Palo Alto, San Francisco. Chen Qing, Lin Su, Emmanuel Brandt, chairwoman of Skobel, and Charlotte Brenita, who had recently met Simon in Ukraine, arrived at Simon's mansion nestled in the Woodside hills. It was a sunny afternoon on November 25, a Saturday.
Despite winter approaching in many parts of the Northern Hemisphere, San Francisco, with its Mediterranean climate, remained warm and pleasant. The temperature hovered around 20 degrees Celsius, considered the ideal temperature for human comfort.
Simon wasn't in the villa when the four women arrived. Led by a maid, they made their way through the house to the backyard.
As they approached, the soft, soothing sound of a piano reached their ears. Rounding a hedge of holly, they came upon a serene corner of the lawn, with the mansion's swimming pool to the east and towering trees shading the west and south. The afternoon sunlight filtered through the leaves, casting a dreamlike glow on the scene.
Adding to the "dreamy" atmosphere was a large, oval-shaped daybed placed nearby. Its wicker-style base and white bed surface blended harmoniously with the surroundings. Lying in the middle was a man, surrounded by five young women lounging around him, their positions snug but not crowded.
Next to the daybed was a small table filled with fruit and drinks. Three more women sat on the grass, ready to attend to any requests. On one side of the bed, a woman played a black piano, and in front of the bed, another woman in a white leotard performed an impromptu ballet, moving gracefully to the soft piano melody.
The scene exuded a sense of elegance and tranquility, the dancer's movements akin to a swan—gliding, spreading wings, grooming feathers—evoking both solitude and grace.
The four women recognized that many of the people around Simon were Victoria's Secret models or at least professional models. For example, the blonde by the table was clearly Eva Herzigova, this year's new Victoria's Secret ambassador.
Among the four visitors, only the six-foot-one, red-haired Emmanuel Brandt could rival the women around Simon in terms of stature and beauty.
The maid whispered something to Simon, then left. Simon lifted his head slightly and beckoned the women to come closer.
Faced with such an extravagant scene, the four women exchanged glances. Was this walking into the lion's den?
Despite some hesitation from Lin Su, the other three approached without much delay. Noticing Lin Su's reluctance, Chen Qing naturally took her arm and led her to the side of the bed. Simon gestured to two spots that had been made available beside him, though the five women on the bed had only snuggled closer together. Dressed lightly, their tangled forms added an air of sensuality to the atmosphere.
The two spaces beside Simon were clearly meant for someone. Without a second thought, Chen Qing took Lin Su to the other side of the bed, gently urging her onto it before slipping off her shoes and climbing in beside Simon herself.
Having just arrived from the chilly East Coast, Chen Qing had dressed warmly despite changing into lighter clothes after landing. Now that she was beside Simon, she shed her jacket, leaving just a snug-fitting wool sweater.
Simon wrapped an arm around Chen Qing's waist. Seeing Lin Su perched awkwardly at his feet, unwilling to leave yet too nervous to get closer, Simon signaled to two of the women nearby. They understood and helped pull Lin Su toward him, even helping her remove her jacket before settling her in Simon's arms.
Watching Lin Su's shy, flustered expression as she resisted and then gave in, Simon chuckled. His gaze turned to Yulia Shulshkina, the ballet dancer, and he recited softly in Chinese: "Her form is like a startled swan, her grace like a dragon in flight. She shines like autumn chrysanthemums, pure as spring pine. She floats like a cloud obscuring the moon, sways like a breeze blowing snow. From afar, she gleams like the morning sun; up close, she dazzles like a lotus in clear water."
He then looked down at Lin Su and asked, "Do you know what that is?"
Clearly uncomfortable with the close contact, Lin Su sat up awkwardly, surrounded by Simon and the other women. She heard the question but pretended not to care, turning her head away in defiance.
Chen Qing smiled and answered in Lin Su's stead, "If I'm not mistaken, that's The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess, right? Simon, I'm impressed you know that."
Simon nodded. "Since you two don't seem to know it well, let's make it a homework assignment. When you return to China, memorize The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess. When you come back, I'll test you."
