Chapter 36: Da Hong Pao

Chapter 36: Da Hong Pao

Chen Wan wasn’t sure if Zhao Shengge was just being polite, so even though he really wanted the gift, he only said politely, "It’s alright, Mr. Zhao, don’t worry about it. You’ve already helped me by hiring security and a housekeeper to take care of me."

Zhao Shengge shook his head and said, "That’s just what I should have done; it doesn’t count as thanks."

Chen Wan was about to say more when the waiter came in, placing one tool after another on the tea table.

It was tea leaves for smoking.

Silver Needle, Dan Cong, Tieguanyin, all lined up.

After the last time, everyone was very interested and started trying it out, except for Zhao Shengge.

Chen Wan asked, "Mr. Zhao, would you like to try? Their tea is quite good, well-dried but smooth on the throat."

Zhao Shengge looked at the various teas, seemed to think of something, and shook his head.

Chen Wan, not knowing what was wrong, said considerately, "Worried about getting your hands dirty? If you don’t mind, I can roll a cigarette for you?" He was quite good at rolling cigarettes.

Zhao Shengge finally looked up at him, and after a moment, asked, "You’d roll it for me?"

Chen Wan nodded.

Zhao Shengge leaned over to look at the teas, his elbow resting on his knee, one hand supporting half of his face, leaning towards him, "What would you like?"

"You can roll whatever you like," Chen Wan offered kindly.

Zhao Shengge turned back to look at the tea, and after a while, said in a low voice, as if speaking to Chen Wan or himself, "Da Hong Pao."

Zhao Shengge looked at him, repeating in a very low voice, "Da Hong Pao."

Chen Wan was momentarily stunned.

Although he had originally planned to roll Da Hong Pao for Zhao Shengge, he’d expected a casual ‘whatever.’

Because Zhao Shengge never shared his preferences.

In the past, Chen Wan had to guess, research, observe, deduce, and even dream to infer that Zhao Shengge liked Da Hong Pao, but this time Zhao Shengge himself had said he wanted Da Hong Pao.

Chen Wan smiled and agreed, put on disposable gloves, rolled the Da Hong Pao, and handed it to him. Zhao Shengge didn’t take it but tilted his head slightly and directly took the cigarette from between Chen Wan’s fingers.

His lips parted, biting it between his teeth, pursed slightly, his tongue touching the filter, the cigarette bobbed slightly.

Chen Wan hesitated for a moment; Zhao Shengge’s movements were so natural, as if it was supposed to be this way.

The warm breath directly sprayed onto Chen Wan’s fingers, his fingertips grew warm, all the way to his palm and arm, and then his heart began to flutter.

Zhao Shengge, biting the cigarette, looked up at Chen Wan, who then took out his lighter and lit it for him with care, his expression and movements seeming effortless and gracious.

As the flame sparked, Zhao Shengge’s face was illuminated, and Chen Wan felt as though he were lighting a birthday candle.

But he had no other wishes left.

Chen Wan felt deeply content; he’d never felt more at ease before, having rolled the cigarette himself, lit it himself, and watched Zhao Shengge slowly inhale it into his lungs.

Chen Wan lit one for himself as well, letting it rest between his lips.

Tieguanyin.

The fragrance filled his chest and lungs.

Zhao Shengge glanced at his lighter: "New?"

Chen Wan, cigarette between his lips, remained silent and simply nodded.

Zhao Shengge held the tea-infused cigarette between his fingers and said, "Quite special."

Chen Wan considered offering it to him, but it felt too abrupt, so he just took the cigarette away, mentioned a brand name, and put the lighter back in his pocket.

"..."

Whenever Tan Youming and Zhuo Zhixuan were around, the atmosphere was always lively, bordering on noisy. After being interrupted several times while trying to discuss serious matters, Zhao Shengge suddenly tapped Chen Wan's tea bowl with his knuckle and whispered, "Come out with me for a moment."

Chen Wan was confused.

The others were playing cards and chatting, assuming they were going to the restroom or to get some fresh air, and didn't pay much attention.

Out on the open terrace,

Zhao Shengge leaned against the railing, hands resting on the crossbar, his shirt fluttering in the breeze, appearing completely at ease.

"Mr. Zhao."

In the dim light, Chen Wan struggled to make out his expression, only barely able to discern his sharp eyebrows and prominent nose.

"Come here," Zhao Shengge said softly.

Chen Wan complied, stepping closer.

The Da Hong Pao tea in Zhao Shengge's mouth was still lit, the robust aroma of the rock tea blending with the delicate fragrance of Tieguanyin on the breeze, drifting far away.

Chen Wan wasn't sure what Zhao Shengge had in mind, so he just stood quietly beside him.

The hotel was nestled in a mountain resort, and outside the open terrace were dark mountains, the constant hum of cicadas, endless pine forests, and frost-like moonlight, the night breeze carrying the calls of insects and birds. The two stood there without speaking, yet it didn't feel awkward.

After standing in the mountain breeze for a while, Zhao Shengge tilted his head and asked, "Chen Wan, are you in energy transfer?"

"Yes," Chen Wan answered, puzzled by Zhao Shengge's sudden interest in his line of work, "Mr. Zhao, if you need any help in this area, you can come to me."

