Chapter Twenty-Seven: Zhou the Fat

It was already seven o’clock in the evening, and the sky was shrouded in a dusky haze. Zhang Wei felt a pang of hunger as he prepared to head out in search of something to eat, but just then, the phone on his desk began to ring.

“Ring, ring...”

He glanced at the screen: it was a call from Murong Xuan. Zhang Wei hesitated for a moment, thinking to himself, "This woman refused to answer my call earlier—why is she calling me now?"

“Hello?” Zhang Wei, accustomed to his job as a real estate agent and the frequent abruptness of clients, didn’t know why Murong Xuan was calling at this hour, but he answered nonetheless.

“Zhang Wei, it’s already seven o’clock! Why aren’t you here yet?” Murong Xuan launched into her complaint the moment he picked up.

“Miss Murong, you wouldn’t even take my call earlier—if I rushed over, wouldn’t that be pointless? Is there something you need?” Zhang Wei asked.

“Oh, I’ve been busy all afternoon—I barely had time to answer the phone! I want to introduce you to a couple of friends. Hurry up and come over!” Murong Xuan urged him.

“Wait a minute... Why are you suddenly so enthusiastic?” Zhang Wei frowned, pondering for a second. “Is Lin Hongwen here again?”

The moment Zhang Wei spoke, silence fell on the other end of the line. He had hit the mark, and Murong Xuan was clearly flustered. Zhang Wei chuckled. “Seems I guessed right!”

“Whether Lin Hongwen is here or not doesn’t matter. I really do want you to meet some friends—they’re all looking to buy property in Beijing. Please come over.” Murong Xuan said urgently.

“Murong Xuan, tell me honestly: do you like Lin Hongwen?” Zhang Wei abruptly changed tack.

“What nonsense! How could I possibly like him?” Murong Xuan hurried to deny it.

“If you really don’t like him, just tell him outright that you’re not interested. Isn’t that better? Doing this all the time—aren’t you tired? I certainly am.” Zhang Wei replied.

“Zhang Wei, do you think I want to pretend to be your girlfriend? I’m the most aggrieved one here!” Murong Xuan protested in a coquettish voice. “I don’t want to date Lin Hongwen, but I can’t afford to offend him either. That’s why I need you to help discourage him, so things don’t get ugly between us.”

“Why can’t you afford to offend him? Does he have something on you?” Zhang Wei asked.

“Stop asking so many questions. Zhang Wei, are you coming or not?” Murong Xuan clearly didn’t want to discuss it further.

“I’ll come, but if you use me and then abandon me again, I won’t just sit back and take it anymore,” Zhang Wei said.

“Don’t worry—I absolutely won’t,” Murong Xuan promised.

“Yeah right—believe a woman’s word, and pigs will climb trees. In the end, a man has to rely on himself.” Zhang Wei muttered to himself as he hung up the phone.

At the entrance of Jingxuan Studio, Murong Xuan stood on the steps after finishing her call. Her jet-black, form-fitting dress accentuated her graceful curves, her dark hair fluttered in the evening breeze, and her delicate face was touched with a subtle makeup. A faint, refreshing scent lingered around her.

“Xuan Xuan, you look absolutely beautiful tonight!” Lin Hongwen, seeing Murong Xuan finish her call, hurried forward with a bouquet of roses.

“Thank you.” Murong Xuan smiled, nodding as she glanced at the roses, a trace of worry flickering in her gaze.

At that moment, Lin Hongwen was practically beaming. In his mind, after the events of the morning, Murong Xuan surely had a bad impression of Zhang Wei, making this the perfect opportunity to swoop in. He intended to confess to Murong Xuan in front of all the guests.

Just as Lin Hongwen was about to say something more, a delicate fragrance suddenly swept past him. He was all too familiar with the scent—it belonged to Murong Xuan. He looked up to see her walking past him, heading toward a man and woman.

The man was in his thirties, tall and stout, wearing a short-sleeved shirt and slacks, his hair slicked back in a shiny pompadour. He moved like a mountain, exuding a steadfast aura.

