Chapter 54 Epilogue (1) The gatekeeper doesn't need a name, he only needs...
On the eve of the Lunar New Year, the glow of the streetlights pierced through the snow, spreading warm yellow hues across the ground, creating a hazy effect against the cold white of the world.
Inside a private room at a private club.
The charcoal fire in the copper pot was burning brightly, the clear broth was bubbling with heat, and white steam rose up, carrying the aroma of meat and blurring the faces of those clinking glasses.
Wen Chen sat in the main seat, his fingertips holding a thin, translucent white porcelain wine cup. Steam rose from the cup, turning his fingertips a faint pink. He barely touched his chopsticks, a gentle smile playing on his lips as he listened to the design director, Lao Zhang, emboldened by alcohol, boasting about the highlights of the last project.
The chair beside him shifted, and a peeled deep-sea langoustines, exuding a sweet aroma, were placed on the bone plate in front of him. Gu Moheng withdrew his hand, his long eyelashes drooping slightly, and slowly wiped his slender fingers with a wet wipe, his expression still as cold as ever.
This table was filled with longtime employees who had worked for Wen Chen for several years. They were already used to this "capital-backed" and powerful CEO Gu. Everyone knew that this financial tycoon, who had returned from Wall Street, always exuded an unconscious sense of steadiness when he was around Wen Chen. Privately, some people even made bets on how long he could maintain this docile demeanor in front of Engineer Wen.
"Buzz—"
The phone on the table vibrated, but the sound was so faint that it was almost negligible amidst the noisy clinking of glasses and laughter.
Wen Chen glanced at the screen. It was an email written entirely in English, with the sender's name clearly listed as the organizing committee of a top international architecture award. His pupils contracted slightly, then quickly regained their composure.
"What's wrong?" Gu Moheng's perception was far beyond that of ordinary people. The moment his eyes changed, he turned to the side, his warm breath brushing against his earlobe as he asked in a low voice.
Wen Chen pushed the phone in front of him.
Gu Moheng glanced at it, his steady fingers suddenly paused, and then he looked up at Wen Chen with a huge surprise in his eyes.
"We've made it to the finals?" Gu Moheng's voice was a little tense, even more excited than when he had negotiated the multi-billion dollar acquisition deal. This question instantly silenced the previously noisy private room.
Dozens of eyes turned to look at them.
Wen Chen picked up his wine glass and took a sip. The mellow aroma of the wine melted on his tongue. His tone was calm, but he couldn't hide the smile in his eyes: "Yes, I just received the notification that I've been shortlisted for this year's 'Golden Ruler' Award."
"Holy crap!" Old Zhang was the first to jump up from his seat, instantly sobering up considerably, his voice rising eight octaves. "The Golden Ruler? That so-called Oscar of the architecture world, the bellwether?"
The cheers instantly lifted the roof off. Everyone knows that the "Golden Ruler" award is the highest honor in the architecture world. It is not only the highest recognition of professional ability, but also the best medal for Wen Chen's struggle to move forward in the face of difficulties and rebuild himself from the ruins over the past eight years.
Everyone took turns offering toasts, showering her with compliments. Wen Chen was never good at refusing, but every time she raised her glass to her lips, a large hand would snatch it away halfway.
Gu Moheng took all the drinks for him, one after another, without hesitation. A slight flush of drunkenness gradually appeared on his usually cold face, but his sharp eyes grew brighter and brighter, like clinging vines, tightly wrapped around Wen Chen.
After several rounds of drinks, the atmosphere became extremely lively.
Wen Chen looked at the group of companions who had stayed up countless nights with him, then turned to look at the man beside him who was serving him soup. Gu Moheng's tie was loose, his shirt collar was slightly open, revealing a section of his collarbone, and his elite mask cracked under the influence of alcohol, revealing a silly yet pure joy.
"Quiet down." Wen Chen picked up his chopsticks and gently tapped the rim of his wine glass.
The private room fell silent again, and everyone looked at him with anticipation in their eyes.
Gu Moheng also stopped what he was doing, holding the bowl of freshly served pork rib soup in his hand, the soup steaming hot, his eyes gentle, waiting for Wen Chen to speak.
"Besides the awards nominations, there's something else I need to announce." Wen Chen put down his chopsticks and placed his hands on the table, folded over each other.
