After spending a leisurely day at the residence, Wang Cheng finally witnessed Mother Emily’s irresistible charm. Five or six men came looking for her that day alone, and others telephoned. He wondered why they called the residence’s landline rather than her mobile.
Steward Jande noticed his confusion and explained. Unless Emily was traveling abroad, she never carried her mobile when she was in Italy. All her lovers knew this, so the only ways to find her were to visit or call the house. The alternative would be predicting where she intended to go, which was impossible. Emily was free-spirited and impulsive, choosing destinations on a whim. Many things could capture her interest.
“Mother Emily really is popular. I wonder how she keeps herself looking so good when she’s almost sixty,” Wang Cheng murmured.
“I know!”
Sophie suddenly popped up behind him and shouted loudly enough to make Wang Cheng jump. Seeing his expression, she laughed triumphantly.
“Sophie, you’re nineteen already, a beautiful young lady. Why do you still behave like a child? How will you ever get married?” Wang Cheng pulled her around in front of him and lectured her like an elder.
Sophie pouted disdainfully. “I don’t want to get married! Mother Emily says no man is any good. I want to be just like her, living freely and doing whatever I please, traveling all around the world.”
Wang Cheng was stunned by her ambition and hurried to correct her. “Sophie, there are lots of good men out there. You just haven’t found the right one yet. What about me and Brother Leo? Are we bad men too? You shouldn’t think that way.” Freedom was wonderful, but he worried she might be lonely in old age. Her family probably would not want her living a carefree life of passing romances. Someone so cheerful and lively might be happier with a man who cherished her.
“Of course you and Brother Leo are different. But you’re already a couple.” Sophie gave him a wistful look. If Brother Cheng had not been Leo’s partner, she would have been quite interested in him.
Wang Cheng assumed she meant all the good men had already paired off. He coughed awkwardly. “Listen, you’re not the same as Mother Emily…”
“All right, I know what you’re going to say. Didn’t you want to know how Mother Emily stays so young? I know the answer. I can tell you.” Sophie interrupted.
Wang Cheng knew she was changing the subject. He sighed. “All right, tell me.”
She was still young, with plenty of time to change her mind.
“Mother Emily has had a team of specialists for years,” Sophie explained. “Nutritionists, health advisers, beauticians, psychologists and lots of other people. They prepare daily plans for her beauty and health. She follows their advice and stays young.”
In other words, it was a method only the wealthy could afford. Employing a team like that must cost a fortune every month.
Wang Cheng immediately lost interest. He doubted he could keep up the same routines year after year merely for his looks. Sophie, however, grew excited and announced that she would maintain her youth just like Emily. A confident and attractive appearance, she believed, would help her fulfill her ambitions.
“What are you talking about?”
Chu Yifeng approached to find one person covering his face in exasperation and the other gesturing enthusiastically, clearly describing some wonderful fantasy. He handed his suit jacket to a servant while another brought him coffee.
Sophie immediately linked her arm through his and smiled. “Brother Cheng wanted to know how Mother Emily stays beautiful, so I was explaining it to him.”
Chu Yifeng looked at Wang Cheng suspiciously.
Wang Cheng shook his head helplessly. “Sophie says she wants to follow Mother Emily’s example and never marry.”
Chu Yifeng laughed. “Don’t worry about it. It’s hardly the first time she’s said that. Her family has tried talking to her many times. But everyone’s fate is different. She feels that way now; once she meets her perfect partner, she may think differently.”
“I will not!” Sophie objected. Neither man paid much attention.
Wang Cheng stopped worrying. “Why are you back so early? Finished with work?”
“There wasn’t much to do today.”
“Oh. Hungry? Should I ask Jande to bring some snacks?”
Chu Yifeng sipped his bitter coffee and set the cup down. “Not yet. There’s something I need to tell you. Find time to inform Xie Wenzhi that we’re going to England tomorrow.”
Wang Cheng was puzzled. “Why the sudden trip?”
