ABSML Chapter 36: Surprise

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Everyone makes mistakes. We must learn to be forgiving and give them a chance to find their way back.

Chen Zhan, with a touch of a savior complex, took a cocktail from a passing waiter's tray. As he tilted his head back, his delicate Adam’s apple was exposed.

At that moment, he seemed vulnerable and easy to deceive.

    [System: You’re terrifying.]

Chen Zhan smiled gently. “Another ten minutes have passed.”

Fenghe was undoubtedly a leading enterprise in the area, and they had even invited a singer to perform tonight. With guests dressed in formal evening wear, the event somewhat resembled a celebrity charity gala.

Chen Zhan’s entire net worth wasn’t even close to the starting price of the auction items, so he had no chance of participating. But that didn’t stop him from admiring the works of renowned artists.

Currently on display was a painting of cold, deep-sea creatures, painted in an extremely dark palette. Even though Chen Zhan lacked artistic sensitivity, he could still feel the suffocating oppression emanating from it.

Hanging such a painting at home would be pure torment.

Recognizing the shallowness of his own thoughts, he casually glanced around and spotted the young man who had previously painted for Yin Ronglan. The boy’s eyes were shining as if he deeply appreciated the artwork.

A small paddle was raised casually, instantly adding hundreds of thousands to the bid.

Once the bidding started, no one wandered around anymore. Chen Zhan sat in his seat, watching as the wealthy elites raised their paddles one after another, wondering who would ultimately win the painting.

Just as the thought crossed his mind, he chuckled and shook his head. Yin Ronglan had probably come specifically for this painting. He might even be bidding through an intermediary.

Before the final bid was announced, Chen Zhan bent down and slipped away through the side aisle.

    [System: Leaving already?]

Chen Zhan sneered. If he didn’t leave now, he might regret giving those final twenty hours once he heard the final auction price.

On his way back, he chose to walk instead of taking a car, using the opportunity to buy some of Takumi City’s specialty snacks.

——

Yin Ronglan was in his hotel room reviewing electronic documents sent by his subordinates when a knock on the door interrupted him. He set his work aside.

Receiving the heavy bags Chen Zhan handed over, he joked, “A shopping spree at the department store?”

Chen Zhan pointed to one of the bags. “That one’s yours.”

Yin Ronglan glanced inside and was momentarily taken aback. “Isn’t this… a bit too much?”

Chen Zhan replied, “Take it back and share with your friends.” Then, after a slight pause, he smiled. “I’ve borrowed your car multiple times, and you’ve helped take care of the dog. It wouldn’t be right if I didn’t bring something back for them.”

Seemingly surprised by this thoughtfulness, Yin Ronglan thanked him.

Chen Zhan poured himself a glass of water to ease his thirst, then leaned against the table. “Did you see my update today?”

Yin Ronglan had been going through documents earlier and had only skimmed through the post. Figuring that counted as reading, he nodded.

As usual, Chen Zhan asked for his opinion as a reader.

Yin Ronglan responded with his standard praise: “Consistently excellent.”

As they continued their casual conversation, Chen Zhan’s phone suddenly vibrated. It wasn’t a call but an alarm notification. A sweet voice announced:

“Good evening, it is now 7:00 PM Beijing time. The weather is cloudy…”

Yin Ronglan didn’t recall Chen Zhan ever using voice notifications and found it somewhat odd.

The second alarm went off when they went downstairs for a late-night buffet. There weren’t many people around, but the phone’s voice still drew a few glances. Chen Zhan didn’t mind and patiently waited for the broadcast to finish.

“Why do you have an hourly alarm set?”

Chen Zhan gave a vague reply: “To remind myself to cherish every moment.”

——

The night passed without incident.

The next morning, Chen Zhan woke up at his usual time, and so did Yin Ronglan.

When he opened the window, the cold wind rushed in, instantly clearing his mind. Chen Zhan stood by the window, gazing at the scenery. “Fenghe Group’s founder’s birthday banquet is tonight.”

Yin Ronglan parted his lips slightly, but before he could speak, Chen Zhan had already read his intentions from the shape of his first word.

“I get it,” Chen Zhan said. “You’re not qualified.”

Yin Ronglan nodded. After a moment, he added, “I’m taking the train back to Y City this afternoon.”

Staying too long would increase the risk of exposure.

He played his part well, packing up his toiletries and carefully storing the souvenirs Chen Zhan had bought.

Claiming he needed to head to the train station early, Yin Ronglan said his goodbyes after lunch.

“Safe travels.” Chen Zhan’s gaze was calm as he waved him off.

Yin Ronglan looked at him for a moment, then smiled. “I’ll contact you when I’m back.”

The luxurious hotel room returned to its usual solitude. The sudden silence was unsettling.

Chen Zhan eventually felt a twinge of guilt. An hour after Yin Ronglan left, he called him.

“Did you get on the train yet?”

“Yeah.” In reality, his private jet had already arrived, and he was preparing to board.

After a brief pause, Chen Zhan kindly suggested, “If you get bored on the way, you can reread my novel to pass the time.”

Yin Ronglan's voice carried a hint of laughter. "It won’t be boring."

When Chen Zhan fell into silence, he took the initiative to explain, "I'm playing a game."

He still wanted to see if he could trigger the brotherly combo attack through other side quests. The employees at his company could activate it five or six times at random, so there was no reason why he, having spent money to unlock all the storylines, could only trigger it once.

