Just after the Chinese New Year, the news of the opening of Paramount Hall has spread all over the streets of Shanghai.
Shanghai is a place with hidden dragons and crouching tigers, and people who can stand firm here are not ordinary.
He is a clerk in the government, and he is mixed on the road. Sometimes he encounters people on the road. He is described as ordinary, but he is nothing to the public. Maybe the neighbors of his uncle, wife and sister-in-law have some great backgrounds, but it is natural to be able to open a dance hall in Shanghai. It’s even more extraordinary. Otherwise, today the gangsters will come to collect a protection fee, and tomorrow some police will come to find fault, and the business will not be able to go on.
It is not unusual to open a dance hall, and it is even more difficult to open a super big venue like Paramount Hall. Especially on the opening day, Mayor Wu personally attended the scene to give a speech. You know, this boss has managed both black and white, and he must not come to trouble, otherwise he will hit the iron plate and his head will be broken.
After all, the name Paramount Hall is too foreign. Not many ordinary people can remember it. Instead, it is "Paramount Hall". Called Paramount.
Yue Dingtang went to Nanjing for a business trip for a three-day meeting.
In the past three days, Ling Shu was like an old bird who was released from his cage. Today, he asked Cheng Si to have a meal and dance, and tomorrow he came uninvited and went to Yue's family for a meal. Even if Yue Dingtang was not there, the Yue family would still be there. It is impossible not to let him in. The Yue family with him is always not lonely, Ling Shu is not seen at all, and he does not have the habit of not eating. , Yue Guy's food has declined because of the absence of the Yue family's masters. The old duck soup is still the same bowl of old duck soup, and the noodles with scallion oil is still the same bowl of noodles with scallion oil.
But without Yue Dingtang's endless probing, hiding words in his words, hiding a knife in his smiles, Ling Shu's whole person was relaxed, and his life was so relaxed and comfortable that he could even hum a little song while sleeping.
Miss Zhen's birthday party was held at the newly opened Paramount.
When Ling Shu arrived that evening, the door was already full of traffic and bustling.
The cars were lined up all the way from the gate to the back. The doorman was in charge of welcoming the guests and opening the door. He was so bent that his back could hardly be straightened, and his hands were numb. It could be seen that there was an endless stream of guests.
The Zhen family's connections can also be glimpsed from this.
Compared to others making a big splash, Ling Shu appears to be low-key and unassuming.
He neither rode in a car nor bought gifts, and was empty-handed and low-key to the point of being shabby.
Fortunately, that face can still be seen. After the Zhen family checked the invitation card, they let him in.
Since it was built, Ling Shu has not been here yet. He passes by it on weekdays. He only knows that the exterior is magnificent and splendid, and the interior will definitely not be too bad.
Decorated with colorful glass bulbs, the huge dance floor is shining brightly. This is the only dance floor in Shanghai with a sprung floor. Many people are proud of being able to come in and have a dance, and even the tips are not of the same level as other places.
There are various small and medium-sized dance floors scattered around the central big object pool. Usually, they are reserved separately, but today, the entire Paramount is only for one person.
That is Zhen Congyun.
People in suits and leather shoes, with fragrant clothes and shadows on the temples, people who can be invited by the Zhen family will naturally not be too bad in their status. oolong.
Ling Shu thought with interest, it is estimated that among all the people in the audience, the most shabby person should be himself.
He took a glass of champagne, hid in the corner, and was at ease, like a hermit who observed all living beings, with a self-satisfaction that others could not understand.
If Yue Dingtang is here, it can be seen that Ling Shu is trying to be lazy.
The protagonist, Miss Zhen, has not yet appeared, and guests are still entering the venue one after another.
"Hey! Ling Shu?!"
There was a sharp tap on the shoulder.
Ling Shu turned around and saw Lin Dingkang, an old classmate whom he met at the consulate banquet last time.
"Why are you here?" Lin Dingkang's face was incredulous, and then he realized that he was asking inappropriately, and hurriedly said with a smile, "Okay, Lingshu, Shibei will be impressed with you for three days!"
Lin Dingkang is a translator at the consulate. Although it is not enough to get the invitation alone, it is not a problem to come in with the Americans.
Since Ling Shu was able to follow Yue Dingtang to attend the banquet at the consulate last time, this time with the Yue family's face, it is not a big problem to attend Miss Zhen's birthday banquet.
He took it for granted that Ling Shu must have followed Yue Ding Tang.
"Where's Dingtang, why didn't you see anyone?" Lin Dingkang looked around.
Ling Shu: "He went to Nanjing for a meeting, and I came alone."
Lin Dingkang was half-hearted and half-joking: "He treats you very well. If your job is ruined in the future, I will come to you too. You must say a few good words for me!"
The invitation was given by Miss Zhen herself. Seeing that he had misunderstood, Ling Shu didn't explain it, just smiled and chatted with her.
"You didn't bring your girlfriend here?"
"No, so are you? It doesn't matter. Tonight, all the dancers from Paramount have been hired by the Zhen family. They will dance with the guests later. No tip is charged. Which one do you fancy, just chat up in the past, as long as they are happy, Even if you don't pay the street clock, it's fine, haha!"
"Who is that?"
Ling Shu suddenly pointed at the group of people who entered the door.
Lin Dingkang: "That's the fourth eldest of the Zhen family, Zhen Ainong, the fourth uncle of Zhen Congyun."
Ling Shu: "I mean the two next to him."
