Chapter 43: A Firefly

Chapter 43: A Firefly

During his visit to Jennifer, Fang Jian acquired some theoretical knowledge, but since it couldn't be put into practice, only an initial 3D model was developed.

A few days later, the black rain alert was gradually reduced to red rain, then yellow rain, until it was completely lifted. The work-from-home period for citizens finally ended, and the activities of various departments in the Baoli Bay project resumed.

Due to the impact of the previous severe weather, a backlog of social engagements and meetings had accumulated.

The Baoli Bay project occupied a crucial position in Minglong's five-year plan. Zhao Shengge did not attend routine meetings and social events, but for occasions with relatively high-level officials and important figures, Zhao Shengge would bring Xu Zhiying and Chen Wan along.

Chen Wan and Zhao Shengge hadn't seen each other for a while, but they had been frequently in touch via calls and video chats, so they didn't feel like strangers.

However, Chen Wan noticed that in person, Zhao Shengge was colder, more reserved, harder to read. The Zhao Shengge who would open his computer to work with half-dry hair seemed like a rare version, or perhaps just a figment of Chen Wan's imagination.

Once the video call ended, that version of Zhao Shengge vanished.

Amid the flurry of meetings and social engagements, Chen Wan, as always, conducted himself considerately but discreetly, and when it came to blocking drinks, he very deliberately acted as a shield, as befitting a party B.

For someone who had started from scratch like him, this was all too normal, almost expected, even instinctive. So he missed Zhao Shengge's slight frown.

In such superficially convivial but undercurrent-filled occasions, it was a battle of dominance, with one side always trying to outdo the other. Chen Wan would never let Minglong or Zhao Shengge fall behind, nor would he let a lady block drinks.

He didn't show signs of drunkenness on his face. After several cups of Qinghualang and dry red wine mixed together, he stayed composed, his gaze steady—a skill honed through years of hard knocks.

When Zhao Shengge returned from his conversation with the officials, Chen Wan had already effectively outmaneuvered several groups of people like a gust of autumn wind clearing fallen leaves.

"..."

Zhao Shengge stopped him, saying, "Enough."

Chen Wan sat upright, turned to look at him, and nodded with a smile. His smile was faint, almost robotic, as if following a programmed instruction.

"..." Zhao Shengge couldn't tell if he was actually drunk inside, but he still signaled Xu Zhiying to call for a hangover soup.

Xu Zhiying whispered to Chen Wan, "You're too straightforward. Why engage with them? You don't know how to leverage your position at all."

Chen Wan: "..."

"Are you feeling unwell?"

Chen Wan smiled, "Miss Xu, I'm fine." Compared to the drinking marathons in business negotiations, this was trivial.

Among the attendees were people who had known Chen Wan before. Seeing him arrive with Zhao Shengge, their expressions immediately shifted.

Towards the end of the social event, one of them found an opportunity to discreetly ask if Chen Wan could assist them in maneuvering through the various sub-projects under Baoli Bay, or put in a good word for them in front of Zhao Shengge, acting as a bridge or making an introduction.

Zhao Shengge heard Chen Wan softly and tactfully explain that he was just an insignificant small player in this project plan, with no say.

Moreover, Zhao Shengge was just his boss. Their relationship was strictly hierarchical, clearly defined as superior-subordinate, party A-party B. They had little personal rapport on a daily basis, not very familiar, so he couldn't speak up and was powerless to help.

Of course, Chen Wan's words were much more polished, but to Zhao Shengge, they probably conveyed this meaning.

When the social event ended, the driver parked the car, and Zhao Shengge took the lead in getting into the back seat. Chen Wan went to pull the front passenger door but couldn't open it. The driver rolled down the window and respectfully said to him, "Mr. Chen, Mr. Zhao asked you to sit in the back."

Chen Wan didn't think much of it, assuming Zhao Shengge probably found it more convenient for conversation, so he nodded with a smile, "Alright, thank you."

He walked around to the other side of the back seat, opened the door, and saw Zhao Shengge leaning against the car seat, looking down and replying to work messages.

Chen Wan got in, called out "Mr. Zhao," and then consciously maintained a certain distance, not disturbing further.

As the car started, the interior dimmed. Zhao Shengge put down his phone, rested one hand on the window, and looked outside, lost in thought, staying silent.

Seeing that he was no longer busy, Chen Wan asked, "Mr. Zhao, would you like some hangover soup? I can stop by and get some on the way."

Zhao Shengge had also been drinking tonight. When Miss Xu had someone bring hangover soup, Chen Wan took a portion, but he didn’t see Zhao Shengge take any.

Zhao Shengge seemed to be deep in thought. When he turned to look at Chen Wan after hearing his question, it took a couple of seconds for his eyes to fully focus.

However, he didn’t answer Chen Wan’s question. Instead, he stared directly at him. The streetlights flickered past, casting shifting shadows, and Zhao Shengge’s handsome face seemed to be framed in some retro movie from the 90s.

It was striking… captivating. No matter how many times Chen Wan looked at him, he always felt the same way.

Chen Wan’s face grew warm under Zhao Shengge’s gaze, feeling he had interrupted his thoughts. He smiled apologetically and stayed quiet for a moment.

Zhao Shengge was indeed deep in thought. He saw no ulterior motives or intentions in Chen Wan’s eyes.

Zhao Shengge had tried many methods to test and probe, but Chen Wan remained consistent.

Chen Wan’s flattery, enthusiasm, and initiative were all too transparent.

Only someone with a pure heart could be so transparent.

