KN | Chapter 9

Romeo and Juliet

Zhao Shengge had only just managed to pull himself away from the old residence that afternoon. Normally, whenever he returned to the old residence, he would not allow anyone to hold some grand banquet there. But since returning to the country, he still had not found time to meet the collateral branches, so the old master had everyone called over.

There was actually nothing too melodramatic within the Zhao family, none of those absurd wealthy-family grudges or vicious internal scheming. The several main branches were all idle, pleasure-seeking second-generation heirs who lived to eat, drink, and amuse themselves.

Every one of them relied on Zhao Shengge alone to support the glory and luxury of the rest of their lives. Because of that, the power foundation of Minglong Group had always remained comparatively concentrated and stable.

Other than in front of Zhao Maozheng, who was overbearing and fiercely controlling, Zhao Shengge had possessed a great deal of say in family matters from a very young age. Besides, Zhao Maozheng had grown older over the years, and his health was no longer what it used to be.

Zhao Shengge was young, but his standing was high. Sometimes even collateral-branch uncles nearing fifty had to call him Xiao Ye, Young Master. As for the younger children in the family, they called him Big Brother.

Zhao Shengge was mature for his age. On the surface, he responded to them all with steady composure. In truth, he was annoyed to death inside, to the point that he wished he could pick up every one of those jabbering little carrot-heads and throw them one by one into the swimming pool outside.

Since his youth, Zhao Shengge had always been one of heaven’s favored. During the holidays, both the main line and the collateral branches loved pushing their children in front of him.

Zhao Shengge would then have to hand out red envelopes and, following family ritual, earnestly instruct them to study hard and grow tall soon, as though getting a word of advice from him was enough to bless and consecrate them.

By the time he returned to the old residence, everyone had already arrived. The long ring-shaped round table was full, and Zhao Maozheng was already seated in the place of honor. But with Zhao Shengge not yet there, no one touched their chopsticks.

Only after Zhao Shengge sat down did dinner officially begin.

Because there was no especially fierce struggle over benefits, the atmosphere instead carried a kind of false warmth. The women from the various branches all fussed over Zhao Shengge with attentive concern, then later jokingly brought up the marriages of the younger members of the family. No one, however, dared ask about Zhao Shengge.

Neither about business nor about private life.

No one could make decisions for him.

After all these years, the food at the Zhao residence still did not suit Zhao Shengge’s taste. He lifted the lid of the soup tureen, lowered his eyes for a glance, and sighed inwardly. After getting through the meal, he took Shen Zongnian’s car to Zhuo Zhixuan’s new hotel.

The young man sitting beside Chen Wan was called Jiang Ying. He was easygoing, a painter who had returned after studying in the United States, from a proper distinguished scholarly family. He was currently working in Haishi as a curator and appraiser of antiques.

He was not someone who fought and killed his way through the business world, but he was very close with Shen Zongnian, so he was not particularly wary of asking about the matter from some time back that everyone else had been treating as taboo.

“I heard from the elders at home that Madam Mai is still going to the entrance of Longming Tower every day to cry injustice and protest.”

Tan Youming gave a snort. “Even after someone put the photos of her husband playing around with young models at a nightclub right in front of her face, she still refused to believe it. Before Mai Jiahui jumped, he even screwed her over one last time, transferring all the debt onto their daughter’s name before the girl had even graduated.”

Another person shook his head somewhat helplessly and said to Zhao Shengge, “The rumors going around now are getting more and more outrageous. The latest version says that the very last call before Mai Jiahui jumped was one from you. Now everybody’s scared stiff, terrified they’ll get a death call from you.”

Zhao Shengge did not know what he had been thinking about. It was only when he saw that everyone was looking over that his eyes refocused. A lot of the time, during social engagements or meetings, other people thought he was steady, reserved, unreadable. But sometimes he was actually just zoning out and thinking about his own matters.

Zhao Shengge also knew this matter had caused a storm across the city lately. He himself did not care much about reputation. Yama or rakshasa, whatever people wanted to call him. He used a hot towel to wipe his hands clean and explained to everyone in an even voice, “I didn’t make the call. It was simply that both sides chose different ways of carrying out the contract.”

Black and white on paper, perfectly clear.

When the deadline expired, creditor Zhao Shengge chose to apply for enforcement. Debtor Mai Jiahui chose permanent bankruptcy.

