Chapter 22: Considering Matters of a Lifetime

It was past ten o'clock in the evening when Jiang Mian and Xiao Li finally returned to the hotel. Both had walked a great distance that day and were quite exhausted. When they encountered Xiao Ming in the lobby, Jiang Mian did not even notice him at first; it was Xiao Li who greeted him.

"Special Assistant Xiao, it's so late. Have you not rested yet?"

Jiang Mian followed Xiao Li’s gaze to see Xiao Ming turning away from the front desk, apparently holding a room key. He nodded with a polite smile. "Yes, I am checking in a room for the Elder."

"Is Elder Wen here too?" Jiang Mian asked, momentarily stunned. She remembered seeing news of Elder Wen’s upcoming seventieth birthday; she had assumed he was not in the country. Naturally, she would never voice such questions aloud. She nodded, headed toward the elevators, and waited. When Xiao Ming walked over, the elevator doors opened just in time. They all stepped inside, standing on opposite sides with a certain detachment, remaining silent throughout the ride.

When the elevator doors opened, Jiang Mian immediately saw Wen Jinhuai and Elder Wen standing in the hallway. She had only met the Elder once when she was in her teens, and he surely would not remember her. As she drew closer, she found it increasingly difficult to ignore the gazes directed at her by the two men.

"Xiao Ming, who is this?" Although elderly, Elder Wen’s voice was robust and full of vitality. He had clearly misunderstood the situation.

Xiao Ming explained immediately, "This is Miss Jiang, who is staying next door, and her assistant."

"I see." The Elder sighed, the intensity in his eyes fading.

Jiang Mian let out a slow breath, gave a slight nod to Elder Wen, and used her key card to open her door. Although she had met him before, she knew that if she were to strike up a conversation now, it might appear as if she were trying to curry favor with the Wen family. Moreover, she simply did not know what to say. Her current circumstances were truly awkward.

Only after closing her door did the uncomfortable feeling finally dissipate. Perhaps the weight of that scrutinizing gaze had been so intense that she had kept her back unnaturally straight while opening her door. Collapsing onto the sofa, she finally relaxed.

In the hallway, Xiao Ming handed the room key to Wen Jinhuai. Since the suites on this floor were fully booked, Xiao Ming had secured a suite for the Elder on the floor above.

***

Wen Jinhuai glanced at the room key and walked slowly toward the elevator with the Elder.

"Jinhuai, that girl earlier—she looked a bit familiar." Elder Wen’s memory was still quite sharp despite his age. "She looks a bit like that daughter from the Su family, doesn't she?" He paused, thinking better of it; the girl from the Su family would be much older now.

Wen Jinhuai turned his head, his voice low. "Grandfather, you met her a long time ago. Her parents were once the heads of the Jiang Corporation."

Hearing this, Elder Wen’s memory seemed to sharpen. The Jiangs? He was well aware that the Jiang Corporation had changed hands. He had despised such heartless actions back then, as they were clearly designed to leave the victims with no way out.

"So that is who she is," the Elder sighed, leaning on Wen Jinhuai as they stepped into the elevator.

Once upstairs, Wen Jinhuai escorted the Elder into his room and gave him a few worried reminders. The Elder, who detested being nagged, impatiently waved him away. "Go back. If you have the time, you should be finding yourself a wife."

"Grandfather." Wen Jinhuai pressed his lips together, leaning against the doorframe with a look of resignation. This was typical of the Elder; whenever he heard something he disliked, he would pivot to pressuring him about marriage.

"Go on, out with you." The Elder began pushing him toward the door. With no other choice, Wen Jinhuai stepped out and turned back to look at the old man. The little old man was pouting, his dissatisfaction plain to see.

"For the past two years, you kept telling me you were busy with the company. Now that things have stabilized, it’s time to consider the大事 (major affairs of life), isn't it?"

Indeed, when Wen Jinhuai had first taken over the Wen enterprise, many were unconvinced. He had been busy purging internal issues and proving his worth, leaving no time for romance. Furthermore, given his family status, it was unlikely he would find a partner without a comparable background. Most importantly, his social circle made it impossible to meet anyone "ordinary."

"Grandfather," Wen Jinhuai said helplessly, "as you said, it is a major life affair, not a game. I must consider it carefully."

It wasn't that he refused to consider it; it was simply that the elite socialites he knew did not catch his interest.

***

The Elder snorted, ignoring his explanation. "Three months. That's all the time I'm giving you. If you don't find someone yourself, I'll find someone for you!" Given the Wen family's status in the capital, there was no shortage of people eager to attach themselves to them. In the Elder’s eyes, Wen Jinhuai was simply being stubborn.

"Fine, fine, as you wish." He nodded vaguely, though his reluctance was transparent to the Elder. Without another word, the Elder slammed the door shut.

Wen Jinhuai touched the bridge of his nose, sighed softly, and turned back toward the elevator. The hallway was silent and empty. As he waited, he found himself recalling the image of Jiang Mian. When she had bowed her head to open her door, loose strands of hair had fallen against her ears, which had seemed slightly flushed.

Wen Jinhuai had a deep impression of her eyes. When he had seen her at the Jiang residence previously, she had studied him with that same clear, limpid gaze, rippling with light and devoid of any impurities. Unlike the eyes of others he had met, Jiang Mian’s seemed to always hold a trace of resilience.

By the time he returned to his room, Xiao Ming had finished washing up. "Mr. Wen, Miss Jiang left a gift for you. She said it was in thanks for the fruit you sent yesterday. It's on your table."

Wen Jinhuai looked up to see Xiao Ming sitting on the sofa, half-turned toward him with a smile. He frowned subconsciously, then smoothed his expression. "I see. Thank you."

He walked quickly into his room. It was clear that Jiang Mian wanted to settle her debts immediately and avoid owing any favors. On the table sat a white gift box. He opened it carefully to find an exquisite embossed photo frame nestled in pale blue raffia. Inside the frame were several Morpho menelaus butterflies, as if poised for flight.

Wen Jinhuai took the frame out; under the light, the butterfly wings shimmered with a strange, brilliant luster. He curled his lips into a faint smile, noticing a postcard tucked inside the box. He picked it up and turned it over to see the words written in Jiang Mian’s hand:

"May you be well in every season."

*Hm,* he thought, *that is quite like her.*