Reply to Keats - Chap 9

Zhao Shengge had just come back from the old house in the afternoon. Normally, if he went back to the old house, he would not allow people to hold a big banquet in the house. However, since he returned to the country, he had not found time to meet the side branches, so the old man called everyone over.

There aren’t any bloody feuds or intrigues within the Zhao family. The direct descendants are all second-generation rich kids who indulge in eating, drinking, and having fun until their deaths. They all rely on Zhao Shengge to provide them with wealth and glory for the rest of their lives. Therefore, the power base of the Minglong Group has always been relatively concentrated and stable.

Except in front of the arbitrary and controlling Zhao Maozheng, Zhao Shengge has been given a lot of say since he was very young. Moreover, Zhao Maozheng has grown older and his health is not as good as before over the years.

Zhao Shengge is young, but holds a high position. Sometimes, the uncles in their 50s from the side branches call him “young master”, while the children in the family call him “big brother”.

Zhao Shengge was a mature young man. He responded calmly, but he was actually very annoyed and wanted to throw these chattering little kids into the swimming pool outside.

Zhao Shengge has been a child of destiny since he was a teenager. During the New Year holidays, people from both direct and collateral branches love to send their children to him. Zhao Shengge would give them red envelopes and, according to family rituals, earnestly instruct them to study hard and grow up quickly, as if his words could bring blessings to them.

When they returned to the old house, everyone was already there. The long circular table was full of people, and Zhao Maozheng had already taken the main seat. However, Zhao Shengge had not arrived yet, so no one started eating.

Dinner officially began only after Zhao Shengge sat down.

Because there was no fierce competition for interests, the atmosphere had a kind of false warmth. The female relatives from several families greeted Zhao Shengge with attentive care, and then joked about the marriage of the young men in the family. However, no one dared to ask about Zhao Shengge.

I dare not do anything about official or personal matters.

No one can be his master.

The dishes at the Zhao residence have not been to Zhao Shengge’s taste after so many years. He lifted the soup bowl, lowered his eyes to take a look, sighed in his heart, and after finishing the meal, he took Shen Zongnian’s car to Zhuo Zhixuan’s new hotel.

The young man sitting next to Chen Wan is called Jiang Ying. He has a complicated family background, but he is a very friendly person. He currently works as a curator and antique connoisseur in Hai City.

He was not a man who was into fighting and killing in the business world, but he had a very good relationship with Shen Zongnan, so he was not shy about asking about things that everyone had been keeping secret for some time.

“I heard from the elders in my family that Mrs. Mai still goes to the entrance of Longming Building every day to protest against her injustice.”

Tan Youming sneered: “She didn’t believe it when she saw photos of her husband playing with young models in a nightclub. Before Mak Ka Fai jumped off the building, he cheated her and transferred all the debts to her daughter who hasn’t even graduated yet.”

Another person shook his head helplessly and said to Zhao Shengge, “Now the rumors are getting even more outrageous. The latest version is that you were the last person Mai Jiahui called before he jumped. Now everyone is terrified, afraid of receiving a death call from you.”

Zhao Shengge didn’t know what he was thinking about. Only when he saw everyone was looking at him did he focus again. Many times, when he was in social events or meetings, others thought he was calm, taciturn and expressionless, but sometimes he was actually in a daze thinking about his own things.

Zhao Shengge also knew that this matter had recently caused a stir in the city. He himself did not care about his reputation, whether it was the King of Hell or the Rakshasa. He wiped his hands with a hot napkin and explained to everyone calmly: “I didn’t fight, it’s just that both parties chose different ways to fulfill the contract.”

It’s written in black and white, very clear.

When the deadline expired, creditor Zhao Shengge chose to apply for execution, and debtor Mai Jiahui chose permanent bankruptcy.

After hearing his analysis, everyone fell silent for a moment and changed the subject.

Chen Wan had the lowest seniority among those present, so he took the initiative to serve soup to everyone. When the turntable turned in front of Zhao Shengge, he was talking to Shen Zongnan and did not take it. Tan Youming wanted to eat something else, so he turned the turntable away.

Chen Wan pointed at the wine glass, wondering if he had just gotten lucky the previous times. He knew that Zhao Shengge was picky, but he had never been as clueless as he was tonight.

Or maybe too much time has passed, and the young Zhao Shengge who appeared in their school cafeteria during his school days was just his imagination.

Chen Wan could only guess that he had no appetite today, but the waiter later gave everyone a small bowl of abalone and seafood porridge, which he ate slowly.

Chen Wan drank the wine in the glass, and saw his lowered eyes through the clear glass wall, feeling a little confused.

He spoke very little and was not familiar with the people present. He would occasionally talk to Jiang Ying, who would take the initiative to talk to him, but most of the time he was quietly evaluating the cooking skills of the chef who was hired by Zhuo Zhixuan at a high price, and silently giving a score in his mind. He liked to do things from beginning to end, recording the taste and texture of the dishes, so that he could give some feedback and suggestions to his friends later.

When the banquet was about to end, everyone came over to have a drink with Zhao Shengge. After all, it was not easy to meet him once, and it would only be more difficult in the future.

Chen Wan was a little hesitant, but he felt that he might never have another chance to toast Zhao Shengge among the crowd, so he poured a sincere glass of white wine into his own glass.

Unfortunately, when it was his turn, Zhao Shengge looked at his watch, and left first with Shen Zongnan.

Chen Wan blinked in confusion, his heart felt like he had taken a step in the air, and his hand was about to raise the wine glass.

Fortunately, no one noticed his action. Only Jiang Ying, who was sitting next to him, was afraid that he would feel embarrassed, so he gave him a comforting look.

