Chapter 66: Lifetime Confinement

Chapter 66: Lifetime Confinement

Like a lion surveying its territory and locking onto its prey, Zhao Shengge marched forward resolutely, heading straight for his target.

Chen Wan stood still, his heart racing like a drumbeat, reaching its limit as the distance between them narrowed, nearly freezing in place.

Over the span of a few dozen meters, Chen Wan felt as though Zhao Shengge's gaze had lingered on him for an eternity—dark, calm, and bone-chilling. It swept over every inch of his skin, piercing straight into the deepest corners of his heart, leaving none of his thoughts concealed.

In that gaze, Chen Wan even spotted a rare flicker of suppressed emotion, but it was fleeting, vanishing like morning mist.

However, Zhao Shengge did nothing more. He simply walked up to Chen Wan, produced a key, and placed it in his palm, saying softly, "You left it in my office. I called, but you might not have heard."

"..." Chen Wan, who had been so bold and self-assured just moments ago, now had only one thought in his mind: Zhao Shengge had found out. He could only reply guiltily, "Thank you."

Zhao Shengge responded with a casual "Hmm," completely unaware that his few words had ignited a whirlwind of speculation, suspicion, and probing among the crowd.

Chen Bingxin was the first to react. He hurriedly brought a glass of red wine to Zhao Shengge, his words faltering slightly, "Mr. Zhao, you... what brings you here?"

His tone was a mix of excitement and fear, feeling both honored and unwittingly nervous.

Zhao Shengge, who seldom appeared in public and was known for his inscrutable demeanor, had made an unexpected appearance at his birthday banquet. Whether it was a blessing or a curse, it left the room on edge.

Zhao Shengge didn't take the wine. He glanced at Chen Bingxin, then turned his gaze back to Chen Wan, saying indifferently, "I assumed anyone with an invitation was welcome."

"Of course, of course," Chen Bingxin responded with an eager smile, "Mr. Zhao's presence brings great honor to Rongxin Garden. This old man is naturally thrilled. Please forgive any lapses in hospitality."

He offered the wine again, which Zhao Shengge still didn't take. Instead, Zhao Shengge pointed to the glass of white liquor in front of Chen Wan and asked, "Is this yours?"

"..." Chen Wan, who was used to being alone, wasn't accustomed to someone suddenly standing so close. He shook his head but didn't say whose it was.

Zhao Shengge didn't press further, as if waiting for someone to claim it. His tall, imposing figure radiated authority, and even in silence, his presence was overwhelming. A single glance from him could send the pressure soaring.

Neither Xu Jiming nor Chen Bingxin understood what was happening. They exchanged a glance, unable to bear the mounting tension. Xu Jiming managed a smile and approached, speaking in a low, polite tone, "Mr. Zhao, this wine was intended for Mr. Chen."

Zhao Shengge didn't look at him. He simply stood beside Chen Wan and said calmly, "Then you drink it."

His words sent ripples of shock through the room.

Chen Bingxin frowned, though he tried to hide it. He was beginning to sense something but couldn't quite believe it.

He looked at his youngest son, whom he had never paid much attention to, and a layer of fear clouded his aged eyes.

Xu Jiming, a man of some standing in the city, was several decades older than Zhao Shengge, but he didn't dare defy him. He drank the wine, swallowing his humiliation, feeling dizzy and flushed.

Zhao Shengge slightly raised his chin, signaling the waiter to refill the glass, and said, "Drink this one too."

He didn't specify who should drink it, but Xu Jiming froze. The room fell silent, the earlier whispers and chuckles dying down. The elegant music continued to play, but the atmosphere had turned eerie and unsettling.

Zhao Shengge's tone wasn't harsh—it was almost calm—but the moment he narrowed his eyes, a deadly seriousness permeated the room.

In an instant, Xu Jiming's alcohol-addled mind flashed with countless rumors about Zhao Shengge.

There was Li Jiaming, whose forces on Ting Island had been decimated just days ago and were still reeling. There was the once-mighty White Crane Hall, now reduced to a fleeing rat. Further back, there was Mai Jiahui, who had gone from immense wealth to billions in debt before leaping from the 72nd floor. And countless others whose fortunes had been destroyed in the ruthless business battles led by this young master.

