Chapter 48: Burning Spring Flowers

Ji Zhen Tang had considered such coincidences before. After all, all major business dealings in this area revolved around the Zhong family. Sitting atop the food chain, invitations from wealthy families to use their venues for events were not uncommon.

She had remembered the yacht club, not expecting this circuitous route would lead her back here.

The big boss naturally didn’t care about a small membership card.

“I’ll stick to what’s mine,” said Ji Zhen Tang.

With a calm smile, Zhong Yu Bai handed her the card, saying, “Enjoy yourself.”

“Well, since you put it that way, can you let me in through the back door to experience some exclusive services? The kind that money can’t buy for a hundred bucks?” Ji Zhen Tang held up the card, looking at him with a mischievous smile.

He sensed her mischievous intent, “What kind of services are you looking for?”

She pondered for a moment, then said seriously, “Like having a group of handsome men pour drinks for me, do a striptease in front of me, showing off their bodies, and engage in some borderline activities—those are what really show the world of the wealthy. For a hundred bucks, I’d probably end up sitting in a corner eating a few pieces of fruit, how boring.”

Ji Zhen Tang looked at him expectantly, with a hint of longing. One handsome guy wasn’t enough; she was beginning to envision a whole group.

Zhong Yu Bai almost laughed, but maintained a serious demeanor, carefully considering, “What kind of guys do you prefer?”

She smiled, “I’m not picky, as long as they’re young.”

Zhong Yu Bai raised an eyebrow slightly, looking at her with an inscrutable gaze, meticulous yet dangerous, sweeping over her, and then asked, “Wild at heart, aren’t you?”

“I just want to see how wild it can get,” she replied playfully.

Zhong Yu Bai lowered his eyes, gazing at her lips.

“Let’s see how wild it can get.”

With a gesture, he redirected the flowing water, clearing the spring’s eye, and everything vanished overnight like the cut water lily.

There’s no such thing as each taking what they need.

This phrase is too harsh, reducing everything to materialism, when there’s still so much cuddling and warmth in the human world.

In the dim night, she slept sprawled out, like an octopus clinging to him. Ji Zhen Tang indeed had a habit of grinding her teeth; Zhong Yu Bai had been awakened by her a few times, but he didn’t wake her up, hesitating, unsure how to deal with this minor incident. He just held her in his arms, gently stroking her face, soothing her emotions.

Tonight, Ji Zhen Tang didn’t grind her teeth, instead murmuring in her sleep, “I deserve this, I deserve this.”

Then she called his name—

“Zhong Yu Bai, I deserve this.”

He rhythmically and gently patted her back, like comforting a little baby.

“I know,” he replied.

She seemed to settle down a bit, her sleep talk ceased.

Sometimes Zhong Yu Bai also pondered how to define his care for her, love to the bone? Too exaggerated. A more appropriate four-character phrase might be “unable to rest assured.”

In the morning, for a rare occasion, Zhong Yu Bai woke up later than her.

Ji Zhen Tang burrowed under the covers, searching around, turning the small bed into a small mountain. Then she unconsciously clenched his wrist tightly; he uttered softly, “Don’t move.”

He stopped her with force, disrupting her playful mood.

Her sneak attack failed; dejectedly, she slipped out of bed, tiptoed out of the room, and heard him say as he closed the door, “Wait for me.”

Wait for what? Probably just to have breakfast together. Ji Zhen Tang paid no attention, considering his drowsy words all just part of her dreams.

She went to find her backpack.

The little bear, Ji Xiaoxiong, left on the shelf near the door, had been placed by Zhong Yu Bai on a dedicated desk.

He had asked about the origin of this backpack, and she had told him it was a gift from her mom.

When Ji Zhen Tang took the bag down, she noticed a wooden tray on the table with a cute bear carved on it, as if custom-made for it.

She touched the adorable bear on the tray with her finger, feeling a myriad of emotions, smiled nostalgically, and walked out into the morning sun.

The sharp edges of this world can grind people down.

But he blew on her wounds, telling her not to cry.

When Zhong Yu Bai woke up, he reached out to embrace the person beside him, only to find it empty. Sitting up, he opened the velvet box on the bedside table where he kept his jewelry, and took a look.

