The brass buckle of the wooden box was covered with rust spots, like a layer of scab formed over the years. Shen Ruozhen stroked it. This was his box, which he used as a toy when he was a child and which he kept in the smoking room of the Shen Mansion when he grew up.
Xiang Mingzhang came back exhausted and sent everyone away before he could even have a sip of hot tea. They were the only two left in the living room. He said, "Open it and have a look. Your things are inside."
Shen Ruozhen opened the lid of the wooden box, and found the five-cornered pattern box filled with objects, including a fumigation box, an abacus, a plectrum, an ink pad, and a satin pocket watch box. He couldn't believe it, and when he opened the second layer, he found a certificate from the University of Pennsylvania, detailed receipts...all of them were his old things.
Shen Ruozhen looked around. There was a sofa and a coffee table on the carpet and a dazzling chandelier above his head. This was Manzhuang, but he felt as if he was in his old home.
In the autumn when his father passed away, Shen Ruozhen had already decided to close Fuhua Bank. One reason was that the organization had assigned him another task, and the other was that his repeated secret operations had aroused the suspicion of the Japanese.
He arranged everything in the bank and at home in advance. He could not take his personal belongings with him, so the old housekeeper kept them for him and agreed with him to return them together when they reunited in Ningbo in the future. However, he never had the chance to fulfill his promise.
These old things were unexpectedly found again. Shen Ruozhen asked excitedly: "Where did you find them?"
Xiang Mingzhang said bluntly: "I found Yao Qi'an's descendants, and these things were kept by his granddaughter Yao Zheng."
Shen Ruozhen was surprised and asked, "The descendants of the Yao family... are they in Hangzhou?"
"Yes, he runs a trading company." Xiang Mingzhang said, "The assets you left to Butler Yao were enough to provide them with food and clothing for several generations. The Yao family is very grateful. It was Old Lady Yao who told me about you."
Shen Ruozhen treated Yao Qi'an as a relative. It was a relief for him that his descendants had a safe life and remembered and knew him for generations.
It was like this when you met an old friend in a foreign land. Shen Ruozhen asked, "Have they ever been back to Ningbo?"
"I go back every Qingming Festival to pay tribute to Yao Qi'an." Xiang Mingzhang paused for two seconds, "and your father."
Shen Ruozhen was suddenly startled. Xiang Mingzhang pulled out a stack of documents from his bag. Over the past decades, Shen Zuorun's tomb had been moved and renovated several times, and maintained every year. All the records and certificates were there.
Shen Ruozhen took it with both hands and flipped through them one by one. When he saw his father's name printed on the paper, his eyes became dry and every time he blinked, he felt pain.
He felt guilty towards his parents, saying, "I am an unfilial son."
Since ancient times, loyalty and filial piety have been difficult to achieve. Xiang Mingzhang said distressedly: "I will accompany you to Ningbo in two days. Although it is almost a century late, you are only 28 years old. You can go to worship your father every year in the future."
Shen Ruozhen nodded. The last page was a supplementary condition signed by Xiang Mingzhang and Yao Zheng, in which both parties agreed to keep his past secret.
What Xiang Mingzhang did was no longer a simple investigation. He sought the truth and squandered financial and material resources and spent all his efforts on a "Shen Ruozhen" who appeared out of nowhere.
Shen Ruozhen thought, how lucky he was, and asked in a low voice: "So this is what you want to do?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "This is the first one."
Shen Ruozhen said: "You said it would be finished tonight, what else?"
Xiang Mingzhang looked at Shen Ruozhen. He seemed to have lost a lot of weight in just three days. He might have a poor appetite. He said, "I'll let you relax for a while. What do you think?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "I calmed down and thought about my current situation and what to do in the future."
"I've thought about it over and over again." Xiang Mingzhang said without any embellishment or concealment, "This is a modern society. As Shen Ruozhen, you don't have a household registration, an ID card, or anything else that a legal citizen has."
Even if these old items in the box can prove Shen Ruozhen's identity, it is absurd and paradoxical to prove to modern people that he is from the last century.
Shen Ruozhen thought of this when he decided to be "Chu Shichen". Now he has adapted to this society and learned a lot. He said: "I can hide my identity and just survive."
