money player

As Xian Yaowen walked back along the Tamsui River in the twilight, he entered the Liu residence. The butler spoke respectfully but with a hint of difficulty: "Master, Madam sent someone to tell you that you must attend the banquet hosted by the City Chamber of Commerce tonight. She said... it concerns the conclusion of the cooperation between the Liu family and the Xian family."

Xian Yaowen's grip tightened slightly, and the warmth in his eyes faded instantly, replaced by a distant coolness. He remained silent for a moment, then slowly raised his eyes to look at the twilight outside the car window, his tone calm yet carrying an undeniable certainty: "I understand, I'll be right there."

He wanted to decline, but when he thought of the help the Liu family had given him five years ago, and the agreement in the contract, he finally suppressed the estrangement in his heart—even though the contract only had three months left, and even though he had already exhausted most of his heart and soul in his daily efforts.

The Chamber of Commerce's cocktail party was held in a Western-style club in Ximending. The Japanese-style sliding doors and Western reliefs complemented each other. It was not only a place to discuss business, but also a battlefield where human relationships were cold and warm, and love and hate were intertwined.

Waiters carried trays that mingled with imported champagne and almond tea, while the air was filled with the scents of perfume, cigars, and the subtle sweetness of osmanthus cake, all reflecting the extravagance of Taipei's upper class.

As soon as Sin Yiu-man entered the banquet hall, he was stopped by a hurried figure.

Liu Ruyan wore a moon-white imported velvet cheongsam with silver-threaded begonias embroidered on the collar. Her long hair was tied up and adorned with a pearl hairpin. The sharpness she used to display when managing the Liu family business had largely faded, and her eyes were filled with barely perceptible panic and stubbornness.

She arrived much earlier than Sin Yiu-man, her eyes fixed almost constantly on the entrance to the banquet hall. Only when she saw him did she breathe a slight sigh of relief, but that relaxation was quickly replaced by impatience.

"Xian Yaowen, why are you so late?" Liu Ruyan's voice was deliberately raised, full of impatience. She completely ignored the stares from those around her and reached out to grab Xian Yaowen's wrist. "I told you to be there on time, but you insisted on dawdling. Is that acceptable?"

Xian Yaowen stepped aside, his tone indifferent: "Ms. Liu, the contract only states that I need to accompany you to necessary business occasions, but it doesn't specify the time. Now that I'm here, I won't delay your business."

"You!" Liu Ruyan was taken aback by his aloofness, then sneered, her tone full of sarcasm. "Xian Yaowen, don't forget, you are still my contract husband. It's your duty to accompany me to the party. What right do you have to give me attitude? If word gets out, what will people say about my Liu family and your Xian family?"

Before Xian Yaowen could speak, a clear, cold male voice interrupted: "Ruyan, don't be angry. Mr. Xian may have been delayed on the way."

Everyone looked in the direction of the voice and saw Shen Ye, dressed in a black suit, standing tall and with a cool demeanor, walking slowly to Liu Ruyan's side. He naturally raised his hand and gently patted her back, his movements gentle, but his eyes concealed a hint of calculation that was not easily detected.

He had been waiting for this moment, hoping that Liu Ruyan and Xian Yaowen would clash so that he could take the opportunity to show his importance in Liu Ruyan's heart.

Upon seeing Shen Ye, Liu Ruyan's tone softened instantly. The sharpness and impatience in her eyes vanished, replaced by tenderness and appeasement, as if the aggressive woman from just moments before was not her: "Shen Ye, you're here. Look at Xian Yaowen, he went too far. He was the one who was late, yet he still gave me a hard time."

Shen Ye nodded slightly, his gaze falling on Xian Yaowen, his tone distant yet tinged with provocation: "Mr. Xian, Ruyan is spoiled and willful, you should be more lenient with her. After all, the Xian family's success today is entirely due to the Liu family's support, isn't it?"

These words, like a needle, precisely pierced the softest and most vulnerable spot in Sin Yiu-man's heart.

He recalled that five years ago, the Liu family approached him, saying that as long as he signed a contract to play Liu Ruyan's husband and help her overcome her hysteria, they would support the Xian family out of their predicament and give them a way out.

For the past five years, he has cooked for her, made nourishing porridge for her stomach, helped her triple the size of the Liu family business, and silently endured all her indifference and neglect. Even though he loved her deeply, he never overstepped his bounds. But in the end, in her and Shen Ye's eyes, he was just a contract husband who relied on the Liu family's charity and lived under their roof.

Sin Yiu-man's face gradually turned pale, his fingers clenched tightly, his knuckles turning blue from the force, and beneath the detachment in his eyes lay endless pain and forbearance.