Beside him stood a young woman in her early twenties, clad in a blue evening gown. She was tall, with graceful curves, strikingly beautiful, her skin fair as snow—a rare beauty.

“Mr. Zhou, your visit honors my humble establishment!” Murong Xuan greeted him with a warm smile, shaking the sturdy man’s hand.

“Murong, no need to be so formal. Just call me Fatty Zhou,” the man said casually, waving his hand.

“You’re a billionaire, I wouldn’t dare address you so familiarly,” Murong Xuan replied with a laugh.

“Then call me Brother Fatty. It’s memorable and fits me perfectly, don’t you think?” Though Zhou Fatty seemed easygoing, a few words were enough to narrow the distance between him and Murong Xuan—clearly a clever man.

While Murong Xuan and Zhou Fatty chatted, Zhang Wei arrived at the entrance of Jingxuan Studio, glanced at the four people standing there, and strode over to greet Murong Xuan. “Xuan Xuan, I’m not late, am I?”

“Didn’t I tell you to come earlier? Why are you only getting here now?” Hearing Zhang Wei address her as Xuan Xuan, Murong Xuan was momentarily startled, but quickly relaxed. Even Lin Hongwen called her Xuan Xuan—if Zhang Wei still called her Miss Murong, it would seem far too artificial.

“Zhang Wei, let me introduce you. This is Mr. Zhou from Jinzhou, who’s planning to invest in the capital,” Murong Xuan said, her tone meaningful.

“Nice to meet you, Mr. Zhou. My name is Zhang Wei.” Zhang Wei greeted him warmly.

Zhang Wei immediately understood Murong Xuan’s hint. Since Mr. Zhou was new to the city, he likely didn’t own property here—making him a potential client.

“Hello, Brother Zhang. You’re a friend of Murong’s—if you don’t mind, just call me Brother Fatty,” Zhou Fatty replied without airs.

“All right, I’ll call you Brother Fatty!” Zhang Wei, who enjoyed dealing with people who were easy to get along with, said with a smile.

“Brother Fatty, the banquet’s about to begin, why don’t you head inside?” Murong Xuan gestured invitingly.

“Sure, Murong, you carry on. I’ll go in and rest.” Zhou Fatty smiled and ascended the steps with the beautiful woman.

Zhou Fatty never introduced the woman beside him—clearly she wasn’t his wife or girlfriend, and Zhang Wei and Murong Xuan tactfully didn’t ask. Based on Zhang Wei’s guess, she was most likely one of those so-called “sweethearts.”

“Zhang Wei, after what you did this morning, you still have the nerve to show up tonight?” As Zhou Fatty turned up the steps, Lin Hongwen’s accusatory voice rang out.

“What did I do? Why shouldn’t I be here?” Zhang Wei replied with a smile.

"Hongwen, today is the opening day of the restaurant. Don’t cause trouble," Murong Xuan frowned, admonishing him.

“Xuan Xuan, I’m just looking out for you! Zhang Wei isn’t reliable, he—” Lin Hongwen began, full of righteous indignation.

“Lin Hongwen, you don’t need to interfere in matters between Murong Xuan and me. Understand?” Zhang Wei cut him off, his expression darkening as he snatched the bouquet from Lin Hongwen’s hands and presented it to Murong Xuan. “Xuan Xuan, these flowers are for you.”

“Thank you, Zhang Wei.” Murong Xuan laughed softly.

“Zhang Wei, what are you doing? I bought those roses!” Lin Hongwen was stunned. “Xuan Xuan, those roses were specially bought for you.”

“Mr. Lin, it’s not about who bought the flowers, but who gives them,” Zhang Wei replied coldly. “With me standing here, do you even have the right to present them to Murong Xuan?”

“Zhang Wei, you’re outrageous! You’re driving me mad.” Usually refined and composed, Lin Hongwen was so infuriated by Zhang Wei’s actions that he stamped his feet in frustration.

“A love triangle—how fascinating!” Zhou Fatty observed the scene, a smile appearing on his round face.