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Chapter 9 — A Dream of Summer, Autumn, and Winter

Secretary Yang, on behalf of Cheng Wanting, communicated with the Hong Kong Island police officers to handle the aftermath. In a fleeting glance, he suddenly froze, staring wide-eyed at the scene not far ahead, unable to tear his gaze away.

The eldest young master, who had always disliked others touching him, was actually lowering his eyes and calmly letting Young Master Chen’s child bride wipe the blood off his palms — even meticulously cleaning each of his fingers one by one.

Secretary Yang’s eyelids twitched heavily; for a moment, he was at a loss for words.

He didn’t dare step forward and disturb them.

…

Lin Keying’s heart pounded wildly. Seizing the opportunity, she boldly charged ahead — there was contact, indeed — but the rejection or annoyance she had anticipated never came.

Her fiancé surprisingly remained still and even “obediently” let her wipe his hands. Lin Keying had no choice but to steel herself and carefully dab the bloodstains from his palms with a handkerchief, watching helplessly as the white fabric turned bright red.

Perhaps because he had long lived in Hong Kong, her fiancé, though born into wealth, had slightly rough palms — thin calluses on his palms and knuckles were clear signs of years of firearms training.

Lin Keying’s skin was tender, and no matter how busy she was after starting work, she never neglected self-care. As her delicate fingertips brushed over the man’s calluses, she felt a faint prickling sensation.

But her fiancé’s temperament shifted as quickly as the weather. Once the bloodstains were gone, he abruptly withdrew his hand and spoke in a deep, cold tone, “Miss Lin, you should go back. This isn’t a place you should be.”

Lin Keying: “…”

You say that now? After I’ve finished wiping the blood?

Never mind — as long as he’s clearly annoyed, it means I successfully advanced the plot.

As usual, Secretary Yang was ordered to call a taxi to send Miss Lin away. Once everything was settled and he sat with the eldest young master in the back seat of the Porsche, he noticed the man had closed his eyes to rest.

Knowing the eldest young master was likely unharmed but still uneasy, he suggested, “Young Master, you should still go to the hospital for a check-up. After all, there was just an accidental discharge.”

“No need.” Cheng Wanting’s expression was grim and murderous. When he opened his eyes, they were clear and sharp. “Find out which gang was behind today’s incident.”

Then he added, “Before the police do.”

“Yes, sir.”

The car fell silent. Secretary Yang instructed the driver to head to The Peninsula Hotel. Cheng Wanting owned shares in the hotel and, in addition to his numerous villas, kept a long-term private suite there.

In the hotel’s luxurious suite, after changing out of his bloodstained shirt, Cheng Wanting showered. Stepping out into the steam-filled bathroom, he put on fresh clothes.

“Young Master, we’ve identified them — those men were from the Dragon Tiger Gang. Their leader, Sang Biao, just called. He swears the gang wasn’t involved and claims those men must have been bribed.”

Cheng Wanting didn’t pause as he fastened his shirt buttons and replied coldly, “Four dead, one escaped. Tell Sang Biao to bring the survivor to me.”

“Yes, sir.”

His muscular build was wrapped in a white shirt and then covered by a black suit. In an instant, Cheng Wanting was once again the commanding figure of Huanyu Group.

After tidying his appearance, a certain figure suddenly flashed through Cheng Wanting’s mind. His hand, adjusting his tie, faltered slightly before he asked, “What clothes did you buy with Miss Lin the other day?”

Secretary Yang: “…?”

It was astonishing — the young master actually cared about what a woman bought? That was unheard of!

Forget it — thinking back to the office scene and the blood-wiping moment just now, Secretary Yang answered frankly, “Miss Lin picked them herself — trendy spaghetti strap dresses, camisoles, denim shorts, things like that.”

Cheng Wanting’s face darkened. “Is there not a single long-sleeved shirt or pair of pants in all of Hong Kong?”

Secretary Yang: “…”

—

The gunfight episode in Hong Kong quickly faded from Lin Keying’s mind. Carrying her purchases from the wholesale clothing market, she returned to the Mid-Levels villa.

Hong Kong’s fashion was timeless and eye-catching. Around ten stylish outfits now filled her wardrobe, completely covering the outdated floral garments.

In the following days, Lin Keying sometimes wore the green spaghetti strap dress she bought at the mall — a wrap design that hugged her curves and fell to her calves. Two thin straps looped gracefully around her neck, exposing a large expanse of her beautiful back. Her waterfall-like black hair lightly brushed over her skin, making her alluring and radiant.

Other times, she wore polka-dotted short-sleeve tops and shorts from a street stall, showing off her long, slender legs. Her loose black hair was tied into a high ponytail, brimming with youthful energy.

For several days in a row, she was constantly out and about.

Cheng Wanting glanced briefly at a few photos before quickly shifting his gaze. His slender fingers tapped on one of them as he asked coldly, “Miss Lin’s been going out like this every day?”

“Yes.” For the first time in his life, Secretary Yang had been ordered to track a woman’s whereabouts — a shocking task. “These past few days, Miss Lin bought a few stocks, visited the wholesale clothing market several times, and most often enjoyed desserts at He’s Sweet Soup Stall.”

Secretary Yang had long worried about the young master’s aloof lifestyle that clashed with other Hong Kong elites, always surrounded by no women. Now, he was fretting whether the young master even knew how to date.

Though it breached ethics, given that Miss Lin and Young Master Chen’s engagement was about to be dissolved, there was no harm if she and the young master started dating. Still, tailing her felt a bit… creepy.

He mustered up his courage and advised, “Young Master, dating isn’t done like this… It’s supposed to—”

Before he could finish, he felt a frigid gaze pierce him, silencing him instantly despite the summer heat.

