Ch 26: The World’s Number One Resort

“I currently work in the shipbuilding industry, mainly doing software development. This is the information age, and our unit deals with some world-class shipbuilding companies…” After a few rounds of drinks, everyone was mostly finished eating and casually chatting while waiting for the toast.

Lu Dayu had drunk quite a bit. He was boasting to his neighbor while frequently glancing provocatively toward Tang Huai’s table, but neither Tang Huai nor Ma Chuan paid him any attention as they chatted casually. Lu Dayu was a little disappointed.

“You’re really not coming back to Shengze? Ah, Tonglu was hoping to treat you to a meal,” Ma Chuan sighed in disappointment as he poured Tang Huai a glass of juice. The two were almost hometown friends, living only about 100 kilometers apart.

“Next time I come back, we’ll all get together,” Tang Huai said, taking a sip. It was nearing one o’clock, and they figured another half hour before the event would be over.

“Su Wei, where are you working now? Wow, how did I not notice you were this beautiful before? Do you have a boyfriend?”

“Come on, Su Wei, what’s your WeChat? I’ll add you to the group.”

“Hey, a beauty like you deserves a toast from everyone!”

…

While Tang Huai and Ma Chuan were talking quietly, the rest of the group had gathered around Su Wei, eager to impress her. There were ten people at their table, and nine of them were men, making Su Wei the center of attention.

Su Wei politely drank the toasts one by one, downing three glasses of liquor in no time.

Her side of the table had gotten quite lively, and though Tang Huai and Ma Chuan were engrossed in their conversation, they kept an eye on the commotion. In just a short while, Su Wei had drunk quite a bit.

“Su Wei, maybe slow down a bit on the drinks…” Tang Huai frowned, softly suggesting.

“It’s Song Qing’s wedding today. I’m happy,” Su Wei said, downing another glass.

“Girls shouldn’t drink too much.”

“You really should stop for now. We can meet again another day.”

Noticing something was off, the others quickly tried to stop her from drinking more. Su Wei looked delicate and frail, yet surprisingly could hold her alcohol. The group was also puzzled—why was she so excited about Song Qing’s wedding?

“Tang Huai…”

“The groom is coming.”

Just as Su Wei was about to say something to Tang Huai, Song Qing and Zhou Xingzhao came over to their table to make a toast, and Su Wei swallowed back her words.

“Congratulations on the wedding, wishing you happiness and good fortune!”

“Cheers to Song Qing and Xingzhao, may your love last forever.”

Song Qing and Zhou Xingzhao arrived at Tang Huai’s table, and everyone raised their glasses.

“Thank you,” Song Qing said, clinking glasses one by one.

“How have things been?” Song Qing casually asked, glancing at Tang Huai.

“Not bad…” Tang Huai was taken aback. Were they really that close?

“Hmm.” Song Qing nodded, then took a sip and continued chatting with other classmates. Zhou Xingzhao chimed in occasionally, making the whole atmosphere quite harmonious.

“Why are you stopping me? I’m not wrong! What’s Song Qing’s background? What’s Tang Huai’s background? Back then, he gave a love letter—so ridiculous!”

Bang! Bang! Bang!

Just as Song Qing finished the toast and was about to move on to the next table, a loud male voice suddenly erupted, followed by the sound of dishes crashing to the floor. Everyone turned to see Lu Dayu, holding a wine glass, standing unsteadily.

“Song Qing, I’m really happy about your wedding. I just can’t stand Tang Huai—you should have rejected him!” Lu Dayu’s face was bright red, and he slurred his words as he clumsily clinked glasses with Song Qing.

“Dayu, you’ve had too much to drink…”

“I’m not drunk. Tang Huai, owning land abroad? Hah, who are you fooling?” Ignoring the person trying to stop him, Lu Dayu pushed them aside and continued ranting. The mood at the wedding remained lively, but at the table for the Communications Class 6 group, things became increasingly awkward. Zhou Xingzhao glanced at Song Qing and then at Tang Huai, a hint of suspicion in his eyes.

“My stomach hurts a bit. Tang Huai, could you come with me to the restroom?” A sharp-witted classmate quickly fabricated an excuse, gesturing for Tang Huai to leave with them. It was clear by now that Lu Dayu had made up his mind to pick a fight with Tang Huai, and they wanted to avoid further embarrassment at the wedding.

Tang Huai frowned. He could leave, but doing so now would make it seem like he was guilty of something. What kind of scene would that create?

