KN | Chapter 7

Gentle Yet Stern, Powerful Yet Not Fierce

However, on the day of the conference opening ceremony, Chen Wan did not see any seat or nameplate for Zhao Shengge on the podium.

In recent years, Zhao Shengge had grown increasingly low-profile. Even when he did attend events, he adhered to three principles: no speeches, no camera appearances, and no interviews.

Among financial reporters and the media industry, this was an unspoken consensus. Even at events he attended, no one reckless enough would try to point a camera or microphone at him.

The hall was built in a Roman-style circular layout, carpeted in thick layers, with warm-toned chandeliers overhead, imposing and grand.

There were many attendees at this conference, and security was unusually strict. Chen Wan was assigned a rather remote seat near the back.

He swept his gaze across the venue and confirmed that Zhao Shengge was not present.

A man of high rank and authority would not place himself in exposed positions. He remained hidden within the crowd, like an eye looking down from above, like a hand controlling everything from behind the scenes.

The vice chairman of the chamber of commerce listed several preferential policies to be piloted in the bay area in somewhat nonstandard Mandarin, encouraging innovators to seize the opportunity and be the first to try something new.

Chen Wan keenly picked up on several key terms, quickly jotting them down in his notebook, intending to review them carefully later with his partners.

The intermission lasted a full thirty minutes. Zhuo Zhixuan crossed more than half the hall to find Chen Wan and chat. He had no business of his own. Attending this dull and tedious conference was entirely due to family pressure.

The venue had signal jammers. Being unable to use his phone for several hours was already driving Young Master Zhuo to the brink.

“You’re actually taking notes,” Zhuo Zhixuan glanced at the keywords Chen Wan had written and said casually, “Instead of waiting for this proposal to be implemented, you might as well go to Shen Zongnian. That would be faster.”

He lowered his voice slightly. “As for Jieyu, the chamber of commerce has no say. That’s the Zhao family’s turf.”

Going directly to Zhao Shengge was out of the question, but Shen Zongnian could still help make the connection.

“No need,” Chen Wan said.

“Don’t be naive,” Zhuo Zhixuan replied.

Preferential policies did promote resource flow and a degree of fairness, but they were too slow. The real benefits had already circulated among those at the top. What trickled down were merely scraps for the rest to scramble over.

Chen Wan took a sip of black tea and still shook his head.

Zhuo Zhixuan let out an exasperated laugh. “Why are you so stubborn, Chen Wan?”

At times, he truly could not figure Chen Wan out. If one said he had no ambitions, he somehow managed to navigate every situation smoothly. If one said he was calculating and scheming, that did not quite fit either.

Thinking it over, he had never seen anyone in their circle turn out like this.

It was almost embarrassing to say. Many things that were trivial for them, Chen Wan had never once asked for help. He insisted on taking a long detour himself. Meanwhile, those who had merely shared a few drinks with Tan Youming and Shen Zongnian were already flaunting borrowed authority, throwing their weight around.

Watching benefits flow to outsiders, Zhuo Zhixuan grew irritated, his tone sharpening. “Chen Wan, can’t you plan for yourself a little?”

Chen Wan, ever good-tempered, simply smiled and said nothing.

After quickly reviewing his notes and confirming there were no omissions, he spoke in an easy tone, “Don’t worry about me.”

“I know what I’m doing.”

Zhuo Zhixuan found him impossible to reason with. Chen Wan appeared easygoing, but once he made up his mind, he would not change it.

Over the two-day conference, Zhao Shengge never appeared.

Perhaps encounters between people involved a measure of fate, but even more so, they required effort.

Opportunities were always reserved for those who were prepared. Nine failures, then success on the tenth. Chen Wan could endure the wait.

That tenth time came at an auction, from a distance.

Zhao Shengge was as low-profile as ever. There were no entourages of bodyguards or assistants trailing behind him. This time, he did not even bring an assistant, walking alone to take the central seat prepared by the organizers.

