STYL - 18. Is This the Surprise You Wanted to Give Me?

Jiang Chengyu’s dinner tonight was at a riverside restaurant on another road, chosen by Tian Qinglu.

The restaurant served dishes with light flavors, and each private room had its own terrace. When headaches from drinking became unbearable, guests could step out onto the terrace to enjoy the riverside view and cool breeze.

Tian Qinglu leaned on the railing, not in the mood to admire the night scenery. She occasionally glanced at her watch.

It had been nearly forty minutes since Jiang Chengyu left, and he still hadn’t returned.

Inside the private room, several men were playing cards, their laughter and teasing filling the air.

Tian Qinglu casually sat beside Yan Heyu, pretending to be nonchalant. “It’s almost seven. I wonder what’s going on with Jiang Chengyu. Why don’t you call him and ask if we can help?”

Yan Heyu didn’t even glance at her, replying indifferently, “You can call him yourself. It’s not like phone calls cost much.”

Tian Qinglu forced a self-deprecating smile. She had gone through all this trouble just to use Jiang Chengyu as an excuse to talk to him.

A call came in on Yan Heyu’s phone. Tian Qinglu caught a glimpse of it.

The vibration stopped.

Yan Heyu didn’t pick up.

“Debt collectors?” a friend teased.

With a cigarette still in his mouth, Yan Heyu mumbled, “More like death threats.”

The caller persisted, dialing again.

Tian Qinglu instinctively felt out of place. Grabbing a glass of red wine, she headed to the terrace.

Someone nearby advised Yan Heyu, “Pick up. If Mom has something important to say, she wouldn’t call for no reason.”

Everyone understood—it was a call from Yan Heyu’s mother.

Yan Heyu stubbed out his cigarette and answered.

His mother didn’t ramble as usual, fearing her son would grow impatient. She got straight to the point: “Heyu, I’ve sent you a few engagement ring designs. Remember to forward them to Qinglu and ask which one she likes. You two can discuss it.”

Yan Heyu: “Send them to her yourself. I’m busy.”

“But this is your engagement ring. It wouldn’t be appropriate for me to send it...”

Yan Heyu ended the call and tossed his phone onto the card table with a loud thud.

“What did your phone do to offend you?” A friend picked it up and moved it to the side of the table.

The news of Yan Heyu’s upcoming engagement with Tian Qinglu after the Spring Festival had already spread widely in their circle, though Yan Heyu himself, the main party involved, had remained silent.

Recently, rumors surfaced that the elders of the Yan and Tian families had finalized the engagement date.

And now, Tian Qinglu was appearing alongside Yan Heyu at the same event.

As friends continued their card game, one raised his eyebrows slightly and whispered, “Are you really getting engaged?”

The last time they asked Yan Heyu if he was planning to get engaged with Tian Qinglu, he simply said he didn’t know.

This time, Yan Heyu stayed silent.

Silence at this moment was tacit agreement.

“There’s just over a month until the Spring Festival,” the friend added. “When are you going to end things with Wen Di? Both Wen Di and Tian Qinglu are good girls. Don’t mess this up.”

Yan Heyu remained silent, tapping his fingers forcefully on the table a few times to signal the next player to make their move.

“Good evening, Mr. Jiang,” the waiter greeted the person entering.

Everyone turned toward the door. Jiang Chengyu handed his coat to the waiter.

“Finally back,” someone remarked. Unable to resist curiosity, Yan Heyu asked, “What happened?” Feeling irritable tonight, he lit another cigarette.

It wasn’t just Yan Heyu—everyone in the private room wanted to know why Jiang Chengyu had left them behind.

Jiang Chengyu dismissed Yan Heyu with a single sentence: “Ask Wen Di when you get home tonight.”

That must have something to do with Shen Tang.

The next second, Yan Heyu realized belatedly—Shen Tang was in Shanghai, and so was Wen Di.

Jiang Chengyu glanced at Tian Qinglu on the terrace outside and sternly warned Yan Heyu, “Know your place.”

________________________________________

After three rounds of drinks, Jiang Chengyu took a glass of water and stepped out onto the terrace for some fresh air.

Halfway through the glass, his phone rang.

He stared at the caller ID, deep in thought.

After sipping more warm water, Jiang Chengyu answered Chu Yueli’s call.

Whether Chu Ran had told her uncle something or Zhao Chiyi had informed Chu Yueli about Jiang Chengyu’s arrival tonight, Chu Yueli began with an apology. “Mr. Jiang, long time no see. I deeply apologize—it’s my fault for not disciplining her properly. Tonight, Ranran did something so inappropriate and lacking in manners.”

