Chapter 26 None of them were fuel-efficient lamps

  "Let me introduce to everyone, these two are our new members, Mr. Lou Mi and Mr. Xu Dengcao!" Along with Han Bangzheng's introduction, a warm round of applause erupted in the revolving restaurant on the top floor of the hotel. Of course, this applause was all polite.

  At the time of filling out the membership registration form, Deng Cao hesitated for half a day. In the end, he still filled in the name "Xu Deng Cao" in the column for surname. Afterwards, I asked him why he wrote Xu Deng Cao instead of Zhang Deng Cao or Zhao Deng Cao? Deng Cao listened and replied very seriously to me: "Because my secular surname is Xu!"

  The name Xudengcao is quite unusual, as it is a mixture of a common surname and a Buddhist name. Because of its uniqueness, it quickly caught the attention of several female members with slender figures and charming facial features. Of course, what ultimately won their favor was not the name Xudengcao itself, but rather Dengcao's robust physique.

  "Xu... Deng Cao? Hello, I'm Su Mei Li, may I sit down?" A woman wearing a cheongsam and with a decent temperament took the initiative to walk up to me and Deng Cao and introduced herself.

  "Sit down if you want to!" Deng Cao was a monk, and having been a monk for so long, he had gotten used to being straightforward. A monk who was used to being straightforward and didn't have any thoughts about women in his heart. He looked up at Su Meili, who was holding a glass of red wine beside him, and shifted his body inward, making room for her to sit down.

  "Alright, I'll just call you Deng Cao then! Deng Cao, which school did you graduate from? How can someone as young as you like traditional Chinese painting?" Although Deng Cao's build was sturdy and robust, the youthful appearance on his face couldn't deceive anyone, especially these women. In their eyes, men who liked traditional Chinese painting were mostly in their 40s, able to calm down, and had achieved a certain level of success in their careers. Only such people had the conditions to indulge in elegant pursuits.

  "He's at Harvard! He just runs out and wanders around whenever he has nothing to do, where are you beautiful?!" Deng Cao is really not good at dealing with women, he was stuck for half a day and couldn't come up with anything, so I just ended up bullshitting for him! As for Harvard, isn't Harbin Buddhist Academy okay? The abbreviation is also Harvard! Anyway, nobody here really digs deep, everyone meets and gets to know each other, if there's fate we'll have fun together, if not we'll just smile at each other. I have to say, I'm a precocious rascal."

  "Oh my god, I didn't expect that Lamp Grass would actually be studying at Harvard." After hearing my nonsense, Su Mei Li became even more enthusiastic.

  "What are you all talking about? Let me join in too!" It has to be said that Han Bangzheng is a very sociable person. With so many people present, he managed to not neglect anyone. Holding a cup of wine and shuttling between the men and women, he smiled and chatted with everyone. Seeing us seemingly deep in conversation, he directly joined in on the topic.

  "Just chat, President Han won't be interested!" Unexpectedly, Su Mei Li seemed unwelcoming to Han Bang Zhuan's arrival. This was already the second woman who showed disgust towards Han Bang Zhuan, the first being the one I met in the hotel corridor, who even advised me not to join Dan Qing Society.

  "Haha, you guys chat in that small building. I'll go over there to greet the guests." Han Bang didn't show any annoyance upon hearing this, and not even a hint of embarrassment appeared on his face. Instead, he patted my shoulder very naturally before turning around to leave. This man was becoming more and more mysterious in my heart.

  "Don't look at how he is now, who knows how many despicable things he's done behind people's backs! Let me tell you, whatever he says, just listen and don't take it to heart." After Han Bangzheng walked away, Su Meili raised her cup, took a sip of wine, and let out a soft sigh as she spoke to us.

  "Why say that?" I'm quite curious, it's not strange for someone to speak ill of him. But if many people keep speaking ill of him, then this person either has problems with his character or he really isn't a good thing. From my impression of Han Bangzheng, this person is still very good at getting along with others.

  "Earlier, when Dan Qing had just opened, I joined with a few close girlfriends. On the one hand, I wanted to improve my painting skills, and on the other hand, I also wanted to make more friends. At first, like you guys, I had a very good impression of Han Bangzheng. I thought he was a perfect man." Su Meili smiled lightly, raised her glass for a sip, and slowly reminisced.

  "What happened afterwards?" I felt that something must have happened afterwards, which made this woman see through Han Bangzheng completely.

  "One day, I got up very early. When I opened the curtains, I saw my best sister squatting on the lawn under my house. She was just squatting there, wearing only a nightgown." Su Mei's eyes dropped two tears. I knew she had fallen into her memories and was organizing her words for the next narrative. So, I exchanged a glance with Deng Cao, neither of us interrupting her. Even Deng Xin was quietly nestled in his chair at this moment.