Each viewing seat was spaced far apart, ensuring that neighboring guests would not disturb one another.

Chen Wan was seated in a dim and remote corner. From afar, Zhao Shengge seemed even more restrained than before.

Chen Wan found himself drawn to observing him. The way Zhao Shengge crossed his long legs, leaned back against the chair, and lowered his gaze to the catalog reminded him of a lion. Detached, looking down upon everything. Outwardly composed, inwardly languid, faintly bored. Occasionally, he would lift his eyes for a brief glance, then return to his own world.

The dim lighting cast his profile into quiet stillness, carrying a hint of isolation that came with great height.

Zhao Shengge was not quite the same as in Chen Wan’s memory. Even Tan Youming and Shen Zongnian, who had grown up with him, might not detect the difference. But Chen Wan observed him too closely. He came very near to the truth. Zhao Shengge was using increasingly decisive authority to conceal the fatigue lingering at the corners of his eyes.

To grant a person power was also to impose restraints.

Zhao Shengge was like a mountain that would not crumble under pressure. That faint, almost imperceptible weariness was like fallen leaves drifting through a valley, insignificant and unseen. Only the birds that flew to the mountain each day would notice.

One looked up to such a mountain in admiration. Chen Wan chose to be that bird, circling it year after year.

Before the auction began, guests nearby chatted in low voices. Chen Wan caught fragments.

“He jumped from the Financial Tower, seventy-eighth floor. The pool in Huajing Park was dyed red with blood. A lot of people saw it.”

“The police came quickly and cleaned everything up. They did not allow reporters to film. Madam Mai has been crying every day. She even went to Minglong Tower to protest and demand justice.”

“I heard it was not about that bad debt. Mai Jiahui was dishonest, playing tricks, going in circles, even trying to join forces with the Hua family. After that… they lost patience. Even harsher than his old man.”

“…not someone you can provoke… signing a charity donation contract for disabled children on one hand while forcing a wealthy rival into bankruptcy and suicide on the other… killing and saving, all within a single thought.”

That person was like a name that could not be spoken. Everyone understood and avoided it without saying.

A small disturbance arose not far away. A staff member made a mistake while serving tea at Zhao Shengge’s table. The surrounding guests immediately fell silent, lowering their eyes and pretending not to notice.

But Chen Wan saw Zhao Shengge raise his hand slightly in a courteous gesture and calmly say it was fine, his tone polite and gentle.

Chen Wan thought that even if Zhao Shengge had heard those earlier whispers, he would not grow angry.

In truth, Zhao Shengge was easier to deal with than many people. His presence was strong, yet his temperament remained steady. Gentle yet stern, authoritative yet not oppressive, composed and at ease.

His methods, however, were another matter entirely.

Chen Wan did not pay much attention to what was being auctioned.

He only knew that Zhao Shengge acquired a Wanli-era blue lotus vase from the Ming dynasty. The auctioneer called the price once, and the item was sold. No one dared to compete with him.

When it ended, Zhao Shengge walked out alongside a middle-aged man. The man was considerably older, yet perhaps due to Zhao Shengge’s height, the well-known Haishi official beside him seemed diminished in presence.

They spoke occasionally. Zhao Shengge spoke little and listened more.

The auction had a high entry threshold, so there were not many guests. Those who passed by Zhao Shengge did not act presumptuously. They simply greeted him with a respectful “Mr. Zhao.”

Chen Wan was one of them.

As he walked out of the hall with a colleague, he briefly passed by Zhao Shengge. He did not stop, nor did their gazes meet.

The other man did not recognize him, nor even notice him. Chen Wan was not surprised.

Even though he had attended several dinners where Zhao Shengge was present, relying on Tan Youming and Zhuo Zhixuan’s connections, Zhao Shengge would not remember someone insignificant.

Chen Wan had always been self-aware.

And he did not mind. He was not seeking that.