Chapter 153 I Am Eighteen Years Old This Year

Changqing City was surrounded by the sea on three sides, and more than half its economic development depended on that vast blue world. Tourism and the restaurant trade, in particular, were closely bound to the ocean.

Along the coast, hotels themed around sea views and seafood were everywhere. The Seaview Grand Hotel was one of the city’s best-known four-star establishments. Its rating had little to do with the quality of its cuisine; it was largely a matter of the number and standard of its guest rooms. When the hotel was built, it had not included the presidential suite required of a five-star establishment, and so it had received only four stars.

In truth, judged purely by the skill of its chefs and the quality of its dishes, Seaview was unquestionably among the finest in Changqing. Its prices were equally first-rate, of course, yet every day it drew a great many dignitaries and wealthy guests, and business was always booming.

As chairman of Yuan International, Yuan Shicheng had his share of social engagements, though perhaps not an excessive number. But whenever he did entertain, the occasion was invariably of the highest caliber, making him a regular at Seaview.

Yet never before had he arrived for a meal with a heart as conflicted and anxious as it was today.

At first, after hearing his daughter’s account, Yuan Shicheng had assumed the other party was simply a conglomerate like the Tianxia Group, interested in Yuan International. In other words, it was still a matter of business.

Then Wei Qinghai’s phone call had completely overturned his understanding.

Given Yuan Shicheng’s standing, he often crossed paths with government officials. As a prominent private entrepreneur, he enjoyed considerable social status, and ordinary officials treated him with great respect. Even among the members of Changqing’s municipal standing committee, he was generally regarded as an equal. At banquets, they were always cordial with one another.

Even Zhou Lingming, Changqing’s former mayor and a deputy ministerial-level official, would never put on airs when meeting Yuan Shicheng in an informal setting.

But Wei Qinghai was different.

Though he held the same rank as Zhou Lingming, and showed Yuan Shicheng the same basic courtesy, Wei Qinghai had always given him the impression of being unfathomably deep. The recent upheaval in Changqing’s political circles had only strengthened that impression.

Yuan Shicheng knew that Wei Qinghai had been remarkably low-key ever since taking office. Even so, the man at the helm of Changqing was a truly formidable figure. In his eyes, perhaps no one in the entire city was worthy of his attention.

And yet this man had called Yuan Shicheng personally, saying plainly that he was passing along a message on behalf of a friend.

What could that mean?

And what kind of person would the leader of Changqing himself call a friend?

Yuan Shicheng could not begin to guess. In ten years of navigating the business world, he had rarely felt this way. And every time he had, it meant that great changes were about to come.

Standing before the entrance to the Seaview Grand Hotel, Yuan Shicheng took a deep breath and tried to calm himself. Ever since Wei Qinghai’s call, his mind had been in a fog.

Yuan Zixin stepped forward and linked her arm through her father’s.

“Dad, don’t worry. No matter what, it can’t possibly—”

“This is Kong Sha, my friend. This is Wang Yiran, my girlfriend.”

Qin Anyi made the introductions, then warmly ushered them in. “Chairman Yuan, please sit down. The dishes will be here shortly. We can talk while we eat.”

“Kong Sha is the bodyguard who was with Qin Anyi on the plane. I still don’t know much about him, but there’s something terrifying about his presence. As for his girlfriend, she wasn’t on the plane with them. This is my first time meeting her, too.” Taking advantage of the moment as they sat down, Yuan Zixin spoke in a rapid, hushed voice.

Seaview Grand Hotel served its dishes with remarkable speed. Less than ten minutes after Qin Anyi ordered, the entire table was covered with food.

Meanwhile, Qin Anyi and Yuan Shicheng had been chatting about customs and local life. Yuan Shicheng was nearly fifty; more than half his life was behind him. In those five decades, he had encountered countless curiosities from across the country and the world, as well as things of striking regional character.

Qin Anyi was young, but his mind held what seemed to be the richest store of knowledge in the world. Their conversation ranged far and wide, growing ever more animated as they moved from one subject to another.

Yuan Zixin, Wang Yiran, and Kong Sha sat beside them, listening with great interest. Not one of the three could get a word in.

As the conversation went on, Yuan Shicheng grew increasingly astonished. He had never imagined that, despite a lifetime of experience, he would be unable to gain even the slightest advantage in a casual discussion.

Whatever the topic—ethnic groups or countries, music, chess, calligraphy, painting, poetry, wine, flowers, or the everyday necessities of life—Qin Anyi seemed to know it all. His observations were incisive and original, and even Yuan Shicheng could only admire them. At times their views differed, yet after only a few brief remarks from Qin Anyi, Yuan Shicheng would find himself agreeing with him.

This young man was extraordinary. Truly extraordinary.

It took only a few minutes for Yuan Shicheng to reach that conclusion. He also resolved that, whether or not today’s deal came to fruition, he must never make an enemy of Qin Anyi. A man like that would be an invaluable friend—and a deeply unsettling foe.

“May I ask, Qin, how old are you?”

After their conversation, Yuan Shicheng’s manner had changed noticeably.

“I’m eighteen. I’ll turn nineteen later this year.”