Reply to Keats - Chap 2

Soon, the manager quietly walked over to Chen Wan and said apologetically, “Mr. Chen, I’m sorry, the kitchen said that the batch of mangoes imported from Vietnam was delayed due to the typhoon, so we can’t make mango sago and pudding pancakes. Can we change the dessert to red bean paste?”

They were all very typical Cantonese desserts. Chen Wan thought about it and whispered a few words. The manager nodded and left in a hurry.

As the dinner was coming to an end, Zhuo Zhixuan still hadn’t seen any movement from Chen Wan. Feeling very disappointed with him, he personally took a glass of wine and walked over to him, patting him on the shoulder.

Sometimes he felt that Chen Wan was very smart, and sometimes very stupid. Instead of being so busy and busy making arrangements for every detail behind people’s backs, he might as well just stand in front of people and say “I admire you so much”.

Everyone nearby looked over and greeted Zhuo Zhixuan enthusiastically. Zhuo Zhixuan refused to leave, so Chen Wan had no choice but to pick up the wine and follow him.

The distance Chen Wan thought was as long as the Milky Way was actually only a few steps away.

When Zhuo Zhixuan led him over, Zhao Shengge was still talking to Shen Zongnan.

The Shen family is the only one that dominates the gambling business in Hai City, and the family also has close ties with the Zhao family.

After they finished talking, Zhuo Zhixuan said, “Shengge, this is Chen Wan.”

Zhao Shengge had heard too many such introductions or self-recommendations that evening, all with the same pretty faces, equal family backgrounds and earnest and respectful smiles.

He raised his head nonchalantly, glanced at Chen Wan, and raised his glass politely, as a greeting.

His eyes were calm and did not linger for even a second.

Chen Wan was not surprised. He also raised the glass in his hand, politely greeted “Mr. Zhao” and said nothing more, not even introducing himself for a moment.

It’s not that he felt particularly disappointed. Zhao Shengge had met too many people, and Chen Wan was not the prettiest, nor the most special one.

When he was in school, many people wrote love letters to Zhao Shengge. Of course, Zhao Shengge would not tear up or throw them away like the protagonist in a brainless novel. His family education and cultivation would not allow it.

On the contrary, as far as Chen Wan knows, Zhao Shengge is actually a very polite person, but he has a strong sense of boundaries. He will say thank you to you appropriately and then refuse.

He probably doesn’t remember any of these people.

Rather than being concerned about whether she could leave a special impression on Zhao Shengge, Chen Wan was more concerned about the cup of herbal tea in the other person’s hand.

I have reached the bottom, which shows that I am quite satisfied.

As long as you are satisfied.

Hai City is located in the tropics, with midsummer all year round and a hot climate. As there was no dessert after the meal, he asked his manager to go to the nearby alley to buy some old herbal tea, including Gotu Kola and Rehmannia glutinosa, which can clear the heart and reduce internal heat. It was unexpectedly popular.

The ladies thought it was a new product launched by the restaurant and asked for refills many times.

Chen Wan didn’t want to stay any longer, but Tan Youming, who was sitting on Zhao Shengge’s right, spoke to him casually: “Ah Wan, let’s play bowling tomorrow. I just want to take Shengge to see the cross-sea bridge.”

The cross-sea bridge, a landmark of Haishi, connects Ao Island and Jie Island, where every inch of land is valuable.

The project was a bid from the mainland, and the investment was attracted by the cooperation of the Zhao and Tan families, both of which have always had close ties with the mainland.

This was a tough nut that the SAR authorities had been unable to crack. At that time, affected by the financial crisis, the SAR market was in a deadlock, and economic exchanges with the mainland had dropped to the lowest level in nearly a decade.

The launch of the cross-sea bridge was the first project in response to the mainland’s preferential support policies to stimulate domestic demand. Since then, exchanges between the two places have gradually warmed up and the economy of Shanghai has recovered. Therefore, the cross-sea bridge not only has economic significance, but also has important political significance and is a symbol.

However, after three rounds of mediation and consultation on this project were concluded, Zhao Shengge immediately flew abroad and handed it over to the Tan family. Zhao Shengge did not attend until the auspicious day of the ribbon-cutting ceremony for the project to be completed and opened for use.

Chen Wan smiled and replied to Tan Youming: “Holi Mansion is just on the other side of the bridge. We can wait until the typhoon passes the day after tomorrow and go there to play ball and camp. The scenery is beautiful.”

“Oh yeah, this damn weather,” Tan Youming cursed, “You’re still thoughtful.”

Chen Wan smiled and said nothing. The young masters were responsible for their impulses, while he was responsible for deployment and follow-up. He had a clear mind about the weather, geography, and everyone’s preferences.

There was nothing more to say. Chen Wan didn’t want to stay here too long and offend others, so he raised his cup to the others and said, “I’ll ask the manager to add more tea. Take your time, everyone.”

Zhuo Zhixuan was once again disappointed that such a smart person usually did not socialize effectively when the real situation came.

It is easy for Chen Wan to make someone fall in love with him, it all depends on whether he wants to or not.

However, Zhao Shengge is not included here.

Zhao Shengge looked at the herbal tea in the cup, then glanced at Tan Youming who was waving goodbye to Chen Wan, and said nothing.

Tan Youming looked helpless and whispered, “He’s fine.”

Zhao Shengge leaned back in his chair, took a sip of tea, and said nothing.

Tan Youming has known him for so many years, but sometimes he still can’t fully understand him.

There are many sects in Hai City, and their circle has never had many people join them since they were young. However, Chen Wan is really a good person in terms of ability, character, and personality. Tan Youming had no choice but to look to Shen Zongnan next to him for help.

Shen Zongnan, who was always tight-lipped, also whispered that it was okay, although his tone was emotionless.