"Are you really willing?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "You are unwilling to be a common man in this chaotic world. As the head of Fuhua Bank, are you really willing to be buried in mediocrity?"
Shen Ruozhen hesitated for a moment: "That's all in the past."
"But you never changed." Xiang Mingzhang said, "You became Chu Shichen, and you tried your best to save the family from internal and external troubles. You tried to stop Miss Chu from being forced to marry. The company and the Chu family rely on you. In fact, you also rely on this mess to display your ambitions and desire to protect the family. Am I right?"
Shen Ruozhen felt relieved when his hidden thoughts were seen through and exposed. He simply admitted frankly, "Yes, you are right."
Xiang Mingzhang continued, "Do you remember how many things you did under the identity of 'Chu Shichen'? You took the initiative to find me to join Xiang Yue and be his secretary, which was flexible; you used me to attack Li Zangqiu, which was unscrupulous; you traveled thousands of miles to Harbin to invite Zhou Kesen, which was a show of loyalty; you completely showed your talent for this project, and you simply couldn't let go of success or failure and achievements."
Xiang Mingzhang recounted the deeds that Shen Ruozhen displayed in the new society, which also recorded his process from admiration to fall for this person.
Shen Ruozhen was stunned when he heard this: "I've done so many things, I have no regrets even if it's exposed."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Once you are exposed, you will be a liar, and everything will go wrong. If you deceive the Chu family's feelings and interfere with Yisi's official business, Mrs. Chu and Miss Chu will be sad, Li Zangqiu will take the opportunity to counterattack, and those who support Master Chu will think that a farce has taken place."
"I know that." Shen Ruozhen said, "Yisi's situation has improved but it is not stable. Mrs. Chu is fragile, my younger sister has not graduated yet and cannot take on the main responsibility, and the relationship with the Li family father and son has not been severed..."
Xiang Mingzhang hit the point: "So the Chu family and Yisi need you."
Shen Ruozhen said: "What do you mean?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "I hope you can continue to be Chu Shichen and stay with Xiang Yue and the Chu family. I will help you conceal it until the right time to expose it. During this period, I will find a way to confirm your true identity, and then you can be Shen Ruozhen again."
A huge stone in his heart suddenly fell to the ground, and Shen Ruozhen felt naked. Xiang Mingzhang knew and saw through all his desires and concerns.
During these three days, Xiang Mingzhang thought very clearly. The first thing was to bring back the old things so that Shen Ruozhen would understand that there were traces of him in this world and that someone still remembered him, giving Shen Ruozhen a sense of belonging.
The second thing is to let Shen Ruozhen continue to use the identity of "Chu Shichen". This is mutually beneficial, alleviating Shen Ruozhen's guilt and maintaining his stable life and career.
So he would only feel at ease if Shen Ruozhen felt at ease here.
But it was not enough. Xiang Mingzhang looked at the ring on Shen Ruozhen's hand. Like an eagle destined to fly high, he said, "When I found you on the beach that day, I really wanted to lock you up, but you are not a kitten, nor a hibiscus bird that can be summoned at any time."
Something was overflowing in Shen Ruozhen's chest: "So what are you going to do?"
Xiang Mingzhang took out a note and a pen from his bag and said, "I want to sign a new gentleman's agreement with you."
The past came to mind, and Shen Ruozhen asked, "What was the agreement?"
Xiang Mingzhang wrote: "You are not allowed to go to Yaxi Bay alone. You are not allowed to let me find you. Even an eagle must return to its nest. You are not allowed to go anywhere else. You can only stay by my side."
Shen Ruozhen opened his eyes and tried his best to look at Xiang Mingzhang: "Anything else?"
The pen suddenly stopped, Xiang Mingzhang coughed lightly, and added a fourth rule: "You are not allowed to take back the old photos."
Shen Ruozhen asked: "What old photos?"
Xiang Mingzhang put down his pen and took out the yellowed black-and-white photo from his coat pocket. He cunningly put it away in advance: "I've been running around to bring you this box of things. It's not too much for me to take a kickback."
