Chapter 3 – I Told You We Will Meet Again
Novel Title: 谁把谁当真 (Winner Takes All)
Author：水千丞 (ShuiQianCheng)
Translator: K (@kin0monogatari)
Protagonists: 黎朔 (Li Shuo -MC), 赵锦辛 (Zhao Jinxin -ML)
*Please read at Novels Space.space, the original site of translation. TQ*
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“Oh. It’s nothing much. It’s just that your Zhao Shushu wants to see you.”
“He wants to see me? For what?” Li Shuo was quite surprised.
He had only met Zhao Rongtian, the chairman of Ennan Group, twice. Once was at the first birthday party of Zhao Rongtian’s only son, when he was still very young and his father and Zhao Rongtian were just acquaintances. The other time was when he was writing his thesis and interviewed several Chinese business leaders in New York. He hadn’t gone through his father to arrange the meeting, so it was hard to get the appointment. They only talked for ten minutes. Zhao Rongtian didn’t know who he was and now he probably had long forgotten about it.
“Your Zhao Shushu’s previous business was mainly concentrated in the Yangtze River area. Now he wants to expand trade in the north. He needs to set up a branch in Beijing and find a long-term accounting firm. Aren’t you stationed in Beijing?”
“Oh.” Li Shuo smiled, “That’s good news. We can talk about it.” However, this matter didn’t seem to require summoning him back to the United States. Most likely, his parents missed him. Although he was very willing to accompany his parents, right now he really couldn’t leave Li Chengxiu alone. He planned to return as soon as he met Zhao Rongtian and come back here with Li Chengxiu for Christmas.
“Have you ever met your Zhao Shushu?”
“Yes, when I was a child. But by the time you started cooperating, I had already left the United States.”
“Yes, he is a very visionary and wise person. You should talk to him more. You also need to thank Mrs. Zhao. It was her idea to work with you. It’s surprising that she remembers you.”
“Okay.”
“He has a son, do you remember?”
“I do remember. He had a child in his old age and the kid is very precious.” Li Shuo still remembered the first birthday party he attended when he was twelve. Zhao Rongtian, as the president of the Chinese Chamber of Commerce and a Manhattan socialite, turned the birthday party into a grand social event. Li Shuo was a bit pretentious when he was young. He was at an age where he would talk about Byron with anyone. So he didn’t appreciate the Zhao family’s grandiose and mixed Western and Chinese style. He remembered that several children of the same age wanted to play with the little baby. One of the children even asked, but the Zhao family’s nanny pretended not to understand Chinese, rolling her eyes skyward, as she held the precious baby. Li Shuo saw it all clearly. Although he was also curious about the chubby, cheerful baby, he didn’t step forward.
“Your Zhao Shushu sent his son to the capital to manage the branch office. You will meet him this time. In the future, you will be both family friends and business partners.”
Li Shuo smiled calmly, “Great.” The Zhao couple were famously doting on their son. Li Shuo had some doubts about the person’s abilities and hoped he wouldn’t be a difficult character. Otherwise, being caught between Zhao Rongtian and his own father would be troublesome.
“Why talk about all this as soon as you get home? The boy hasn’t even eaten yet,” Mrs. Li took her son’s hand. “Dinner will be ready soon. Let me show you my little cabbages first. They are growing so well.”
Li Shuo smiled and followed her.
After dinner, Li Shuo felt very tired. He took a shower and fell asleep as soon as he hit the bed.
When he woke up, it was already dark. He looked at his watch. At this time, Li Chengxiu was probably awake. But his parents were getting ready to sleep.
Li Shuo took a photo of himself with an unshaven face and sent it to Li Chengxiu. In the photo, he looked exhausted; jet lag was really troublesome.
Li Chengxiu quickly replied with a text message: You must be very tired. Get some good rest.
Li Shuo dialled the phone.
It rang for a long time before it was answered. A soft, cautious voice came on: “International calls… are expensive. Let’s just text.”
Li Shuo chuckled, “It’s fine. I wanted to hear your voice.”
