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When Shen Tang returned from the deck, Cohen’s face was a study in surprise, and Xie Yucheng couldn’t stop laughing.
“What’s wrong?”
The atmosphere was strange, so she asked.
“Playing a game, choosing code names,” He Chuyao said, the aroma of grilled meat wafting around.
Xie Yucheng explained the game rules to Shen Tang. “You don’t need a code name. You’re the only female here; we’ll remember you no matter what you choose.”
“So I don’t participate?”
“You do. You guess directly.”
Xie Yucheng covered the real names with his hand, only showing her the list of code names. “You guess the corresponding real names by feeling. You can only drink if you guess them all correctly.”
Cohen asked, “Then why can’t I be like Shen?”
“Because Shen Tang doesn’t have any valuable business information; what she says would be useless,” Xie Yucheng said, taking back the paper and giving Shen Tang one minute to prepare.
Shen Tang didn’t need a second. “Chopsticks is Ning Yinchen, Cereal Shrimp is Mr. Zhao, Half-Baked Cheesecake is you, and Protea is He Chuyao.”
The last one, Haitang Village, could only be Jiang Chengyu.
Cohen had been hoping to secretly memorize them while Shen Tang spoke, but she spoke so fast.
“Is that right?” he asked Xie Yucheng, looking bewildered.
Xie Yucheng had already instructed the waiter to pour the wine.
The answer was self-evident.
Cohen looked at the bottle of wine. Tonight, it wasn’t a question of whether he could drink, but how many business tips he would lose.
He Chuyao was stunned, forgetting to eat his grilled meat. “Tangtang, how did you guess?”
“I guessed with my brain.” Shen Tang turned and asked the waiter, “Do you have large wine glasses?”
Xie Yucheng glared at her. “Why don’t you ask if they have a bucket for you?”
“...” He told the waiter to pour half a glass for Shen Tang.
Shen Tang’s guessing of code names earlier wasn’t random; there were logical reasons.
Xie Yucheng, with his mischievous mind, must have asked Jiang Chengyu last.
Most people wouldn’t use chopsticks as a code name, but Ning Yinchen had told her before that when he was little, learning to eat noodles with chopsticks was difficult; he could barely pick up a single noodle for a long time.
Zhao Chiyi had seen her make cereal shrimp, and that time he wanted to eat it, but she stopped him.
As for Xie Yucheng, he loved half-baked cheesecake.
He Chuyao was fond of Protea. He even gave her a large bouquet of Protea when he picked her up at the airport that day.
The second person to play the game was Jiang Chengyu. Cohen breathed a sigh of relief; he still had time to prepare.
Even Jiang Chengyu thought Xie Yucheng had had a change of heart.
However, reality was harsh.
Xie Yucheng asked, “Chopsticks.”
Since the game rules were tacitly agreed upon before, there was no reason not to follow them now.
Jiang Chengyu: “Mr. Ning.”
He didn’t directly use the name.
Xie Yucheng reminded him, “You’ll need to answer quickly now. Zhao Chiyi.”
Jiang Chengyu felt a surge of frustration in his chest. “Cereal Shrimp.”
Xie Yucheng held back a laugh: “Ning Yinchen.”
“Chopsticks.”
“Cereal Shrimp.”
“Mr. Zhao.”
“Chopsticks.”
“Mr. Ning.”
Cohen memorized silently: Cereal Shrimp is Zhao, Chopsticks is Ning.
Shen Tang took her wine and went to the deck again. These code names made it impossible for her to sit down and enjoy her drink.
Footsteps sounded behind her, and Shen Tang turned.
Jiang Chengyu held half a glass of the same wine as her. It seemed he had answered all correctly. The code names were related to both of them, so it wasn’t hard for him to remember.
She gave him the untouched half glass of wine in her hand. “For you, as compensation.”
Jiang Chengyu looked at her. “Compensation for what?”
Shen Tang: “Xie Yucheng is used to messing around, no ill intention.”
Jiang Chengyu took the glass from her hand, combining the two halves.
He returned the empty glass to the table and handed her the full glass of wine. “Have a taste.”
Shen Tang shook her head, leaning on the railing, looking at the city lights from the near sea.
Jiang Chengyu sipped his wine, leaning against the railing, in a position that allowed him to watch her easily. “Do you plan to stay in Manhattan forever?”
Shen Tang still didn’t speak, shaking her head.
The sound of the waves here was very similar to those in Haitang Village.
Only similar, but not the same.
Without her grandfather, she wandered aimlessly, unsure of her next destination.
“Shen Tang, are you still unable to let go of revenge?”
“Why should I let go? It’s my motivation to live. I won’t talk to you about it; you won’t understand.”
“I don’t want you to be so tired.” Jiang Chengyu took a small sip of wine. In Xie Yucheng’s words, one sip was like drinking the price of a car tire. “Even if you let go, there are other things to do. Your past regrets, you can now make up for them.” He stared at her profile. “You must have some regrets, right?”