Hearing him analyze it that way, everyone fell silent for a moment, then changed the subject.

Among those present, Chen Wan had the least experience and the lowest seniority. He took the initiative to serve soup for everyone. When the lazy Susan turned to Zhao Shengge, he was talking to Shen Zongnian and did not take any. Tan Youming wanted something else to eat, so he turned the tray away.

Chen Wan tapped a finger lightly against his wine glass, wondering whether the previous few times had only been his own lucky hit. He knew Zhao Shengge was picky, but it had never been as impossible to get a sense of him as it was tonight.

Or perhaps too much time had passed, and the Zhao Shengge who used to appear in their school cafeteria back in their student days was only a figment of his imagination.

Chen Wan could only guess that Zhao Shengge had no appetite today. But later, when the servers brought everyone a small bowl of abalone and seafood congee, he slowly finished his after all.

Chen Wan drank the wine in his glass dry and saw his own downcast eyes reflected in the clear wall of the cup. He looked a little lost.

He spoke very little and was not familiar with the people present. Every now and then he exchanged a few words with Jiang Ying, who would take the initiative to speak with him. But most of the time he quietly appraised the cooking of the expensive chef Zhuo Zhixuan had invited, and silently assigned scores in his heart.

He liked doing things properly from beginning to end. He would remember the flavors and textures of the dishes, and afterward he could give his friend some feedback and suggestions.

As the banquet was about to break up, everyone came over to drink a glass with Zhao Shengge. After all, getting to see him once was no easy matter, and in the future it would only become harder.

Chen Wan hesitated a little, but then thought that perhaps there would never again be another chance like this, hidden among the crowd, to offer Zhao Shengge a toast. So he poured himself a very sincere amount of baijiu.

Only, unfortunately, when it was his turn, Zhao Shengge lifted a hand to glance at his wristwatch, then left first with Shen Zongnian.

Chen Wan blinked blankly. His heart felt as if it had stepped into empty air. His hand had already been about to lift the wine glass.

Fortunately, hardly anyone noticed what he was doing. Only Jiang Ying, sitting beside him, was afraid he might feel embarrassed and gave him a comforting look.

Chen Wan did not really care about face or embarrassment. He just felt it was a bit of a pity. Scratching the back of his head, he returned Jiang Ying a smile, then quietly drank that glass of baijiu himself, one slow mouthful after another.

The fermentation was insufficient, and the aftertaste was faintly astringent.

But he had chosen the liquor himself. Astringent or not, he still had to finish it.

Everyone left one after another. Chen Wan was the last one remaining. No matter the occasion, he was always the one who stayed to the end to handle the tidying up afterward.

Sure enough, he discovered a cigarette case and a Zorro lighter left behind at Zhao Shengge’s seat.

Chen Wan’s gaze paused slightly. It was like accidentally discovering a treasure. His expression, however, remained very steady. He walked over, came to a stop, and looked them over coolly.

The cigarettes were Romeo and Juliet. He had thought that brand had long since switched to producing cigars only and no longer made cigarettes. It turned out they had changed to private custom production instead. The cigarette case bore a classical pattern and felt excellent to the touch. Chen Wan’s nose moved slightly. A citrus note, very faint and very light.

As far as he remembered, Zhao Shengge actually rarely smoked, and he never once exhaled clouds of smoke in public.

Chen Wan had only seen it once from afar, when he had stepped outside during a dinner gathering for some air. The other man had a slim cigarette between his lips, and those beautifully peaked lips had looked very red, very soft.

Chen Wan stood where he was, eyes lowered, expressionless.

Take it.

Don’t take it.

This was a private room reserved for honored guests. There were no surveillance cameras installed. His fingers were already becoming restless, eager to move beyond the control of reason.

Violin music rose outside. People came and went beyond the door. Only a single door separated him from all that movement. Chen Wan’s face remained fairly composed, but his heartbeat had already quickened, like a thief with everything prepared.

Pandora’s box was right in front of him. Like its owner, it was mysterious, precious, and irresistibly tempting, simply waiting for him to open it with his own hands.

Chen Wan slowly stretched out his hand.

A few seconds later, he drew it back again.

Without hesitation, Chen Wan called over the manager and said that a guest had left something behind. He asked him to wrap the cigarettes and lighter and pass them to Zhao Shengge’s assistant.