Chu Yueli expressed regret, whether sincere or not, the formalities had to be observed: “Please convey my apologies to Miss Shen on my behalf. Another day, I’ll personally apologize to her.”

Jiang Chengyu maintained his composure, replying politely, “Chairman Chu, there’s no need to be so formal.”

Just five short words.

After exchanging pleasantries, Chu Yueli hung up.

Even though his niece had made a grave mistake, he had scolded her harshly, but he still worried about her injuries.

Chu Yueli drank half a cup of cold tea to calm his temper, then called his niece to check on her condition.

Ten minutes earlier, Chu Ran had tearfully told him over the phone that she was in the hospital.

Her ankle was sprained, and her head hurt.

“Hello, Uncle Two.” Chu Ran’s voice trembled with tears.

Chu Yueli didn’t scold her further. “Are you feeling better now?”

“I’m fine,” Chu Ran sniffled, cautiously asking, “Uncle, will this affect Aunt’s family’s collaboration with Jiang Chengyu?”

She wasn’t afraid of her uncle being angry, but she feared her aunt’s temper. Her uncle was famously devoted to his wife, and if her aunt got upset, her life wouldn’t be easy.

Chu Yueli reassured her: “Don’t worry about these things. Rest well. Send me your bed number, and I’ll come to the hospital.”

She knew her uncle wouldn’t stay mad at her, especially since she hadn’t known Jiang Chengyu was Shen Tang’s boyfriend. “Uncle, it’s too late, and it’s snowing outside. You don’t need to come.”

“Aunt hasn’t returned yet, and I have nothing else to do at home.” Chu Yueli closed his laptop.

Chu Ran was now exceptionally obedient: “Uncle, it’s all my fault. I just lost my temper momentarily. You don’t know—Shen Tang stole my endorsement, bullied me on set, and humiliated me.”

Chu Yueli spoke earnestly: “Then retaliate against Shen Tang in the same way. Never resort to physical violence. In business, defeating competitors ruthlessly to secure a good project is common, and of course, we also get outmaneuvered sometimes. But if someone cheats us, we don’t go and injure them privately.”

Chu Ran remained silent.

Chu Yueli stopped there, knowing she might not listen to more advice. “We’ll talk when I see you. I’m heading to the hospital now.”

Chu Ran replied dully but inwardly rejoiced. The trouble she caused tonight would pass with some tears. Her uncle was still coming to see her, so her aunt’s side should remain calm, and she wouldn’t face harsh criticism.

“See you soon, Uncle.”

After hanging up, Chu Yueli looked up to see Xiao Zhen standing by the door.

“Back already?”

Xiao Zhen smiled and nodded.

She had just come upstairs. Normally, she wouldn’t be curious or interrupt her husband’s calls, but hearing the name “Shen Tang,” her feet moved involuntarily, and she walked over.

“Were you talking to Ranran just now?” Xiao Zhen asked gently.

Chu Yueli didn’t hide it. “Yes, Ranran attended her company’s charity gala in Shanghai tonight and impulsively pushed another actress in the parking lot.”

Xiao Zhen’s heart raced. She wanted to know if the actress who was pushed was Shen Tang. “Who did Ranran get into a conflict with this time?”

Chu Yueli: “Shen Tang.” After a pause, he added, “A rising star these past few years, quite temperamental. After Ranran pushed her, how could she let it slide?”

Xiao Zhen’s heart skipped a beat. “Then... is Ranran badly injured?” She almost blurted out, “Is Tangtang badly injured?” No matter what, Shen Tang held a special place in her heart.

Not someone like Ranran, an outsider, could compare.

Chu Yueli gathered the documents on the table. “Her ankle is sprained, and she says her head hurts, but it shouldn’t be serious. I’m going to the hospital to check on her.”

Xiao Zhen wasn’t concerned about Ranran’s injuries. Casually probing, she asked, “Did Shen Tang also get hurt? Are you going to visit her?”

Chu Yueli picked up his coat to leave: “Shen Tang wasn’t injured.”

Xiao Zhen felt a wave of relief. It was good that she wasn’t hurt.

“Are you coming with me?” Chu Yueli asked his wife.

Xiao Zhen declined subtly: “I might not make it. I have a video conference later. Tell Ranran I’ll visit her first thing tomorrow morning.”

Chu Yueli silently looked at his wife. “Your work comes first.” He instructed the housekeeper to arrange for a driver to take him to the hospital.

Before leaving, he hugged his wife. “Don’t overwork yourself. Finish the meeting and rest early.”