What Chen Wan wanted, cared about, or thought—how much of his polished refusals were social etiquette and how much were genuine—Zhao Shengge had no idea.

Chen Wan seemed docile, but in reality, he moved freely.

Zhao Shengge seemed to have the upper hand, but in reality, he kept losing.

He thought he had made great progress in the virtual world, but in reality, he hadn’t moved forward at all, even regressing, ending up labeled as 'not close.'

Zhao Shengge had never been in such a passive position in a contest before.

Was Chen Wan his opponent? Not exactly. It was Chen Wan’s indifference and lack of desire.

This indifference and lack of desire didn’t mean Chen Wan was indifferent to Zhao Shengge’s emotions or attitude.

On the contrary, he seemed to care quite a bit, but did he truly want anything? Zhao Shengge felt that he didn’t.

Desiring nothing was the highest wisdom.

No one spoke as the car moved on. The Maybach driving out of Queen’s Road felt like a silent film, with fleeting shadows and lights that didn’t reveal their expressions.

After a long pause, Zhao Shengge finally said, "Chen Wan, this project is something we’re doing together."

Chen Wan wasn’t sure why he said that, but he felt happy inside.

But Zhao Shengge no longer trusted his superficial joy. Chen Wan had too many past offenses—he could act deeply caring in front of Zhao Shengge, but the next moment, he could tell others he was just a nobody to Zhao Shengge.

Zhao Shengge asked, "What do you think?"

Chen Wan nodded earnestly, his usual sincere expression showing full agreement with Zhao Shengge’s words.

The benefits Kexiang reaped from this project went beyond monetary terms. It was more about the platform and influence, and the intellectual sparks between him and Zhao Shengge were unparalleled.

Zhao Shengge looked at him intently and said, "We’re partners."

Chen Wan smiled and nodded, "Yes."

Zhao Shengge wasn’t sure if he truly understood, but he didn’t want to—or know how to—call Chen Wan out, so he let it go.

When the wealthy businessman, who wanted to meet Zhao Shengge through Chen Wan, had someone else invite him to the resort villa, he also brought Chen Wan along.

As soon as Chen Wan stepped out of Zhao Shengge’s Maybach, the other party’s face was filled with the expression, “So all those rejections that day were just lies.”

Today was purely a private outing.

When Chen Wan saw the other person, he hesitated for a split second, but his face still wore an impeccable smile. He shook hands and exchanged pleasantries with ease and grace, making people feel as if nothing had happened, though he was inwardly mortified.

Zhao Shengge likely had no idea that not long ago, Chen Wan had firmly insisted in front of this person that they weren’t close, and today he was outright contradicted by the person involved, who witnessed him stepping out of Zhao Shengge’s private car.

Chen Wan didn’t know why Zhao Shengge had brought him along to this social event, but he guessed it was probably because he had known the other party before, making it easier to talk and act as a mediator or buffer.

Zhao Shengge typically avoided drinking at gatherings or social functions, but today he returned every toast and even told those who toasted him that he had arrived with his partner.

With that statement, everyone understood that Chen Wan was anything but the “nobody” he had claimed to be.

After the dinner, the host led the guests to the hillside villa, and along the way, they explored the resort. Everyone would stay at the resort for the night and return the next day.

The sightseeing car took everyone around the mountaintop, where there was an abandoned observatory named Kepler by the queen in the 19th century.

The guide mentioned that the coordinates of Victoria Peak allowed for a view of the fifth brightest star in the Southern Fish constellation, Fomalhaut, for three to four times as long as elsewhere.

Therefore, even after the observatory was abandoned, the original telescope was not removed, and many tourists booked stays at the resort solely to visit it.

During holidays or special celebrations, the mountaintop was also a prime spot for viewing the Victoria Harbour fireworks and light shows. The local gossip rags had chronicled numerous instances of wealthy young men bringing models or actresses to race on the mountain roads or shelling out a fortune for a prime stargazing location to impress their companions.

Zhao Shengge and the host walked ahead, and occasionally, when he turned back, he caught sight of Chen Wan trailing closely behind, like a silent shadow.

The wind was strong that night, and there were no stars in the sky, only a faint glimmer of light across Victoria Harbour.

Next time.

The villa was located halfway up the mountain, so there was no need to take the sightseeing car again, and the rest of the time was left for the guests to plan as they pleased.

The bars and teahouses at the foot of the mountain were open all night, and there were natural mineral hot springs in the mountains for visitors to enjoy. Many people also went night fishing by the lake at the base of the mountain.

Zhao Shengge wasn’t interested in any of these activities and decided to return to the villa to rest. Xu Zhiying wanted to go to the hot springs, and Zhao Shengge looked at Chen Wan.

Chen Wan thought the mountain seemed unsafe and said, “I’ll go back and rest too.”

The villa wasn’t too far from the sightseeing car station, but it required a short walk along a mountain path.

However, the strange rocks, flowers, and trees, along with the moonlight, made the nighttime stroll rather pleasant.

Occasionally, they would encounter one or two tourists who were out for a night run or a walk. Chen Wan remained alert to their surroundings, even though he knew that Zhao Shengge usually had undercover protection when he left the inner circle of Hong Kong Island, but he still didn’t feel at ease.

To Chen Wan, Zhao Shengge’s safety was the most important.

Chen Wan walked neither too close nor too far from Zhao Shengge. Zhao Shengge’s tall and broad-shouldered figure seemed to envelop Chen Wan’s shadow. Suddenly, he heard Zhao Shengge’s lazy voice: “Chen Wan.”

“Hmm?”

“There’s a firefly.”