Chapter 19 The Correct Answer

Chapter 19 The Correct Answer

The Buddha statue exuded solemnity. Chen Wan was engrossed in flipping through the scriptures for Song Qingmiao in front of the Buddha, so much so that he didn’t notice the abbot’s arrival.

Zhao Shengge overheard the woman affectionately calling Chen Wan “BB” in a hushed tone, and his expression turned subtly complex.

Only when he approached did he realize the other person was none other than Song Qingmiao, who had once been a prominent figure in Haishi.

So they were not a couple, although Zhao Shengge’s generation didn’t know much about the events of those years, lost to time, with truths and falsehoods intertwined.

However, he had heard from Tan Youming that Chen Wan was not from Haishi.

Song Qingmiao hailed from Jiangnan, which accounted for Chen Wan’s gentle, scholarly demeanor, evoking the elegance of ink wash paintings.

This insight wasn’t Zhao Shengge’s but Qin Zhaoting’s.

The people around greeted the abbot, and Chen Wan also looked up, seeing the person behind him, he sighed inwardly.

He reluctantly greeted them, “Abbot, Mr. Zhao.”

Zhao Shengge gave a subtle nod, and the abbot recognized them, “Ms. Song, Mr. Chen.”

Song Qingmiao, who had glimpsed Zhao Shengge at a banquet, turned to Chen Wan in surprise and delight. She had never imagined that her son, whom she considered a failure, would know such a person.

“Sweetie, introduce us.”

Zhao Shengge heard this term of endearment again, and his eyebrows raised.

Chen Wan was too preoccupied to notice because he saw Song Qingmiao tuck a strand of hair behind her ear.

Chen Wan kept a composed facade, but internally, something tainted was being unveiled, along with a sense of shame.

Chen Wan knew Song Qingmiao too well and was acutely aware of what this gesture usually meant.

This was precisely why he had countless reasons to avoid Song Qingmiao and Zhao Shengge meeting.

Zhao Shengge wasn’t like Chen Bingxin, who was swayed by beauty, nor was he Xie Jiajian, who would date her behind his family’s back. Zhao Shengge was not those people; Zhao Shengge was not anyone she could see through, calculate, or use.

Whatever Song Qingmiao plotted would appear absurd, whether she wanted to rely on herself or on Chen Wan.

His mother’s avaricious glee and his tainted past were exposed to Zhao Shengge.

Chen Wan sighed internally and tersely said, “This is Mr. Zhao, and this is my mother,” without intending to elaborate.

Song Qingmiao spoke at length, but Chen Wan barely listened. He was more silent than usual.

For the first time, Zhao Shengge witnessed Chen Wan’s icy demeanor. Chen Wan’s usual gentleness made this coldness jarring. Though Chen Wan maintained a polite smile, it felt hollow, insincere.

Uncertain of the cause, but noting Chen Wan’s reluctance to converse, Zhao Shengge didn’t linger. He glanced at his assistant beside him and left first.

His stay at Lianjing Temple had already far exceeded his planned duration, and he shouldn’t waste any more time.

Noticing Chen Wan’s lack of enthusiasm, Song Qingmiao chided him for his poor social graces.

“You know Zhao Shengge, why didn’t you tell me?”

Chen Wan’s smile vanished as he turned to face her, his eyes containing something she found unfamiliar and hard to understand.

She mistook his deep, measured calmness for a gentle reminder, but it was unmistakably a stern warning, even though his voice was so calm, it was calm to the point of being chilling: “We’re barely acquainted, so don’t read too much into it.”

Song Qingmiao shivered for no apparent reason, her voice dropping to a murmur as she muttered, "How can it not count? He did say hello to you, after all."

In Haishi, few could get Zhao Shengge to greet them first.

"No," Chen Wan lifted his chin slightly, his expression a mix of gentleness and coldness. "We're not that close. He just acknowledged me casually and might not even know who I am."

Of course, this was a lie to Song Qingmiao. Although Zhao Shengge and he weren't exactly close now, at least Zhao Shengge knew who he was.

Song Qingmiao's eyebrows knitted together, and she was about to say something when Chen Wan spoke before her, "Mom," his voice soft.

It had been ages since he called her that, and it caught Song Qingmiao off guard.

Chen Wan's eyes were unusually dark, like bottomless pits. He looked at his beautiful yet greedy mother earnestly, patiently advising, "We can't mess with the likes of Yama or Rakshasa. No matter how many Bodhisattvas you pray to, it won't make a difference. Don't you agree?"

He could try to give Song Qingmiao what she wanted—jewelry, money, face—but Zhao Shengge was off-limits.

"..." Seeing her usually obedient son so serious, as if pushing further would lead to a fight, Song Qingmiao reluctantly fell silent, though her mind was still scheming.

Zhao Shengge drove across the Pearl Bridge, and just then, his assistant called.

Since the shooting in Italy two years ago, Zhao Shengge had his people prep the outer areas before he went. Even though the country was safe, he had too many enemies.