“What are you thinking?” Cheng Wanting sneered, tugging at the corner of his mouth. “You think a woman from the mainland, with no background and little education, could ever enter the Cheng family?”

Secretary Yang was speechless — he couldn’t refute that.

He had only thought about dating — how had the young master jumped straight to marriage?

Clearly, he had overthought. The young master’s many indulgences toward Miss Lin must be out of respect for Young Master Chen. Secretary Yang regained his clarity. With Miss Lin’s background, she truly couldn’t marry into the Cheng family — even the less wealthy Chen family wouldn’t accept her, let alone the far more powerful Cheng family.

“Secretary Yang, there’s a call for you from a Miss Lin — says it’s urgent.”

Both men in the break room looked up simultaneously, the staff member only then realizing President Cheng had been obscured behind the cabinet.

They quickly greeted him and left.

Secretary Yang, feeling as though he was sitting on pins and needles, returned to his desk to answer the phone, sensing a probing gaze on his back.

After hanging up, he turned around — the break room was already empty.

Along with that, Miss Lin’s photos had mysteriously vanished.

After a full day of work, Secretary Yang felt an inexplicable pressure in the general manager’s office but couldn’t pinpoint why.

Until that evening, as work ended, the young master nonchalantly asked, “Don’t you have anything to report?”

Orphaned and nearly killed in a gang fight in his youth, Secretary Yang had been saved by Cheng Wanting and followed him for over a decade. He prided himself on understanding the young master well.

Yet, even as his mind raced, he couldn’t figure it out. “Young Master, Tiansing Realty has loosened their stance…”

Seeing the young master’s expression darken, he tried another, “The Governor’s office recently…”

“Or perhaps Father and Director Li are still discussing the arranged marriage…”

Cheng Wanting’s icy voice cut him off: “The phone call at noon.”

“Huh?”

Secretary Yang was dumbfounded.

“It was Miss Lin. She asked me to help check if there were any good heart surgeons at Queen Mary Hospital recently.”

—

Recently, Lin Keying had carefully bought three more stocks, picking companies that would still prosper decades later. Short on funds, she didn’t overreach and had already made several times her investment, now holding HK$520.

Today at He’s Sweet Soup Stall, she chatted with the couple about possibly helping them distribute clothing in Hong Kong while she opened a clothing store back in the mainland — talking eagerly and confidently.

It seemed they were already poised to build cross-border business empires and get rich together.

But after one bowl of dessert, bad news arrived from Queen Mary Hospital.

He A-jie’s daughter, Tingting, who was scheduled for heart surgery tomorrow, faced postponement. The hospital’s best cardiac surgeon had gone missing after being caught in yesterday’s gang fight on his way home!

Rescheduling with other doctors would take a long time. The couple was frantic. Lin Keying, also distressed by the sight of the pale sixteen-year-old girl, called Secretary Yang to see if he could help.

“This illness can’t be delayed. I just hope Dr. Huo is okay.”

He A-jie’s husband rushed back. “I’ve already asked the hospital to schedule another doctor, but it’ll take time.”

Lin Keying comforted the frail girl, who smiled and reassured her parents, “Maybe it’s fate telling me to have surgery later. Don’t worry too much.”

What parents wouldn’t worry? The next day, He A-jie closed her stall early and went with Lin Keying to the hospital — only to see Tingting struggling to breathe from another attack.

Feeling her smallness in the face of illness, Lin Keying went alone to the police station to inquire, but news was bleak. With yesterday’s massive gang brawl, no one had time to care about a missing doctor.

Returning disappointed to the hospital, Lin Keying spotted Secretary Yang speaking with He A-jie.

“Dr. Huo has been released by He Sheng Tong. The surgery can proceed tomorrow.”

Lin Keying and the overjoyed He A-jie squeezed each other’s hands and cheered softly. One ran to share the good news with her daughter, the other thanked Secretary Yang.

“Thank you, Secretary Yang.”

Secretary Yang couldn’t accept the gratitude in good conscience. “Dr. Huo got caught in a gang fight and was detained — that’s not something I could’ve resolved.”

Lin Keying blinked. “It was the young master?”

“Mm.”

Lin Keying thought: The young master is truly a good man!

Aside from his absolute refusal to fulfill the engagement, he was pretty great otherwise.

++++

Hong Kong’s night was already ablaze with lights, neon dazzling and nightlife bustling, though the surrounding steel skyscrapers stood cold and imposing.

Carrying takeaway wonton noodles, Lin Keying went up to the 32nd floor and gently knocked on the general manager’s office door — he was still working late.

Most staff had left; seeing the boss working overtime alone, Lin Keying couldn’t help but think he was quite a decent person.

“Young Master, thank you for helping release Dr. Huo.” Entering the room, she deftly placed the noodles on the coffee table, her smile warm and sincere.

Cheng Wanting, reviewing documents, looked up at her.

The green spaghetti strap dress he’d seen in the photos appeared vividly before him.

“Mm. What are you here for?” His gaze returned to the papers.

Lin Keying didn’t intend to follow the plot today — her thanks were genuine. “I heard from Secretary Yang you skipped dinner and are still working. People need food to keep going — eat first before working more. These wonton noodles are delicious. I’ve left them on the table and won’t disturb you.”

Cheng Wanting hadn’t expected Lin Keying to come and go so quickly today. The wonton noodles were delicate, the broth fragrant and enticing. By the door, only the green hem of her dress vanished swiftly.

In his desk drawer, scattered photos lay quietly — vivid green, like a thriving spring that lingered in his mind.

The next day, Cheng Wanting was startled awake at home by the phone ringing. The secretary’s surprised voice came from the line — because the always punctual young master had overslept.

In his dream, that green figure had wrapped tightly around him. Throwing back the covers, Cheng Wanting strode coldly into the bathroom.

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