Arsenal Military Academy | 烈火军校

Chapter 9 Mid-level Mansion

[Shen Junshan]

.........

　　Before the morning mist had completely cleared, Xie Xiang went to the train station in a dress.
　　Tan Xiaojun came to Arsenal Military Academy to look for her yesterday, saying that a telegram came from her home in Peking. Her father Xie Zhipei was able to go to Shunyuan this morning and told her to make preparations early and not to show her feet.* Therefore, Xie Xiang applied for leave to the school and came to the station early to wait.

(T/N: 不要露出马脚, to give the game away, which refers to how she is currently disguised as a man)

　　With the roar of rumbling, the train slowly drove into the station. Xie Xiang stood on tiptoe and looked inside the station, and finally found Xie Zhipei after the third car. He was wearing a gray windbreaker and bachelor's glasses framed with gold silk, and he squeezed out of the crowd.
　　Xie Xiang hurriedly greeted him and took him by the hand affectionately to the temporary hotel.
　　Xie Zhipei is a teacher. He spends all day immersing himself in books to study academics. He never likes to go out to socialize. She doesn't know what important things can make Xie Zhipei travel far and wide.
　　Before Xie Xiang asked, Xie Zhipei told his beloved daughter the whole story.
　　"I'm here this time by the invitation of the Shen family. Awhile ago, their Chamber of Commerce sponsored a batch of cotton cloths in our school. In the past six months, cotton cloths are on the market. Most of the northern markets are followed by the Japanese. The Shunyuan Chamber of Commerce dared to openly sell low-priced cotton cloths. This is a patriotic act. They invited me and your mother to attend the inauguration banquet of the cotton machine factory. Your mother is not feeling well, so please go for her."
　　"Is mom sick?" Xie Xiang immediately became worried.
　　"No, it's just that your brother's memorial day will be in a few days."
　　When it comes to Xie Liangchen, both of them are lonely. In a blink of an eye, has it been so long? The death of her brother is like a hot red smoldering iron, which will deeply imprint the grief in the hearts of his parents and Xie Xiang. This pain will not disappear with the passage of time, but will continue to inflame and ulcerate in the wound.
　　Over time, this name became a taboo that they did not want to mention again and was deeply buried in the heart, but once it was mentioned, it was destined to be a kind of bone-cutting pain.
　　The car was speeding along the tree-lined path, and finally stopped halfway up the mountain.
　　The Mid-Level Mansion is a magnificent European-style building. The milky white wall paint makes the whole building look spacious and bright. The windows are inlaid with multicolored glass, and the sun is shining, it is really beautiful. The decoration of the house is not at all like the gold carvings and silver castings of other chambers of commerce. Instead, fine pine wood is used for decoration. There are also many antique calligraphy and paintings on the walls. There is a noble and elegant style everywhere in this building.
　　Xie Xiang took Xie Zhipei and walked in, but within a few steps, met a group of old friends and acquaintances of Xie Zhipei. Watching her father's constant greetings, Xie Xiang took a cupcake full of cream and followed casually behind her father. She had never liked this kind of banquets. Everyone present is well-dressed with a decent smile on their faces. Even the action of drinking tea and eating has been rehearsed privately how many times, and every smile seems to be a copy. It's general, gorgeous, and empty.
　　"Xiang'er," Xie Zhipei suddenly noticed something, and called her quickly, "Go and see Mr. Shen with me."
　　From a distance, Shen Tingbai was sitting on the sofa talking and laughing. Most of the woman opposite him fell into the sofa and her face couldn't be seen, but from the figure, she was slender and thin. Shen Tingbai smiled at her, and the identity of the woman opposite was immediately obvious.
　　Xie Zhipei brought Xie Xiang forward, but two men in suits were one step ahead.
　　"Mr. Shen." The man at the head greeted Shen Tingbai, his voice was gentle and polite, and his pronunciation was very lame. Xie Xiang looked at him carefully. She had seen this face in the newspaper. It was the president of the Japan Chamber of Commerce, named Kazuo Sato, and the other person next to him was his confidant Shinichi Sanada. If these two characters can appear in person, it seems that the cotton mill of the Shen family has truly touched the interests of the Japanese.
　　With a simple greeting, Kazuo Sato took a leisurely smile and raised his wine glass to respect the beauty who was leaning on the sofa.
　　"Miss Qu is an outstanding beauty, and Mr. Shen has an outstanding beauty by his side. It is really enviable. By the way, I heard that Miss Qu was almost taken away in Palimo a while ago. Now the situation is unstable and there are many gangsters. Miss Qu goes in and out. You must be more careful, just in case something happens......"
　　Putting it elsewhere is just an ordinary admonishment, but from Kazuo Sato's mouth, it is a blatant threat.
　　Shen Tingbai's face suddenly changed when he heard this, and he was obviously angry. Qu Manting slowly got up from the sofa, her appearance was shining, her voice was clear and graceful, and she said calmly: "Mr. Sato doesn't need to worry. Tingbai will protect me."
　　Seeing her calm down, Xie Xiang looked at her through the corner of her eye and hurriedly lowered her head.
　　Qu Manting glanced at Xie Xiang and Xie Zhipei, and squinted slightly. Although she was in a hurry in the western restaurant last time, she still clearly saw Xie Xiang's appearance, a very familiar person, but she couldn't remember where she had met.
　　Because she is also a friend of Tan Xiaojun, and at the same time, in order to get Kazuo Sato away, Qu Manting reminded: "Tingbai, that old gentleman seems to be waiting for you."
　　Shen Tingbai nodded naturally, and then turned back to Kazuo Sato and said, "I have something to do, so I won't send Mr. Sato. The moon is black and the wind is rushing,* so I hope Mr. Sato is careful all the way." Just led Qu Manting and walked over.