Through the earpiece, Zhao Shengge heard Chen Wan's gentle, patient voice speaking to his mother, every word clear.

Expressionless, Zhao Shengge listened, then said to the vice president still waiting on the video conference, "The dock budget numbers don't look good. Maybe you should rework them."

"..."

His tone was so calm that the vice president thought he was open to discussion. He explained a few things, but Zhao Shengge was no longer listening.

Outside, trees whizzed by, their fleeting shadows falling on his somewhat lonely shoulders.

After countless guesses about Chen Wan's motives, this turned out to be the answer.

After their meeting at the Mazu Temple, Zhao Shengge vanished for so long that Chen Wan started to worry.

But it seemed to be a top-secret meeting; even Tan Youming didn't say a word, so Chen Wan had no way of finding out.

They met again because of Qin Zhaoting.

On that two-day cruise, Chen Wan gathered a stack of business cards. Qin Zhaoting even swapped personal contacts with him and invited him to check out his new shooting club.

The club was located on Holland Avenue, occupying nearly a thousand square meters in the prime Central District, fully equipped with shooting, archery, rock climbing, and billiards.

Chen Wan arrived early and brought a gift.

Qin Zhaoting asked if he had played before, and Chen Wan said no. Just as Qin Zhaoting was about to say he would teach him later, an SUV pulled up.

Three people got out.

Shen Zongnian was expressionless, Zhao Shengge was on the phone, so when they passed by, Chen Wan's greeting likely went unheard and unanswered.

Or maybe it was answered, but Chen Wan wasn't sure.

Tan Youming, who had been driving the whole way, walked over twirling the car keys. Pointing at Shen Zongnian's back, he said, "Not awake yet," then pointed at Zhao Shengge's back and said, "Rude."

Qin Zhaoting and Chen Wan: "..."

The club was high-tech, and today they were doing photoelectric shooting with ten targets.

The shooting trench has 15 clay pigeon machines, and the targets move randomly, allowing shooters to aim in any direction, with scores recorded based on rings.

As they picked out gear, someone mentioned the land in Polly Bay, as Zhao Shengge's plans to build a new pier had already spread in Haishi.

Jiang Ying asked Zhao Shengge, "I heard you're going to increase the budget?"

Tan Youming quickly answered for him, "He says the number's bad luck."

Everyone fell silent for a few seconds. Zhao Shengge calmly grabbed some goggles, tried them on, and corrected him, "It's Zhao Maozheng's idea. Old folks can't help being superstitious."

Everyone was somewhat skeptical of this explanation, as the Minglong patriarch doesn't call the shots anymore.

Zhao Shengge stated firmly, "You don't want a Titanic situation, do you?"

With that, everyone fell silent again.

Most folks there had shipping or cruise line businesses. If the Polly Bay pier were indeed built, Haishi's cargo ships would flock there. With its deep harbor, sheltered spot, and long bay, it'd be unmatched for cargo capacity.

One person said that when the pier is completed, he'd sign up to be first to sail.

Another half-jokingly said that let the best man win. Although they are all friends, business is business, and this could be big financial news.

Chen Wan listened silently, feeling a pang of envy.

It wasn't jealousy of others' wealth, but rather an inexplicable sense of romance.

Chen Wan is a very practical person, but only Zhao Shengge could make him dream these romantic, impossible dreams.

Being the first ship to sail from Zhao Shengge's harbor is a thrilling idea.

However, Chen Wan could work for decades and never make it happen.

Zhao Shengge, not hiding his business savvy, nodded, all business, "It's all negotiable. The highest bidder wins."

"..."

He changed into a white shooting suit, showing off his broad shoulders and long legs, making him stand out in the crowd.

He grabbed a small Void Wing, shaped like an anchor, and from aiming to firing, it took only 0.3 seconds to hit the 10-ring at 33 feet.

With a "bang," the digital smoke and dust practically oozed confidence.

Chen Wan felt his soul take a hit in that instant.

Qin Zhaoting walked over and asked how he was enjoying it.

Though a crack shot, Chen Wan had never let on.

Qin Zhaoting, as an expert, patiently introduced Chen Wan to several types of guns and explained the methods of shooting and aiming.

Chen Wan looked very gentle and refined, clearly someone who had never held a gun before. As the host for the day, Qin Zhaoting felt he should spend more time with him.

Chen Wan listened somewhat boredly to the basics of gun handling, smiling and telling Qin Zhaoting to go ahead and not worry about him. He would practice alone for a while. Just then, someone called Qin Zhaoting, and he apologetically patted Chen Wan's shoulder, saying to find him if there were any issues.

When Chen Wan took the gun, he was careful to avoid touching Qin Zhaoting's hand. He lowered his head, fumbling to load the gun, when suddenly, as if sensing something, he looked up, eyes wide with shock—Zhao Shengge's gun was pointed directly at him.