TIL - 50

Ruan Lihong bought Wen Huo a Continental GT, which cost over three million yuan with the custom features. She hadn’t planned on returning to Canada when she bought it, but since it was already purchased, and it wasn’t a huge amount of money, there was no need to return it. Returning it would have been a hassle, and the car dealership wouldn’t have been able to resell a custom model easily.

When the car was handed over, a representative from the insurance company was also there. They spoke with Ruan Lihong about the insurance for the car that had been hit, saying that the at-fault driver had been found and would be arriving shortly. Ruan Lihong didn’t even have a chance to ask how they found him before he arrived. He seemed dazed and immediately started apologizing to Wen Huo. She later learned that he was a “commercial spy” who had been hired by another industrial company to steal trade secrets from Guotong Industry. The department he worked in at Guotong wasn’t a core one, so he hadn’t managed to get anything. Then, when the department was undergoing reorganization, a part of his identity was found to be fake. He panicked and accidentally hit Wen Huo. That same day, he was fired and, feeling emotional, he saw Wen Huo’s car again and hit it a second time before fleeing. The matter was supposedly closed, but Chen Cheng found the man, which led to this scene of him apologizing to Wen Huo.

Wen Huo considered herself to be someone who was good at handling interpersonal relationships, but in reality, she was easily swayed by things she cared about. When Chen Cheng gave her the car and the apartment, she thought he was simple. When he used her love for him as a tactic, she thought he was cunning. When he spoiled her, she felt she was too awful. When he played her, she truly hated him... Then he clarified things, coaxed her to sleep, and said such humble and moving words. She couldn’t help but be moved. But then he turned around and went on a business trip with the woman who was pursuing him. What was that all about? Was he just toying with her the whole time? Now he had tracked down the person who hit her and brought him to her... She no longer knew what emotions to use to face him.

She picked up her phone, opened WeChat, and looked at the blocked contact, Chen Cheng. His Moments were empty, but his profile picture had changed. It was a close-up of a woman’s hands tying a man’s tie. The entire picture only showed the hands and the tie. She didn’t know if the man wearing the tie was Chen Cheng, but the hands tying it were not hers. She had never tied a tie for him. Maybe it was Chu Tian? What did this mean? Had they slept together? Had that old man slept with another woman? It didn’t seem strange. They had broken up, and he wasn’t sick, so he would definitely sleep with other people. Why was she worrying? Why was she feeling so stifled? It was just that his body belonged to someone else now? How annoying. Wen Huo was so annoyed. She was truly not a good person. She was a woman who would cheat for money and a place to sleep. The thing she didn’t want, she didn’t want anyone else to have. She was a hypocrite, so shameless and disgusting.

She was so annoyed that she didn’t unblock Chen Cheng. Instead, she went with Ruan Lihong to pick out a dress for the auction that evening.

________________________________________

The Chen family’s stone-betting auction was a grand affair attended by celebrities. It was held at the Hong Kong Jockey Club in Beijing. Although the club often hosted high-end events, not everyone who came could become a member. The membership requirements were extremely strict. Besides wealth and social status, there was a long waiting list that could take several years, as well as the need for two members to sponsor and recommend you. This alone was enough to deter many people. However, it was also true that the stricter the requirements, the more it attracted wealthy kids who wouldn’t give up until they achieved their goals. Chen Huaiyu was a long-time member, and Chen Cheng and Tang Jun’en were also members. Another reason why the auction was held here was that Tang Jun’en, with Chen Huaiyu’s approval, decided to donate all the proceeds from the auction items to charity.

A century-old, prestigious establishment that only a select few could enjoy was something the Chen family could easily access. It was infuriating to think about. The main guests that evening included the CEO of the Hong Kong Jockey Club, operational directors and executive directors from three top luxury brands and two other brands, the Asia-Pacific president of Hilton, famous writers, painters, collectors, directors, actors, and more. The lineup was impressive. The auctioneer was a director from Sotheby’s Asia, and the items included raw jade stones, as well as some jade from Burma, diamonds from South America, emeralds from Africa, and Australian jade. These were for people who weren’t too familiar with the world of stone betting. The main attraction of the auction was a large stone slab that had been designated a “divine piece” last month in Myanmar, with a conservative estimate of over forty million yuan. The prices of the remaining raw stones would depend on the bidding war among the experts.

