It was the fifth day of the New Year today. If Lao Chang still did not show up, Qin Sheng would have no choice but to put up a Lost Man poster. He was afraid that this man might have died somewhere in this vast country and nobody had dealt with his deceased body.
Qin Sheng’s concern was quite justifiable. When it came to traveling, others preferred visiting prosperous cities or going abroad for vacation. However, on the contrary, Lao Chang liked to go to the remote forests and mountains, intending to look for those secluded masters. When he was happy, he probably would learn from them by exchanging a few tricks with them. In that case, if he came across someone merciless and met with a mishap, nobody would be informed.
After the call went through, Qin Sheng said excitedly, “Holy God. Lao Chang, you f**king came back to life at last. I almost intended to worship you with some paper money.” As Qin Ran heard what Qin Sheng had said over the phone, she was startled, wondering why Qin Sheng had said so during the grand New Year’s Holiday.
At this moment, Lao Chang, who was having a good time somewhere in the vast country, said smilingly, “Based on the way you are talking, it seems that you had been in a good mood recently. In that case, I’m relieved.”
Qin Sheng found it funny and did not know whether he should laugh or cry as he said, “Well, what did you say? Based on your words, should I cry for a while first?” Following that, he asked, “Where are you now? Tell me the answer quickly.”
Lao Chang said honestly, “Shanghai.” He had arrived there last night.
Qin Sheng replied astoundedly, “F**k. It turns out that you’re in Shanghai. Lao Chang, is it true? Do you know where I am now?”
Lao Chang said disapprovingly, “Of course, I know you are also in Shanghai. I came here to turn to you specifically. Otherwise, why would I show up here?”
Qin Sheng, who was somewhat confused, said frowningly, “How did you know that I’m in Shanghai?”
Lao Chang explained honestly, “After I came back from the foreign province, I called Hao Lei and inquired into news about you. Originally, I had thought that if you were still out of contact, I should go to Tsingtao in person. Never did it occur to me that you would have shown up before the New Year’s Holiday. Consequently, I came here directly to turn to you.”
Qin Sheng admired Lao Chang from the bottom of his heart and thought, “This guy’s performance is beyond reproach.” If he had known that Lao Chang had shown up, he would have called him directly without hesitation. However, on the contrary, Lao Chang had refrained from contacting him right away. It was not until Lao Chang had arrived in Shanghai that he had called him.
Qin Sheng blurted out, “You’re awesome.”
Chang Baji smiled faintly. “Hao Lei told me some things. It was me who told him not to notify you in advance, saying that I would get in touch with you after I got to Shanghai. I will tell you the details after we meet each other in person. Give me your address and I will go to your place right away.”
“Hold on.” Qin Sheng turned around eagerly and asked his sister where they were going. After he got the answer, he told Lao Chang the address. After that, they hung up.
Over on Qin Ran’s side, she hung up and finished the call greeting the elder and informing him that they would be there half an hour later. It was not until this time that Qin Ran asked, “Who was that speaking? You made such a fuss.”
Since Qin Sheng was going to see Lao Chang again, he was in a pretty good mood. It just so happened that the weather today was sunny. He respected this man from the bottom of his heart, who had gone through life and death with him and who had been a teacher as well as a friend to him. Lao Chang was one of those whom he should never disappoint.
Qin Sheng described what Lao Chang had meant to him as he said, “A scholarly mentor and beneficial friend who saved me several times.”
Qin Ran said amusedly, “He is Chang Baji, isn’t he?”
Qin Sheng said somewhat surprisedly, “Sister, how do you know Lao Chang?”
Qin Ran said playfully, “I know everyone around you. How about I tell you something about Su Qin? After all, someone was drunk last night because of her.”
Looking awkward, Qin Sheng had no choice but to let out a sigh upon thinking of what had happened last night. He did not continue the topic anymore. As for his sister’s saying that she had known everyone around him, of course, he knew what his sister meant. After all, back when he had shown up in Xi’an, the Qin Family had been protecting him in secret. There were only a few friends around him in the past two years.