“Lu Dayu, what do you mean by saying Tang Huai gave a love letter? Did you read it? I have something to clear up with everyone today. The love letter was mine—Tang Huai just delivered it for me. He took the blame for me for three years.” Just as Tang Huai was weighing his options, Su Wei slammed her cup down on the table and spoke up.

Su Wei’s voice was loud and clear, and everyone heard it perfectly.

“This is none of your business,” Lu Dayu froze, thinking Su Wei was helping Tang Huai smooth things over.

“I’ve kept this secret for three years, Tang Huai. I owe you an apology. As for whether it was my love letter… Song Qing knows best.” Su Wei ignored Lu Dayu and continued, her voice steady, before bowing deeply toward Tang Huai. When she stood back up, her eyes were slightly red.

The crowd glanced at Su Wei and then curiously looked over at Song Qing. Though the situation felt somewhat inappropriate, everyone’s gossip instincts were now fully ignited.

“The love letter was Su Wei’s,” Song Qing confirmed, under the gaze of the group.

With both Su Wei and Song Qing’s statements, the crowd began to piece together the story from back then. They turned toward Tang Huai, now with a new understanding. Su Wei had been sensitive and shy during school, so the fact that Tang Huai had taken on the burden of the situation for three years made him seem even more loyal.

“Haha, Su Wei really kept this hidden! Who would’ve thought she had a crush on Song Qing?”

“Tang Huai’s so loyal! We should all toast to him later.”

“Digging up old stories like this, Lu Dayu sure is shameless.”

…

The group started lightening the mood, while Lu Dayu’s face alternated between frustration and embarrassment.

“Tang!” Just as the situation was easing up, a voice filled with surprise rang out from the other side of the room.

A path cleared down the red-carpeted aisle as a group of businesspeople approached, led by a tall, blonde man in a sharp grey suit and crocodile leather shoes, looking impeccably put together.

“Tang, we meet again!” the man exclaimed, pulling Tang Huai into a big hug.

“Jon?” Tang Huai was surprised and returned the embrace. The man was none other than Jon, one of the father-son tourists from before. They had only just parted ways, and now they were crossing paths in China again.

What a small world.

“Tang, Jimmy misses you. He’s been eagerly awaiting the winter holidays…”

After the hug, Jon and Tang Huai began chatting enthusiastically. Jon was British, but had been living in Mexico for twenty years. The conversation started in English, but Jon soon switched to Spanish for better flow, and Tang Huai followed his lead. The two of them were immersed in conversation, leaving the rest of the group—including the businessmen—feeling utterly confused.

When they were speaking English, the crowd could catch a word or two, but now that they’d switched to rapid Spanish, no one had a clue what was being said. Everyone turned to the nearby translator.

The translator, hired at great expense by the Song family, was sweating profusely as he tried to keep up. Jon and Tang Huai’s speech was too fast, and filled with slang and colloquialisms. He could only pick out a few scattered words, barely understanding anything.

The translator started doubting his own professional skills…

“Song Qing, is that your classmate?” asked a middle-aged man standing behind Jon, pulling Song Qing aside and whispering curiously. This man was Song Jianjun, chairman of Shen Steel and also Song Qing’s father.

Jon was the chief engineer at St. Dis Building Co., a British construction firm. Recently, St. Dis had won the bid for the Luohai Twin Star Towers project, a $1 billion investment. Once completed, the towers would be the landmark of the new district in Luohai.

The Song family is in the steel business, though not on a large scale. Song Jianjun had to put in significant effort to connect with Jon. Song Jianjun’s expectations were modest—he hoped that a few floors of the Twin Star Towers would use Song Steel products. The money wasn’t the main issue; the real goal was to get Song Steel associated with such a high-profile project. With the Twin Star Towers as a reference, securing future government projects would become much smoother.

Jon held significant power within St. Dis, controlling a few steel supply quotas. Song Steel had gone through considerable effort to invite Jon under the guise of the wedding banquet. Throughout the event, Jon maintained a neutral demeanor—despite his large stature, Jon was sharp-minded, which had helped him rise to become the chief engineer at St. Dis.

While Song Jianjun and his colleagues were racking their brains on how to approach Jon, they were surprised to see Jon suddenly walk toward the northeastern corner of the hall…

Jon knew this guest?

And by the way they were chatting, it seemed they were more than just acquaintances.

“A university classmate,” Song Qing said, his expression complicated as he watched Tang Huai conversing with Jon. Tang Huai’s fluent Spanish and confident demeanor made it clear he was used to dealing with significant matters.

