Prev | Table of Contents | Next
Chapter 145: Why didn’t you order? I want to eat.
After the semi-annual meeting of the Huo Group, a banquet was set up at the Lida Hotel that evening.
The atmosphere at the banquet was relatively relaxed. When Chen Wengang arrived, he could hear faint laughter even from outside the door.
Standing outside the hall was the signboard of the Huo Group, filled with flamboyant signatures.
Almost instinctively, he found the three characters “Huo Niansheng” among them, intertwined in an abstract manner, with strokes flying out, pressing on another name that was wrinkled into a ball. He could almost imagine the owner of the signature uncapping the pen and elegantly waving his hand.
Chen Wengang smiled.
A waiter helped him push open the heavy door. In the center of the venue, several tables were set up for games. A large crowd surrounded them in a circle, with many senior executives of the group mingling among ordinary employees, participating together in the drawing of lots to show their closeness to the people.
Something nudged at Huo Niansheng’s heart afterward.
He turned around, and a wave of voices rose: “The Huo family is here!”
Huo Niansheng smiled and embraced the roses and the person together.
Chen Wengang smiled slightly and, under the gaze of everyone, boldly kissed him on the face.
Huo Zhenfei squeezed through the crowd, adjusting his tie, looking neat and tidy, except for his slightly messy hair and hoarse voice.
He beckoned to Chen Wengang, and taking advantage of the lively atmosphere, he urged several other Huo executives present to join the game.
Chen Wengang held hands with Huo Niansheng as they were pushed into the center of the venue by the crowd.
It turned out that the several platforms were obstacles for the game, with three or four short balance beams set up in the middle.
Each employee received a numbered card in advance, and the host randomly drew two numbers. The two selected individuals had to figure out a way to cross the bridge simultaneously, regardless of the method chosen, with the aim of fostering teamwork spirit.
Two directors teased Huo Zhenfei, saying that during the day, they were intimidated by him during work presentations and now was their chance for revenge by choosing him as their partner. Huo Zhenfei clasped his hands together in a pleading gesture, eliciting laughter from the crowd.
The host, holding a microphone, added to the excitement, suddenly turning to look at Huo Niansheng.
“Since General Manager Zhenfei isn’t ready yet, General Manager Niansheng is still idle over here—”
Huo Niansheng readily agreed, raising his eyebrows and thrusting the roses into Huo Zhenfei’s arms, saying, “Hold these.”
Chen Wengang was led by him as they climbed the steps together. The narrow balance beam was only thirty centimeters wide, not very high, but it swayed, and underneath was a pool filled with plastic balls, looking slightly daunting from above.
The host reiterated the rules of the game, requiring continuous physical contact throughout. Several employees had already crossed the bridge, with a few attempting piggyback rides, but it was too difficult, and most ended in failure.
He suggested the most successful method, with both of them holding hands, one in front and one behind, and sidestepping across.
Chen Wengang smiled, but Huo Niansheng didn’t even finish listening. He simply lifted him up horizontally.
Chen Wengang hugged Huo Niansheng’s neck tightly, holding his breath, not moving a muscle, and trying to keep his center of gravity aligned with his.
Although his vision was limited, he could still feel the burning gazes on them, with faces below, looking up to see the commotion.
Chen Wengang heard someone shout encouragement twice, but he remained still. Huo Niansheng glanced down at him and took a step.
They didn’t fall. Huo Niansheng was usually well-exercised, so carrying someone wasn’t a problem for him. He didn’t walk fast, but he was steady, demonstrating good balance. It was almost as if he were walking on level ground with little swaying.
Chen Wengang’s gaze went through his shoulder as he saw the half-extended branch-shaped chandelier hanging from the ceiling.
He felt like a small boat, not submerged in the water but being carried over the sea.
After Huo Niansheng put him down, cheers and applause erupted, and everyone started talking at once.
Some teased them for being affectionate, while others joked that it was Huo Niansheng’s personal show, mixed with subtle flattery. Huo Niansheng smiled, unperturbed by either praise or ridicule, and retrieved his rose from Huo Zhenfei’s hands.
The attention of the crowd shifted back to Huo Zhenfei.
