KN | Chapter 21

An Accidental Leaf

For a long stretch of time, Tan Youming had been in a very poor mood. Chen Wan no longer showed up at the young masters’ gatherings, yet someone was always mentioning his name and bringing up what he had been doing lately. Later on, Zhao Shengge stopped coming too.

He was not anyone important. He was like a leaf that had accidentally drifted in through the window, incapable of occupying too much weight in Zhao Shengge’s heart, or lingering there for too long.

Gradually, it really did seem as if he was no longer thought of.

Zhao Shengge was extremely busy. He kept a low profile, but when he acted, he moved with swift, decisive force. The Baoli Bay dock project was launched very quickly.

It was said that nearly a hundred companies in Haishi had expressed interest in investing, but in the end, only the Shen family, the Jiang family, and the Xu family got a share of it. Even the Zhuo family could not get a hand in.

Of these, people speculated the most about the Xu family, saying that Miss Xu truly was extraordinarily charming.

Zhao Shengge had always maintained a cautious attitude toward Haishi’s economic structure. If he had the choice, he would rather cooperate with the mainland.

The mainland’s economy was stable, had policy support behind it, and when necessary, regulation and control were forceful and effective.

The three of them finished a meeting at Minglong Tower and walked out of the conference room together. Looking at his phone, Shen Zongnian said, “He Shengyuan agreed. Next Wednesday at nine in the evening, Xiaotan Mountain.”

He Shengyuan was Haishi’s shipping king. Later, He Shengyuan went all the way to the Netherlands to develop European shipping routes.

If Zhao Shengge wanted to build docks and a port at Baoli Bay, there was no way around dealing with this man.

Shen Zongnian said, “From the sound of it, he plans to bring some people with him.”

Informal talks were always like this. If there were mutual friends present, or senior figures from the industry, then it became much easier for both sides to talk, and there was more room to maneuver.

“We’ll have to bring people too,” Tan Youming said. If the other side came in a big dark crowd while they only had two or three people, it would look ridiculous. Besides, “He Shengyuan likes lively occasions.”

“What a pity…” Tan Youming crossed one leg over the other. “No matter how lively he likes it, can it possibly be livelier than me?”

Shen Zongnian: “…”

Zhao Shengge had been back in the country for quite some time now. He was no longer as aloof and isolated as he had been at the beginning. He only said, “Just don’t bring anyone unreliable.”

In Haishi, Tan Youming was surrounded by admirers and answered by hundreds at a single call. His friends ranged across all walks of life, a mixed crowd of dubious drinking buddies and random acquaintances. Zhao Shengge was arrogant in his standards and did not think much of them.

“Tsk.” Tan Youming had no idea what standard Zhao Shengge was using for “reliable.” He personally felt he was pretty reliable himself, but the other man would definitely disagree, so he simply asked directly, “Who do you think is reliable?”

Zhao Shengge looked at him and said quite seriously, “I thought inviting people was part of your job.”

“…”

Shen Zongnian, who almost never voiced an opinion, glanced at Zhao Shengge and suggested to Tan Youming, “What about Chen Wan?”

Anywhere Chen Wan was, the atmosphere would become much better. Any naked negotiation or brutal struggle would be covered with a veneer of gentle harmony and cordial rain-soft civility. That veneer was very useful. A lot of things became much easier to discuss with it in place.

Chen Wan had never been a man of many words, yet he could produce that miraculous effect.

Zhao Shengge fell quiet for a moment, then asked, “Are there any other options?”

Tan Youming immediately leaned out from behind Shen Zongnian’s shoulder and chimed in with the same suggestion. “No. I don’t know anyone more reliable than him.”

Zhao Shengge made no comment. After a moment of silence, he said in a mild voice, “If he’s busy, then consider someone else.”

There was no point in forcing people or making things difficult for them.

Tan Youming looked at him, baffled, and thought he was putting on that fake benevolent, fake righteous act again. Tan Youming could not be bothered to call anyone else. He called Chen Wan first, but the secretary said Chen Wan was in a meeting.

So Tan Youming called Zhuo Zhixuan directly. Zhuo Zhixuan was at his own hotel. He said, “I’ll ask him for you later, but he’s been busy lately, so he might not be able to go.”

Chen Wan looked like the kind of person who would come when summoned and leave when dismissed, but that was only because he was willing. Otherwise, no one could force him to do anything he did not want to do.

Tan Youming asked with concern, “Busy with what? Need any help?” There was a trace of genuine sincerity in his tone. At first, where Chen Wan was concerned, it had only been for Zhuo Zhixuan’s sake. Later, though, he had sincerely come to acknowledge and accept him.

When Tan Youming made friends, he did not look at family background or social status. He only cared whether the person was interesting, whether they suited his taste.

Zhuo Zhixuan did not know Tan Youming was with Zhao Shengge, much less that Tan Youming had put the call on speaker. He had never had many scruples when speaking to Tan Youming, so he said in a mocking tone, “Busy going on blind dates, obviously. Getting ready to become the honored son-in-law of an oil tycoon.”

Tan Youming burst out laughing. “Oh my, then that old fox Xu Qihua really does have good taste.” Something that was not even remotely settled became the truth the moment it came out of his mouth.

“Seriously though, his daughter used to be in my German class. That girl is really interesting. She and our Wan really are a good match. When the time comes, tell Wan to send us an invitation. I’ll definitely give a huge cash gift.”

Zhuo Zhixuan said, “I’ll pass that on exactly as said.”

After hanging up, Tan Youming looked up and asked Zhao Shengge what he wanted to eat for lunch, but Zhao Shengge did not know what he was thinking about.

“Zhao Shengge?” Tan Youming called him again.