After the call ended, Chen Zhan sat motionless for five minutes before slowly getting up to prepare for the banquet.

...He had done his duty.

In the world of fame and fortune, money begets money, and profit compounds endlessly. At the birthday banquet that evening, Chen Zhan was just an insignificant figure. However, thanks to his recent media presence, he managed to navigate among the big shots and at least get some recognition.

By the time he had greeted only half the guests, the banquet had already ended.

The next morning, he boarded a flight back to Y City. A trace of fatigue lingered between his brows, unable to be fully concealed.

It took only three hours to return to familiar ground.

All the local specialties he brought back were given to the old man next door. Chen Zhan insisted on recharging his energy in the most efficient way—by sleeping. When he opened his eyes again, he felt rejuvenated.

The day after returning, he immediately dived into updating his audiobook channel. On top of that, he had to manage a late-night radio show, making him incredibly busy for a while.

That certain impoverished nobleman was naturally pushed to the back of his mind. The two had no contact for a week, until Yin Ronglan was the first to call, inviting him out for a walk.

Sunday, city center.

The streets bustled with life, pedestrians chatting and laughing as they passed by.

Chen Zhan was curious. "What made you suddenly want to go shopping?"

Yin Ronglan was a quiet person, so choosing to stroll through the city center was unexpected.

"It's almost New Year. Things are cheaper now."

Their shopping route wasn’t confined to malls; they wandered along the streets as well. Midway, they stopped by a record store, drawn in by its display. The neatly arranged records on the shelves gave the place a nostalgic feel, reminiscent of the 1980s.

Yin Ronglan casually asked, "Do you have a favorite singer?"

"Black Funny Band." Chen Zhan’s gaze lingered on an album cover. "Their style is quite distinctive."

Since the store owner had to close early due to an emergency, they couldn't stay long.

On the way back, Chen Zhan had a vague feeling that Yin Ronglan was subtly probing his preferences. He wondered if this was a prelude to making amends—using a gift as a peace offering.

However, Yin Ronglan never bought anything.

Perhaps men were naturally unsuited for shopping. To him, the countless products were indistinguishable. As for Chen Zhan, he actually started to feel sleepy.

They finally found a dessert shop to rest in. Seeing Chen Zhan’s drowsiness, Yin Ronglan chuckled. "What do you want to eat? Their pudding is quite famous."

Chen Zhan chose mango flavor. Yin Ronglan, not particularly interested in sweets, ordered a cold drink instead.

Most of the day slipped by as they wandered around. Even by the time he got home, Chen Zhan still hadn’t figured out what Yin Ronglan was up to.

For the next few days, Yin Ronglan seemed busy, only occasionally sending messages.

One morning, with the rare sunshine streaming in, Chen Zhan was at home typing when the old man next door mysteriously called him over.

The moment he stepped inside, a melody reached his ears.

He froze for a few seconds before an unexpected figure entered his sight—

Yin Ronglan was sitting with a guitar, his shirt’s buttons not as meticulously fastened as usual, revealing his collarbone, making his performance all the more captivating.

The melody was beautiful. It was the signature song of Black Funny Band, the one Chen Zhan liked.

As Yin Ronglan strummed the strings, it felt as if time was rewinding, giving Chen Zhan a glimpse of what he might have been like during university.

At that moment, the old man walked over with a fruit cake. "Happy birthday."

For once, in his otherwise rational and composed life, Chen Zhan didn’t immediately react.

His actual age was a few years younger than his original self’s, but by coincidence, they shared the same birthday. Since he had rarely celebrated it in the past, he had gradually forgotten about it.

Staring at the cheerful smiley face on the cake for a long time, he couldn't think of a better response. In the end, he simply said a dry "thank you."

The old man waved a hand. "If it weren’t for that kid, I wouldn’t have known today was your birthday."

Chen Zhan looked at Yin Ronglan, who set down the guitar and explained, "I saw your ID when we were at the hotel."

With a few colorful candles inserted into the cake, Yin Ronglan pulled the curtains, allowing the candlelight to shine more brightly. "We were supposed to celebrate tonight, but I have an engagement I can’t get out of."

Chen Zhan clasped his hands together, made a wish, and blew out the candles.

The old man cut the cake evenly, then pulled out a scroll from under the table. "I don’t have much to give, so I wrote you a calligraphy piece."

Unrolling it revealed the words May your fortune be prosperous, written in bold and elegant strokes.

Yin Ronglan chuckled and added, "Prosperity alone isn’t enough. You also need peace, good health, and a long life."

That was, perhaps, the best blessing one could receive.

Their eyes met, and Chen Zhan's heart tightened slightly. His fingers brushed against the small notebook in his pocket, thoughts wavering—

Maybe... it was time to put a pause on collecting material for his daily recordings.

Yin Ronglan picked the largest slice of cake and placed it in front of him, then presented a carefully wrapped gift box.

There was no need for formality between them. Chen Zhan opened it on the spot. Upon seeing the contents, he was momentarily stunned. "This is…"

"The latest voice recorder." Yin Ronglan pointed out the model specifically. "I always see you taking notes by hand. That might not be very convenient."

He smiled. "With this, you won’t miss anything."

Chen Zhan remained silent for a long time before carefully putting away the recorder. When he finally looked up again, his gaze was complicated.

"You… really thought this through."

______

Author’s Note:

Yin Ronglan: I hope he likes the gift I carefully picked out.

System: You fool!

_______

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