As Qin Sheng thought of these friends, he was lost in thought, wondering whether Xia Ding and Han Bing were in Shanghai during the New Year Holiday. As he thought of Han Bing, he recollected that the place they were going to visit this morning was the Tomson Golf Villa, which he had been quite familiar with. Han Guoping had lived there previously. Unfortunately, Han Bing had sold the villa.
After Qin Sheng went back to Shanghai, he found out that everything had changed.
The procedure today was almost the same as that of yesterday, which was that Qin Ran and Qin Sheng would bring the gifts to visit their father’s friends. Qin Ran was quite familiar with those so-called pivotal figures. After all, she would see them several times yearly. As for those who had a special relationship with the Qin Family, Qin Ran would call them and greet them frequently. However, the situation this year was different because Qin Sheng had returned to the Qin Family. Consequently, Qin Changan and Qin Ran were trying their best to introduce Qin Sheng to those elders. After Qin Ran visited these two families, she was accustomed to it already. Moreover, Qin Changan had notified these families in advance.
Qin Sheng had gotten used to various situations these days, including when those elders eyed him up and down peculiarly and asked him various questions, especially the most private ones, including whether he had a girlfriend, which Qin Sheng had answered quite frankly. After all, he would probably meet those elders’ descendants in the future, especially their daughters. Those elders had been trying to hook them up intentionally or unintentionally, which Qin Sheng found somewhat horrifying.
They visited only one family the whole morning, which was a tycoon in the financial industry of Shanghai as well as a big shareholder of the Chang’an Sect. The background of this family was unfathomable. Originally, Qin Ran had planned to visit this family first after she had arrived in Shanghai. However, since it was not until yesterday that the elder of this family had come back to Shanghai, Qin Ran had rescheduled the date to today.
This elder had two daughters and one son. His son and the eldest daughter had gotten married and started a career. His youngest daughter had just come back from abroad before the New Year Holiday after she had been working in an international investment bank. She was the same age as Qin Sheng and was also quite good-looking. As for her educational background and temperament, they were beyond doubt. Though Qin Sheng had stated clearly that he had a girlfriend, it seemed that the two elders had not given up on him yet and had taken the initiative to ask them to contact each other more frequently. Of course, Qin Sheng had to show due respect for their feelings.
After Lao Chang rushed to the Tomson Golf Villa, Qin Sheng stood up, saying that he was going outside to meet a friend. The two elders asked the youngest daughter to accompany him out, which made Qin Sheng feel somewhat helpless.
Originally, the beauty had planned to drive Qin Sheng out. However, Qin Sheng said that his friend was waiting outside at the entrance of the housing estate. Consequently, they walked out shoulder to shoulder.
On the way out, Qin Sheng did not say anything at all. Consequently, the beauty took the initiative to break the ice by asking, “Is your girlfriend quite beautiful?”
Her name was Wu Han. She had gone abroad for further study after she graduated from high school. After she graduated from the School of Commerce of Harvard University, she entered Goldman directly. Based on her father’s influence, of course, Goldman had been glad to accept the kind of fair-skinned, rich, and beautiful lady like her. However, instead of being nothing but a suit, she had been in charge of several moderately sized projects. Though her father might have played a role in her career, her capability was beyond doubt. Otherwise, Goldman would not have thought so highly of her.
Since she had led quite a busy life while living abroad, which was quite common for people working in an investment bank, she had lived routinely between her work and everything else. Consequently, she had been somewhat exhausted. Moreover, her parents had aged and both her brother and her sister had gotten married. Most importantly, she was old enough to get married. As a result, instead of living abroad permanently, she quit her job before the New Year Holiday.
Wu Han was indeed beautiful. However, she could not beat Lin Su when it came to appearance. Qin Sheng replied politely, “She is not as beautiful as you.”
