Chapter 49: Since Ah Zhen Likes It

Zhong Yu Bai was a bit afraid the boat would leave, so he quickened his pace slightly and had the hotel manager arrange for someone to take care of Li Da. He quickly called the other side and asked them to keep the boat waiting for another half hour.

Looking at the metropolis from the rooftop, everything seemed tiny and within reach. Once on the ground, the road felt long.

From the hotel to the dock required driving. After hanging up the phone and giving instructions, he was no longer in a rush.

Ding Jialing was driving and got road rage during the evening rush, muttering a few complaints.

Zhong Yu Bai silently took out a cigarette from the pack, lit it, and told him not to hurry.

He lowered the window, looking at the flashy night scene outside. The sky was already dark, and under the deep blue background, a red sightseeing bus slowly passed by golden-lit European-style buildings.

In this splendid night scene, Zhong Yu Bai also calmed down a bit.

The cigarette was given to him by Li Da, brought from Southeast Asia. Zhong Yu Bai had grown up with this smell. He wasn’t someone who often reminisced about the past, but time, which he couldn’t guard against, had forcibly taken him back a journey.

After a while, he suddenly asked Ding Jialing, “How old is Ah Heng this year?”

Ding Jialing was still annoyed by the red light and, hearing this question, was momentarily stunned. After thinking for a moment, he said, “Twenty-three, twenty-four, I guess.”

It’s puzzling that he had to ask others about his own nephew’s age, indicating their distant relationship.

Zhong Yu Bai thought for a while, “If he doesn’t plan to study abroad, I need to discuss with his father about arranging his marriage.”

Ding Jialing didn’t understand and glanced at the rearview mirror, thinking he was talking to himself, so he didn’t respond.

But Zhong Yu Bai immediately asked him again, “What do you think?”

Ding Jialing scratched his face, pondering, really thinking his opinion was needed, “I think it’s a bit early.”

Zhong Yu Bai said lightly, “Early?”

Just two words, not heavily toned, but with significant weight in his mind. Ding Jialing, understanding a bit, didn’t dare to speak again, glanced at him quietly, and heard another sentence——”If he doesn’t marry, he’ll just be idle and wandering, better to settle down early and focus.”

Ding Jialing said, “Second Young Master is so charming, he won’t lack admirers. No need for arranged marriages, right?”

Zhong Yu Bai asked, “How charming?”

Ding Jialing: …Alright, if you say arrange, then arrange. He didn’t say anything, just nodded. For the big family’s matters, he had no say in whose name should be written on the matchmaker’s book.

Zhong Yu Bai then asked, “Whose birthday is on the boat today?”

“I heard it’s that someone, the daughter of the chairman of the Tobacco Group, a little internet celebrity.”

He thought for a while, “Surname Wang?”

“Yeah, seems so.”

Zhong Yu Bai recalled for a moment and nodded, indicating he understood.

At the entrance of the jewelry store, Zhong Yu Bai asked to stop the car, telling him to pick out some jewelry.

Ding Jialing looked troubled, “I can’t, I’m not as good at pleasing young girls as you are.”

Zhong Yu Bai laughed generously, “Just pick any, as long as it’s appropriate.”

He agreed.

In less than ten minutes, Ding Jialing came out.

The box contained a priceless Burmese unheated pigeon blood ruby. Zhong Yu Bai took one look, closed the box, and praised him, saying his taste was good.

Ding Jialing wanted to say he had no taste to speak of; he just asked for the most expensive item.

–

Lin Guixue brought two roommates today, besides Ji Zhen Tang, there was also Zhou Zhi. Su Yunli was absent due to a trip.

The three of them pooled together to buy a gift, choosing a necklace online, which was decent.

Ji Zhen Tang wore a dark red mermaid dress today. The style was reserved and understated, and the color made her look radiant. Among a group of beautiful girls, she neither overshadowed the main attraction nor appeared out of place.

The layout of this cruise ship reminded her of the sunset on the day they first kissed, making her feel very happy.

Right now, the dim burgundy curtains were unfolding in the light and shadow. The band was playing, and people were warming up with Latin dance on the dance floor, with cheers erupting nearby. The birthday girl was still in the makeup room, and Ji Zhen Tang leaned against a table, picking out mangoes to eat.

A warm spotlight happened to shine on her, but her excellent bone structure could handle any angle of light. The scattered shadows of her eyelashes fell on her flawless face, making her incredibly beautiful even in this simple setting.

Ji Zhen Tang hadn’t put on makeup today, just a thin layer of cinnamon lip gloss.

Zhou Zhi admired the beauty for a moment and couldn’t help but praise, “Red suits you. Even without makeup, you stand out among everyone.”

