Due to the 11 time zone differences, Duanmu Ci woke up very early. The faint light of dawn shone through the 6.6-meter-high gauze curtain onto Duanmu Ci's long and thick eyelashes.
Duanmu Ci picked up the remote control that was placed by the bed. With a "beep", the red light came on, and the tall curtains automatically and slowly opened to both sides like a theater curtain, revealing a floor-to-ceiling window that was the same height as the curtains, as if someone had parted the clouds.
Outside the huge window flows the Huangpu River, its yellow surface still dotted with large amounts of white ice, resembling a large cup of Coke with ice from McDonald's. Many boats and people come and go on this "Coke"—it's a bustling and vibrant city.
Time to get up—
Duanmu Ci threw back the covers, sat on the edge of the bed to wake himself up, and then went to the bathroom in his pajamas to wash up, planning his day while brushing his teeth. Looking at his mouth full of white foam in the mirror, he thought to himself that this toothbrush and toothpaste were definitely much more comfortable than the willow twig dipped in salt he used to use to clean his teeth back in the day…
When Duanmu Ci left Chicago, he only took a small black leather suitcase, which contained nothing but documents. However, this did not mean he had no clothes to wear. In fact, Duanmu Ci was struggling with what to wear, because he was currently standing in an exquisite walk-in closet, surrounded by clothing and accessories, and he was unsure of what to choose.
...
...
Although Jingyuan is located on the bustling and busy banks of the Huangpu River, it is not very noisy because it is surrounded by residential areas. There are some pedestrians on the road, some carrying backpacks and others carrying briefcases, keeping to themselves and clearly separating office workers and students.
It's just dawn, and the shops along the road are full of people having breakfast. Steaming hot air is overflowing from the steamers, creating a peaceful atmosphere.
Duanmu Ci rubbed his stomach; he was a little hungry. Although he could live forever, he was still made of flesh and blood and would get hungry.
He randomly picked a steamed bun shop; it wasn't big, but it was very clean.
The proprietress rushed out to greet the customer, but upon seeing Duanmu Ci's attire, she was taken aback—
In truth, an old monster like Duanmu Ci, who has lived for countless years, finds it difficult to keep up with so-called trends. Because trends, with their fleeting nature, are simply not worth chasing in Duanmu Ci's eyes. His long lifespan has instilled in him an instinctive aversion to these novel things, and he is slow to react to them.
In other words, his aesthetic sense is outdated.
In other words, he has a certain "rustic" quality.
After a sixty-year absence, he returned to the mainland once again. When Duanmu Ci left the mainland, it was still the era of the Republic of China, so when he went out to choose clothes, he naturally chose a dark black Zhongshan suit. He probably thought that this was the most suitable clothes to wear in China, only the style was more fitted.
This style of clothing is quite old-fashioned and shouldn't be something that an average "young person" could pull off, but this person has a great foundation and an elegant temperament that has been refined over the years. Wearing it makes them look like a handsome butler in a European castle from a romance novel.
As the handsome young man gracefully walked in through the rising white steam, the proprietress felt a surge of joy, but also a touch of doubt—shouldn't someone like him be enjoying coffee and breakfast at a "high-class" place like Starbucks? Why was he so down-to-earth, coming to eat xiaolongbao (soup dumplings)?
Duanmu Jin casually chose a clean seat and sat down, lightly tapping the glass tabletop with his fingertips. "A basket of steamed buns and a bowl of porridge."
"Oh, oh—" the proprietress responded as she deftly placed plates and bowls on the table, and even gave her a complimentary dish of her own pickled vegetables...
Duanmu Ci picked up a steamed bun and took a bite. Hmm, it tasted alright. It felt much better than a cheeseburger. It's true that you should eat local specialties when you want to eat.
The proprietress sat to the side, staring blankly at the handsome young man in front of her as he elegantly ate steamed buns. It was clearly a humble street stall eating cheap, common food, but this young customer made it seem as if he were sitting in a luxurious apaa restaurant eating high-end ingredients like white truffles.
"Outside the long pavilion, along the ancient road, the fragrant grass stretches to the horizon..." A melody that didn't quite fit the spirit of the times rang out from the pocket of the Zhongshan suit, yet it was strangely harmonious.
Duanmu Ci frowned. Being disturbed while enjoying breakfast was not a pleasant experience, even though a few steamed buns were hardly a great treat.
The screen displayed an overseas phone call. Duanmu Ci slid open the screen lock, "Anzhi—"
As expected, the old butler's voice rang out, "Good morning, sir." In reality, due to the 11-hour time difference, he was having dinner at the long table.
"Is there something you need?"
"That's right, my lord. The steward you need in the East is almost here. She will take care of everything for you, just as I have been loyal to you."
"Butler? Could it be Bu Tongxun?" Duanmu Ci's expression changed.
The old butler chuckled and said, "Exactly. The train will arrive in an hour. Sir, you should send someone to pick her up first."
"No need to send anyone, I'll go myself." Duanmu Ci hung up the phone.
...
...
Haishan Railway Station was originally built in 1908. After several decades, it was finally renovated by the municipal bureau thirty years ago, instantly transforming itself from a place steeped in history into a modern one.
Duanmu Ci sat on a blue plastic chair with a backrest, watching people come and go, all in a hurry.
This inevitably reminded him of that distant era—
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