Chapter 11 Red Lantern High Monument

Wednesday was a stock market trading day, and Chen Wan went to Mingji Zhonghui Securities to handle the formalities.

The Zhonghuan Business Park was vast, radiating outwards from Dove Square as the central coordinate, with the bauhinia-lined paths providing ample shade.

Major corporations that had gone public, like Zhao's Minglong and the Shen family's Puli, were located in the skyscrapers of the prestigious Fenli Street, while emerging small and medium-sized companies like Chen Wan's Kexiang could only rent a few floors in the Taizi West Office Tower.

Wherever there are people, a pecking order will always form. Harvard and MIT grads go to Fenli Street, while Columbia and UPenn grads go to Taizi West.

Chen Wan stepped into the chilly, air-conditioned building and unexpectedly saw Zhao Shengge.

The other man was alone, seemingly waiting for a car.

The person who had been out of the public eye for over two months and only lived in everyone's rumors suddenly appeared. Chen Wan's mind momentarily blanked, and an unexpected joy arose.

It was also a useless joy.

Chen Wan didn't know if the other person had any impression of him. He hesitated for a moment, intending to pretend he didn't see him and walk past, even turning his toes in that direction. Suddenly, the other person happened to look up in this direction, probably checking if the car had arrived. He seemed to have been waiting for a while, likely in a hurry to attend to something.

Chen Wan couldn't pretend he didn't see him, so he walked over.

Zhao Shengge seemed to have some impression of him but couldn't recall exactly who he was.

Chen Wan wasn't surprised and briefly introduced himself. Zhao Shengge nodded faintly and casually mentioned that his car had broken down.

Chen Wan smiled faintly and politely asked, "Are you in a hurry? If you don't mind, my car is nearby, and I can take you there."

Zhao Shengge looked at him, "Is it convenient?"

Chen Wan paused. He had only asked as a courtesy and didn't expect the other person to actually agree. Something exploded in his heart, and he immediately scolded himself for not driving a better car today.

How could Zhao Shengge ride in a BYD car, especially one that had recently been sideswiped by a reckless driver.

But Chen Wan didn't want to miss this opportunity and said it was convenient, asking Zhao Shengge where he needed to go. Zhao Shengge mentioned a place, and Chen Wan agreed.

He led the way, the two of them maintaining a polite social distance, but closer than during their previous outings.

Zhao Shengge was tall and long-legged, walking with a quiet confidence. Both their arms swung slightly, creating a warm, restless air. Chen Wan's heartbeat followed the other's rhythm, like the flutter of white doves in the central square.

Zhao Shengge's arms must be very warm, he thought, feeling a bit lightheaded.

Chen Wan put his hand back in his pocket, took out the keys, and pressed the unlock button for the BYD car a few meters away.

A "beep" sound startled a group of white doves by the fountain.

Chen Wan gallantly opened the rear door for Zhao Shengge, even using his hand to shield the top of the car, his posture very standard.

Zhao Shengge very naturally stepped into the car. The BYD car, recently repaired, made him frown in the small space, his long legs having to fold uncomfortably.

Chen Wan apologized, "The car isn't very spacious, Mr. Zhao, please bear with it. There's water beside you."

"Thank you."

Zhao Shengge was very aloof. Chen Wan asked if the temperature was to his liking and then didn't speak again, focusing on driving, not uttering a single word of small talk along the way.

Zhao Shengge was also silent in the back, so quiet that Chen Wan wondered if he was the only one in the car.

But the aura behind him was tangible, calm yet overwhelmingly oppressive, keeping him alert at all times.

If Chen Wan could see behind him, he would have noticed that Zhao Shengge was observing him openly and unabashedly.

Chen Wan drove smoothly, his hands quick and decisive, yielding when necessary and overtaking when appropriate.

Zhao Shengge, like a stoic judge, cast his gaze on Chen Wan's hand—the right hand that had once brewed tea for them—now gripping the steering wheel.

Zhao Shengge averted his gaze.

For some reason, they encountered red lights at every intersection today, forcing them to sit in the silent car and wait for the inevitable thirty-two seconds.

For Zhao Shengge, it was a boring inspection; for Chen Wan, it was a bittersweet torment.

The car was so quiet you could barely hear them breathe. Their eyes inadvertently met in the rearview mirror—one cool and aloof, the other meek and mild—before quickly looking away.

Chen Wan smiled apologetically, blaming himself for the red lights, feeling that he had delayed Zhao Shengge's time.

Zhao Shengge ignored the smile, turning his gaze away and picking up a call, saying, "Traffic jam."

"Coming."

