[At Mr. Li's House - Chinese New Year Eve]
The rich aroma of roasted duck and ginger-infused fish filled Mr. Li's lavish dining room, mingling with the subtle scent of expensive incense.
Outside, the distant pop of firecrackers signaled Chinese New Year's Eve, but inside, a different kind of tension simmered beneath the polished surface of tradition.
Mr. Li, a man of formidable presence with shrewd eyes that missed nothing, sat at the head of a sprawling mahogany table.
To his right, his son, Li Hao, brooded silently, his usual sharp demeanor dulled by an underlying resentment. Opposite him, Shi Wang, impeccably dressed, wore a smirk that belied the festive occasion.
The table groaned under the weight of an opulent feast – glistening braised abalone, vibrant longevity noodles, delicate dumplings, and a whole steamed fish, its eyes staring blankly.
Shi Wang reached for his wine glass, his fingers circling the crystal stem. He raised it, a glint in his eyes as he met Mr. Li's gaze.
"Happy Chinese New Year, Uncle Li," Shi Wang said, his voice smooth, almost too genial. He clinked his glass lightly against Mr. Li's, the sound a delicate counterpoint to the unspoken weight in the room.
Then, he turned to Li Hao, his smirk deepening. "And to you, Li Hao. Happy New Year."
Li Hao offered a tight, practiced smile in return, raising his own glass just enough to acknowledge the toast without true warmth.
The clink was almost imperceptible, a faint echo of the cordiality they both knew was a facade.
Shi Wang took a sip of his wine, then set the glass down with an almost imperceptible click. His eyes, however, were still fixed on Mr. Li.
"If you don't mind me asking, Uncle Li," he began, his tone casual, "what's the occasion? Not that I'm complaining, of course.
This is quite the spread. But… we've never celebrated New Year together before. Why the sudden invitation?" The question hung in the air, a direct probe into the unspoken.
Mr. Li chuckled, a deep, rumbling sound that seemed to vibrate through the heavy silence. His expression softened, an impressive mask of familial affection.
"Shi Wang, my boy, what are you saying? We are family! Festivals like this, they're meant to be celebrated with family. That's why I invited you. To share in the joy, to usher in prosperity together." His gaze swept over both young men, full of a seemingly heartfelt sincerity.
But Shi Wang merely offered a knowing, almost imperceptible tilt of his head, while Li Hao's jaw tightened.
Both knew, with an unquestionable certainty ingrained from years of dealing with the elder Li, that this man never did anything without a meticulously calculated reason.
And both, in their gut, knew they were right.
Li Hao lowered his chopsticks, placing them carefully beside his bowl. A long, weary sigh escaped his lips, and his brow furrowed, deepening the lines of a perpetual frown.
His face, already shadowed, visibly darkened as he finally looked at his father, his eyes holding a dangerous glint.
"Cut the charade, Mr. Li," Li Hao's voice was low, cutting through the festive hum of the background music.
"Just tell me. Why did you force me to come back to China? I was perfectly busy in Thailand." The accusation was stark, devoid of any pretense of politeness.
Mr. Li's pleasant expression vanished, replaced by a steely, almost cold gaze that mirrored his son's.
He sighed, a heavier sound this time, laced with impatience. He then gestured with two fingers to his secretary, a silent, efficient figure who stood discreetly by the dining room entrance. In a blink, the secretary moved, a slim file appearing in his hand.
Mr. Li took it, then, with a dismissive flick of his wrist, threw it across the table, sliding it with a soft whoosh towards Li Hao.
"Her name is Yuna," Mr. Li stated, his voice flat, devoid of emotion.
"She is the daughter of Chairman Xiao of Dongfang Defense Technology. I have arranged a blind date for you next week. And your marriage will be held within a few months." He paused, letting the words sink in, then continued, his voice laced with the unshakeable conviction of a man dictating terms.
"This marriage will greatly benefit our company. She is the only daughter, which means in the future, you will inherit the entirety of Dongfang Defense."
Li Hao's reaction was measured, dangerously so. He chuckled, a short, sharp sound utterly devoid of humor. His hand, as if detached, reached for the file.
He picked it up, opened it, and extracted the neatly printed paper detailing Yuna's profile, her photograph smiling prettily from the corner.
Without a word, without a change in his chillingly calm expression, Li Hao slowly, deliberately, began to tear the paper into several pieces.
