Compared with Hongjing, Yongchuan, which is hundreds of kilometers away, is a truly international metropolis. There are many high-rise buildings here, the traffic flow is like weaving, and the pedestrians are all in a hurry.
Lin Chen walked out of Yongchuan Station and saw Fu Haozheng standing on tiptoe, nervously guarding the exit, carefully screening passengers, for fear of missing something.
Across many, many people, Lin Chen looked at him from a distance, and always felt that such a scene was like a scene from before the New Year's Eve.
He put his hands in his pockets and walked in front of Fu Hao, but Fu Hao was startled: "Senior brother, you don't wave your hands or anything, you're not excited at all when you see me."
"Then I will follow Professor Fu's script again?" Lin Chen smiled and asked back.
Fu Hao snorted softly, didn't speak any more, just circled around Lin Chen, then opened his eyes wide and said incredulously, "Senior brother, why didn't you bring anything?"
"What to bring?"
"Shouli!"
Before Lin Chen could react, his junior brother grabbed his arm and walked out of the station. He chatted with the younger junior brother and started chatting again: "You don't know that Zheng Dongdong and the others have just been showing off to the old man in the group. Shou Li, I have seen Ganoderma lucidum, ginseng, Shoushan stone seal..."
Lin Chen was also a little surprised by Fu Hao's information. He smiled and said, "This can catch up with the specification for paying tribute to the emperor."
"What is this, Comrade Zheng Dongdong himself has prepared a set of eight Huanghuali Shouping screens!"
"It's a big deal."
"Senior brother, you must have a sense of crisis, look at others, and they are paying for a luxurious birthday banquet for the old man, and it is a gift, how can we feel?"
"Luxury birthday banquet?"
"The InterContinental Hotel under Keen May is now the best hotel in Yongchuan. Zheng Dongdong is now the general manager of Keen May. He is a person who will die if he doesn't show off, so he directly packed a banquet hall for the old man. ." Fu Hao walked away and kept talking.
Hearing this, Lin Chen just felt inappropriate: "Does the old man know about this?" he asked.
"Shouldn't you know?" Fu Hao was stunned, then replied, "They said in the group that they wanted to surprise the old man."
"It's too self-assured."
"Then what can be done? I think they have pinpointed the old man of our family. Even if he doesn't like it, can he reprimand the students in person?"
Professor Fu can't drive, and the taxi places are always overcrowded. When Lin Chen came back to his senses, he had subconsciously walked to the bus stop with Fu Hao. The habit developed in college was still stubborn after a few years.
There were many students waiting for the bus on the platform. There were various stalls on the sidewalk on one side. The smoke and aroma diffused onto the platform. Lin Chen turned his head and walked towards the sidewalk.
When he came back, he had a plastic bag in his hand, which contained newly bought fruits.
"Senior brother, what are you doing!" Fu Hao looked at the red plastic bag in Lin Chen's hand, stunned.
"Didn't you ask me to buy a birthday gift?"
"This is too casual, can't you buy something expensive!"
"But I really have no money."
…
There is no money, there is no desire for money, and there is money, and there are ways to live with money.
Even in Yongchuan City, where every inch of land is so precious, the InterContinental Keen May Hotel is the first choice for the wealthy.
It is located on the bank of Honghu Lake, with a panoramic view of the 12-square-kilometer waterfront. Although it is in the suburbs, it is adjacent to the CBD, and the location cannot be better.
But for Lin Chen and Fu Hao, such a location requires them to take the bus for more than half an hour and then walk for more than ten minutes to reach the hotel entrance.
It was getting dark, and the sunset glowed red half of the sky above the lake.
Lin Chen was carrying a plastic bag, and as soon as he stepped into the hotel, a waiter stepped forward to ask.
Fu Hao stood aside and only said the birthday banquet. The alert waiter bowed and said softly, "It's Mr. Su's 60th birthday. On the third floor, please come with me."
The elevator of a five-star hotel is filled with an elegant aroma of aroma.
It took another hour to take the bus from Hongjing to Yongchuan before. Lin Chen didn't feel much, but he really felt nervous when he thought that he would see the teacher in a minute or two.
The waiter put his hand on the door of the banquet hall, bowed, and pushed the door open.
The banquet hall was full of people, and the bright lights made people unable to open their eyes.
