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Thank you @Didigeorge for the Kofi~
Chapter 30: If you want to come, you can ask for the room card from the front desk.
Zheng Yucheng stood by the window, gazing outside.
Chen Wengang took heavy steps, making a slight noise: “Are you and Zheng Maoxun okay?”
More composed than his younger brother, Zheng Yucheng replied, “I didn’t deliberately pick a fight with him. It’s about the client, and of course, I know which side carries more weight. What I wanted to address is Zheng Maoxun’s attitude. First, Norville Steel used to have a fixed partnership with a shipping company. This time, it’s just a temporary booking, not necessarily leading to a long-term contract. It’s not a good habit to act as if everything is set in stone beforehand. Secondly, he shouldn’t adopt this attitude towards his own sister and brother-in-law. Even if Dad were here, he wouldn’t undermine his daughter and son-in-law without giving prior notice.”
Chen Wengang closed the door behind him: “Not necessarily.”
Frowning, Zheng Yucheng asked, “What do you mean?”
Chen Wengang said, “In terms of brother-in-law’s character, there’s nothing to say. But over the past few years of running his company and making investments, it seems like he’s losing money on whatever he does. Last time, when your sister needed to buy a dress, he couldn’t afford it. Maybe Yifu wants to shake him up and prevent conflicts from arising due to financial strain.”
Zheng Yucheng smiled wryly, “I’m well aware of my brother-in-law’s business acumen. But my sister has been married to him for several years, and what can we do? If we want to teach him a lesson, there are many other ways without making him suffer financially.”
Chen Wengang probed, “Is his company’s financial situation really that dire now?”
Zheng Yucheng showed him call records and said, “I won’t hide it from you. When he calls me, he sounds on the verge of tears. His funding is about to be cut off, and he was counting on these one or two major clients to stay afloat. He doesn’t dare let Dad know, so don’t mention it either.”
Chen Wengang hesitated to comment on this matter; however, he had no intention of reporting it either.
He asked another question just because Zheng Dongqing, as the eldest sister, had treated him well before. In terms of emotions, he didn’t want her to lead an unhappy life. Unfortunately, her husband was an exceptionally dutiful spouse but struggled in the business world, a common predicament.
Turning his face away, Chen Wengang noticed Zheng Yucheng looking at him with a complex and indiscernible expression.
Chen Wengang withdrew his thoughts, “What’s wrong? Is there any other issue?”
Zheng Yucheng said, “I’m just wondering if one day you won’t stand by my side.”
Chen Wengang raised an eyebrow, and the fluorescent light cast a pale complexion and a faint blue hue on his face.
For a moment, Zheng Yucheng was intimidated by his expression, unable to discern what he was thinking.
He tried to find the shadow of the youthful boy who grew up with him, but he couldn’t find it, feeling a sense of defeat in his heart.
Zheng Yucheng probably wouldn’t have the chance to know that, in a previous life, there was indeed a Chen Wengang who always stood by his side, but he had also disappeared forever. When Zheng Yucheng needed him, he was there; when the company faced trouble and needed someone to step up, he also played his final role.
In a moment of self-reflection during a court appearance, Chen Wengang realized something.
It was Zheng Yucheng who didn’t stand on his side first.
Chen Wengang smiled suddenly, “We’re not kids anymore; why bother with taking sides? Be more mature.”
Zheng Yucheng turned his face, and on the edge of the coffee table stood a 22-inch suitcase. He was about to leave straight from work, heading to the airport with two deputy general managers and the business team. By the time it had already passed midnight, he should be on a red-eye flight.
Before Chen Wengang left, he wished him a smooth journey.
Zheng Yucheng didn’t remind him, but he still heard him say, “Happy birthday.”
***
This was one of the worst birthdays Zheng Yucheng had ever experienced.
Not to mention the flight delay at the airport for several hours; even in business class, he couldn’t entirely escape the torment of crying children and turbulent air during the flight. Upon entering Singapore and checking into the hotel, almost all team members were too exhausted to keep their eyes open.
He reluctantly reported the itinerary to Zheng Bingyi, who advised him to learn and observe more.
His younger sister, Zheng Baoqiu, did remember to make a video call to wish him a happy birthday.
Chen Wengang, standing beside her, casually said a few polite words.
Sharp-eyed Zheng Baoqiu noticed something, “Did you two have a fight?”
Both of them denied it without prior agreement.
Through the camera, Zheng Yucheng saw the background behind them: fine, snow-white sand on the beach, a distant azure sea, and a sky with scattered white sails.
