Trafford's Trading Club

Chapter 865: Chapter 109: Forget Worry, 97 (Part 2)

Ouyang Jie hasn’t been by Zhong Luoyue’s side for a short period of time.

Several years ago, he graduated from Tu Shenyi’s teaching, and as a young man ventured down from the mountain. His skills were excellent, and he was brave, naturally carving out a niche in the martial arts world, with his reputation growing by the day. But from the first moment he saw Zhong Luoyue, he knew he would fall for her.

If this encounter were to be compared to a gamble, Ouyang Jie knew that Zhong Luoyue already held a winning hand from the start.

But just like in a gamble, when the final card hasn’t been revealed, no one knows what the result will be.

Therefore, he followed the principles of a gambler, placing bets along the way, following her carefully, boldly, step by step, uncovering the cards she held.

Zhong Luoyue is interested in capable people and is also an advocate of feminism. She doesn’t belittle men but rather recognizes outstanding women, so there are very few men who can stay by her side to work.

He knew her standards for men were very high, almost to the point where the second young master of the Zhong Family was used as a benchmark.

In fact, Ouyang Jie did not consider himself as good as Zhong Luochen—except for his gambling skills, he really had no confidence he could surpass the second young master of the Zhong Family in other areas.

He was an almost perfect man—even though Ouyang Jie only had the opportunity to meet Zhong Luochen during last year’s annual family gathering of the Zhong Family.

At that time, Ouyang Jie had just won the Las Vegas championship for the Four Seasons Group, was in high spirits, and was a hot commodity.

But even when his personal aura and confidence were at their peak, Ouyang Jie’s pride was gradually shattered upon first meeting Zhong Luochen.

Although he didn’t fall into a place of dejection, from that moment on, he began to agree with the phrase: some people are born kings.

Zhong Luochen is one of the few men Zhong Luoyue talks about frequently, and someone she intentionally or unintentionally wants to surpass. Ouyang Jie accepted this,

But for this very reason, Ouyang Jie was greatly puzzled about why Zhong Luoyue was now comparing a stranger she had just met, and with whom she had exchanged no more than five sentences, to him.

Looking a few meters ahead, at Luo Qiu strolling leisurely with Gan Hong like a tourist out for a walk, Ouyang Jie didn’t find it surprising—if it were another man that piqued Zhong Luoyue’s interest, he would have either struck him out or defeated him to prove his excellence… Excellence sufficient to remain by her side.

But what Ouyang Jie found ghostly was—he had no thoughts of competition with this person at all.

Toward this person, he didn’t feel any trace of competition, couldn’t say he liked him, but subconsciously didn’t dislike him either, even if it existed, he knew it was self-imposed.

In fact… Ouyang Jie even hoped to have a few more words with him.

This man brought by Song Ying… was somewhat unusual.

“How does he know this place?” As he pondered, Ouyang Jie suddenly stopped.

Upon hearing Ouyang Jie’s surprise, Zhong Luoyue gave him a curious look. Ouyang Jie suddenly frowned and said, “There are quite a few grapevines planted here. When my master planted them, he did so based on the positions of the sixty-four trigrams of the I Ching, making it as complex as a maze. Even the elderly in the manor often lose their way in this core area. Even I took a whole month to memorize the paths when I first came here… Is this really his first time here?”

Upon hearing this, Zhong Luoyue looked around, only to realize she couldn’t remember the way they came… It felt as though every place looked similar, making it hard to distinguish.

“Are you saying he also knows your master is here?” Zhong Luoyue said seriously.

Ouyang Jie nodded, then suddenly shook his head, and said, “My master actually doesn’t come out much in a day, he prefers to stay indoors most of the time. But he insists on working in the fields almost every day. However, he doesn’t stay long, usually just one or two hours. Sometimes, if it’s a cloudy day, he might stay a bit longer. He says he’s afraid of the heat; as one ages, the body can’t handle it.”

Today happens to be cloudy.

Zhong Luoyue looked up at the sky.

At this moment, Ouyang Jie continued, “It’s no secret, the elders in the manor all know this, and if one inquires earnestly, they would know… But today’s guests should all be newcomers. Let’s not talk about this for now, or we’ll lose them.”

With that, Ouyang Jie gestured to Zhong Luoyue, and the two quickly followed.