Sitting on the main table at the end of the hall is an old man with glasses. The old man has just passed the age of listening, but his hair is full of gray.
There are many people around the old man, many people are talking to him, and he is also talking to many people. Among those people, there are elites in suits and leather shoes, and there are young people who are simply dressed and have just stepped into society, without exception. The old man was very patient with everyone who spoke to him. His face was full of smiles, and he always shook hands with both hands. When listening to people, he bowed his head slightly and looked attentive.
Lin Chen walked over the plush carpet printed with the hotel's iconic canary and rose LOGO, and stood at the edge of the crowd waiting.
At this moment, the old man gently patted the arm of the student in front of him, as if to wait a moment, and then raised his head.
Lin Chen just met that gaze.
The old man pushed his glasses and said with a smile, "Achen, you are here."
Those eyes were gentle and peaceful, and at that moment, all the noisy voices in the hall seemed to recede like a tide. For an old man who has always been self-disciplined and respectful, it is already a great preference to interrupt a student to say hello to him. Now, Lin Chen took a few steps forward, squatted down in front of the old man, and shouted softly. "Mr. Su."
"Come back?" The old man's palm was on the top of his hair, and his voice sounded hoarse.
"Um."
"Come back, just come back." The old man said, patting his head.
Lin Chen immediately handed over the bag in his hand and said, "Happy birthday, vitamin supplements."
The old man took the plain pocket, opened it, and saw that there were six peaches in it, so he laughed out loud.
The atmosphere between the master and the apprentice is really warm. Someone who greeted the classmates in the middle of the hall, just saw this scene, and walked to the main table very unhappy.
"Isn't this Lin Chen, long time no see!"
A full-fledged voice sounded in his ears, Lin Chen got up and turned around, and in front of him stood a man in the uniform of a hotel executive.
He was stunned for a while, then looked at Fu Hao subconsciously, and Professor Fu made a mouthful comparison: "Zheng Dongdong".
When Lin Chen received the signal, he naturally reached out to him and said, "Long time no see."
Although Fu Hao has repeatedly mentioned the name Zheng Dongdong, he doesn't really have much impression of Lin Chen on Zheng Dongdong. In his memory, Zheng Dongdong seems to be the president of their student union in that session. Apart from that, he really doesn't remember Zheng Dongdong very much. People, so saying long time no see is just a theoretical politeness.
"That's right, how can a busy person like you think of coming to see our old classmates." Zheng Dongdong teased.
Lin Chen thought about it and didn't know what to say, so he didn't talk to him, and the scene suddenly became awkward.
Zheng Dongdong's face darkened, he seemed to glance at the plastic bag in the old man's hand, and said happily, "Lin Chen, what good things did you give the teacher, let us take a look?"
"peach."
"Teacher's birthday banquet, will you give me a bag of peaches?" Zheng Dongdong suddenly raised the volume, pretending to be shocked, and many eyes in the venue followed the reputation.
"Well, just bought it."
His voice was calm, without the slightest bit of shame, Zheng Dongdong's countless taunts seemed to be held in his chest by these words.
At this moment, the old man clapped his hands and interrupted their conversation. He glanced back and said, "Hao Zhen, don't you always shout to see you, Senior Brother Lin Chen, come here."
At this time, Lin Chen noticed that a half-person-height birthday gift was piled up behind the old man, and beside the birthday gift was a slender beauty who was registering something.
Hearing the teacher's call, the girl hurriedly turned around, her long hair falling down.
It was a really beautiful face, with eyebrows like distant mountains and bright eyes. The girl was wearing a maroon short-sleeved knitted cardigan and a knee-length black pleated skirt. Her long soft hair was draped over her shoulders, and her pearl earrings were looming. She put it away. Ben, came over with a smile, and reached out to Lin Chen: "Senior brother, how are you?"
Lin Chen looked at the girl in front of him, his eyes finally fell on her rather incongruous pink nails, Xu Haozhen gently retracted his fingertips, but did not retract his hand, finally, Lin Chen stretched out his hand to stimulate her and shook hands with her: " Hello."
After speaking, he leaned over to the old man and asked in a low voice, "What is this doing?"
"You said they gave me these useless things for what, I will register the price, let them take it back, and give it to me after I cash it. I donated it to them." The old man whispered.
Lin Chen laughed dumbly: "Will this not be good?"
