Chapter 38 The Bidding Outcome

Chapter 38 The Bidding Outcome

The day the bidding results came out.

After preliminary discussions with Minglong, Chen Wan’s assistant suggested contacting their headquarters.

Chen Wan finally had a valid excuse to make that call. He had set a rule for himself: only after achieving this could he make the call.

The call nearly went to voicemail before it was picked up.

Zhao Shengge said, "Chen Wan."

"Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Shengge gave a soft chuckle, "Congratulations."

Chen Wan wasn’t sure if it carried relief, but he smiled generously and accepted the congratulations.

There was a moment of silence before Zhao Shengge spoke again, "I heard the bid was outstanding."

All the exhaustion from endless overtime vanished in that moment.

Chen Wan wasn’t looking for anything in return from Zhao Shengge—neither material nor emotional. He was satisfied just to be of real help. Extra praise was a bonus.

Chen Wan didn’t bring up his own efforts, only modestly attributing it to the favor of the evaluators.

When talking about working together, Zhao Shengge said it wasn’t something to discuss over the phone and suggested they meet at Minglong to discuss in person.

"Sure, Mr. Zhao, what works for you?"

Zhao Shengge said, "I’ve finished my meeting."

Chen Wan paused to take it in, impressed by the industry giant’s efficiency, and said, "Then I’ll be there in about forty minutes."

A partner was in his office at the time and asked Chen Wan, "Leaving now? I’m heading out—I can drop you off."

Before Chen Wan could respond, Zhao Shengge said over the phone, "I’ll have someone come get you."

Chen Wan said, "It’s alright, I can drive myself."

"First-timers can’t get through core security, and," Zhao Shengge was not modest, "you’ll probably get lost and struggle to park."

Chen Wan realized he had no clue where to go. Minglong took up half the campus, with several buildings just for employee offices. Zhao Shengge’s office location was confidential, with multiple layers of security. He had to say, "Then I’ll take you up on that."

Zhao Shengge’s driver showed up promptly, taking Chen Wan through Prince Edward, bypassing the Central Elevated Road, and entering the underground parking lot through a non-public access road.

After getting out of the car, the famous second assistant, who’d spoken to Chen Wan earlier, was already waiting.

The polished, elegant assistant smiled and said, "Mr. Chen, my name is He Yun, you can call me Assistant He."

"Assistant He, nice to meet you."

Assistant He picked an elevator, pressed the button, and gestured for him to enter.

After Chen Wan walked in, she unlocked it with her fingerprint, and the elevator slowly ascended.

Chen Wan thought the assistant would take him to the meeting room, but they seemed to be heading to Zhao Shengge’s office.

The 72nd-floor office was understated, not flashy, with few items, spacious and grand, with a view of the shallow bay outside, the sea calm and broad, offering an excellent vista.

"Mr. Zhao," Chen Wan greeted, feeling a bit nervous after not seeing him for several days, though he didn't let it show.

Zhao Shengge rose from his office chair, dressed in a crisp, well-fitted black shirt that accentuated his broad shoulders and narrow waist. His rolled-up sleeves revealed faint veins on his arms.

Chen Wan had never seen anyone wear black with such commanding presence—a blend of gentle and understated authority.

Behind him was the city's prime landmark, with the deep blue sea and a skyline that stretched high and far.

"Would you like coffee or tea?"

"Tea, please. Thanks."

As Assistant He left, she quietly closed the door. For some reason, neither of them started a conversation, and the office fell into silence.

They hadn't seen each other in a while, and the slight familiarity they once shared felt distant again as they stood two meters apart, exchanging glances.

Over the phone, just hearing his voice didn't feel the same, but meeting face-to-face made the distance between them clear.

It was bound to happen.

In truth, their acquaintance was superficial, and their relationship fragile. If either of them didn't take the initiative, everything would go back to square one.

Though both tried to act naturally, they were conscious of the shift between them, which explained the politeness. Yet this change wasn't entirely unfamiliar; it was tinged with something subtle and hard to put into words.

Zhao Shengge was the first to break the silence, "Have a seat."

He walked over to the guest sofa and said, "Here's the first draft of the contract from the legal department. Take a look."

Chen Wan agreed, but his steps slowed a bit.

The guest sofa had a wide single main seat and a slightly longer row of guest seats. Zhao Shengge bypassed the main seat and went straight to the guest seat.

