CHAPTER 284: CHAPTER 86: GUNS AND MEN (PART 2)

Pello listened, his eyebrows slightly shifting, yet he still nodded in agreement.

The cell phone started ringing. Pello checked it; it was Su Ziceng calling.

"Pello, have you finished everything over there? I’ve booked my return flight to Mo City for the day after tomorrow," on the other end of the phone, Su Ziceng’s voice sounded like a machine gun loaded with bullets, firing away rapidly.

Pello glanced at the elderly man, who also appeared weary and leaning on the sofa. Speaking alone was physically taxing for a nonagenarian.

It wasn’t clear what specific progress Su Ziceng had made today, or whether Su Qingzhang had called to rush her again, making her so eager to rush back to Mo City. After visiting her grandfather’s grave and meeting old friends, Pello had indeed finished all his tasks, "Okay," Pello briefly spoke a few more words and then hung up the phone.

"Look at me, an old man babbling and causing delay," the elderly man opened his eyes, saw the smile involuntarily appearing on Pello’s lips, and began to see off his guest.

The elderly man was very thoughtful and specifically assigned Xiao Liu, the previous attendant, to escort Pello to the hotel.

When getting off the car, Xiao Liu took out a pass from the car, "This is from the commander, meant for you. It is a pass that allows free entry in and out of the military area. The commander welcomes you to visit anytime," saying this, he gave a proper military salute and then drove away in the large military Jeep.

Unexpectedly, Su Ziceng arrived back even later than Pello. From the airport, Su Ziceng didn’t even wait to dust off the snow on her hair and body before finding Pello.

Compared to the melancholy of the past few days, today, Su Ziceng from head to toe, especially in her eyes, radiated joy. She hadn’t yet recovered from the previous matter of "Green Hedge Tiles," and even at dinner, she was foolishly smiling.

"The trip to Bianjing City was so worth it," while eating the traditional Hang style dishes, Su Ziceng swallowed a piece of Gulu meat, not to mention devouring various delicacies, she had also stumbled upon a big business deal.

Pello didn’t eat much, simply watching Su Ziceng eat was a kind of enjoyment. Eating was a meaningful act for Su Ziceng; she would stuff her face while lamenting "death by obesity."

"That’s good, you don’t look fat at all," Pello recalled seeing Su Ziceng without her coat earlier, her body well-proportioned, the areas that should be plump and those that should not were distinctly clear.

"I had a period of self-abandonment, later on..." Su Ziceng almost blurted out about the liposuction surgery that slimmed her down. It all started after her marriage, as Hang Yishao’s repeated infidelities and the Chang’s mother and daughter’s ridicule made her originally normal frame swell like an overinflated balloon.

"With slight diet control, you could try horseback riding. Wen Maixue maintains her figure by horseback riding," Pello spoke matter-of-factly; besides dancing, Wen Maixue maintained her figure through horseback riding. Being a horse riding instructor, he knew well the benefits of horseback riding, giving the whole body workout and burning excess calories.

Su Ziceng’s cheeks stopped working as she gazed at the enticing "Crab Meat Lion’s Head" on her plate, her eyes mournful before she sighed and put it down. Seeing her expression, Pello pretended to turn his head away, looking at the snow drifting outside, though his trembling shoulders gave it all away.

"Did you go somewhere today?" When Su Ziceng came seeking Pello, he was staring blankly at a black box, something she hadn’t seen in his luggage earlier.

"I went to see an old acquaintance," pondering the conversation with the elderly man today, Pello felt a stir in his heart. Everything today seemed so coincidental, and the handgun was undoubtedly meant to be passed down to him by his grandfather, "And I had an unexpected gain."

Su Ziceng was just a table away from him, her glistening black eyes, slightly pouting lips, and the tip of her nose sweaty from the hot food, all within reach.

Her loose hair and the fair skin under her black sweater exuded a boundless vitality.

"And you?" Pello’s gaze lingered on Su Ziceng’s eyes, seeing a clear face through her pupils, smiling, his own face.

"Me too." Su Ziceng couldn’t eat the dishes, just ladled some soup. A pot of precious mushroom chicken soup, just looking at the layer of oil on the surface made her hesitate again.

Pello served her a bowl, skimmed off the excess fat on top with a spoon, and passed it to her.

Su Ziceng’s face flushed, and she thought to herself: "After knowing Pello for so long, his occasional tenderness and gentleness still scare me, really useless." In fact, Su Ziceng had also thought, being a 35-year-old, her body was mature enough, and she was trying hard to mature mentally, how could she not resist the temptation of such a "youngster" like Pello.

But still, she let out a silent sigh and began drinking the soup.

"Could it be that you found a good auction item today?" Pello discerned some clues from her demeanor.

"It’s a secret for now, I can only tell you, my auction item for at least the first auction is fine," Su Ziceng finished drinking the soup, "But I might need your help at that time."

Pello was a bit puzzled, his help?

"Yes, if this auction is successful, I’ll need your help even more in the future." Su Ziceng had made up her mind; she didn’t want to give away her advantage too soon, but it was still better to inform Pello beforehand.

Today, from Director Luo, Su Ziceng not only sourced a batch of auction items, more importantly, she had already paved the way for the future supply of goods for Subi Auction House. She was determined not only to make Subi Auction House stable domestically, but also to take it to the international stage. (To be continued. If you like this work, please come to Qidian (qidian.com) to vote for recommendation tickets and monthly tickets. Your support is my greatest motivation.)