Chapter 44 The Firefly Flew Away

Chapter 44 The Firefly Flew Away

Zhao Shengge pointed to the edge of the grass.

Chen Wan looked over, where orchids were planted under the roadside trees, the grass was lush, and the slender leaves flickered with faint light.

He observed for a while, then turned back to Zhao Shengge and asked, "Do you like fireflies?"

Moonlight fell on Chen Wan's shoulders, and the fireflies lit up in his eyes, like a lit lamp. Zhao Shengge remained silent for a moment, not answering whether he liked them, and only said, "I used to have many insect specimens."

But that was a long time ago, when he was very young, and later they all turned to ashes in the fire.

Chen Wan paused, then asked, "Do you want one?"

"What?"

"A firefly, I can catch one for you." Before Chen Wan was nine, he lived in a tenement building full of flying insects, cockroaches, and rats, so this was easy for him.

Zhao Shengge stared at him intently, as if deep in thought, and after a while, he nodded slightly.

Chen Wan slowly approached the orchid cluster, waiting for the right moment.

Zhao Shengge stood behind him. Chen Wan was slender with long limbs, and his posture was like a gazelle poised to strike.

Chen Wan quickly caught the firefly, stood up, walked over to Zhao Shengge, and held out his cupped hands.

Zhao Shengge had little exposure to fairy tales as a child, and he couldn’t think of any fairy tales to describe it. He also felt that Chen Wan seemed to be treating him like a child, so he didn't reach out to take it.

Chen Wan waited for a while, unfazed, he smiled gently, "Do you want to take it with you or just watch it here?"

He stood close enough, and Zhao Shengge could smell the fresh scent of orchids clinging to Chen Wan's hair. He lowered his eyes and asked, "Can it be taken away?"

Chen Wan said, "If you want, I can go to the front desk and get a bottle."

Zhao Shengge didn't want him to go, so he said, "Let's watch it here for a while and then let it go." His words carried a note of compassion.

"Alright." Chen Wan opened his hands, urging Zhao Shengge to watch closely. The flying little lantern slowly rose from his palms, casting light on their faces.

Their gazes followed the firefly and met. Zhao Shengge's eyes were calm, while Chen Wan's eyes resembled an autumn lake.

They could see each other, yet neither truly understood the other.

The mountains were dark and verdant, the shadows of the trees were indistinct, blurring each other's faces and expressions. The silence in the wind felt like a silent tug-of-war.

Zhao Shengge’s dark eyes burned with intensity, while Chen Wan stayed serene and composed, responding to the situation with unwavering composure.

Zhao Shengge saw no trace of emotion in Chen Wan’s eyes and softly reminded him, "Your firefly has flown away."

Chen Wan looked up, watching the insect fly away, and asked Zhao Shengge, "Do you still want to watch? I can catch another one."

Zhao Shengge shook his head.

What’s the point of catching something that isn’t his?

The night grew deeper, and there were lanterns prepared for night wanderers along the path. Chen Wan took the initiative to pick one up, "Shall we go back then?"

In the deep mountains and old forests, he was truly concerned about Zhao Shengge's safety.

At the entrance of the path, there was a stone step covered in moss. Since Chen Wan was holding the lantern, after stepping down, he turned around and raised it to Zhao Shengge, saying, "Be careful, it's slippery here."

Zhao Shengge stood still on the stone steps for a moment, unmoving. Chen Wan then offered his arm, not with an open palm, but with a gentlemanly fist, for Zhao Shengge to hold.

Zhao Shengge glanced at the fair arm, took hold of it firmly, and walked across the moss-covered cobblestone path.

The secluded garden path was silent, their shadows merging as if they were night wanderers carrying a lantern.

Chen Wan wanted to get Zhao Shengge back to the well-lit, secure villa quickly, but now and then a small cat would wander onto the path and lie down, refusing to budge. Zhao Shengge would step aside politely to let it pass.

"..."

Squirrels scampered along the branches, rustling softly. Zhao Shengge paused to watch.

"..."

Chen Wan noticed that Zhao Shengge was aloof with people but had endless patience for animals. Seeing how absorbed he was, Chen Wan joked, "Mr. Zhao, I can’t catch this one for you."

Zhao Shengge finally gave a soft chuckle.

Chen Wan walked him back to the villa and said, "Mr. Zhao, see you tomorrow."

Zhao Shengge called after him, "Chen Wan."

"Yes?"

Zhao Shengge beckoned him over.

Chen Wan stepped closer, and Zhao Shengge carefully plucked a blade of grass from his collar. It must have gotten there when he was catching fireflies. It was too dark on the way back for anyone to notice.

"Thanks," Chen Wan smiled, holding out his hand. "Let me take it." There was no trash bin nearby.

Zhao Shengge shook his head, "It’s fine. I’ll take it back and toss it."

Chen Wan gave a nod and left.

Zhao Shengge rolled the blade of grass between his fingers before heading inside.

The next day, the host saw the guests off down the mountain. As they waited for the car, a small cat sidled up to Chen Wan, rubbing against his legs. It was a yellow and white tabby. With Zhao Shengge and the host engrossed in their goodbyes, Chen Wan gently patted the cat’s round head.

The cats here were fearless, spoiled by tourists. It circled around before making its way to Zhao Shengge.

The host chuckled and, in broken Mandarin, said, "Mainland tourists adore cats—they can’t get enough of them. They’re a bigger draw than hot springs or gourmet food. We’ve got plenty here, some adopted from stray cat rescues. It’s our way of doing good."

"Fuling was voted our resort’s most popular cat last year. Looks like she’s taken a shine to you, Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Shengge glanced at the calico cat, stepped back to avoid it, and walked off.

"..."