He had tried his best to restrain himself from interfering with Chen Wengang’s freedom. He knew that Chen Wengang had accepted the invitation from Huo Niansheng without even asking him, but that didn’t stop jealousy from gnawing at his heart.
At this moment, Zheng Yucheng even regretted a bit his false generosity.
He ended the video call and tossed his phone on the bed, exhausted to the extreme but unable to fall asleep.
Under the sun umbrella, Zheng Baoqiu leaned back on a beach chair and said, “I can’t understand you guys.”
Chen Wengang smiled, didn’t argue, and handed her a glass of freshly squeezed orange juice.
The vacationers seemed to be enjoying themselves; some played beach volleyball, others rode beach buggies, and the atmosphere was filled with bikinis and cheerful laughter.
The Yacht Club was a high-end club in Jing City, providing not only mooring and maintenance services for yachts but also upscale amenities such as fine dining, a spa, a swimming pool, a gym, a golf course, and even opportunities for mountain climbing and horseback riding. It was considered a luxurious vacation destination.
So, Zheng Baoqiu and Chen Wengang had arrived early in the morning, taking advantage of the milder sun in the forenoon to play by the seaside.
Although Huo Niansheng had booked the venue, the attendees were not necessarily recognizable to him. Everyone brought someone with them, making the crowd lively; otherwise, the place would feel desolate with too few people. It was said that Yu Shanding had even hired a band and models, scheduled to arrive in the afternoon.
Zheng Baoqiu wrinkled her nose and whispered to Chen Wengang, “You know, actually, Mu Qing is here too.”
Chen Wengang didn’t pay much attention. “Oh, really? He didn’t mention joining us.”
Zheng Baoqiu said, “That’s good. I didn’t want him in my sports car anyway. He said another friend invited him.”
With a thick layer of sunscreen applied, Zheng Baoqiu carried her surfboard and headed into the sea, leaving Chen Wengang under the sunshade, watching her.
He placed his sunglasses on top of his head and looked around. However, Huo Niansheng was nowhere to be found on the beach.
By noon, as the UV rays intensified, Zheng Baoqiu was reluctant to stay outdoors and suggested to Chen Wengang that they go to the restaurant for lunch.
They both went to the respective men’s and women’s changing rooms to shower.
Chen Wengang washed off the salty smell brought by the sea breeze, got dressed, and walked out while drying his hair.
With a towel blocking his line of sight, someone approached him. Chen Wengang wasn’t paying attention, and the person didn’t avoid him but instead moved toward him.
Chen Wengang collided with the person and instinctively apologized, “Sorry—”
The other person reached out and pulled him into a hug.
Huo Niansheng’s voice was husky, with a hint of a smile: “Baby, did you miss me?”
Hearing his voice, Chen Wengang didn’t hesitate and hugged him back. His small burst of enthusiasm surprised even Huo Niansheng.
Huo Niansheng lowered his head, and Chen Wengang tilted his face up, allowing him to kiss his forehead.
Huo Niansheng embraced him with one arm while gently stroking his still-damp hair with the other.
After a while, like a playful little creature, Chen Wengang tentatively brushed his lips against Huo Niansheng’s cheek and nose.
The warm breath lingered on his neck, making it unclear whether it was an affectionate touch or a soft and tender kiss.
Huo Niansheng teased in a low voice, “Is this the joy of reunion after a short separation?”
Chen Wengang said, “No.”
It was neither a short separation nor a reunion.
If he were a captive bird, then Huo Niansheng was his familiar forest.
Huo Niansheng pressed him against a storage cabinet, and the two of them remained in each other’s arms for a while. The familiar scent surrounded them in the narrow space.
The place wasn’t safe; someone could enter at any moment and see them. With Huo Niansheng’s back to the door, he hid Chen Wengang in his embrace.
Regardless of any risks, Chen Wengang didn’t care. He rested his jaw on Huo Niansheng’s neck, pressing his body and heart closely against him.
Huo Niansheng chuckled softly, “I have a long-term reservation here, Room 707.”
He said to Chen Wengang, “If you want to come, you can ask the front desk for the room key.”
The unspoken understanding between adults was clear, since it was mutual consent—
Chen Wengang’s heart skipped a beat.
Huo Niansheng let go and patted his back, “Shall we have dinner together later?”
Chen Wengang smiled and said, “I can’t leave Baoqiu behind. I’ll go find her first.”
“Perfect; I also have a friend here. The four of us can dine together.”