Lin Su, confused, wondered if he was serious.
Chen Qing thought Simon was joking and playfully nudged him. "I'm really busy, you know. I don't have time for that. Lin's got more free time; she can memorize it for both of us."
Simon, enjoying her playful attitude, nodded. "Alright, Lin can memorize The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess, and as for you… let me think. How about The Art of War? Do you know that one?"
Chen Qing proudly responded, "I memorized it all back in middle school!"
"Then I'll give you something else. How about The Great Learning? It's the shortest of the Four Books."
Chen Qing admitted, "I don't know that one."
"Then you'll memorize The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess and The Great Learning," Simon decided.
Chen Qing blinked in surprise, unsure if he was serious. "Simon, you're not joking, are you?"
"If you can't memorize it, don't come back."
His tone was casual, but Chen Qing quickly realized he wasn't kidding. She wasn't sure how long The Great Learning was, but as one of the Four Books, it surely wasn't short. Even with her excellent memory, it would take time to memorize.
She dropped the playful tone, trying to negotiate. "Simon, how about I just memorize The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess like Lin?"
Simon smiled thoughtfully. "Let me think about it."
Chen Qing's eyes lit up with hope, but before she could react, Simon said, "Let's add The Doctrine of the Mean as well. The Rhapsody on the Luo River Goddess, The Great Learning, and The Doctrine of the Mean. If you don't finish, don't come back."
Chen Qing felt a wave of despair wash over her.
Simon pinched her cheek, grinning. "If I remember correctly, The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean together are only about 5,000 characters. In the Four Books, The Mencius has the most, over 30,000 characters. Should I…"
"I'll memorize it!" Chen Qing interrupted, clutching Simon's arm.
Satisfied, Simon let it go.
Still bewildered, Chen Qing reluctantly agreed, then asked softly, "Why are you suddenly making us memorize these?"
Simon looked at her. "When you see a foreigner mastering Chinese literature while you're only focused on learning English or French, neglecting your own cultural heritage, don't you feel ashamed?"
Chen Qing couldn't argue with that.
Who was the real Chinese person here?
Simon didn't push the point any further.
In his mind, he recalled the line "Though the mountains and rivers are different, we share the same moon and wind." That phrase had once left him feeling ashamed because, as a true son of China, he couldn't think of a comparable line to respond with.
As a whole, society seemed to be at a point where most people—from two-year-olds to college students—were spending an inordinate amount of time learning foreign languages, even though most would rarely use them after entering the workforce, while their own cultural roots were increasingly neglected.
The piano music stopped.
For a moment, there was silence.
Simon didn't ask the woman to continue playing. Instead, he began softly singing in Chinese, recalling a song from the movie Painted Skin: "When I left, the willows swayed. Now that I return, snow falls softly. Those who know me say my heart is heavy. Those who don't, ask what I seek. Those who know me, say my heart is heavy. Those who don't, ask what I seek…"
His voice, slightly raspy, floated through the air, blending with the afternoon light, carrying a faint melancholy.
Apart from Chen Qing and Lin Su, the other women couldn't understand the lyrics, yet they were entranced by the unique melody. On the lawn, Yulia Shulshkina effortlessly picked up Simon's rhythm and continued her graceful dance.
Lin Su, raised in a scholarly family, recognized that Simon had merged two separate poems from the Book of Songs, yet the combination felt seamless. She found herself drawn in, her earlier resistance to Simon fading. A part of her wanted to relax, as Chen Qing did, but she held onto a sliver of her dignity.
Still, deep down, Lin Su made a secret resolution. She would memorize The Great Learning and The Doctrine of the Mean too. No way could she let herself be outdone.
When Simon finished singing, he signaled for Yulia and the piano player to take a break. He remained reclined on the daybed, soaking in the dappled sunlight. Noticing Emmanuel Brandt and Charlotte Brenita standing behind him, he gestured for them to relax.
After giving instructions, Simon noticed Chen Qing's curiosity about the other women on the bed. Smiling, he
began introducing them in English, pointing behind Lin Su: "This is Heidi Klum and Daniela Pestova," then gesturing toward Chen Qing's side, "This is Yulia Antontyenko, Fernanda Lima, and Melania… uh, I forget her last name. She's from Eastern Europe, and you know, those Eastern European surnames can be tricky."
