They searched around but didn’t find him. In the end, Gao Chun came back on his own.
“I drank too much and went outside to get some fresh air.”
He said this to the group, but his eyes glanced over at Gong Ze. Gong Ze, not understanding why, just nodded in response. Gao Chun also smiled, then quickly turned his face away.
“Where to next?”
“How about we go eat at Fushun Lou, then head over to San Pangzi’s place to play some cards? San Pangzi opened a private mahjong parlor in his villa district. He’s probably trying to network with our circle. Isn’t his wife starting a company? He’s invited us several times.”
“San Pangzi is alright. Doing him a favor isn’t a problem.”
Jiang Lin’an suggested. Ji Huai and Gao Chun had no objections.
Feng Yuan took Gong Ze’s hand. “Fine.”
As they walked to their cars, they chatted.
“What kind of company is his wife starting?”
“I heard it’s an art agency — organizing exhibitions, auctioning paintings, that sort of thing.”
“Tch. Just investing money won’t be enough, will it…”
Every little group of rich kids was a network of connections.
Even if they spent all their days having fun, there was always a subtle undercurrent of personal favor and commercial interest.
Some bosses would beg Feng Yuan, Jiang Lin’an, and the others to come to their venues to play, even offering to pay them.
It was like how students went abroad to gild their resumes, or restaurants used the gimmick of ‘having been eaten by a certain celebrity.’
As long as you were associated with them, and marked with a ‘high-class rich people’ label, you would naturally attract all kinds of people.
People who wanted to meet Feng Yuan and Jiang Lin’an, people who wanted something from them, people who wanted to find a sugar daddy…
And many of the owners behind these establishments were probably within their circle. On the surface, they weren’t spending money, but in reality, it was: you play at my venue, I play at yours.
It wasn’t about business. It was about connections.
Like this time.
Getting investments, starting companies, networking… a lot of it happened through these wealthy circles’ leisure activities.
In the car, Feng Yuan explained the ins and outs to Gong Ze. “Usually, Jiang Lin’an and I don’t go to the office much. But our industrial holdings are pretty complex. Most of the companies we just hold shares in and let others run. We’ve invested in all sorts of things. Only a few unavoidable ones require me to show up at the company in person.”
Feng Yuan glanced at the quiet, handsome Alpha in the passenger seat as he drove, and said in a low voice, “If you ever want to do something, don’t go looking for it yourself. That’s too much trouble. I can arrange it for you. Real estate, tobacco and alcohol, internet entertainment, whatever… If I don’t have anything suitable, Jiang Lin’an or the others probably do.”
Gong Ze asked him, “Your portfolio is so messy. You have everything.”
Feng Yuan: “Most of those small, messy ones come from people who come up to me at parties or when I’m out having fun, trying to sell them to me. Some don’t work out, so I sell them off. A small portion succeed and bring in decent profits.”
“People actually come up to you and sell things?”
Gong Ze was surprised.
Feng Yuan laughed. “Plenty.”
If you had a good idea but no money, if you could get into high-end places and meet influential people, it was only a matter of time before you hit the big time.
“We are the resources.”
As he said this, Feng Yuan raised his eyebrows arrogantly and proudly.
But Gong Ze had a subtle feeling: it was like a proud, gorgeous peacock, craning its elegant neck, striding gracefully up to him, then suddenly spreading its beautiful tail, and looking at him with a coy, pampered expression.
Looks good, doesn’t it?
You don’t have this, do you?
Do you want it?
Gong Ze: “…” Actually, I’m more interested in what’s behind your tail.
He was genuinely curious if peacocks really showed their butts when they fanned their tails, as people said.
The high-school-dropout salted-fish Alpha didn’t understand any of that.
He just felt something like: I may not understand, but I’m impressed.
“You’re so amazing.”
He cooperated and complimented him.
And Feng Yuan’s lips immediately curled up.
Seeing this, Gong Ze thought to himself that Feng Yuan was actually quite a lovesick person.
He was telling him all this just to hint that if Gong Ze ever wanted to do something, he could give him a few businesses — whether a shop or a small company.
This person had just given him a house and a car yesterday, and today he couldn’t wait to give him a career.
Gong Ze thought: Feng Yuan has a terrible temper, but he really does get his head turned by love so easily.
Thank goodness he hates Alphas.
Otherwise, wouldn’t he get scammed out of house and home by some gold digger?
At the same time, he realized that sometimes, crossing class boundaries really didn’t require your own effort. No wonder so many people didn’t want to work hard and just wanted to latch onto a rich person.
