Qin Chuan slept exceptionally soundly.
When he opened his eyes, it was already past four in the afternoon. He had slept for more than five hours.
Waking up, he felt his body full of energy, incredibly refreshed, all the fatigue from days of hard work completely gone.
"You're awake. Are you hungry?"
A gentle voice reached his ears, followed by a figure with a pleasant scent sitting before him. Li Ya, like a big sister next door, looked at him with a face full of tenderness.
Qin Chuan sat up, glanced at the time, and exclaimed in surprise, "Holy cow, I slept this long!"
"Yes, I saw you sleeping so soundly, I didn't wake you for lunch," Li Ya said.
"Are you feeling hungry now? How about I take you out for a bite?"
Qin Chuan waved his hand, indicating he wasn't very hungry.
"It's this late, how can you not be hungry? How about you have some snacks to tide you over? I have yogurt, bread, ham, chocolate, biscuits, fruit candies, canned food..."
Li Ya stood up, walked to the office desk, crouched down, and pulled open a small door, revealing a pile of snacks.
Qin Chuan's eyes widened in surprise, "How do you have so many snacks?"
Li Ya's pretty face flushed slightly, and she quickly explained, "These... these things are what people below insisted on giving me. I don't really like snacks, they're unhealthy, and they make you gain weight."
Qin Chuan rolled over and sat up on the sofa, put on his shoes, walked over, and crouched down beside Li Ya, speaking softly:
"Sister, it's okay even if you really like these snacks."
"You have such a great figure, you're the type of person all women envy who can eat anything and not gain weight. We're not afraid!"
Li Ya's heart felt as sweet as honey upon hearing the sweet words, but she playfully retorted, "Stop it, you're the one who likes snacks!"
"Yes, yes, I like snacks. Then I'll take them all and help you finish them..."
Qin Chuan scooped up all the snacks from the drawer and held them in his arms, pretending to leave.
"Hey, you're taking too much, leave some for me!"
Li Ya immediately became protective of her food. Noticing the teasing glint in Qin Chuan's eyes, she realized she had been tricked again!
"Oh, you're so annoying, you always like to tease me..."
Qin Chuan laughed heartily.
A few minutes later, Qin Chuan sat on the sofa, drinking yogurt and eating various snacks from the table. Li Ya leaned beside him, and the two began discussing the progress of their respective businesses.
"Xiao Chuan, actually, I think the business situation we have now is already enough!"
Li Ya counted on her fingers, itemizing: "Look, my garment factory develops according to the standard of three branches each year. It won't take too long. In five years, the total asset scale will be at least ten times what it is now."
"Not to mention, the net profit each year might even reach tens of millions."
"Besides that, there's the share from the property development, and the supermarket doesn't even count!"
"I'm already very satisfied with all of this!"
"And on your end, Xinhua Electronics Factory is developing at a very rapid pace. It will definitely break through two hundred franchisees, or even more. Calculated at a net profit of 100,000 yuan from each franchisee, that's at least 20 million yuan in pure income per year. In five years, it will add up to over 100 million."
"You also have Yaohui Decoration Company, which can generate at least one to two million yuan in profit annually. There's also a share from the property development, which will be a very considerable income after five years."
"With our achievements at our age, we've already surpassed ninety-nine percent of our peers!"
Qin Chuan listened to Li Ya's outlook on the future and couldn't help but laugh, "Sister, hearing you say it, it really seems possible!"
"In five years, we'll both be rich tycoons, each worth tens of millions."
Li Ya tightly hugged one of Qin Chuan's arms and said proudly, "Of course! Then if we have a child, it will be the perfect life in my eyes."
"In this life, I will have no regrets!"
"By the way, Xiao Chuan, do you prefer a boy or a girl?"
Li Ya looked into Qin Chuan's eyes and asked as if casually.
Qin Chuan's relaxed body suddenly became a little stiff. It wasn't until Li Ya prompted him several times that he snapped back to attention and replied with a smile, "As long as it's my child, I'll like both boys and girls."
"What are you saying? What do you mean 'as long as it's your child'? Whose seed other than yours could my child have!"
Li Ya playfully punched him, disliking his awkward words.
Qin Chuan quickly apologized.
"You sit here, I'll go make you a cup of coffee."
Li Ya stood up and walked towards the coffee machine opposite. Qin Chuan, sitting on the sofa, didn't notice that as Li Ya moved away from him, her previously smiling pretty face was filled with deep disappointment.
She had just tried a small probe, and the response was definitely not good.
When she asked Qin Chuan if he preferred a boy or a girl, Li Ya had felt Qin Chuan's momentary stiffness very clearly.
This reaction proved that in Qin Chuan's mind, the word 'child' had seemingly never been considered.
This was the complete opposite of Li Ya's hopes.
It made sense, too. Qin Chuan was only twenty-three years old now. For many young people, this age was already considered the time to get married and have children.
But was Qin Chuan an ordinary person?
He was in the prime of his career. How could he be thinking about marriage or having children?
And Li Ya herself?
She was already twenty-seven this year. If she didn't have children soon, she would miss the best childbearing age.
Furthermore, as she grew older, her beauty, her skin, and her figure would not remain youthful forever.
An indescribable sorrow filled Li Ya's heart. She finally understood the helplessness and pain of an age-gap relationship!
The difference in age was something that could never be bridged!
If Qin Chuan never wanted children, or even marriage, Li Ya truly didn't know what to do.
Unless she actively gave up this relationship with Qin Chuan and found a man of similar age to start a new relationship, get married, and have children.
However, such thoughts had never occurred to Li Ya.
Now, in her life, Qin Chuan was her entire world. She loved him to the bone. Unless Qin Chuan rejected her, it would be impossible for her to give him up willingly.
No one was allowed to snatch Qin Chuan away from her!
No one!
In the mere two minutes it took to make coffee, Li Ya's thoughts had been a tumultuous storm. However, she had made the biggest decision of her life.
"Xiao Chuan, your birthday is coming up soon. Have you thought about how you want to celebrate it?"
After the coffee was ready, Li Ya brought the cup to Qin Chuan, her entire demeanor having returned to calm as she asked gently.