Song Yuzhang: Chapter 70 - Fourteenth Moon
Chapter 70: Fourteenth Moon
Nie Xueping walked out of the chamber of commerce, a few people following behind him in twos and threes. After exchanging a few polite words, he parted ways with them and stepped down the stairs. He had only walked a short distance when he noticed someone standing by a car. Even from afar, the person’s profile stood out strikingly. Nie Xueping paused briefly, then quickly walked over. “Mr. Song.”
Song Yuzhang turned to him with a smile. “Mr. Nie.”
Nie Xueping paused again.
Song Yuzhang had come to invite Nie Xueping to dinner.
“Tomorrow is the Mid-Autumn Festival, and I’m sure you’ll want to spend it with your family. That’s why I hurried over today. I wonder if you already have plans for tonight?”
Nie Xueping replied, “How could I let you treat me, Mr. Song? As your elder, it should be my place to host you.”
Song Yuzhang smiled politely. “Mr. Nie, you’re too kind. May I ask if you’d be willing to give a junior like me the honor of hosting you this evening?”
Nie Xueping appeared slightly hesitant, but ultimately agreed.
The venue had already been arranged by Song Yuzhang—a beautiful and elegant private residence. The Nie family had arrived ahead of them, and by the time Song Yuzhang and Nie Xueping arrived, the whole place was staffed with people from the Nie household.
Song Yuzhang was impressed by Nie Xueping’s caution. At the same time, he understood all the more clearly that this was not someone easy to deal with.
“Mr. Nie, since returning to Haizhou, this is actually my first time hosting a dinner. If anything is lacking in the arrangements, I ask for your forgiveness.”
“The guest should follow the host’s lead. No need for such courtesy, Mr. Song.”
“You’re a very busy man, Mr. Nie. I truly appreciate you taking the time to attend.”
Nie Xueping, much like the Nie family itself, remained a mysterious figure in Haizhou. Song Yuzhang hadn’t uncovered anything especially useful, and had come merely to try his luck. If Nie Xueping had refused the invitation, he’d have had no choice but to go through Nie Bonian. But unless absolutely necessary, he really didn’t want to exploit a child.
Fortunately, Nie Xueping had accepted, sparing him the trouble of emotionally manipulating a kid.
The east side of the first floor featured a small raised pavilion with hexagonal floor-to-ceiling windows that resembled the facets of a gemstone from the outside. The lighting was perfect when the sun shone in. By the time they arrived, dusk had already fallen, and the jewel-toned room now glowed with a soft, gentle light.
This was where Song Yuzhang had set up the banquet.
“Mr. Nie, please have a seat.”
Half of the pavilion was indoors, half outdoors. Seated across from one another, the two only had to turn their heads slightly to enjoy a beautiful view of trees, flowers, and the changing sky outside.
“The Nie family’s chefs must all be masters. In terms of food, I’m sure today won’t measure up. I can only hope this charming setting will earn me a smile from you, Mr. Nie.”
Nie Xueping glanced at the lush greenery outside. Soft purple and pink clusters of roses and hydrangeas peeked through the leaves, lovely and elegant. “The scenery is wonderful. You’ve gone to great lengths, Mr. Song.”
Song Yuzhang smiled. “As long as you like it, Mr. Nie. I’ve been to the Nie residence twice now—beautifully decorated.”
“Qingyun enjoys tending to plants. It’s all her doing.”
“Is that so? Sister Qingyun is truly exceptional. I must invite her over sometime to give me some pointers.”
Nie Xueping brushed his hand against his teacup. “She’d be delighted.”
The chef tonight was a refugee from Guangdong who had once been the head cook of a major restaurant. His disciples were said to be masters as well, but none of them had learned how to escape danger like their teacher—all had vanished without a trace. Now a tiger had fallen from the mountain, the master had to start over in this new place. Luckily, Song Yuzhang had recognized his talent from a single dessert dish and brought him on board.
The chef lived up to expectations. Assisted by a few local cooks, he served dish after dish that left people amazed. The only drawback was that he was too meticulous, so there was a long wait between courses. Since Song Yuzhang couldn’t really summon someone to rush the kitchen, he decided it was just as well. After all, he hadn’t invited Nie Xueping just to eat—this was a chance to build rapport, and the extra time gave him more opportunity to talk.
“How has Bonian been lately, Mr. Nie?”
“He’s doing well.”
After the brief answer, Nie Xueping added, “After riding with you a few times, he’s become addicted. Gotten much tanner, and his health has improved too.”
Talking about Nie Bonian finally gave them a topic to share, breaking the risk of awkward silence.
When Song Yuzhang had interacted with Nie Yinbing, he’d noticed that Nie Yinbing spoke in a way that was oddly detached—either completely silent or dropping startling statements that killed any casual mood. It took all of Song Yuzhang’s effort to sustain a light, friendly atmosphere with him.
Nie Xueping, on the other hand, had a different temperament. He was simply quiet. Sometimes in the middle of a conversation, things would naturally fall silent—not awkwardly, but peacefully, like ripples fading after wind brushes a lake. When the wind rose again, the conversation could resume just as smoothly from a different topic.
Though Song Yuzhang had come fully prepared to deal with Nie Xueping, ready to stay sharp throughout, he found himself unconsciously relaxing while they talked. Then, realizing this, he became even more alert, afraid that he might accidentally give something away.
“Autumn in England is quite different from here.”
He said proactively. “I’ve never forgotten the view from the botanical gardens at school.”
He had done his homework thoroughly. No matter what Nie Xueping might bring up about Oxford, he’d be ready.
Nie Xueping said, “As a student, every place seems beautiful.”
Song Yuzhang smiled. “That’s true.”
“Are you planning to return to Oxford?” asked Nie Xueping.