Chen Wan didn’t care about face, she just felt it was a pity. She scratched the back of her head, smiled back at Jiang Ying, and drank the glass of white wine slowly with a sullen look.

Insufficient fermentation, slightly astringent aftertaste.

But he chose the wine himself, so he had to finish it even if it tasted bitter.

Everyone left one after another, and Chen Wan was the last one. No matter what the occasion, he would always stay behind to clean up the mess.

Sure enough, he found a cigarette box and a Zorro lighter dropped on Zhao Shengge’s location.

Chen Wan’s eyes paused slightly, as if he had accidentally discovered a treasure, but his expression was very calm. He walked over, stood still, and looked at him coldly.

The cigarettes were Romeo y Julieta. He thought this brand specialized in cigars and no longer made cigarettes, but it turned out that they had switched to custom-made products. The cigarette box had a classic pattern and a very good texture. Chen Wan moved his nose and smelled a light orange tint.

In his impression, Zhao Shengge rarely smoked and never puffed in public.

He had only seen her from a distance once when they went out for some fresh air during a dinner party. She was biting on a thin cigarette, and her beautifully shaped lips looked red and soft.

Chen Wan stood there, eyes downcast, expressionless.

take.

Don’t take it.

This is a private room for important guests. There are no cameras installed, but my fingers are already restless and unable to be controlled by my mind.

Outside, violin music was playing and people were coming and going. Chen Wan’s face was still calm, but his heart was beating faster, like a thief who was ready for anything.

Pandora’s box is right in front of him. Just like its owner, it is mysterious, noble, and full of temptation, just waiting for him to open it with his own hands.

Chen Wan slowly reached out his hand.

After a few seconds, he retracted it.

Chen Wan decisively called the manager and said that a customer had left something behind, and asked him to pack up the cigarettes and lighter and give them to assistant Zhao Shengge.

The manager worked with Chen Wan for an afternoon today and was very convinced of him. The person Chen Wan had specifically entrusted and instructed him to do must not be a simple person.

After a while, the manager came back and told him embarrassedly that he could not contact the other party.

Chen Wan understood: “It’s okay, this guest is hard to find.” After all, even the people of Zhao’s family had to go through the second secretary and the third assistant before they could see each other. Chen Wan took back the cigarette box and lighter and said, “Thank you for your hard work, go ahead.”

He wandered around the brightly lit guest room for a long time before he found Zhuo Zhixuan. He looked very happy and it seemed that his hard work in the afternoon was not in vain.

Zhuo Zhixuan asked, “Have you been drinking?” Chen Wan has a good alcohol tolerance and doesn’t get drunk easily, but he looked a little abnormal at the moment.

Chen Wan didn’t want to talk about her failed toast, so she said a few vague words and handed him the cigarette box and lighter wrapped in brown paper, asking him to pass it on.

Ordinary cigarettes and lighters are fine, but these customized items are considered personal belongings. If they are taken by someone with ulterior motives, they can easily find out who they belong to with a quick check.

Zhuo Zhixuan opened the carefully wrapped brown paper and took a look. He sobered up a little from being flattered by everyone tonight. He looked at Chen Wan for a while and said speechlessly: “Can’t you just give it to him yourself?”

“No need.” Chen Wan didn’t want to smoke, but the pack of Romeo cigarettes aroused his craving. He took out his own cigarette, clicked it, lit it, and took a puff. Just now he was hesitant to steal one of the other person’s cigarettes, but now he became very free and easy, and specifically instructed, “If they ask, just say the waiter found it, don’t mention me.”

“…You’re sick,” Zhuo Zhixuan’s smugness from the evening was irritated by him, and he cursed, “It’s unnecessary, it’s unnecessary, what do you want?”

Perhaps it was because he had been drinking, or perhaps it was because he was too proud of himself today and couldn’t bear to see his best friend so miserable and sad, Zhuo Zhixuan’s voice unconsciously rose a few degrees.

Chen Wan looked at him strangely and blurted out naturally: “I don’t want anything.”

This is the truth.

He likes Zhao Shengge, but he doesn’t want to pursue him.

There was absolutely no such plan.

Zhuo Zhixuan really didn’t understand: “You really haven’t thought about it at all? Then why are you busy doing charity work here?”

“…” Chen Wan felt a little amused and looked at him in confusion, thinking about how to explain to this friend who never put his heart into it that giving doesn’t necessarily mean you have to get something in return: “No, I don’t plan to chase anyone. I think it doesn’t conflict with me to occasionally look at someone and do something for the person I like, right?”

If he could completely control himself, he would not have allowed this affection to take root in his heart for years.

Zhuo Zhixuan obviously still couldn’t understand.

Chen Wan didn’t know what to say when he looked at him like that. He put out his cigarette and said helplessly, “If you insist on asking, then I’ll just try to make him feel more comfortable and satisfied when I’m around.”

Chen Wan didn’t even need to become very familiar with Zhao Shengge, as long as they were in the same circle and could meet each other occasionally.

It would be great if Chen Wan could make the other person happy for a few minutes. It seemed that his feelings had meaning in these few minutes, and just a few minutes were enough.

A few minutes in the sense of time can also be eternity in Chen Wan’s memory.

“…” Zhuo Zhixuan couldn’t understand his thinking, so he gave a thumbs up and praised in a sarcastic tone, “Okay, good, great philanthropist Chen.”

“…” After seeing Chen Wan off, Zhuo Zhixuan called Zhao Shengge, but Zhao Shengge hadn’t left yet. He would rarely stay for an extra second after his usual social events