Chapter 37: A Dragonfly in the Palm

"...Yes," Chen Wan wasn't sure if he was being deliberately asked this, feeling a bit embarrassed but still quite pleased inside.

Keep your boundaries in mind, Chen Wan silently reminded himself.

There was only a short stub of Da Hong Pao tea left, Zhao Shengge put out the cigarette, and suddenly a hand reached out in front of him, palm up.

"?"

Chen Wan said naturally, "Let me take it, I'll throw it away." There was no trash bin outside, and carrying it around was inconvenient.

"..." But Zhao Shengge was often amazed by Chen Wan's sense of service, wondering how he managed to be so natural and at ease with many things.

Although the cigarette butt was almost not hot at the end, Zhao Shengge still lightly brushed his hand away with a hint of helplessness, saying, "No need."

Chen Wan was startled inside, feeling like a dragonfly had grazed his palm, slipped away before he could catch it.

When they returned, they went their separate ways.

Chen Wan stayed behind to make a phone call.

Before he left, Song Qingmiao had called him, and he hadn't returned the call yet.

"Baby, has the doctor come by?"

She wasn’t asking out of concern for Chen Wan’s condition, but because she had something to say.

"Can you talk now?"

Chen Wan pressed his lips together, not mentioning that he had been out of the hospital for days and was already throwing a recovery party, just said, "It's convenient, go ahead."

Song Qingmiao lowered her voice, sharing a major business secret with him: "Two days ago, the scattered shares of Rongxin were acquired, Xie Jiajian said that Fang Yang and those small shareholders are contacting him, baby, how much cash can you pull together now—"

"You met with Xie Jiajian again?"

Song Qingmiao was startled, seemingly not expecting Chen Wan's focus to be on this, and even questioned her, snapping back angrily, "Chen Wan, I am your mother! Do I need your permission to see someone? Do you understand respect for elders?"

Chen Wan's lips pressed into a line, wanting to ask her if she respected herself, but still held back, took a deep breath, softened his voice, both advising and warning, "You’re playing with fire, Xie Jiajian is not a decent person, a smooth talker, you can’t beat him at his own game."

Song Qingmiao was dismissive: "I can not ask Xie Jiajian for help, then you help me buy Rongxin's shares."

Chen Wan was greatly puzzled: "Why must you be so obsessed with Rongxin?" He took a hard drag on his cigarette, air squeezed out of his lungs, "If you want something else, I can help you, but this, no."

Unable to get money from her son, Song Qingmiao cursed him a few words in anger and hung up the phone in a huff.

Chen Wan felt uneasy, secretly sent people to closely monitor her account and Xie Jiajian's movements.

He adjusted his emotions for a while and walked back, the tea had been served again, Jiang Ying was talking about a red-headed project bidding he heard from his uncle.

He asked Zhao Shengge: "Minglong has no intention? The Li and Tan families are holding back waiting for you to make a move, they are preparing for a price war, and have injected foreign capital early, now the exchange rate is rising, they are determined to win."

Zhao Shengge looked up at Chen Wan who was just walking in through the door, calmly said, "No rush."

He didn't like to act rashly, he liked to let the prey come to him on its own.

If the other party didn't know how to come, he could pave the way and the steps, teaching step by step, hand in hand.

But if the other party was unwilling to come... Zhao Shengge leaned back in his chair, turned his wristwatch, his gaze became somewhat regretful and obscure.

If they don’t know, they can learn, but if they’re unwilling to come to you, then you’ll have to meet them on their terms.

You better be willing.

When Chen Wan sat down beside Zhao Shengge, he noticed Zhao Shengge looking at him. Chen Wan smiled and refilled Zhao Shengge’s teacup.

Zhao Shengge returned the smile with gentlemanly grace.

You better be willing, Zhao Shengge said again in his heart.

When it was over, Zhuo Zhixuan rode in Chen Wan’s car.

Since everyone had been drinking, the driver took the wheel.

Zhuo Zhixuan said, "They’ve caught the guys who hit you."

"Really?"

"Yeah, they got picked up on a visa-free island."

Chen Wan nodded, "That’s good." At least he wouldn’t have to constantly worry about Zhao Shengge’s safety.

Zhuo Zhixuan was silent for a few seconds, then suddenly turned his head, "Word is, Zhao Shengge took them straight from the cops."

No one knows the details—whether they’re alive, what’s being done with them—it’s all up in the air.

Chen Wan just nodded, unfazed. For him, as long as they were caught, it was enough.

Zhuo Zhixuan, noticing his lack of reaction, pressed, "Chen Wan, something’s not right here."

"What?"

"Even though he’s got a long history with the police, snatching people like this—"

"It’s not right."

"He hardly ever gets involved personally; these guys aren’t worth the trouble. Going all out for a few obvious hired guns is like shaking the bushes to scare the snake," Zhuo Zhixuan looked at Chen Wan quietly, "He’s got no reason to do this, unless—"

Chen Wan was glued to his phone. Tonight, with Zhao Shengge sitting beside him, he hadn’t wanted to waste time on his phone, so now a pile of work messages was waiting.