"Why don't you feel bad when you bring a bag of peaches to my birthday?"
"But you can take it home anyway." Lin Chen whispered.
After he finished speaking, the old man laughed, the laughter was a little loud, and it fell into Zheng Dongdong's eyes, which was extremely dazzling.
Having said that, after the gift was delivered, and there were many students around the old man, Lin Chen consciously stepped back.
At six o'clock, the birthday banquet started on time.
The seating order at the wine table was very particular, so he and Fu Hao were placed at the corner table, and some celebrities and elites sat at the main table. The old man was surrounded by stars like the moon, and from time to time there were students going to toast, but Lin Chen didn't join in the fun, and sat quietly eating food.
The seating order was messed up. He and Fu Hao didn't sit with their previous classmates, and the people who were driven to the corner were not very gregarious, so everyone at the table with them was digging their heads to eat. , There was an eerie silence on the table.
The dishes of the five-star hotel are taken for granted, and maybe the chef knew that this time it was the general manager's treat, and he was more attentive when cooking. Lin Chen scooped half a spoon of shrimp and heard Zheng Dongdong's haunting voice again.
"Lin Chen, why are you here, I've been too busy to forget, let's go, do you want to sit at the main table?" Zheng Dongdong walked towards him with a glass of red wine, the hotel manager's face was flushed, as if he had just finished a round of toasts.
His tone was arrogant, and his voice was loud, half sarcasm and half polite. Someone like Zheng Dongdong, who was scornful and vindictive, had just lost face, and of course he had to get back on his feet. And such a problem, agreeing to climb up the pole, not agreeing is to be shameless, no matter what, it will make people uncomfortable.
Several people around the table have noticed the movement here.
Lin Chen didn't feel embarrassed, he just picked up the teacup, touched the red wine glass calmly, and said, "Okay."
The more magnanimous he is, the more ugly Zheng Dongdong's face is.
He went to the main table.
Seeing this, the old man enthusiastically patted the vacant seat beside him, and said, "Achen, come here, sit here."
The seats on the table were full, and the only vacant seat was, of course, Zheng Dongdong's. For a person like the old man, this is already an obvious statement. Most of the people present are the proud disciples of the old man. When they look at Zheng Dongdong's eyes, they must bring something strange.
The old man didn't say anything more, just asked the waiter to add another seat on the table. Zheng Dongdong toasted a round of wine and sat in his new seat as if nothing had happened.
After he sat down, he winked at the other person on the table, the other person understood and put down the glass: "Lin Chen, I've heard the name for a long time, you will always be the first in the grade, never give us a way to survive, I don't know where you are now. High school?"
Of course, you can't be lazy on the main table, and you must answer the questions asked by others seriously: "I used to be the dormitory in Hongjing City Experimental Primary School..." Lin Chen replied.
"Pfft." Before he could finish his sentence, a sneer sounded on the table, "How can Lao Fu say you are a consultant in the Hongjing Criminal Police Team, this kid!"
"Well, this was just taken over."
"You crossed the border a bit too big." The man said with a smile.
Lin Chen didn't answer, he just listened to Zheng Dongdong coolly say: "The police station in that small place in Hongjing? That's really overkill."
"Hey, anyone can be like you, and can be the general manager of Keen May at a young age!" The man sang with Zheng Dongdong again, "Koen May is a multinational consortium, if you become the general manager someday Group President, don't forget our old classmates!"
"It's not that easy. Our psychology graduates are not as popular as the orthodox finance students. Moreover, Keen May was an industry under the Xing family's overseas. Of course, the group president can only be a direct descendant of the Xing family. There is no hope!"
Zheng Dongdong said half truthfully.
The surrounding classmates were a little shocked.
After all, everyone knows that Keen May is the best five-star in Yongchuan, but few people know that above this hotel, there is a multinational consortium, and behind that consortium is the majestic Xing family. Then Zheng Dongdong, who has the hope of going further in that family's business, is really amazing. Everyone looked at Zheng Dongdong with a little more envy, and soon someone praised him again: "No matter what, if you really become the president, you should be like today, invite us all to a table, and be present. One counts as one!"
"It's hard to say in the future, but tonight, I can still invite everyone to drink again."
"You kid said please have a drink, it must be a good place!"