The manager had worked with Chen Wan the whole afternoon that day and trusted him quite a lot. Since Chen Wan had specifically instructed him about this, then the owner of the items definitely could not be some ordinary person.

After a while, the manager came back and awkwardly informed him that he had been unable to contact the other side.

Chen Wan understood at once. “It’s fine. This guest is rather hard to get hold of.” After all, even people from the Zhao main family had to go through a second secretary and a third assistant before they could see him once. Chen Wan took back the cigarette case and lighter and said, “Thanks for your trouble. Go ahead and get back to work.”

He wandered around the brilliantly lit banquet hall for quite a while before finally finding Zhuo Zhixuan. The other man looked full of springtime cheer, so it seemed the fatigue of the afternoon had not been for nothing.

Zhuo Zhixuan asked, “You’ve been drinking?” Chen Wan held his liquor very well and did not flush easily, but at the moment he did not look quite normal.

Chen Wan did not particularly want to mention the matter of his failed toast, so he replied vaguely with a couple of muddled words. Then he handed over the cigarette case and lighter, carefully wrapped in kraft paper, and asked Zhuo Zhixuan to pass them on.

Ordinary cigarettes and an ordinary lighter would be one thing. But privately customized items like these already counted as close personal belongings. If they were taken by someone with ulterior motives, then with even a little investigation it would be easy to find out who they belonged to.

Zhuo Zhixuan opened the carefully wrapped kraft paper and took one look. The slight haze of alcohol from having been flattered and fawned over all night receded a little. He stared at Chen Wan for a moment, speechless. “Couldn’t you just give them to him yourself?”

“There’s no need.” Chen Wan had not originally intended to smoke, but that pack of Romeo had stirred up his craving a little. He took out his own cigarettes.

Click.

He lit one, lowered his head, and drew on it. Just moments ago, he had still been wavering over whether to steal one of the other man’s cigarettes, and now he had become easy and unconstrained again. He specifically added, “If he asks, just say a waiter found them. Don’t mention me.”

“…You’re sick.” The bit of smug satisfaction Zhuo Zhixuan had felt that evening was all but driven out by him. He cursed, “No need? No need? Then what exactly are you trying to get out of this?”

Perhaps it was because he had been drinking, or perhaps because after having everything go so well for him today, he could not stand seeing his close friend look this bleak and quietly miserable. Zhuo Zhixuan’s voice rose several degrees without him noticing.

Chen Wan looked at him with some surprise and answered very naturally, blurting it right out, “I’m not trying to get anything.”

That was the truth.

He liked Zhao Shengge, but that did not mean he intended to pursue him.

He had never once planned to do that.

Zhuo Zhixuan truly could not understand. “You really never even thought about it at all? Then what are you doing here, running around busying yourself like this? Doing charity?”

Chen Wan found it a little funny inside, and also did not quite understand the look he was getting. He wondered how to explain to this friend of his, who had never used his heart when he could use his body instead, that giving did not necessarily mean wanting something in return. “No. Me not planning to pursue someone doesn’t conflict with me wanting to occasionally look at someone I like, or do a few things for the person I like, does it?”

If he had truly been able to restrain himself completely, he would not have allowed this little bit of feeling to take root in his heart for so many years.

Clearly, Zhuo Zhixuan still could not understand.

Under that stare of his, Chen Wan almost did not know how to explain it anymore. He pressed out the cigarette end and said helplessly, “If you insist on asking, then what I want is for any place where I’m around to let him feel at least a little more comfortable and at ease.”

Chen Wan did not even need to become especially familiar with Zhao Shengge. It was enough if they could occasionally meet in the same circle.

If, in some place where Chen Wan was present, the other man could feel happy for a few minutes, then that would be better than anything. It would be as though his feelings gained meaning in those few minutes. Just a few minutes was enough.

A few minutes in the sense of time could also become an eternity in Chen Wan’s memory.

“…” Zhuo Zhixuan could not understand his way of thinking. He raised a thumb and praised him in a sarcastic tone, “Fine. Great. Philanthropist Chen.”

After seeing Chen Wan off, Zhuo Zhixuan called Zhao Shengge. Unexpectedly, Zhao Shengge still had not left. Under normal circumstances, once a social engagement ended, he would not stay even one second longer.