Chapter Twenty-Four: Kindred Spirits

“Xuanxuan, why didn’t you tell me about your grand opening? If I hadn’t heard from a friend, I wouldn’t have known at all. I drove around all morning before finally finding this place.” Lin Hongwen entered with a large flower basket in hand, grinning as he feigned annoyance.

“I thought you were too busy with work, so I didn’t want to disturb you,” Murong Xuan replied evasively.

Zhang Wei glanced at Lin Hongwen, then at Murong Xuan. He had no desire to get entangled in whatever was going on between them, especially since Murong Xuan was not exactly the easiest woman to deal with. Getting too close to her would likely only bring trouble.

He had no intention of greeting either of them and prepared to sidestep them and walk out of the store. But just as he lifted his foot, Murong Xuan called out, “Zhang Wei, you see Hongwen and don’t even say a word? Last time he treated us to dinner, remember?”

“Mr. Lin, what a coincidence! I didn’t expect we’d run into each other again,” Zhang Wei, outed by Murong Xuan, could only force a polite greeting.

“Mr. Zhang and I share the same aspirations, so it’s only natural we cross paths often,” Lin Hongwen replied, his expression darkening as he caught sight of Zhang Wei, his words heavy with implication.

“The same aspirations? That’s an interesting phrase. But Mr. Lin, I doubt you truly understand my ambitions,” Zhang Wei replied with a wry smile, knowing that what Lin Hongwen referred to was their mutual interest in Murong Xuan.

“Zhang Wei, stop talking nonsense. Why don’t you help Hongwen with his flower basket?” Lin Hongwen was still pondering Zhang Wei’s words when Murong Xuan interrupted, her tone playful.

Murong Xuan’s voice carried a hint of coquettishness. By asking Zhang Wei to take the flower basket, she was trying to demonstrate their closeness and make Lin Hongwen back off. But she had miscalculated this time; Zhang Wei had no intention of being used by her again. “Miss Murong, I have some urgent matters to attend to. I’ll have to excuse myself,” he said.

“Zhang Wei, you’re such a petty man! Hongwen is my friend, and he just got here, and now you want to leave? Is that how you treat people?” Murong Xuan chided, pulling Zhang Wei aside. “Hongwen, please have a seat. I need a word with Zhang Wei.”

“Liu Li, what are you standing there for? Take Mr. Lin’s flower basket and show him to the guest table,” Murong Xuan instructed the long-legged hostess nearby.

“Yes, Manager.” The beautiful Liu Li hesitated, unsure of Murong Xuan’s intentions—just moments ago she was told to see Zhang Wei off, now she was being told to entertain Lin Hongwen. “Mr. Lin, this way please.”

Hongwen glanced at Murong Xuan and Zhang Wei, forcing an awkward smile despite his reluctance, and followed Liu Li away.

“Zhang Wei, you see, Lin Hongwen is back again. Could you help me out one more time?” Murong Xuan asked softly as she approached Zhang Wei.

“Help you? Help with what?” Zhang Wei feigned puzzlement, though inwardly he thought, “This woman changes her tune faster than flipping a page. She still wants my help? Not a chance.”

“You know what I mean—just like last time,” Murong Xuan replied, biting her lip with a hint of reproach.

“If you don’t say it, how am I supposed to know what you want me to do?” Zhang Wei countered.

“You… I mean the pretend matchmaking from last time. I want you to play along once more,” Murong Xuan admitted, her frustration clear but her voice careful. She was well aware Zhang Wei was deliberately making things difficult, but to ward off Lin Hongwen’s advances, she could only swallow her pride.

“Ah, I see. You want me to act as your shield again, right?” Zhang Wei asked.

“Yes, you agree then?” Murong Xuan’s face lit up with relief.

“No,” Zhang Wei shook his head.

“Why not?” Murong Xuan was caught off guard by his refusal.

“Why should I?” Zhang Wei replied.

“I’m your client! And I even promised to rent an apartment from you,” Murong Xuan argued.