Zhao Shengge spoke sparingly, his words concise and low, like an ant crawling over a sensitive spot in Chen Wan, making its way into his heart.

The destination of this trip was Yingchi.

A well-known hotspot for indulgence in the city, known for its stunning people, wild parties, and endless excess.

Of course, Chen Wan had no wild dreams, staying completely level-headed, rational, and in control. But thoughts are one thing, reality’s another. If emotions were so easy to control, they wouldn’t be so powerful.

If Zhuo Zhixuan were here, he would surely applaud Chen Wan for being so remarkable, personally sending the person he liked to a place of revelry.

Unrequited love is like walking a one-way street, quiet and final.

Red lights hung all the way, and when they turned green, the beeping was urgent. The skyscrapers loomed like giant gravestones, hiding a love that couldn’t be spoken.

Upon arriving at Yingchi, Zhao Shengge said he didn’t want to be let out at the main door.

He wasn't familiar with Chen Wan, but he gave orders like it was second nature.

Chen Wan didn't turn around, nodding at Zhao Shengge in the rearview mirror as he backed up, asking, "Then which side entrance should I drop you off at?"

Because of regular police checks, Yingchi had many hidden entrances, with higher-level members could use more entrances.

Zhao Shengge politely asked Chen Wan's opinion, "Where do you think I should get out?"

"..."

Chen Wan hesitated, unsure what Zhao Shengge meant—whether he wanted a big entrance or to stay under the radar.

The interior of Yingchi was structurally complex, like a maze with four sides, and the club was divided into eight entrances: Water Gate, Rain Gate, Kun Gate... Feng shui was prevalent in the city, and the owner of Yingchi had consulted a master to design each gate, winding and interconnected.

Chen Wan didn't know whether Zhao Shengge was heading to Block A or Block B. Block A hosted illegal performances, while Block B was even more obscure. He wasn't clear on the specifics, but where Zhao Shengge was going was not his business to inquire about.

Before Chen Wan could respond, Zhao Shengge, as if understanding, said, "Wherever it's convenient for you to park, I'll get off there."

Chen Wan felt even more confused.

This seemingly considerate statement actually pushed the decision-making onto Chen Wan.

Chen Wan's choice could reveal a lot—such as where he thought Zhao Shengge was going, how much he knew, and whether he wanted others to see Zhao Shengge getting out of his car.

This is a bit tricky. After a few seconds of careful consideration, Chen Wan said, "Then I'll drop you off at the Water Gate?"

The Water Gate serves as a central hub, where a private elevator takes guests wherever they want.

Seeing that Chen Wan had passed the ball back to him, Zhao Shengge looked at him through the rearview mirror, smiled, and said in a calm and casual tone, "You know a lot."

"..." Chen Wan wanted to deny it but feared that saying more would only lead to more mistakes, so he remained silent.

In fact, he had only been inside once with Zhuo Zhixuan, and after seeing some of the explicit and unsettling performances, he left early.

In the end, Chen Wan still dropped Zhao Shengge off at the Water Gate and, without asking if he needed the car to wait for his return, drove off.

Zhao Shengge waited until his car was out of sight before entering through another gate.

A shareholder of Eagle Pool had been waiting at the entrance and took Zhao Shengge via a private elevator straight to the 78th floor.

The skyscraper loomed like a giant in the night fog, and through the one-way glass, one could directly overlook the bustling city below, with its bright lights like a massive ship sailing through the night.

In the guest room, a man in his late thirties heard the door open, released the hand of the boy on his lap, stood up, and walked over, extending his hand, "Mr. Zhao."

Zhao Shengge graciously extended his hand, giving a brief shake, "Mr. Shao."

Shao Yaozong glanced behind him, not seeing anyone else, but he knew that if Zhao Shengge so much as coughed, dozens of bodyguards armed with K48 rifles would emerge from seemingly nowhere in this tightly sealed room.

Once Zhao Shengge sat down, Shao Yaozong gestured for another boy to sit beside him.

The boy who sat beside him was even more attractive than the one in his arms, with an innocent and obedient demeanor.

Zhao Shengge didn't refuse and said to the boy, "Pour a glass of wine."

The boy quickly pulled his hand back and sat properly beside him.

Shao Yaozong's cloudy eyes narrowed, "Mr. Zhao, isn’t he to your liking? I specially chose him for you."

These two boys were not from here; he had brought them himself, handpicked from hundreds.

Zhao Shengge cooperatively glanced at the boy beside him, who kept his head down, placed one hand on the back of the sofa, relaxed his posture, and said, "Mr. Shao, you’ve gone to great lengths."

Then he gently commanded the boy, "Roll your sleeves down."