Chapter 26: Near The Critical Threshold Of Collapse

“Oh.”

Hearing him say that, Ji Zhen Tang seemed to understand but not fully, of course, understanding most of it, yet pretending not to understand.

It’s more interesting to speak in riddles; she revealed a hint of cunning smile, absentmindedly playing with his small cup.

“Should I make a formal pledge to join your camp?” Ji Zhen Tang suddenly asked him.

Zhong Yu Bai lowered his gaze and looked over, “You want to join?”

“Can I?” she asked.

He thought for a moment, “You can, no need to do it formally for now.”

She smiled, her lips curving, “Nothing at all? Not even signing on the dotted line?”

Zhong Yu Bai generously extended his palm and smiled gently, “Come, sign.”

Ji Zhen Tang lowered her head and earnestly wrote the character “Tang” in his hand, just like his “Bai” last time, now she had both the pass and the pledge.

“So now I’m also yours, leaning against a big tree for shade,” she smiled contentedly, “Yay!”

Zhong Yu Bai withdrew his hand.

She then reconsidered, feeling uncertain, “Wait, what do you mean by ‘for now’? Do I have to make up for it later?”

Zhong Yu Bai slowly said, “Let me think about what I need, and then we can discuss the transaction.”

Ji Zhen Tang exclaimed, “Ah!” as if regretting signing too early, then deflated, “Forget it, what’s done is done. Since promises cost nothing, when you come asking for mine, I’ll just take the night train and escape.”

The card table was not automatic; one had to shuffle the cards themselves. Ji Zhen Tang quickly picked out two dice for rolling, putting them in the cup, “First step, be the boss’s dice-shaking girl, show loyalty.”

Clatter, clatter, clatter, clatter, she tossed the two dice with the air of someone throwing two hundred.

Zhong Yu Bai couldn’t help but laugh. Leaning back, his gaze softened, drawing closer to her, letting the faint scent of white tea wrap around him, his deep gaze falling on the button of her cheongsam that was slightly loose.

His voice lowered, more ambiguous than before, seeming to circle around her mind rather than her ears, he asked deeply, “Why so clingy all of a sudden?”

As he spoke, he gently caught her wrist, indicating the force, “That’s enough. If you shake too hard, you’ll lose all your luck.”

“Why are you so superstitious?” Ji Zhen Tang joked, then put down the dice cup and explained, “Parasites find the most suitable host and naturally rely heavily on them.”

Having been indoors for a while, Zhong Yu Bai’s hands were warm. Ji Zhen Tang, coming in from the chilly wind, despite being wrapped in a thick coat, perhaps hadn’t fully recovered the normal color of her fingers, or maybe feeling the chill from her, he felt startled. His hand, following the motion he just stopped, covered hers for a while longer, not letting go.

As she withdrew, he lightly pressed it against the table’s edge.

All four of Ji Zhen Tang’s fingers were under his warm, dry palm.

This gesture seemed to imply warming her hands, without the slightest hint of ulterior motive.

Just like a caring aunt next door, fearing her daughter might catch a cold, kindly reminding her to wear more clothes.

Similar care, but with an added layer.

Because Zhong Yu Bai gently squeezed her fingers, after this silent touch that lasted for a few seconds, he looked at her sincerely and said, “You’re not a parasite, and I’m not a host.”

Then he let go of her hand to pick up the cards.

“So, you’re telling me this because you don’t like me being clingy?” Zhong Yu Bai smiled, “I love it.”

“…”

Ji Zhen Tang was speechless, then grabbed the nearby cup as if pretending to play.

Her heart jumped to a critical point of almost losing control.

His warmth, on her fingertips, gradually warmed up her still chilled body.

She carefully thought, why did she specially come to bump into him?

The answer was, a bit of greed, a bit of attachment, pushing her carefully dressed self to this point.

When she came, greed was a bit more dominant, but at this moment, the balance was tipping uncontrollably towards attachment.

“Is this your cup? Have you used it?” Ji Zhen Tang raised the cup and suddenly asked him.

Zhong Yu Bai didn’t look over, softly answering, “I have.”

“Huh?” She pretended to be innocent, “Why didn’t you say so? I thought…”

He didn’t say anything, just smiled faintly.

Her prepared act was seen through, her clumsy flirtation failed, leaving only embarrassment.

Unable to continue her lines, Ji Zhen Tang hastily said, “I’ve finished it, I’ll go refill it, would you like some tea?”

Zhong Yu Bai told her not to bother, “Please sit.”

Then, someone came over with a kettle.

