LC chapter 44

 

After waiting for a while with no sign of his date, Lin Ruan feared that the date would be a long one. He borrowed the café’s phone to call home. Afterwards, he went to the restroom. When he returned, he saw that Meng Zhen already had someone sitting across from him.

Judging by the figure, it was a woman with beautiful, somewhat sharp features. She wore a dark teal qipao embroidered with silver patterns. Due to her status, she sat there looking very poised, like snow on a high mountain, to be admired only from afar.

Meng Zhen smiled like a blooming flower opposite her, looking extremely pleased with this young lady. The woman also looked at Meng Zhen, and an intimate atmosphere filled the room.

When Lin Ruan approached, the woman’s gaze shifted to him.

Meng Zhen noticed the lady’s attention had shifted to Lin Ruan, so he said, “This is my friend, Lin Ruan.”

The lady nodded slightly at Lin Ruan, who returned the gesture politely.

Just as he was about to say something, Meng Zhen pushed him and said, “Well, don’t you have things to do? You can go back first. I don’t need you to accompany me here.”

Lin Ruan didn’t respond; he just watched as Meng Zhen sat back down and smiled brightly at the woman.

He pursed his lips and muttered, “Hmph… Suddenly not nervous anymore? Now you’re kicking me out?”

Clearly, Meng Zhen had left his friend behind, so Lin Ruan had no choice but to browse the bookstore alone and buy a few books to take home.

He was now working as an assistant to Fang Chengze and taking the opportunity to learn system architecture. Lin Ruan wanted to study under Fang Chengze, but Fang Chengze said that he could no longer be considered a purely academic scholar. Fang Chengze sent Lin Ruan’s materials to his teacher, hoping that Lin Ruan could study under him.

On the second floor of the Lan Mansion, Zhan Xi was seated in a chair while Gu Ji stood by the window.

“The situation isn’t very good,” said Gu Ji, looking at Zhan Xi. “After the north issued paper currency and the economy stabilized, the south saw this and also issued paper currency recklessly. At this rate, the southern economy will collapse in at most half a year.”

“There are so many trading ports along the southern coast. It won’t collapse just like that. For now, the south is still calm,” Zhan Xi said.

“That’s only on the surface,” Gu Ji said. “You’re a businessman. You can’t fail to notice. Many southern merchants are moving north, not just for business, but permanently. What does this indicate? The situation is chaotic!”

Zhan Xi frowned. “So, what’s your suggestion?”

“This is an opportunity,” Gu Ji said seriously. “To secure the outside, one must stabilize the inside. National unification is imperative.”

Zhan Xi was silent for a moment, then asked, “So, should we go to war or negotiate?”

Zhan Xi always asked the critical questions, which was currently Gu Ji’s biggest headache.

“I lean toward war,” Gu Ji said. “We hold a great advantage.”

Zhan Xi looked at him. “Does Fang Chengze disagree with you?”

Gu Ji nodded. “He wants negotiations. He thinks a civil war would be draining and might allow external enemies to take advantage. But I think that if the country cannot be unified…”

Gu Ji looked at Zhan Xi, who said in a deep voice, “If we’re attacked from both sides, endless troubles will follow.”

Gu Ji nodded and asked, “Third brother, what do you think?”

Zhan Xi shook his head. “I’m just a businessman. I can’t give you advice.” He looked at Gu Ji and said, “However, if you want war, don’t worry about military expenses.”

Lin Ruan returned home to find Gu Ji talking with Zhan Xi in the study. By the time Lin Ruan arrived, Gu Ji had just finished talking with Zhan Xi.

Lin Ruan bought a basket of strawberries and cherries. He washed them and put them in a glass bowl. He sat on the sofa holding the bowl and eating while flipping through a new monthly magazine.

Gu Ji came down, saw Lin Ruan, and remembered something. He said, “Your teacher, Fang, asked me to tell you that he has already revised the design drawings from last time. They’re in the office drawer. Go get them when you have time.”

Lin Ruan nodded to show he understood.

Gu Ji left. Zhan Xi came downstairs to pour tea and saw Lin Ruan on the sofa. He asked, “Weren’t you supposed to go out with Meng Zhen?”

Talking about it annoyed Lin Ruan. “Him? He doesn’t need me anymore.”

“How so?” Zhan Xi walked over and sat on the sofa. Lin Ruan handed him a glass bowl of fruit. Zhan Xi took a cherry.

“He promised I’d accompany him on a blind date. But when he saw the woman, he ignored me and sent me off,” Lin Ruan snorted. “Seeing him like that, you’d think he’d never seen a girl before.”

Zhan Xi listened and just smiled.

Lin Ruan stuffed a strawberry in his mouth and asked, “Sir, have you ever been on a blind date?”

Zhan Xi paused, looked up at Lin Ruan, and saw that he was staring straight at him.

“No,” Zhan Xi said.

Lin Ruan clearly didn’t believe him. “Last year, during the Lantern Festival, Madam Gu introduced you to someone.”

