Chen An knew that he couldn’t possibly keep living with Chen Yang like this indefinitely.
His actions from here forth would be none that Chen Yang, an ordinary civilian, could understand. He had seen the books and result slips in Chen Yang’s room. With his capabilities, finding a good job in Shanghai would definitely not be an issue; and then just like an ordinary person, Chen Yang can live out the rest of his life peacefully.
When he return from Vietnam, Chen An will cut Chen Yang completely out of his life.
Leaving a short note to Chen Yang, Chen An left with a small luggage to the airport.
______________________
The world is so big. Countless of planes take flight and descend in Shanghai everyday but as fates would have it, he unexpectedly encountered an ‘old friend’.
After he found his seat in First class, Chen An changed on his slippers and started to indulge in the book he retrieved from his bag. He never liked having people sitting beside him so he took care to book two plane tickets. Hence, while he claimed the window seat, the seat near the aisle was empty.
'I know that book. It’s 'Tao Te Ching’ by Laozi*. How interesting, I have a very special friend who enjoys this book as well.’
With such fluent mandarin, one would immediately assume that the speaker is a native Chinese if they didn’t see his face. But to Chen An, this voice is far too familiar. He didn’t even need to raise his head to know that the owner of this voice is a blonde from Russia.
Ivanov. Goddamn Ivanov. Why of all people must he meet this troublesome fellow?
If he wasn’t Chen An but Chen Zhang An, he would have revealed a kindly smile. He would then taken a White rabbit creamy candy** from his pocket and say, 'Little Ivan has grown so big. Does he still want uncle’s candy?’
Compared to Ivanov, Chen An far prefer to work with Ivanov’s father.
At the very least, Ivanov’s father is a typical Soviet man with principals and even some stubbornness. As for Ivanov, he is a poisonous snake buried hidden under the snow, posed to bite at any moment.
Chen An pretended not to hear him. He didn’t even bother to raise his head to acknowledge the poisonous snake that had coincidentally boarded the same flight as him but simply continued to read his book.
’Woah, this is certainly interesting. You are even behaving just like him, ever so cold to me.’
Following those strange words, Chen An felt someone settling into the seat beside him. Instantly he said bitingly, 'That seat is taken.’
'I’ll leave when that person arrives.’ Ivanov answered easily.
'I’ve book that seat do you understand? I don’t like having people sitting in my seat so stay away from me.’ Closing his book, Chen An tilted his head to send the detestable man beside him an icy sharp look.
But if looks could kill, Ivanov would have died several times every single day.
'A bad temper, a dislike towards people sitting beside him and even those sharp eyes. To be honest, if it wasn’t for my friend’s and your appearance…’ Ivanov gave Chen An a penetrating once-over. With a deliberately disdainful and teasing look, he snorted and laughed, 'The difference is really too much…’
Resisting the impulse to bash the other man’s face in with his book, Chen An gestured for the air stewardess to come over. But before she could, Ivanov had wisely returned to his own seat chuckling.
Chen An didn’t take Ivanov’s words to heart. Even if matters were exactly like Ivanov said: his personality, behavior and even his habits were identical to the past, but with his different looks as well as age, it is more than enough.
No normal person would ever think that he is Chen Zhang An.
Ignoring Ivanov’s measuring gaze, Chen An continued to read his book but his mind had drifted elsewhere. He was pondering the reason as to why Ivanov is heading to Vietnam.
This is China. Ivanov still isn’t bold enough to deal in arms here directly. Perhaps he is working with the military?
But to Chen An’s knowledge, for years, due to the western arms embargo on China, there had been many smalltime dealers who acted as intermediaries to smuggle weapons in to China from the various European countries.
But in the recent two years, China had been advancing in arms development at a rapid pace. The majority of the new weaponry developed are on par and some even superior in quality compared with exports. Hence, even incidents of smugglers who ignored the embargo to bring in new exotic European models to sell to China had reduced significantly.
But that does not mean that dealings under the table no longer exist.
Should he get closer to Ivanov to find out?
Chen An immediately vetoed that thought. The time isn’t ripe yet.