It was empty.

She had taken away that one-of-a-kind diamond, his one percent gift.

Underneath the box lay a note, with a few lines of handwriting: “Looks like I tired Uncle out last night, why can’t he wake up? But I’m not wrong ^_^ I deserve this.”

— 

The scene unfolds with the charming spirit of a young girl before him, and Zhong Yu Bai lightly curved his lips.

“How should I say it, I kept waking up three times in the middle of the night because I forgot to set my alarm,” he messaged back while getting dressed.

–

Ji Zhen Tang received good news from Huang Xinkui at school.

A fashion magazine published the news of her award. With a little help from President Huang, Ji Zhen Tang’s award-winning piece was placed in several jewelry stores in Qingcheng for sale. Huang Xinkui had enough influence to make this happen with a single command.

Ji Zhen Tang was overjoyed.

Huang Xinkui facilitated the process, naturally expecting a cut. Without directly mentioning it, she made it clear in a roundabout way during their discussion.

Ji Zhen Tang was ecstatic: “As long as you promote me, use my name, and tag my brand, I won’t ask for any profits.”

She relayed this to Zhong Yu Bai, who called immediately and chuckled, “Silly, why not make some money?”

She laughed heartily, dismissing the concern: “Zhong Yu Bai, tell me quickly you didn’t manage this.”

He teased, “Is that how you think I’d do it?”

“I don’t care, I don’t care! I’m almost knocked out by happiness!!” Her laughter over the phone was full of joy.

Zhong Yu Bai smiled gently, “You’re amazing.”

He remained calm to temper her excitement. He thought that while her artwork gained artistic recognition, it lacked market recognition. Huang Xinkui’s assistance was beneficial, but setting expectations too high could lead to disappointment, especially if the results didn’t match up against bigger names nearby, which could be heartbreaking.

He steadied her emotions, “A good start is important. Sustaining it depends on your skill.”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded knowingly, “I understand. I won’t let success get to my head. I’m going to find someone to shoot an advertisement!”

He asked if she faced any difficulties?

Ji Zhen Tang knew he wanted to help, but she felt the actors he knew were probably too experienced. She didn’t want to tap into the entertainment industry’s resources because they weren’t fresh enough, and as a small fish, her influence would easily be suppressed in such a cutthroat environment.

Of course, she would think that anyone introduced by Zhong Yu Bai would speak highly of her.

But wouldn’t that be inappropriate in its own way?

In short, using his connections allowed her to work smoothly, but it made her feel like she wasn’t fully herself.

After some hesitation, aside from her unspoken gratitude, she had one more thing to say: “If I keep using your connections to advance, I’ll truly become a parasite.”

Their relationship was always filled with ambiguity and unsaid words, and such blunt statements never left her lips.

Speaking of filming the advertisement, the next day at lunch in school, Ji Zhen Tang received a message from Chen Ke.

He quietly agreed to her request but said nothing.

Seeing the notification pop up on her friends list, she was thrilled and wore a smile of joy.

Setting down her chopsticks and wiping her hands, she appeared sincerely cautious through the screen, raising her guard for negotiations.

Ji Zhen Tang took the initiative to message him: “President Chen, hello, my name is Ji Zhen Tang. We met once, you introduced clients to my father, Ji Huan. You might not remember me, but that’s not important. I’m reaching out to you to ask for a favor from your wife.”

She sent this much, and Chen Ke responded briefly: “?”

Ji Zhen Tang explained in detail the current development of her brand to Chen Ke.

Chen Ke: [Smile]

Ji Zhen Tang was momentarily stunned, thinking to herself, “Who still uses a smile as a greeting these days? So outdated and cringey.” But considering the generation gap with these not-so-young men, she held back her thoughts.

Ji Zhen Tang: [Cute] So, I just want to borrow your wife’s help. Is she available? Or could you give me her contact so I can talk to her?

Chen Ke: [Smile][Smile]

Ji Zhen Tang couldn’t resist: “Haha, stop with the smiley faces, you scared me! In our generation, that’s usually a sarcastic gesture.”