"It's okay." Zheng Dongdong took a sip of red wine and pretended to say mysteriously. He turned his eyes and looked at Lin Chen again, "Will Lin Chen go with you?"
"Yeah, Senior Brother, let's go too."
For some reason, the little junior sister beside Lin Chen also spoke.
Lin Chen looked at Xu Hao's strange pink nail polish, and finally nodded.
Knowing that the students had activities in the evening, the old man of course found a reason and slipped away in advance. Before leaving, the old man patted him on the shoulder and told him to go home for dinner when he was free.
The old man left, and of course many people followed. Seeing that everyone was almost gone, someone said to Zheng Dongdong: "Dongdong, it's okay, you can invite you to drink later, but we still have to give you the money for the hotel reservation for us."
The man said, many people at the table nodded in agreement.
"Why are you all being so polite." Zheng Dongdong seemed to feel quite a bit of face, shifted his eyes slightly, looked over, and asked, "By the way, Lin Chen, where do you stay at night?"
Before Lin Chen spoke, Professor Fu, who sneaked up to the table, had already answered for him, "Senior brother, stay with me at night."
"Don't be kidding, who doesn't know that our Yongchuan University teachers' apartment is a single room, you really asked your senior brother to lay a floor with you!" The man said, and then said what Zheng Dongdong wanted to hear most, "Dongdong, ah , See if your hotel still has a special room, and then book another room for Lin Chen, our classmates all live together, and it's lively."
Zheng Dongdong nodded and called the main office without saying a word.
I don't know what to say on the other end of the phone, Zheng Dongdong held down the microphone, with a false apology on his face, and said, "I'm sorry, all the special rooms in our hotel have been booked by these guys, only the executive suite with lake view is left. The original price is 6,000, I'll give you a 40% discount, how about 3,000?"
He raised the corners of his mouth, and his eyes were full of smugness, as if he was waiting for him to say some excuses for refusing, so that he could laugh again.
Fu Hao listened and couldn't help clenching his fists.
Lin Chen didn't get angry, and his face still had that flat and calm expression. He lightly held down his junior brother's fist and said, "No need, thank you."
…
When the banquet went downstairs, Zheng Dongdong led a group of classmates who were going to drink at night in the front, and Fu Hao deliberately grabbed him and complained fiercely: "Senior brother, what the fuck, Zheng Dongdong made it clear that he wanted to embarrass you, right? Three thousand sixty-one nights, even after the discount, why doesn't he go to live by himself!"
"Can't afford to live in a luxury hotel, where is the embarrassment?" Lin Chen asked back.
Hearing this, Fu Hao glared at him, and then changed the subject: "Why did you agree to drink with him!"
"Because I found something very strange."
He whispered, and when he walked around the corner of the hall, he suddenly raised his head as if he had sensed something.
The large army in front had already walked to the hotel lobby, and a dozen people surrounded Zheng Dongdong, as if they were allocating vehicles that would travel. They all drank some wine and made a lot of noise, but suddenly, Lin Chen couldn't hear anything. sound.
Under the bright crystal lamp in the hotel lobby, there is a person sitting, with long legs crossed, leaning on the sofa, reading documents, his police uniform is placed on the armrest next to him, and the soft light is spread on him. On the side, behind him, is the dark and quiet water of Honghu Lake.
Looking at it from Lin Chen's point of view, he could only see the other party's hand resting lightly on the table and his extremely handsome profile.
Then, the other party turned his head to look at him, still with a sloppy demeanor and a peaceful and far-reaching gaze.
The soft piano sound in the hall suddenly flowed down.
Lin Chen walked over slowly: "Why are you here?"
Xing Conglian smiled: "Didn't you say that you don't want to call?"
Lin Chen shook his head helplessly. At this moment, Mr. Zheng Dongdong, who had been greeting the rest of the classmates, walked over to him for some reason and put his hand on his shoulder. Lin Chen frowned, thinking that Zheng Dongdong wanted to say something nasty again, but all Zheng Dongdong's words stopped when he saw the desktop.
Lin Chen followed his gaze.
I saw a black room card on the coffee table, painted with Cowen Mayday's iconic canary and rose pattern.
Xing Conglian's finger lightly tapped on the card, then moved to the table.
Lin Chen was still stunned, but the other party's always low and pleasant voice sounded in his ears.
"Sir, please take the room card."