Striving for Science C80 pt2

"Shen Chang'an."

A beautiful girl called out to him, holding a bouquet of fragrant lilies.

Shen Chang'an stopped and looked at the girl standing under the tree. "Ms. Zeng Yi?"

"I'm sorry for interrupting you," Zeng Yi looked at the boy in front of her. He was handsome, and his smile was like the sun. When she was in danger, and everyone else was screaming and running away, he was the one who ran against the tide of fleeing people and saved her from the blade.

This boy was perfect in every way, except for the fact that he didn't like her.

She bit her lower lip, her face slightly pale. She was usually straightforward in her words and actions, but today, she felt unusually hesitant. She knew that in his eyes, she was just a stranger, but she still wanted to find a glimmer of hope, however distant.

It's like a poor person going to a lottery booth, knowing they're unlikely to win millions, but still can't help but fantasize about what kind of happy life they could have if they did win.

"Excuse me, do you need something?" Shen Chang'an glanced at the black car parked outside and patiently stopped.

"You didn't like the flowers I sent this morning?"

"Wow, the drama of a lovesick girl chasing after her heart's desire is unfolding." A voice full of schadenfreude rang out. Shen Chang'an looked up at the tree behind Zeng Yi. This tree seemed to need another good scolding.

"Sorry," Shen Chang'an gave Zeng Yi an apologetic smile. "I appreciate your feelings, but I can't accept them."

The tree swayed gently, "The story has taken a turn towards a lovesick girl and a heartless man. Men, they're all pigs."

Zeng Yi's face turned pale, and a mist of tears gathered in her eyes. "Do you have someone you like?"

Dao Nian's image flashed quickly through Shen Chang'an's mind. He thought to himself that he might be devoted to Dao Nian for his entire life, with no time or energy to spare for other good girls.

"No."

"You don't have anyone you like, and I like you. We can try being together, maybe…"

"I'm sorry," Shen Chang'an interrupted her. "I think it would be unfair to you, and unfair to anyone I might like in the future.

Tears welled up in her eyes, Zeng Yi looked at Shen Chang'an with a hint of unwillingness, "Are you so sure you won't like me in the future?"

Shen Chang'an didn't answer the question directly. He didn't want to make the atmosphere more awkward. "Sorry."

Such a clear rejection, how could Zeng Yi not understand? She wiped away the tears threatening to spill from her eyes, and smiled wryly, "Shen Chang'an, you're the first boy I've ever actively pursued in my life."

"If you don't like me, then forget it." Zeng Yi pretended to be relaxed. "As a woman, I need to be good to myself. Since you don't like me, I won't force it."

"I wonder who will make your heart flutter someday…"

"Chang'an." Dao Nian got out of the car and walked over to Shen Chang'an, naturally placing his hand on his shoulder. "Why did it take you so long?"

"Something delayed me." Shen Chang'an didn't mention Zeng Yi's confession to him. After all, it involved a girl's reputation, and he couldn't just talk about it.

"Oh." Dao Nian turned his gaze to Zeng Yi and politely nodded slightly. "Hello."

"You, hello." Zeng Yi hugged the flowers in her arms, feeling that this man had an aura that made her afraid. Moreover, she felt that he didn't intend to chat with her, as if the polite nod just now was also for Shen Chang'an's sake.

Dao Nian retracted his gaze, lowered his head and said to Shen Chang'an, "Let's go."

"Oh, okay." Shen Chang'an said to Zeng Yi, "Ms. Zeng, goodbye.

Zeng Yi smiled wryly. He called her "Ms. Zeng," already being polite to the point of being distant. If she didn't understand the hint, she would be making a fool of herself. "Goodbye."

She lowered her head and looked at the flowers in her hand. This bouquet of flowers was like her current feelings, unable to be given away.

She watched Shen Chang'an and his friend's backs, vaguely hearing their conversation.

"Do you like receiving flowers?"

"What?"

"I'll give them to you tomorrow. Do you want rainbow ones?"

"Nonsense, there are no rainbow flowers in the world."