Lin Dingkang snorted: "It's someone from the Japanese consulate, one is Counselor Sada Miki, and the other doesn't know him. It seems that he should be Sada's secretary."
Ling Shu: "The Zhen family is really capable. People from the consulate came to cheer, and the big bosses from the youth gang also came. Even if someone from Nanjing will send someone over to celebrate Miss Zhen's birthday, I'm not surprised."
Lin Dingkang said with a smile: "Isn't it true, these people raise their hands, enough for us to eat for a year. To be honest, I didn't expect Miss Zhen's birthday to make such a big lineup, those are not willing to come here. , I heard that Miss Zhen is not yet married, nor has a boyfriend, if she can fall in love at first sight tonight, maybe she will become the son-in-law of the Zhen family, it will be a carp leaping over the dragon gate!"
He talked for a long time, only to realize that Ling Shu was completely absent-minded, half of his attention was not on himself, and he couldn't help but follow the other party's line of sight.
The beautiful woman in the wine red cheongsam was holding the arm of the middle-aged man.
The woman's appearance is truly outstanding, surpassing most of the same sex here, so that many eyes will stay on her for more than three seconds.
"Hey, isn't that He Youan, she's here too? The man next to her is not Shen Shiqi, who is that?"
Lin Dingkang had never seen that Mr. Cheng, and it was normal that he couldn't recognize him. Ling Shu didn't speak.
His eyes crossed He Youan and Mr. Cheng, passed through the bustling crowd, and landed in a corner not far away.
There, also stood a person.
Just like Ling Shu a few minutes ago, he was alone and did not communicate with others.
No one took the initiative to approach him to chat, as if there was an invisible barrier separating him from the people around him.
The position of Ling Shu and the others was just a few steps up the stairs. It had a condescending look, and it was inconspicuous. It was suitable for observing and recognizing people.
When he saw that person, he was also staring in the direction of He Youan, his face was expressionless, not like kindness.
The other party's whole body exudes a temperament that is definitely not good.
"Who is that person?"
Ling Shu raised his chin and motioned for Lin Dingkang to take a look.
"The one standing by the wine cooler."
Lin Dingkang took a closer look: "It seems to be someone next to Lu Tongcang, what's your name, Jiang?"
Ling Shu: "Jiang He."
Lin Dingkang: "That's right, Jiang He! This is a ruthless horner who kills without blinking an eye. Although he is trusted by Lu Tongcang and has a lot of ability, if it's nothing, it's better to deal with this person less."
Across the crowd, the other party seemed to sense Ling Shu's gaze on him, and raised his head to look here.
Lin Dingkang quickly retracted his gaze, turned around and lowered his head to drink, pretending to be nothing.
Ling Shu did not dodge, but instead raised a glass to Jiang He from a distance.
Jiang He glanced at him, turned away coldly, and didn't respond at all.
"You know each other?" Lin Dingkang couldn't help asking.
"I didn't know each other before, but now I know each other?" Ling Shu shrugged.
Lin Dingkang was speechless, feeling that his heart was really big.
Out of the affection of his old classmates and his relationship with Yue Dingtang, he reminded him again.
"You still remember the headless corpse case that caused a sensation last year. It is said that the deceased was ordered to be beheaded and dismembered because he offended Jiang He. So far, no one has dared to pursue it. Following Lu Tongcang's side is responsible for doing the dirty and tiring work that Lu Tongcang is inconvenient to do, and the blood on his hands is not a single star."
Ling Shu patted his shoulder.
"Don't worry, I get it."
While speaking, there was a commotion at the door.
Many people looked up and looked at the source of the movement.
The doorman opened the way first.
Then there are the stars twinkling, and the gorgeously dragging skirt.
In the end, it was Zhen Congyun, who was surrounded by many people and entered gracefully.
The crowd automatically and consciously gave way, allowing her to be unobstructed and accept the baptism of eyes.
Zhen Congyun was calm and composure, not a bit cramped or shy, obviously he was used to this kind of scene.
She walked directly to the center stage and only said a word into the microphone.
"Today is my birthday, thank you all for coming, and I wish you all a happy return."
After saying that, he snapped his fingers, and the long-awaited band immediately played music.
The guests did not move.
Everyone was waiting for her to dance.
When she came in, she was alone, and there were many young Toshihiko present.
Zhen Congyun is bound to choose one of them.
Those who came with their female companions may have now secretly regretted it.
The first dance has a different meaning, and many people who think they are qualified can't help showing the inevitable victory on their faces.
Others took the initiative to step forward and stretch out their hands towards Zhen Congyun.
"Miss Zhen, I wonder if I have the honor to invite you to dance your first dance?"
Ling Shu knew that person.
The other party came from a family of several generations of official tumblers, from the late Qing Dynasty to the Beiyang government, and then to the Nanjing government. Such a lintel, coupled with Zhen's family, is more than enough.
However, Zhen Congyun just smiled at him and didn't take that hand.
The man was a little embarrassed, his hand stopped in mid-air for a moment and had to withdraw.
There were also many people who felt good about themselves and took the initiative to invite Zhen Congyun.
Among them are even bigwigs of the youth gang and government officials.
But Zhen Congyun laughed and refused.
"Miss Zhen's eyes are quite high." Lin Dingkang couldn't help muttering.
"Choosing one is equal to offending the others. It is better to choose no one, and find an outsider who will not dare to resent it." Ling Shu smiled.
Miss Zhen's thinking is much smarter than the average person, as expected of someone who was her father's secretary.
As soon as he finished speaking, Zhen Congyun walked towards them.