Yun Fan’s heart ached for Zhao Fu.
Just as Yun Fan had predicted, the sky had been overcast when they arrived, and now heavy rain began to pour.
Wen Haochen’s convertible was out of the question if they drove all the way back to Wen Yan’s residence soaked through, he’d be front-page news tomorrow.
Liu Erxing held up his car keys, and Yun Fan and Wen Haochen got into Wen Zhao Fu’s car. The beef offal was off the table now, and Yun Fan felt a slight pang of regret.
Wen Haochen, on the other hand, was buzzing with excitement. He leaned over the seat, telling Wen Zhao Fu all about how impressive Yun Fan was. Wen Zhao Fu listened quietly, neither matching Wen Haochen’s enthusiasm nor nodding or shaking his head.
Watching Wen Zhao Fu’s reaction, Yun Fan felt a knot of unease in his stomach, wondering whether today’s events would seem like a childish stunt in Wen Zhao Fu’s eyes.
But when Wen Haochen had said he wanted to hire him to curse people, Wen Zhao Fu hadn’t objected either.
Forget it, Wen Haochen had already transferred the money to him, and no matter who criticized him, he wasn’t giving it back.
After driving past two streets, raindrops slid down the car windows, blurring everything outside much like Yun Fan’s recent experiences.
But he’d always been good at keeping an open mind. People didn’t live for uncertainties; he wanted to live in the present. Like right now earning money gave him a deep sense of satisfaction.
“Big brother,” Wen Zhao Fu’s voice cut through the quiet cabin, growing clearer, “you mentioned earlier that there’s a place near your home with excellent beef offal. Let’s go there.”
Yun Fan and Wen Haochen’s eyes lit up at the same time. Wen Haochen had completely forgotten about it, and hadn’t even noticed Yun Fan’s disappointment at missing out on the beef offal.
Now his big brother had taken the initiative to solve the problem, and Wen Haochen felt that Wen Zhao Fu was no longer the fighter who’d hit him that night he was practically an archangel.
“Big brother, don’t you not eat street food?” Wen Haochen asked eagerly, but got no response from Wen Zhao Fu.
When they arrived, the driver parked in a discreet spot and got out to open the door: “Second Young Master, Steward Yun, we’re here.”
“Isn’t Mr. Zhao Fu coming?” Yun Fan paused, glancing toward the back seat.
Wen Zhao Fu smiled. “You two enjoy yourselves. I’ll pick up the tab.”
The car door slowly closed, and Yun Fan saw Wen Zhao Fu inside lower his head to look at his tablet. Somehow, he felt that this big boss who commanded wind and rain in the daytime seemed a little lonely.
“Isn’t the gentleman hungry?” Yun Fan insisted, asking one more time.
Wen Haochen pushed him into the shop: “Big brother has a lot of dietary restrictions. The doctor said he can’t just eat anywhere. Let’s eat quickly and get home in time for his meal.”
“Huh? He has a set meal time?” Yun Fan scratched his head. “Doesn’t he just eat whenever he wants?”
The driver went to order, and Wen Haochen explained: “It’s all because Uncle Cheng is strict. The doctor said finishing dinner before seven o’clock helps with recovery, so he insists on getting big brother home before that time.”
It was doctor’s orders, so Yun Fan shut his mouth and stopped questioning. The beef offal was set before him, its aroma wafting up.
To be precise, it was a platter of beef offal tripe and intestines that were chewy and firm. The fish balls and beef balls were hand-pounded, springy and soft. There was also beef marrow in the bowl, which you could suck down in one gulp like jelly.
Yun Fan’s favorite was the radish at the bottom. The big radish had been stewed until it was deeply infused with flavor, bursting with juice.
Liu Erxing, who hadn’t come along due to a last-minute matter, really knew how to eat. This kind of street stall focused on a single dish always had the most flavor.
It was just a shame Wen Zhao Fu couldn’t have any. As Yun Fan ate, he found himself enjoying it less and less.
The driver finished his meal first and went to settle the bill, chatting with an old neighbor for a while. As for Wen Haochen, that carefree one, he ate until sweat beaded on his forehead, and feeling still hungry, he ordered another bowl of rice noodles.
Yun Fan noticed he especially loved beef heart and beef lung maybe it was a case of “eat what you lack.”
Glancing at the time, Yun Fan urged Wen Haochen a couple of times, and Wen Haochen wiped his mouth with a napkin: “Let’s go, let’s go, the driver must be getting impatient.”
Wen Zhaofu in the car was still looking at his tablet. Seeing them return, he smiled and asked, “Had enough to eat?”
Yun Fan spoke up before Wen Haochen could, nodding eagerly: “Mm-hmm, let’s hurry home.”
The driver had been chauffeuring Wen Zhaofu for years and drove very steadily. The luxury car made no noise, and when no one spoke, the whole environment was perfect for sleeping.
If it weren’t for remembering he was a butler, Yun Fan would have lain down long ago.
When they were almost home, Wen Zhaofu cleared his throat and turned to look at Wen Haochen: “The caviar… I’ve already hired a lawyer and taken legal measures.”
“For something like this, you want to vent, and I want to handle it.”
“From now on, study in peace. You’re about to graduate don’t stir up any more trouble.”
After going around in circles, it was still Wen Zhaofu who cleaned up after him in the end, and Wen Haochen lowered his head.
Wen Zhaofu glanced at Yun Fan again, and Yun Fan smiled, once again feeling that this man had far too many things to worry about.