Latching onto a rich person did work.
The group went to a restaurant for a meal. The antique, elegant design was quite nice, and the ingredients were fresh and expensive. However, the flavors were too light. Maybe he was just a wild boar who couldn’t appreciate fine dining.
Gong Ze did what he always did: first, he served food to Feng Yuan. Only after Feng Yuan was full did he lower his head and start eating.
Feng Yuan, Jiang Lin’an, and Ji Huai — their families had taught them table manners from a young age. Plus, they had eaten every delicacy to their heart’s content, so they only ate until they were seventy percent full before putting down their chopsticks.
Apart from Gong Ze, the four of them just smoked and chatted idly.
Gong Ze noticed Feng Yuan drinking and tugged at him.
Feng Yuan, seeing Gong Ze nag him like that, found it novel and put down his small glass of baijiu.
“I’ll stop. Someone’s looking after me, guys.”
There was a smile on Feng Yuan’s face. His usually prickly eyes were curved, the wild, untamable light in them replaced by a trace of warm heat.
Noticing that Gong Ze’s left fingernails were stained with sauce from peeling shrimp for him, Feng Yuan picked up the wet towel on the table. He clamped the cigarette between his fingers with his teeth, pulled Gong Ze’s left hand over, held Gong Ze’s wrist with one hand, and used the other to wipe between each of Gong Ze’s fingers.
The young master had never been so soft, never lowered himself to serve anyone else.
The night before had just passed, and Feng Yuan was in the full bloom of his passion for Gong Ze.
Anyone could see how much he liked him.
Jiang Lin’an and Ji Huai felt like they had just eaten a ton of lemons. They grimaced in sourness, shouting “Oh my god, we can’t take this.”
“Don’t be too in love, buddy.”
“Get lost, single dogs. Mind your own business.”
“I’ll bite you to death later, single dog.”
Gong Ze looked back at Feng Yuan’s gaze, watching his face through the smoke rising from the cigarette between his lips. His heart pounded. He pressed his lips together, his ears slightly red, and said quietly, “I can do it myself… Thank you…”
Seeing his shyness, after finishing wiping, Feng Yuan intertwined their fingers and placed their joined hands on his own lap. He removed the cigarette from his lips with his other hand and said in a low, laughing voice, “Just eat.” But he didn’t let go of Gong Ze’s hand, continuing to chat with Jiang Lin’an and the others.
The laughter and chatter were harmonious.
Gao Chun smiled faintly as he slowly drank his wine, his gaze reflecting the embarrassed Gong Ze and Feng Yuan wiping his hand.
…
After singing and eating, they set off for their friend’s private mahjong parlor.
When the car arrived, the man known as “San Pangzi” was dressed in a very Beijing-style manner and was indeed very fat. When he saw Feng Yuan, Jiang Lin’an, and the others, his smile was as happy and endearing as Buddha’s.
“Long time no see, I’ve been hoping you guys would come! Brother Feng, Brother Jiang, and little Chief Ji and little Chief Gao. When I got your call, I immediately prepared a room and a table for you. Play however you want. We have everything here. Don’t worry about a thing!”
San Pangzi suddenly noticed Gong Ze.
He was first stunned by Gong Ze’s appearance, then asked very politely, “And this is…”
“Gong Ze.” Feng Yuan put his arm around Gong Ze’s waist. “My guy.”
Three giant exclamation points went off in San Pangzi’s head.
Wasn’t it said that Feng Yuan hated Alphas the most?
He knew Feng Yuan was coming, so he had replaced all the Alpha servers with Betas. How come he suddenly had such a good-looking boyfriend?
But San Pangzi didn’t ask a single question aloud.
The mahjong parlor’s decor was golden and glittering, with many feng shui-related ornaments on display.
It was also very spacious.
Anyone wouldn’t know better might think someone had moved a Macau casino over here.
The four of them went inside. When the people already playing there saw Feng Yuan and the others, they immediately put down their cards in surprise and came over to greet them. A few were too eager to ingratiate themselves, causing Feng Yuan’s face to darken with impatience.
San Pangzi quickly stepped in, cheerfully shooed them away, and led the group upstairs.
Upstairs, there were a few young masters who had a decent relationship with Jiang Lin’an and the others. They cheerfully suggested playing together.
The four of them sat down at a table. Gong Ze stood beside Feng Yuan, watching his tiles. After a couple of rounds, Feng Yuan asked Gong Ze, “Do you know how to play?”