It turned out this was why Old Locke had summoned Chu Yifeng earlier. Aimer had substantial business interests in England and commanded respect even from British aristocrats. Many wanted to build ties with the family. Now the beloved daughter of Duke Austen was getting married, and the duke had invited the Aimers to the wedding banquet. Old Locke knew Duke Austen personally, and their families had business dealings. Attending was appropriate for both private and professional reasons. However, Old Locke was not fit to travel by air lately, so he wanted Chu Yifeng to attend in his place. Chu Yifeng decided to bring Wang Cheng.
England was also one of the countries Zhou Group had targeted for expansion, and an important one at that. Attending the banquet would help Wang Cheng make acquaintances among influential people, which would benefit the group.
“I want to go too!” Sophie declared when she heard about England.
“No,” Chu Yifeng said without hesitation.
“Why not?” Sophie pouted.
Wang Cheng suddenly said, “Sophie, if you want to become a glamorous woman like Mother Emily, you need to stop pouting. You should speak gently and remain composed, like a mature woman. Be ladylike, and don’t make unreasonable demands. Otherwise you’ll never become like her.”
Sophie thought it over and found his argument surprisingly persuasive. “Oh, all right,” she said dejectedly.
Chu Yifeng gave Wang Cheng a discreet look of approval.
Wang Cheng responded with a smug smile.
At dinner, Emily also mentioned the upcoming wedding. She had been invited by Duke Austen himself, and he was even sending a private plane to collect her. Learning that Wang Cheng and Chu Yifeng were going too, she offered them seats.
Wang Cheng nearly choked on his soup, leaving droplets on his face.
Chu Yifeng picked up a white napkin and wiped his face.
Seeing Emily’s suggestive smile, Wang Cheng showed a rare touch of embarrassment and took the cloth. “I can do it myself. You eat.”
Before bed, Wang Cheng remembered the dinner conversation and asked Chu Yifeng after he lay down beside him, “Is Duke Austen another of Mother Emily’s lovers?”
“What do you think?”
Chu Yifeng did not answer directly, but that was answer enough. “Of course. How old is the duke?”
“In his fifties, I think.”
“That’s not so old.” Wang Cheng could not imagine Emily being affectionate with a man on the verge of death, but Chu Yifeng promptly shattered his assumptions.
“My mother’s tastes run to both younger and older men. I know of two men older than Duke Austen. That was four years ago. One of them has already died, and the other probably won’t be around much longer.”
“…”
“Then what about your father?” Wang Cheng suddenly grew curious about Chu Li’s romantic life. The two former spouses had similar personalities and interests. Did they have similar tastes too?
Chu Yifeng knew what he was thinking and flicked his forehead. “My father’s tastes aren’t as broad as my mother’s. He only likes younger women, but even young-looking girls are too young for him. He certainly isn’t interested in old women. How would he kiss a face full of wrinkles?”
Wang Cheng suddenly climbed on top of him and stared. “When I’m old, will you stop wanting to kiss me too?”
Chu Yifeng wanted to open his head to see what was inside. “When you’re old, I’ll be even older. Will you still want to kiss me then?”
Wang Cheng immediately felt much better. Chu Yifeng was five years older, after all. He rolled happily back onto his pillow. “Of course not.”
Chu Yifeng rolled on top of him in turn, narrowing his eyes. “What did you say? Say it again.”
Wang Cheng laughed and deliberately brushed a knee against him beneath the blanket. Chu Yifeng’s breathing changed. Wang Cheng wrapped his arms around his neck. “Of course I will.”
“You’re playing with fire.” Chu Yifeng held his leg still. It sounded like a warning, though his hand was already slipping beneath Wang Cheng’s shirt, appreciating the firmness of his abdomen.
“Fire? Where? I don’t see any.” Wang Cheng pretended to look around. Chu Yifeng turned his face back and kissed the mouth that could be so infuriating and so irresistible.
Wang Cheng regretted his teasing the following day, when they still had to board Duke Austen’s private plane to England.