DLRAS Chapter 74

Chapter 74: Like a centuries-old fox spirit

Huo Niansheng was a superficial playboy with deep-seated schemes, and Huo Zhenfei, while appearing approachable, was no pure-hearted angel either. Every word he spoke seemed to hold a hidden trap. Fortunately, Chen Wengang hadn’t expected him to be a good person. “Is the DNA report out?”

The tone of voice on the other end felt as if they were old acquaintances. “Yes. Technology has advanced; you can get it within a day.”

Chen Wengang smiled. “That is indeed convenient. I once heard others say it took a week.”

Huo Zhenfei said, “I had Jingsheng take them to get tested. Jiang Cai does indeed share a blood relation with him.”

On both ends of the phone, there was a momentary silence.

Huo Zhenfei continued, “This meeting must happen eventually. Perhaps we can find a more tactful way. The Huo Group has a newly developed hot spring resort in the western suburbs. According to the original schedule, I have to go there for the ribbon-cutting ceremony on Saturday. There are many fun projects; a young girl should like it.”

Chen Wengang demurred, “Isn’t it enough to discuss this with Ms. Jiang Wanxia?”

Huo Zhenfei pressed, “Can you come? With friends you know present, I think they might feel more relaxed.”

Chen Wengang gave a gentle smile. “I’ll have to ask Huo Niansheng later to see if he wants to go to the hot springs.”

Huo Zhenfei said that was fine.

Unfortunately, not everything goes according to plan. When Chen Wengang had that call with Huo Zhenfei, he was returning books at the school library. By the time he arrived at the special education school in the afternoon, before he even reached his office, the acting head, Luo Suwei, ran over to tell him that Jiang Cai had run away.

Two hours earlier, a colleague had heard the mother and daughter arguing in the back again.

This time, the argument was particularly intense. Jiang Cai was flushed, and she had nearly knocked over a security guard at the entrance.

After that, she never returned.

Jiang Wanxia suddenly remembered to check her biscuit tin where she hid her money, only to find that Jiang Cai had taken the little cash she had in the house. It was a runaway situation.

Huo Zhenfei, on the other end of the line, was silent for a full five or six seconds after hearing the news.

Jiang Wanxia was filled with panic and anxiety. She had the speakerphone on her outdated cell phone turned on, and Chen Wengang was listening along with her. He suspected that Huo Zhenfei might have been secretly relieved—perhaps even wishing she wouldn’t come back at all. It would save so much trouble.

Finally, Huo Zhenfei said, “Alright. I will have someone check the airports, train stations, and bus terminals.”

“Checking the train and bus stations should be enough. She doesn’t have the money for a plane ticket, and she’s never flown.”

“Understood.”

Huo Zhenfei hung up the phone quickly, as if he were a very busy man.

At the school, Luo Suwei didn’t know the full story and thought this was caused by them pressing Jiang Wanxia and her daughter to move out. Three or four colleagues voluntarily helped search for her. Luo Suwei also drove her own car, stepping on the gas and scanning the streets.

Someone on the side of the road waved. She saw it was Chen Wengang; he knocked, got into the passenger seat, and joined the search.

Eventually, Huo Zhenfei’s people provided information: they had found Jiang Cai at an internet cafe near the train station.

Jiang Cai was brought to the open plaza. She had bought a late-night ticket and was waiting for the departure, saying she wanted to go out to find work.

“I can support myself! Once I earn money, I’ll send it back!”

Luo Suwei scolded her with a stern face: “You haven’t even finished high school; what kind of work will you find? Do you think you can make money with a middle school diploma? Just because a few adults scolded you, you run away from home. You don’t think about how worried your mother is, how worried we are?”

Jiang Cai glared at her with red, swollen eyes. “Who would worry about me? I’m just unwanted trash.”

Luo Suwei was stunned, not expecting such a young child to describe herself that way. “Of course you aren’t.”

She reached out a sturdy hand and patted Jiang Cai.

Jiang Cai buried her head in her chest and burst into sobs.

Luo Suwei just thought this adolescent girl was hopelessly difficult. She was even harder to handle when her emotions collapsed. Chen Wengang called Jiang Wanxia to say she had been found. Luo Suwei suddenly said, “Why don’t you let her stay at my place for a night to settle down?”

Chen Wengang also felt it would be good for her. He turned in the passenger seat and asked Jiang Cai, “How about it?”

Jiang Cai looked listless and didn’t object, but she acted as if she were deaf, ignoring whatever they said.

