Chapter Thirteen: Zhu Lan, Who Tasted Swan’s Meat

Zhu Lan had spent three days exploring S City. During her school years, she often visited this city, especially when she was with Tang Xuejian. Sometimes, when school was out, neither Zhu Lan nor Tang Xuejian went home, preferring to savor their world of two.

At the S City amusement park, Zhu Lan gazed at the place—so familiar, yet somehow strange. “How did I end up here?” With nothing to occupy her, Zhu Lan wandered aimlessly, not knowing where her feet would take her. When she finally snapped out of her reverie, she was already at the entrance to the amusement park.

Bang—

Suddenly, a collision jolted her. Zhu Lan steadied herself and looked down to see a little girl of about six years old, sprawled on the ground, her face twisted in pain.

“Are you alright?” Zhu Lan bent down to help her up.

“Waaah—strange uncle, mommy!” Before Zhu Lan could even touch her, the girl cried out loudly.

The amusement park was always crowded, even outside peak hours. The girl’s shriek drew instant attention.

Zhu Lan, who had just reached out, now felt awkward—should she help or not?

“Waaah!” Perhaps the pain from hitting the ground overwhelmed her, and the girl began to sob in earnest.

“Sweetheart, what happened?” Just as Zhu Lan grew embarrassed, a young woman rushed over, gently lifted the little girl, comforted her, and checked for any injuries.

“Mommy, waaah, there’s a strange uncle here!” The girl wailed.

Zhu Lan rolled her eyes. Was he really to be called a creature?

But seeing the mother arrive, Zhu Lan decided to slip away.

“Thank—” The girl’s mother stood up, holding her daughter’s hand. As she looked up to thank Zhu Lan, she froze in place.

Zhu Lan looked curiously at the young mother, waved off her thanks, and was about to leave.

“Zhu Lan?” Suddenly, someone called her name.

Zhu Lan stopped, surprised that someone recognized her. She had left S City nearly five years ago.

When she saw the smiling mother, Zhu Lan hesitated. “Do we know each other?”

“Old classmates, forgotten so soon? Oh right, it’s been over five years. No wonder. If you hadn’t kept the same look, I wouldn’t have recognized you.” The woman smiled as she sized Zhu Lan up.

Classmate? Five years? University? Zhu Lan searched her memory but could not recall the woman before her. She was strikingly beautiful, tall at about one meter seventy-five, with long hair. On a scale of a hundred, she could easily score eighty-three—definitely a beauty.

Though Zhu Lan only had eyes for Tang Xuejian in university, he was sure he’d have remembered someone this attractive.

“I’m sorry, I really can’t remember who you are,” Zhu Lan said, unable to match her face to any memory.

The woman smiled. “I’m Xu Qian. Do you still remember the ‘toad’ nickname?”

Zhu Lan’s face stiffened. Toad—no one had called him that in ages.

Indeed, Zhu Lan was a toad, but a toad who’d tasted swan meat.

Tang Xuejian was the most beautiful girl at S City University in the past decade. Pursued by droves, Zhu Lan—against all odds—won her heart. It was a classic case of the toad eating the swan.

The boys called Zhu Lan pretty boy, lucky dog, but the girls had many nicknames for him, chief among them “toad.” It started as “ugly toad,” but eventually “toad” stuck.

That nickname followed Zhu Lan for three years, until graduation. Hearing it now from Xu Qian’s lips, Zhu Lan could only feel resigned.

Xu Qian? The name stirred vague memories. She’d been a tall girl in his class, always wearing thick glasses. In Zhu Lan’s recollection, Xu Qian was all about books—a true academic star—and her face had been covered in acne. But now, her skin was flawless, nothing like the Xu Qian of university days.

“So it’s you? Is this your daughter?” Zhu Lan asked with a wry smile.

Xu Qian laughed. “Sweetheart, call him big brother!”

“No, mommy, he’s a strange uncle! He’ll catch me!” The girl eyed Zhu Lan warily.

Zhu Lan looked at her helplessly. He hadn't done anything, yet she’d branded him a strange uncle.

“Let’s sit for a bit. There’s a café over there,” Xu Qian coaxed her daughter, who gradually relaxed her guard. She turned to Zhu Lan apologetically.

Zhu Lan nodded. It wasn’t a bad idea to chat with an old classmate, and he had nothing else to do.

“You seem to be doing well these years. You’re even more beautiful than in university. Who was lucky enough to marry you?” Zhu Lan complimented.

Xu Qian accepted the praise with a smile. “Actually, you know my husband, and you had a bit of a history with him.”

“Oh? Who is it?” Zhu Lan was curious. During four years at university, thanks to Tang Xuejian, Zhu Lan had made plenty of enemies—many from prominent families, in politics and business. Zhu Lan was just an ordinary person, from a fishing village with no notable ancestors.