Unlike grapevines planted under conventional scientific management methods, which grow in neat straight lines, the grapevines here are unusually tall, densely grown like low walls, and arranged in a curved shape, resembling a maze.

Gan Hong gradually realized something was off here. She intended to persuade Young Master Qiu to consider retreating when Luo Qiu suddenly stopped.

In front… the view suddenly opened up.

A nearly round clearing appeared, small, about over a hundred square meters. There was no pavilion built here, but there was a grape arbor with some seating cushions beneath it.

Adjacent stood a well, lacking any water-pumping machinery, using the most primitive method of drawing water with a wooden bucket, a small wooden bucket currently resting on the adjoining stone.

“There’s such a place here,” Gan Hong found it a bit wondrous.

Although the grape arbor in this field wasn’t notably exquisite or beautiful, apart from the clusters of grapes along the way, the sudden view created a unique charm.

Luo Qiu just smiled and stepped into the grape arbor.

Meanwhile, prior to their arrival, there were already people under the grape arbor.

One was a lean man with white hair, wearing a shirt vest, giving off an upright vibe, with a white half mask. Having reviewed Song Ying’s documents, Gan Hong immediately recognized him as likely the legendary God of Gamblers, Tu Shenyi.

As for the other person, she was a woman, appearing in her thirties, perhaps in her forties, not of Eastern descent but indistinguishable of her nationality at a glance. This lady had long, blonde hair that appeared near white due to the sunlight, wearing a purple dress, seemingly unbothered by the heat, with a noble appearance.

The two sat opposite, engrossed in manipulating the chessboard, playing a game of international chess.

Luo Qiu quietly approached the grape arbor, removed his shoes, stepped onto the wooden floor beneath it, and approached Tu Shenyi and the chess-playing lady, watching silently.

The two engrossed in the game seemed unperturbed. Tu Shenyi fixed his attention on the black-and-white chessboard, while the noble woman held a piece, lost in thought without making a move.

She held a chariot.

Seeing this, Gan Hong promptly removed her shoes at the edge of the arbor, and gently approached Luo Qiu’s side—though she was puzzled by the fact that while the two playing chess hadn’t removed their shoes, this Young Master Qiu had taken the initiative to do so.

At that moment,

Zhong Luoyue and Ouyang Jie also arrived at the clearing in time to witness this scene.

Ouyang Jie leaned in and whispered to Zhong Luoyue, “That’s my master. He’s playing chess with someone. My master dislikes noise during chess, so it’s best not to speak until they’re done.”

Zhong Luoyue nodded, “The woman beside him is?”

Ouyang Jie said, “She is a close friend of my mentor, Lady Eve, a British national… a very mysterious woman, I’ve heard she inherited a large fortune. She comes here twice a year, stays for a while and leaves. However, she hardly interacts with people; I barely spoke a few words to her in the past. We can say I know her, but we’re not close, and I don’t know much about her.”

As he spoke, Ouyang Jie chuckled, “This person is quite polite, knowing not to disturb, taking off her shoes, walking silently.”

“Is that so,” Zhong Luoyue replied indifferently.

Ouyang Jie was caught off guard, “Isn’t it?”

Zhong Luoyue looked at Gan Hong and slowly said, “If the host does not first remove their shoes, how can the followers initiative do so… Look at Gan Hong’s heels.”

“Chafed,” Ouyang Jie’s sharp eyes swiftly noticed the worn spot beneath those long legs.

For a trained bodyguard, daily training injuries are commonplace; a minor scrape like this hardly affects Gan Hong at all… She probably feels nothing, maybe just a little discomfort.

“Indeed, tender and protective,” Ouyang Jie smiled, “Seems like someone who cherishes beauty, that’s what I like. Shall I take your shoes off for you?”

Zhong Luoyue coldly glanced at Ouyang Jie; accustomed to this, he simply shrugged, treating her cold demeanor as boundless charm, pleased with himself.

Zhong Luoyue removed her shoes beside the grapevine, neatly placed them aside, and stepped forward.

She stood directly opposite Luo Qiu and Gan Hong, quietly watching the game.

Yet the chess match didn’t last long; Lady Eve finally placed the chariot in her hand outside the board, softly exhaled, then folded her hands on her lap, smiled faintly, “I lost.”

Tu Shenyi merely nodded.

