Chapter 29#

Although the bus was barely considered a direct route, it still took the two of them a full forty minutes to reach the Bund. The perpetually overcrowded Shanghai buses were fine for Chen Yuanming, but for Xiao Junyi, who had been chauffeured around since childhood, it was not so wonderful. His snow-white T-shirt had long been soaked with sweat, and wearing jeans and sneakers in Shanghai’s humid August weather was suffocating. When they arrived at their destination, he looked as if he had been thrown into a washing machine and spun around. Even his vain little hairstyle was barely hanging on, pitifully clumped together.

Even though he was tormented enough, Xiao Junyi still maintained his demeanor. Although the smile on his lips was a bit stiff, it hadn’t disappeared. This little brat was his uncle’s partner, and what his uncle held in his hands was almost the entire family’s liquid capital. Faced with such a large profit, he knew which was more important, but… it was still frustrating!!

Maintaining a weird atmosphere, the two finally arrived at the Peace Hotel on the Bund. For the social circle in Shanghai at that time, the Peace Hotel was indeed in the top category. It wouldn’t be rude to entertain anyone there. However, when they walked into the dining hall, a group of bad friends immediately started making noise.

“Oh, who is this? Doesn’t look much like the Third Young Master!” A boy with a few pimples on his face pointed at Xiao Junyi and laughed loudly. “Why do you look like a refugee? Did your little Bluebird finally go on strike?”

Xiao Junyi’s mouth twitched. “Get lost, the Young Master is experiencing the people’s livelihood.” As he spoke, he drew a semicircle with his finger and introduced them to Chen Yuanming one by one. “That fat guy is Sun Zhigang, the son of Director Sun of the Local Taxation Bureau. The one with the buzz cut is Zhao Liang, the nephew of Director Zhao of the Development and Reform Commission. The brothers next to him are Liu Feng and Liu Lan, nephews of Mayor Li. The last disfigured one is my childhood friend, named Li Nianhua.”

After speaking, he patted Chen Yuanming on the shoulder. “My uncle’s friend, surnamed Chen, Chen Yuanming. Everyone, for my sake, don’t mess around.”

The group immediately started jeering. Having been influenced since childhood, who couldn’t understand the meaning in just a few words? Young Master Xiao probably hadn’t figured out the identity of the kid being treated today, but since the elders had ordered it, he dared not disobey.

Facing the jeering, Chen Yuanming just smiled. The status of this group of officials’ children was neither high nor low. For a powerful outsider like Xiao Junyi, it was just right. After all, Shanghai was not his turf, and as an outsider, he couldn’t put on too big a show. It was better to find some friends of similar status to relax.

Having figured out everyone’s identity, Chen Yuanming didn’t refuse much and sat down next to Xiao Junyi. As soon as he sat down, an exquisite menu was handed to him.

“What do you want to eat? Just order a few dishes.” Xiao Junyi’s smile was still very appropriate, looking harmless.

Chen Yuanming smiled slightly and took the menu. At that time, the menu of the Peace Hotel was still handmade, and the names of the dishes were written in brush calligraphy, which was elegant and stylish, far superior to those printed menus today. However, ordering dishes, especially in a formal occasion where one is not the guest of honor, involves a lot of tricks. In his previous life, Chen Yuanming’s company was in Hangzhou, and the financial management company had many reception tasks. Later generations had sets of fastidious rules at the dinner table, and over time he had developed skills in social drinking. But for these kids in front of him? Not necessary.

“Sweet lotus root with osmanthus, braised river eel, garlic grilled shrimp, and another Huaiyin soup dumpling. You guys can order whatever else you want.” Ordering dishes easily, Chen Yuanming handed the menu back. The whole process took less than 30 seconds, and he didn’t follow the routine at all. Xiao Junyi’s smile almost froze on his face, and his fingers twitched before he helplessly took back the menu. Should he say this kid is stupid and crude or just didn’t take them seriously…

With someone playing the supporting role and someone joining in the fun, the meal was lively. However, these people present had basically developed extraordinary eyesight since childhood, and it didn’t take much effort to see that their boss didn’t get along well with the new kid. Although they couldn’t disobey the elders’ orders, it was harmless to make some small moves in private. After lunch, the group wandered into the hotel’s leisure hall in the name of digestion.