Ji Zhen Tang watched the waiter’s movements, then heard him whisper in Zhong Yu Bai’s ear, “Mr. Shen is about to return.”

Zhong Yu Bai nodded in response.

Mr. Shen was the owner of this teahouse, named Shen Shu.

Ji Zhen Tang thought Zhong Yu Bai came to drink tea and play cards, but he was actually here to discuss business today.

As they entered the banquet hall, there was a redwood scepter on the table by the door, and next to it, a seemingly sky-high water tank, an ancient method of raising fish, also related to feng shui. Walking into a wealthy person’s house, every detail pointed to wealth.

After sitting down beside Zhong Yu Bai step by step, Ji Zhen Tang realized that it seemed like she wasn’t invited to sit down.

While Shen Shu had yet to arrive, she asked, “Can I not listen in on your business talk?”

Zhong Yu Bai had already relaxed into the redwood sofa, and upon hearing this, lightly curved his lips, speaking lightly, “Since you’re here, just relax.”

She, bold and carefree, laughed, “I heard you’re very cautious and guarded in your dealings, aren’t you afraid I’ll seize power?”

Zhong Yu Bai placed a cigarette between his lips, searched for a lighter in his pocket, couldn’t find it, took the cigarette back and briefly held it between his fingers, saying, “The worst-case scenario, the country could be ruined in your hands.”

Ji Zhen Tang found it miraculous, “You really don’t seem afraid at all.”

But he calmly replied, “Hearing it like this, it doesn’t seem so bad after all.”

Her smile deepened a bit, this line was dangerous, but pleasing to the ear.

Zhong Yu Bai said, “It’s nothing major, just sit if you want to. Jialing isn’t here today, and I’m short of a consultant.”

Ji Zhen Tang had no ambitions for seizing power at all, “But business talk is so boring, I can’t even be bothered to participate.”

He then shifted the topic: “There are people singing outside. It wouldn’t hurt to listen for a while. Staying here too long might start to feel stifling.”

No matter what she said, he always went along with her words.

Shen Shu came in at this moment, a refined gentleman wearing glasses. Zhong Yu Bai stood up to greet him and was kindly asked by Shen Shu, “Who is this?”

Zhong Yu Bai replied, “A little friend from home.”

A simple introduction instantly made her unnecessary presence seem innocent.

Ji Zhen Tang exchanged a few pleasantries and then tactfully went outside to listen to the music.

Through a door, a man and a woman in the lobby below were performing Pingtan.

The conversation inside the room faintly drifted over—

“Didn’t I tell you before that I wanted to open a branch? But the tea house model is too simple. This time, I plan to expand it. I want to establish a tea estate,” said Shen Shu.

“Where?” came the familiar voice of Zhong Yu Bai.

“I’m still looking for land. I’m thinking of setting it up near a tourist resort. Land is expensive, but money is not a problem,” Shen Shu replied.

Zhong Yu Bai said, “The land around scenic areas is generally more desolate.”

“I’ve thought about that too. Most of the customers in my small shop are quite loyal. If we go to remote areas, it’s basically like giving up local customers. And tourists are unpredictable. I’m afraid of gaining some benefits while losing others,” Shen Shu explained.

Zhong Yu Bai suggested, “You can consider the Su market. There are more tea merchants there, and the popularity is high.”

Shen Shu agreed, “That’s not a problem. I plan to contact tea merchants in Jiangsu and Zhejiang at that time. Normally, they can supply us with tea. My Yuyun Pavilion has supported quite a few factories. I don’t want to lose the source of goods.”

Ji Zhen Tang sat in the corridor, resting her chin in her hand, boredly watching the woman playing the pipa below. In her heart, she sneered; business matters were indeed dull and boring.

The music was still better.

Gradually, the female voice singing became louder, overshadowing the conversation of the two men.

She was singing “Du Shiniang.”

The elegant and graceful Du Shiniang, feeling sorry for herself, ended up in Pingkang. She danced with the wind, like a fallen flower without an owner, shedding tears as she drifted.

Behind the performers hung two lines of timely calligraphy: “If you meet the Jade Emperor, kneel and plead, and you will never fall into the mortal world again.”

Ji Zhen Tang, dressed in a wide robe, sat in the loft, feeling lonely amidst the music, as if truly wandering, facing a bitter winter storm.

It wasn’t until the door behind her opened after a long time that the man’s voice slowly brought her back to reality.

When they got to Zhong Yu Bai’s car, it was already dark.