The banquet hall was too noisy, so Chen Wengang had to lean close to Huo Niansheng’s ear to speak. Huo Niansheng dragged a chair and sat far away, crossing his legs casually. Whenever someone passed by, they would see him with one arm around the rose and the other around Chen Wengang, chatting intimately.
The rose lay horizontally between them, catching the light and creating a composition that seemed like an illustration, bringing a sense of tranquility amidst the crowd.
Speaking of Huo Niansheng finding a life partner and even going abroad to get married, there were numerous discussions within the Huo Group back then, spreading like wildfire. At that time, 99% of the people were skeptical or adoptive, thinking either he was deceiving the other party or vice versa. Time would test everything, and most likely, it would end up as a farce.
Who would have thought that three or four years later, their relationship had not faded, becoming a model of enduring love? It just goes to show that life is unpredictable and anything can happen. You can’t say anything too early.
Before the end of the banquet, around ten o’clock, Huo’s third uncle, the chairman of the group, accompanied by several senior executives, also made an appearance. Huo Zhenfei sent a message to Huo Niansheng, asking if he was still at the venue and telling him to come out for a formality.
In reality, by this time, Huo Niansheng had already left early, and he was on the way home with Chen Wengang.
Chen Wengang was driving, and halfway through, he noticed someone following their car, a dusty Volkswagen.
Today’s Huo Group semi-annual meeting and internal dinner, although not widely publicized, still attracted some media attention. Serious financial reporters would come to get a brief and then leave, while those who liked to focus on the personal affairs of wealthy families were usually paparazzi sneaking in during the chaos.
Over time, some of them became familiar faces with the main characters, and even with this car, Chen Wengang recognized its brand.
The other party followed them all the way to two intersections away from Jiangchao Street.
Although the address of Chen’s old house was not a secret and could be found with some effort, following them all the way to their doorstep was a bit too much, especially since they weren’t celebrities’ fans. Chen Wengang called out to Huo Niansheng, “What should we do?”
Huo Niansheng glanced out the window as they happened to pass by a roadside food stall and said, “How about grabbing a late-night snack?”
Chen Wengang parked the car on the side of the road, and the two got out.
This food stall had been open for many years, mainly serving seafood barbecue, and business had always been booming. When Chen Wengang and Lu Chenlong were young, they often came here for a taste, but it was only occasionally when they were brought by adults that they had the chance to indulge, which was something they eagerly anticipated.
Even now, the boss was still the same, a middle-aged man with a beer belly, and the awning and tables and chairs hadn’t changed.
Chen Wengang had brought Huo Niansheng here a few times before, and the boss remembered him, shouting for them to find a table themselves.
At this time, the food stall was bustling, with the boss busy at the stove, his hands never stopping, and he was so busy that he seemed to be walking on air.
Before getting out of the car, they took off their coats but still wore expensive pants and leather shoes, sitting incongruously on small stools.
In front of them was a square table; the paint had already worn off, and the landlady came over and quickly wiped the tabletop.
Chen Wengang looked at the menu and ordered grilled squid, grilled prawns, grilled saury, and a few skewers of green peppers, eggplant, and mushrooms.
The food provided at the banquet was all cold dishes, mostly sandwiches, egg tarts, and mousse cakes, delicate but petite, with each mouthful being small, and no one relied on them to fill their stomachs.
By this time, the fragrance of cumin and chili was wafting through the air, and they could really feel their hunger.
Chen Wengang ordered half a dozen grilled oysters, and the landlady wrote down the order with a ballpoint pen.
When he turned his head, he saw Huo Niansheng leisurely resting his chin on his hand, teasingly looking at him from top to bottom. Chen Wengang realized what was happening and kicked him under the table, changing the order to two bowls of beef noodles.
Huo Niansheng asked, “Why didn’t you order? I want to eat.”
Chen Wengang said, “I don’t feel like eating anymore.”
Huo Niansheng smiled and said, “I didn’t say anything, did I?”
Chen Wengang also rested his chin on his hand and looked at him, “I didn’t say anything about what you said; why can’t I just not feel like eating anymore?”