At this time, the most popular entertainment was nothing more than disco, bowling, and billiards. A hotel of the Peace Hotel’s level naturally had all three. However, everyone has their strengths and weaknesses. When playing games, one should choose what one is good at. So a group of half-grown young men tacitly gathered around the billiard table and started to challenge each other.

“How about it? Play a couple of rounds?” Xiao Junyi took a pure black wooden cue and tossed it gently. Chen Yuanming raised his hand and caught it steadily, weighed the cue, and revealed a wry smile.

He not only knew how to play this thing, but was also very familiar with it. From the 1980s to the early 1990s, it was the time when billiards swept through mainland China. There were countless private billiard stalls on the streets, 30 cents a game, 10 yuan for an afternoon. And what he loved to play most in his previous life was really billiards. The reason was simple. Game rooms appeared late in “three rooms and one hall” and were not cheap. Video rooms were basically gathering places for soft-core porn, foul and smoky. Dance halls were even more mixed, with piles of flirting men and women.

But the billiard room was different. It was full of young guys. In the summer, they would lie on the table shirtless. Even if Chen Yuanming was reserved, he couldn’t refuse this temptation, right? Moreover, if his skills were good, he could gamble a couple of hands, and the winner didn’t even have to spend money. Over time, he developed good skills to clear the table in one go.

“How about Snooker? Do you know how to play?” Seeing Chen Yuanming take the cue, Xiao Junyi’s smile immediately grew wider. It was hard to say about other things, but his billiard skills were really not bad, not comparable to those street stalls. He was even more proficient in Snooker, which was much more high-end than the 15-ball game all over the streets now.

“Yes.” What else could Chen Yuanming say? After 1993, were there still people playing 15-ball on the market? Wasn’t it all Snooker? This time difference was simply bullying the small with the big… Of course, looking at it now, it should be bullying the big with the small.

“Hehe, how can we play without a stake?” Aside, Li Nianhua immediately chimed in. “Let’s not play big. How about the loser treats everyone tonight?”

For a group of rich kids, spending a thousand or so a night was nothing, right? This stake was not small, but not really big either. But for Chen Yuanming, neither the opponent nor the stake was worth looking at.

Seeing Chen Yuanming nod, Xiao Junyi smiled sincerely this time. Even if his uncle had explained things, playing games wasn’t his fault. And looking at how prosperous his uncle had been recently, how could this kid be poor? Just treat the loss as his escort fee.

Of course, Chen Yuanming started the first game. Although his skills were superb in his previous life, he rarely played after the age of 20, and separated by a lifetime, his technique was naturally a bit rusty. He only potted two balls and missed the third shot.

“My turn.” He had guessed that Chen Yuanming might know a thing or two, but now it seemed it was really just “a thing or two”, not worth mentioning. Xiao Junyi lowered his body, aimed at the position, and struck. The cue ball made a crisp sound and sent another red ball into the pocket.

“Thanks for letting me win.” Xiao Junyi smiled proudly and bent down to aim at the next ball.

Chen Yuanming was a bit distracted. The look of those peach blossom eyes dancing with joy made it hard for him not to think of the past. Once upon a time, didn’t that person also look so radiant and smile sweetly at him?

Just thinking about this, his mood immediately turned bad. He no longer had any interest in appreciating the other party’s long legs and thin waist when leaning over. When it was his turn again, Chen Yuanming simply cleared the table. The red balls were swept away in a blink of an eye, followed by yellow, green, brown, blue, pink, and black. Until all the balls were pocketed, he didn’t let Xiao Junyi take another turn.

The room was suddenly quiet. Xiao Junyi calmly wiped the cue tip with chalk. “Another game?”

In the second game, Xiao Junyi broke. After a miss, they switched, and Chen Yuanming cleared the table again. In the third game, Chen Yuanming broke and didn’t let Xiao Junyi touch the table at all. This loss of face was too great! Several onlookers clicked their tongues. Young Master Xiao had never been humiliated like this before!

“Hehe, it seems my skills are inferior.” Xiao Junyi’s laughter had an indescribable flavor. He threw the cue on the table and waved his hand dashingly. “A loss is a loss. Shall we go next door? I’ll cover the expenses tonight!”