The soft rip-rip-rip was the only sound in the room, each tear a deliberate act of defiance. He then let the fragments flutter to the polished marble floor.
In the next instant, Li Hao shot up from his chair, the heavy piece of furniture scraping loudly against the floor, a jarring protest.
He didn't spare Mr. Li another glance. His jaw set, he strode purposefully towards the exit, his furious energy leaving an almost tangible vacuum in his wake.
Shi Wang, who had been observing the entire exchange with a keen, calculating gaze, read the storm gathering in Mr. Li's eyes.
He knew a confrontation was imminent, and perhaps, a word of intervention could prevent further damage.
"I'll talk to him," Shi Wang said quickly, already pushing back his own chair.
He didn't wait for a response, but rushed after Li Hao, leaving Mr. Li alone at the vast, silent table, surrounded by the untouched feast.
Outside, the air was crisp, carrying the faint scent of gunpowder from distant firecrackers.
Li Hao stood by the side of the house, his back to the festive lights, furiously drawing on a cigarette. The tip glowed a fierce orange in the twilight, mirroring the anger simmering within him.
He inhaled deeply, the smoke a thin veil around his furious face, then exhaled a ragged plume that dissipated quickly into the night.
Shi Wang approached him calmly, his hands tucked into his pockets. He stopped a respectful distance away, allowing Li Hao his space.
"Li Hao," he began, his voice surprisingly gentle, "what's wrong with getting married, huh? Look at your age… it's the right time to settle down. You should at least consider your father's point."
Li Hao took another long, shuddering drag from his cigarette, then flicked the butt, sending a shower of sparks before it landed on the ground and was immediately crushed under his heel. He turned, his eyes piercing through the gloom, fixing on Shi Wang.
"Then why don't you get married with her, Shi Wang?" Li Hao snapped, his voice rough with suppressed rage. "It's your age too, isn't it? For getting married, huh?"
Shi Wang's calm facade cracked. He recoiled slightly, a flash of defensiveness in his eyes.
"I can't marry," he retorted, his voice sharper now. "You know me, Li Hao. I'm a playboy. I don't settle for one… never have, never will."
Li Hao chuckled, a short, bitter sound that held no amusement. Before Shi Wang could react, Li Hao lunged, grabbing a handful of Shi Wang's shirt collar. His voice dropped, thick with scorn.
"Playboy, huh? You're a playboy? Great. Playboys like you don't fool around with… a common boy." His grip tightened, his eyes narrowing dangerously.
"You, the person who is always surrounded by rich, hot girls, you never fool around with a boy like… like Yang Zi."
The mention of the name Yang Zi from Li Hao's lips was like a physical blow. Shi Wang's face, already flushed, drained of color.
His easygoing demeanor vanished, replaced by a sudden, terrifying darkness. He snapped Li Hao's hand from his collar with a violent jerk.
"What the fuck are you talking about?" Shi Wang growled, his voice low and dangerous. "Why would I fool around with a boy?"
Li Hao merely glanced at his face, a knowing, almost mocking expression on his features. "Do you think I'm crazy, Shi Wang?"
Shi Wang's anger flared, fueled by a truth he desperately wanted to keep hidden.
He counterattacked, his own voice rising. "And what about you, Li Hao? You think you can fool me? You're accusing me of fooling around with Yang Zi, and you… what about you and Yu Han?"
Li Hao's eyes widened almost imperceptibly, his body tensing. He immediately turned his face away, refusing to meet Shi Wang's gaze. "What about me and him?" he demanded evasively, his voice suddenly quiet.
Shi Wang chuckled, a cold, derisive sound that pierced the night. "You think you can hide from me, huh? You ran for him, Li Hao, leaving everything behind, just to meet him after two years! And you're standing here, pretending, asking, 'what about me and him?' You fucking like him, Li Hao. Admit it."
Li Hao didn't respond. He simply turned, his shoulders stiff, and began to pace towards his car, parked a short distance away.
He opened the driver's side door, slipped inside, and started the engine. The powerful roar of the meticulously maintained vehicle filled the air for a moment, then faded as Li Hao put it into gear and sped away, his taillights disappearing swiftly into the vast, dark emptiness of the Chinese New Year's Eve night.
Shi Wang watched him go, a conflicted tangle of anger and understanding warring in his own shadowed eyes.