Xiao Zhen and Chu Yueli each had their own study. She quickly returned to hers and called her assistant: “Find out exactly what happened between Ranran and Tangtang tonight and how it was resolved. The more detailed, the better.”

After hanging up, unable to wait to open her laptop, Xiao Zhen checked the trending topics on Weibo.

Whenever attending significant events, Shen Tang inevitably appeared on the trending list.

Today, she was on two.

One was for her red carpet look tonight, captured in a candid moment when she turned her head to look for someone.

The other was also a video of her turning back, posted by a marketing account. It was filmed in October this year at Shen Tang’s hometown by the sea.

In the video, Shen Tang turned back and made a heart gesture.

Her “turning back kill” was irresistible to anyone.

Xiao Zhen watched the video. The moment Shen Tang turned her head, it bore an uncanny resemblance to her younger self.

Like they were carved from the same mold.

Coming back to reality ten minutes later, the assistant called.

“Ms. Xiao, Jiang Chengyu intervened to resolve the issue.” The assistant detailed everything to Xiao Zhen.

Xiao Zhen frowned: “Zhao Chiyi gave Tangtang two projects?”

The assistant softly confirmed: “Yes.”

Xiao Zhen pressed her temples. Zhao Chiyi was causing unnecessary trouble by interfering.

One Jiang Chengyu was already enough to give her headaches.

“For now, keep an eye on Zhao Chiyi and see what he’s up to.”

Xiao Zhen ended the call and stared at the dimmed screen for a long time.

She opened her notebook to handle work but found her thoughts chaotic. With a snap, she closed the notebook again.

Beside the notebook stood a photo frame—a family portrait of the four of them. The two children in the photo smiled brightly, carefree and happy. They were her and Chu Yueli’s twins, a boy and a girl.

In two weeks, the twins would turn twenty.

And it had been twenty-four years since she left Tangtang.

Outside the window, the snow fell heavily.

The day Tangtang was born, it had snowed just as fiercely.

Chen Nanjin had promised to love her and their daughter for a lifetime.

________________________________________

Meanwhile, on the third floor of Evergreen Hotel, the charity auction was nearing its end.

Shen Tang had bid on quite a few items tonight, even purchasing those she didn’t particularly like.

Wen Di sat beside her. Shen Tang recounted everything that had happened in the parking lot and on the 18th floor without omitting a single detail.

“If you see anything you like, bid on it. I’ll gift it to you.”

“Nothing caught my eye.” Shen Tang turned her head and playfully leaned closer to whisper, “If you really want to give me something, take me to the spring auction next year. I won’t bid on anything too expensive—just some calligraphy or paintings.”

That was the top-tier industry auction. How could this charity auction compare to the spring auction? Wen Di jokingly pushed her head aside. “Even if you sold me, I couldn’t afford a painting.”

Her phone buzzed with a message.

Yan Heyu: [I’m in Shanghai. Come over.]

He owned several apartments in Shanghai, but only one was his regular residence.

She and Yan Heyu had been in a cold war recently, the reason unclear.

When he didn’t contact her, she didn’t reach out either.

After the auction ended, Shen Tang and Wen Di left. There was still a banquet afterward, but neither had the energy to attend. For now, Shen Tang didn’t want to see Zhao Chiyi’s face.

Lijie was waiting in the nanny van for Shen Tang. As soon as she got in, Lijie handed her the contract. “It’s signed. I’ve reviewed all the details.”

This was Zhao Chiyi’s efficiency—all settled within hours.

Every promised condition was clearly outlined in the contract terms.

The contract held little appeal for Shen Tang. She skimmed through a couple of pages and handed it back to Lijie.

Things had been resolved satisfactorily today, but Lijie couldn’t resist giving some advice: “You were lucky today. Next time, who knows? You need to change your temper. Jiang Chengyu can help you once, but not forever. It was my mistake to call him without consulting you.”

But at that moment, she had felt completely cornered.

And she had taken a huge risk.

If Jiang Chengyu hadn’t helped, then their relationship would have ended tonight.

“Jiang Chengyu is truly remarkable. Before it ends, cherish it while you can.”

Shen Tang didn’t speak, turning her head to look out the window.

The snow fell heavier, blurring her vision.

________________________________________

Tonight, Shen Tang stayed in an apartment in Lujiazui. Jiang Chengyu stayed here nine out of ten times when he traveled to Shanghai. Compared to the apartment on the Bund, this place had a bit more of a lived-in feel.