“One.”
Jiang Chengyu naturally assumed it was Ning Yinchen. He objectively commented, “He is indeed good, in all aspects.”
After a moment of silence, “Tangtang, I’d rather you go back to Ning Yinchen than see you stuck in the swamp of hatred, unable to get out.”
Shen Tang was stunned.
She clearly hadn’t expected him to say that.
She turned her face and met his gaze. “That regret is not getting into your heart.” She smiled, shifting the topic to him. “I wonder what Mr. Jiang’s heart is really like. Is it filled with various currency symbols, or is there a beautiful young lady inside?”
The aroma of the wine in his glass lingered around her nose.
Jiang Chengyu captured her gaze. “Do you still want to come in and see?”
He said, “No one else has ever been inside.”
Shen Tang realized he was dangerous; a casual remark from him could be a trap that made one fall.
Why did she fall so deeply during their three years together? Wasn’t it precisely certain direct, heart-piercing words from him that made her heart pound?
Before, she longed to go in and see, but now, “I can’t walk anymore.”
Jiang Chengyu: “Can’t walk a single step?”
“To be precise, it’s not that I can’t walk, it’s that I don’t want to.”
He was already in her heart, yet she remained outside his door, still.
“You drink slowly. I’m going to find Xie Yucheng.”
Shen Tang turned and left the deck.
Jiang Chengyu watched her retreating back. “If you don’t want to walk, just stand still. I’ll carry you in.”
Shen Tang did pause her steps. Just then, Xie Yucheng called her name, and she quickened her pace to go inside.
________________________________________
After three days and two nights of Hawaiian revelry, Shen Tang and Xie Yucheng returned.
Manhattan and Hawaii were in different seasons. After getting off the plane, Shen Tang pulled her trench coat tighter.
“You drive.” Xie Yucheng went around to the passenger seat. This way, she wouldn’t overthink.
Shen Tang buckled her seatbelt. The car stereo was playing the same jazz music she listened to in her apartment.
“Last night, Ning Yinchen lost several times, each time unable to remember my code name,” Xie Yucheng said, leaning against the car window. “His memory can’t be that bad.”
“Did he lose on purpose?”
“Yes.”
Ning Yinchen sent him several useful business tips. For them, every party wasn’t just about pure indulgence; it was about sharing information.
Otherwise, why would Jiang Chengyu and Ning Yinchen travel all that way?
The capital market was unpredictable. To minimize investment risks, information had to be symmetrical.
Last night, they played until the latter half of the night, and later, Jiang Chengyu also lost several times.
In such a game, one couldn’t always win.
In the end, all the information was shared among them, for anyone who could use it.
“I’ve filtered out all the valuable ones for you,” Xie Yucheng sent her.
She tossed her phone aside. With music for relaxation, he closed his eyes and rested.
“The question I asked you when we went to Hawaii, I’ll ask you again.”
Shen Tang glanced at him from the corner of her eye. “Which question? You asked quite a few back then.”
“Do you want to be my assistant?”
“No.”
“Reason.”
“My own grievances are mine to resolve. I don’t want to involve anyone else; otherwise, my heart won’t be at ease.”
Xie Yucheng nodded, but couldn’t help but complain, “What do you think Ning Yinchen, Jiang Chengyu, and that Zhao Chiyi even like about you? That you’re stubborn as an ox?”
If she had to choose one among the three, “I think Ning Yinchen suits you better. Jiang and Zhao, especially Jiang Chengyu, are like me, with steel plates in their spines, unable to humble themselves to please a woman.”
Shen Tang grumbled to herself, At least he has some self-awareness.
Xie Yucheng continued from earlier, “If you’re not going to be my assistant, then what are you going to do?”
“Xiao Zhen and Chen Nanjin’s relationship is now public. To consider Chu Yueli’s feelings, Xiao Zhen has slowly withdrawn investments from the entertainment industry, distancing herself from that circle.”
“Mm,” Xie Yucheng said, concerned, “And then what do you want to do?”
“Utilize Director Xiao’s resources and connections to acquire Lu Zhifei’s company. It’s much easier for capital to enter the entertainment industry from the fashion world, ensuring Chen Nanjin and Fan Yu never rise again.”
Shen Tang pressed the accelerator, and the sports car shot forward like an arrow.
The wind was harsh on her face, and Xie Yucheng raised the convertible top.
“Using Director Xiao’s business resources won’t be that smooth for you. He won’t be willing.”
At that time, Director Xiao was forced to publicly acknowledge Shen Tang. With the internet buzzing like that, no one was foolish; his statement clearly looked like a forced attempt to save face.
With all the gossip, the Xiao family became a laughingstock behind people’s backs.