He looked at Liu Ruyan, his lips moved as if he wanted to say something, but he swallowed it back. No matter how much he tried to explain, no matter how wronged he felt, it all seemed so pale and powerless in the face of her indifference and Shen Ye's provocation.

Liu Ruyan seemed oblivious to Xian Yaowen's pain. Instead, she went along with Shen Ye's words, her tone sharp and filled with undisguised denial and humiliation: "Shen Ye is right, Xian Yaowen, don't forget who you are! If it weren't for my Liu family, the Xian family would have collapsed long ago. You are standing here, and everything you have today is all thanks to me, Liu Ruyan! Who do you think you are? You dare to give me attitude?"

"Ruyan!" Shen Ye pretended to stop him, but did not actually make a move. He simply advised softly, "Don't say that. Mr. Xian also has his own reputation."

The smile in his eyes betrayed his true intentions—he wanted to see Xian Yaowen humiliated and Liu Ruyan completely deny Xian Yaowen's existence, so that he could rightfully replace Xian Yaowen and take everything from the Liu family.

The surrounding guests had already stopped talking, and all eyes turned to them, some with sympathy, some with mockery, some with amusement, and some with amusement at the spectacle.

Those gazes, like countless needles, pierced Xian Yaowen's body, making him feel utterly ashamed. He was the heir of the prestigious Xian family, a prominent figure in Taipei's business world, yet now, in front of everyone, he was being so blatantly humiliated and so thoroughly denied by the woman he had loved for five years.

He recalled all the forbearance and deep affection he had shown over the past five years, the stomach-soothing porridge he had personally cooked for her, the days and nights he had spent assisting her in managing her business, all the indifference he had silently endured, and the love he had planted with his own hands, which had now been crushed by Liu Ruyan without leaving a trace.

The pain in his chest grew stronger and stronger, as if gripped tightly by an invisible hand, making it almost impossible for him to breathe. Xian Yaowen slowly closed his eyes, concealing the pain and despair within them. When he opened them again, only a deathly coldness remained in his eyes, devoid of their former warmth and forbearance.

He didn't look at Liu Ruyan again, nor did he pay attention to Shen Ye's provocation. His tone was calm without any ripples, but it carried an undeniable determination: "Miss Liu, you are right. The Xian family is indeed fortunate to have the care of the Liu family to be where it is today."

However, the contract expires in three months. I will fulfill my obligations during these three months, and as for the rest, Miss Liu, please don't trouble yourself with it."

After saying that, he turned and left without looking back, walking out of the banquet hall filled with extravagance and humiliation. Behind him, Liu Ruyan watched his resolute back, a strange panic rising in her heart. She subconsciously wanted to chase after him, but Shen Ye stopped her: "Ruyan, don't chase after him. He's not worth your anger."

Liu Ruyan stopped and looked at Shen Ye's gentle eyes. The panic in her heart subsided slightly, but for some reason, the image of Xian Yaowen's pale face kept replaying in her mind, along with everything he had done for her in the past five years. For the first time, a faint bitterness and guilt welled up in her heart.

However, this guilt was quickly overwhelmed by her obsession with Shen Ye. She told herself that Xian Yaowen was just a contract husband, and the person she loved had always been Shen Ye.

Outside the banquet hall, the cool evening breeze of Taipei in September brushed against Xian Yaowen's face, bringing him back to his senses. He stood alone on the stone steps, gazing at the lights along the Tamsui River in the distance. The deathly stillness in his eyes lingered for a long time, and his voice was hoarse and almost silent: "Five years of deep affection, in the end, was just a joke."

He paused, then slowly began to speak, as if to himself: "I've thought of the ending for the story. Shen Ye harbors ill intentions, Liu Ruyan is blinded by love, and is ultimately swindled out of most of the Liu family's assets, leading to the complete downfall of the Liu family."

And Xian Yaowen, who had silently devoted himself to Liu Ruyan, left her completely after the contract expired, letting go of all his attachments. From then on, goodbye, never to be seen again.

The evening breeze, carrying the dampness of the Tamsui River, dispelled the extravagance and clamor of the banquet hall, and also dispelled Sin Yiu-man's five years of obsession and deep affection.

"The humiliation at this party was not only the end of Xian Yaowen's love, but also the real beginning of Liu Ruyan's graveyard of chasing after her husband. She will never know that the person she pushed away was the one who was willing to give everything for her and silently loved her for five years."

Inside the jeep, Sin Yiu-man recounted the story in detail, while Huo Zhixian gripped his arm tightly, immersed in the tale and imprinting her imagined scenarios in her mind.

After a short while, she opened her mouth and said, "Yaowen, that's enough for now. I want to continue the story myself."

