisions, fine-tuning, and deep contemplation, how could it be possible...
"Son, are you telling me... you just glanced at it... and came up with those ideas?" After she had noted everything down, Zhang Lan looked up at Lin Feng in astonishment because it seemed too incredible.
"Hmm, are you not satisfied? Then I'll think about it more carefully and redo it. I was just making minor adjustments just now. If you want further improvement, then significant changes are necessary," Lin Feng thought his mom was dissatisfied.
"No need, no need, it's already quite good. I always felt something was amiss before. But even after refining it carefully, I would never have reached this level," Zhang Lan quickly shook her head upon hearing this. The plan was just to help out a casual friend, and this quality was already very good. What shocked her was that Lin Feng had pointed out the exact issues she had found unsatisfactory and provided specific solutions for them. Some were even issues she hadn't considered or connected herself.
Oh my God, is this really my son?
Is this the same son who only knew how to spend money and never wanted to touch on business?
"Armchair strategizing, all from armchair strategizing. When I was bored on the island, I studied a bit of everything, including this," realizing why his mother was so shocked, Lin Feng finally understood.
However, seeing his mother's enthusiasm and state when bringing up the business plan, Lin Feng felt a stir in his heart. His mother had once been an absolute elite in the business domain. It was a pity for her to stay at home doing nothing, and moreover, she still loved doing business, evident in the care she took in her planning.
At first, he was too young and reckless, often getting into trouble that worried his mother. Later on, both his mother and father had given up everything for him, and now that he had returned, it was time for his mother to do what she loved.
"Mom, since you enjoy doing business so much and now I've come back home..."
"Silly boy, I won't go out anymore, I'll just stay at home and take care of you." Zhang Lan didn't wait for Lin Feng to finish and already knew what he was going to say. Having experienced her son's disappearance, she was given too many warnings for herself.
"Actually, I can feel your unhappiness. You and dad stopped working to find me before, but now I have returned. I don't want you to be unhappy. Besides, I can only be home at night, and whether or not you go to work, you'll just be staying at home, right?" Lin Feng earnestly persuaded his mother.
Lin Feng felt that his parents had given up too much for him over the years, there was no need for them to stop working. To them, it was a part of their happiness. They could give it up for his sake, but Lin Feng didn't want his parents to be unhappy.
"Mom, haven't you noticed? You're so charming and spirited when you're working. I also hope my mom looks prettier, and if you make money, I can continue to be your young master in the future..." Lin Feng said jokingly.
But these words gradually reached the heart of Zhang Lan, persuading her.
As for Lin Feng jokingly saying he would continue to be her young master, it made Zhang Lan grin from ear to ear, and she was quickly convinced by Lin Feng.
...........................…
In the morning, Leng Mei sat alone in her office, looking at the French book on her desk, and was reminded of Lin Feng speaking to his classmates in French the day before. She thought about a lot, even including her teaching methods.
In her heart now, there was only the shadow of Lin Feng, and Leng Mei didn't know why.
She often asked herself, was it simply because Lin Feng's foreign language skills were so good? Or was it because he would tell stories to the students during class instead of sticking to the curriculum? Or was she interested in the stories he told, and got attracted to them? But no matter how much she thought, she couldn't understand...
"Sweetheart, answer the phone..." At that moment, Leng Mei's cellphone rang.
Glancing at her phone, it was a call from Principal Ding Wan'er. She promptly answered, "Hello, Girl Ding, what's up?"
Leng Mei and Ding Wan'er had grown up together. Their families were old friends, and they had always been very close. Although Leng Mei was somewhat cold-natured, Ding Wan'er was one of the few people she really cared about in her heart; their relationship went without saying.
When Ding Wan'er needed something, Leng Mei was still willing to help her little sister. Since Leng Mei was several years older than Ding Wan'er, she had always called her Girl Ding, which was her own special nickname for her.
"Hehe, Sister Leng, I just missed you. You haven't come to visit me, even though we're at the same school," Ding Wan'er said on the other end of the line, seemingly pouting and acting coquettish.
"I know you. If you really missed me, you would have come to me directly. Just tell me, what is it?" Leng Mei directly asked Ding Wan'er, knowing her friend better than she knew herself.
"Hehe, Sister Leng, you know me so well. There's a charity gala this evening. Will you come with me, please?" Ding Wan'er asked in a playfully persuasive manner.
"I knew it. You must need something, hiding and going roundabout, mainly to have me shield you, right?" Leng Mei's voice remained cool as always over the phone, but it was clear that she treated Ding Wan'er differently.
"Sister Leng, you know how it is, there are so many flies at these events. You'll help me, won't you?" Ding Wan'er continued to act coquettishly over the phone.
"Alright. Then let's get in touch tonight, and we can go together," Leng Mei finally agreed to Ding Wan'er's request, showing her fondness for her.
...
In the evening, Ding Wan'er called Leng Mei over to her place to help her choose an outfit, but it was more about spending time and chatting with Leng Mei because they were both too busy during the day.
"Sister Leng, how about this one?" Ding Wan'er tried on a close-fitting pale red dress, which made her already stunning appearance even more classically beautiful and attractive.
"Just wear that, it's nice. You look beautiful in it, and it really highlights your figure," Leng Mei said seriously as she watched Ding Wan'er, then affirmed her choice.
"Sister Leng..." Ding Wan'er blushed at Leng Mei's words. She thought to herself that Sister Leng, who rarely complimented anyone, had praised her today, and truthfully, it made her very happy, indeed.
She knew she was the only one who received such preferential treatment; others couldn't even dream of it. As she thought about it, a smile appeared on her face, looking at Sister Leng. But feeling the dress was a bit tight, she asked, "Should I change into another one?"
"No need, just wear this one, it's fine," Leng Mei decisively decided, while she herself casually chose a black dress.
For them, such galas were common and not very formal, so they didn't need to make too much effort. As long as they were not impolite, that was enough, which is why neither of them spent much time dressing up.
However, it was just that simple attitude, when Leng Mei and Ding Wan'er, in their stunning evening dresses, entered the charity gala, they captivated all eyes. They became the focus of every man in the room.