Chapter 62: Wave Upon Wave

Zheng Nange slowly withdrew as if pulling away from a distant and complex dream, then asked with a hint of hesitation, "Um, that song—is it really meant for Wang Feng? If needed, perhaps I can help bridge the gap for you."

Lin Cheng hooked the corner of his lips into a smile. "I've already made initial contact with Wang Feng's studio. However, they seem to have some reservations about my asking price."

"Oh?" Zhou Ye, listening with great interest from the side, curiously pursued, "So just how astronomical was the price you quoted?"

"Eighty thousand."

"Huh?" Hearing this, Zhou Luoyao's bright eyes widened into perfect circles instantly. "You... you mean, you're selling this song for eighty thousand? Really? You're not joking, are you?"

Lin Cheng replied with an indescribable confidence, "Really, more genuine than pearls! I believe its value goes far beyond that."

"Then what did Wang Feng's people say?"

"What he said, I don't have the time to bicker over, but I can tell you my method," Lin Cheng said, diverting the topic to break the awkwardness.

"I'll mail this song to myself via EMS, so the date it arrives in my hands will serve as proof that this song belongs to me."

"You can actually do that?" Zhou Ye asked in disbelief.

Lin Cheng nodded gently. "Yes, there are many ways to prove copyright. I even thought about submitting this song to *Fireworks*."

At this, a trace of uncertainty flashed through Lin Cheng's eyes.

"It's so expensive, I was actually thinking of buying it myself. Ah..." Zheng Nange shook his head helplessly.

Every single lyric of that song felt as though it had been tailor-made for him, striking the softest parts of his soul.

If it was truly as Lin Cheng had said at the banquet that day—that this song was given by that shy little boy to Jiang Yuwan;

Then this sentiment would undoubtedly become the most special, unfading star in her memories.

"Hahaha, having said it in front of so many people, how could I go back on my word? This sentiment, I must help you deliver properly."

Lin Cheng's words carried a touch of daring and a dash of slyness.

"Ah? You're really giving it to him?" Zhou Luoyao widened her eyes in disbelief.

Such a gift was so unique that she could hardly believe Lin Cheng would wrap it up so casually.

Sunlight filtered through the half-drawn curtains, dappling across the three of them and adding a sense of drama to this sudden transaction.

"Mhm."

"Fine, I'll take it. If the returns are really that high, no matter how much it makes, it's all yours!"

A flash of pleasant surprise crossed Zheng Nange's eyes. He gently patted Lin Cheng's shoulder, as if in gratitude, or perhaps passing on some intangible strength. "Thank you!"

Zhou Luoyao, however, furrowed her brows, looking as though she had suffered a great grievance.

"I don't care, I want in too!" She stared straight at Lin Cheng, looking as if she had truly drawn the short straw.

*It was supposed to be like this anyway!* Zhou Luoyao muttered inwardly to herself.

She had originally only invited Lin Cheng to her home to enjoy a relaxed and pleasant afternoon;

Who would have thought that after Zheng Nange and Zhou Ye woke up from a nap, they would have already struck a massive deal!

This made her feel as though she had been excluded from some kind of "conspiracy," breeding an inevitable sense of loss and anxiety.

Outside the window, the gentle breeze lingered, but indoors, a silent contest was quietly unfolding.

...

A black sedan wove through the urban neon lights, speeding toward the Hotel Indigo.

Zheng Qun's face appeared stern under the flickering and dimming streetlights.

"I just received a call saying that Uncle Li might have been invited for a chat."

A barely perceptible anxiety flashed in his eyes—a worry for the unknown, and a fond remembrance of past camaraderie.

Seated in the passenger seat, Zhou Yunze's side profile appeared cold and aloof in the night.

He nodded slightly. "Li Mao... will he affect you?"

Though brief, the question revealed his subtle observation of Zheng Qun's complex emotions.

For the respectful "Uncle Li" mentioned by Zheng Qun, Zhou Yunze felt very few ripples in his heart.

In his world, emotions had to yield to reason and interests, and Li Mao was merely a matter of the past;

Even if he had once been a high-ranking provincial official, even if he had once been the capable right-hand man of Zheng Qun's elders;

No matter how deeply rooted, it could not stir the slightest wave within him.

Zheng Qun's lips curved into a bitter smile. "I've always been cautious, considering myself never to have walked along the dangerous riverbanks, so naturally, I won't wet my shoes without reason."

"But then again, I truly did receive a great deal of care from Uncle Li, and I've always kept that grace in my heart. It's just that now, it's hard to predict where Feng Hui will direct the fire."