The event’s schedule was as follows: two hours for guests to view, discuss, and appraise the auction items in the exhibition hall, followed by the main event of bidding and sales, and finally, a dinner. Tang Jun’en had hired a famous Western chef and the head chef of Lucky Court for the banquet.

Cheng Cuo, as an insider, arrived early to help. The venue was decorated by a professional company, so they didn’t have to worry about that, but they needed insiders to manage the details and cater to the personal habits of some of the celebrities. Tang Jun’en and Cheng Cuo were busy until Wen Huo arrived, which gave them an excuse to take a break.

Wen Huo was wearing a backless dress with a low-cut neckline in the front that revealed her cleavage with every step. She had defined shoulders and long legs. She was already fair-skinned, but the dark green dress made her look even paler. Tang Jun’en watched her walk over gracefully. If he didn’t know her, he would have thought she was an actress. Cheng Cuo also watched, and he suddenly understood his cousin’s happiness.

Tang Jun’en took a sip of his Americano and said, “Where did Chen Cheng find a woman with both brains and beauty?”

Cheng Cuo replied, “She threw herself at him.”

Tang Jun’en was even more annoyed. “I’m not ugly, am I? Why doesn’t anyone throw themselves at me?”

Cheng Cuo said, “You’re just not ugly, you’re not handsome. My cousin has a lot of extra advantages besides being handsome. Not only would women choose him, but men would too.”

Tang Jun’en shot him a look. “Will you die if you don’t talk?”

“You’re the one who asked me.”

“I... I’m a glutton for punishment!”

The two of them were bickering when Wen Huo arrived. Wen Huo took the coffee Cheng Cuo offered her and asked, “What time does it start?”

Tang Jun’en said, “In about half an hour, the exhibition hall will open. You can go in and look at the raw stones. There will be a guide to introduce them to you. You can buy a couple and have them cut. We have professional stone cutters on site.”

Wen Huo wasn’t interested in the stones. “Are there any handsome guys?”

Tang Jun’en and Cheng Cuo exchanged a look, then looked back at her. “That depends on your definition of handsome. If you’re talking about someone on Chen Cheng’s level, probably not. The only ones who come close are the actors. The rest of the rich kids are just so-so.”

Actors were fine, too. Wen Huo asked, “Where are they?”

Tang Jun’en didn’t dare to answer.

Cheng Cuo spoke up. “Are you here to say goodbye to me? It looks more like you’re here to fish. A pro fisherman, are we?”

Wen Huo realized they weren’t going to say anything serious, so she ignored them and walked over to the designated lounge area. She saw a few young men chatting. She had seen their faces on TV; they had acted in web dramas and looked very young. These young actors were brought in by their agencies through connections, not just to show them the world, but also to let them get some face time with the big players.

Wen Huo walked over, and they politely stood up to greet her, inviting her to sit down with both hands. How well-behaved. Some old men weren’t so polite. Wen Huo had a bit of a cold personality, which was most evident when she was with anyone other than Chen Cheng. But today, she wanted to change and be a fun and talkative person. With that in mind, she started chatting with the young men. The conversation flowed naturally, from introductions to whether they had girlfriends. Later, even when the exhibition hall opened, she didn’t go in. She stayed with them and talked about acting. She thought the best acting she had ever seen was Chen Cheng’s. “I’ve seen someone who blends truth and fiction, reality and illusion, so perfectly. He’s a master who combines art and life in an ideal way. The only flaw is that he gets too lost in his performance and forgets who he is, and the people around him no longer believe him. So my advice to you is to be sincere.”

The boy with the lion-like hair started secretly observing Wen Huo. This older sister was only a couple of years older than him, but she seemed so insightful. The small furrowing of her brows and the subtle curve of her lips when she spoke were very cute, and he unconsciously moved closer to her. Ruan Lihong and Su He arrived and said hello to her before heading straight into the exhibition hall, not interfering with her flirting.

