Lin Chu had not expected this either; when he and Yun Yuwan made eye contact, shock was evident in both of their eyes.
What the fuck!!!
Zhu Qing'an was surprised, "Right, you didn't see him?"
Yun Yuwan was already regretting it, "I was in London during Christmas."
Meanwhile, after gathering with several directors, Wen Yangzhi and Jiang Jianqing stayed in the private room.
Jiang Jianqing casually poured tea for Wen Yangzhi, "How about the deal you talked about last year with Belgium Steel Group?"
Belgium is one of the most industrially developed regions in the world, though many people are unaware that Belgium's steel industry is advanced, with Europe's most efficient steel enterprise, the Citema Factory, being located in Belgium.
A major steel company there was creating a new industrial chain and needed financial support from banks; Wen Yangzhi flew over to discuss collaboration.
Just now, several directors were discussing similar business deals.
Wen Yangzhi, with deep thought under his crow-feather-like eyelashes, was concise and to the point,
"It didn't work out."
Jiang Jianqing put down the celadon fairness cup, "No wonder you flew back home immediately the next day, but why did you take the red-eye flight?"
Wen Yangzhi was completely calm, speaking slowly, "The flight was sixteen hours; with the time difference, it was morning in Belgium when I arrived."
That explained it.
Jiang Jianqing then probed, "About the private estate gathering the directors mentioned just now, why were you... not interested?"
Wen Yangzhi said indifferently, "Not interested."
Jiang Jianqing knew that such gatherings often had an element of debauchery.
Yangzhi never got involved in such messes.
Still, Jiang Jianqing ventured to ask, "That trip to Belgium, are you sure you had business to attend to?"
That steel company usually collaborated with the six major banks.
Wen Yangzhi had always maintained a principle not to offend the six major banks with his business.
He lifted his eyelids to look at Jiang Jianqing,
"Curious?"
Ever since Wen Yangzhi's ascension, his gaze held such a weight that sometimes even Jiang Jianqing felt intimidated and dared not offend, involuntarily stepping back,
"No, I was just surprised because you never go abroad alone; you didn't even bring an assistant that time."
"I had my plans," Wen Yangzhi didn't elaborate further.
That made sense.
Wen Yangzhi never did things outside of his plans; since he acted this way, there must have been a reason behind it.
Jiang Jianqing cleared his throat, changing the topic to the earlier invitation, "Although it's normal for you not to go to that gathering, I really haven't seen you get close to the opposite sex over the years."
"I don't want to interact with those I'm not fond of," Wen Yangzhi's long, straight fingers, like bamboo shoots, pressed against the back belly of the teacup, his thumb clasping the other side, his demeanor breezily detached.
Jiang Jianqing fell silent for a moment before asking, "What about marriage, then?"
"Affection can be cultivated," Wen Yangzhi said without elaboration.
Jiang Jianqing found it even more absurd,
"Have you cultivated it? How can you be so sure that true affection can grow over time under the same roof?"
Wen Yangzhi put down the teacup, his lashes as dark as a raven's, partly drooping with his thin eyelids, "I'm certain."
Jiang Jianqing was momentarily stunned.
If even affection can be forced under certain circumstances, it rather indicates an extreme lack of sentiment.
Anyone would do, as long as the goal is clear, anything can be forced.
"When Fu Yu pursued you, why didn't you accept? Or is it because you don't like female celebrities?"
"We're not from the same class, there's no common language," Wen Yangzhi took out a cigarette case from the inner pocket of his suit.
It wasn't the original paper cigarette box that came with the cigarettes but a flat, square-shaped cigarette case with a platinum clasp, made of lizard skin.
People of status usually pay great attention to their cigarette boxes and won't use the standard paper ones, as that would be somewhat declasse. Doing business in Shanghai isn't like in Guangzhou, where the affluent and the commonfolk both roam around in flip-flops so freely.
Businesspeople in Shanghai pay particular attention to style and tone, suppressing the giants with their words, and intimidating the small with their garments; there are many who respect the clothes before the man. In the luxuriously lit Bund of Shanghai, businessmen are meticulously put together from head to toe, let alone the offspring of the prestigious Wen family.
Plus, some cigarettes are special supplies from the Tobacco Bureau and are not sold in the market. They are only provided to a specific group of people, and the plain cigarettes don't come with a box.