Xian Yaowen turned to look at Huo Zhixian and said with a faint smile, "Alright, if you plan to publish it, please change your name from Xian Yaowen to Huo Yanci, how about that?"

Huo Zhixian smiled faintly and said, "No, I plan to change it to Xian Zhixian, the Xian of Constitution."

Xian Yaowen gently stroked Huo Zhixian's nose and said with utmost affection, "Change it however you want."

Huo Zhixian narrowed her eyes and said excitedly, "I need to carefully plan how Shen Ye will swindle all of the Liu family's assets, and Liu Ruyan's tragic end, whether she becomes a beggar or ends up in Baodou. And also, Xian Yaowen will meet a woman worthy of his love..."

Huo Zhixian chattered on and on, gradually revealing her jumbled thoughts, while Xian Yaowen listened quietly without uttering a word.

He didn't know if Huo Zhixian's decision was just a passing fancy or if she intended to publish it. If it was the former, he would let her enjoy the moment; if it was the latter, he would be Xian Yaowen in the story, playing the role of a domineering CEO, helping her become a romance novelist, and then winning some kind of award to bring her honor.

When he arrived home, the mahjong table was still in full swing. Xian Yaowen did not exchange pleasantries, but went into his study to fetch a few musical instruments and sat in the pavilion to show Huo Zhixian his peacock-like prowess.

He retained a touch of sincerity within his calculations, playing "Me to You, You to Me" on his guitar, a song that didn't fit the current mood, a song he genuinely felt could be labeled "his love."

Love is probably beautiful. He pities Huo Zhixian and doesn't want her life to be without the intrusion of love. There is no real love here for him. If she wants, he will let her be Liu Ruyan for a while and have her white moonlight for a short time.

He had no attachment to any of her first experiences; she would be his "Xian Yaowen," someone he would keep under his control for life. What did it matter if she were Liu Ruyan for once?

Huo Zhixian rested her chin on her left hand, her gaze fixed on Xian Yaowen's face like an octopus. He was genuine and unpretentious, knowledgeable and erudite, gentle and considerate, always handling every detail perfectly. He seemed to know everything.

Her gaze lingered on the guitar lying quietly on the table, then quickly shifted to the piccolo. She knew the piece: Tchaikovsky's "The Nutcracker - Tea".

He's a good person, and it's good to know him.

Damn it, she actually heard the courtyard gate being pushed open. Damn it, her gaze was involuntarily drawn in—two women entered, both dressed in what appeared to be fitted women's suits. They had a very unique air about them that she couldn't quite understand, but she sensed their competence and a touch of aloofness that kept strangers at bay. Yet, she liked them very much.

As the flute music faded, two women entered the pavilion, and the chill they felt vanished instantly.

He put down his flute, gave the woman walking ahead a charming smile, and spoke, "Off work so early today?"

"Not much to do, so I'll leave work early and come over for a treat."

Xian Yaowen nodded slightly and introduced Huo Zhixian, "Zhixian, this is Long Xuemei, Secretary Long, my confidante. This is Song Chengxiu, also my secretary, a high-achieving graduate of Columbia University. You can consult her about studying abroad."

Then he said to Long Xuemei, "Amei, this is Mr. Huo Baocai's daughter, Huo Zhixian, Miss Huo. If nothing unexpected happens, she will become Madam Xian."

Before Huo Zhixian could even blush, Long Xuemei's scrutinizing gaze had already reached her.

Since the gentleman has so solemnly introduced Huo Zhixian, she must be a marriage partner chosen for mutual benefit, no different from Zhou Ruoyun and Zhong Jieling. Through the connections between the Zhou and Zhong families, the gentleman has expanded his network of influence from the Bao'an and Dongguan cliques to the Chaozhou clique, and further through Liu Wanqing, Fei Baoshu, and Du Yuesheng to the Shanghai clique…

Tsk, it seems that counting from Su Lizhen down, all nine Mrs. Xian are connected to a certain power, from Guangdong to Shanghai, then to Fujian, from Hong Kong to Southeast Asia, and then to Chinatown. Mr. Xian's network of connections can spread and link freely.

Ha, there's nothing to analyze. The master had already told her all this, but he hadn't explained it very thoroughly. Huo Zhixian in front of her was just a ladder to Macau, and her future status in the Xian family might not surpass that of Cai Jinman.

Cai Jinman...

She didn't understand what her husband saw in her before, but now it's becoming clearer. Her husband's brother-in-law has shown ambition to get involved in Singaporean politics, but she can't figure out how her husband selects his bettors.

A series of thoughts flashed through Long Xuemei's mind. She smiled faintly at Huo Zhixian and said, "Miss Huo, I am Long Xuemei."

Huo Zhixian smiled sweetly, "Hello, Sister Long."

