Chapter 123: The Teahouse

Chen Hao did not get the chance to hear the doctor’s mutterings after he left the infirmary. He was currently heading to the nearest small teahouse with the burly Guo Yunhai to sit down for a chat. When it came to Krystal, the big man was far more familiar with the place than Chen Hao. Because Dong Xin often came to Krystal on business, Guo Yunhai naturally found himself visiting the city frequently as well.

As for why the burly man insisted on coming to Krystal to find Dong Xin instead of visiting her in her own city, it was simply because Dong Xin was not easily accessible there.

To put it bluntly, Dong Xin was a total homebody. Whether for work or leisure, she spent almost all her time in the residence provided by the Unreal Corporation. The housing provided by Unreal was not some cheap shared apartment from a shell company, but a luxurious, sprawling villa.

It was fully equipped with every amenity imaginable, and many of Unreal’s senior staff members resided in this same upscale neighborhood. It could be considered an exclusive community for the company’s elite. Beyond the fully furnished interiors, the communal facilities within the neighborhood were equally comprehensive.

From supermarkets, fresh produce markets, and schools to hospitals, telecommunications, and utility plants—everything was available. The complex was effectively an independent, self-contained city. All internal necessities were manufactured and supplied by the Unreal Corporation itself. One had to admit that the company was extraordinarily wealthy; to ensure their employees enjoyed a perfectly comfortable living and working environment, they spared no expense in building such a private, miniature city.

In such a luxurious community, security was naturally impeccable. Apart from the employees living there, even long-term external contractors who had worked for Unreal for years, like Chen Hao, were not permitted to enter—let alone a man like Guo Yunhai.

Lacking an entry permit and possessing a rather intimidating appearance, Guo Yunhai would likely be questioned by security even at an ordinary residential complex built by standard developers, let alone a place like this.

Since Dong Xin was a homebody who rarely ventured out, Guo Yunhai had no chance of seeing her in her home city. The only opportunity was to catch her when she traveled to Krystal on business. It was for this reason that Guo Yunhai was relatively familiar with Krystal; while he wasn't as knowledgeable as Dong Xin, he was certainly better off than Chen Hao.

Thus, the task of choosing a teahouse fell to Guo Yunhai, while Chen Hao tagged along. It is fascinating how men can be: one moment they are red-faced and ready to kill each other, and the next, they are walking shoulder-to-shoulder, supporting one another.

The journey was quite taxing for Chen Hao. Guo Yunhai was massive and heavy, and since his ankle injury had just been treated, he couldn't put too much strain on it. As a result, nearly half his weight was pressing down on Chen Hao. Of course, Guo Yunhai had no intention of taking revenge; the two had already cleared the air.

Soon, they arrived at the teahouse. Calling it a teahouse was a bit of a stretch; it felt more like a rural farmhouse. There was no flashy sign or prominent storefront, just a small, rustic courtyard. Without a regular to lead the way, an ordinary passerby would never know such a place existed.

Only upon pushing open the gate did one realize there were already several customers inside. The courtyard was not particularly large, perhaps forty or fifty square meters. While spacious for a private home, it was quite cramped for a business.

Inside the yard were about ten stone round tables with sturdy stone stools. There were few customers, suggesting business wasn't booming, but those present were dressed impeccably, clearly wealthy, and there were even a few foreigners among them. Two or three attendants were busy greeting the newcomers with enthusiasm.

The attendant was dressed in an ancient style—a coarse cloth vest over linen trousers, a white sash tied around his waist, and a towel draped over his shoulder. Chen Hao, quite interested in this historical attire, immediately felt a surge of curiosity about the place.

The attendant greeted them in the style of an old-world shop boy: "Master Guo, and this new young master, please come in. The boss has already prepared a private room for you both, and the tea will be served shortly."

Chen Hao looked at Guo Yunhai, then back at the attendant in surprise. "You knew we were coming?"