The lizard skin cigarette case in his palm boasted wild patterns yet felt soft to the touch. As his long fingers drew out a cigarette, a servant immediately presented a retro spaceship lighter to light it for him.
Amid the curling smoke, his intense brows hinted at an unfathomable mood.
Jiang Jianqing said to him, "If you want someone to share a common language with you, of course you need a woman by your side."
Wen Yangzhi exhaled a plume of white smoke, "How is that different from an animal?"
"Oh, I get it. You like someone of equal social standing to have a common language with," Jiang Jianqing finally understood him, "But you're the only son of the Wen family. How could you possibly find someone truly on par with you? Go on and look for yourself; where is such a person?"
All he did was say faintly through the drifting smoke, "There is."
On the other side, Zhu Qing'an was barely suppressing her penchant for gossip.
Who could get the scoop on Wen Yangzhi!
She was itching to dance right up to Wen Yangzhi and taunt him with her friends, "So you're quite the romantic after all."
Wen Yangzhi never showed any particular likes or dislikes.
Except, incongruously to his persona, for reading comics, which his friends knew he had been into since his teens, having a whole study filled with comic books.
From shojo manga to shounen manga, from Korean to American to Japanese to Chinese comics, he read them all, whether racy or subdued.
It was a mystery what expression that cold face of his would take on while reading those frustrating plots.
Now, he had finally developed another interest, liking females of the opposite gender.
Zhu Qing'an's gossiping soul was blazing, "You've been studying abroad all this time; you couldn't have had many chances to see Yangzhi. Why didn't you stay in your own country?"
"Studying art. At that time, the first choice was art schools in Europe," Yun Yuwan was still basking in the glory of the fact that Wen Yangzhi had visited her in Belgium.
Zhu Qing'an didn't think much of it initially.
But suddenly, she realized something: "You're not studying music, are you?"
Yun Yuwan found it a bit strange: "No, it's fine art."
Zhu Qing'an felt as if she caught a glimpse of a secret she had never been able to understand until now.
No wonder he read comics that didn't seem to fit his image. It wasn't because he liked them, but because he wanted to cultivate a shared interest with the girl he liked.
Previously, they even guessed that Wen Yangzhi bought comics without actually reading them. But now, does it really matter whether he reads them or not? Having common ground to start a conversation with Yun Yuwan is what truly matters!
No wonder, no wonder.
Everything finally made sense.
Yun Yuwan had no idea why the other person looked at her with an expression of excitement and astonishment.
Zhu Qing'an spoke frankly, "Your brother really likes you. He never takes midnight flights just like that. You must've been such a pleasant surprise not being in Belgium."
Hearing that her brother's friend also knew her brother liked her, Yun Yuwan felt somewhat embarrassed, "If I had known, I would have stayed in Belgium."
Maybe at that time, Wen Yangzhi was planning to confess to her in person.
Wen Yangzhi just happened to come out of the private room with Jiang Jianqing.
Yun Yuwan hadn't moved forward yet.
Unexpectedly, Zhu Qing'an, heavy with child, was more anxious than her. With a swift glide, she slid in front of him, pretending to be calm and elegant as she picked up a glass of champagne, but in reality, as eager as a stray dog after a bone:
"Director Wen, was the necklace we fought over last time a gift for your sister?"
Wen Yangzhi's Fu Xi-like gaze lifted, landing on Yun Yuwan.
She was dressed conservatively, but her behavior was anything but.
Yun Yuwan was feeling shame and awkwardness.
Wen Yangzhi's voice was indifferent from the depths of his eyes, "Hmm."
Getting an answer from Wen Yangzhi himself, Zhu Qing'an finally confirmed all her series of guesses.
But Yun Yuwan felt that Wen Yangzhi's glance just then was too distant, fearing that his look meant he thought she had been talking about the necklace with others.
Wen Yangzhi stepped away.
Zhu Qing'an finally sighed, "So he really does like you."
Yun Yuwan was bashful but worried, "I think my brother might be angry."
"Forget about it, your brother is too hard-mouthed to admit anything. Do you know what we say about him? 'When the sky falls, Wen Yangzhi's mouth will hold it up,'" Zhu Qing'an reassured her.