From partners, subordinates, collaborators—all waiting for his response.

Zhuo Zhixuan didn’t wait for a response and added, "Unless it’s to get back at you."

Chen Wan, head down as he tapped out replies, said, "No."

"...Are you being biased here? I’m serious."

He felt Zhao Shengge’s odd behavior went beyond this, but he couldn’t quite put his finger on it. Zhao Shengge was never an open book.

Zhuo Zhixuan didn’t know about the private dynamics between them, since Zhao Shengge and Chen Wan were all politeness and formality in public.

Even tonight, Chen Wan serving soup and lighting cigarettes for him was as deferential as if he were a distant superior.

During the terrace chat, the two went out and returned separately, Chen Wan deliberately staying half a step behind Zhao Shengge.

No one would’ve even noticed they’d gone out together, much less suspected anything.

Zhuo Zhixuan just felt that after that day in the hospital, Zhao Shengge had become a bit more humane, at least now Chen Wan could directly converse with him.

Zhuo Zhixuan kept urging Chen Wan with his gaze, prompting him to put down his phone and explain, "He’s looking for Hong Qi’s whereabouts and incriminating evidence, which is crucial for the offshore oil project that Minglong has taken over. Behind White Crane Hall is an extensive web involving many figures and trade secrets."

Zhuo Zhixuan looked at him suspiciously, "How do you know that, though?"

Chen Wan briefly told Zhuo Zhixuan about Zhao Shengge’s suggestion for him to bid on the project and summarized, "Zhao Shengge is really invested in this project; any clue is significant. Since those gunmen could track Miss Xu’s movements, it means they have an insider. Such hired gunmen are hardened criminals, having been in and out of the police station countless times. Without torture, the police would never crack them."

But Zhao Shengge’s methods? He’d get the truth out.

Unexpectedly, Zhuo Zhixuan widened his eyes even more, with many thoughts flooding his mind, but in the end, he only managed to say, "Chen Wan, are you seriously not going to try?"

"Try what—" Chen Wan reacted, without hesitation, he said, "No."

Zhuo Zhixuan: "He trusts you, at least he doesn’t dislike you."

Chen Wan nodded and picked up his phone to work again, "So don’t let him down."

The more trust you have, the more you need to stay disciplined.

"..." Zhuo Zhixuan was nearly exasperated by his stubbornness, "No, I just think, since you can talk now..."

Chen Wan was silent for a while, then shook his head and said, "I’ve already gotten way more than I ever expected."

But these were not what he deserved.

It feels like I’ve stolen it.

He had never thought he would have the opportunity to be Zhao Shengge’s partner.

Besides, Zhao Shengge isn’t someone he can afford to gamble with.

Chen Wan told Zhuo Zhixuan, and also warned himself, "Don’t provoke him, it’s not good for him."

The gap between them was worlds apart. Zhao Shengge had his own world’s secular evaluation system and path to stardom.

Chen Wan had clawed his way up from the dirt, and he wasn’t about to drag Zhao Shengge down.

Zhuo Zhixuan didn’t know what to say either, not quite giving up on his intuition, so he simply asked, "What if he makes a move on you?"

"..."

"No need to sugarcoat it, right?" Chen Wan laughed bitterly and rubbed the bridge of his nose, clearly not taking such a fanciful statement seriously, and patted his good friend’s shoulder, saying, "If that ever happens, drinks are on me."

"..."

Chen Wan was a pretty fair partner. For the offshore oil project, he went back and held a meeting with his partner senior and technical team. Everyone was pumped when they heard the news.

Chen Wan smiled helplessly, "It’s a big opportunity, but it’s also a huge challenge. If we really decide to do it, don’t come crying to me about the overtime."

"We won’t blame you, boss, this is Minglong!" Being part of a project like this is a gold star on your resume.

Minglong was specifically targeting small, high-tech firms this time because large enterprises are hard to control, while small companies or experimental studios have relatively simple structures and straightforward personnel relationships. Minglong wants to keep a tight grip on the tech.

Kexiang fits the bill for the bid, but if it weren’t for Zhao Shengge’s suggestion, Chen Wan would not have bid.

However, since Zhao Shengge proposed it, it proves that he now indeed needs a reliable and trustworthy person.

Chen Wan would do anything for Zhao Shengge; no one’s more loyal to Zhao Shengge than him.

When Chen Wan sets his mind to something, he’ll stop at nothing.

The number he knew by heart was still never dialed. Chen Wan was so busy that he once again skipped the young masters' gatherings for a long time.

Zhao Shengge didn’t call to ask—not Tan Youming, not Zhuo Zhixuan. He knew in his heart that Chen Wan had accepted his proposal.

Zhao Shengge suggested Chen Wan try bidding, not entirely out of self-interest.

The project had huge benefits and involved too many relationships. What Zhao Shengge cared about most was loyalty.

Zhao Shengge trusted Chen Wan's character, but he truly meant it when he said he wouldn’t interfere. If Kexiang failed the third-party evaluation, Zhao Shengge wouldn’t play favorites—he’d let things take their course.

They’d just find another chance to work together.