Instead, he felt a sense of sympathy—Jiang Wanxia was stubborn and overbearing; she never communicated well with her child and insisted on forcing her own ideas.

For a high school student, the amount of information today was truly too much; it was difficult for anyone to digest it all at once.

Chen Wengang answered for her: “That’s fine. You go with Eden; be well-behaved.”

Luo Suwei dropped him off at a subway station near the school so she could take Jiang Cai home directly, avoiding an encounter between the mother and daughter who fought like bitter enemies.

Chen Wengang said to Luo Suwei, “She really did encounter a major issue. If she’s willing to open up, you can guide her.”

Luo Suwei said, “No problem, I’ve got it.”

Jiang Cai stayed at Luo Suwei’s place for two days.

Jiang Wanxia, however, did something out of character—she proactively packed her things, found a tricycle, and had the driver move them to a new place.

Chen Wengang couldn’t understand her line of thinking. He still went to advise Jiang Wanxia: “Since you’ve dragged it out for so long without moving, do you really lack this little bit of time? When Jiang Cai returns and finds you aren’t even living here anymore, you’ll make her feel like you’re abandoning her!”

Jiang Wanxia carried a bag containing her medical records; her sallow, withered hair looked despondent.

Jiang Wanxia replied stubbornly, “No love is as great as a parent’s. Everything I do is for her own good.”

She accepted Huo Zhenfei’s invitation for her and Jiang Cai to visit the hot spring resort. She was determined to go negotiate.

On Friday evening, near the end of the workday, colleagues were whispering about a strange luxury car parked on the street.

Someone teased Chen Wengang: “Has Mr. Huo changed to a new car?”

It turned out to be the other Mr. Huo—Chen Wengang hadn’t expected Huo Zhenfei, who had previously been put off, to come looking for him directly.

In a sharp black suit, leaning against the car door with a cigarette in hand, he looked stern and focused, like a big boss who had just finished a business deal.

Chen Wengang walked up to him with a smile: “Niansheng hasn’t come back yet. Must I go tomorrow?”

Huo Zhenfei walked with him to the school’s small playground.

He offered Chen Wengang a cigarette.

“Wengang—I’ll call you that, if you don’t mind? After all, our meeting at the yacht club went quite pleasantly. My meaning is clear: I recognize you. Times have changed, and I won’t go out of my way to tear apart my own cousin’s relationship. I’m not that meddlesome.”

Huo Zhenfei took a drag of his cigarette. “But no matter the time, the person by a man’s side must always be able to hold their own in a social setting; they must be someone he can proudly present to others. You are following Huo Niansheng. When he isn’t there, you are his face. You cannot show weakness when you need to step up.”

He was on a much higher level than Huo Jingsheng. Chen Wengang smiled. “That shouldn’t mean I’m not presentable, should it?”

Huo Zhenfei said, “Don’t misunderstand. As long as Huo Niansheng likes you, you are a perfect match for him.”

Taking a few steps, Huo Zhenfei extinguished his cigarette. “Where should I have the driver pick you up tomorrow?”

Chen Wengang squinted at him for a few seconds. “The Yunding Building. I’ve been staying there lately.”

Huo Zhenfei looked at him deeply upon hearing this. Their eyes engaged in an invisible clash in the twilight. Huo Zhenfei looked away first, politely bidding him farewell.

On Saturday, the driver sent by Huo Zhenfei arrived on time.

Chen Wengang napped in the back seat; by the time he opened his eyes, he had reached their destination.

The entrance to the hot spring resort was lined with flower baskets. Just as Huo Zhenfei had said, it was a grand opening, and there was a ribbon-cutting ceremony at nine in the morning.

There was no need for casual bystanders to join in the excitement. Chen Wengang was led to his room by a hostess—it was the highest-spec presidential suite, opulent and magnificent. Jiang Cai was sitting on the sofa in the living room, accompanied by Luo Suwei.

I don’t know how much work Luo Suwei had put into persuading her; Jiang Cai was emotionally stable, not dressed in bizarre clothes, and not screaming.

Today she wore normal clothes, a chiffon shirt and jeans, her face bare, making her look a bit pale.

Huo Niansheng’s right-hand man, Lawyer Zhu, was also there, chatting with her amiably.

Chen Wengang walked over: “Lawyer Zhu.”

Lawyer Zhu nodded in greeting. He was here today representing Huo Niansheng’s interests.