In Song Qing’s imagination, Tang Huai should have been struggling to make ends meet or at least still had a student-like aura. He had envisioned many scenarios, but none of them included the composed and charismatic Tang Huai he now saw, who was casually chatting and laughing with Jon.

“Let’s have coffee together when we get the chance,” Jon said regretfully after nearly five minutes of conversation. This was Song Qing’s wedding, and it wasn’t the best setting for a long chat.

“For sure,” Tang Huai responded with a smile, and the two shared another hug before parting.

As Jon returned to his seat, naturally, Song Jianjun and his entourage followed. However, as he turned, Song Jianjun cast a curious glance at Tang Huai. He wondered what this young man did for a living and if he might be interested in joining Song Steel. With Jon as a connection, securing the Twin Star Towers project would be a breeze…

“Impressive, ‘Heartthrob’! Since when did you become so fluent in both English and Spanish? You’re really surprising us!”

“So, do you really have land overseas? I think I heard you mention Sora Island?”

“Oh my, when did you learn Spanish? Where’s Lu Dayu? Did he already leave…”

…

After Jon and Song Qing left, the conversation at the classmate’s table returned to normal. However, this time, all eyes were on Tang Huai. His impressive display of English and Spanish fluency had left a deep impact on everyone. Beyond his language skills, the mention of Sora Island piqued their interest… It seemed that Tang Huai had a piece of land abroad.

“I took some classes after graduation. It’s not private property; it’s a resort I co-own with a friend. I only have a small share, not a big deal,” Tang Huai said, downplaying the situation.

“I knew it!” His classmates responded with understanding smiles. The idea of Tang Huai being a small investor in a foreign resort was more believable than him being a land-owning tycoon. With the tension diffused, everyone returned to their drinks and idle chat.

Though the conversation moved on, many still occasionally glanced at Tang Huai. His language skills had left a lasting impression.

Twenty minutes later, the guests began to leave.

Tang Huai exited with his classmates. Some headed back to their hotel rooms, while others made their way to the airport. It was a brief reunion, and though they talked about future gatherings, with everyone scattered across different parts of the country, it would be hard to arrange another meeting soon.

“I’m heading back. Let’s catch up next time,” Ma Chuan waved goodbye to Tang Huai at the hotel entrance. He had taken two days off and needed to get back to work that afternoon.

“Take care,” Tang Huai waved in return, preparing to hail a cab back to his hotel.

“Tang Huai.” As he waited at the hotel entrance, Su Wei’s voice called from behind.

“Still here?” Tang Huai asked in surprise. It was already 2:10 p.m., and he had thought Su Wei would have left by now.

“Not yet… Tang Huai, thank you for everything these past two years.”

Su Wei shook her head, her expression a mix of hesitation and relief. Looking back now, having her love letter rejected didn’t seem like a big deal, but at the time, Su Wei had been incredibly sensitive. She had felt as if her world was collapsing, and it was Tang Huai who had shielded her fragile heart. She had wanted to apologize to Tang Huai but could never muster the courage.

“It’s fine,” Tang Huai waved it off. Now that everything was out in the open, there was no need to dwell on the past.

“Thank you,” Su Wei exhaled deeply, feeling as though a weight had been lifted from her chest.

“Beep beep—” After chatting for a while, the sound of a car horn echoed from the street below the hotel steps. A black SUV had pulled up, and a man, about six feet tall with a gentle demeanor, stepped out of the car.

“My boyfriend’s here to pick me up. I’ll head off now.” Su Wei waved goodbye to Tang Huai and then dashed over to the car. The man affectionately ruffled Su Wei’s hair, and she smiled brightly.

Tang Huai hailed a taxi, feeling reassured from observing the couple’s interactions that Su Wei had moved on from her past struggles.

When Tang Huai returned to his hotel, he received a call from Pang Dafu’s secretary. Pang Dafu had already returned to the country, and Tang Huai could inspect the ship either today or tomorrow. He requested the port’s address, and since it was just a three-hour train ride from Luohai to Tianjin, he decided to depart the following morning.

Tang Huai spent the afternoon at the hotel before heading out for dinner. The day passed productively.

…

10:00 PM, Luohai Villa.

“Song Qing, we need to talk.” After the day-long wedding festivities and once all the guests had left, Song Qing was about to take a shower when Zhou Xingzhao stopped him, his expression serious.