"The studio will be reorganized after the New Year."
The air seemed to freeze for a moment, and the smiles on everyone's faces faded slightly.
Old Zhang asked cautiously, "Boss, are we going to lay off employees?"
"No layoffs, just expansion." Wen Chen's gaze swept over everyone, finally landing on Gu Moheng's profile, a smile in his eyes. "In the next phase, we will engage in deep collaboration with Mosheng Capital to establish a joint design firm."
"So... what's the name of the new office?" the administrative assistant asked curiously.
The heating in the private room was so strong that it made me feel slightly tipsy and my cheeks were burning.
Wen Chen reached out and gently hooked Gu Moheng's little finger under the table. He faced the crowd, a very faint and gentle smile playing on his lips.
“MoChen Atelier”.
The "Mo" in Mo Sheng, and the "Chen" in Wen Chen.
A few seconds later, a burst of enthusiastic cheers erupted, almost lifting the ceiling off the building. Old Zhang slammed his fist on the table, exclaiming, "Amazing!"
Gu Moheng slammed the bowl down on the table with a clatter, spilling a few drops of soup onto the tablecloth. He seemed stunned by this huge surprise, sitting there blankly, his chest heaving violently, his Adam's apple bobbing up and down several times, but he couldn't utter a sound.
The person who cruelly pushed Wen Chen away so as not to be a burden to him, the person who spent countless sleepless nights filled with regret.
Finally, we've got this "Mo Chen" in our hearts, and this open and aboveboard partnership.
Looking at him like this, Wen Chen lightly scratched his palm with her fingertips, a hint of teasing in her eyes: "President Gu, aren't you going to say something?"
Gu Moheng suddenly stood up. Standing over 1.8 meters tall under the light, his eyes were slightly red. "Thank you, Wen Chen, for giving me this opportunity."
-
The river wind, carrying the damp, cold smell of dust, poured into the factory buildings with unsealed windows.
Wen Chen pulled the cashmere scarf up to cover half of her face, leaving only her bright eyes visible.
This area is an old industrial site, with mottled red bricks covered by withered vines, and exposed steel bars exposed to the cold wind, as hard as an unsharpened knife.
"It's so cold." A warm cashmere coat was draped over his head. Gu Moheng frowned, ignoring the dusty construction site, and reached out to push him behind a pillar to shelter him from the wind.
Wen Chen blocked it with his hand, his eyes sweeping over indifferently: "President Gu, this is a construction site, not your president's office."
Gu Moheng's hand froze in mid-air, his Adam's apple bobbing. He awkwardly withdrew his hand, only daring to drape his coat over Wen Chen's shoulders, his fingers taking the opportunity to rub Wen Chen's earlobe, which was red from the cold.
"I'm afraid you'll get cold."
Wen Chen ignored his show of weakness, wrapped her coat tighter, and walked inside, stepping on the gravel. The soles of her leather shoes crunched over the gravel, the sound echoing in the empty factory.
This is the location of their joint studio, and the cornerstone for starting all over again.
“This load-bearing column cannot be moved.” Wen Chen stopped in front of a rusty I-beam, his fingertips lightly tracing the rough surface through his glove.
Gu Moheng immediately pulled out the small notebook that seemed out of place with his bespoke suit and began to jot down notes.
“Okay, leave it alone.” He paused, then added, “The construction team originally said it would look better if it were wrapped up…”
“Exposed.” Wen Chen interrupted him, turned around, and said with a hooked gaze, “Preserve the original texture of the skin.”
Gu Moheng's hand, which was writing, suddenly stopped, the pen tip tearing through the paper. He looked up at Wen Chen, a hint of surprise flashing in his eyes, then nodded emphatically: "I'll listen to you."
Wen Chen turned and walked towards the tall, gray wall to the south. The light here was excellent; the winter sun pierced the murky air like a sharp sword, and dust particles danced in the beams of light. He squinted and drew a huge rectangle in the air with his hand.
"here."
Gu Moheng followed closely behind, but his gaze did not fall on the area he was gesturing to. Instead, it was fixed on Wen Chen's wind-blown hair, and he wished he could reach out and straighten it for him.
"What should we put? A huge logo?" Gu Moheng asked tentatively, trying to keep up with his train of thought.
