Volume One, Chapter 68: Come Here

They had been gone for less than an hour. Jiang Wan and Shen Xinghe returned to the team-building site. Once everyone learned that he was all right, they collectively relaxed. Following Zhai Honghui’s instructions, Jiang Wan supervised Shen Xinghe, restricting the movement of his right hand. Thus, he was forced to hold back. Any vigorous activities were out of the question, so he could only join the others in playing some leisurely games.

Time flew by swiftly. In the blink of an eye, dusk began to settle. The final event of their team-building day was a bonfire party with a live barbecue. Both the ingredients and the grilling equipment were provided by the venue.

On the open lawn, besides their own group, there were tents and small wooden cabins set up by local vendors, offering tea breaks and a quiet bar. An outdoor screen played movies under the open sky. Occasionally, a few casual visitors would pass by and stop for a while.

Jiang’s employees were busy dividing up tasks for the barbecue, with one exception—Shen Xinghe sat on a stack of chairs, remotely directing Jiang Wan as she participated.

“I don’t eat lamb. The beef shouldn’t be overcooked—preferably the kind with green peppers. More chicken hearts, squid, and beef tongue, please. For the wheat gluten, add chili powder. For the rest, cumin and black pepper.”

“Is it ready yet? I’m practically drooling a river…”

Shen Xinghe’s stream of chatter floated on the breeze.

The Jiang employees grilled and laughed, commenting among themselves.

“After these few days, the allure of geniuses is completely gone for me; in the end, life’s biggest concerns are just eating and sleeping.”

“I know, right? I looked it up the other day—anyone who’s won the Alexander Lucchi Painting Prize sells their later works for seven figures, yet in private, he’s just like this.”

“That’s because you don’t know much about the jewelry brand Mr. Shen founded. The pricing is utterly whimsical, ranging from a few dozen to millions… It’s all about the fun.”

As their conversation drifted, Jiang Wan carried over a plate of freshly grilled skewers, complete with a bottle of soda, and even opened the can for him.

“Such attentive service—very nice,” Shen Xinghe said, accepting the skewers with satisfaction. He took a bite, the juice glistening at the corner of his mouth.

“Are you all talking about me behind my back?” he asked Jiang Wan, gesturing to his arm. “It’s not like I’m not helping out—I got injured for you, didn’t I?”

He’d boasted about it eight hundred times already.

For the eight hundred and first time, Jiang Wan replied, “Yes, of course. How could we say anything bad about you? We’re praising your genius.”

“A genius at eating or at talking?” Shen Xinghe stuffed another bite into his mouth, his cheeks puffed like a hamster’s.

He chatted idly, completely unaffected, not the least bit offended.

Because of his easygoing manner, as the day went on, he seemed to truly blend into the Jiang company, drawing closer to everyone as one of their own.

Soon, more and more colleagues sat down. Only a few employees remained at the grill, taking turns. Night had completely fallen. When the bonfire was lit in the center, about thirty people formed a circle around it, with folding tables every few seats piled with fresh barbecue, fruit, and beer.

They had barely begun to eat when Xia Nuan noticed a tall figure in the distance.

“Master Lu!” she called, waving a skewer and raising her voice. “Are you alone? Want to join us for a bite?”

Her shout drew everyone’s attention in that direction. There, Lu Wenzhou walked alone along the path just outside the lawn, the dim lamplight stretching his shadow across the ground before him.

He paused, his dark eyes glancing toward the group. Jiang Wan and Shen Xinghe were sitting together, not far from Xia Nuan, so Lu Wenzhou’s gaze naturally took in the two of them as well.

Shen Xinghe had just finished a plate of barbecue; Jiang Wan was sharing hers with him.

“He has his own chef to make dinner. Why would he want our barbecue?” Shen Xinghe remarked, stuffing another skewer into his mouth. “Why are you out here alone? Quarreled with your girlfriend? Kicked out of the house? Your in-laws won’t speak up for you?”

Lu Wenzhou’s expression darkened. His gaze shifted away from them. Jiang Wan, at his side, avoided his eyes as well, quickly looking away. She placed all the skewers into Shen Xinghe’s plate and, carrying the empty dish, walked over to relieve an employee at the grill. Her figure retreated into the firelight.

“No, thank you,” Lu Wenzhou replied to Xia Nuan, ignoring Shen Xinghe entirely, then walked on ahead.

Shen Xinghe turned as he chewed, watching him settle at the bar outside a small cabin, ordering a drink from the bartender. Shen Xinghe raised his brows.

“Did I hit the mark?” he said, relishing the drama as he munched his skewers. “Even Lu Wenzhou can run into trouble—rare, isn’t it?”

He turned to one of the Jiang employees nearby. “So who exactly is this Lin Zhi? Is she really Lu Wenzhou’s girlfriend?”

“Yes…” The colleague began to enumerate the Lin family’s background for him.

Jiang Wan, by the grill, detached herself from the conversation, quietly tending the barbecue for everyone.

Their voices drifted on the breeze, the cold driven away by the warmth of the flames.

Not long after, someone suggested a game. Jiang Wan was soon replaced at the grill by another colleague and returned to her seat.

“How about Truth or Dare?” someone proposed.

Immediately, there was protest.

“With this many people, it’s hard to spin a bottle. Why not play ‘I Have, You Have Not’ instead?”

“That’s better—and we can still eat.”

The two began to explain the rules. “I Have, You Have Not”—also called the “Finger Folding” game—starts with someone announcing something unique about themselves. Anyone who hasn’t had the same experience folds a finger. Whoever folds all the fingers on one hand must drink as punishment.

“I’ll go first,” Shen Xinghe volunteered, raising his hand with a challenging look. “I was worth over a hundred million at age twenty.”

The group fell silent. A chilly breeze whisked by, followed by a chorus of groans.

“You knock us all out right from the start—too ruthless!”

“I’m done. I can’t compete with you rich folks!”

“Is it too late to call Master Lu over to play?”

“That’d be a double blow—how are we supposed to survive?”

Drowned in complaints, Shen Xinghe stuck out his tongue cheekily. “Fine, I’ll pick another. I’ve never been in a relationship.”

This drew another round of jeers.

“That’s worse than being worth a hundred million.”

“Impossible—I don’t buy it.”

With everyone voicing their doubts, Shen Xinghe spun around in mock outrage. “Lu Wenzhou, back me up, will you? Tell them I’m telling the truth!”

“Stop drinking alone and come play with us! Uncle, I need you to vouch for me!” he called across the fire to Lu Wenzhou.

Lu Wenzhou, seated outside the cabin’s bar, looked over at him but only gave a cool glance before turning away and taking a sip of his drink.

“Still holding a grudge?” Shen Xinghe said, setting down his skewer and storming over in a huff. “I haven’t even blamed you for dislocating my shoulder! Get over here!”

He forcibly dragged Lu Wenzhou back to the bonfire circle, seating him in his original spot—right next to Jiang Wan.