“Being your client, of course I should provide good service, but I don’t like the feeling of helping someone only to get cold looks in return,” Zhang Wei said with a light laugh.

“When have I ever given you cold looks? I just felt awkward pretending to be a couple with you—I didn’t know how to face you after. But I really am grateful,” she explained.

“In truth, I would love to help, but…” Zhang Wei put on a troubled expression and then said resolutely, “No.”

“Zhang Wei, you…” Murong Xuan, hearing him use her own words against her, shot him a glare but forced herself to suppress her anger. She changed tack, “I have plenty of friends looking to buy property in Beijing. I was planning to introduce them to you at the opening, but if you really don’t want to help me today, I guess it’ll have to wait for another opportunity.”

Murong Xuan was a delicate beauty, and for a woman like her to ask a man to pretend to be her boyfriend was a temptation few could resist. And if her promise of referrals paid off, Zhang Wei could make several tens of thousands, a handsome sum for him.

“Ahem… As the saying goes, ‘If you help someone, see it through to the end.’ Since Miss Murong considers me a friend, I’ll help you one more time,” Zhang Wei said. He could resist the allure of a beautiful woman, but not the temptation of money. After all, his long stay in a damp, dim basement had worn down his pride, and pretending to be a beautiful woman’s boyfriend was hardly a hardship.

“Thank you, Mr. Zhang.” Murong Xuan’s face was all smiles, though inwardly she spat, “Opportunist. If it weren’t for Lin Hongwen pestering me, I’d never agree to play couple with you!”

With their agreement reached, their conversation ended. As the two turned to walk into the restaurant, Lin Hongwen hurried over. “Xuanxuan, if Zhang Wei has business to attend to, let him go. I’m here, after all.”

“I do have things to do, but today is Miss Murong’s grand opening—if I left now, it’d be inexcusable,” Zhang Wei replied with a smile.

“No need to worry, Zhang Wei. I’m here,” Lin Hongwen responded, his tone carrying a hint of dismissal.

“It’s exactly because you’re here that I’m worried,” Zhang Wei replied with a half-smile.

“Ah… I…” Caught off guard by Zhang Wei’s blunt words, Lin Hongwen could only force a strained smile in front of Murong Xuan.

“Zhang Wei, what nonsense are you saying?” Murong Xuan played along, chiding him as if they were a couple playfully bickering.

Seeing Lin Hongwen’s embarrassed expression, Zhang Wei patted him on the shoulder and said warmly, “Don’t take it to heart, I was just joking.”

“No worries, we’re all friends here. A little banter is normal,” Lin Hongwen replied, blinking.

“Zhang Wei, take good care of Hongwen, will you? I need to check on preparations in the kitchen,” Murong Xuan said, turning on her heel and heading for the kitchen, leaving the two men facing each other.

“Damn, all I want is a few more clients, a bit more money—is it so difficult?” Zhang Wei grumbled inwardly at the prospect of dealing with his fake rival in love. He couldn’t be too cold, but couldn’t be too obvious either, and the thought weighed on him.

“Xiao Liu, bring us two cups of good tea,” Zhang Wei called to the long-legged beauty.

“Yes, Mr. Zhang,” Liu Li replied sweetly, heading for the kitchen. She could tell these two men both had a special relationship with Murong Xuan—very likely her boyfriend—so she dared not be careless.

“Mr. Zhang, which university did you graduate from?” After a moment of silence, Lin Hongwen, trying to ease the awkwardness, started a conversation.

“Beijing United University,” Zhang Wei said offhandedly.

“United University… That’s… nice,” Lin Hongwen replied. He’d hoped to chat about their alma maters, and, being familiar with China’s top universities, was surprised to find he’d never heard of this one. He could only nod along.

Zhang Wei knew Lin Hongwen was a Yale graduate and had no interest in exposing himself further, so he merely smiled, leaving the conversation at that. In fact, he’d just made up the name; not only had Lin Hongwen never heard of it, but even Zhang Wei himself didn’t know if such a university existed.