When Cheng Cuo saw Ruan Lihong, he went to greet her and found a guide to serve her throughout the event, introducing her to the items on display and also giving her a brief history of the event’s organizers.

Chen Wenli and Jin Ge entered together and ran into Ruan Lihong and her business partner. Ruan Lihong had intended to just pass by, but her partner didn’t want to miss the opportunity to meet Chen Wenli. The academician Chen was unrivaled in his knowledge, and his resume on Wikipedia was tens of thousands of characters long. Even though they were in different fields, he really wanted to get to know him. He took the initiative to greet Chen Wenli, who politely accepted and had a chat with him.

Jin Ge walked over to Ruan Lihong. This time, the tension between them was gone. She took the initiative to speak. “Ms. Ruan.” Ruan Lihong wasn’t a petty person. To be honest, Jin Ge had never acted inappropriately. She was also a few years older and had taken the initiative to speak, so Ruan Lihong didn’t continue to be standoffish. She replied, “Director Jin.”

Jin Ge gave a faint smile. “I didn’t expect you to be interested in stone betting.”

Ruan Lihong handed her a business card. “I occasionally play with gems. Since the Chen family’s auction is such a big event, and I’m in Beijing, there’s no reason for me not to come.”

The war between women could be easily started and easily extinguished. The two of them chatted for a while, and the atmosphere became cordial.

The exhibition hall was a suite of rooms. The outermost hall had a long table with a buffet. At this time, it was only serving afternoon tea, with the Chinese options being mainly Cantonese. There were also drinks from the Dolce Winery and Billecart-Salmon champagne, and waiters were on hand to serve. Su He grabbed a semi-cooked cheese and glanced at Ruan Lihong in the exhibition hall and then at Wen Huo in the lounge area. Both mother and daughter were in their element in this kind of setting. Although he wasn’t uncomfortable, he wasn’t having fun and was a little bored.

Cheng Cuo got a call and went outside to meet someone. He passed by Su He and stopped. “Why aren’t you going in to look?”

Su He said, “I’m getting something to eat.”

Cheng Cuo knew he had a condition and was afraid he would feel overwhelmed in a crowded environment, so he took him along to meet the people. The people who were coming were old friends of the Chen family, two designers who had recently announced their engagement. They arrived shortly after Chen Cheng. The couple had attracted a lot of attention, but as soon as Chen Cheng stepped out of the car, everyone lingering near the doorway stopped in their tracks.

He was wearing custom-made leather shoes, and his ankles were wrapped in navy-blue socks. They looked so thin and sexy. He got out of the car and buttoned the button he had unbuttoned before getting in. With just that one action, Cheng Cuo heard two of an actress’s assistants whispering, “Those hands! A treat for hand lovers! Teacher Chen is killing me!” Someone had said the same thing when Su He entered.

Cheng Cuo first greeted the designers. “Teacher Yang!”

Teacher Yang was familiar with him and smiled. “Is that you, Dr. Cheng? Why are you working as a bellhop?”

“Only because you’re here! I wouldn’t do it for anyone else.”

“I believe you. I believe everything you say.”

The three of them chatted for a bit, then Teacher Yang walked over to Chen Cheng and held out his hand. “Teacher Chen, it’s been a while.”

Chen Cheng politely shook his hand. “It has been a while.”

Cheng Cuo was about to tell Chen Cheng that the troublemaking girl was inside flirting with guys, but then Chu Tian arrived. She was a dancer, so she had a great figure, and she wore a dress that accentuated her body, which made her stand out. Chu Tian wasn’t qualified to be there. She was different from Wen Huo. Even without Cheng Cuo’s invitation, Wen Huo would have been a VIP guest because of Ruan Lihong. Chu Tian had pleaded with Cheng Cuo for a long time, using their friendship as leverage, so Cheng Cuo had no choice but to get her a spot. She wasn’t a bidder or a guest; her status at the event was similar to that of the assistants and agents who came with the actors.

Chen Cheng went into the hall with the two designers. Chu Tian, Cheng Cuo, and Su He followed behind, giving the impression that they had all arrived together.

