Chapter 38: The Deputy Chairman

Xiao Chen had sat at many tables with frightened men, and he knew the look of one.

Tonight he saw it on his husband.

Shen Yan sat beside him with the soup steaming untouched and his hands white in his lap.

The long table at Cedar Hill was set for five.

Mr. Shen sat at the head in his dark suit, stiff and watchful.

The old secretary sat on the left, and Xiao Chen beside Shen Yan on the right.

Across from them the fifth chair held the deputy chairman of Shen Group.

Gu Zhengnan came in with a gift and a smile.

He was a heavy man in a grey coat, with thinning silver hair and a slow, kind face.

He carried a flat white box in both hands.

"Yan," he said warmly. "How you've grown."

He held out both hands.

"I carried you on my shoulders at your tenth birthday. Do you remember?"

"I remember," said Shen Yan.

His voice was flat. Xiao Chen had heard him lie before, and he knew this was one.

Gu turned to the old secretary and clasped his hands.

"My dear friend. Your back is better? You've been standing too long for this family."

"It is much better, sir," said the old secretary, and flushed with pleasure.

"Good. Good. I won't have you ill."

Gu set the white box on the table.

"A small thing for the little ones."

Shen Yan lifted the lid.

Inside, on white tissue, lay a silver rattle with a tiny bell in its handle.

It was beautiful. The silver was soft and old, with a fine curl of leaves round the neck.

"I have kept it for many years," Gu said. "I'd like it to go to a child."

"Thank you," said Shen Yan, and his mouth went tight on the last word.

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