“No rush, I’ll integrate his resources slowly,” Shen Tang smiled. “I feel I used it quite well this time in Hawaii. See, carrying his granddaughter’s name, I was always confidently standing next to the center in photos with those socialites.”
“...”
Xie Yucheng found an eye mask, put it on, and prepared to sleep. He suddenly remembered her birthday was not far off. Even though she never celebrated her birthday, he never lacked in gifts for her.
“What do you want this year?”
“I lack nothing.” After a pause, Shen Tang changed her mind. “Leave a piece of land on the island for me.”
Xie Yucheng was agreeable. “Sure.”
He pushed up his eye mask and took out his phone to check the calendar.
“I’m free this Friday. I’ll take you out for dinner.”
They agreed on the time.
On Friday, Xie Yucheng went to pick her up an hour early, but when he arrived downstairs at her apartment building, he saw Chen Nanjin’s figure, standing tall and straight. From his back, his age was indistinguishable.
Facing him stood a poker-faced Shen Tang.
After a few seconds of thought, Xie Yucheng turned his car around and left Shen Tang a voicemail: “I’m working overtime tonight on short notice. I might not have time to have dinner with you.”
Shen Tang: “I saw your car.”
Xie Yucheng: “That wasn’t me driving.”
Shen Tang was speechless, tucking her phone into her pocket.
Chen Nanjin had specifically come. Tomorrow was her birthday.
“Dad will celebrate with you tonight.”
“I never celebrate my birthday.” The wind was strong, and Shen Tang pulled up her trench coat collar.
On a foreign street, she and Chen Nanjin were just ordinary people. No one passing by paid them any attention.
Chen Nanjin spoke to himself, “During the New Year, I was busy with the divorce proceedings with Fan Yu, so I couldn’t make it to celebrate Chinese New Year with you.”
Shen Tang didn’t care about his situation; it had nothing to do with her.
“Mr. Chen Nanjin, please don’t disturb me again in the future.”
She turned her face away, looking at the busy street. “Between you and me, there was nothing left when I was thirteen. My revenge on you and Xiao Zhen isn’t about wanting your attention or compensation. It’s just that I couldn’t stand it, and I wanted to destroy it. That’s all.”
Shen Tang entered the apartment.
Chen Nanjin stood downstairs until dark, when the streetlights came on.
He walked down the street. Times Square was not far. He used to like walking alone here, seeking inspiration for his works amidst the prosperity and desolation.
Now, the prosperity remained, but the desolation was his own.
________________________________________
Shen Tang poured half a glass of red wine. The red wine Xie Yucheng kept in his wine cabinet was almost gone. She took her glass and sat on the terrace, watching the advertisements on the Times Square billboard.
Having nothing to do, she opened the social media account she had registered back in London.
Since returning to China and entering the entertainment industry, she hadn’t paid attention to Ning Yinchen again.
She clicked on his private account. In six years, he had a total of eleven posts.
On her birthday, he would post punctually: [Happy Birthday.]
At midnight on New Year’s Day, he would post: [Happy New Year.]
Her glass was empty, and Shen Tang came back to her senses.
At midnight, she told herself, “Shen Tang, happy birthday.”
Her phone rang, an unknown number, but a familiar voice.
A midnight blessing; for the Second Young Master Jiang, this was a record-breaker.
“Happy 26th birthday.”
“Thank you.” Shen Tang listened to the surreal voice, another year older.
Jiang Chengyu was in London, where it was still dark.
He had just woken up, specifically setting an alarm to make the call.
“Mr. Jiang, if there’s nothing else, I’m hanging up.”
“Wait a moment,” Jiang Chengyu held a string of rings in his hand, gripping them involuntarily. “I want to give you a birthday present. Tangtang, marry me.”
At midnight, either her nerves were numb from alcohol, causing her to hallucinate, or he wasn’t fully awake and was talking nonsense.
This was truly a beautiful dream.
“Jiang Chengyu, you...”
“I know what I’m saying.” Jiang Chengyu repeated, “Marry me, Tangtang.”
Six words, more enticing than Manhattan’s nightscape.
Am I happy? she asked herself.
Another voice answered her, Yes, happy.
Xie Yucheng was wrong; Jiang Chengyu only had half a steel plate in his spine, occasionally able to humble himself with difficulty.
Shen Tang wondered if she was the first person to be proposed to over the phone, with a proposal vow of only six words, repeated twice, only reversing the order of a few words.
“Alright, Mr. Jiang, wait a moment.” She strode into the study. “Too many people are pursuing me lately. Let me see what number you are.”
In the middle, she paused for several seconds, casually flipping through a stack of documents, rustling them. “Mr. Jiang, I found it. You’re number 250. Remember your number; I’ll notify you when it’s your turn.”
Jiang Chengyu laughed in exasperation. To trample his proposal underfoot—only she dared to be so willful.
“Then you write it down. I’ll come pick it up when you’re done.”
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