The four of them waited until they were bored stiff—they even borrowed a deck of cards to play Blackjack—before Huo Zhenfei finally appeared, fashionably late after the ceremony.

Jiang Wanxia followed behind. She had brought her own lawyer. When Jiang Cai saw her, she turned her head away and remained seated on the sofa.

Huo Zhenfei asked his secretary flatly: “Has the Chairman not arrived yet?”

The secretary replied respectfully, “The car is on the way, he’ll be here shortly.”

Chen Wengang exchanged a glance with Lawyer Zhu.

The negotiation was held in the study. Huo Zhenfei took Jiang Wanxia inside first. Half an hour later, the Third Uncle Huo walked in, surrounded by a crowd, radiating a sharp, aggressive aura. Many members of the Huo family had arrived. The Second Uncle, his son Huo Yingfei, and Huo Jingsheng all followed in succession.

Jiang Wanxia’s presence was instantly crushed into near nothingness.

How could she be a match for shrewd businesspeople? In a confrontation between two armies, you only have one burst of energy; once it fades, the second and third efforts become weak. She lost her armor at the very first step. Facing the sea of people in black, she seemed like that same greeter who had delusional dreams of taking a giant leap forward.

Jiang Wanxia struggled to fight her battle, while outside, Jiang Cai’s expression was complex.

Chen Wengang patted her on the shoulder.

The door to the study wasn’t actually closed, and the sound of verbal sparring drifted out continuously. Jiang Wanxia only had one lawyer, not a top-tier one, and she was faltering under the pressure. Luo Suwei sighed and handed a drink to Jiang Cai, who was huddled on the sofa.

It turned out they talked from noon until the sun slanted toward the west, with no result.

Huo Zhenfei turned back. Chen Wengang was standing a little distance away outside the door, frowning as he looked inside.

A beauty frowning is also beautiful. Huo Zhenfei walked out quietly and asked, “Is something wrong?”

“No. I just think you all are dragging this out too long. Is it really that hard to reach an agreement?”

“It’s mainly because of Ms. Jiang; she has some unrealistic expectations and is unwilling to compromise.”

“Then what now? Everyone hasn’t had a proper lunch. Do you intend to drag this out until late into the night?”

Chen Wengang knew what kind of dirty trick this was. Prolonged exhaustion, hunger, and the cold would consume a person’s state. The air conditioning in the room was freezing, while the men inside were all suited and prepared. He glanced at Jiang Wanxia, let his gaze slide over each of the Huo family members, and finally landed on Huo Zhenfei with a wry smile.

Huo Zhenfei acted as if nothing was wrong, assuming a magnanimous attitude: “You’re right. This matter is of great importance and cannot be discussed immediately. If it really doesn’t work, we’ll shelve it for now. The resort is currently in its trial operation. It’s the weekend; everyone can go relax.”

He turned and returned to the study.

The sounds inside continued for another half an hour before finally dispersing as they walked out one by one.

By this time, Chen Wengang had already left. He found a large double room at the front desk, changed his clothes, and went to the hot springs alone.

The resort didn’t have many visitors yet, and the vast hot spring pool was almost undisturbed. White mist swirled, and the steam was stifling.

Chen Wengang immersed himself in the red wine bath, half-closing his eyes. He heard footsteps accompanied by the sound of water coming closer.

Huo Niansheng’s voice, filled with a smile, said: “Is soaking comfortable?”

Chen Wengang opened his eyes, a smile appearing in the corners of his eyes and brows. He reached out a hand gently toward him.

“Comfortable? Your family’s people—they’d love to eat her alive, and they’d love to eat me, too.”

“Now you know they aren’t easy to deal with?”

“They’re all like thousand-year-old fox spirits transformed into humans… except for Huo Jingsheng.”

Huo Niansheng couldn’t help but chuckle at this. Chen Wengang’s eyes crinkled for him. Huo Niansheng had changed into a bathrobe; the open lapels revealed the lines of his chest muscles. He walked over, but instead of undressing, he sat down beside Chen Wengang, only extending his lower legs into the hot spring pool.

Chen Wengang tilted his head to look at him. Huo Niansheng reached his hand into the scalding water, scooped up a handful, and poured it over his chest.

Wet fingers grazed across his collarbone, leaving a warm trace of water behind.

Chen Wengang looked around. “He shouldn’t be here, right?”

Huo Niansheng arched an eyebrow, turned his face back, and slowly inserted his thumb into his mouth. “He isn’t.”

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