The Yuanming Garden, destined to leave a mark on the history of human civilization.
The smoke of battle has drifted away, but the desolation remains. Broken columns lean like a harp, while wild roses grow wildly over the baroque patterns. Marble arches are half-buried in wild grass, and vines twist through the engravings of the Qianlong Era, turning the cloud patterns into a green cascade.
The remnant pond ripples with half an acre of sunlight, and broken bridge piers slant into heaps of lotus. Koi swim in the reflections of the algae ceiling, and sunlight drapes over the ruins of the European buildings. The empty seats of the Twelve Beast Heads cast long shadows, just enough to catch the cicada song spilling out from the cracks in the old foundations.
"I haven’t had the chance to thank you for giving the dog head."
Jiang Chen spoke softly.
Beside him, Miss He Four was dressed unusually, in a floral dress that starkly contrasted with the surrounding desolation.
Once fraught with war, now the nation is at peace.
"Do you like it?"
A white butterfly flitted through a crack, brushing past her hair.
In the middle of sumr.
No sunshade to shield from the rays.
But it didn’t really matter.
Miss He Four never fit the traditional mold of fair, slender beauty; her skin had a wheatish hue, wild and healthy.
Of course, a feeling is just a feeling.
At this mont, Miss He Four was even more graceful and gentle than the white butterfly dancing in the light.
Oh, you in the floral dress.
The dream that many young n chase in their hearts.
So much so that when Jiang Chen, waiting at the Yuanming Garden, saw Miss He Four arriving, he was montarily srized.
It’s hard to bla a hero for falling for a beauty, after all.
"Where did you get it from?"
Jiang Chen asked with a smile.
"From my father’s treasury."
"..."
Hadn’t the Gambling King already donated the beast heads to the country?
Yet there was still more?
The missing dog head had actually been hidden in the Gambling King’s private treasury all along?
"Why didn’t the Gambling King..."
"Daddy said that although these artifacts are lifeless, they hold significant aning, and bringing them out at the right ti can maximize their value."
As expected of the Gambling King.
Truly so.
A mind that plans deeply.
Donating one or two at a ti might not make a noticeable difference, but stretching the ti makes all the difference.
"The Gambling King kept the dog head in the treasury, intending to reveal it when the He Family needed it, but you gave it to ..."
"The dog head was a gift from Daddy back then, and I have the right to dispose of it."
"..."
There was once a fear of too much affection spoiling a beauty’s heart.
Why could the Gambling King have multiple wives and concubines and engage in an industry like gambling, which contradicts traditional inland values, yet enjoy high praise?
Apart from deliberate guidance from the authorities, his actions like donating the beast heads also cultivated a sense of patriotism which was one of the key factors.
Lessons from the past can teach the future.
He Yihui could entirely follow her father’s successful path, bringing out the dog head at an opportune mont and returning it to the motherland, just like the Gambling King. Her reputation would surely rise, engraving her na in the hearts of inland compatriots.
The Gambling King left the dog head as a gift for her.
It was likely with this sentint in mind.
But Miss He Four clearly let her father’s intentions down.
She didn’t treat the dog head as a bargaining chip but gave it silently and almost wastefully to a man.
Fortunately, this happened after the Gambling King’s ti, otherwise, Jiang Chen wouldn’t know how to face that legendary figure.
"Aren’t you afraid of regretting it?"
Jiang Chen asked calmly.
"Regret what?"
Miss He Four asked, her eyelashes fluttering, sowhat playfully aware of the aning.
Such a rarity.
For a young lady of her stature to still have a touch of girlishness.
"Regretting giving the dog head to the wrong person."
"How could it be wrong to give? Just like gambling, once you sit at the table, you can’t worry about regrets because regret holds no effect, nor any aning."
Truly thought-provoking.
Jiang Chen nodded silently.
The phone rang.
They both paused.
He Yihui kindly turned her gaze elsewhere, appreciating the scenery of the once-royal garden in its desolated state.
It was Zhuge Xi.
Jiang Chen answered the call, listening quietly.
"Do as you think best."
After setting down the phone, Jiang Chen turned his head, finding her sweetly looking at him.
