AZG 14

Chapter 14

I met with Teacher Lin. After a separation of several years, he had grown even more dashing, handsome, and charming in demeanor. He smiled as he conversed with me about how he had entirely turned his life around after being driven out of the local area by Zhao Gongzi.

I hoped he could clearly differentiate between me and Zhao Gongzi as two separate individuals. Those things weren’t done on my orders. If I possessed that kind of financial power, resources, and energy, I would much rather use them to do other things—such as opening a chocolate factory. Zhao Gongzi really is a spendthrift.

Shifting the conversation, Teacher Lin apologized to me again, saying he hadn’t intended to deceive me back then; he simply couldn’t help himself, as his emotions were entirely beyond his control.

I said, “It’s all in the past, there’s no need to bring it up again.”

Teacher Lin smiled and said, “What I admire most about you is an open-mindedness that belies your age. Yet I also know this is your most dangerous trait, though it happens to be your most charming one as well.”

I had no idea what he was talking about; he was probably thinking of seducing me again. But today was different from the past. My mind was currently occupied by my little darling, Jin Xian’er, so Teacher Lin felt rather uninteresting by comparison. Sigh, what a pity that Jin Xian’er was so wishy-washy. He had another date with Zhao Gongzi today, and Zhao Gongzi’s assistant mentioned that Jin Xian’er had swindled another sum of money out of Zhao Gongzi. At that moment, I somewhat hesitantly patted the performance tickets in my pocket. It was for the performance of Teacher Lin’s orchestra—a ticket highly sought after and difficult to obtain. Jin Xian’er must have spent a high price to buy them to invite me to go watch with him.

Sigh.

Jin Xian’er really is a baffling, troublesome little sprite.

Teacher Lin had once had his face beaten entirely askew by Zhao Gongzi, lost his job, and been driven out, so it was safe to say he couldn’t let it go. Seeing that I remained completely unmoved by his sweet talk, he asked, “How are you faring these days?”

I said, “Not bad.”

Teacher Lin shook his head. “I originally thought you would study abroad, yet you couldn’t go. Surely you must find it highly regrettable.”

I originally thought I wouldn’t even live past the age of ten.

In truth, I really didn’t care all that much about the ‘sincere love’ Teacher Lin had used to deceive me in the past. After all, I still possessed plenty of sincere love. But since he was so concerned about my life, it seemed that no matter how earnest I sounded verbally, he would only take it as a front.

Teacher Lin added, “When I called you, he shouldn’t have disrespected your independence like that. Oh, I hear he highly favors the currently popular Jin Xian’er, and even wants to open a company to shoot movies, promoting Jin Xian’er to become a movie star. Have you heard about this?”

I had. Zhao Gongzi had threatened Jin Xian’er, saying that after opening the movie company he would promote many people, telling Jin Xian’er to be sensible. Zhao Gongzi had also threatened me, saying that after opening the movie company he would promote many people, telling me to be sensible. When Jin Xian’er gave me the performance tickets, he asked if I would be willing to write a movie script with him and become each other’s muses.

Well.

Perhaps my expression grew a bit complex and subtle, because Teacher Lin burst into a joyful laugh and said, “It’s still early. Why don’t I invite you over to sit at my home for a bit?”

There was really no need for that.

Teacher Lin smiled and said, “No need to rush to reject me. My home already has a master. I am very grateful that you were still willing to go on a date with me today, so let’s consider this a favor in return. I hear your trading firm is very eager to discuss a collaboration with Ambassador Andrew’s younger brother.”

I said, “Thank you.”

Teacher Lin said, “In truth, I really have felt apologetic toward you all this time, and I still harbor good feelings for you. Naturally, I harbor some resentment as well, but I truly do feel the injustice on your behalf. You ought to go outside and travel; that is your dream.”

I knew my own dream far better than he did.

I witnessed the life shared between Teacher Lin and Andrew’s younger brother. It was truly a picture of perfect harmony and mutual respect, enough to make anyone envious.

My conversation with the other party also went exceptionally well. I believed that I would very soon receive a promotion and a raise. By then, I would finally be able to raise a cat. Ham didn’t show me any affection; he preferred to follow Zhao Gongzi around—ungrateful wretch. Cats are different from dogs. I absolutely must raise a cat that sticks to me like glue, just to infuriate Ham and Zhao Gongzi to death.

Andrew’s younger brother asked me to call him Tommy. Tommy said he felt an exceptional affinity with me, and knowing that I was cohabiting with Zhao Gongzi, he brought along a bottle of Western liquor and said he wanted to come to my home for dinner.

He was in such high spirits that for the sake of my Sherlock—my future cat who would bound to love me deeply—I had no choice but to agree. Fortunately, Zhao Gongzi’s assistant had told me that tonight Zhao Gongzi and Jin Xian’er were going to attend a ball to discuss business.

When I brought Tommy and Teacher Lin back home, I heard Ham’s frantic barking and already knew things boded ill. Opening the door to take a look, I couldn’t help but recall where the star anise and Sichuan peppercorns were kept.

Tommy said understandingly, “That’s just how it is raising a dog. The dog my parents raise at home often stirs up trouble too.”

Ham wasn’t usually like this; he only did this when he was starving. Before I stepped out this morning, I had explicitly told Zhao Gongzi to remember to feed Ham. He usually always remembered, so today it was bound to be intentional!

I said, “Let’s head out to eat instead.”

Tommy said that was fine too.

The three of us went to a newly opened hotel to have dinner. Just as we took our seats, I heard Teacher Lin ask in surprise, “Isn’t that Zhao Gongzi over there?”

Tommy said, “Quickly invite him over to eat with us.”

I had no choice but to stand up, looking at Zhao Gongzi—who was currently having a candlelit dinner with Jin Xian’er and Hao Da—with a silent smile. “He seems to be on official business.”

Teacher Lin said, “It doesn’t look like official business. I’ll go invite him over, or at least say hello.”

Hardly had the words left his mouth when we saw Zhao Gongzi, completely lost in thought while pouring wine, spill the liquor everywhere. Shocked, Hao Da hurriedly rose to yank at the tablecloth, only to pull the entire thing right off. Cups, plates, knives, and forks went clattering into an utter mess. Jin Xian’er stood up, grabbing a napkin to wipe the stains off Zhao Gongzi’s white shirt, only to be shoved backward by the hand of Zhao Gongzi, who was still entirely spaced out. The fork in Jin Xian’er’s hand went flying across the room, landing squarely inside the wine glass right in front of me, splashing wine all over my face.

Tommy let out a startled cry.

The trio of Zhao Gongzi all whipped their heads around in unison, finally spotting us.

Jin Xian’er greeted with a smile, “Qiu Xiansheng!”

I didn’t know these people.

I only required a single cat to accompany me for the rest of my life. Not a dog who would tear my apartment apart just because someone forgot to feed him, nor an assistant who could manage to screw up every single task, nor a little sprite who swindled money out of someone else just to invite me on a date, and certainly not the Zhao Gongzi who had caused all of this.