The appearance of this girl instantly interrupted the conversation between Qin Chuan and Shang Bingrong.
A hint of astonishment flashed in Qin Chuan's eyes, and then, with the intimate call of "Dad," a look of realization appeared.
He was now working so closely with Shang Bingrong that, given his character, he must have discreetly investigated Shang Bingrong's family situation. Only then could they trust each other.
According to the information he had gathered, Shang Bingrong had three children: two sons and one daughter. Both sons were already married but lived outside the local area.
His daughter, Shang Honglian, was the youngest. Shang Bingrong had her when he was almost forty, making her a cherished, late-in-life child, a darling of his, whom he doted on immensely.
At the age of twenty-one, she was in the prime of her youth.
"Why did you come to see me?"
While Qin Chuan was searching his mind for information about Shang Honglian, Shang Bingrong, sitting opposite him on the sofa, beamed with doting affection upon seeing his daughter.
"I was bored at home, so I came to see you!"
Shang Honglian plopped down next to Shang Bingrong and affectionately hugged his arm, her demeanor full of playfulness.
Due to her sitting posture, her red dress hitched up a bit, revealing her milky-white, jade-like calves, which were quite a sight.
Further down were a pair of white sandals, her toenails painted a vibrant, bright red, as if Shang Honglian had a particular fondness for the color red.
"You... didn't I tell you that if you're bored at home, you should go out with your friends..."
Shang Honglian pouted her rosy lips. "Dad, don't even mention it. Many of my friends are already married, and quite a few have even had children!"
"I've lost a lot of common ground with them; we don't even seem to be from the same world..."
Shang Bingrong was immediately speechless, unsure how to respond to this reality.
Girls getting married in their early twenties was very common in this era; some even married as young as sixteen or seventeen!
Just then, as Qin Chuan reached for a teacup on the table, Shang Bingrong's eyes darted around. He quickly changed the subject, saying apologetically, "Qin Chuan, I'm sorry, I was so caught up talking to this girl!"
"Here, let me introduce you. This is my daughter, Shang Honglian!"
"She just graduated from university about a month ago and returned home!"
Qin Chuan's eyes widened in surprise. "Graduated from university? Honglian looks at most seventeen or eighteen. She's already graduated?"
This flattery was expertly delivered. Not only was Shang Bingrong pleased, but Shang Honglian's beautiful eyes also turned to him, showing a hint of quiet delight.
Regardless of the era, girls liked to be praised for their beauty and youth.
"She's not young. Honglian is twenty-one this year!"
Shang Bingrong explained. "Didn't you just hear her complaining to me? Many girls her age are already married, and many even have children!"
"Graduating from university at twenty-one is still very impressive. Honglian must have had excellent grades; did she skip any grades?" Qin Chuan added immediately.
The normal age for university graduation was twenty-two to twenty-three. Graduating at twenty-one meant either starting school early or skipping grades.
"Of course, when I was in junior high, I skipped directly from the first year to the third year!" Shang Honglian said with a proud look.
Qin Chuan gave her a thumbs-up, impressed. "Amazing! I've heard of skipping grades in elementary school, but this is the first time I've heard of skipping grades in junior high. You truly are a worthy daughter of a remarkable father!"
"Hehe!" Shang Honglian was delighted by the praise, revealing a set of pearly white teeth.
"What's so amazing about it!" Like fathers the world over, no matter how doting and proud they were, when they saw their children getting boastful, they couldn't help but put them down, fearing they'd get too big for their britches.
"Honglian, aren't you always looking down on your peers? Well! Today I'll show you what it means when you say there's always someone better and higher horizons." Shang Bingrong pointed at Qin Chuan. "His name is Qin Chuan. He's only a year older than you. Do you know how capable he is now?"
Shang Honglian, who had been happy, blinked her eyes. "How capable?"
Seeing this, Qin Chuan realized it was bad and tried to intervene, but it was too late. Shang Bingrong recounted all of his achievements in one go—real estate, supermarkets, flagship clothing stores...
Shang Honglian's initially smiling face gradually changed, filled with curiosity.
"So, does that mean Qin Chuan is now worth several million?"
Qin Chuan quickly waved his hands. "No! Absolutely not!"
"What do you mean no? Your net worth is at least this much!" Shang Bingrong retorted, as if deliberately contradicting him, and held up one hand.
"Five million? My goodness!"
"Isn't that more than our family has?" Shang Honglian's eyes widened, saying something that made Shang Bingrong's face stiffen.
"You wicked child, what kind of comparison is that!" Shang Bingrong said, a little annoyed. "Your dad is just a small branch manager. I earn a fixed salary; how much money can I make in a lifetime?"
"I'm telling you all this so you understand. Don't be too arrogant or look down on others!"
"Do you really think you're invincible just because you graduated university at twenty-one?"
"There are too many capable young people in this world. You need to be down-to-earth, understand?"
Shang Honglian shook Shang Bingrong's arm. "Alright! Alright! I've heard this a thousand times. I understand!" She then stood up unhappily and turned to leave.
"Where are you going?" Shang Bingrong quickly called out.
"Didn't you tell me to go find friends to play with? I'm going out!" Shang Honglian walked out of the office without looking back, her high ponytail swinging, full of personality.
"Sigh, this girl... I've really spoiled her!" Shang Bingrong sighed helplessly in the office, watching his daughter's retreating back.
"Uncle Shang, children grow up; they develop their own views and understandings. It's best if we go with the flow." Qin Chuan didn't know what else to say and finally offered this.
"Of course, I understand that. But this girl is a bit too ambitious and unrealistic." Shang Bingrong confided his worries to Qin Chuan. "For instance, this time, right after she graduated, I had already pulled some strings and arranged for her to work with a friend in the provincial capital!"
"It was a proper job within the system, but she refused, saying she didn't like rigid work and lacked freedom. After returning home, she's been here for over a month and still hasn't found anything she likes. What do you think we should do about this?!"
Facing such a question, Qin Chuan wisely remained silent.
A few minutes later, he took his leave and departed from the Industrial and Commercial Bank.
Just as he started his motorcycle and prepared to leave, a figure suddenly jumped out from the corner beside him and shouted, startling him.
Qin Chuan turned his head and saw it was Shang Honglian, looking surprised. "Didn't you leave already? Why are you still here?"
Shang Honglian seemed not to hear his question. Instead, her gaze swept over the old motorcycle beneath Qin Chuan's seat, and she asked, "Aren't you a boss worth five million? Why are you riding such an old motorcycle?"
"Where's your luxury car?"
Upon hearing this, Qin Chuan couldn't help but laugh. "I don't have any luxury cars. What your dad said earlier was a lie; I'm just a poor guy!"
"I already owe your dad two million in debt alone!"