Chen Wengang waited at the entrance of the women’s changing room until Zheng Baoqiu, who took her time showering, appeared.
When they reunited, Huo Niansheng was accompanied by that friend, a strong and charismatic woman around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She squinted at Chen Wengang, assessed him, and extended her hand to Baoqiu first, “Hello, I’m Li Hongqiong.”
Zheng Baoqiu shook hands with her, her eyes smiling, “Hongqiong-jie, I’ve heard about you. My dad praised you for being very capable in business.”
Li Hongqiong smiled: “You’re too kind. Uncle must be insincere when he says that. You also deserve to be taken seriously.”
Zheng Baoqiu complimented, “It’s true. He even uses you to motivate my brother, so I’ve heard your name frequently.”
Li Hongqiong was acquainted with Huo Niansheng, and since Zheng Baoqiu was younger, she usually didn’t mingle in the same circles. However, the admiration for her wasn’t feigned. Among the shipping industry leaders of the Zheng, Huo, Li, and He families, Li Hongqiong, the daughter of the Li family, was known for her strong character and business acumen.
Chen Wengang also shook hands with her, introducing himself. Li Hongqiong, however, looked at him with a meaningful gaze.
The evaluative sense became more and more apparent.
Chen Wengang wasn’t sure if she had heard of him from somewhere, but he was aware of who Li Hongqiong was.
In his previous life, she was the high-born lady most likely to marry Huo Niansheng, according to rumors.
Even though Chen Wengang rarely left his home, he had read about the rumors surrounding the two in gossip magazines. In a world where men were expected to marry and women to wed, there was a period when reporters speculated wildly about an impending engagement. They spoke as if the engagement party’s time and location had already been set.
If one day Huo Niansheng suddenly appeared on TV announcing his engagement, Chen Wengang wouldn’t be surprised.
When flipping through those magazines, he found it challenging to articulate his feelings. He somewhat looked down on himself, feeling like a clinging vine, relying on Huo Niansheng for existence. Even if Huo Niansheng were to get married, he couldn’t do anything about it and could only continue hiding in the shadows. Privately, Chen Wengang had already made plans to leave. He didn’t want to go through another episode like the one with He Wanxin.
But in the end, those two never got together.
Li Hongqiong continued being the CEO, and Huo Niansheng continued being the playboy. It couldn’t be said that their union was completely inappropriate. Marriages in high society were often about interests rather than emotions. They would’ve been like many other wealthy couples, leading separate lives despite sharing the same bed, each pursuing their own paths in the world of the affluent.
As for the reasons, Paparazzi had fabricated numerous behind-the-scenes stories, including versions filled with passion and tragic love affairs.
Chen Wengang had read stories that implicated him, claiming that Young Master Huo had a mysterious secret lover whom he cherished, and Miss Li couldn’t accept this. The real reason was that Young Master Huo, despite the unattractive appearance of his secret lover, remained devoted, which must have been true love. Miss Li found this intolerable, perhaps due to her genuine feelings. In the end, fate had its own plans, and it was a strange and convoluted situation.
The four of them had lunch in a marine-themed restaurant that resembled an aquarium.
After lunch, Zheng Baoqiu went to the restroom, and Huo Niansheng took a call outside, leaving Chen Wengang and Li Hongqiong standing alone at the entrance of the restaurant.
Li Hongqiong tapped her finger on the massive glass tank, observing the swimming jellyfish inside, and asked, “What are you guys planning to do this afternoon?”
Chen Wengang, like Zheng Baoqiu, addressed her as “Hongqiong-jie” and mentioned they hadn’t made any plans.
“June—call me by my English name. As sweet as it sounds when little sisters call me Jie, it’s weird coming from guys. I don’t like it,” Li Hongqiong said.
Chen Wengang smiled gently and apologetically. At that moment, Zheng Baoqiu pushed the door open and asked, “I’m back! Where are we going?”
“Do you usually exercise?” Li Hongqiong pondered for a moment. “How about joining me and Lao Huo for a mountain hike?”
“It’s too sunny; I don’t want to turn into a coal ball,” Zheng Baoqiu said. “I’ll just play tennis with Wengang-ge.”
“What are you guys talking about? Are we looking for some fun?” Huo Niansheng walked over as well; the group was complete.
“Sort of,” Li Hongqiong said, looking at him. “Do you want to join their activities, or should we stick to the original plan and go hiking?”
“I’ll respect the old and love the young ones,” Huo Niansheng laughed. “Whoever is younger decides, and I’ll go along with it. If Baoqiu decides, I’ll go along with her.”
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