  I brought my good sister upstairs and as soon as we entered the house, I asked her what had happened. She just said that she had misjudged Han Bangzheng, he was a devil, and then fainted. After waking up, she became silent and taciturn. No matter what I asked, she just shook her head and didn't speak. Soon after, my friend went abroad. She left in a hurry, without even saying goodbye. Su Meili picked up the red wine on our table, poured herself a glass, and drank it all at once. It could be seen that she felt very sad about her best friend's sudden departure.

  "So, you two haven't been in touch since then?" I took over the wine bottle and refilled Su Meili's cup as I asked her.

  "No, even the news of her going abroad was told to me by her parents. I had already left this place a long time ago, but I couldn't bear it. I must investigate what Han Bangzheng did to my good sister, so that she had to escape abroad." Su Meili slammed the wine glass on the table and said with a burst of wine breath.

  "But aren't you afraid that we'll tell Han Bangzheng about what you've just told us?" I put down the knife and fork in my hand, and looked up to ask Su Meili. I didn't understand why this woman was so open with us as soon as they met.

  "Actually, is Lamp Grass a monk or what? A monk, how can he wear Armani suits to join the National Painting Society? Doesn't this make people feel very strange? So I think, you two joining must have some ulterior motive. Since you also have intentions for Dan Qing Society, maybe we can cooperate?" Su Mei Li said with a hint of complacency in her eyes, looking at Lamp Grass with a smile.

  "How did you find out he's a monk?" I asked the woman, my heart tightening. If Lamp Grass being a monk got to Han Bangzhuan's ears, everything we'd done so far would be for nothing.

  "There's a temple-like scent on him, the smell of sandalwood!" Su Meili narrowed her eyes and brought her nose close to Langcai's body, sniffing from top to bottom. After a while, she said in a very intoxicated tone.

  "My mother is a Buddhist, and every day at home she chants sutras and worships Buddha. Gradually, I became very sensitive to the smell of incense, and I also grew to like it!" Su Meili half-closed her eyes, stretching out her fingers to slide along the light head of the lamp grass.

  "Aren't you afraid? We'll kill you and silence you!" Dēng Cǎo slapped away the woman's hand that was sliding across his forehead, asking her with a furious gaze.

  "Don't worry! From the way you look at me, I know you won't do anything to me. Let's cooperate, you're new here and Han Bangzheng will definitely be on guard against you. But I'm different, I've been here for a long time. And haven't you noticed that Han Bangzheng is interested in me? As long as I nod my head, I can get some information that you'll never know." Su Meili said slowly shaking her head.

  "What you're doing may lead to failure, and the cost of failure might be your life! Is it worth it for a friend?" I looked at Su Meili, still somewhat disbelieving her.

  "It's worth it, because I love her!" Then Su Meili gave a reason that left me speechless!

  Things went on like this. After Sumieli reached an agreement with us, she left with a swinging motion of her waist. A few minutes later, I and Dengcao saw her holding a wine glass, standing beside Han Bangzheng and chatting with him warmly. The two people were talking and laughing, just like lovers in a passionate love affair.

  "It's settled, he invited me to Danqing Society tonight! If you're interested, just follow us and take a look. Who knows, we might gain something unexpected?" Su Meili said softly behind us while everyone was waiting for the elevator after the dinner party.

  "What time?" I didn't turn around, just raised my head and softly asked at the elevator entrance.

  "Midnight 12 o'clock!" Su Mei's voice came from behind me.

  "Take this, if you encounter any danger, tear it open!" I fished out a paper crane folded from yellow paper from my pocket and handed it to Sumi's palm.

  This is a talisman, a six-ding protective charm that I spent all night drawing. Originally, I was going to keep it for myself in case of an emergency, but somehow I feel that Sumi will encounter some danger tonight, and she needs this talisman more than I do.

  "What did you stuff into that woman?" Lianzhen asked me as we walked out of the hotel's gate.

  "It's just a talisman, but it might save her life at a critical moment! I've always felt that Han Bangzheng isn't so simple. Perhaps the thing lurking within Jingxiang originated from him." I turned my head to look at Su Meili standing by the roadside, flagging down cars, and said to Dengcao.

  "How wonderful! Saving one life is like building a seven-story pagoda. Elder brother, your merits are boundless!" Lamp Grass finished speaking and joined his palms together in respect towards me. However, the white Armani suit paired with Lamp Grass's dignified and majestic appearance made me feel an increasingly strange sensation.

  "Go and get ready, let's see the true face of this Han Bangzheng tonight!" I hailed a taxi and said to Lian Cao.