Huo Niansheng still smiled at him and said, “Of course, but I want to eat, so can we order one more serving?”
With both elbows on his knees, Chen Wengang reached out his hand to him, and Huo Niansheng intertwined their fingers. They continued to banter like elementary school students, their hands entwined together. At this moment, someone approached them—the landlady with another customer.
She negotiated with them, “Inside and outside are really full; this table is just for two people; can you share a table?”
The one who came was the paparazzi, who had been following them, wearing a duckbill cap, with faint eyebrows as if they didn’t exist, and a slightly hunched back.
Huo Niansheng raised his chin towards the opposite seat and said, “Please, have a seat.”
The paparazzi had thick skin, so he smiled and sat down, offering him a cigarette and saying, “Master Huo.”
Huo Niansheng raised a hand and waved, “I don’t smoke, I’ve quit.”
The paparazzi withdrew his hand, about to light it himself, but he glanced at him and then put the cigarette and lighter away. He casually ordered a few items, and the landlady left. Ten minutes later, a waiter brought some of Chen Wengang’s skewers to their table.
The paparazzi greeted them with a smile and said, “Why aren’t you two heading home so late?”
Huo Niansheng handed a skewer of shrimp to Chen Wengang, “Isn’t it to avoid you?”
The paparazzi laughed, “I know, you’re not interested in little people like me. I’m just a small fry trying to make a living!”
The waiter came over again and placed two bottles of chilled beer on the table. The paparazzi quickly used a bottle opener to open the caps and poured two glasses.
He pushed one glass towards Chen Wengang and the other towards Huo Niansheng.
Chen Wengang also said to him, “I’m just an ordinary person, you really have some free time; why don’t you go follow someone else?”
The paparazzi insisted, “No, no, no, in my opinion, Mr. Chen has a bright future ahead of him, becoming a big shot is just a matter of time.”
His mouth was as slick as oil, speaking flattering words. Chen Wengang brought the glass to his lips and glanced at him.
The paparazzi’s mind conjured up a word: charming.
It’s no wonder a playboy like Huo Niansheng fell into his hands.
They each ate their own skewers; of course, they ended up not ordering the grilled oysters. Chen Wengang picked up a strand of noodles, tasted it, and then picked up a piece of beef and handed it to Huo Niansheng. The fragrance of roses mixed with the aroma of barbecue, intertwining with each other, blending the elegant with the mundane.
The paparazzo lingered nearby, chatting away and boasting.
Of course, he was also shrewd and smooth, talking only about past events, which were entirely unreliable. It was just for the thrill of it, some were scandalous rumors, while others were macabre tales. For example, he talked about the gangsters running amok twenty years ago and how anyone who offended them would easily get doused in boiling oil, have their hands and feet cut off, or get splashed with sulfuric acid and gasoline. Huo Niansheng raised his hand, signaling him to shut up.
Chen Wengang lowered his head to eat noodles, his hair falling down, and Huo Niansheng helped him tuck it behind his ear.
Since they had been drinking beer, they decided not to drive and parked the car on the side of the street.
Chen Wengang took out two jackets and handed the rose to Huo Niansheng, walking in the direction of home, enjoying the night breeze.
The paparazzo still followed them, but when he saw that the two weren’t in a hurry to go home and instead went to the riverside, he shouted from a distance, “What’s up? Aren’t you two planning to go home and sleep?”
Chen Wengang raised his hand, sniffing the scent of cumin on his body, then pulled Huo Niansheng’s sleeve to smell it. This was the reason that people who didn’t have dogs wouldn’t think of it. If they didn’t air themselves out outside, they’d worry that Harley would wake up, and they’d have to get up until dawn.
Huo Niansheng leaned on the railing lazily, teasingly scolding, “We’ve eaten, we’ve felt the wind, and yet you’re still following us. Isn’t that a bit shameless?”
Prev | Table of Contents | Next
For every Ko-fi received for a perticular novel, I will release a new chapter!
Wow, I’ve seen annoying and/or vicious paparazzi, but that guy holds a World Record on Shamelessness! Sitting at the same table with the people you’re stalking? That’s some next level gall!