Chapter 323 The Meeting

Song Ni was a very good negotiator, and Tan Zheng had always been unable to refuse Song Ni's requests, nor did he want to. The matter was thus agreed upon. Upon hearing that it was Tan Zheng's wife who wished to see him, the Duke immediately flew back from abroad, eager to meet. Tan Zheng, however, was not in a hurry, leisurely declining the Duke's first two meeting invitations. Only on the third attempt did he finally agree. The meeting place was their home. The Duke had originally intended to host a lavish banquet for Tan Zheng and Song Ni, but Tan Zheng, not wanting to get involved with the Duke's circle, refused. The Duke understood Tan Zheng's intentions and did not press the matter. Thus, on a bright and beautiful day, a very distinguished car stopped in front of the villa. A formally dressed driver alighted and opened the car door for the noble occupant of the rear seat. Song Ni, hearing the sound, called for Tan Zheng to join her. They saw the person in the back wearing exquisite and lavish attire, even a bowtie usually reserved for the most important occasions. The visitor wore a large, dazzling ruby diamond ring on his hand and leaned on an exquisitely crafted cane, the dragon eyes on its head also made of rubies. Looking up, they saw a handsome face, appearing no older than forty. He had striking golden hair, all swept back, revealing aristocratic eyebrows and eyes. His demeanor was naturally refined, something that couldn't be faked or envied. Song Ni realized that she didn't dislike men dressing elegantly; she disliked the type that pursued elegance with a flamboyant and seductive air. How pleasing it was for the Duke to be so refined and magnificent. But... Song Ni looked down at her shirt and shorts, her feet in slippers, and for the first time, felt a bit embarrassed that she and Tan Zheng were wearing matching outfits. In contrast, the Duke was so formally dressed for this meeting, while they had dressed far too casually. Song Ni nudged him with her elbow. "Should we change?" Seeing Song Ni staring for a long time at the Duke's ruby ring and cane, the man frowned displeasuredly. "So ostentatious, dressing so flamboyantly to someone's home, like a peacock displaying its plumage, what's the point?" "No need, he's just sick." Song Ni: ... Is it appropriate to speak about a guest like that? Although Song Ni had asked if they should change, she made no move as the Duke approached. Hugh stopped politely at the garden gate, awaiting his hosts. Song Ni nudged Tan Zheng, and the two finally went over. During this short ten-meter walk, Song Ni observed the Duke, her gaze curious but not overly so. Seeing their calm reaction, Hugh's smile widened. He was accustomed to formalities and protocols, and to the reverence people showed upon learning his identity. But these two, upon meeting him, treated him with the deference of ordinary hosts welcoming ordinary guests. It was precisely this attitude from Tan Zheng that had attracted him years ago, grosvee. When he announced his surname, Tan Zheng merely expressed surprise, without any further reaction. Others would have long since used the favor of saving a life to demand endless benefits. Years ago, Hugh's car had malfunctioned while driving, and he couldn't control its speed. The road ahead was a mountain pass, where a slight misstep could lead to a fall into a ravine. It was Tan Zheng who, before the cliff, had crashed his car into Hugh's, disabling it. Hugh's life was saved, though he was left with a lingering leg injury. Upon learning that Tan Zheng was a race car driver, he felt even more grateful. Thinking of that day, Hugh's expression became even more gentle. "Zheng! Long time no see." Tan Zheng responded with a nod and introduced Song Ni to Hugh in the courtyard. Hugh extended his hand, and Song Ni graciously placed hers in his palm. Just as Hugh was about to bend down for a kissing gesture, Tan Zheng interrupted him. As if protecting his young, he shielded Song Ni, unwilling to let Hugh touch her. Hugh did not take offense. "Miss Krist, I have wanted to meet you for a long time." When Tan Zheng got married last year, he had even secretly visited China, but his schedule was tight, and he didn't have time to meet. At the time, he wasn't sure if Tan Zheng would be willing to see him. This year, upon learning that Tan Zheng had returned to Britain, he had been paying close attention. He followed not only Tan Zheng's racing but also his activities in CS. Song Ni first glanced at Tan Zheng, then greeted Hugh politely. "I've also wanted to meet you." Song Ni paused, likely guessing that the Duke might not appreciate their interactions being burdened by status, so she directly addressed him by name. "Hugh." As expected, the Duke's eyes softened further. As the group entered the house, the atmosphere gradually grew awkward. The meeting was ostensibly for Tan Zheng's sake, yet he acted as if he wasn't very familiar with the Duke. Song Ni twisted Tan Zheng's waist countless times in secret. Fortunately, the Duke was accustomed to Tan Zheng's demeanor; individuals of their status never made themselves uncomfortable. More accurately, they did not feel out of place regardless of the environment. Their adaptability was exceptional. The Duke, clearly prepared, chatted pleasantly with Song Ni, repeatedly mentioning design works she had created during her undergraduate studies. Song Ni found the Duke to be a person of considerable taste and became increasingly engrossed in their conversation, instructing Tan Zheng to make coffee. Tan Zheng: ... Due to their enjoyable conversation, Tan Zheng's expression was less than pleasant, but even so, he still obeyed Song Ni and went to make coffee. He had learned this skill in the town of SS. Hugh had come for Tan Zheng, and throughout his conversation with Song Ni, he kept observing Tan Zheng. Seeing how obediently he listened to his wife made him even more curious. "Forgive me, Miss Krist, I'd like to ask a rather intrusive question." Song Ni nodded slightly. Hugh smiled gently, fiddling with the ruby diamond ring on his thumb. He asked, "How did you..." Hugh chose his words carefully. "How did you conquer Zheng?" In the end, Hugh used the word "conquer" because, in his eyes, Tan Zheng was an extremely aggressive person who wouldn't easily show tenderness. However, his investigation had told him that Tan Zheng and Song Ni's union was due to a family arrangement. This perplexed him greatly, which was why he wanted to meet Song Ni. After meeting Song Ni, he could understand why Tan Zheng had chosen her, but he still couldn't comprehend how she had made Tan Zheng so gentle and doting. Song Ni was no stranger to the word "conquer." At the beginning of her relationship with Tan Zheng, many had speculated about the direction of their romance. In the past, she too had believed it was about who conquered whom, and she had even used the phrase "I conquered Tan Zheng," and Tan Zheng had likewise said, "She conquered me." But now... Song Ni had a different perspective. Tan Zheng had just finished making the coffee and brought it over. Song Ni reached out to take it, but Tan Zheng refused, as it was still very hot. Song Ni smiled, then turned to Hugh and asked, "If you don't mind my asking, do you have a partner?"