He then gestured toward the small table. "Over there, you'll find Eva Herzigova, Tricia Helfer, and Karen Mulder. You probably recognize most of them if you pay attention."
Chen Qing politely greeted the women one by one, while Lin Su, still feeling aggrieved, ignored the introductions and resolved not to speak to Simon for the next few minutes.
Simon, unfazed, turned to Chen Qing with a mischievous smile. "Guess which one of them isn't a model? If you guess right, there's a reward."
Chen Qing thought this was an easy question.
Without much hesitation, she ruled out most of them and focused on Yulia and Melania. She studied them briefly: one looked beautiful but lacked a certain aura, like a Cinderella fresh out of servitude. The other, reclining at Simon's feet, exuded an air of cool elegance but was clearly eager to please him.
Both had the looks and figures to be on a runway, but compared to supermodels like Eva Herzigova, they seemed lacking.
After some thought, Chen Qing pointed to Melania, thinking it couldn't be that simple.
Simon shook his head, smiling. "Sorry, wrong guess."
Unfazed, Chen Qing smiled. "Then it must be Yulia."
Simon nodded slightly before swiftly changing the subject. "That song just now reminded me of something. When you return to China, help me select some dancers, ones who can perform traditional Chinese dance. Just like when we were at the retreat in Yangshuo. Form a Chinese classical dance troupe called 'Guofeng' and choreograph dances based on the Book of Songs for me to enjoy."
Chen Qing nodded and teased, "Are you planning to 'abandon your duties as emperor'?"
"Yes, I am," Simon joked, then added more seriously, "Most Western dances are meant for participation and lack visual appeal. I'm not a big fan of ballet either. But traditional Chinese dance is different; it's meant to be watched. And it's best when performed by many dancers together—water sleeves, gauzy robes, graceful movements…"
Lin Su, listening, felt an urge to leave again.
The absurdity of this man!
Chen Qing, on the other hand, was taking the task seriously. "How many dancers do you want?"
"100," Simon said. "Pick 100 girls. Oh, and they all need to have melon-shaped faces like Lin Su. I like that look. You don't count."
Chen Qing feigned outrage. "Well then, let Lin do the picking for you!"
Simon just laughed. "You'll have a $10 million budget for this. So make sure you pick the best, and you're not allowed to delegate. You have to choose them yourself. There's no rush. Chinese New Year is coming up, so you'll have more time during the holidays."
Chen Qing was taken aback. "$10 million? That's a lot. Aren't you worried I'll pocket some of it?"
"That's a valid concern. Lin Su can manage the accounts."
Chen Qing regretted speaking up immediately.
Seeing her expression, Simon laughed. "The $10 million is just for selecting the dancers. You'll also need to hire choreographers and musicians to form a complete team. Think of it as a test for you."
Chen Qing agreed, already mentally listing the top art schools in China. "Where will they stay after we pick them?"
"Bring them to the U.S., of course. How else would I watch?"
Chen Qing smiled mischievously. "That makes things easier. But, Simon, you'll need to help with the visas. And if they can get green cards, that would be even better."
At that time in China, the rush to emigrate hadn't slowed down. A U.S. green card was highly coveted, and working for Simon Westeros would only make it more desirable.
Simon understood Chen Qing's thoughts. "None of that will be a problem. You can work it out with A."
Lin Su, overhearing the conversation, couldn't help but silently fume.
This guy…
After discussing the details of the dance troupe for a while, Chen Qing finally brought up the reason for her visit. "Simon, did you look over the proposal I sent about starting a computer company in China? What do you think?"
Simon shook his head. "Not great."
Chen Qing nodded slightly, patiently waiting for him to elaborate.
_________________________
[Check out my Patreon for +200 additional chapters in all my fanfics! $5 for all!!]
[w w w . p a t r e o n .com / INNIT]
[+50 PowerStones = +1 Chapter] [+5 Reviews = +1 Chapter]