Li Chengxiu laughed softly, “What time is it over there?”
“It’s ten o’clock at night. I wanted you to video chat with my mom. But she’s already asleep.”
“Video chat…” Li Chengxiu said hesitantly, “I-I don’t think that’s a good idea.”
“What’s the problem? Didn’t I tell you? My parents know about my sexual orientation. And they respect me very much.”
“But…” The voice on the other end was very hesitant.
“If you feel uncomfortable, we don’t have to video chat. How about just saying a few words? My parents are very curious about you.”
“Okay.”
“I’ll be back to be with you soon after I finish my business. If you get bored, go hang out with Xiaohui. Don’t stay alone, okay?”
“Okay.”
“Chengxiu,” Li Shuo said softly, “You will like my parents and they will like you too. When you are with me, you don’t need to feel any burden.”
There was a light sniffle from the other end. Li Chengxiu said softly, “Li Da Ge, I know.”
The next morning, Li Shuo went to play tennis with his father. This was a sport they had been playing together since he was a child. When he was in college, he participated in the National Collegiate Tennis Championships and even made it to the quarterfinals.
After a morning of exercise, he took his parents to a French restaurant they frequently visited for lunch. In the afternoon, he went shopping with his mom.
As an only child who had lived across the ocean for many years, he always felt guilty towards his parents. So, whenever he came home, he would spend most of his time with his family.
At dusk, he returned home and changed his clothes. Guang Shu drove the three of them to Zhao Rongtian’s family banquet.
Mr. Li had recently developed a fondness for Kunqu opera, thanks to Guang Shu. The two of them started singing in the car, making Li Shuo’s mother and him laugh.
Zhao Rongtian lived in the heart of the Upper East Side, adjacent to Central Park. He had built a small artificial lake, making it the only Chinese-style mansion in the area. Li Shuo remembered that this mansion had even been featured in the domestic media, but it was his first time visiting.
Under the guidance of the security guard, Guang Shu parked the car at the entrance of the mansion.
Li Shuo said, “Guang Shu, don’t fall asleep while listening to the opera. Remember to leave a gap in the window.”
Guang Shu waved his hand, “I won’t.”
“Wait for us, okay?” Li Shuo smiled and patted Guang Shu on the shoulder.
Mrs. Li got out of the car. Li Shuo bent down to smooth out the slightly wrinkled dress she was wearing.
As he straightened up, he heard a deep male voice calling his father’s name.
When he looked up, he saw Zhao Rongtian and his wife coming out to greet them, followed by a tall young man.
The moment Li Shuo saw the young man’s face, his mind exploded.
Zhao… Zhao Jinxin?!
Zhao Jinxin gave him a meaningful look, then showed a sweet, endearing smile. “Hello, Li Shushu, Li Ayi. Long time no see. Ayi, you look younger and more beautiful.”
Mrs. Li laughed so hard her eyes turned into crescents. “Jinxin has grown up. But he still has such a sweet mouth.”
Zhao Jinxin’s gaze fell on Li Shuo with a look of surprise. “Is this my Da Ge? He’s so handsome.”
“Hello.” Li Shuo nodded at Zhao Jinxin. The two acted as if they had never met before. He smiled gracefully and appropriately, “Hello, Zhao Shushu, Ayi.”
“Oh my, such a fine young man,” Zhao Rongtian said, looking Li Shuo up and down. He laughed, “The last time I saw you, you were just a child.”
Mr. Li sighed, “Isn’t that right? The last time you saw him, Jinxin had just learned to crawl. In the blink of an eye, the kids have grown up. And we’ve all gotten older.”
Mrs. Zhao laughed, “Before, it was always either Jinxin or Li Shuo who wasn’t around. This is the first time the six of us are gathering together. Come in, let’s have a good chat.”
The four elders walked ahead, with Zhao Jinxin and Li Shuo following behind.
Zhao Jinxin glanced sideways at Li Shuo and whispered, “I told you we will meet again.” His tone was amused, with a hint of confidence.