The attendant bowed with a smile. "You jest, sir. I have no such prophetic powers. Master Guo is a regular here; every time he visits, he requests a private room to enjoy his tea in peace. Over time, we’ve grown accustomed to his habits. Because Master Guo and the boss get along well, a private room is always reserved for him. It’s just that Master Guo is a man of status and busy with his affairs, so he rarely comes, and the room usually sits empty."

Chen Hao was stunned that Guo Yunhai held such sway, having the boss reserve a room just for him. "I never would have guessed!"

Guo Yunhai curled his lip. "Let’s go! Let’s go inside and talk. Waiter, bring me two pounds of beef, a plate of peanuts, and a half-pound of smashed cucumbers."

Chen Hao’s mouth twitched upon hearing the order. What the hell? They were here for tea and conversation, yet the man was ordering pub snacks.

To his surprise, the attendant didn't hesitate. "Right away! Master Guo, please wait a moment. I’ll lead you and your friend to the private room, and the food will be served shortly."

As the attendant gestured for them to follow, Chen Hao’s curiosity deepened. He was desperate to know what kind of person the owner was, and why the other customers didn't seem bothered by the preferential treatment.

Chen Hao cast a questioning glance at Guo Yunhai, who grinned broadly. "Don’t be in such a hurry. You’ll find out soon enough. I’ll answer your questions one by one. I only hope you won’t keep anything from me either."

Chen Hao shrugged noncommittally. "Fair enough."

They soon arrived at the private room. The décor did not disappoint. Paper-patterned wooden doors and windows, hollowed-out stools, a high-end rosewood table, a screen with ink-wash paintings, and shelves displaying the Four Treasures of the Study—it was exactly like the scenes Chen Hao had seen on television.

Once seated, Guo Yunhai took the initiative. "You must be curious about this place, right? I was just as surprised when I first came here. I couldn't believe that in this day and age, someone would run a teahouse like this in such a remote spot."

"It is quite surprising," Chen Hao agreed.

"Heh! If you met the owner, you’d be even more surprised!" Guo Yunhai said mysteriously.

"Oh?" Chen Hao grew interested. "What kind of person is the owner? I already met a reclusive expert, Master Fang, today. Is the owner here another hermit?"

"Pfft—" Guo Yunhai nearly laughed out loud. "Haha! A hermit? Don't say that when you meet the boss, or you’ll be in big trouble!"

"Huh?" Chen Hao was taken aback. "So, the owner isn't an old man? Is it some refined scholar, then?"

Guo Yunhai stifled his laughter. "Not that either! Stop guessing. It’s completely different from what you imagine. The owner knows I’m here, so they’ll likely come to see me soon. You’ll have your answer shortly! But first, let’s talk about you and Dong Xin. I assume you have nothing to hide there! I can tell you aren't the couple I thought you were, but I can't figure out why, if you aren't close, she’d let you drive her car."

"Sigh..." Chen Hao sighed with a troubled expression. "Don't get me started. To be honest, I wish I could cut all ties with Dong Xin..."

Chen Hao then explained his background, how he met Dong Xin, their subsequent conflicts, their meeting in Krystal, and the circumstances behind him driving her car. However, he kept his suspicions about her to himself. Naturally, he didn't mention calling her a "tomboy." Since she was Guo Yunhai’s dream girl, if he used that term, the man would likely try to kill him.

After hearing the story, Guo Yunhai remained calm. "Oh! So that’s how it is! Since that's settled, let’s talk about you. Back in the infirmary, I noticed you seemed very interested in Krystal. You didn't just come here for a vacation, did you? There must be another reason."

"Tell me," Guo Yunhai continued. "Maybe I can help. I said before that I owe you a favor; paying it back would clear my conscience."

Just as Chen Hao was wondering how to begin, a pleasant yet exceptionally loud female voice drifted in from outside: "Big guy, you’re here to mooch off me again! How long do you plan on staying this time? Don't tell me you’re chasing after your little sweetheart again? When are you going to bring her for me to meet?"