Chen Ke: I was being sarcastic to you. [Smile]

“…?”

It was strange, as if she had been unexpectedly tripped while walking down the road.

Ji Zhen Tang: You’re quite amusing. [Smile]

After sending this, she immediately retracted, realizing she had overstepped. She quickly apologized.

She wondered if Chen Ke had seen it, but he didn’t reply further.

When Zhong Yu Bai received her complaint call, he was taking out his house keys from his pocket.

The mansion’s decor dated back over a decade, with the most antique door that lacked any fancy digital locks or fingerprint scanners. He held a bunch of keys today, picking out one and inserting it into the lock while answering the call.

On the other end, her voice came weakly, sounding as if she was holding back a lot of frustration, her words compressed into a grumbling tone, “Your brother is so indifferent.”

“Chen Ke?” Zhong Yu Bai asked as he entered, “What’s wrong?”

“He was sarcastic to me, and I retorted. Although I retracted it in time, I’m worried he might have seen it. Now I’m regretting it. Will I be in trouble for offending a superior?” Ji Zhen Tang asked.

Zhong Yu Bai reassured her nonchalantly, “He’s pretty open-minded, trust me. As long as you don’t insult his wife, everything should be fine.”

Ji Zhen Tang suddenly realized, “No wonder. I just wanted to borrow his wife’s help, and suddenly his attitude turned hostile.”

Zhong Yu Bai chuckled, speaking as if coaxing a child, “Find a chance to smooth things over.”

Ji Zhen Tang’s happiness was simple and straightforward, “Great! I’ll watch from the sidelines.”

As he spoke, Zhong Yu Bai noticed a book box on the coffee table near the door.

Inside were several books and various odds and ends used by girls.

The clear evening sun cast a beam of golden light onto the dust suspended in the air, landing squarely on the book covers, exuding a texture of gilded time.

He wondered when she had come by, imagining her being quietly let in by Ding Jialing with a spare key, peeking in to see if he was around, like a stealthy squirrel.

Zhong Yu Bai walked over.

She had brought some things over, not much, just some stationery and books. Children often learn about the world from books.

He glanced at the spines of the books, seeing the courage given to her by Wang Jiazhi and the frequent warnings from Hibb.

Eileen Chang, who wrote about the fleeting nature of prosperity, had other stories beyond these.

Zhong Yu Bai picked up a book from the bottom of the pile to read, “The Bridge of Sighs.” Flipping through a few pages, it was inevitably another story about the powerful and female students.

He felt like laughing a bit but continued reading patiently.

She was very good at collecting books. This basket full of similar plotlines seemed to be filled with hints and satire.However, the clichés were in the plots, not the people. By firmly erecting a barrier in the heart, one would never be destroyed.

Zhong Yu Bai sat on the sofa, forgetting what work he had to do, just flipping through the book, wasting the day until nightfall.

—

A few days later, a Mr. Li from Singapore, named Li Da, Zhong Yu Bai’s foreign business partner, came unexpectedly, saying he wanted to discuss trade and spend some time. Zhong Yu Bai had to postpone some work to accompany him.

In Jiangbin Garden, overlooking the night view of the Huangpu River, Zhong Yu Bai usually had meals and business meetings here. At night, cruise ships would depart and sail along the river.

He glanced at one, a familiar ship, though calling it his ship wasn’t entirely accurate since the leasing and entertainment projects for the cruise were no longer under his direct management.

He called Li Da “Uncle Li.”

In their youth, the Li family and the Chen family had extensive connections, doing business in Singapore.

A few years ago, Zhong Yu Bai invested in a casino under Li Da’s name. Now, with fame and fortune, the Li family, who had stumbled a few times, had revived in recent years. Li Da, in a suit and tie, with a radiant face and slicked-back hair, looked very much the part of a successful entrepreneur.

Some people seem to get younger as they live. Looking at the man in front of him, Zhong Yu Bai couldn’t help but recall those damp, gentle childhood memories.

Li Da asked if he would consider doing chain projects in China.

Zhong Yu Bai rejected him with a simple sentence: “Flowers need to be planted in the right soil.”

Li Da pondered and said, “There are indeed some risks in the mainland. How about considering the Hong Kong area?”

