lovenovelstory Chapter 93 A Beauty's Encounters
Chapter 93 A Beauty's Encounters
Chapter 93: A Beauty's Encounters (First Update, Seeking Initial Subscriptions)
Liu Hengfu, wearing a wet raincoat, stood in the dense drizzle, gazing at the tall and upright young Chinese man before him.
In his mind, Aguinaldo's warning echoed like a resounding bell: "Chen Feng, backed by the US military, has enormous ambitions! I have already made enough concessions: six seats in parliament, five years of tax breaks, and a mountain autonomous region. That's enough to give the Chinese face!"
If he doesn't dare to come and meet us in person, it shows that he only sees the Chinese as stepping stones to power and has no intention of working with us to build the Philippines!
Immediately afterwards, memories flooded back to the all-night conversation we had at the Free Army camp last time.
At that time, Chen Feng was full of vigor and wrote books, which won the heart of the young master of the Zheng family. Even Wu Tingchen, who was known as the literary hero of the Chinese in Luzon, was willing to bow down to him.
Could such a heroic figure really be, as Aquinas said, an ambitious schemer who only knew how to scheme?
He dared not think too deeply about it, shook his head vigorously, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and once again whispered his advice: "General Chen, for the sake of Luzon's independence, and for the future of hundreds of thousands of Chinese, please meet with Commander-in-Chief Aguinaldo in person! Whatever differences we have, let's discuss them face to face; it's better than a complete break!"
Connor stood to the side, looking at Chen Feng with a half-smile, and joked, "Chen, it's up to you. With America's guarantee, no one in Malolos will dare to lay a finger on you."
"General, there's nothing more to discuss!" Qian Biao said urgently in a low voice, "Let's return to camp quickly, lest things get complicated!"
Pang Li stroked the gleaming ghost-headed broadsword on his back. Though he didn't utter a word, the determination in his eyes was clear.
No matter what decision his master makes, even if it means facing mountains of knives and seas of fire, he will follow him to the death.
Chen Feng touched the curved knife and pistol at his waist, his gaze sweeping over the surrounding U.S. Marines.
He believed that even if he didn't go, Liu Hengfu wouldn't be able to stop him, and would even help him leave.
But if we don't make this trip, we may never have another chance to win this person over.
Although Liu Heng's Chinese armed forces were not elite, they were still a force to be reckoned with, and he enjoyed great prestige among the Chinese in Luzon. Gaining his support would undoubtedly be a great asset.
The strength of the Chinese in Luzon is still too small. They are scattered among various forces and are like a disorganized mess. They must unite all forces that can be united in order to gain a foothold in this chaotic world!
Moreover, with the Americans' guarantee, even if Aquinado were incredibly bold, he wouldn't be so reckless as to risk war with the US military to stay behind!
In that instant of clarity, Chen Feng suddenly laughed, a hearty laugh that swept away his previous somber mood: "Since Commander-in-Chief Aquinado has extended such a warm invitation, and even had General Liu brave the rain to invite me, how could I, Chen Feng, refuse such an honor?"
Liu Hengfu breathed a long sigh of relief and quickly stepped aside to lead the way, saying happily, "General Chen is a man of great wisdom and righteousness! Please follow me!"
Chen Feng strode after him, while Qian Biao and Pang Li exchanged a glance. Though filled with worry, they could only follow closely behind.
Connor waved and led a platoon of Marines in close behind.
The city of Malolos is not large, and Aguinaldo's private residence is located at the end of the street. It was once the residence of the Spanish governor, and its Gothic-style spires and carved columns exude the remnants of the colonial era.
Waiting at the gate of the mansion was an old acquaintance.
Marialo Álvarez was scrambling for soldiers in the conscription camp at the time.
This guy was now dressed in a brand-new Independent Army general's uniform, with a gleaming command sword at his waist. His face was fierce, and his brows were full of arrogance.
Upon seeing Chen Feng and his group, he didn't even lift his eyelids, but impatiently waved his hand, signaling the Independent Army soldiers on duty to make way.
After everyone, including the Marines, had entered the mansion, he suddenly focused his gaze, mounted his horse, spurred it on, and galloped out of the city.
Upon entering the mansion, the front garden was deserted, with not a single servant in sight. Only the rain-soaked lawn and a few lonely palm trees remained, clearly indicating that the area had been completely cleared out, preventing any unauthorized personnel from entering or leaving.
In the living room, Aquinas sat in the main seat, the large ruby ring on his left ring finger gleaming under the light.
He occasionally rubbed the gemstone with his thumb, his face ashen and devoid of any emotion, as if he were contemplating some important decision.
Standing to his left was a girl of about fifteen or sixteen years old, tall and slender, wearing a loose milky white dress, with her long black hair casually draped over her shoulders. Her high nose bridge and deep pupils outlined the delicate features unique to mixed-race people, but there was a hint of impatience and resistance between her brows.