Zhao Shengge shook his head, stepped past him, and said in a low voice, “Eat by yourself. I need to work.”

Tan Youming looked at Shen Zongnian in confusion. “Even if he’s working, he can’t just not eat, can he?”

Shen Zongnian glanced at Zhao Shengge and said nothing.

Zhao Shengge returned to his office. He did not feel hungry and planned to continue working. That was his normal state.

Chen Wan really had been very busy recently. Kexiang had lately been bidding on an extremely, extremely important project, and they had run into no small problem. He needed to find connections to broker things through the middle.

When it rained, it poured. Lately, Song Qingmiao had started giving him trouble again as well.

Song Qingmiao had met Xu Enyi in a flower-arranging studio. Xu Enyi thought the jade bracelet on her wrist was pretty and asked about it. That one question was enough for the two of them to become acquainted.

Song Qingmiao was not all that old, and she looked strikingly young too. When women happened to hit it off, it could happen very quickly.

“This was made when my son was away on a business trip.” When Chen Wan had gone to the Northwest on business, he had personally selected the jade at a rough stone yard. It was not the most expensive piece, but the workmanship was excellent.

Xu Enyi’s eyes curved. “Then he’s very filial, and he has good taste too. This isn’t some mold-made design.”

Song Qingmiao had no mind to slowly savor all the time, money, and filial devotion Chen Wan had poured into her. She only fixed her smiling eyes on Xu Enyi and said, with layered meaning, “He really is a good boy, and he’s quite handsome too.”

Ever since she found out that Xu Enyi’s Xu was the Xu of that Xu family, thoughts had begun to stir in her mind.

Xu Enyi, meanwhile, was not shy either. She said, “Really? Do you have a picture? Let me see.” She studied art. These days, there were not many men with good aesthetic sense.

So Song Qingmiao took out her phone, opened the photo album, and showed her. Xu Enyi was very direct. “Really handsome, enough to stop people in their tracks, refined and scholarly.”

“…”

Song Qingmiao was delighted. She only said, “Next time, if there’s a chance, I’ll have him come pick me up. You young people can get to know each other.”

Xu Enyi nodded generously. “Sure.”

Song Qingmiao was very happy. That very night, she told Chen Wan about it. Chen Wan was silent for several seconds. There were a thousand things he could have said, and Song Qingmiao probably would not have listened to any of them, so in the end he only said, “Sorry, I might not have time.”

That was the truth. Things on the project side were still unresolved, and Chen Wan was overwhelmed, with too much on his hands.

And sometimes Song Qingmiao was so absurdly naive that he did not even know where to begin. She was entirely unreasonable and very stubborn, as though failing to meet Xu Enyi would be some enormous loss.

Without stopping to think what kind of family those people were. Whatever schemes she wanted to play, they would see through with a single glance.

The infighting within the Chen family had become fierce lately. The second branch and the third branch were both quietly exerting force, and Song Qingmiao had started growing anxious too. She lost her temper and said, “The moment I ask you to accompany me, you say you don’t have time!”

Chen Wan had been working overtime until his eyes were red. Biting down on his cigarette, he asked in a low voice, “Are you really asking me to go keep you company?”

He was willing to spend a great deal of time and money on Song Qingmiao, and he had suggested more than once that she move out of the Chen residence. She could live with him, or he could buy another property for her. Either was fine.

Although Song Qingmiao was naive, absurd, and selfish, she was already the only blood tie Chen Wan had left in this world, so he still wanted to be good to her.

It was only that Song Qingmiao had refused every time, very cleanly and decisively.

Song Qingmiao understood very well how to handle men, including her own son. She softened both her voice and expression and, rare for her, spoke with earnest gravity. “BB, you know what the first half of my life was like. You haven’t forgotten what happened when you were little, have you?”

“I haven’t forgotten, it’s just…” Chen Wan felt disappointed, and a little hurt too. He thought for a moment, then still asked, “Do you want me to repeat your old path?”

“What do you mean?” Song Qingmiao’s voice instantly turned cold. “You look down on me? Chen Wan, if back then it hadn’t been for me…”

“No!” Chen Wan cut her off. “Of course not.”

“Sorry. I shouldn’t have said it that way.”

The grudges and entanglements of the previous generation, the questions of right and wrong, were not for a junior like him to judge. As a son, he absolutely should not speak to his mother like that either.

He only wanted, to the greatest extent possible, to hold on to what he himself believed was right. Chen Wan eased his tone and apologized once more. “I’m really sorry. I shouldn’t have said that.”

Song Qingmiao gave a light snort.

Chen Wan chose his words carefully. “I just feel that, actually, we could completely escape the kind of life we had before.”

No more smiling falsely and humbling themselves for power and profit. No more scheming against each other, deceiving each other, living day after day in constant fear and anxiety. Life could be lived more simply, more purely.

Song Qingmiao was furious at his failure to live up to expectations. “Escape? You’re still this immature. What ability do you have to escape? All you know how to do is run away.”

Chen Wan let out a bitter smile for a brief instant. At last, he no longer held any illusions about her. “Yes. Sorry I didn’t live up to your expectations.”

Song Qingmiao still wanted to say more, but someone called for Chen Wan on the other end, so the phone call had no choice but to end unpleasantly.

A partner came in and said, “Shi Zhangmin’s side replied. He’s willing to have a meal with you.”

At last, Chen Wan showed a smile. “That’s great.”

Han Jin frowned and sighed. “Smoke less. Two days ago you drank yourself into that state, and you’re still not taking proper care of yourself. Don’t rely on being young. You’re going to wreck your health.”

Chen Wan stubbed out the cigarette and smiled. “It’s fine.” The pressure was too great. If he did not vent a little, his brain was going to stop working.