Falling into the Capital's Radiance - Chapter 24

Chapter 24

When the Warm Jade Pavilion was originally constructed, it was designed with an open layout. One side of the main hall consisted entirely of a massive glass window.

Looking out, the night view beyond the glass resembled a vast, living painting.

On moonlit nights, the moonlight would spill recklessly into the room, casting bright, silvery shadows across the warm jade floor.

Song Yanting was a man of deep thoughts, but when it came to his friends, he was beyond reproach.

As the host, he took excellent care of his guests.

Xie Chengsui’s second brother, Xie Jiqing, was a renowned professor of archaeology. He had come with his wife and daughter. Since he never cared for alcohol and preferred tea, Song Yanting had several varieties of fine tea prepared and waiting, and even went out of his way to provide toys for the child.

When a group of young scions gathered like this, they usually did little more than drink some wine and chat.

They rarely discussed work. At most, they expressed concern over one another’s romantic lives.

Song Yanting’s younger brother, Song Qiyu, was twenty-seven this year-an age where his family had begun pressuring him to marry. However, he wasn’t one for stability and wanted to enjoy his freedom for a few more years.

“You guys have no idea how much the old lady at home can nag. She gives me a headache every single day.”

He tilted his head to light a cigarette and complained, “My big brother isn’t even married yet, but she insists on hounding me.”

As the elder brother, Song Yanting merely smiled.

Song Qiyu continued to joke, “Brother, I’m taking all the heat for you. You owe me one for this.”

Before Song Yanting could speak, Xie Chengsui chimed in. “You think he doesn’t want to get married? It’s just that those old fossils in your Song Family won’t agree, so he can only…”

Xie Chengsui trailed off.

He had a few too many drinks tonight, and his mind was a bit muddled.

Song Qiyu lowered his eyes and smoked, remaining silent.

Everyone present knew that the Song Family placed great importance on social standing and pedigree. Song Yanting’s girlfriend, Wen Shuyi, came from an ordinary family, and furthermore…

Because of the family’s interference, the two had been entangled like this for nearly six years now.

This was a thorn in Song Yanting’s side.

Even for friends, it was a topic that couldn’t be easily touched upon.

Xie Jiqing poured a cup of tea and pushed it toward Xie Chengsui.

Xie Chengsui picked up the cup and downed it in two gulps. The fragrance of the top-grade Da Hong Pao was potent, but he only caught a faint hint of the sweet aftertaste.

It wasn’t enough to satisfy him.

Song Yanting maintained his gentle smile. “Everyone here knows my situation. It’s fine to chat about it; don’t let me spoil the mood.”

Zhao Zonglan, who hadn’t spoken the entire time, lifted his eyelids and glanced toward Song Yanting. “You certainly are patient.”

“I have no choice.” The smile on Song Yanting’s face faded considerably.

Although he was now the head of the Song Family, the clan was deeply entrenched with numerous branches and meddling parents. If he wanted them to accept Wen Shuyi, he could only do it piece by piece, until the entire Song Family was firmly under his control.

Zhao Zonglan had once told him that his methods weren’t ruthless or decisive enough, which was why things had dragged on for so long.

Song Yanting understood his meaning, but he truly couldn’t bring himself to be that cold-hearted.

Xie Jiqing was the only married man present, which gave him a certain level of authority on the subject. “As long as two people love each other, even the greatest difficulties are minor. For people like us, finding someone who truly loves us for who we are is actually quite difficult.”

That was the truth.

Many people loved them for their money, their power, or their looks.

Some people went their entire lives without meeting someone they could truly spend their life with in sincerity.

In the end, all they had were fame and fortune.

After hearing this, Song Qiyu thought for a moment and muttered to himself, “In that case, I really need to hurry up and start dating.”

“If I can’t find true love and end up dying alone, that would be so boring.”

He was already worrying about his life as an old man.

Xie Jiqing shook his head, choosing not to respond to him.

Just then, the door opened, and someone called out, “Young Master Tang.”

Tang Shu strode inside, tossing his suit jacket to a nearby servant.

The assistant behind him was carrying two bottles of wine.

“Sorry I’m late.”

“That mountain road is a real bitch to drive at night.”

Tang Shu was a boisterous individual with a bit of a rogue streak.

The Tang Family was involved in overseas trade. In the last two years, their focus had shifted to maritime logistics, and they were currently expanding their Western European routes.

Tang Shu was the primary person in charge and had just returned from Ireland yesterday.

As soon as he sat down, he saw Zhao Zonglan take a phone call and instruct Chang An to get his coat.

He was leaving.

“Eh? Fifth Brother, what’s the deal? I just got here and you’re leaving?”

“That’s a bit hurtful.”

Tang Shu spoke in a deliberately exaggerated, annoying tone, clutching his chest as if he were wounded.

Zhao Zonglan took the overcoat Chang An handed him, gave Tang Shu a flat look, and said coolly, “I’m picking someone up.”

Song Qiyu paused in the middle of bringing his cigarette to his lips. “Who has such a big reputation that you have to go pick them up personally?”
None of them might have ever been granted such an honor.

Zhao Zonglan said nothing and simply turned to leave.