“Are you telling me the truth?” Though what Qin Sheng had said made Wu Han quite happy, she felt that this man was not the same as those rich playboys she had contacted previously. Consequently, she was quite interested in Qin Sheng. Moreover, they would have many chances to communicate with each other in the future.
Qin Sheng smiled awkwardly as he said, “As for this point, I won’t tell you.”
Wu Han glared at Qin Sheng and said, “You are so sneaky.” As Qin Sheng heard her words, he smiled and did not refute her at all.
The weather was so good that the sunshine made people feel somewhat drowsy. Wu Han lifted her hands over her head and stretched herself. Unfortunately, her body shape was somewhat less than perfect. Otherwise, her current posture would have made any man’s nose bleed.
She let out a sigh as she said, “Well. After I came back from abroad, my parents set up many blind dates for me. Though I had been too exhausted, it was not suitable for me to say anything at all. After all, I could understand their feelings. Consequently, on your side, kindly don’t pay any mind to what they said. All you need to do is to blind them. I could have refused to accompany you out. However, since I am going to work for your family after the New Year Holiday, it does me more good to communicate with my future boss.”
Wu Han’s frank confession made Qin Sheng have a good impression of her in an instant. Instead of being silent, he replied, “Parents are destined to do that. However, why do you need to go to Beijing? Isn’t it good to stay in Shanghai? Moreover, I am not your future boss. I don’t even know in which direction the door of the company turns.”
Wu Han stared at Qin Sheng somewhat surprisedly. She did not believe what Qin Sheng had said at all.
Qin Sheng said thoughtfully, “I wouldn’t lie to you. I might not know the company as well as you do. You probably know some things. I have been in the Qin Family for just two months. Consequently, these things are out of my range.”
Wu Han nodded silently as she said, “I do know some things. But I am not sure. I have been in touch with Sister Ran Ran all the time, knowing that Uncle Qin only has one daughter. Consequently, when my parents told me about you, I was confused, starting from when Uncle Qin had gotten one more son. Of course, I speculated about it.”
Qin Sheng laughed out loud as he said, “I am not an illegitimate child from outside. I have the same biological parents as Qin Ran. As for that, I can assure you.” He thought this beauty was quite interesting.
Qin Sheng’s answer made Wu Han burst into laughter. She teased him and said, “Could it be that the boy should be raised poorly and the girl should be raised like a princess?”
Qin Sheng shrugged and said, “You could understand my words like that. Anyway, I can’t figure it out.”
At this moment, they had arrived at the entrance of the housing estate. Qin Sheng had seen Lao Chang standing by the road from afar, whom he could not be too familiar with. Nobody would think of this plain-looking man as a skillful martial arts master.
Lao Chang had seen Qin Sheng as well as Wu Han, who had accompanied Qin Sheng out. He frowned slightly and guessed the identity of this beauty, wondering whether she was Qin Sheng’s new girlfriend.
Qin Sheng said casually, “That’s my friend.”
Of course, Wu Han knew what Qin Sheng had meant. She smiled happily and said, “It just so happens that I can hang around nearby. However, we need to go back home before noon. How long do you think you’ll be?”
“I will call you later.” Since Wu Han was smart as well as considerate, Qin Sheng thought more highly of her. If Wu Han went to Beijing in the future, maybe they could become friends. Maybe Qin Sheng could consult her about some questions related to commerce.
At this moment, Chang Baji was walking toward Qin Sheng and Wu Han. Wu Han nodded at Chang Baji smilingly, who was not far away from them. After that, she took the initiative to leave.
Qin Sheng and Lao Chang had not seen each other in more than two months. Whenever they had parted with each other, they had almost been parted by death. Qin Sheng had been thrown into a crisis this time. Moreover, Lao Chang had almost been killed.
Consequently, as they met each other here, they were emotional and sentimental. Moreover, so many things had happened during this period.
Before Lao Chang asked who the beauty was, Qin Sheng had hugged him affectionately, which caught Lao Chang off guard. After all, men could not act intimately toward each other. Those who did not know the ins and outs would think that they were a couple of gays.