Judging by the age of “Song Yuzhang,” he should still be in college. Song Yuzhang replied, “Of course, I’d like to go back. But my father entrusted me with such a large family business—I can’t just walk away from that responsibility. I had to choose between the two and give up one with regret.”
Nie Xueping looked out at the pitch-dark night, rubbed the side of his thumb against the knuckle of his index finger, and said, “Managing a family business is an important matter, but so is studying. If you're finding it difficult, Mr. Song, you might consider continuing your education locally. Mizhou University in Haizhou is an excellent school. In your case, you could send a letter to Oxford and ask them to transfer your student records to Mizhou.”
“Thank you, Mr. Nie,” Song Yuzhang replied with a calm smile. “I'll try to visit Mizhou University in the next few days and see.”
Nie Xueping said, “It's just a suggestion. You can weigh your own options. It's no easy feat for someone your age to manage such a large bank. There's no rush—this can be handled after the new year.”
Nie Xueping claimed to be the elder—and in fact, he was a full twelve years older than Song Yuzhang. The way he spoke truly did resemble an elder making plans for a younger person. Song Yuzhang didn't dare trust him so easily and made a mental note of it. He figured it would be best to settle the Oxford matter soon—given the ongoing war and the difficulty of communication between countries, it wouldn’t be hard to muddle through with a fabricated letter from Oxford. He kept the matter in mind and raised his glass to toast Nie Xueping, thanking him for the guidance.
By the time the final dessert, Yang Zhi Gan Lu, was served, the time on Song Yuzhang’s watch had reached 9 o'clock. The dinner had lasted nearly three hours, and he had spent all that time chatting with Nie Xueping. He had been attentive throughout and didn't feel the time drag at all.
“The scenery here is quite lovely, Mr. Nie. How about we take a walk to help digest the meal?”
Song Yuzhang stood, and Nie Xueping rose as well.
All three Nie siblings were tall. Nie Xueping stood about half a head taller than him. Fortunately, his temperament wasn’t as proud and overbearing as Nie Yinbing’s—otherwise, Song Yuzhang would have felt quite uncomfortable walking alongside him.
The night wind carried a slight chill. Though Song Yuzhang was dressed warmly and didn’t feel cold, he glanced sidelong at Nie Xueping beside him. Tonight, Nie Xueping wore a full black Zhongshan suit. Black was an oppressive color, but he wore it well—he looked steady rather than weighed down.
The air was filled with the scent of grass and trees, and the garden lights and street lamps around the villa had all been lit, casting graceful shadows from the carefully pruned plants. Song Yuzhang looked up at the moon and smiled. “They say the full moon is roundest on the sixteenth, but I think the fourteenth's moon is just as good.”
Nie Xueping also looked up.
It was the 14th day of the eighth lunar month. The sky was devoid of stars, cleared away by the presence of the full moon, leaving only a dark blue curtain above. The moon hung in the sky, seemingly near and far at once, glowing with silver light, its surface appearing flawless.
“Actually, the moon on the fourteenth is perfect for admiring too. Tomorrow’s full moon will have millions of eyes watching it—it belongs to everyone.”
Nie Xueping listened to Song Yuzhang’s words, then looked down at him. Song Yuzhang was smiling faintly at him. “But tonight’s moon on the fourteenth—it’s ours alone. Only we are here to appreciate this beauty that is not quite perfect, yet seems so.”
Song Yuzhang thought he’d made a clever remark, but then noticed that Nie Xueping was staring at him, unblinking. He wasn’t sure if he’d said something wrong. He raised his hand, intending to touch the nearby tree to shift the conversation, when a sudden noise came from the shadows among the plants.
“Watch out!”
A low warning call came, and before Song Yuzhang could react, he was tackled into the flowerbed. Warm breath brushed his face, and an unfamiliar but distinctly masculine scent closed in. Realizing it was Nie Xueping who had knocked him down, Song Yuzhang held his breath.
Footsteps rushed in from all around.
“Mister! What happened?!”
Another noise followed.
Song Yuzhang turned his head just in time to see a yellow tabby cat dart out of the bushes with a swish, vanishing into the night.
“It’s nothing.”
A calm voice sounded above, and the surrounding footsteps halted. Song Yuzhang looked at Nie Xueping, whose expression was sharp and focused. His eyes swept briefly behind him. His hands were braced on Song Yuzhang’s shoulders. When their eyes met, Nie Xueping’s expression shifted slightly. “Sorry.”
Nie Xueping let go and stood up, then reached out a hand to help him.
Still a bit dazed, Song Yuzhang accepted the hand and got to his feet.
Nie Xueping had returned to his usual calm demeanor. “Mr. Song, I apologize—my nerves were too tense just now.”
“No, no—it’s a good thing to be cautious in these troubled times. It’s entirely understandable.”
Song Yuzhang lowered his head and brushed off the petals and leaves stuck to his clothes—a good excuse to hide his thoughts.
The Nie family had dealings with many dangerous people, and Nie Xueping’s caution was well known. It was reasonable for him to be that sensitive.
So just now, Nie Xueping must have thought there was danger and instinctively knocked him down...
As he continued brushing at his sleeves, Song Yuzhang cast a furtive glance at Nie Xueping.
Though they’d only been down for less than half a minute, Nie Xueping’s clothes were already a mess—petals and leaves clung to him, some flower sap had stained his outfit, and a single petal was stuck in the pocket where he usually kept a pen. He was now picking it off. Perhaps sensing Song Yuzhang’s gaze, he turned slightly to look at him.
Half-dim lamps, half-bright moon, the night deep and dark—their eyes met, and in that moment, it was as though a pair of stars had fallen from the sky into the silence, twinkling briefly before quietly parting again.
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