"Vulgar." Wen Chen turned around, glanced at him expressionlessly, but her eyes held a smile.
Gu Moheng immediately shut up and, taking advantage of the situation, chimed in, "It is indeed tacky. My taste is terrible, so you're the one who decides."
Wen Chen sighed helplessly; this person's will to survive was outrageously strong.
“Make a display shelf, the kind that goes all the way to the ceiling.” Wen Chen gestured the height, his eyes showing a more focused light: “Put all the project models on it. Starting with ‘Homecoming’, and every one of them in the future.”
“Okay, I’ll have someone custom-make the best dustproof cabinet, with constant temperature and humidity, to absolutely protect your hard work.” Gu Moheng remembered very carefully. After writing it down, he paused and looked up at the large empty area next to him. “Leave another wall next to it.”
Wen Chen raised an eyebrow: "What?"
"Put your trophies on." Gu Moheng said matter-of-factly, his eyes filled with the pride that only showed when he looked at Wen Chen. "'Golden Ruler' is just the beginning. You will win more in the future, and that wall will be full sooner or later." He had even thought about the angle of the spotlights so that the trophies would shine in the best light.
Wen Chen's expression darkened slightly, and he turned to walk out.
Gu Moheng panicked and, disregarding everything else, rushed forward and grabbed his wrist.
"What's wrong?" Gu Moheng's voice was somewhat flustered, and his grip was so strong that Wen Chen felt a sharp pain. "What's wrong? Tell me, I'll change it, okay?"
Wen Chen stopped, turned around, and looked back.
The two stood amidst the swirling dust, their eyes meeting.
Wen Chen took a deep breath and said firmly, "Ours."
Gu Moheng was stunned, frozen in place like a slow-witted puppet: "What?"
"Those... are all filled with the stench of money and calculation, unworthy of your design." In Gu Moheng's mind, Wen Chen was a crane in the clouds, while he was a snake in the mud. A crane can come down, but a snake cannot coil around it and tarnish its feathers.
Wen Chen laughed in exasperation. He suddenly raised his hand and lightly slapped Gu Moheng's face. The sound was crisp, but not painful; it felt more like an affectionate punishment. "Mr. Gu, wake up."
Wen Chen's fingers slid down his jawline, finally stopping at his Adam's apple, and gently pressed it. "Without your money-grubbing, my design is just a piece of waste paper, unable to even lay a foundation."
"MoChen Atelier is indispensable."
-
The cold wind, carrying snowflakes, scraped down my neck like a knife, making my nose turn red from the cold.
At the entrance of the new workshop, two workers were carefully hanging the heavy bronze plaque on the wall, using a ladder. The electric drill whirred, and brass shavings flew everywhere.
Gu Moheng stood under the scaffolding, a few specks of dust and copper filings on his expensive cashmere coat, but he was completely unaware of them. His hawk-like eyes were fixed on the position of the bronze plaque, not letting go of even the slightest deviation.
"The left side is three millimeters higher." Gu Moheng said coldly, his voice not loud, but full of pressure.
The worker's hand trembled, and he almost twisted the screw crooked. Over the past few days, they'd come to realize that this Mr. Gu was practically a perfectionist, measuring even the gaps between floor tiles with calipers, not allowing the slightest carelessness.
Wen Chen stood to the side, holding a thermos in his hands. Steam escaped from the rim, blurring his features. He sighed helplessly, "That's enough. It's an antique style. It's not about achieving absolute perfection. Being too neat would ruin the charm."
He reached out and tugged at Gu Moheng's sleeve through his glove. Gu Moheng stiffened, his previously critical gaze softening instantly. He obediently shut his mouth, though his brows were still slightly furrowed, clearly still agonizing over that three-millimeter deviation.
The bronze plaque is finally hung up. On the antique brass base, two lines of minimalist Song typeface are engraved, with clean and crisp lines that exude a sense of sophistication.
The top row shows the studio's name: MoChen Atelier.
The bottom row lists the two people's names: Wen Chen & Gu Moheng.
They stand side by side, with the same font size.
Gu Moheng stared at the line of words for a long time, his brows furrowing more and more, and that awkward feeling returned.
"No." He suddenly spoke, his tone curt.
The workers, who were about to pack up their tools, were startled and looked at each other, wondering what their ancestor was up to now.