Zhao Shengge had never seemed to dirty his hands, yet those who opposed him met tragic ends.

The phrases "winning without bloodshed" and "turning the tide with a wave of his hand" were not exaggerations or flattery. Zhao Shengge's status and power needed no demonstration. Xu Jiming knew that Zhao Shengge was truly coming for him—openly, unapologetically, and without any pretense.

When faced with overwhelming power, dignity becomes insignificant. When the power imbalance is absolute, going along is the safest bet.

With everyone watching, Xu Jiming bore the shame and slowly reached for the glass of wine.

Once he drained the glass, Zhao Shengge said softly, "Drink again."

After several glasses, Xu Jiming was on the verge of passing out.

Zhao Shengge stayed unfazed in the face of Xu Jiming's red-faced, tearful, and nearly alcohol-poisoned state. He asked Chen Wan casually, as if it were routine, "Ready to head out?"

"Or do you want to stick around?"

"..." Chen Wan gave him a complicated look. Zhao Shengge had come to catch him.

He could only nod and say, "Let's go back."

Zhao Shengge said okay, leaned over to grab the glass from his hand, placed it on the long table beside them, and said, "Let's go."

"..." The kinder Zhao Shengge acted, the more uneasy Chen Wan felt. This was the eerie calm before the storm.

Brushing off the stares, Chen Wan turned to leave. Chen Bingxin tried to call out to him, but Zhao Shengge, like an immovable force, blocked Chen Wan entirely.

Zhao Shengge addressed the room, looking down, "Mr. Chen, Minglong's project is about to go public for a roadshow. Chen Wan, as the engineer and technical consultant sincerely hired by Minglong, is swamped with commitments. Without my say-so, Chen Wan probably won't have any time."

Chen Bingxin's face turned pale, recalling the equity transfer agreement from the afternoon. His heart sank with regret.

Zhao Shengge spoke word by word, addressing both Chen Bingxin and Chen Wan, "If you want to find Chen Wan, come to me first."

This wasn’t a threat—it was a promise. Since Chen Wan could never learn to protect himself, Zhao Shengge would personally "imprison" him for life.

As his words fell, the room buzzed with tension, with countless voices surging in the dark, unable to find an outlet to explode.

In any setting, no one dared walk in front of Zhao Shengge; even walking side by side was rare. He was always followed by others.

But now, Zhao Shengge slightly lowered his head, letting Chen Wan take the lead by half a step. The distance was not far, but Zhao Shengge's tall and broad shoulders were enough to block all the gazes directed at Chen Wan's back.

Chen Wan's back was elegant and straight, and no matter how curious the onlookers were, they couldn't see his expression. He resembled a prince guarded by a silent sentinel, revealing only a small section of his fair nape for people to gaze at and imagine.

Zhao Shengge walked closely behind Chen Wan, like an escort, or perhaps a guard.

However, once they reached the door, Zhao Shengge's hand left Chen Wan's back, and Chen Wan's heart sank with it.

Without the warmth of Zhao Shengge's palm, Chen Wan felt a chill on his back. He looked at Zhao Shengge, who did not return his gaze.

The wind howled, hinting at rain.

Zhao Shengge pressed the car lock.

The driver and secretary were no longer there. Zhao Shengge remained silent, and Chen Wan waited for a while, looking around, trying to make conversation. He awkwardly said, "Zhao Shengge, so this is your car."

A Rolls-Royce Phantom, the one that outbid his BYD at the auction.

Zhao Shengge turned to look at him, "Yes, what about it?" His tone was calm, but his slightly faster pace of speech made it impossible to guess whether he was angry, adding even more psychological pressure.

"Zhao Shengge, are you angry?" The person who had been so strong and fearless half an hour ago now spoke cautiously.

Zhao Shengge did not answer his question but calmly asked, "When did you start planning all this?"

Using Liao Quan, winning over Ge Xi, withdrawing from the partnership, shorting Rongxin, deceiving the securities commission—all of this, one after another, in such a short time, was seamless and astonishing, worthy of applause.

Chen Wan was startled and stopped lying: "It started when Liao Quan threatened my mother."

Zhao Shengge nodded and asked in a casual tone, "Was Kexiang your own creation?"

Chen Wan: "Yes."

"Was it difficult to establish Kexiang?"

"What?"