"Feng Hui? You mean the one who opposes you at every turn?!"

Zheng Qun nodded slightly. "My family's matriarch is also furious. Right now, Feng Hui is the one driving this storm. The stakes and relationships involved are headache-inducingly complex."

Zhou Yunze frowned deeply. "Your family's matriarch rarely interferes in your affairs. Even when you were transferred here to hold office, the old lady probably assumes it was mostly thanks to your wife's credit!"

"Actually, I thought so too."

At this, Zhou Yunze involuntarily lowered his voice.

"Speaking of which, matters within a family always affect the whole body with a single move. Feng Hui's intervention this time might also involve a shift in internal family power behind the scenes."

Zheng Qun knew very well that Zhou Yunze's words were true. The undercurrents within the family, coupled with Feng Hui's aggressive pressing, made him feel unprecedented pressure.

He took a deep breath. "Yes, the situation this time is far trickier than imagined. But I will do my utmost to protect everything I hold dear."

The conversation between the two felt exceptionally heavy, weighed down by an invisible pressure.

The deep night outside the car window seemed to silently watch the impending storm and transformation;

Much like the calm before a tempest, the tense atmosphere of an impending downpour permeated the air, allowing one to almost smell the scent of the upcoming eruption.

The stories of the Zheng and Zhou families were long. The older generation had fought side by side amid a hail of bullets, forging an unbreakable bond with blood and sweat.

Zhou Yunze and Zheng Qun had been childhood playmates chasing and frolicking in the institutional kindergarten, their friendship traversing the river of time.

As the years grew, this bond was connected by an even deeper tie—shared blood relations.

Yet, beneath this glorious family halo, Zheng Qun seemed like a pearl forgotten in a corner;

Though his luster remained undimmed, he was gradually being marginalized. Only true insiders could deeply comprehend that taste.

Zhou Yunze slowly said, "The waves of the Honghu Lake keep pushing forward. No matter how close the older generation walked, the younger generation can still be scattered by the tide... When I go back, I'll chat with the old man while playing a game of chess."

The night curtain lowered, and the city lights came on one by one. The hustle and bustle of the city seemed isolated outside this hidden and elegant restaurant.

Tonight, Zheng Qun was hosting a banquet to introduce a few people to Zhou Yunze.

Zhou Yunze wore a well-fitted suit, his deportment revealing an extraordinary aura as he smilingly stepped into the banquet hall.

Zheng Qun warmly introduced everyone present: Mayor Cai Songqi, Deputy Secretary Sun Linqiu... Whether steady or capable, every single one of them was an elite in their respective field.

Exquisite dishes were served one by one, and everyone raised their glasses to Zhou Yunze.

Their words held expectations for the younger generation, alongside probes and tests.

Zhou Yunze handled it all with ease, remaining both modest and sharp.

Initially, he politely raised the wine glass in his hand for a gentle sip; but as time went on, he quietly lowered the wine glass and switched to tea instead;

This change left those who had been eager to seize the opportunity to drink with this big figure temporarily at a loss;

Yet they quickly resumed their professional smiles.

After all, Zhou Yunze possessed an indescribable aura that naturally commanded awe and respect.

Every movement of his seemed to silently declare rules and boundaries.

"In the past, only major powers could exchange ambassadors with one another. The diplomatic stage was once a glorious pavilion exclusively for the great nations, while smaller countries could only look up in awe."

"Now, diplomacy is no longer the patent of major powers. Even previously obscure nations have gained the opportunity to make their voices heard. Exchanging ambassadors has become the norm."

This dashing Minister Zhou was merely a wave in this new wave of diplomacy.

His footprints spanned across Europe, and every visit and exchange was a meticulously woven tapestry of friendship and cooperation between nations.

Regarding the various aspects of his status as a minister, Zhou Yunze merely smiled faintly, his eyes holding a calmness and modesty that surpassed his age.

At this moment, someone stood up and said, "Minister Lin is far too modest. We guard the home turf, while you cross mountains and seas, carrying our stories and dreams to every corner of the world..."

What a brilliantly phrased remark!

Zhou Yunze smiled faintly, his eyes holding a calmness and modesty that surpassing his age.

"You all flatter me far too much. I am nowhere near as mysterious or glamorous as you imagine. We simply hold different posts. The two calling cards of Jiangdong and Suzhou are precisely the foundation that allows me to walk freely across the European continent."

Rather than saying Zheng Qun was introducing friends to him, it was more like Zhou Yunze had come to boost Zheng Qun's momentum;

Releasing a signal of deep-rooted connections and massive resources.