Li Shuo kept his eyes fixed on his father’s back, pretending not to hear. He quickly walked into the house.
Faced with this absurd coincidence, Li Shuo’s initial surprise had turned to calm. But thinking about their fathers’ relationship, he worried about getting entangled with this person. He didn’t like mixing personal matters with business. Avoiding trouble was far more important than making money. He feared he would have to reconsider the cooperation matter.
At the table, the two heads of the families discussed the stock market, while the two ladies politely boasted about their sons. Zhao Jinxin and Li Shuo sat facing each other, with Li Shuo smiling and looking at his mother, avoiding unnecessary eye contact with Zhao Jinxin.
Zhao Jinxin raised his glass, “Da Ge, let’s have a drink.”
Li Shuo gracefully raised his glass and lightly clinked it against Zhao Jinxin’s.
Mrs. Zhao covered her mouth and laughed, “You two have quite an age gap. Otherwise, you would have grown up together as childhood friends.”
“What a pity. I wish I had met my Da Ge earlier,” Zhao Jinxin said with utmost sincerity.
Li Shuo smiled, “Indeed.”
“Da Ge, what are your hobbies? What do you like to do?”
“Tennis, skiing, diving. What about you?”
“I happen to like all of them. Let’s go do them together next time.”
Li Shuo smiled slightly, “Sure.”
“Xiao Shuo, when Jinxin moves to China, you must take good care of this Didi of yours,” Mrs. Li instructed.
“Of course,” Li Shuo agreed with a cheerful smile. He then turned to Zhao Rongtian, “Zhao Shushu, I heard from my dad that you plan to expand trade in the north.”
“Yes. And since you’re in the capital, it’s reliable to work with family friends,” Zhao Rongtian said, waving his hand. “But today, we’re just having dinner and chatting. We’ll discuss business tomorrow at my company.”
Li Shuo nodded with a smile.
Zhao Jinxin said, “Da Ge, would you like some more beef?”
“Oh, no. I’m full, thank you.”
“If you’re done eating, how about a walk by the lake? To help with digestion.”
Just as Li Shuo was about to refuse, his father spoke up, “Go on. You young people should have a good chat.”
Li Shuo slowly wiped his mouth, giving Zhao Jinxin a sharp look. Zhao Jinxin smiled innocently.
Li Shuo stood up, smiling faintly as he made a ‘please’ gesture. He was curious to see what tricks Zhao Jinxin might have up his sleeve.
The artificial lake that the Zhao family had dug was right by Central Park. The design was clever; it not only provided a panoramic view of Central Park but also, at night or in the fog when the surrounding buildings were less visible, made it look as if the entire Central Park was their backyard.
Li Shuo squinted at the lake under the night sky. The night breeze was light, cool, and pleasant.
“The scenery here is nice, isn’t it?” Zhao Jinxin said with his hands behind his head, taking a deep breath.
“Very beautiful,” Li Shuo said sincerely.
Zhao Jinxin chuckled, “I forgot how old I was when we moved here. Every time I approached the lake as a child, someone would follow me. They were afraid I’d fall in. As if I was that foolish.”
Li Shuo thought, being the only heir of the Zhao family, and born when Zhao Rongtian was nearly forty, Zhao Jinxin was indeed their treasure. It wouldn’t be surprising if they hired eight people to watch him 24/7.
Li Shuo didn’t respond, waiting for Zhao Jinxin to say or do something. He didn’t want to admit it. But he was slightly curious about what Zhao Jinxin might dare to do.
Zhao Jinxin bent down, picked up a stone from the grass, and threw it hard towards the centre of the lake.
With a ‘plop’, the small stone fell into the lake, creating a small, tranquil ripple under the moonlight.
Li Shuo remained impassive but slightly on guard, remembering Zhao Jinxin’s ‘sneak attack’ on the plane.
“Even though this place is nice, I still prefer my apartment,” Zhao Jinxin chuckled softly. “It’s on the top floor, nearly two hundred metres above the ground, with no taller buildings around.”
