Chapter Eleven: The Purple Cloud Pavilion

Ziyun Pavilion was a high-end restaurant in the capital, its entire décor exuding an antique charm. Stepping inside was like passing from a world of towering skyscrapers into the Ming and Qing dynasties. Ornate beams and painted rafters emerged in glimpses, dragons and phoenixes entwined in auspicious patterns, an elegant aura of ancient times suffusing the air. Bamboo and trees swayed gently, unveiling a hidden paradise within.

As soon as Zhang Wei entered the main door, the faint scent of sandalwood greeted him, cool and refreshing, invigorating his very spirit. The splendid antique décor impressed him so much that he found it almost a misnomer to call this place a restaurant.

What he saw was a traditional Beijing courtyard house—dignified and unpretentious, graced with pavilions and elegant chambers, lush with trees, every few steps revealing a new scene, as though he had stepped into another world entirely.

No sooner had Zhang Wei and his two companions passed through the main gate than they were greeted by a charming hostess, her cheongsam tracing graceful lines along her figure, a slight smile upon her lips. She stopped before them and said, “Welcome, honored guests.”

“Please take us to a private room,” Murong Xuan nodded politely to the hostess.

“Of course. Please, this way.” The hostess gestured invitingly and led the three further inside.

“Luckily we came early today—before the lunch rush. Otherwise, I doubt we’d have found a seat,” Murong Xuan remarked with a smile to Zhang Wei and his companion.

“Indeed! I’ve been here a few times before. Their shark fin soup is quite good,” Zhang Yuxia chimed in, evidently a regular and quite familiar with the ambiance.

Zhang Wei followed behind, outwardly composed but inwardly astonished. As an agent barely scraping by, he had never encountered such an evocative setting. Dining here was unimaginable—he’d never even set foot in a place like this before.

He glanced around as they walked, certain that a single meal here might cost more than his monthly living expenses. If not for the recent deal that had brought him thirty thousand yuan, he would have felt so out of place in this courtyard that his legs might have given out from sheer anxiety.

It wasn’t that Zhang Wei was timid, but rather that lack of means drained his confidence. If, by some twist of fate, his host had to leave mid-meal and the bill fell to him, he wouldn’t have enough money to cover it. Even draining his entire savings wouldn’t suffice, leaving him penniless for the rest of the month.

While Zhang Wei’s mind wandered with such worries, the hostess ushered them into a private room and handed each of them a menu, then stood discreetly aside, waiting for their order.

Murong Xuan ordered three bowls of shark fin soup, followed by eight dishes: braised supreme shark fin, drunken trio of seafood, red-braised pig’s trotters, poached fish, stir-fried bamboo shoots, steamed spare ribs with black bean sauce, and braised mushrooms with vegetables. Zhang Wei, though silent, glanced at the menu and was staggered by the prices.

Once they had finished ordering, the hostess withdrew. Only then did Zhang Yuxia speak at her leisure, “Miss Murong, I don’t live in the capital most of the time, so if anything comes up with the storefront, it’s inconvenient for me to handle. That’s why I’ve asked Zhang Wei to take care of things for me. If you need anything, you can go directly to him.”

“No problem, Sister Zhang,” Murong Xuan replied with a smile, understanding now why Zhang Yuxia had invited Zhang Wei to lunch. She turned to Zhang Wei, “Mr. Zhang, I’ll be counting on you from now on.”

“You’re too kind, Miss Murong,” Zhang Wei answered politely.

“By the way, Miss Murong, what kind of restaurant are you planning to open?” Zhang Yuxia inquired. Although the storefront had already been leased, as the owner she felt compelled to know.

“I used to run a Hong Kong-style café in Hong Kong, which did quite well, but now I want to try a different business model—or rather, adapt to local customs. I plan to open a Beijing-style restaurant here in the capital and gain more management experience,” Murong Xuan explained.

“Very well. The next time I’m in the capital, I’ll be sure to come and try it myself,” Zhang Yuxia replied with a smile.