On the right stood a woman in her early thirties, wearing a tight corset and a wide, puffy skirt. However, her thin and short figure, coupled with her native-looking face, made her appear even more comical in her oversized clothing, completely out of place with the surrounding Gothic luxury.
Footsteps approached from afar, breaking the silence in the living room.
Aquinado's face instantly broke into a hearty smile. He abruptly stood up and headed towards the door, speaking in somewhat fluent but strangely accented Mandarin, "Commander Chen, I've long admired your name! Meeting you today, you truly are a young hero!"
Before you see him, you hear his voice.
Chen Feng had assumed that the commander-in-chief of the Independent Army would be a rough and rugged warrior, but when he turned around the corner and saw him face to face, he was surprisingly handsome, tall and upright, and his well-tailored military uniform accentuated his extraordinary demeanor. He exuded a leader's aura in every gesture.
No wonder he could win people's hearts in chaotic times; his appearance and manner of dealing with people alone were enough to make people feel like they were bathed in a spring breeze.
"Mr. Aquinado, I'm sorry to have kept you waiting!" Chen Feng strode forward, neither humble nor arrogant, and without the slightest negligence, and shook hands with him firmly.
Aquinado laughed heartily, his voice full of energy: "Commander Chen, Mr. Connor, General Liu, you must be tired from your journey! Let's go to the living room and have a proper chat; the finest coffee is ready!"
Chen Feng stood at the doorway, discreetly surveying the interior.
The living room is spacious, measuring seventy or eighty square meters. Facing south is a large floor-to-ceiling window, outside which is a side garden and a two-meter-high wall covered with barbed wire.
The only entrance to the house is the main entrance; the rest of the walls are thick stone walls, and there isn't even a window.
If this setup is an ambush, escape will be impossible!
His gaze swept over the furniture in the room: brand-new carved tables and chairs, oil paintings on the walls—clearly, the room had been recently renovated, and a faint smell of paint still lingered in the air.
At first glance, it doesn't look like an ambush; it looks more like a meticulously prepared banquet.
After confirming that everything was alright, Chen Feng and Connor followed Aquinado into the living room, while Qian Biao, Pang Li, and the Marines stayed outside the hall, guarding the doorway.
Upon seeing the two women in the living room, Chen Feng immediately frowned.
This setup doesn't look like a discussion of important matters at all; it looks more like a carefully arranged blind date!
Did Aquinado try to win him over with his beauty?
The older woman must be his cousin Eva from the rumors; she was far from ordinary in appearance.
The fifteen or sixteen-year-old girl was, unsurprisingly, Aquinas's daughter. She was indeed beautiful, and even though her slender figure was concealed by a loose dress, her lively charm was still undeniable.
However... he's still a bit too young!
"Please sit down!" Aquinas gestured to the seat to his left.
Chen Feng nodded his thanks and calmly sat down, with Liu Hengfu sitting right next to him.
Connor sat in the lower right seat, picked up the coffee that had been prepared on the table, and took a sip.
"Commander Chen, this is my cousin, Ms. Eva!" Aguinaldo introduced.
Eva gave a slight bow, performing a standard Spanish aristocratic greeting, and looked Chen Feng up and down with curiosity, greeting him in fluent Spanish: "Hello, Commander Chen! I've heard so much about you, it's a pleasure to meet you."
Although Chen Feng didn't understand Spanish, he could see her goodwill, nodded in greeting, and replied in Chinese, "Hello, Ms. Eva!"
A fleeting, barely perceptible hint of anger flashed in Aquinado's eyes.
That woman is so stupid!
I clearly had someone teach me Mandarin greetings all night!
Luckily, I had other preparations!
He suppressed his anger and quickly introduced, "This is my daughter, Isabella!"
Isabella had been dragged here by her father with great resentment, but when she saw this rumored Chinese leader, who was so young and handsome and had a more extraordinary demeanor than any Spanish nobleman or native general she had ever met, her impatience vanished, replaced by a hint of girlish shyness and curiosity.
She stepped forward with light, quick steps, extended her slender, fair arm, and said in broken but clear Mandarin, "It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr. Chen... Chen Feng."
Chen Feng extended his right hand and gently grasped her small hand. He felt that his palm was warm and soft, with a delicate touch, as if he were holding a ball of cotton.
He gently released his grip, maintaining a proper distance, and said with a smile, "Hello, Miss Isabella."
Aquinato wasn't entirely stupid; knowing I looked down on his cousin, he sent his beautiful daughter to help.
Unfortunately, he miscalculated; he was not the type to be seduced by beauty.
Well... Marilyn's incident doesn't count; we didn't have experience back then.
Connor, observing this, put down his coffee cup and joked in English, "Chen, it seems this beautiful Miss Isabella has a good impression of you. I must say, you're quite the popular guy."