Wen Huo was still in the lounge area, discussing the physics of coffee with the young actors. This was her specialty, and she could talk about it endlessly. The young actors didn’t understand, but her voice was pleasant, and she had a hidden dimple, so they enjoyed listening and pretended to be surprised and interested.

Chen Cheng saw this scene, and his face changed. The anger that had been dispersed suddenly turned sinister and terrifying. Cheng Cuo saw this and thought, “Oh no, I forgot to tell him.” Su He, on the other hand, found it quite amusing. Wen Huo was having a great time talking. She was sitting with the young actors, their thighs touching, and the young actors couldn’t take their eyes off of her, completely captivated.

Wen Huo really enjoyed talking about physics. She finished one obscure physics fact and moved on to the next. One of the young actors saw Chen Cheng and immediately stood up, politely greeting him. “Teacher Chen.”

Wen Huo turned her head and saw a pair of long legs. She looked up and saw Chen Cheng’s face. She looked behind him, and, whoa, Chu Tian. She used to read relationship forums when she was stressed from studying, looking for weird real-life stories. Someone had said that a twenty-year-old girl should not date a man over thirty. They were too cunning, without love and without exceptions. No matter how much you cried, his feelings for you were limited. He could easily walk away, but you would be stuck in the mud.

Now it seemed that was the case. Chen Cheng had moved on so quickly. No, he hadn’t moved on because he had never had feelings for her. He only liked her body. Now he liked the body of a dancer. That made sense. Dancers’ bodies were flexible.

She turned back and continued talking to the young actors. “How about we add each other on WeChat? We can have dinner sometime. I can explain physics to you whenever you want. Oh, right, you said you have to film during the day, so we can meet at night. You can give me your hotel room numbers.”

Cheng Cuo held his breath. What was she saying? Was that a death wish?

Chen Cheng called out to her, “Wen!”

Wen Huo acted like she didn’t hear him. “Should we go see the stones?” The young actors didn’t dare to speak. Their agencies had taught them many times to be respectful and polite as juniors.

Chu Tian stood next to Cheng Cuo. She was actually the most poised of them all, so much more sensible than Wen Huo, but Chen Cheng’s eyes were only on the senseless Wen Huo. He was so obviously biased towards her.

Wen Huo stood up, hooked her arm through the young actor’s, and leaned half her body against him, smiling as she walked towards the exhibition hall. Chen Cheng grabbed her, stopping her from moving. Wen Huo was so annoyed. She shook off his hand. “What’s wrong with you? Can you stop touching me?”

The two designers seemed to have figured out what was going on. They exchanged a look and smiled as they walked into the exhibition hall, not wanting to disturb Teacher Chen’s conversation with this woman. Cheng Cuo, being sensible, herded the young actors into the hall. Chu Tian had no reason to stay, so she went in with him. Su He wanted to stay; he had to protect Wen Huo, but Cheng Cuo didn’t let him and dragged him away as well.

The lounge area was left with only Chen Cheng and Wen Huo. Chen Cheng looked at her dress. It was already revealing, but she had to choose a green one. She was really trying to be difficult. Wen Huo adjusted her hair without looking at him properly. “Mr. Elder, why are you wasting your time with me instead of spending it with your girlfriend?”

Chen Cheng didn’t hear what she said. He just wanted to know what she was wearing. “You don’t have money for clothes? You just wrapped two pieces of green fabric around yourself and came out? Did no one tell you that you should be dignified on such occasions?”

Wen Huo glanced at him. “Is that any of your business? I like it.”

You like it, do you? You like people looking at you? Chen Cheng grabbed her hand and dragged her into a nearby guest room. He closed the door and pushed her against the glass wall of the bathroom. “Who do you want to look at? Who are you trying to seduce now?”

Wen Huo struggled. “Get off me! Don’t touch me!”

Chen Cheng’s hand slid into her neckline and cupped her breast. The familiar touch. “You wore so little so people could look at you, right? I’ll oblige. I’ll not only look, I’ll touch. Is that okay?”

Wen Huo’s breast was pinched, and it hurt a little. She almost cried out and tried to kick him in the groin, but he trapped her legs between his. “Are you not ashamed?”