Ji Zhen Tang smiled generously, “My boyfriend also says I look good in red. ‘Stand out among everyone’ isn’t quite right; everyone has their own unique charm.”

These were words Zhong Yu Bai had told her.

“Boyfriend?” Zhou Zhi caught the key point.

Ji Zhen Tang felt a bit shy but admitted, “Yes.”

Zhou Zhi pointed to the sapphire on her hand, which she had wanted to ask about for a while, “Did your boyfriend give this to you?”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded, “Yes, he did.”

“Wow, that’s a real diamond. I’m practically blinded,” Zhou Zhi exclaimed, then asked sneakily, “When did you get a boyfriend? Is he another rich senior?”

Ji Zhen Tang shook her head vigorously. “He’s not a senior.”

“A junior?”

“No.”

“If he’s not a senior or a junior, and we’re ruling out rich heirs, then could it be… one of those rich dads?”

Ji Zhen Tang was shocked. “You don’t have to imagine him that old! He’s only thirty.”

“He’s already thirty!!” Zhou Zhi and Lin Guixue, who was walking over, exclaimed in unison.

Ji Zhen Tang defended, “What’s wrong with that? Older men have their charm.”

Zhou Zhi looked worried. “I don’t know about charm, I just know they’re cunning and prey on girls who lack love. Don’t get tricked.”

Ji Zhen Tang giggled foolishly. “I don’t care, I really like him.”

“What do you like about him?”

“He’s generous and flirts well. Even if he’s tricking me, I’m enjoying it.”

Zhou Zhi clicked her tongue disapprovingly.

Lin Guixue came over to inform them, “Let’s go to the private room on the second floor. Wang Qianxing is blowing out the candles.”

Wang Qianxing was her influencer friend and the main character today.

The birthday girl was their age, a high school classmate of Lin Guixue. She studied abroad for two years but dropped out and returned to become a content creator. She’s very pretty, with a distinct, tech-savvy kind of beauty. Despite her imperfections, her good temperament overshadowed everything else.

She was cheerful and wore a Snow White costume, friendly even with strangers, exuding a well-bred innocence that was hard to fake.

She adjusted her tilted princess crown, made a wish with clasped hands, and was surrounded by people singing the birthday song.

Lin Guixue had mentioned that Wang Qianxing loved making friends and being in lively environments, so she invited people from all walks of life.

Lin Guixue dragged Ji Zhen Tang to meet Wang Qianxing. After hearing Ji Zhen Tang’s needs, Wang Qianxing exclaimed, “Wow, you have your own brand? That’s impressive!”

Ji Zhen Tang blushed at the compliment.

Lin Guixue added, “She’s amazing, a champion certified by the Jewelry Association.”

Wang Qianxing readily agreed, “Sure, follow my account first. My main account has more followers, though its style doesn’t quite match. I have another account for short dramas, which just signed with a company. We can try to include some of your ads. My boss is great at marketing.”

Ji Zhen Tang nodded excitedly, about to express her gratitude—

Wang Qianxing glanced aside, her eyes lighting up. “Zhong Heng, I thought you weren’t coming!”

Ji Zhen Tang didn’t turn around, feeling a jolt at the back of her head, as if punched.

A familiar yet distant voice came from behind, with a touch of casual amusement. “Long time no see, Xingxing.”

Zhong Heng walked up to Wang Qianxing and handed her his gift. She eagerly unwrapped it on the spot. Ji Zhen Tang, still unnoticed, took a few steps back but couldn’t help peeking at his gift box, which contained an imperial green jade bracelet.

Anyone knowledgeable would know its worth.

Lin Guixue sighed, “What a small world.”

She grabbed Ji Zhen Tang’s wrist and said, “Let’s go have a drink.”

Ji Zhen Tang quickly followed Lin Guixue to a corner.

Wang Qianxing was overjoyed, hugging Zhong Heng’s neck and jumping with excitement. “Thank you so much! I love it! I’m posting this on social media right now!”

Zhong Heng smirked, hands in his pockets, and said coolly, “When you were a baby, your dad told me that at your full moon celebration, you grabbed a bracelet. They said you were destined to be a rich lady. Congrats, your dream came true.”

Wow, childhood friends…

Ji Zhen Tang sipped her drink, her face scrunching involuntarily as she watched them interact.

Unexpectedly, Zhong Heng’s gaze shifted to her face.

Zhong Heng was momentarily stunned, and the trace of indulgent, affectionate smile on his face vanished. Upon seeing Ji Zhen Tang, he lightly grasped Wang Qianxing’s hand on his shoulder and pushed it away.

Zhong Heng’s expression visibly turned cold. He swallowed hard, as if forgetting his next lines.

After a brief pause, he hastily summed up his thoughts with a stiff smile: “Happy birthday.”