Zhong Yu Bai replied, “Currently, I don’t have plans in that regard.”

Li Da then said, “Why not come back to Singapore with me and revive the former glory of your Chen family?”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Yu Bai lightly rubbed the surface of his cup with his thumb and said indifferently, “I am no longer part of the Chen family.”

Li Da smiled gently. He was very familiar with Zhong Yu Bai, having watched him grow up, so he spoke frankly about the past: “Then whose family are you part of? The Zhong family?”

Zhong Yu Bai remained silent for a long time, then raised the corner of his mouth into a dry smile, “Perhaps.”

“In these years since the disbandment of Ting Song Hall, I have been asking people to look into the whereabouts of those underlings from the gang. After thinking carefully about what happened back then, I think about your mother’s death. First, because of the drowning, and second, those people indeed weren’t aiming to kill her; otherwise, they wouldn’t have hijacked the ship. Clearly, it was meant to be a kidnapping. Your second brother probably didn’t know how much information she had and was probing.”

Li Da, suddenly turning into a detective, furrowed his brows tightly and said, “If it was suicide, she wouldn’t have left without any word.”

Zhong Yu Bai listened calmly, as if it had nothing to do with him. He picked up a piece of beef, found it too rare, and put it down along with his chopsticks, quietly looking at the water outside.

He simply said, “Let nature take its course.”

Li Da, not being the kind of uncle good at taking care of others’ emotions, couldn’t help but start talking about old times upon seeing an old friend: “I had a deep friendship with your mother back then. You are very much like her, both in appearance and spirit, so no matter how long it’s been, seeing you feels familiar, as if she were still alive.

“This matter is not just for you. I also want to know the truth, which is why I’ve been investigating. If you have any difficulties or changing plans, you can always come to me.”

“Flowers need to grow in suitable soil, but you were born into the Zhong family. With so many involuntary circumstances, can it really be called suitable?”

After listening, Zhong Yu Bai did not give a clear response, only smiling slightly and saying, “Thank you, Uncle Li.”

He remained calm, not revealing any emotional fluctuations. He neither accepted his kindness nor told him to mind his own business.

Even though Li Da was older, it was hard to say he could see through this person.

It was only now that Li Da slightly realized that the past sorrows, which he thought had been put behind, were not entirely so. Silence is the deepest concealment of sadness.

Zhong Yu Bai didn’t eat a bite, only drank some wine.

When he put down his wine glass and looked down at the tall building, a bright red dress caught his attention; she was climbing the steps to board a cruise ship.

Zhong Yu Bai smiled faintly.

He didn’t even know he was smiling, but Li Da saw it.

It was amazing; he had hidden his expressions so well while talking earlier, but now he was smiling happily. Out of curiosity, Li Da followed his gaze downward.

It turned out he was looking at a girl.

When he saw Zhong Heng walking about ten meters away, Zhong Yu Bai’s eyes froze.

He remembered chatting with Zhong Heng during the New Year, asking if he would stay at school or go abroad. Zhong Heng’s answer was ambiguous.

At that time, he could still tolerate Zhong Heng, always feeling that this person’s presence was a bit troublesome but not harmful.

But now, seeing this scene.

In the vast view, people came and went, but these two seemed to hook his gaze. Seeing Zhong Heng quicken his pace to catch up with the woman in front, Zhong Yu Bai’s throat, just moistened by red wine, became dry again, and he swallowed.

Before long, the small gathering ended.

Zhong Yu Bai apologized, “I’m sorry, if Uncle Li is free tomorrow, I’ll accompany you around again. I must excuse myself tonight.”

As he spoke, Zhong Yu Bai straightened the sleeves of his shirt, flattening and buttoning them.

Seeing that he was about to leave, Li Da asked, “In a hurry?”

Zhong Yu Bai nodded slightly, pushed back his chair, and stood up, “Just a small matter.”

Not even an extra word of explanation, he quickened his pace slightly. Though it wasn’t to the point of panic, for someone as usually composed and orderly as him, this behavior was quite uncharacteristic.

Zhong Yu Bai mentioned it was a small matter, but Li Da sensed his urgency.

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