Jiang Chengyu arrived home before her. The first thing he said upon opening the door was: “Is there any part of your body that got scraped?” He had forgotten to ask earlier in the meeting room.

“I’m fine.” Shen Tang changed her shoes, and the smell of alcohol mixed with pheromones hit her face.

“You’ve had quite a bit to drink.”

“Mm.” He kissed her but still wasn’t reassured. Crouching down, he lifted her dress hem to check if her legs were injured.

“Really, it’s nothing.” Shen Tang tried to leave but was pulled halfway into his embrace.

“Can you stop moving? Let me see if your knees are scraped.”

Jiang Chengyu carefully examined her. Seeing no obvious injuries, he stood up. “I was just about to have the butler order takeout. Shall I get you some black truffle dumplings?”

“No, they’ll make me gain weight.”

Jiang Chengyu picked up his phone, hesitating over what to order for a late-night snack.

Suddenly, he looked up at Shen Tang: “Why don’t you make me a simple late-night snack?”

Shen Tang blinked. She had never set foot in a kitchen. Especially in recent years, her team had turned her into a super baby who only knew how to eat.

“What do you want to eat?”

Jiang Chengyu: “Cereal shrimp. Can you make it?”

“...” He was overestimating her cooking skills.

After pondering for a moment, Shen Tang decided to fulfill Jiang Chengyu’s rare request, though the cereal shrimp would be a far cry from perfection.

“Alright, I’ll make you cereal shrimp—but—”

Jiang Chengyu’s standards weren’t high. “As long as it’s edible.”

Shen Tang’s cooking skills were far from reaching “edible.” She negotiated with him: “I’ll separate the components. I’ll cook you a bowl of oatmeal porridge and boil a few shrimp. You can mix them together—it’ll still be cereal shrimp. Is that okay?”

Jiang Chengyu laughed, speechless, and nodded.

Full of determination, Shen Tang went to the bedroom to change clothes.

The more she thought about mixing cereal and shrimp, the more she felt sorry for Jiang Chengyu.

But this was the peak of her culinary abilities. If she attempted anything more complicated, he might not get to eat tonight.

Where cooking failed, flowers could compensate.

While changing, Shen Tang called the apartment’s butler to help order a King Protea floral arrangement, specifically instructing: “Try to deliver it within half an hour.”

The butler knew which apartment they were staying in tonight and confirmed with Shen Tang: “Should I place it on the island counter or the dining table?”

Shen Tang thought for a moment: “The island counter.”

The butler recalled the color and texture of the island counter. “Got it. I’ll place the order now.”

Shen Tang changed out of her evening gown into loungewear, tying her hair up as she walked out.

Jiang Chengyu was in the kitchen, taking out cereal and a few shrimp from the fridge.

Shen Tang put on an apron, looking somewhat the part of a cook.

Not wanting Jiang Chengyu to see her clumsy attempts, she pushed him out. “Go to the study and busy yourself. I’ll call you when it’s ready. It’ll be a surprise.”

Jiang Chengyu couldn’t imagine what kind of surprise it could be. A bowl of porridge and a few shrimp—could she possibly make it into something extraordinary?

Without supervision, Shen Tang relaxed.

Oatmeal porridge was simple. Following the instructions, she prepared it quickly.

Earlier, Jiang Chengyu had taken out six shrimp. Worried it wouldn’t be enough, she took out a few more.

After searching online for how to prepare shrimp, she started boiling them.

Turns out, cooking wasn’t that hard.

In less than twenty minutes, both the oatmeal porridge and boiled shrimp were ready.

The flower arrangement was on its way, but it would take at least twenty-five minutes to arrive.

By then, the porridge might lose its ideal texture.

After much thought, Shen Tang decided to eat the fruits of her first-ever cooking attempt herself. After finishing, she’d make another batch for Jiang Chengyu, ensuring the flowers would arrive around the same time.

She pulled up a chair and sat at the island counter to eat. The taste was honestly mediocre.

As she ate, she heard approaching footsteps.

Shen Tang turned her head abruptly. Jiang Chengyu stood there, holding a glass of water, watching her intently.

Just a second ago, she had popped a peeled shrimp into her mouth.

Jiang Chengyu had drunk a lot during his social engagements and was thirsty, so he came to get water. By chance, he caught her enjoying her meal.

All the boiled shrimp on the plate were gone, leaving only shells.

Jiang Chengyu didn’t rush to pour water. Sitting beside her, he watched her eat. “Is this the surprise you wanted to give me? If I hadn’t come out for water, I might not have even seen the shrimp shells.”

Shen Tang: “...”