Although Lung Hok-mei is not well-known in Hong Kong, she is quite famous in Sai Kung. Merchants who trade between Sai Kung and Hong Kong all know who she is.

Kim Fu Gui Holdings is an anomaly among the Chinese businesses in Saigon. Only Long Xue Mei, the apparent owner, is Chinese, while most of the employees are of other ethnicities. Kim Fu Gui Holdings appears harmless on the surface, but two rival businesses have vanished without a trace, and rumors are circulating that they have been wiped out.

Huo Zhixian knew that the secretary in front of her was no kind person, but she felt sweet inside because Yaowen had introduced her to his confidant.

"Chengxiu, you talk to Zhixian." Xian Yaowen said to Song Chengxiu, and then said to Long Xuemei, "Amei, come with me to feed the birds."

While ostensibly feeding the birds, Sin Yiu-man led Lung Hok-mei to the eaves and looked up at the swallows' nest.

There's a bird's nest on each side of the entryway. The one on the left is a domestic bird's nest; we don't have any bird's nests at home. Two days ago, the whole family joined an Australian tour group and will probably be vacationing on the Kimberley coast for a few months. The one on the right is a red-waisted bird's nest; our family is of modest means and can't afford to travel, so we can only dream of going to the countryside for a stroll.

Long Xuemei stood next to Xian Yaowen for a while. Seeing that Xian Yaowen did not speak, she lit a thin cigarette and smoked it silently.

Hearing the noise, Sin Yiu-man asked, "How many cigarettes do you smoke a day?"

"I rarely smoke one; I only smoke it when I'm upset."

How many cups of coffee do you drink a day?

"One cup, occasionally two."

"How's your sleep?"

"Nothing has changed."

Sin Yiu-man raised his hand and stroked Lung Hok-mei's eyebrows. "Let's get a cat. Take good care of it and do your best to look after it yourself."

"Raising a cat seems a bit troublesome."

“Emotions can only be channeled, not numbed. Keeping a cat can add some color to life.” Xian Yaowen pointed to the bird’s nest. “Lu Yansu has all five poisons, but she has always maintained a good mentality. She will most likely live a long life. It’s a pity you can’t learn from her.”

Long Xuemei smiled gently, "I really can't learn it."

"Find a method that suits you." Xian Yaowen gently patted Long Xuemei's shoulder. "Is there anything at the company you need to tell me?"

Long Xuemei nodded, took a puff of her cigarette, and said, "White Company has conducted a feasibility study on producing PVC from waste chlorine and listed PVC as a key development project. Li Guoding contacted me and asked if Prince Enterprise was willing to invest. He said he would help apply for more US dollar loans."

"Your thoughts."

"Now is not the golden window for Taiwan to invest in the PVC industry. We don't have the right timing, location, or people at all. My idea is to take it slow and talk for a year or two."

"A good summary, you've made progress." Sin Yiu-man chuckled. "With the war in North Korea continuing, Taiwan's security is not guaranteed, making it difficult to attract foreign capital."

Before the land reform was completed, the Nationalist government could not shift its focus to industry, and naturally did not need an industry like PVC that could be developed in a targeted manner.

Taiwan's downstream plastics processing industry is negligible, and its demand for PVC powder is not high; we still need to wait and see.

Prince Enterprises' localization process is insufficient. The Taiwanese market is too small to accommodate a second PVC factory; all resources will be concentrated in one factory. Li Guoding is using Prince Enterprises as a catalyst.

Long Xuemei's expression changed. "Are you saying that Li Guoding is not sincere?"

"Have you ever seen a family give their inheritance to their adopted son instead of their biological son?"

Long Xuemei chuckled and said, "I think I've heard of it."

Sin Yiu-man glanced at Lung Hsueh-mei and said, "Unless the adopted son is an illegitimate child, or has slept with his adoptive mother."

Upon hearing this, Long Xuemei laughed heartily.

Sin Yiu-man looked up at the setting sun in the west and glanced at it. “Outsiders are outsiders after all. There are some things that we can’t ‘directly’ concern about. I’m going to National Taiwan University in the next couple of days.”

"What are you going to National Taiwan University for, sir?"

“A woman has baited me, and if I don’t bite, I’m afraid she’ll lose patience.”

"The Master mentioned Sikong Mingqiu of the Sikong family in Lukang?"

“Hmm.” Sin Yiu-man nodded. “I won’t be eating dinner at home. Open two bottles of Petrus to try.”

Long Xuemei smiled and asked, "Can I take two bottles back with me?"

Xian Yaowen glanced at Long Xuemei, "There are two cases of Changyu Cabernet Sauvignon, you can take them back." (End of Chapter)