Lady Eve then stood, glancing around at the pairs of young men and women but remained silent, only picking up the handbag beside her, opening it, and unexpectedly retrieving a small, flat box.

Upon opening it, inside lay a square-folded handkerchief. Lady Eve lifted the handkerchief, suddenly crouching down.

Her action surprised everyone, for Lady Eve was using the handkerchief to wipe the chafed spot on Gan Hong’s heel.

Gan Hong was startled, flustered… Not out of fear, but bewilderment at such kindness. Instinctively, she stepped back, “No need, no need, I can manage it myself.”

Lady Eve held Gan Hong’s ankle, raised her head, smiled gently, and shook her head.

Gan Hong instinctively looked toward Luo Qiu, seeing him also slightly shake his head. Helplessly, Gan Hong awkwardly allowed Lady Eve to gently clean her wound.

The handkerchief was slightly damp, imparting a cool sensation on the wound, along with a faint laurel scent hovering in the air.

After a while, Lady Eve stood, re-folded the handkerchief, placed it back into the box, and said to Gan Hong, “Thank you.”

“No, no, it’s me who should be thanking you,” Gan Hong, under the nearly flawless demeanor of Lady Eve, utterly surrendered, feeling… this lady was indeed peculiar.

“It’s about time, I’ll head back now,” Lady Eve glanced at Tu Shenyi, “Ninety-seven, I’ll return it to you later.”

Tu Shenyi gestured please, whereupon Lady Eve cast a look at Luo Qiu, slowly smiled, and utters a stunning remark, “I like you.”

Despite her appearing aged, exquisitely noble, her figure wrapped in a purple dress like fully ripened grapes seemingly ready to drip.

Nonetheless, such words evidently caught Ouyang Jie and Zhong Luoyue by surprise… Does Lady Eve personify openness?

Approaching Luo Qiu, her gaze mysterious, she lightly parted her pearly teeth, “You would be a perfect lover, no woman could resist you, but alas…”

Her voice grew softer, barely audible, seemingly only to herself, “…you have no heart.”

Luo Qiu was stunned, then smiled wryly, “Thanks for the reminder.”

“I stay in the top room of the West Tower.”

Lady Eve’s gaze flickered like a gentle breeze, casting a meaningful smile, before gradually disappearing into the lush grapevines from everyone’s sight.

…

Tu Shenyi said nothing, merely began tidying the chessboard and pieces on the table.

He carefully collected and aligned the Black and White chess pieces, before closing the box.

Seeing the somewhat subtle atmosphere, Ouyang Jie proactively commented, “Master, just now Lady Eve mentioned ‘Ninety-seven,’ is it your bottle of ‘Forget Worry No. 97’? How come she says she’ll return it to you?”

Tu Shenyi paused, slowly spoke, his voice surprisingly bright rather than aging, “I gifted it to her twenty years ago, she hasn’t drunk any of it, wasting it away, so I have to take it back. If left untouched, it’ll spoil.”

Ouyang Jie was dazed, seeing Zhong Luoyue’s keen gaze fixed on Tu Shenyi, he leaned closer to whisper, “Don’t mind, my mentor’s a little peculiar, but genuinely a good person.”

Zhong Luoyue merely nodded, then unexpectedly murmured, “Legend has it that Mister Tu brewed a bottle named ‘Ninety-seven’ in the ‘Forget Worry’ series; it reminds me of a line from ‘Where is the tree entwined by vine,’ ‘We pledge to be friends for a hundred years, whoever dies at ninety-seven shall wait by Naihe Bridge for three years,’ such intent suggests Mister Tu’s profound emotions.”

“Hmm,” Tu Shenyi smiled gently, “Really? Your imagination is quite rich.”

Zhong Luoyue parted her lips slightly.

Only to hear Tu Shenyi indifferently remark, “Ninety-seven was named simply because it was precisely 1997 twenty years ago, I couldn’t think of better names, so I randomly used it.”

Poof.

A barely audible, suppressed chuckle from Gan Hong.

￥￥￥￥￥￥￥￥

PS1: Thanks to the book friend ‘Under the Firmiana Tree’ for their benevolent leadership, bowing to the capitalist tycoon.

PS2: Feeling nearly dead, a report on owed updates: Feather Face Master (1/2), Universe’s Common Lord Master (0/2), Under the Firmiana Tree Master (0/2).

PS3: I… Can I repay with my body…