Zeng Yi stood there in a daze, her mind feeling a bit empty. She felt like she had grasped something, but when she thought about it carefully, she hadn't grasped anything at all.

***

"Where are we going to eat?" Shen Chang'an saw that Liu Mao was driving towards the river, and he smiled. "Going to the river for a seafood feast, the host who invited us is quite particular."

Wuming City isn't by the sea, so the seafood in high-end restaurants is transported from other places. But no matter how you do it, it's still a bit less flavorful than fresh seafood from coastal areas.

Eating seafood by the river, although the taste isn't as authentic as by the sea, at least the atmosphere is there.

"Mr. Shen, just go ahead and eat. The person who invited you to dinner this time, their other things are ordinary, but there's one thing that's truly authentic, and that's seafood." Liu Mao chuckled. "As long as you want to eat seafood, he can get it for you."

Shen Chang'an couldn't help but swallow.

Dao Nian looked at the scenery outside the car window, not listening to Shen Chang'an and Liu Mao's casual conversation. Instead, he was calculating the events that had happened that morning.

It turned out that there was actually a girl who sent food, drinks, and even flowers to Chang'an.

Sending flowers in human culture has an extremely special meaning.

Dao Nian's expression was very serious. He didn't want Shen Chang'an to belong to anyone, and he didn't want him to be with anyone else.

Since Chang'an had promised to stay with him until they were old, he should keep his word.

How could you go back on your word to Heaven?

"Dao Nian." Shen Chang'an saw that Dao Nian wasn't speaking, so he reached out and poked his waist. "What does your friend do? Is he easy to get along with?"

"Not friends," Dao Nian felt a little itchy where Shen Chang'an had poked him, "My friend, only you."

Shen Chang'an wanted to say, how could he have only one friend? But facing Dao Nian's serious gaze, he shamefully felt a sense of secret joy.

Shen Chang'an, Shen Chang'an, he secretly scolded himself in his heart, how could you be so selfish, so petty?

But, thinking that he was Dao Nian's only one, still felt so happy, so secure, hehe.

Looking at Shen Chang'an's half-smiling, half-serious expression, Dao Nian lowered his eyelids: "You are different from me, you have countless friends..."

"That's different, they are just my friends, but you are my inseparable, irreplaceable confidant, my lifelong brother." The more Shen Chang'an explained, the more he felt like a century-defining, invincible jerk, saying to a girl, "I'm just playing around with them, I only truly love you."

"I know," Dao Nian said calmly, "Although you have many good friends, I am the most special one in your heart, and I am already satisfied."

Hearing this, Shen Chang'an felt like he was hearing a lovesick woman say to a jerk, "I don't ask for you to love only me, just remember me forever, let me be the most special one in your heart, and I will have no regrets in my life."

The more he thought about it, the more he felt like a century-defining, invincible jerk. Shen Chang'an couldn't help but want to be better to Dao Nian, even better.

It was unclear how Liu Mao was driving, but the car sped through a pitch-black tunnel. After driving for less than three minutes, it stopped by the river.

Shen Chang'an thought the design of this road was unreasonable. A tunnel leading directly to the riverbank. If a driver were to get lost or be confused at night, they might drive into the river without even having time to call for help.

He had been in Wuming City for almost half a year, why had he never noticed this road before?

"Mr. Shen." A large cruise ship was docked on the river, and a man with a beard and a yellow jacket walked down from it, his face filled with excitement. Behind him were a dozen or so young, handsome men, a dark mass, like a gang leader taking his men out for a stroll.

"Mr. Shen, you are gracing us with your presence, making our humble abode shine. Please, please come aboard." The man bowed deeply to invite Dao Nian onto the ship, his bent back barely straightening. As for the handsome young men behind him, they were even more careful, bending over and not daring to even look at Dao Nian.

Shen Chang'an thought, maybe they were more like underworld bosses.

"This must be Mr. Shen?" The man, after flattering Dao Nian, didn't forget to praise Shen Chang'an, "I've long heard of your reputation, Mr. Shen. Now that I've met you, you truly are a… remarkable talent, with a noble bearing." Then, he introduced the dozen or so young men behind him, "My surname is Long*, my given name is Guang, you can call me Long Guang. These children are all my unworthy nephews and nieces. If Mr. Shen needs anything, just tell them."