"Establishing Kexiang." Given how the Chen family treated Song Qingmiao and Chen Wan, Chen Wan had to build everything from the ground up.

"It was really tough." Chen Wan originally wanted to say it wasn’t hard, but he knew the consequences of lying at this moment.

"So why did you leave the partnership?"

Chen Wan paused and said, "I left the partnership but will still oversee the project. Besides, as a silent partner, it doesn’t change much."

Zhao Shengge brushed off his evasiveness: "It’s all because of me."

"No," Chen Wan denied, "Not completely because of you."

Zhao Shengge continued as if he hadn’t heard: "Leaving Kexiang protects Minglong from future issues because Minglong signed with Kexiang, not Chen Wan." Chen Wan could step away anytime, from Minglong or from Zhao Shengge’s life.

Cornered, Chen Wan simply said, "I’m sorry."

Even someone who throws themselves into danger without a thought says sorry. Zhao Shengge's throat moved, but he remained calm and asked, "What are you referring to?"

Chen Wan, once unshakable at the banquet, now seemed subdued and unsure: "I’ve caused problems for you and Minglong."

"Haven’t you fixed everything? Minglong’s untouched," Zhao Shengge analyzed factually and methodically, "The scandal’s over, the Liao family’s finished, Rongxin’s crumbling, and the securities commission can’t touch you."

"Still worried?"

Chen Wan suppressed the gloom in his eyes: "It’s still a looming danger."

Zhao Shengge paused and asked, "So, how far will you take this?"

There was no accusation or blame in his tone, but rather an objective inquiry, as if he really wanted to discuss this issue with Chen Wan.

Chen Wan, accustomed to handling things alone, said, "I’ll do whatever it takes."

Zhao Shengge opened his mouth and after a moment asked him, "Chen Wan, do you remember what I said?"

Chen Wan kept his head down and didn’t speak, so Zhao Shengge said, "I told you not to treat me like a mere figurehead."

To like him as a mere object, to protect him as a token, to imagine him as a placeholder, to love him as a symbol.

Chen Wan had no choice but to say again, "I’m sorry."

Zhao Shengge didn’t speak, and then he heard Chen Wan explain in a gentle tone, "But I believe this is best. The project’s too tangled, and with your unique position, it’s safer for you to stay out of it."

"..." Zhao Shengge fell silent, thinking about how to make it clear to Chen Wan.

Zhao Shengge was unaware that his silence bore a weight of intense scrutiny.

At this moment, the rain really started to fall, hitting the car window, and the two of them seemed to be trapped in the black rain.

Zhao Shengge placed both hands on the steering wheel, looking straight ahead without glancing at him. His voice was calm, but it made Chen Wan's temple throb: "Chen Wan."

"Do you really want to be with me?"

Chen Wan froze, his eyes turning blank and confused.

Zhao Shengge said, "I don’t think so."

"Not the kind of togetherness that’s open, lasting, and honest."

Chen Wan paused, his brow furrowing, and immediately denied, "No, it’s not."

He felt a sharp pain: "I never thought that way."

"Zhao Shengge," he pursed his extremely dry lips, as if he didn’t know how to express his heartfelt feelings, and could only say, "I really like you, and I really want to be with you." To be with you in a pure and honest way.

Zhao Shengge’s expression was unreadable as he said, "But I don’t want that kind of relationship."

Chen Wan went quiet.

His breath and heartbeat seemed to stop, and even his blood flow slowed.

Zhao Shengge said, "I don’t like it."

At this, Chen Wan was stunned.

Because he didn’t know whether Zhao Shengge didn’t want to have a relationship with him, or didn’t like him.

Either way, Chen Wan felt deep pain.

After a moment of thought, he cautiously asked, "Can I still keep pursuing you?"

Zhao Shengge didn’t answer or look at him, his hands on the steering wheel, fingers tapping, as he said, "Chen Wan, you’re clever. When you pursue me, you notice what I like to eat, drink, and even what I’m thinking."

"What if I hide too?"

"I won’t let you know my feelings, habits, or thoughts anymore."

Zhao Shengge’s calm, emotionless gaze was icy as he tilted his head slightly and said softly, "I’m probably better at hiding than you."

Chen Wan felt like he’d been plunged into an ice-cold abyss, breaking into a cold sweat.