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t check the time, didn’t know what time it was now, didn’t say where to go, just sat in the front passenger seat with him, waiting for Zhong Yu Bai to warm up the car.

He didn’t rush to drive. There was a hint of smoke on his sweater. He casually folded his black coat and tossed it onto the back seat.

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t take off her coat because she was wearing a short-sleeved qipao inside.

Zhong Yu Bai looked at her calm and serene profile and asked, “Did you come today just to stick with me, or was there something else?”

His voice was low, but gentle.

“…” She blushed slightly, glanced at him sideways, and said, “You promised not to ask.”

He reassured her, “I can refrain. I’m just worried if you’re uncomfortable anywhere.”

Ji Zhen Tang said, “I’m not uncomfortable. I just feel relaxed when I’m with you. Haven’t you heard the saying, ‘A jug of wine between friends is worth more than a thousand words’? When I came, I really had a carefree attitude. I didn’t want you to ask why, and I didn’t want to ask myself why. It’s not for fame or profit, nor is it for pureness of heart. In short, I just want to see you, want to talk to you, want to listen to you.”

They were not parasites and hosts, but rather a relationship like this.

“As long as you’re relaxed.”

Zhong Yu Bai didn’t continue to inquire. Instead, he returned to his caring question, “How’s your health recently?”

He had to ask even if she didn’t respond.

“I was just about to tell you. I remembered what you said before, that as long as you’re willing to confide, it’s not too bad. I also found that confiding is useful. I talked about my dad’s affairs that day, and I felt a bit more at ease when I went to bed at night. So when I have happy things, I want to share them with you, and when I have worries, I want to talk about them too. But I haven’t had any worries recently, and I’ve been making progress every day.”

As she spoke, she smiled.

“I’ve started trying to create something new recently.”

Zhong Yu Bai nodded approvingly, “Creating gives people vitality, which is a good thing.”

Ji Zhen Tang also nodded quickly.

After a moment of silence, the night outside the windshield was vast, the neon lights on both sides of the road were tall and dim, too far from the ground, and the light shining on them was repeatedly weakened, deepening the ambiguous atmosphere in the car.

She suddenly called him earnestly, “Zhong Yu Bai.”

He looked over.

“Do you have subjective emotions?”

“Such as?”

“Such as… oh, I can’t explain. I just feel like you always hide yourself deeply. I really want to see your emotional side. If you have anything unhappy, you can also tell me. A confidant is a mutual relationship, unilateral tolerance… I don’t know how to summarize our relationship.”

He chuckled and asked, “Do you want to be my confidant?”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded, “Yes, sort of. Help between people should be mutual.”

Zhong Yu Bai thought seriously for a moment, “There don’t seem to be any unhappy things.”

After a while, he added, “There may be some emotional fluctuations.”

Ji Zhen Tang hurriedly leaned over, “Tell me about it.”

With a lowered gaze, he could see her unexpectedly loosened clasp and the smooth collarbone. Zhong Yu Bai leaned slightly toward the window, pressing against his temple, in a lazy and pensive manner.

“I think you’re beautiful today, beautiful enough to make people want to possess you.”

“…”

His voice was calm and warm, his expression was elegant and mild enough to make people not feel like he was saying something dangerous. At the moment when she tensed her back, Zhong Yu Bai continued, “I’m also a little jealous of the cup you kissed.”

After finishing speaking, he smiled lightly and asked her, “Does it sound absurd to you?”

Ji Zhen Tang felt like she was being steamed alive in the enclosed car, and stuttered, “W-which… which kind of possession?”

He remained calm and replied, “Every kind.”

Zhong Yu Bai finished speaking and noticed the loosened button in the corner of his eye again. He was a bit obsessive-compulsive, ultimately couldn’t resist leaning forward, using his fingers to clamp onto the button of her cheongsam, intending to fasten it for her.

But Ji Zhen Tang clearly dodged back a significant distance.

Fortunately, he caught the button with his fingers, otherwise, she might have fallen out of the car window.

He chuckled and softly asked, “Scared again?”

Lowering his head, Zhong Yu Bai slowly fastened it for her, a simple action executed with precision. Even in the dimly lit car, he didn’t waste much time, finishing in just a few seconds.

“Not… not scared, I thought…” Ji Zhen Tang’s voice trailed off.

He spoke up, finishing her sentence, “Thought I was going to kiss you.”

“…”

“Don’t worry,” Zhong Yu Bai gently adjusted the folds of her collar, a skillful and effortless movement, assuming the role of a caring father figure. At the same time, he calmly spoke words of parental affection, tousling her hair, “No kissing today.”

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