“Rong Yun.”

“Him? Not bad! Looks like you can be a politician’s wife. I heard Rong Yun entered politics?” Xu Qian's face glowed with happiness and she nodded. “And you?” She didn’t mention her husband’s exact position.

Rong Yun: in university, he was a notorious romantic. His father was the mayor of the provincial capital, wielding great power. Zhu Lan had once been beaten by Rong Yun, but for reasons unknown, Rong Yun gave up pursuing Tang Xuejian. Back then, Zhu Lan didn’t understand, but he now suspected Tang Xuejian had intervened.

Thinking back, Zhu Lan realized how naïve he’d been in university, relying entirely on his girlfriend.

The thought of Tang Xuejian made Zhu Lan fall silent.

“Are you thinking of something? It’s alright, you’re still young,” Xu Qian comforted, assuming Zhu Lan hadn’t fared well these past years.

Xu Qian’s kindness had its reasons. Years ago, after a drunken night, Rong Yun had forced himself on Xu Qian. Xu Qian’s family was also influential, and so the two ended up together. If not for Zhu Lan and Tang Xuejian’s involvement with Rong Yun, which led to his drinking, their union might never have happened. As a campus news sensation, Zhu Lan and Tang Xuejian were well known to Xu Qian.

Moreover, Rong Yun had been one of Tang Xuejian’s major pursuers. It was clear to Xu Qian that the incident was caused by Tang Xuejian. At first, she resented Zhu Lan and Tang Xuejian, but as she lived with Rong Yun, she gradually let it go—and now, she even felt grateful to them.

That was why Xu Qian chatted with Zhu Lan.

Her daughter munched on a delicious cake, watching the strange conversation between her mother and this “strange uncle.”

Zhu Lan shook his head. “No, just remembering old times.”

“I’m sorry,” Xu Qian understood and apologized.

Zhu Lan waved it off. “No need. It’s the truth. Let the past be past.”

Since Zhu Lan did not wish to discuss it, Xu Qian said no more.

“By the way, why are you in S City? I remember you were with…” Xu Qian paused, realizing what she was about to say.

She looked nervously at Zhu Lan, whose face betrayed nothing. “How are things with her? Did you marry?”

She meant Qin Sisi. As a major figure in S City University news, Zhu Lan’s decision to follow Qin Sisi back to her hometown after graduation had shocked many.

Zhu Lan shook his head. “We broke up. Harsh reality led her to choose a more suitable path.”

Xu Qian fell silent, shaking her head in resignation. “How could that be? Qin Sisi wasn’t that kind of person.”

“Let’s not talk about her. You're doing well, settling into family life. I wish you happiness.”

Xu Qian nodded. “Do you have any plans? If you don’t have a job, I can ask Rong Yun to help…”

Before she could finish, Zhu Lan interrupted. “Thank you, but I’m starting my own business. I’m in S City for work, still young enough to make something happen.”

“I see. Entrepreneurship is good. I wanted to try it myself, but Rong Yun wouldn’t allow it.”

Zhu Lan and Xu Qian chatted for over two hours in the café. In the end, Zhu Lan met Rong Yun, who had come to pick up Xu Qian. Rong Yun was no longer the arrogant figure from university; instead, he was friendly and even invited Zhu Lan to dinner at their home.

Zhu Lan declined, and Rong Yun didn’t press. He simply handed Zhu Lan a business card, saying he could help if anything came up—S City was a place where connections mattered.

That, Zhu Lan did not refuse.

“Hey, where are you?” came a voice.

“At the amusement park, teacher, about the matter…”

“Come to me, I’ll take you to meet someone.”

“Alright, teacher.”

Back at the university, Zhu Lan saw Qin Min waiting downstairs, beside a Volkswagen.

“Get in. We’ll talk when we get there,” said Qin Min.

Zhu Lan nodded, sensing what was coming.

The car left the university and Qin Min remained silent, driving north.

As they left the city, the tall buildings dwindled, replaced by clusters of residential complexes.

At last, the car pulled into a heavily guarded neighborhood. Zhu Lan glanced out the window—it wasn’t a new development, but had some age to it. He noticed many guards and sensed something significant. His suspicions were nearly confirmed.

They stopped in front of an old building. Zhu Lan got out and surveyed the surroundings.

“Mind your words inside. Answer only what you’re asked. I can only help you this far,” Qin Min cautioned.

Zhu Lan nodded and followed Qin Min inside.

The house was laid out in the style of the 1980s—old, but not without elegance. In the living room, two elderly people sat.

Though dressed in ordinary home clothes, Zhu Lan felt an overwhelming pressure, making it hard to breathe.

People of power.

Those words flashed through Zhu Lan’s mind. He immediately understood: these two elders were part of the power elite. The aura they had cultivated over years of authority was not something he could withstand.