Chen Cheng had touched her breast and was now reaching for her private parts. He was so familiar with that area that his hand could find it without conscious thought. His fingers could slide her panties aside and enter her, pulling out a long string of fluid, then he would show her and lick it off his fingers.

Wen Huo’s body was heating up from his touch. She was getting aroused. Chen Cheng, that old man, knew her body so well. He was seducing her. Her legs felt weak. She wanted to yell at him and curse him, but she also wanted to just let go, get down on her knees, and unbuckle his belt. She wanted to use her tongue to tease him and suck on his penis. Then she would take hold of his penis and have him push it into her, just like before, and have him shoot inside her... But she couldn’t. She put her hands in front of her chest to stop him. “I can’t believe how shameless you are. You have a girlfriend, but you’re still thinking about your ex-mistress’s body.”

Chen Cheng had no girlfriend. She hadn’t agreed to be with him. He was about to object, but then he realized that she... was she jealous? His anger immediately subsided by half. He deliberately said, “Didn’t you try to seduce me even though you knew I was married? So what if I have a girlfriend? Do you, Wen Huo, ever consider if a person has a girlfriend before sleeping with them? You’ve been a mistress for a long time, so why not continue to be a homewrecker? I’ll take care of you. How about we get together behind my girlfriend’s back? How does that sound? Exciting? You love seeking thrills, so you must like it.”

Wen Huo was furious. This man was so terrible. He was truly terrible. “Are you even human?”

Chen Cheng leaned in to kiss her lips. “I can be inhuman.”

Wen Huo bit his tongue as he pushed it into her mouth. Chen Cheng was determined to kiss her. He was humble when he was depressed, but now he wasn’t. He wanted to taste her saliva and kiss every inch of her body. He had been celibate for too long. He wanted some action.

Wen Huo threatened him. “If you cross the line again, I will call the police as soon as I get out. Qincheng Prison is waiting for you!”

What was Chen Cheng afraid of? “Then you’d better make sure I get a death sentence. Otherwise, I’ll come back for you.”

“Do you think you can still be Chen Cheng and turn the world upside down after being in jail? Everyone will be eager to step on you.” Wen Huo wasn’t stupid. “Besides, I’ll be married by then. Won’t my husband protect me? Will he let you find me?”

Chen Cheng really liked her innocent side. “You can try to see if I can find you.”

“Fine! If you touch me again, I swear to God I’ll call the police!”

Chen Cheng told her, “Let me remind you, when I get out, I’ll do you in front of your husband and make him watch. We used so many positions. He should know.”

Wen Huo’s impression of Chen Cheng was completely shattered today. He was shameless.

Outside, Tang Jun’en had arrived and was knocking on the door of the guest room. “Chen Cheng? Are you in there?”

Wen Huo didn’t dare to speak. If he opened the door, Chen Cheng would be touching and kissing her... She didn’t want anyone to see that. Chen Cheng noticed her fear and deliberately spoke. “Yes, I am.”

Tang Jun’en said, “The auction has started.”

Chen Cheng looked at Wen Huo, his lips pressed against hers. “I’m busy at the moment.”

“What are you doing?”

Chen Cheng’s erection was poking Wen Huo’s stomach. He was thrusting his hips rhythmically, which was driving Wen Huo crazy.

Tang Jun’en’s hand was on the doorknob. “I’m coming in.” Wen Huo panicked and held her breath. Chen Cheng didn’t stop him, and the sound of the doorknob turning could be heard... Wen Huo grabbed Chen Cheng’s clothes, looked up at him, and pleaded with her eyes.

Chen Cheng’s left hand caressed her face. He hadn’t seen that pitiful expression in a long time. He stopped Tang Jun’en. “I’ll be right out.”

Tang Jun’en didn’t come in after that. “Okay, hurry up.” The sound of footsteps faded, and Wen Huo let out a sigh of relief. She was a very generous person, but there were too many people at the auction, and she wasn’t that shameless.

Chen Cheng leaned in and whispered in her ear, “I’m hard. What should I do?”

Wen Huo ignored him. “You’re all worked up. What do I care? Don’t you have a girlfriend? Go find her. A dancer’s body is so flexible. She can keep you busy for a long time.”