Shen Ruozhen thought it was ridiculous that the billion-dollar mansion was left vacant but an old photo from the 32nd year of the Republic of China was secretly kept. He was speechless, stood up, walked around the large coffee table, bent down, and signed the agreement directly.
Xiang Mingzhang confirmed: "You gave me the photo?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "Yes."
Xiang Mingzhang stood up and looked at Shen Ruozhen greedily: "In addition to the photos, I also want living people."
They had each left a way out before. Shen Ruozhen always remembered the restraint he showed that night in Harbin. This time he took the initiative and said, "Xiang Mingzhang, do you like me?"
Xiang Mingzhang went from asking for answers to being the one giving the answers. He had endured long enough and said clearly, "Yes, I like you. I'm in love with you."
He approached Shen Ruozhen and said, "I am obsessed with you, Young Master Shen. I am afraid of desecrating my beautiful wife. I want to confirm our relationship legitimately. Are you ready?"
Shen Ruozhen's chest was burning hot, and he said tactfully and bluntly: "The last time I asked you this question, you were hugging me."
The clothes prepared by Manzhuang were in Xiang Mingzhang's size. The white shirt was a little big, and it looked empty on Shen Ruozhen's body. Xiang Mingzhang raised his hand and grasped his waist, which was narrow, thin and flexible. His palm rubbed his back, and one arm was enough to hug him tightly.
They hugged each other tightly, and Xiang Mingzhang took out the pocket watch from inside his coat with his other hand, hooked the clasp, and the small silver plate dangled between them and swayed left and right.
He stared at Shen Ruozhen and repeated what he had said when he saw the pocket watch in Switzerland: "He is very beautiful, and my heart is a little moved."
Shen Ruozhen couldn't tell which "he" it was. He looked up, as if he was competing with an exquisite pocket watch, and said, "Are you showing off?"
Xiang Mingzhang confessed: "This was originally the gift I wanted to give you."
The twisted wire chain kept shaking, and the flashing silver light reflected into Shen Ruozhen's black eyes. He asked without blinking: "Then why don't you give it to me?"
Xiang Mingzhang was rarely modest: "I don't have the ability of Jiang Taigong. I'm afraid that people won't take the bait, so I have to leave some bait."
Shen Ruozhen said: "Is it time to put away the fishing rod now?"
The silk satin box that contained the watch was revealed, and Xiang Mingzhang said, "No, it is returned intact to Zhao."
Shen Ruozhen shook his head: "I don't want the pocket watch anymore."
Xiang Mingzhang's face changed slightly. The next second, Shen Ruozhen climbed onto his shoulders, hugged him back, and said, "I came here with all my money gone. This pocket watch was my most precious thing in the past. Now it's found by the person I cherish the most. Everything is perfect."
Xiang Mingzhang played dumb: "I don't understand."
Shen Ruozhen tilted his face slightly, the thin chain pressed against his temples. It was the first time he was so frivolous, yet also shy: "This is a token of my love for you. Do you only want the pocket watch, or do you want me too?"
Thunder and clouds rolled outside the window, and the rain that had been suffocating all day poured down. The three-day deadline had arrived, and Xiang Mingzhang had just finished what he needed to do.
He regretted and said, "It's hard to go in the heavy rain. You have to stay one more night tonight."
Shen Ruozhen's breathing became a little disordered: "What are you going to do?"
Xiang Mingzhang's eyes were scorching, and he expressed his desire and longing openly: "I am just a businessman who does not want to suffer losses. I thought you were a playboy with amnesia and I couldn't help but be moved. Now that you, Shen Ruozhen, are by my side, of course I want to taste what it means to be in a relationship with someone who is bright and clear."
Shen Ruozhen's palms were sweating with guilt. He put his hands on the back of Xiang Mingzhang's neck and suddenly tightened the arms around his waist. His feet were suspended in the air and he was picked up by Xiang Mingzhang.
"You flatter me too much." Shen Ruozhen lowered his head and said, "I'm just a villain who stole someone else's identity."
It was Xiang Mingzhang's turn to raise his face, and the tip of his lips could not wait to rub against the corner of Shen Ruozhen's mouth.
He coaxed in a deep voice: "Then have another romantic moment with me."
(End of this chapter)