“Umm.” Song Qing, slightly surprised, nodded in agreement. Half an hour later, the two were seated across from each other in the living room.

“What was that about the ‘scent recognition game’ and the love letter?” Zhou Xingzhao asked directly. He wasn’t oblivious—after living together for half a year, he could clearly sense something unusual during the wedding.

“The ‘scent recognition’ was just a fun segment. The love letter situation was explained during the toast,” Song Qing replied briefly.

“Do you like that young man? His name is Tang Huai, right?” Zhou Xingzhao wasn’t easily brushed off. Song Qing had hidden his feelings well, but Zhou had noticed Song Qing’s subtle glances at Tang Huai while he was talking to Jon.

Song Qing remained silent.

“I liked him in college,” Song Qing finally admitted after half a minute. Song Qing didn’t have the habit of lying to his partner. He had liked Tang Huai back then, but after seeing him again today, Song Qing realized that while he still felt nervous, the youthful fluttering had faded.

He had always hoped that Tang Huai would live an ordinary life, as it would validate his own choices. But when he saw Tang Huai confidently conversing with Jon, Song Qing suddenly realized that Tang Huai was still as dazzling as ever. Yet, his heart remained calm. He had harbored the dark hope that Tang Huai would not be doing well, but seeing him thrive beyond expectations—it surprisingly didn’t bother him much.

Tang Huai had simply been a fleeting part of his life, a passing figure. Song Qing had known Zhou Xingzhao longer, and his unspoken affection for Tang Huai seemed almost like an emotional betrayal.

After speaking, Song Qing was about to continue explaining.

“That’s good then,” Zhou Xingzhao exhaled in relief before Song Qing could say more.

Song Qing: ?

“I know our marriage was arranged by our parents. I liked you when we were kids, but that was just childhood feelings. Lately, I’ve been struggling with how to bring this up… But now that you have someone you like, things are clearer. Let’s continue as we have been—I’ll stay out of your private matters, and you’ll stay out of mine. If you find a new partner, just let me know. I’ll do the same.” Zhou Xingzhao sipped his water, speaking candidly.

He had come of age and wanted to pursue those energetic, youthful men, not spend the rest of his life in a calculated and meticulous relationship with Song Qing. Since Song Qing already had someone he liked, Zhou Xingzhao felt no emotional burden.

After saying his piece, Zhou Xingzhao happily returned to his room to play video games. For the past six months, he had been secretly gaming, pretending to match Song Qing’s diligent, hardworking image.

The bedroom door closed with a thud. Song Qing stared at the glass of water in front of him, feeling dazed. It was as if everything in his life had suddenly become disordered.

…

“Boss Tang… wait, where’s Boss Tang?” At 10 a.m. the next morning, Tang Huai arrived at the train station as scheduled. A secretary, looking to be in his twenties, enthusiastically greeted him. He took Tang Huai’s luggage and stretched on his tiptoes, scanning the station eagerly. He knew the person coming to inspect the yacht was named Tang, but where was Boss Tang?

“Ahem, that would be me,” Tang Huai coughed lightly. They had spoken on the phone, but Tang Huai hadn’t mentioned that he was the one intending to buy the yacht, which led the secretary to believe Tang Huai was just another assistant, like himself.

“Ah…” The secretary’s face fell slightly upon hearing this. It wasn’t that he judged people by appearances, but other potential buyers were always the type with gold chains, fancy watches, or arrived in luxury cars—obviously wealthy business elites capable of buying a yacht.

In contrast… Tang Huai carried a suitcase, dressed casually in comfortable clothes, looking more like a tourist. The secretary couldn’t help but feel that Tang Huai wasn’t a serious buyer, though he didn’t dare say it out loud due to his position.

“He should be arriving soon,” said Pang Dafu, pacing back and forth in a brown suit at the Tianjin port, looking anxious. The Young Lady had been on the market for five months, attracting plenty of inquiries, but no deals had closed. Pang Dafu was feeling the pressure. He used to think that five million wasn’t much money, but his business had been steadily declining over the past couple of years—he needed the cash.

“Mr. Pang, Kim Soo-bin is willing to offer $7.5 million. That’s a decent price. There are two 70,000-ton cruise ships for sale in Indonesia right now at a low price. If we don’t settle this deal, it will only get harder to sell in the future,” said a sharp-looking man in glasses beside Pang Dafu, analyzing the situation carefully.

Kim Soo-bin was a well-known Korean businessman, famous for being a middleman between China and Korea.

☀️☀️☀️☀️☀️