It was already past 6 o’clock, just the time when those fashionable female students finished class and went to the dance hall to jump around. How could the others say no? The group moved directly to the new location. This time, because it was in a dance hall, they didn’t make any more trouble. Under the banner of “not suitable for minors”, they left Chen Yuanming alone on the sofa, and the group rushed into the dance floor.

Disco at this time was quite terrible in terms of both viewing and entertainment. The ears were full of retro Disco music from the 80s. Little girls with skirts below the knees and a group of hairy boys in floral shirts and short T-shirts danced with affection in their eyes, full of excitement. In this deafening noise, Chen Yuanming sat alone in the depths of the sofa, slowly drinking a glass of juice, letting bitterness fill his heart.

Nearly two years had passed, but he had never forgotten that person. Just a pair of peach blossom eyes could evoke memories of the past.

Shen Jiankun… Ah Kun…

The only person he seriously loved in his previous life, and also the person who hurt him the most and even caused his death. When he went to night school back then, the other party was an investment lecturer. They had the same sexual orientation and found each other pleasing to the eye, so they soon lived together. He learned stock trading and fund management from that person, entered the market with years of savings, made money, and finally opened a financial management company.

He put all his trust in that person and worked side by side with him for the company. How many times did he force a smile to build connections? How many times did he drink until he was unconscious to build relationships? Excited together when the market rose, smiling bitterly side by side when losing money. But as long as he opened his eyes, he was in front of him, gazing at himself with those gentle peach blossom eyes.

In his previous life, he spent most of his life depressed and bored, struggling for money, distressed about his sexual orientation, and sad about his family. He didn’t have a suitable degree, parents to rely on, or even a romance in the sun. He could only try his best to move forward, step out of those shackles step by step, and find his own world. And Shen Jiankun was the one who reached out to him, the one who pulled him out of the complete quagmire. He taught him the ability to make money, gave him confidence and happiness, and let him taste the flavor of love.

That should have been his destination, the only thing he craved in his life, but the other party didn’t think so.

That person was too much of a gambler. Although he looked gentle and appropriate, there was arrogance and complacency in his heart. They had argued about this, and he had sternly refuted the other party’s intention to be a market maker. That was 2007, the era of the demise of Chinese market makers and factions. Why should he, a small figure, be a market maker? And why could he do whatever he wanted with the hard-earned money of those small citizens and retail investors?

But the other party did it secretly in the end. Misappropriating client funds, maliciously spreading rumors, and manipulating the market on a small scale. When the bull market turned into a bear market in 2007, he collapsed, and nearly 10 million of client funds were trapped in the stock market. The company faced lawsuits, business was a mess, and it was about to close down. Chen Yuanming really tried his best to struggle desperately to save the two of them from this vortex, but at the last moment, the other party just said a light sentence, turned away, and went to marry the daughter of the Finance Bureau Director.

Yes, there was never a promise between them, never an obligation, only a sweet illusion.

Gripping the glass hard in his hand, Chen Yuanming felt his head buzzing. How ridiculous. Even today, he couldn’t forget such a person, nor could he easily say he had forgotten. This was no longer simple love or hate, but a nightmare, a demon in his heart, a bloody scar that could not be avoided. Maybe in this life he should find this person again, give him enough lessons with everything he could think of, should…

Taking a deep breath, Chen Yuanming shook his head, as if trying to shake away the fog in his eyes. No, this is his new life. He should have a better and more fulfilling life, instead of brooding over the grievances of his previous life. This life should belong entirely to himself!

Sweating profusely from dancing, Xiao Junyi couldn’t hold on anymore. He smiled and declined the invitation of a female student and walked to the edge of the dance floor. A group of bad friends were still jumping happily, and no one noticed his movements. He was happy to be free and ran to the bar to order a beer. Only then did he see Chen Yuanming’s figure.

Sitting so lonely and bored in the shadows of the dance hall, holding a glass of drink in both hands, looking unhappy, staring blankly ahead. His small body, which couldn’t be called tall, sank into the sofa, appearing even more frail. The entire dance hall seemed to be insulated from him, and not a bit of joy could be reflected on him.

Xiao Junyi frowned and suddenly felt a little guilty. What was wrong with him today… Was he angered by his uncle’s tone of “look at other people’s children”? Even if this child is old-fashioned and talented, he is just a 16-year-old child, not even an adult yet. Alone in Shanghai, it seems he doesn’t even go to school. Why should he, an adult, be angry with such a child!