Chen Cheng didn’t know who she was talking about, but it didn’t matter. She was jealous, and he could hear it. He leaned on her. “Help me with a blowjob.”

Wen Huo pushed him. “In your dreams!”

Chen Cheng was about to unzip his pants. “Then I’m going inside you.”

“Your girlfriend is outside. Can you just leave me alone? I want a younger boy. I like young bodies. I don’t like old men like you, okay?” Wen Huo said.

Since she was jealous, Chen Cheng was okay with anything she said. He wasn’t angry anymore. “I just want to be inside you.”

He was so hard and hot. Wen Huo felt like her stomach was about to be burned through. “You’re so shameless! Teacher Chen!”

Chen Cheng nodded. “Mmm.”

Wen Huo was so annoyed, but her mind was filled with the moments when Chen Cheng had aroused her. He was so despicable, but he was also so intoxicating.

Chen Cheng took her hand, unzipped his pants, and said, “Pull it out, okay?”

Wen Huo refused. “I think it’s dirty.”

“You used to love it.”

“You’re lying!”

“I have videos.”

Wen Huo frowned. She knew it. She shouldn’t have thought that deleting the photos and videos would be the end of it. How could he not have a backup? That shameless old man!

Chen Cheng rubbed against her. “Huohuo, it’s hurting.”

Wen Huo wanted to leave. “Let me go! I want to get out of here!”

“I’ll burst.”

“Then burst.”

Chen Cheng compromised. “You can use your hand.”

Wen Huo didn’t want to. “I refuse.”

Chen Cheng kissed her lips. “Do you want it?”

Wen Huo refused. Chen Cheng kissed her again, on her face, neck, collarbone, and chest, then asked, “Do you want it?” Wen Huo’s “no” began to waver.

Chen Cheng was seducing her! He was cheating! This wasn’t fair. She was a normal person. How could she hold back when he was teasing her like this? This seduction tactic was so shameless!

Chen Cheng saw her eyes wander. He put his hands on her butt, lifted her up, and kissed her chin. “Do you want it?”

Wen Huo’s hands had unconsciously wrapped around his neck. He tilted his face up and kissed her. From her angle, Chen Cheng looked so handsome. This face was incredible. How could any woman resist?

What was morality? Morality was a joke. She didn’t want morality; she wanted Chen Cheng.

Wen Huo’s stubbornness was gone. Chen Cheng had noticed. If he had known that seduction worked so well, would he have gone through all that trouble? He had never thought he was that good-looking, he always thought he was just average. But it seemed Wen Huo didn’t agree. She looked like she was craving him.

Wen Huo’s breathing grew heavier. Her panties were wet between her legs. Logic had gone out the window. She couldn’t do her careful analysis of their relationship anymore. She didn’t want to analyze; she wanted Chen Cheng. She was just jealous. She was so jealous that she didn’t want anyone else to have Chen Cheng’s body. That intoxicating old man had to be hers.

One moment, she was firm in her convictions and wanted to send Chen Cheng to jail. The next, after a few kisses, she was completely disoriented, and her stance had been completely overturned. She had completely denied herself, forgetting all the painful struggles of the past. The fickleness of a woman was on full display.

Whatever. She wanted Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng lifted her and carried her to the bed, then pressed her down and kissed her. The kiss was long and gentle, but it tasted a little bitter, like the bitterness of her tears, or maybe his. They had both been so miserable during this time. They couldn’t find a reason to be together, but how could they stay apart?

Wen Huo hugged him. She loved him. Everything she had said about loving him the most was true, but she had been faking it. She had been saying the opposite of what she felt. She was so good at using logic to convince herself. Her arguments were always sound, but in reality, she had never been convinced. She just didn’t want to admit it. Chu Tian had pushed her to a point where she had to face her own selfishness and hypocrisy, and the desire for Chen Cheng that had already overflowed.

She started crying during the kiss, and the tears wouldn’t stop. Chen Cheng paused and looked at her.

Wen Huo was crying and laughing at the same time. “I’m sorry.”

Chen Cheng’s heart ached, like a needle prick, or a car tire running over him. He smoothed her hair. “I’m sorry, Huohuo.”