Naturally, Chen Wan couldn't take the main seat either, but sitting next to Zhao Shengge on the guest seat felt a bit too intimate and inappropriate.

Zhao Shengge glanced up and asked, "Something wrong?"

After a moment's hesitation, Chen Wan acted as if nothing was wrong and sat down beside him, keeping a proper distance.

Zhao Shengge appeared not to notice and dove right into business.

Chen Wan took pride in being responsible and professional, but today Zhao Shengge had him a bit distracted. Though they weren't sitting too close, Chen Wan could feel the warmth from Zhao Shengge's arm, which must be quite strong.

He couldn't help but wonder.

Chen Wan's eyes drifted to Zhao Shengge's lips and Adam's apple. Every part of him radiated a sexy vibe.

It had probably been too long since he last saw Zhao Shengge.

Zhao Shengge leaned forward, pointing to the sixth line on the twelfth page, asking for his opinion.

Chen Wan's breathing softened. He realized belatedly that he didn't understand why such a large company like Minglong required both the client and the contractor to review the same contract together.

Communication between smart people was very efficient, and there were few who could keep up with Zhao Shengge's thoughts and logic.

He was a born negotiator, having been immersed in the world of fame and fortune for a long time, well-versed in how to dominate opponents.

But Chen Wan possessed a rare altruistic quality among modern businessmen, which made Zhao Shengge want to treat him even more generously.

Zhao Shengge pointed out, "You don't have to give in everywhere. You should make demands because I will too."

Chen Wan smiled, "Minglong's offer is already quite generous."

"Anything else on your mind?"

Chen Wan glanced at the person in charge section and asked, "Who’s handling this project for Minglong?"

Zhao Shengge raised an eyebrow, looked at him, and said, "That would be me."

Chen Wan’s jaw dropped slightly, assuming he was just a figurehead and that the contract would be handed over to a vice president for execution after signing.

"I’ve always personally overseen the Baoli Bay project."

Noticing Chen Wan’s stunned expression, Zhao Shengge said in a serious tone, "My schedule is quite packed. If the project requires, I may reach out at any time for updates."

"Of course," Chen Wan, being a very professional partner, said, "Of course, that’s standard."

They wrapped up the details just as work hours ended, right at dinner time. Usually, Chen Wan would’ve invited the client to dinner. With anyone else, he’d have asked by now.

But this was Zhao Shengge, and today’s meeting had already gone beyond expectations. Asking now might seem pushy.

He’d never shared a meal alone with Zhao Shengge, and this might be the only opportunity. This project involved more than just Kexiang and Minglong; the Shen and Tan families were investors, not operators, but there was also the Xu family and an engineering team. Xu Zhiying and the lead engineer would come on board later.

As Chen Wan opened his mouth, Zhao Shengge shut the contract and said, "Chen Wan."

Chen Wan looked up.

"Are you free tonight?"

Chen Wan’s mind raced for a moment, and he said, "Yes."

Zhao Shengge closed the contract, stood up, and naturally extended his hand, saying, "Let me take my future partner out to dinner."

Chen Wan smiled, shook his hand formally, "Thank you, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Shengge drove himself, and Chen Wan slid into the passenger seat, feeling surreal. He discreetly ran his hand over the leather seat. The car’s scent was subtle but oddly alluring. His nose twitched, and he even wanted to lean in to smell it.

Chen Wan buckled up, trying not to seem too eager.

If this were a kidnapping, he’d be the only hostage in love with his captor, ready to give himself up.

As twilight descended and the city lit up, Zhao Shengge drove Chen Wan through the red lights and setting sun, from the Central Interchange into the undersea tunnel, the urban forest connecting to the azure sea.

The car was eerily quiet, a restless tension filling the air. Zhao Shengge turned on the radio and said, "You pick one."

Chen Wan casually turned to a quite old Cantonese song and was startled.

"Asked when the grapes will ripen first,

You need to wait patiently, wait patiently,

Even if the harvest fails, you must always guard."

Zhao Shengge signaled right and asked, "What is it singing about?"

Chen Wan thought for a moment and said, "Singing... about planting grapes?"

"..." Zhao Shengge turned back to look at the road, suppressing a slight smile, and turned the steering wheel, "Is that so?"

Chen Wan straightened his body and nodded, "Probably, I'm not very sure either."

Their casual banter eased the initial awkwardness.

Author's note:

Today's golden song on Hong Kong Radio: "When the Grapes Ripen"