Your Most Faithful Companion - Chapter 20

Nighttime arrived as the street lights shone brilliantly against the sky, brightening up the darkness of the night in Ping city. From afar, this city was beautifully portrayed with its liveliness yet loneliness.

Cen Sen didn’t look outside the car. He was too tired from the overwhelming amount of business invites he had received upon his return. Even a strong and healthy person would be exhausted after all of these social events, not to mention Cen Sen. Slinking back in the seat with his eyes closed, his arms were crossed in front of his upper body.

Perhaps because his brain was still operating at high-speeds, he had a hard time trying to relax. Many scenes flashed through his mind:

The first was his cousin apologizing innocently to him in fear, not knowing what to do with the ribs in her bowl; then it was Grandma Cen smiling brightly to Ji Mingshu and her expression subconsciously becoming more polite and distant when she turned to him; and lastly, the silence in the bower when his aunt brought up Cen Yang.

At that moment, he suddenly thought of the time when he moved to Ping city from Xing city as a child, that very first scene when he walked into Xixiang on the South Bridge.

Like this, there were a lot of people, but it was also hushed.

Certain matters felt like they happened in the last century; no one spoke about them with a tacit understanding, not because it already passed, but because they can never get over it.

Zhou Jiaheng, who sat on the co-pilot seat, saw Cen Sen frowning in the rearview mirror. Understanding that he wasn’t having a good nap, Jiaheng played a soft, relaxed song.

The traffic light outside the window turned from red to green, intertwined with the dim yellow glow of the streetlamps. The color mix appeared like a nostalgic halo, jumping vividly on the half-opened car window.

Cen Sen finally started to feel some sleepiness.

For some reason, the scene of Ji Mingshu singing in the shower reappeared in his mind. The sound of her made-up song lyrics also played on repeat, as if there was a complementary sound device occupying his brain.

The bits of his sleepiness soon faded away, and he rubbed his eyebrows, feeling a random streetlight shining on him.

–

The chilliness of the wind came with the arrival of the night, and Zhang Baoshu’s arms wrapped tighter around her body. She shivered as she looked up at the glowing door handle of Heyonghui.

She was a last-minute substitute for tonight’s social invite; a well-known celebrity who was also under the management of her agent couldn’t attend due to a sudden incident.

The agent urged Zhang Baoshu repeatedly to grab onto this rare opportunity. However, when she was about to leave the house, the agent turned those words into “if you don’t know how to talk, don’t talk.”

How could she hang on to the opportunity if she didn’t talk? Zhang Baoshu became puzzled.

Heyonghui had a stringent rule regarding uninvited guests. It was only after Mr. Zhang gave his permission that the smiling waitress dressed in a cheongsam led Zhang Baoshu upstairs.

Zhang Baoshu held on tight to the strap of her bag, secretly examining this place in curiosity.

The design of Heyonghui was probably influenced by the embassy that was previously located here: a stream flowing under a small bridge, the gramophone, and pastel paintings. What was surprising was when you entered this place, the Eastern and Western elements complemented each other perfectly without any sense of intrusion.

The private room was located on the third floor, with the elegant name of “Empty Dreams.”

The door of the massive private room opened slightly.

An automated marble-styled round table appeared with the exquisite silverware and fresh flower decor. A paper screen in the shape of a fan blocked further views of the room. Zhang Baoshu heard the sound of people conversing softly behind the screen.

As Zhang Baoshu walked near, she heard a low, smiling voice. “Mr. Zhang, you are flattering me.”

Mr. Zhang laughed. “I’m not as good as you in memorizing the cards.”

A hand of unplayed cards was faced down on the table, mixing together with the rest of the deck.

Noticing the presence of Zhang Baoshu, Mr. Zhang only lifted his eyebrows and continued to mix the deck of cards, not taking her seriously. “Light a cigarette for Executive Cen,” he then commanded.