(T/N: dark and windy night)

　　Seeing Shen Tingbai walking towards them, Xie Zhipei's face was filled with gratitude, "Mr. Shen, I am Xie Zhipei, this time I am here to thank Mr. Shen for the materials donated to our school last month." Step forward, respectfully stretched out his hand.
　　"Oh, it's Mr. Xie from Peking. It's a trivial matter. I'm just doing my best. This is?" Shen Tingbai pointed to Xie Xiang who was hiding behind Xie Zhipei.
　　"This is my little girl. She is studying in Shunyuan Nursing School. We father and daughter haven't seen each other for a long time, so I brought her together this time. Xiang'er, come here, and I will introduce you to Mr. Shen."
　　Xie Xiang still lowered her head, as if she was afraid to move forward, Qu Manting was even more curious to see her like this, and couldn't help looking at her up and down.
　　"Da Ge,* I was still looking for you everywhere......"

(T/N: literally big older brother)

　　Oops, Xie Xiang was shocked and turned back quickly. The voice just now was Shen Junshan!
　　"Xiang'er, Xiang'er?"
　　Her father's call came again in her ear, Xie Xiang couldn't avoid it, and simply buried her face in the cake in her hand, and when she turned around, her face was already creamy.
　　"Someone hit me just now." Xie Xiang lowered her head, not daring to look at her father's awkward expression. The atmosphere froze for a while, but fortunately, Shen Tingbai finished the game in time,* "It doesn't matter, Junshan, take Miss Xie upstairs to clean up."

(T/N: explain or smooth over a matter)

　　She didn't want to leave now, let alone stay, so she had to bite the bullet and go upstairs with Shen Junshan.
　　Xie Xiang entered the bathroom, turned on the faucet, and poured a handful of water on her face silently, the cream slowly slipped, revealing the woman's original delicate face.
　　The woman in the mirror furrowed her brows, her thoughts turning over.
　　What can be done ah! The water on Xie Xiang's face was dry, and she leaned on the door to look out. She stayed in the bathroom for a long time, but Shen Junshan sat on the sofa in front of the door.
　　Music sounded from downstairs. Shen Tingbai and Bai Biyun were dancing on the dance floor. Shen Junshan saw it from upstairs, frowning slightly.
　　He did not like this Bai family's Young Miss, not only because of her seemingly innocent and cute but arrogant and domineering character, but also because she is the daughter of Mayor Bai, and Mayor Bai has always been a person of both sides, as long as his own interests are not involved. He will never intervene in anything, and in the same way, whoever can give him benefits, he will let him go.
　　Even if the other party is Japanese.
　　The warm and romantic waltz suddenly stopped and turned into a passionate tango. Shen Junshan suddenly leaned forward and saw Gu Yanzheng pulling Qu Manting onto the dance floor.
　　The two cooperated tacitly, the movements were graceful, and the dance was lively, which quickly aroused repeated admiration from the guests. Shen Tingbai stopped, looked at Qu Manting indulgently, and then pulled out Bai Biyun from the dance floor with a dissatisfied expression on his face.
　　Shen Junshan suddenly understood that Gu Yanzheng should be helping Qu Manting. A charming beauty is always jealous, not to mention a beauty with a loyal follower like Shen Tingbai. This group of high-class ladies have always been fascinated by the wind and the rudder.* Today, listening to the dance of Shen Tingbai and Bai Biyun, those talkative villains will definitely think that Qu Manting has lost her power in the Shen family.

(T/N: 见风使舵的本事一向出神入化, acting flexible? Not sure about this one)

　　When Shen Junshan was in a trance, out of the corner of his eye, he caught a glimpse of a person sneaking out from the side, and for a moment, he saw that the figure was the infallible Xie Xiang, and immediately got up and chased after her.
　　"Miss Xie!" Shen Tingbai called her from behind.
　　Xie Xiang shook hed head and ran faster, and after a turn, she had already shaken off Shen Junshan. Only a small white leather shoe was left on the ground. Shen Junshan picked up the leather shoe and continued to chase
forward.
　　Looking at Shen Junshan's leaving back, Xie Xiang sighed in relief, leaning on the door of the lounge and watching, loosening the hand that was tightly covering the waiter's mouth, and said apologetically: "I'm sorry."
　　The waiter waved his hand, "It's okay. But miss, your hand is really strong."
　　Xie Xiang smiled, opened the door and crept out.
　　Originally thought it was a seamless escape, but unfortunately she didn't notice that all of this was seen by Gu Yanzheng, who was sitting in the corner. His slightly smiling eyes were faintly visible in the half-clear light and shadow.