The honest Alpha shook his head. “No.”
Actually, he did, but Feng Yuan and the others were playing for stakes that were too high. The wimp didn’t dare.
Even if the wins and losses weren’t his, it still scared him.
Feng Yuan said, “Then take my seat and play for me. I’ll tell you how to play.”
So he switched places with Gong Ze, pulled up a chair, and sat close beside him, telling Gong Ze to draw the tiles for him.
Most of the other players at the other tables had brought their girlfriends or boyfriends, and they had them draw the tiles like this. Gong Ze understood what Feng Yuan meant and said quietly, “If I draw badly, you can’t blame me.”
“I know. Why are you so timid? Do you really think I’d hit you over something like that?” Feng Yuan clicked his tongue at him.
He wasn’t a sore loser.
Gong Ze muttered in his heart: That’s not necessarily true. With your dog-like temper.
They played three rounds, winning some and losing some.
Gong Ze played honestly, while Feng Yuan watched Gong Ze’s focused profile. His eyes darkened.
Then, he leaned over and kissed Gong Ze’s face. Then, he draped his arm over the back of Gong Ze’s chair, his hand stroking the protruding gland on the back of Gong Ze’s neck. Then, he pinched Gong Ze’s earlobe, rolling it between his fingers.
The area around Gong Ze’s ear, his face, and his entire neck, flushed pink from Feng Yuan’s touch.
Finally, Gong Ze, angry and frustrated, pushed his tiles away with a muffled thump. “I’m not playing anymore.”
Feng Yuan’s leg, which was pressed against Gong Ze’s, shifted. “Why not?”
“Another minute, and your hand would have been down my pants!”
The cowardly Alpha, rarely raising his voice, said angrily.
How could this person be like this!
Feng Yuan, instead of being ashamed at being yelled at, burst out laughing. He was utterly charmed. He wrapped his arm around Gong Ze’s neck, tightened it, and gave him a kiss.
Jiang Lin’an and the others couldn’t take it anymore.
“Get out of here! Go be all lovey-dovey somewhere else. You two are really something. Have some consideration for us single people, alright?”
“Feng Yuan, no wonder Gong Ze is angry. Gong Ze’s collarbone is all red.”
Having incurred the wrath of the crowd, Feng Yuan raised an eyebrow, pulled Gong Ze up, and happily moved to a nearby bench. The two of them stuck together like two sticky rice cakes.
With three players left, San Pangzi took the empty seat. Later, Ji Huai also got tired, and another young master took his place.
They played mahjong until ten o’clock at night. They ate plenty of tea and snacks. Gong Ze, listening to them chat at the table, was starting to get sleepy.
Then Feng Yuan patted Gong Ze’s leg and stood up. “I’m going to the bathroom.”
“Mm.”
After he left, Gong Ze closed his eyes and dozed off on the sofa. Suddenly, someone sat down beside him. Sensing it, Gong Ze opened his eyes and looked to the side. It was Gao Chun.
Gao Chun had been subbed out at some point.
He was still wearing his artistic outfit. Gong Ze greeted him politely.
Gao Chun looked at him with a smile. Gong Ze, confused, tilted his head. “Is something wrong?”
But Gao Chun said to him, seemingly out of nowhere, “Feng Yuan is easy to fool, isn’t he?”
Gong Ze: “???”
He thought he had misheard. “What?”
Gao Chun smiled. “Nothing. It’s just that Feng Yuan has a bad temper, but he’s never been in love before. If he takes a liking to someone, he’ll treat them especially well and trust them completely. Sometimes, he just… goes along with things.”
“……”
You’re being just as confusing.
Gong Ze thought for a moment, didn’t know how to respond, so he just nodded. “Yeah, he is.”
Gao Chun’s eyes fixed on him. He gave a soft laugh, stood up, and walked away, leaving Gong Ze frowning at his back.
When Feng Yuan returned, Gong Ze’s attention shifted back to him.
“Tired?”
Seeing the sleepiness on his face, Feng Yuan grabbed his coat and said lazily, “Come on. Let’s go home.”
“What about Jiang Lin’an and the others…”
“Jiang Lin’an has a big gambling addiction. If you wait for him to get his fill, it’ll probably be dawn. Let’s go.”
“Oh…”
Feng Yuan held out his hand. Gong Ze silently took it. On their way out, they ran into Gao Chun at the entrance.
Gao Chun, wearing his little white silk shirt, was leaning over with his hands on the railing. He waved at them.
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