Although he was spoiled by his parents since childhood, the Xiao family’s style was indeed upright. Xiao Junyi was not the type to hold grudges for trivial matters. In a blink of an eye, that little bit of unhappiness was defeated by guilt. Checking the time, he simply stood up and walked towards the other party.

“It’s almost 8 o’clock. How about I take you home first?”

The dance hall was very noisy, and he was thinking about things. It wasn’t until a loud shout rang in his ear that Chen Yuanming realized someone was talking to him. Just stunned for a moment, he nodded. He really had no interest in what these young people played.

“I’ll go borrow a car, you wait first…”

“I don’t ride in sedans.”

“You… the buses have stopped now, right?!”

Xiao Junyi almost got angry again, but the other party’s expression remained calm, just repeating it quietly.

“Sorry, I can’t ride. I’ll just walk back.”

With one sentence, the fire in Xiao Junyi’s heart suddenly went out. Yes, he never said “don’t want to ride”, but “can’t”. Looking at the other party’s extremely serious expression, Xiao Junyi seemed to suddenly understand something.

“Alright, is a motorcycle okay?” Asking tentatively, Xiao Junyi gave up exploring the bottom of it.

Chen Yuanming thought for a moment. His fear of sedans seemed to stem from the chassis height and confined space. When he rode in an Audi 100 for more than ten minutes in Zhuhai, he almost fainted, with difficulty breathing and high emotional panic. The situation was not so serious when driving a truck, and buses were also fine. So theoretically, is it a kind of claustrophobia?

“A motorcycle should be fine.” Just for a moment, he finally made up his mind to give it a try.

“Okay then, you wait at the door first, I’ll be right there.”

Walking out of the dance hall with turbid air, in front of him was the brightly lit river surface of the Bund. Although Shanghai was still under major construction at this time, and many road surfaces were tightly covered, the night view on the Bund was still so beautiful.

“Alright.”

A voice interrupted his thoughts. Xiao Junyi proudly shook the keys in his hand. “Liangzi’s Suzuki King, the horsepower is very good.”

Chen Yuanming raised his eyebrows noncommittally and got on the motorcycle with the other party. Probably out of concern for the person behind him, Xiao Junyi didn’t ride fast. His vision was blocked by the body in front, and the surrounding was still an open street view. Chen Yuanming didn’t feel any discomfort. But after riding for a while, the motorcycle suddenly changed direction and drove towards Nanjing Road.

“Where are we going?” Not knowing why, Chen Yuanming asked loudly.

“Haven’t had dinner yet, right? Taking you to a good place!” The voice from the front was full of complacency.

After a few turns, a tall building appeared in front of them. Chen Yuanming frowned. Park Hotel? He didn’t think the food here was worth praising. Who knew that the other party’s motorcycle didn’t stop at the entrance of the Park Hotel, but rode directly to the opposite door. Stopping the motorcycle with a screech, Xiao Junyi turned his head and made a dashing gesture of invitation.

Opposite the Park Hotel was… a… KFC…

The white-bearded old man smiled and flashed red light. Chen Yuanming was embarrassed on the spot.

“How about it? Bringing you to try something foreign.” Not feeling embarrassed at all, Xiao Junyi got off the motorcycle freely. “It’s hard to book a seat here. Only people like me can find some connections. Let you taste their ice cream cone, it’s delicious.”

Holy… crap…

It was indeed a KFC, but only then did Chen Yuanming realize that KFC in 1992 was different from later generations. At this time, it was debatable whether there were ten in the whole country. It definitely belonged to the Starbucks-level petty bourgeois trendy gathering place. This kid brought him here really out of good intentions.

Suddenly, a feeling of laughter and tears welled up in his heart. Chen Yuanming smiled. Yes, it’s just that the eyes are a bit similar. Why should he take his anger out on this little guy? After all, he is Brother Xiao’s nephew, and the affection is still there.

“Okay, just in time to taste their burgers.” Burgers in this era, how fresh.

Hearing a hint of joy finally in Chen Yuanming’s voice, Xiao Junyi also smiled. I told you, this kind of thing is most effective for children.

Just a child, why bother?

With the same thought, both of them showed genuine smiles and stepped into the bustling KFC restaurant together.