After speaking, he found a seat in the shadows, sitting with a casual posture but with a hint of restraint in his demeanor, his peripheral vision lingering on her.

Zhong Heng sat less than a meter away from her, perhaps intentionally. The sofa wasn’t long, leaving a seat between them, likely reserved for Wang Qianxing, who hadn’t sat down yet.

This narrow gap made Ji Zhen Tang wish she could disappear.

She thought to herself, it was fortunate Su Yunli wasn’t here, or today’s scene would be set for the three of them.

“He seems to be looking at you,” even Lin Guixue noticed the tension and glanced at the two of them.

Ji Zhen Tang would rather he didn’t look her way: “…I’m getting goosebumps.”

An ex’s reunion is always dramatic. Zhou Zhi relished the spectacle: “Haha, it would be great if the current partner were here too, then there’d be a real showdown!”

Ji Zhen Tang: “…” She suggested Zhou Zhi switch seats, sitting between them. Then she exchanged seats with Lin Guixue, moving to the edge.

She felt a bit more comfortable, but still close enough to hear everything Zhong Heng said.

Wang Qianxing was still receiving gifts, and background music played without anyone singing, so snippets of conversations reached her ears—

“It’s my third uncle’s place,” Zhong Heng said in a low voice to another young man beside him.

“This boat? It’s yours? No way.” If young men were ranked, Zhong Heng would undoubtedly be at the top, admired by all.

He responded calmly, with a hint of envy in his voice: “He’s very wealthy. I heard he bought a tea estate in Xishan as a birthday gift for his girlfriend. Can you believe it?”

The person asked, “The Xishan in the new district? No way, I’ve heard the land prices there are sky-high. Your third uncle is that capable? Which woman is so lucky?”

Faced with a series of questions, he only said one sentence—

“If he wants something, it’s as good as his.”

Zhong Heng sneered and then added, “It must be a capable woman too. To win over a man like my third uncle, ambition alone isn’t enough.”

When he said the last sentence, his voice rose slightly, with a bit of deliberation, as if he was saying it for her to hear.

Ji Zhen Tang felt deeply mocked, her throat turned dry.

“……”

In Zhong Heng’s mind, a capable woman must at least be on par with Chi Ying, able to calculate and maneuver.

Although Ji Zhen Tang was also smart, she clearly lacked the ruthlessness and skill in her personality. She was soft-hearted, and soft-hearted people have too many concerns, always thinking this or that won’t do.

Zhong Heng actually understood her; he wasn’t completely oblivious. If he didn’t understand, he wouldn’t have such mixed feelings of love and hate.

He loved her but couldn’t grasp her, and hated her for being out of reach.

After he finished speaking, he glanced at the girl who had already hidden in the crowd.

His focus on her was so intense that he completely ignored the man who had walked to the door.

It wasn’t until Zhong Yu Bai raised his hand and knocked on the open door.

Knock, knock—

Everyone looked over at once.

His tall figure stood out there, momentarily blocking the light from outside the door. He wore a casual shirt, unbuttoned at the top two buttons, with tailored trousers accentuating his slim waist and broad shoulders. His entire presence was imposing yet gentle, as he softly called out to the birthday girl, “Xingxing.”

Though the nickname was intimate, the faint smile on his face added a touch of distance.

“Uncle Zhong!” Wang Qianxing was extremely surprised.

Zhong Yu Bai stepped inside, smiling lightly and wishing her, “Happy birthday.”

He handed over a gift.

Wang Qianxing opened the jewelry box eagerly, immediately trying on the pigeon blood ruby, almost crying with joy, “This must be the best gift I’ve received today. It’s so beautiful, my dream diamond! I absolutely love it!! Thank you, Uncle!”

Hearing him say this, Zhong Heng’s face turned very ugly. When compared to other men, his charm repeatedly paled, and he couldn’t save face. The basis was Wang Qianxing’s reaction.

A ruby had entered the scene, and suddenly the imperial green jade from earlier seemed less appealing.

With his elder present, Zhong Heng naturally had to stand up and greet him. He smiled, putting away his displeasure, and stood up saying, “Uncle, what brings you here today?”

Zhong Yu Bai’s gentle smile at Wang Qianxing faded slightly.

He surveyed the room and his gaze settled on Ji Zhen Tang’s face.

Avoiding Zhong Heng, she had hidden to the side, almost falling off the edge of the sofa. Zhong Yu Bai looked at her and walked over slowly, “Afraid my girlfriend would feel uneasy, I came to take her home.”

Ji Zhen Tang’s breath hitched, “……”

Zhong Yu Bai approached her, pulling the awkwardly rising Ji Zhen Tang into his arms, his hand lightly resting on her waist, with a grip that let her put her weight on his arm to prevent her from getting too nervous and unable to stand.