Zhan Xi gave Lin Ruan a faint smile and said, “If you know Aunt introduced someone to me, how do you not know I refused? Are you purposely giving me trouble?”

Lin Ruan said nothing, lowering his head to eat.

Zhan Xi snickered and didn’t ask further.

The next day, Lin Ruan found a note in his room with an address of a Western restaurant. Zhan Xi asked him to go there in the evening.

Lin Ruan was puzzled, but he still went.

The lights had just come on and violin music was playing in the Western-style restaurant, creating a romantic atmosphere. Lin Ruan was sitting by a window seat in formal attire. A vase with a bright rose arrangement sat on the white tablecloth.

Soon after, Zhan Xi arrived. He wore a black velvet suit, diamond cufflinks, and a feather-shaped brooch with tassels on the collar. He looked restrained and elegant.

Lin Ruan saw him, but his eyes looked unfamiliar, as if he didn’t recognize Lin Ruan.

Lin Ruan was taken aback. Zhan Xi walked over, sat down across from Lin Ruan, and introduced himself politely: “I’m Zhan Xi. Madam Gu introduced me. I’m his nephew and also your blind date.”

Lin Ruan was surprised but quickly responded, “I’m Lin Ruan.”

A waiter brought the menu. Zhan Xi graciously let Lin Ruan order first. He pretended to read the menu for a while, then handed it back to Zhan Xi. He didn’t often go to Western restaurants and wasn’t good at ordering.

Zhan Xi quickly placed the order, and the waiter took the menu away.

According to the blind date protocol, it was time for introductions. Lin Ruan thought for a moment, then said, “I’m twenty-two and a student at Yanjing University.”

Zhan Xi leaned back in his chair and said, “I’m twenty-seven and a businessman.”

Lin Ruan thought of something and smiled. “Twenty-seven? That’s not young anymore.”

Zhan Xi raised an eyebrow and gave an ambiguous “Hmm.”

Lin Ruan laughed and asked, “Mr. Zhan Xi, why are you twenty-seven and still single? Is it because of your high standards?”

Zhan Xi looked at Lin Ruan and, like any man on a blind date, replied, “I’m busy with work.”

“Being career-minded is good,” Lin Ruan said, his eyes sparkling with barely hidden amusement.

Zhan Xi looked at him. His eyes also showed a faint smile. “And you, Mr. Lin. You’re so young. Surely you have suitors. Why do you need a blind date?”

Lin Ruan’s eyes darted. “They’re not my type.”

“What type do you like, Mr. Lin?”

“I like…” Lin Ruan smiled. “I like someone mature and steady.”

After saying that, he laughed to himself and looked at Zhan Xi. He asked, “What about you? What type do you like?”

Zhan Xi sized up Lin Ruan from head to toe and said, “I like young ones.”

Lin Ruan seemed displeased. “There are plenty of young ones. Eventually, I won’t be young either.”

This wasn’t something a character should say. Seeing him act this way, Zhan Xi smiled and said, “Other people grow old, but you won’t. You will always be younger than me.”

Lin Ruan paused, then smiled gently.

Zhan Xi stopped pretending not to know him. He looked at Lin Ruan with restraint and gentleness. “All right, sir. I’ve only had a blind date with you.”

Lin Ruan smiled faintly, thinking what a good man this man was.

After dinner, they walked together on the way back. The nighttime street was quiet, with few pedestrians. Streetlights cast long shadows of the two of them. Zhan Xi held Lin Ruan’s hand, and Lin Ruan walked, stepping on the tile lines, sometimes fast and sometimes slow.

Zhan Xi patiently followed and asked, “How long until you officially graduate?”

“About a month or so.” Lin Ruan looked up at Zhan Xi, his eyes sparkling. “What’s wrong?”

Zhan Xi patted his head and asked, “What are your plans after graduation? Will you continue studying architecture?”

Zhan Xi said, “Aren’t you tired?”

Lin Ruan thought for a moment and replied, “Not really.” He walked a few steps and said, “This is the first time I’ve chosen something for myself. I’m treating it as my lifelong career.”

Looking at Zhan Xi, Lin Ruan thought that having a lifelong passion was remarkable. Xie Qingming loved antiques and Fang Chengze devoted himself to the country — both remarkable people. Lin Ruan was proud to be like them.

Zhan Xi fell silent for a moment. “After you graduate, I want to take you on a trip abroad.”

“Why?” Lin Ruan asked.

Zhan Xi didn’t answer; he asked, “Don’t you want to see where I’ve been?”

Lin Ruan immediately became excited. “How long will we go?

“Not too long,” said Zhan Xi as he looked ahead at the familiar houses lining the street. This was their home, where they had been born and raised. No matter how things change, Zhan Xi believed that peace wouldn’t be far off.

The next day at school, Fang Chengze told Lin Ruan some good news: his teacher had agreed to take him on as a student. This wasn’t just any student, but a private disciple—a rare opportunity.

Lin Ruan was overjoyed. Fang Chengze told him that his teacher was now teaching in Shanghai. If he wanted to study architecture under him, he would have to leave Beijing and study in Shanghai for a year.

 

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