Wen Chen took a sip of hot water, the warmth sliding down his throat into his stomach. He looked up at Gu Moheng: "What is it now?"
"The order is wrong."
Gu Moheng pointed at the bronze plaque, his eyes very serious, his tone almost stubbornly insistent: "Your name should be put first, in a larger font size. Mine should be at the end, in half the font size, or you could just not engrave it at all. I don't care about that."
Wen Chen laughed in exasperation, stepped forward, and tapped the cold bronze plaque with her fingertip: "The legal documents state that we are 50/50 partners. Are you trying to evade responsibility by shortening the name?"
"No." Gu Moheng was anxious and grabbed Wen Chen's hand, which was still counting the bronze medals. "You know that's not what I meant." He lowered his head, his gaze falling on Wen Chen's slender fingers. "This firm is supported by your talent. Everyone is drawn to the 'Wen Chen' brand." Gu Moheng's voice lowered. "I just provided the money and did some mundane operations."
“You are the soul.” Gu Moheng raised his head, his eyes filled with piety: “I am merely the guardian of souls.” A gatekeeper does not need a name, only loyalty.
The cold wind howled, swirling up the withered leaves on the ground.
The arrogant business tycoon in front of him made Wen Chen suddenly wonder why this person was so stubborn.
"President Gu, don't underestimate yourself." Wen Chen put away his usual gentleness and pretended to be serious. "Without your operations and funding, my soul would starve."
He pointed to the names listed side by side on the bronze plaque, enunciating each word slowly and deliberately.
"Side by side means equality. Just like we are now."
After saying that, Wen Chen turned around, no longer looking at him, and waved to the workers: "Alright, that's enough, let's call it a day. Thank you all for your hard work."
The workers, feeling as if they had been granted a pardon, quickly packed up their tools and hurriedly left this "place of trouble."
Gu Moheng stood there, watching Wen Chen's back, then looked down at the bronze plaque. A smile slowly crept onto his lips, and the stubbornness in his eyes gradually faded, leaving only tenderness and satisfaction.
-
The following day, the eve of the opening.
The wind by the river had stopped, and the moon peeked out from behind the clouds, hanging like a silver platter in the dark blue sky. Before the large French windows, the cool moonlight spilled like mercury, illuminating the spacious office.
All the soft furnishings have been moved in, the simple furnishings are neatly arranged, the green plants are vibrant, and the air is filled with a faint scent of cedar incense, which Gu Moheng specially had mixed to cover up the residual smell of the renovation, and also because he knew that Wen Chen liked this scent.
The entire building was empty, except for the two of them. Moonlight streamed in through the huge floor-to-ceiling windows, casting a cool, frosty layer on the terrazzo floor. The two walked side by side on the connecting corridor, their footsteps echoing clearly and lingering in the empty space.
Gu Moheng walked slowly, his gaze sweeping over every corner. The huge display wall was already completed, Wen Chen's trophies and models gleaming under the spotlights. On the adjacent wall, several rare architectural books that Gu Moheng had brought back from abroad were also displayed, echoing Wen Chen's trophies.
Every brick and tile here was agreed upon by them. Even the green plants in the corner were brought back from the flower and bird market together last week.
"Wen Chen." Gu Moheng suddenly stopped and turned to look at the person beside him. The moonlight outlined his deep features, and his eyes, which always hid gloom and obsession, were now surprisingly bright.
“This place… is so nice. It feels like our second home.” Gu Moheng said, his eyes filled with satisfaction, his ears turning slightly red. He subconsciously wanted to observe Wen Chen’s reaction, afraid that he might have been too blunt.
Wen Chen paused. He turned around and looked at Gu Moheng's cautious, expectant expression, a smile spreading across his face. He nodded gently, "That's how it is."
He naturally reached out and took Gu Moheng's hand, which was hanging by his side. Their fingers intertwined, and the warmth of their palms instantly flowed between them, warm and reassuring.
"Let's go." Gu Moheng suddenly pulled Wen Chen towards the stairwell, walking rather quickly.
"Where to?" Wen Chen followed passively.
Gu Moheng glanced at him, his eyes gleaming, "There's another space in this building that you don't know about."
That was his "selfish" intention in instructing the construction team to complete the task secretly.
Since it's a home, there should always be a secret corner that belongs to the two of you.
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