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墨書 Inktalez
Wang Shun Yuan held the jade ring, its smooth surface warm to the touch, as his knuckles turned slightly pale. Sunlight streamed through the intricately carved window, casting patterns on the rosewood tea table, where traces of yesterday's chess game lingered in the golden silk nanmu wood grain. He swallowed hard, finally sliding the ring back onto his ring finger. "Old Huang, let's accept what Jiang Chen gave us."
Huang Lin was absentmindedly stirring rose petals floating on the surface of the tea with the lid of a blue and white porcelain cup. Startled by his words, her hand trembled, causing several petals to sink into the emerald tea. Her almond-shaped eyes widened, and her pearl earrings caught the light as they swayed at her temples. "Old Wang, didn't you say yesterday that this ring was a token of love given by the Qin family?"
Liu Ying straightened up from his rattan chair, a bamboo skewer still dripping with honeyed lotus seeds in his hand. "Sister-in-law, Young Master Jiang said this is a sign of brotherhood. If we refuse it again, it would be disrespectful." He flicked his fingers, and amber honey stretched into fine threads in the sunlight before dripping onto the zitan tea tray, instantly absorbed by the wood grain.
Wang Shun Yuan walked to the floor-to-ceiling window, where the glass facade of Jiangjing Apartment reflected blinding light. He gazed at the makeshift housing across the river that was being demolished and rebuilt. There used to be mulberry trees he climbed as a boy; now only dust swirled from excavators' iron arms. "Do you think Jiang Chen's changes are...?" He suddenly faltered, a bitter acidity rising in his throat.
"Boss," Liu Ying toyed with a sandalwood prayer bead, "even Miss Qin Xiaoya has to look up to him now. Do you really think an ordinary nouveau riche could achieve that?" The beads spun like a whirlwind between his fingers, mingling sandalwood and cologne scents in the air.
Huang Lin recalled last week's charity gala, where Jiang Chen played the guqin in a linen long gown. The silver-threaded cloud patterns shimmered under the spotlight, and when he plucked the strings, that small vermilion mole between his brows made even the usually composed Qin Second Miss lose her focus. She unconsciously traced her fingers over her jade bracelet; its cool touch made her heart sink.
A Rolls-Royce glided over the elevated bridge as Jiang Chen gazed out at the retreating silhouettes of sycamore trees. The leather seat molded around his tall frame while cedar fragrance from the central console wafted in the warm breeze. He undid the top button of his linen shirt, revealing a silver chain that glimmered just above his collarbone.
"Last night I gave twenty million to Wang's family..." he stirred his pu-erh tea in a bone china cup absentmindedly; the tea leaves unfurled into an ink-like landscape at the bottom of the transparent glass.
Qin Xiaoya lowered her head while organizing a sheepskin document folder; a diamond hairpin in her hair caught fragments of light from above. "The final ultimatum has been sent as per your instructions, but..." Her delicate fingers paused mid-air. "The Gu family submitted a joint petition today."
Jiang Chen's brow furrowed slightly as he traced his fingertip along the gold rim of his cup. He suddenly recalled that stormy night three years ago when Wang Shun Yuan had shielded him from a security guard's rubber baton; blood-stained work pants still bore rust from scaffolding. He downed his tea in one gulp, bitterness exploding on his tongue.
"Have them transfer two billion tomorrow." He pushed open the car door; night wind billowed up his sleeve, revealing dark red scars on his inner arm. The crystal chandelier in the restaurant shattered into starlight in his vision as Jiang Lu held up her phone to capture truffle foie gras displayed in a window; flashes danced across her freckles.
"Chen Ge, look!" Jiang Lu handed him her phone; on-screen gold leaf flowed over foie gras like a galaxy. Qin Xusha giggled beside her, and her bow-shaped hair accessory swayed with her movements. Jiang Chen pulled out his credit card and handed it to the waiter; as he signed, the pen tip made a soft scratch against carbon paper.
The ginkgo trees by the lakeside began to turn yellow, their fallen leaves forming a golden carpet on benches. Qin Xiaoya adjusted her silk scarf while diamond earrings sparkled with each step she took. Jiang Chen kicked aside a leaf that had drifted near his feet and suddenly grasped her icy wrist.
"What your uncle said at the board meeting last time..." His thumb brushed over a bruise on her wrist. "Let him test my patience next time." In the distance came sounds of square dancing mingling with elderly people feeding pigeons, blending into a chaotic hum in the twilight.
Qin Xiaoya's eyelashes fluttered as the last rays of sunset slipped from her shoulder. She remembered seeing dark circles under her eyes in the mirror that morning, recalled knowing glances exchanged at her father's bedside about secret messages, and thought of that letter tucked away in the vault for when he stepped down from power. The warmth from Jiang Chen's fingertips seeped through her skin into her bones, melting away any lingering chill like shards of ice breaking apart.
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