They stood close enough that when Zhao Shengge reached for his cigarette, his hand accidentally grazed Chen Wan's elbow. He asked, "Do you enjoy doing this?"

Chen Wan hesitated, caught off guard. No one had ever asked about his preferences, not even as a child, so he thought for a moment and answered Zhao Shengge very seriously, "Yes, I do."

"More inclined towards technology or business?"

"More towards technology."

But without handling sales and PR, there'd be no technology to develop, so he now primarily handled the business aspects.

In fact, Chen Wan was highly skilled in research and had already applied for several patents during his undergraduate studies. If he could focus solely on technology without the need for socializing or networking, he would now be a senior engineer.

Zhao Shengge inquired about a few more topics, not formally, but rather in a casual, friendly manner.

Such moments between them were rare, stepping out of a group gathering to talk alone.

Chen Wan responded to each question patiently and honestly, holding nothing back.

Zhao Shengge received detailed answers to every question he asked, but he didn't receive the same inquiries in return.

Chen Wan didn't seem particularly interested in Zhao Shengge's matters and made no attempt to inquire about them.

So, it felt more like a one-sided "interview" rather than a two-way conversation.

Zhao Shengge waited for a while, but Chen Wan genuinely didn't seem inclined to ask anything, so he said, "Your track record is impressive."

"Minglong Baoli Bay is launching a spin-off project, an offshore oil tunnel, which requires faster oil storage and transfer engineering. Would you be interested?"

Chen Wan looked at him in surprise. A project like Minglong's was a golden opportunity for Kexiang. More importantly, it was a collaboration with Zhao Shengge. Chen Wan was tempted but remained cautious, thinking for a few seconds before his expression turned serious. "Mr. Zhao, I truly appreciate you considering me. However, Kexiang is a small company that's only been around for a few years. Participating in such a large project might be challenging in terms of funding, reserves, experience, and long-term capacity. You should think carefully."

Zhao Shengge watched Chen Wan quietly. Many people would bend over backward to align themselves with Minglong, yet here was Chen Wan advising caution.

Zhao Shengge's lips might have curved slightly, or maybe they didn't—he was still holding onto his cigarette, so Chen Wan couldn't be sure.

Zhao Shengge flicked the cigarette between his fingers, took it from his mouth, and asked calmly, "Chen Wan, do you doubt my judgment?"

"...No," Chen Wan hurriedly explained, "I only meant—"

"Minglong has a highly professional evaluation team," Zhao Shengge said, having witnessed Chen Wan's stubbornness and meticulousness. After a moment of thought, he changed his approach. "Right now, I'm just inviting you to participate in the bidding. Whether you win the bid or not will be decided by the evaluation team. I won't get involved."

Zhao Shengge had done his background check on Kexiang—a typical high-tech SME, low-profile but highly capable, specializing in cutting-edge projects.

"This project was originally under White Crane Hall's control, but now Minglong and the Xu family have taken over. I don't trust anyone else with it."

Projects like this are massive in scale, lengthy in duration, and high-risk, with technology being the lifeline. Zhao Shengge is inherently skeptical and has a strong need for control, so someone like Chen Wan, with his integrity and gentle temperament, is exactly what he needs.

"Besides," Zhao Shengge looked directly at him, taking a step closer, his gaze darkening as he lowered his voice, hinting at something, "you brought this upon yourself."

Chen Wan suddenly realized that his accidental assistance to Xu Zhiying that day had inadvertently pulled him into this situation. Still, he had concerns. "I'm just concerned that Kexiang might not be able to handle such a—"

"With Minglong supporting you, what’s there to fear?"

A simple sentence like that, coming from Zhao Shengge, suddenly carried a hint of "With me supporting you, what’s there to fear?"

Zhao Shengge was the one person Chen Wan found it hardest to refuse, but he still didn’t agree right away.

Zhao Shengge held the cigarette in one hand, flicking the ash, his hair tousled by the wind, giving him a laid-back and rebellious look, like a movie poster.

In the night breeze, he tilted his head slightly. "You dared to cut across three lanes and the central divider to crash into a monstrous Jeep and a Grand Cherokee, but you're afraid to accept Minglong's invitation?"

Chen Wan was stunned.

How did Zhao Shengge know?

It was so dark that night, and even he wasn't entirely clear on the details.

"Hmm?" Zhao Shengge didn't let him off the hook.

On the night of the incident, he had immediately sent someone to investigate the road conditions and clues. He had even driven that route himself.

Chen Wan could be a gentleman one moment and a madman the next, and was particularly adept at using his gentle and soft exterior to disguise himself. When he truly went mad, he didn't seem to care about his life.

The hearing was one instance, and the high-speed chase on the coastal highway was another.

What would be next?

Zhao Shengge didn't want to see it happen again.

"No need to rush your answer. Think it over carefully," Zhao Shengge said, having grown up at the negotiation table, skilled in the art of give-and-take, balancing authority and grace. He made even such a significant matter sound trivial. "And don't think of this as me compensating you. I'm just suggesting you give it a try. If you do win the bid, Minglong is a very strict client."

"The project manager is also very difficult to deal with. If you can't deliver satisfactory solutions and results during the collaboration, there will be consequences and compensations to be made."

He put the cigarette back in his mouth and said vaguely, "Give me a call when you’ve decided."

After a pause, he glanced sideways. "You have my number, don't you, Chen Wan?"