Zhao Shengge was just questioning out of instinct, but when Tan Youming and Shen Zongnan both jumped out to vouch for this person, it was very unusual.

But Zhao Shengge didn’t care and raised his eyebrows: “I didn’t say anything.”

Tan Youming: “…” He was lucky not to die from talking to Zhao Shengge for so many years.

After the show, Chen Wan asked someone to park the car at the door in advance.

Outside the room, the roar of the waves at the foot of the mountain was clearer, raindrops were in rows under the eaves, and the sea breeze was strong at night, blowing down many white rhododendrons and bell flowers that bloomed at night in the mountains.

Chen Wan didn’t take his coat when he came out. The sea breeze blew his shirt off, revealing his slender waist and straight shoulders, like a bamboo pole in the night rain.

If someone came out from behind him, he would not need to turn around, because his nose and ears could help him identify who it was.

Chen Wan straightened his back a little, lowered his head a little, moved to the side, and almost disappeared into the night.

Zhao Shengge didn’t see him and walked straight past him, holding his coat in one hand and talking on the phone in the other, his voice very deep.

The doorman handed the keys to their respective drivers. Chen Wan heard Tan Youming yell to his assistant, “Go directly to Yingchi.”

The biggest den of money-spending in Hai City.

Zhao Shengge, who had already hung up the phone, whispered something that Chen Wan didn’t hear clearly.

It felt like an ant had stepped on a nerve at the tip of his heart, causing a little soreness, but not much. He quietly held the umbrella and watched them go.

Tan Youming stuck his head out of the car window and called Chen Wan to join him in the fun. Chen Wan smiled gently, “Maybe next time, Mr. Tan. There are still many guests who haven’t left.”

Tan Youming also followed him.

Chen Wan stood straight, and the black Maybach surrounded by the Cayenne and Bentley sped away until it disappeared into the dark clouds of lightning and thunder.

Chen Wan blinked, folded her long-handled black umbrella with a “snap”, turned around, and stepped back into the brightly lit world of Vanity Fair.

Changpei Literature Network (https://www.gongzicp.com)

The “Xianlu” did not last long, and by the third day the clouds and rain had stopped, so Chen Wan was called back to the old house early in the morning.

It had been two months since he last went there. In addition, he was absent-minded and took the wrong road at the foot of the mountain. He arrived at nearly eleven o’clock.

People from the second and third rooms were all there, including cousins, uncles, and a large crowd of people, playing mahjong around Mrs. Chen. There were also two tables for playing bridge, and it was very lively.

Chen Wan took a quick glance and didn’t see Song Qingmiao, so she went straight to the side room on the third floor.

Chen Bingxin, who was in the main seat, had a calm expression and tapped his cane: “Don’t you know how to call someone?”

Chen Wan stopped, nodded calmly to the people below, and said in Cantonese: “Morning.”

At this time, everyone at the card table saw Chen Wan—the illegitimate son of the fourth room had always had the least presence.

At this moment, he was standing halfway up the mahogany spiral staircase, looking down from above and lowering his head to listen to what was going on, which seemed to have a strange contrast.

However, Chen Wan had suffered from wind evil since childhood. Even the Feng Shui master said that he was the most unlucky person in three generations. And because of that incident, the Chen family put him in a mental hospital and locked him up until he was twelve years old.

Everyone was drawing cards, and no one responded to Chen Wan, so he just walked up.

The side room on the third floor is very narrow. Because it is on the top floor, affected by the humid weather in Hai City all year round, the white walls are mottled and there is some water seepage.

Almost all the owners of the Chen family live on the second floor, only Song Qingmiao lives on this floor.

Because she was not “married in a formal way”, she had been with many wealthy businessmen in Hai City, and she used some tricks to keep Chen Wan. Chen Bingxin couldn’t get rid of her, so he brought her back.

Chen Wan knocked on the door, and there was a rustling noise from inside.

“who?”

“I.”

The lock opened and a head popped out from behind the door: “Baby.”

Chen Wan was used to it, so he just said “hmm” softly and walked in sideways.

The dilapidated wooden floor made a creaking sound. It must have been because it hadn’t been cleaned for a few days, so there was a layer of dust and the edges were curling up.

Due to the bad weather and lighting, the light in the house was very dim. The light from the chandelier above was dim, making the face of the Guanyin statue on the peeling paint niche look somewhat strange and distorted.

There were several empty jewel boxes spread out on the dressing table.

Chen Wan remembered that he had brought her a set of Tiffany jewelry when he asked her out for dinner last week. It was an auction item that was not on the market. He asked someone to buy it for him because the auction house did not give him an invitation to enter.

Moreover, he would transfer money to her every half a month when he invited her out for dinner, and the amount was not small.

Chen Wanwei lowered her head and looked at the pile of jewels. She pursed her lips and said softly, “Didn’t you say you wouldn’t go there anymore?”

Song Qingmiao stammered a little helplessly, picked up the thin cigarette in the ashtray, put it in his mouth, and started smoking in front of the golden Buddha statue, not afraid of being blamed by the Buddha.

The ashtray was almost full of cigarette butts and had not been emptied.

“Cao Zhi withheld my dividends, and Liao Liu cheated me at the poker table and took away a set of Bulgari. I was so angry that I wanted to kill someone.”

She is not from this city, but was sold here. She always speaks with the soft Jiangnan Wu dialect, and when she talks to her son, she has the innocence and coquettishness of a girl.

Song Qingmiao looked very annoyed. She rested her elbows on the dressing table and supported her head. The oval bronze mirror with floral patterns reflected her slim and graceful figure.

She has a very youthful face, almond-shaped eyes, pearly teeth, and plump lips. She looks charming and elegant. Even at her age, her long straight black hair does not look out of place.