TN: this is a dragon yao, more references to Journey to the West

"You're too kind." Shen Chang'an glanced at these young people, this family must have been fined a lot for having so many children, right?

"It is my greatest honor that you and Mr. Shen have come." Long Guang led the way, and along the way, Shen Chang'an saw that the ship was adorned with sparkling gems everywhere, with crystal curtains hanging down, and even the large lamps on top were made of shining crystal.

Looking up, he saw the words "Crystal Palace" hanging above the main entrance, quite fancy. He wasn't sure if the crystals and gems were real or fake, but they were piled together in such a way that they weren't tacky at all, instead, they were luxuriously extravagant.

Entering the inner room, Shen Chang'an saw several girls sitting inside. He secretly thought, could these be the owner's daughters and nieces?

As expected, Long Guang introduced, "These are my daughters and nieces."

Shen Chang'an: "..."

"Please, take a seat." Long Guang led Dao Nian to the seat of honor, with Shen Chang'an seated beside him. As a guest, he felt a little embarrassed, but seeing Dao Nian sitting comfortably, without any discomfort, he also settled down peacefully.

It was called a seafood feast, and Long Guang didn't offer any discounts. The fish, shrimp, crab, and shellfish served were all top-tier ingredients. The most frightening thing was that Shen Chang'an discovered even the tableware was inlaid with beautiful jewels.

Shen Chang'an placed a peeled, plump shrimp into Dao Nian's bowl, whispering in his ear, "Dao Nian, are these jewels real?"

Dao Nian said calmly, "Even if they are real, they're just insignificant trinkets."

Shen Chang'an's hand holding the bowl trembled slightly. He looked at the tableware inlaid with gems all over the table. Rich people really could do whatever they wanted.

These seafood were prepared in a way he didn't know, the flavor was exceptionally fragrant. Shen Chang'an didn't have the energy to listen to what they were talking about. As a qualified freeloader, all he needed to do was bury his head and eat.

"Master, if Mr. Shen likes these, why not let me send his favorites to your residence every day?" Long Guang looked at Dao Nian expectantly, hoping he would nod immediately.

"These things are delicious, but you can't eat too much." Dao Nian's tone was a little bland, but his eyes were full of indulgence as he looked at Shen Chang'an. "You don't need them every day, once a week is enough."

"Yes, yes, yes." Long Guang nodded repeatedly, his smile uncontainable. "Please rest assured, sir, we will definitely select the best and freshest ones to deliver."

"Mm." Dao Nian nodded slowly, signifying his agreement.

All the younger generations at the table were also very happy, and their eyes towards Shen Chang'an became even more enthusiastic. For so many years, they hadn't even figured out how to curry favor with him, but they never expected that they could achieve their goal indirectly.

Noticing that many people were secretly looking at him, Shen Chang'an pretended to be calm, wiped the corner of his mouth, and looked up at them.

Shen Chang'an looked up, and all those gazes quickly retreated.

Such a high-level banquet, and they're so eager to give Dao Nian gifts, it's obvious they're asking for something. He turned his head to see that Dao Nian didn't look troubled, so he didn't bother him further and started attacking a large, fat crab.

After dinner, as they were leaving, Shen Chang'an received two large boxes sent by Long Guang.

“While we were eating, I noticed that Mr. Shen seemed interested in these little trinkets, so I’m giving them to you to play with,” Long Guang said eagerly. “When the harvest season comes, I’ll send you some new ones.”

Shen Chang'an declined, but Dao Nian finally said, "Take it and play with it."

"Yes, yes, take them, take them." Long Guang saw them off to their car. "Gentlemen, have a safe trip. Welcome back to Crystal Palace anytime."

After the car drove out of the tunnel, Shen Chang'an opened the box and saw the things inside, labeled as "playthings." He almost collapsed in the car, his legs weak.

These days, do rich people give gifts so straightforwardly?!