They were a bit late getting back, and the old butler’s startled voice carried from the entrance of Langyun Terrace all the way into the main hall. Yun Fan couldn’t stand it anymore and spoke up: “Mr. Wen is so busy, it’s inevitable he can’t come back on time. As butlers, we should be flexible.”
“What are you getting excited about? I’m not excited!” The old butler turned to Yun Fan. “Didn’t you go out with the second young master? Why did you come back in the eldest young master’s car?”
The weather was muggy, and Wen Zhaofu knew he was late, so he was inevitably anxious. By now, a thin layer of sweat had formed on his forehead. Yun Fan noticed his face was pale and he didn’t look well, so he ignored the old butler, pushed the wheelchair, and tossed out: “I’ll take Mr. Wen to change clothes first.”
“Hey! Why aren’t you following the rules in your work!” the old butler shouted loudly from behind.
“I’m giving up!” Yun Fan yelled back just as loudly.
Along the way, Yun Fan’s muttering all fell into Wen Zhaofu’s ears: “Eating a meal is like going to battle, where’s the fun in that? No wonder you don’t enjoy eating. Is this some kind of torture?”
“They won’t even let you change clothes. This is your own home, why dress so stiffly?”
“Old Liu is absolutely right he’s from the Ancient Tomb Sect.”
Wen Zhaofu suppressed a smile and patted Yun Fan’s hand in return: “Xiao Yun, don’t get into conflict with him because of me.”
“This is for work.” Yun Fan frowned, already forming a plan in his mind.
That evening, under the old butler’s disapproving gaze, the night passed without incident. Wen Zhaofu didn’t know what Yun Fan would do, and he didn’t want to say too much, lest Yun Fan misunderstand that he was siding with the old butler.
The old butler had served the Wen family for generations he probably knew this household better than Wen Zhaofu himself. Ever since Wen Zhaofu followed his grandfather back to Hong Kong, the old butler had been taking care of his daily needs.
By traditional butler standards, Wen Cheng should be the finest kind. But he and Wen Zhaofu were a generation apart in age, so naturally they had many differing views.
Yet this wasn’t the most urgent matter for Wen Zhaofu to resolve, so he and the old butler had stumbled along together in this awkward way until now.
Perhaps this balance was about to be broken.
Cheng Yu didn’t come to Harbor City just for his cat. After a brief rest, he went straight to the Wen Group. With Wen Zhaofu’s consent, he sat in on several internal meetings.
Ever since Wen Qichang had become nothing more than a figurehead chairman on the board and stopped handling day-to-day operations, Wen Zhaofu’s workload had increased dramatically. He was extremely efficient anyone newly joining his assistant team often found it hard to keep up.
Even so, he still brought work home every evening when he returned to Wen Yanlan Manor.
The Wen family was now prominent and well-known, yet after tailing Wen Zhaofu for days, reporters hadn’t picked up a single scrap of gossip. His daily life was almost a straight line between two points.
The only exception was a while back when he’d taken an unusual route and gone to a beef offal shop. But when he got there, he didn’t even get out of the car.
Truly baffling.
When Cheng Yu arrived at Wen Zhaofu’s office, he got to taste the coffee beans that had just been flown in. Wen Zhaofu sat in his wheelchair by the window, smoking a cigar.
He didn’t inhale just let the smoke linger in his mouth.
“Want one?” Wen Zhaofu turned his head to ask Cheng Yu.
Cheng Yu shook his head, still holding his cat in his arms. Wen Zhaofu smiled. “I’ve got people watching. If that person tries to snatch the cat, we’ll get word the moment they set foot in Harbor City.”
That did nothing to reassure Cheng Yu; he still wouldn’t let go. Wen Zhaofu asked curiously, “Why do you treasure this cat so much?”
“It gives far more emotional value than people do,” Cheng Yu said with a smile. “You probably wouldn’t understand.”
Wen Zhaofu looked into his eyes and said, inscrutably, “How do you know I don’t?”
When Cheng Yu cast a curious glance his way, Wen Zhaofu turned his head back toward the bright glass and blew a smoke ring.
In the distance was the sea, stretching endlessly. Clouds drifted across the sky, and because of the building’s height, they seemed almost within reach.
Just as the sun was about to set, a call came from home. After listening, Wen Zhaofu froze slightly.
Yun Fan and the old butler were arguing at home. Liu Erxing was siding with Yun Fan, and Wen Haochen was on the verge of tears.
The staff at the Wen Group president’s office watched as Wen Zhaofu, in his wheelchair, showed rare signs of agitation. Cheng Yu followed behind him, and the two left together.
“Ugh, why can’t we wear casual clothes?” Yun Fan was getting worked up. “First of all, back where I’m from, only insurance salesmen and real estate agents dress like this all day! Second, I went and asked the other seven great estates, they all stopped dressing like this long ago. As long as you look presentable, that’s enough.”
The moment Wen Zhaofu and Cheng Yu arrived home, they saw Yun Fan and the old butler arguing heatedly, faces flushed. Liu Erxing stood off to the side with her arms crossed, while Wen Haochen darted up and down until Liu Erxing pressed a hand on his head to hold him still.
“This is tradition, this is the gentleman’s style, this is what we ought to do!” The old butler wouldn’t yield an inch.
Wen Zhaofu tapped his fingers and sped up his wheelchair. Steadying his voice, he spoke up. “Xiao Yun, have a drink of water. Sit down and tell me slowly.”