Only then did he look directly at Zhong Heng’s darkened face, speaking calmly.

“The feng shui of Xishan is good for growing crabapple trees. Since Ah Zhen likes it, everything is naturally easy to arrange.”

“……”

After saying this, Zhong Yu Bai took her hand and turned to the equally stunned Wang Qianxing, speaking in a refined and polite tone, “Have fun, I’ll take her home first.”

Wang Qianxing was momentarily stunned, “Ah, okay, okay!”

He gave a slight smile and nodded, “Goodbye.”

Wang Qianxing blinked her eyes and repeated, “Thank you, Uncle.”

……

Ji Zhen Tang followed him outside, being led along like a lifeless puppet onto the open-air corridor of the ship’s second floor. It took her a while to recover; after all, what had happened just a few minutes ago was without any conflict, and she had come out of it unscathed.

She looked at the rushing water below, then raised her eyes to look at the man’s broad back, and asked dully, “Why did you suddenly come to pick me up?”

Zhong Yu Bai glanced back at her and replied, “I saw him and was worried you wouldn’t feel comfortable.”

After a long while, Ji Zhen Tang finally smiled, easing the stiffness at the corners of her mouth, “I really did feel a bit uncomfortable. I was just silently chanting in my heart, ‘My great savior, my hero, when will you come!’ And then you showed up just like that—thank you, Uncle~”

She tilted her head and smiled, saying the last four words in a playful, exaggerated tone, mimicking someone. Zhong Yu Bai could tell who she was imitating.

He smiled helplessly and continued walking forward with her, saying, “Jialing chose it.”

She responded with an “oh.”

Her “oh” sounded indifferent, but her smile was proud. Proud that he could always see through her little thoughts at a glance, picking out her various complex unhappinesses and filling them with comforting gestures at just the right time.

Mind-reading might not really exist, but meticulousness and sensitivity in a person are high-level skills in dealing with things.

“Not as good as yours.”

Zhong Yu Bai held her finger, his thumb brushing over her diamond.

Five words to reassure her.

Ji Zhen Tang laughed, regardless of whether it was true or not, “I’m not that petty.”

Zhong Yu Bai led her to a private room at the end of the cabin.

There was no one inside, and the lights flashed with vibrant colors. She asked, “So what we just did, does it count as going public?”

Zhong Yu Bai calmly replied, “Let’s just go with the flow.”

He didn’t seem to take the lines he said earlier very seriously.

He wouldn’t intentionally hide or avoid, nor did he have the insecurity to announce it to the world.

Going with the flow was the phrase that best suited his mindset; it was appropriate in any situation.

But seeing her appear to hold some ceremonious expectation for the act of “going public,” he asked, “Do you mind if I mention it here?”

Ji Zhen Tang shook her head and her eyes sparkled with laughter as she looked at him: “I only mind that you dragged me away too fast and I missed seeing Zhong Heng’s pig-headed fury!”

Zhong Yu Bai chuckled.

A waiter came in from outside and asked Mr. Zhong if he needed anything.

Zhong Yu Bai ordered a few drinks and then asked, “Do you have male models?”

Ji Zhen Tang’s eyes widened in surprise.

The waiter replied, “There are a few here today. They just performed a show with Miss Wang. What type are you looking for? I can have them come over right away.”

Zhong Yu Bai, unfazed, said, “Handsome, long-legged, and can dance.”

Then, he emphasized each word: “The youngest ones.”

The waiter nodded seriously, jotting down notes on his paper.

Ji Zhen Tang, her face burning hot, leaned in close to him and whispered, “No.”

Zhong Yu Bai, pretending ignorance, asked, “No what?”

At the same time, the waiter asked, “Any specific dance you prefer?”

“What kind of dance,” Zhong Yu Bai pondered slowly, tapping his finger on his knee, then glanced at Ji Zhen Tang, “What do you think?”

Peeking through her fingers at him, Ji Zhen Tang saw he was serious. Zhong Yu Bai still showed no expression. She blinked, then lowered her hands and shouted to the waiter, “Strip dance!”

Zhong Yu Bai looked at her for a few seconds, took a deep breath, and then exhaled slowly. He tilted his head slightly, massaging his temple with his knuckles, eyes closed, and said, “Bring a full set. Let the young lady see.”

Ji Zhen Tang stifled her laughter as she watched him. His expression was far more interesting than any dance by male models.

Accepting the situation, she told the waiter, “Make sure they are very flirtatious. Let our boss enjoy the show too.”

She lightly placed her palm over his chest, as if knowing he was almost out of patience.

Zhong Yu Bai, eyes still closed, subtly furrowed his brow.

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