“You should give it some serious thought.”
Zou Weijun had not expected Wen Ying to agree so readily. After a brief pause, she reminded her, “As you become more famous and wealthier, more and more people will try to get money out of you. You must not let your guard down.”
Wen Ying smiled. “Auntie Zou, I am very clever.”
Clever enough to distinguish good from evil, and to know when to spend generously and when to be frugal.
Zou Weijun’s eyes were full of indulgence. “Yes, you are clever, but this is still a considerable expense…”
In truth, Zou Weijun had already guessed that Wen Ying would agree.
She could, of course, fund the literature foundation herself. She was not short of money. Yet without the involvement of a writer of real stature, the foundation would lack credibility.
Moreover, public opinion towards Wen Ying was unkind.
Journalists were constantly scrutinising her under a magnifying glass.
Every action and word of Wen Ying’s was twisted and exaggerated.
Zou Weijun was thoroughly irritated by this atmosphere.
Was it really so intolerable for a bestselling author to earn royalties?
Abroad, bestselling authors were often very wealthy, and no one questioned their right to earn that money. If they could write works the public loved, why should they not profit?
Yet in China, some people were extraordinarily harsh towards writers, believing they ought to live in genteel poverty. This stubborn, outdated stereotype was truly exasperating.
On one hand, she wanted to build a protective barrier for Wen Ying and help redirect the negative narrative around her.
On the other, Zou Weijun felt that Wen Ying herself would be willing to do something like this.
Knowing Wen Ying would agree was one thing. Hearing her agree so quickly was another.
Zou Weijun could not help offering a gentle reminder.
Wen Ying felt a warmth in her heart. “Doing something like this will naturally require substantial funds, but fortunately I can still earn money.”
“You…”
Zou Weijun changed tack. “Once the literature foundation is established, we will need dedicated people to manage it. The managers must not only be highly capable, but also willing to devote real energy to it. I do not want to hire so-called professionals. As it happens, your Uncle Chen is free at the moment and is willing to manage the foundation for me.”
Ah, so that was why Auntie Zou was meeting Chen Tongfu.
Wen Ying felt a flicker of disappointment.
Then she reconsidered. Zou Weijun trusted almost no one, yet she was willing to trust Chen Tongfu. Their friendship must be exceptionally strong.
“Uncle Chen is so capable. Only with him managing it will the foundation not simply bleed money. It is a brilliant idea.”
Wen Ying flattered him. “I only worry it will interfere with Uncle Chen’s own affairs.”
Chen Tongfu shook his head. “I have given myself a long holiday. At first, not working was enjoyable, but after a while it became boring. I was just looking for something to occupy me.”
After leaving Jinhu, Chen Tongfu had not taken another job.
In fact, had Xie Yuping not asked for his help, Chen Tongfu would have retired when he left his previous position. Because he owed Xie Yuping a favour, he had gone back to work at Jinhu for a time.
Wen Ying was about to probe further when Zou Weijun interrupted. “Let me take you for something to eat. We can discuss the foundation over food.”
Wen Ying nodded with a beaming smile. “Yes, let us do that. What does Uncle Chen like to eat? We will choose a restaurant he loves, as advance thanks for his help.”
What did he like to eat?
Chen Tongfu was not sure how to answer that.
Normally, he would say, “Whatever the host prefers.” He truly did not much care what he ate. In his younger days, Chen Tongfu had been focused solely on making money. Once he had money and retired early, he discovered he had few hobbies. Retirement had been so dull that he was now coming out of it to manage Zou Weijun’s literature foundation.
Before Chen Tongfu could reply, Zou Weijun declared that the restaurant she chose would definitely suit him.
“He likes Huaiyang cuisine.”
Chen Tongfu thought, …How do I not know that I like Huaiyang cuisine?
He did not voice the question, but doubt was written on his face.
Zou Weijun was utterly certain. “We have eaten together many times. Only when we have Huaiyang cuisine do you look particularly relaxed.”
If both hands had not been on the steering wheel, Chen Tongfu would have touched his own face.
Particularly relaxed?
Chen Tongfu said nothing more.
Wen Ying glanced at Chen Tongfu, then at Zou Weijun, and also fell silent. She was deeply struck. Zou Weijun was always observant. Noticing Chen Tongfu’s dining preferences was not surprising, but knowing them better than he knew them himself was almost too attentive.
Earlier, the scumbag Xie had been infuriated by Mr Yi.
Wen Ying felt he might have targeted the wrong person.
…
“Let me get this straight.”
Xie Qian was not actually trying to organise his thoughts. He simply wanted to say something to ease his mood. “You originally went to Junyue to find Ni Sisi. First you saw my dad there, then a Mr Yi arrived who sends flowers to my mum five times a week. Then my mum pulled you into her car, and you met the Uncle Chen who taught her stock trading?”
Wen Ying nodded vigorously. “Yes, exactly as you summarised. I could not quite read Mr Yi’s game, but I had dinner with Uncle Chen. To be honest, after the meal I still did not glean much useful information. I could only sense that Uncle Chen is a decent person… Oh, the most important thing I nearly forgot. Uncle Chen is probably single.”
“How do you know he is single?”
Xie Qian felt a slight headache at his girlfriend’s boundless curiosity.
Wen Ying replied with perfect confidence. “Naturally through observation and subtle questioning. Uncle Chen wears no wedding ring, and there is no mark on his finger suggesting he ever did. When I mentioned family during dinner, he never brought up a wife or children.”
“Not wearing a ring might mean he simply dislikes wearing one. Not mentioning family might mean he prefers not to.”
Xie Qian analysed logically, yet he had already been piqued by Wen Ying’s words.
He did not usually care about other people’s romantic affairs, but when it concerned possible suitors for his own mother, Zou Weijun, he was very interested.
Xie Qian did not hold the view that divorced parents must remain alone. He even hoped Xie Jinghu would quickly find a new wife, remarry, and while still young have a couple more children, so that in future he would stop pestering Zou Weijun and himself.
He also wished the wounds Zou Weijun had suffered in her previous marriage would heal quickly.
Entering a new relationship openly would be wonderful. If she preferred to stay single, that was fine too. Xie Qian fully respected her choice.
Being mentally prepared was different from the day actually arriving. He could not help worrying. Had Mum truly moved on? Would this choice repeat past mistakes? Was the man as reliable as he appeared?
Wen Ying felt today’s Xie Qian was the very embodiment of a contrarian.
“If not wearing a ring and not mentioning family are insufficient proof that Uncle Chen is single, then Auntie Zou’s attitude is surely telling, is it not? Even if they are friends, if he were married, would Auntie Zou be this close to him?”
Two adults of opposite sexes could certainly be close friends, but given Zou Weijun’s character, meeting alone for business was one thing. Privately, she would never be this intimate with a married man.
As the victim of her ex-husband’s infidelity, Zou Weijun would never inflict the same pain she had endured on another innocent woman.
That was Zou Weijun’s integrity, a line she would never cross.