When the Maybach pulled up, Zhao Shengge said to Chen Wan, "Let’s go."

"..." Chen Wan smiled, exchanged a few pleasantries with the host, and got into the car.

After returning from the Kadouli Villa, Chen Wan met with Zhuo Zhixuan.

Due to the delay in the project during the black rain period, it had recently entered a phase of intense progress. Chen Wan's time, both online and offline, was almost entirely occupied by Zhao Shengge, and Zhuo Zhixuan had already expressed his dissatisfaction. Chen Wan had never gone this long without seeing him.

Zhuo Zhixuan found a place to drink.

Chen Wan arrived early, and Zhuo Zhixuan walked up behind Chen Wan and tapped him, "What, you’re still on your phone even when we’re out?"

Chen Wan looked up and smiled, "I’m working."

"Work, work, work," Zhuo Zhixuan complained, "It’s the weekend! What kind of heartless client is Zhao Shengge, making people work during nightlife time for such a big project."

"..." Chen Wan really wanted to tell him that it’s not like the client chasing him, but him chasing after the client for work.

Habits can be scary. If Zhao Shengge didn’t send a message or call within a certain period, Chen Wan would unconsciously feel anxious, wondering if he’d messed up. When his ambition took over, he hoped for feedback on every task.

He knew this wasn’t good and was trying his best to suppress it.

"You’ve been too busy lately. Last time I tried to call you, it was always busy. I couldn’t get through for an entire hour."

Zhao Shengge’s video conferences do tend to be long. Chen Wan poured him a drink as an apology, "Work’s been crazy; there’s so much to discuss."

"No matter how busy, this is too much. You’re working yourself to death, does the money even go into your pocket?"

"Zhao Shengge really knows how to squeeze people dry!"

If Monica hadn’t mentioned that Chen Wan had been attending his appointments on time and was in good shape, he’d have pushed Tan Youming to take Zhao Shengge on.

Of course, Zhuo Zhixuan himself wouldn’t dare, but there’s Tan Youming, who could deal with Shen Zongnian, and then Shen Zongnian could restrain Zhao Shengge.

Using one stone to hit two birds, Zhuo Zhixuan thought he was pretty clever.

Chen Wan disagreed with his friend’s view and seriously rebutted, "He’s the best client I’ve ever encountered."

"..."

Chen Wan really cares about this job, as much as Minglong and Zhao Shengge, if not more.

Not just because of Zhao Shengge.

But this is one of those rare chances that truly allows him to fulfill his ambitions and demonstrate his value.

It can be said that in Chen Wan’s career so far, he has never received such preferential treatment.

He doesn’t have to grovel for opportunities with strong liquor and eager fake smiles, doesn’t have to drink himself sick just to get a smile from an investor, doesn’t have to play dirty or scheme with others, because all these have been shielded by Minglong, or rather, by Zhao Shengge.

Chen Wan can focus on what he loves, things he hasn’t done in a very long time, enjoying the rare intellectual thrill and the most essential sense of achievement from work.

These feelings have been distant from Chen Wan, so far that he almost can’t remember what they feel like.

Moreover, aside from his feelings for Zhao Shengge, the other party is also a very respectful client, a decisive and wise, knowledgeable collaborator, a reliable partner.

Chen Wan just feels he’s not professional enough. Although most of his conversations with Zhao Shengge are about business, being with him is like an addiction, exhilarating, but also bringing the ebb after the tide and pain.

In many moments of his one-sided infatuation, Chen Wan has been using strong, firm, almost cruel self-control to keep his emotions in check and the leakage of his feelings.

But Chen Wan is still willing, willing to taste honey on the edge of a knife, to restrain himself in indulgence, to stay sober in struggle.

Zhuo Zhixuan lamented, "Crushing on a capitalist, Chen Wan? You’ve got a masochistic streak."

"..."

Nearing eleven on a weekend, after taking his medicine, Zhao Shengge continued to work and received a photo on his phone.

Chen Wan was in the midst of revelry, head down, expression unclear, the most formally dressed in the whole place, yet several directions cast blatant glances at him, which he was completely unaware of, still seriously looking at his phone.

Zhao Shengge stared at that wrist for a few seconds, then called.

Shen Zongnian picked up the call. Without waiting for the other person to speak, he said, "So this is what you consider reporting to me?"

One day, Zhao Shengge brought up during a meal, as if by chance, that Chen Wan would report his whereabouts. Shen Zongnian was curious to know whether Chen Wan had actually reported to him.

Zhao Shengge brushed him off and asked directly, "Who’s there?"

Shen Zongnian replied, "Just Zhuo Zhixuan."

A friend had sent the photo to Tan Youming. Tan Youming has a lot of questionable friends. He’d logged into his social media account on Shen Zongnian’s phone at noon and forgotten to log out. Shen Zongnian saw it immediately.

The friend had spotted Zhuo Zhixuan and wanted to check if Shen Zongnian and Tan Youming were around. If they were, they could join them for a drink.

Shen Zongnian is pretty sharp. Where there's Zhuo Zhixuan... perhaps.

He used Tan Youming’s account to chat with the person briefly, asking them to snap a photo and send it over. Sure enough, Chen Wan was in it. Shen Zongnian promptly forwarded it to Zhao Shengge.

Shen Zongnian didn't hear Zhao Shengge continue speaking and understood, "Looks like he didn’t report."

"Hanging up."

"..."

Zhao Shengge put his phone aside. The fever reducer he took half an hour ago started to take effect. His mind felt heavy and muddled, and his breathing was a bit hot, but he still insisted on reviewing the data in his hand. Then he opened the chat with an old classmate.

"You made no progress today?"

There was a touch of scrutiny and oversight from the client.

Fang Jian didn't give a physics lesson in the group today.