The breeze from the lotus pond lifted the hem of her floral skirt.
"Eavesdropping is not a proper etiquette for a lady of a respectable family."
"I grew up in a small remote fishing village."
Jiang Chen smiled gently.
"Zhong Xiaoye has been released."
He Yihui didn’t mind.
Along the ruins of history, they continued forward.
"It should be."
"When you get back, talk to your sister seriously. A person like Zhong Xiaoye can be used in the short term but shouldn’t be an ally for the long term."
He Yihui fell silent for a mont.
"Have you decided to take him down?"
"Wasn’t it bound to happen sooner or later?"
"How much longer?"
"A year and a half, perhaps."
This is all classified information,
and Boss Jiang knows the art of give and take.
Setting aside personal stances, taking down soone like Zhong Xiaoye can’t be rushed. The intricate web of interests he’s woven is not small, can you apprehend everyone in one fell swoop?
Clearly unrealistic.
As the saying goes, collective punishnt is avoided, what could be settled quietly doesn’t need to cause a massive upheaval.
Not only does Boss Jiang need ti,
those connected with Zhong Xiaoye financially need ti too.
The warning will be released bit by bit, whoever senses the change should distance themselves. If they don’t see the light, when the ti cos, don’t bla the fallout for affecting you.
This is usually the procedure for handling such matters.
For harmony and stability, of course.
"Looks like I should head back."
Listening to the soft whispers beside him, Jiang Chen remained quietly indifferent.
"I have to head back."
He Yihui continued.
"Mhm."
At this mont.
Is it just a simple "mhm"?
Why is he becoming more and more detached?
He Yihui fell silent again.
Exactly.
How can you wake soone pretending to sleep?
No matter how much you say, it’s like talking to a brick wall.
After walking quietly for a while, Jiang Chen seed to finally sense sothing was off in the atmosphere, just about to speak, when a voice reached his ears first.
"I miss my dad."
"..."
...!
Jiang Chen’s expression froze, torn between laughter and tears.
Despite being an independent and formidable woman, she still seed like a child.
"Actually... there’s no need to rush, there’s still a year and a half."
Admitting one’s wrongs and correcting them is the greatest virtue.
A prodigal who returns is worth more than gold.
"It seems you’re not too willing."
"..."
Jiang Chen’s bitter smile deepened.
"Then I’ll head back tomorrow."
At tis like these, n can’t help but speak out.
"If you’re not in a hurry, you could stay in Kyoto a bit longer. There are many places worth visiting you probably haven’t seen yet."
"Will you accompany ?"
Jiang Chen paused again, then replied, "I can."
Actually, his hesitation was quite obvious, but sotis all a woman needs is an attitude.
"Next ti then. There’ll be another chance. But you can’t be impatient then."
Jiang Chen suddenly recalled how she had been his guide in Haojiang, and a surge of guilt arose.
"No need for next ti, we can do it now."
He quickly responded, his tone much firr.
Though his attitude was correct, once graded, you can’t change the answers on the test again.
"It’s too late."
He Yihui’s lips curved slightly upward.
Jiang Chen smiled wryly.
Indeed.
Daughter of the Gambling King.
How could she indulge in lovey-dovey romance?
Ahead, a young couple strolled through the park, fingers interlocked, with laughter and intimacy.
Jiang Chen cleared his throat lightly.
He Yihui silently watched the ordinary yet enviable young couple, without a word.
The guilt-ridden Boss Jiang wasn’t sure of the struggle within, but ultimately, his right hand slowly moved over.
And coincidentally,
a left hand also moved over.
The two hands touched, eventually exchanging warmth.
"Let’s hope there aren’t any reporters here."
Jiang Chen hadn’t forgotten the lessons from the past.
Once caught up in scandals, He Yihui didn’t care at all as she, in her charming floral dress, tilted her head, lightly tiptoed, and unselfconsciously kissed that side profile.
Locks of hair swayed, and her dress swayed.
The mindset of a casino operator is different from that of a gambler. If you choose to sit at the table, you shouldn’t care about winning or losing, nor think about regrets. Just wholeheartedly enjoy the process.
In that case,
winning is winning.
Losing is also winning.
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