Li Shuo recalled what Zhao Jinxin had said on the plane and his mind couldn’t help but drift into inappropriate territory.
Standing next to him, Zhao Jinxin continued in a coaxing tone, “Naked in the pool, exposed to the sky and sunlight, it feels like the whole world is empty. But when you look down, you can see the cars on the street and the children flying kites in Riverside Park. No one can see you and see what you’re doing. At first, you feel ashamed, but soon you’ll…”
“Enough,” Li Shuo interrupted, realising that his thoughts were being led by Zhao Jinxin. Whether guessing what outrageous thing Zhao Jinxin might do or having explicit images forced into his mind, he felt his thoughts were being ‘invaded’ by this person. It was not a good sign. He paused and showed a slightly helpless smile, “Jinxin, your tricks don’t work on me. It has nothing to do with your charm. Let’s just pretend nothing happened on the plane and be friends. Isn’t that good?”
Zhao Jinxin glanced at him sideways and then burst into laughter, “Really doesn’t work? Did you like the photos I sent you?”
“I liked them. You have a great body,” Li Shuo admitted frankly.
Zhao Jinxin blinked, “I have ‘better’ ones. Do you want to see?”
Li Shuo, with his hands in his pockets, shook his head with a smile, “If you can’t interact with me normally, then it’s best we have no interaction at all.”
Zhao Jinxin stared at him for a couple of seconds. He then laughed heartily, “Alright. I won’t tease you anymore.”
Li Shuo looked at his watch, “I’m heading back now,” he said, starting to leave.
Zhao Jinxin grabbed his arm, “Why the rush? How about I take you to hang out by the lake?”
“No, it’s so dark…”
“That’s why it’s fun. We can set off fireworks on the lake. It’s really beautiful.”
Li Shuo politely but firmly withdrew his hand, “No need. My time here is limited. I want to spend more time with my parents.” He nodded to Zhao Jinxin and turned to walk back.
Zhao Jinxin watched his departing figure, a smile lingering on his lips.
It wasn’t until Li Shuo’s silhouette disappeared that Zhao Jinxin took out his phone and dialled a number, lazily saying, “Hey, Ge. I met him.”
“Yeah, your taste is spot on. He’s totally my type.”
“Sis-in-law’s taste isn’t bad either…” Before he could finish, Zhao Jinxin held the phone away from his ear, waiting for the rant on the other end to end before cheerfully saying, “Don’t be so fierce. I was just joking. Your temper is going to shorten your life.”
“Don’t worry, Ge. It’s a bit challenging, but…” Zhao Jinxin squinted his eyes, “that’s what makes it fun.”
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*Translator’s Note: I think I’ve explained this somewhere before (I’m just not sure if I explain this in this novel’s translation yet) but just let me reiterate; In many Chinese cultures, it is common to address people who are not blood-related as “auntie”, “uncle”, “brother”, and “sister” as a sign of respect and courtesy. This practice is deeply rooted in traditional Chinese values and customs, and it serves several purposes but in this case, it is to create familial warmth. It creates a sense of warmth and familiarity in social interactions. By using these familial terms, people can establish a friendly and welcoming atmosphere, even with acquaintances or strangers. -K
*GLOSSARY:
- Gege/Ge/Da Ge = (Big) Brother
- Shushu/Shu = Uncle
- Ayi = Auntie
- Didi = (Little) Brother
☝🏻I’ll be using these throughout my translation (the proofread version). I won’t be using English words for most titles that are being called out.
*Proofread by 2024.07.18* I’m currently in the middle of the proofreading stage of my first ever translation; ‘Winner Takes All’. Lots of changes will be made especially to titles such as ‘Brother’ will be changed to ‘Ge’ and ‘Uncle’ will be changed to ‘Shushu’. I will proofread these chapters slowly when I’m free so please understand if there are any delays or discrepancies. TQ.
Proofread version of the rest of the novel will only be available on Novels Space.space while Mature Chapters will be released on Wattpad.
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