Xie Chengsui leaned back against the soft upholstery of his chair and remarked airily, “That’s a heavyweight guest right there.”

Song Qiyu arched an eyebrow. “The legendary one he carried out of the car?”

He hadn’t seen it for himself when he arrived that afternoon, but he’d heard people talking.

Apparently, Mr. Zhao had a girl in his arms when he stepped out of the car, and he’d wrapped her so tightly in his coat that it was as if he were terrified anyone else might catch a glimpse.

Xie Chengsui didn’t answer, merely raising his wine glass with a smirk.

Song Qiyu chuckled, a cigarette dangling from his lips.

Tang Shu didn’t quite understand what they were talking about, and the feeling of being inexplicably excluded made him very annoyed.

He couldn’t hold it in anymore and snapped, “Are you two flirting with your eyes? Pfft, disgusting.”

As the only married man and the eldest person present, Xie Jiqing took on the role of the elder. He patted Tang Shu on the shoulder and offered a thoughtful reminder: “Come earlier next time.”

Tang Shu: “…”

Song Yanting didn’t join their conversation. He was always meticulous and considerate in his dealings.

If Miss Shen was coming, he worried that a room full of men might intimidate her, so he instructed Nanfeng to invite Wen Shuyi and Song Yu.

Xie Jiqing’s wife, Lin Letang, was with their child, so he decided not to disturb her this late in the evening.

–

In the central courtyard, Shen Jingni spent some time looking at the Christmas tree before noticing the plum blossoms nearby. Under the glow of the lanterns, the flowers took on a hazy aura; the petals looked like scattered stars, and a subtle fragrance drifted through the air.

She reached out to pluck a branch, but she couldn’t reach the one with the most beautiful blooms.

She stood on her tiptoes several times to no avail, then tried hopping twice in frustration, but it was still useless.

Shen Jingni felt a bit defeated.

From a distance, Zhao Zonglan saw her trying to pick the plum blossoms, hopping up and down. It seemed she had rested well that afternoon and had regained her energy.

“Which one do you want?” He approached her, asking for her opinion with rare patience.

Hearing his voice, Shen Jingni pointed diagonally upward. “I want that one, the prettiest one.”

Only the prettiest was worthy of a fairy.

Zhao Zonglan was tall with long legs. He tilted his head back slightly, his well-defined fingers reaching for the branch. Just as he was about to snap it off, he heard her say, “I suddenly don’t want it anymore.”

He frowned and looked down at her.

“Just let it stay on the tree. It’s so beautiful; it would be a pity to pick it.”

Shen Jingni suddenly felt sentimental, reluctant to see it go.

But Zhao Zonglan snapped the branch anyway.

He casually handed it to Chang An behind him, his voice as indifferent as ever. “It’s no pity.”

Since he wanted it, he would get it by any means necessary, regardless of the consequences.

Shen Jingni pouted. She thought to herself that a capitalist was incapable of empathizing with her.

Sharing a bed was fine, but sharing feelings was another story.

It was just a plum blossom, so she didn’t take it to heart. Instead, she remembered what happened that afternoon.

She grabbed a corner of his overcoat and began to interrogate him, though her voice lacked confidence. “Zhao Zonglan, why didn’t you wake me up earlier? It was so embarrassing.”

“It wasn’t embarrassing.”

To Zhao Zonglan, it wasn’t even worth mentioning, let alone something to be embarrassed about.

He took Shen Jingni’s hand. He had long legs and a wide stride, making it difficult for her to keep up.

She had to move her legs quickly, following him reluctantly while muttering, “But other people will think I have no manners.”

“No one dares to think that.”

Shen Jingni: “…” Fine.

Since Mr. Zhao was so arrogant, she didn’t need to be overly sensitive about it.

After a while, she started complaining again. “Hey, Zhao Zonglan, slow down! I’m wearing high heels!”

She was almost unable to keep up.

Zhao Zonglan knitted his brows, thinking this little thing was far too much trouble and incredibly delicate.

Seeing his cold expression, she hooked her finger around his and gave it a little tug, trying to coax him.

Zhao Zonglan’s brow slowly relaxed.

In the end, he slowed his pace.

At that moment, several people were standing by the stained-glass window of the Warm Jade Pavilion, watching them.

Tang Shu and Song Qiyu were at the very front.

They saw Zhao Zonglan leading a girl toward the Warm Jade Pavilion. Because the light was dim, they couldn’t see her face clearly, but her figure was excellent. She also seemed a bit reluctant.

Zhao Zonglan had never had a woman by his side.

This scene was a massive blow to the two of them.

Why was it a blow? Because even the perennial iron tree had finally blossomed, yet they were still single dogs.

This didn’t make any sense.

Where on earth did this beauty come from to have caught Zhao Zonglan’s eye?

Xie Chengsui, with a cigarette in his mouth, patted both of them on the shoulder with a smile.

As a married man, Xie Jiqing also gave them a pat and offered some comfort: “Don’t lose heart. Who knows, maybe a pie will fall from the sky for you too.”

Tang Shu: “…” Xie Er, who are you looking down on?

Song Qiyu: “…” Speechless.