“Of course, Sister Zhang. If you visit, I’ll give you a twenty-percent discount,” Murong Xuan promised.

The dishes arrived swiftly; they had barely begun their conversation when the food was served. At Murong Xuan’s invitation, the three began their meal. Each dish was exquisite, melting upon the tongue, with superior flavor.

In his more than twenty years of life, Zhang Wei had never before tasted such refined cuisine; even the appearance and aroma alone were enough to whet his appetite. Once in his mouth, the flavors lingered, and for the first time, he experienced the life of the wealthy, feeling as though his past twenty-odd years had been lived in vain.

As the eighth dish was served, a sudden ring cut through the air. Zhang Yuxia reached into her bag for her phone, put it to her ear, and said, “Hello? Who’s this?”

…

“What? I see. I’ll head back right away.” Zhang Yuxia spoke hastily, hung up, and turned to Zhang Wei and Murong Xuan with an apologetic expression. “Miss Murong, Xiao Zhang, I’m sorry—I have an urgent matter and must leave at once.”

“Is there anything I can do to help, Sister Zhang?” Seeing her so flustered, Zhang Wei couldn’t help but ask.

“Yes, Sister Zhang, if there’s anything I can do, please tell me,” Murong Xuan added.

“Thank you, both of you, I appreciate your concern. But there’s nothing you can do,” Zhang Yuxia replied, draining her cup of tea with a sigh. “It’s my daughter… She started dating early, and after her father scolded her, she ran away from home. I need to go find her right away.”

“Miss Murong, Xiao Zhang, let’s keep in touch by phone. I must go now.” With that, Zhang Yuxia rose, bid them farewell, and hurried out of the private room.

Left behind, Zhang Wei and Murong Xuan exchanged awkward smiles upon realizing the reason for her sudden departure. There was truly nothing they could do about a runaway daughter in young love.

Now, only Zhang Wei and Murong Xuan remained—a man and a woman alone, the atmosphere turning a bit awkward. Zhang Wei considered making small talk to ease the mood but hesitated, fearing she might find it intrusive. So, he simply bowed his head in silence and focused on his meal.

Murong Xuan, seeing that Zhang Wei had no intention of making conversation, felt secretly relieved. Her greatest worry was that Zhang Wei would try to engage her in small talk. It wasn’t that she looked down on him, but rather, she felt they had little in common, and forced conversation would only make things more awkward.

In name, Murong Xuan was Zhang Wei’s client, but in reality, she was a VIP client of the company, and their dealings were few. Most of her business was communicated through Xu Ming, so her relationship with Zhang Wei was far less casual and cordial than his with Zhang Yuxia.

Ordinarily, Zhang Wei would chat with clients to strengthen their ties, but after meeting Murong Xuan twice, he knew she wasn’t easy to approach. Forcing a closer relationship would only make her uncomfortable; it was better to keep things strictly professional.

A quarter of an hour later, Murong Xuan set down her chopsticks, dabbed her lips with a napkin, and said to Zhang Wei, “Mr. Zhang, please continue. I’m going to the restroom.”

Watching her walk out with quick, graceful steps and a swaying figure, Zhang Wei turned his attention back to the feast before him, eating heartily. As for her excuse about the restroom, Zhang Wei doubted she was merely answering nature’s call.

He suspected Murong Xuan was using the restroom as a pretext to go settle the bill, after which she’d find some reason to leave, thus ending their somewhat awkward lunch.

Zhang Wei didn’t mind this at all. If Murong Xuan left first, he could pack up the leftovers for dinner later—a bonus, since Xu Ming was out at a district meeting, and no one would mind if he returned to the shop late.

Indeed, Zhang Wei had guessed correctly. After leaving the restroom, Murong Xuan intended to pay at the front desk, then take her leave with an excuse. However, as she stepped out, she unexpectedly ran into someone she would rather have avoided, forcing her to change her plans.