Simon arrived in Hangzhou on a Friday afternoon. Due to the time difference, it was already past 10 PM on Saturday night in China by the time he landed. Despite the late hour, there was still a large crowd waiting to greet him at the airport.
Lin Su had specifically called Simon earlier to explain the situation. It was, of course, due to her father's influence, and she felt a bit helpless about it. Simon understood—older generations often cared about face, and if they could show respect, they would.
The people who had eagerly come to welcome him were tactful. After some brief pleasantries at the airport, they excused themselves, leaving only Lin Lan and her husband to accompany Simon to the grand estate by West Lake.
Lin's father hadn't gone to the airport but waited at the estate instead. As soon as Simon stepped out of the car, Lin's father rushed forward to greet him, asking about his well-being with such enthusiasm that even his daughter, Lin Lan, felt a bit embarrassed. She knew that if her father hadn't been trying to maintain some semblance of a father-in-law's dignity, he would have gone to the airport himself.
Simon patiently chatted with Lin's father and Lin Lan about recent events and the details of the upcoming full moon celebration. After about half an hour, Lin's mother came over with a look of mild reproach, hinting that it was time for Simon to take a break. Simon finally managed to excuse himself and headed to the inner quarters.
Lin Su was still awake.
When Simon entered, she was sitting on the large bed, discussing something with Chen Qing, who was seated beside her. Next to them was a tiny bundle wrapped in swaddling clothes, fast asleep.
Seeing Simon, Chen Qing stood up from her chair by the bed and greeted him, "Boss."
Lin Su also smiled at him.
Since they were surrounded by Lin's family, Simon didn't act too familiar with Chen Qing. He simply nodded at her, then walked over to sit on the edge of the bed. Leaning over Lin Su, he peered at their baby boy and asked, "What were you talking about?"
Lin Su carefully lifted their son so Simon could get a better look. Chen Qing sat back down and handed Simon a thick folder. "It's about the gifts we've received for the full moon celebration. Boss, take a look. Our little guy has already made millions just by being born a month ago. He's even more impressive than you."
Before Simon could respond, Lin Su shot Chen Qing a glare. "If you call him that again, I swear I'll—"
It seemed like if Lin Su hadn't been holding the baby, she might have lunged at Chen Qing.
Chen Qing laughed and raised her hands in surrender. "Alright, alright, it's Qian Shu, our little Qian Shu." She then turned to Simon with a pout. "Boss, a lot of people have been complimenting the name lately, saying it's simple yet elegant. If my future child doesn't get such a good name, I won't be happy."
This time, it was Lin Su's turn to counterattack. "You've already picked out names for yourself, haven't you? You keep mentioning them. If you like them so much, you can name your future son 'Dog Egg' and your daughter 'Tie Stick.'"
Chen Qing didn't seem fazed at all. "As long as the boss agrees, I don't mind whatever name you give."
Lin Su: "..."
Simon listened to the two women bicker with a smile as he flipped through the gift list Chen Qing had handed him.
Ever since news spread that the little one would be celebrating his full moon in China, many people had started paying attention. Even those who knew they wouldn't be invited or couldn't attend had sent gifts in advance. It got to the point where Lin Su began to worry that her father might not be able to handle it or might inadvertently accept gifts from the wrong people. After discussing it with Simon, they decided to delegate the task to Chen Qing.
Although the two women weren't always on the best terms, when it came to something like this, Chen Qing was the most reliable choice.
This wasn't just about the baby's full moon celebration; on a deeper level, it was a significant social event for the Westeros family in China. Given the interests of the Westeros system at stake, Chen Qing wouldn't play petty games with Lin Su. She would handle it with utmost care.
The list was clearly categorized by importance.
Simon was surprised by the first two gifts. They weren't particularly valuable—just a silver longevity lock and a set of the Chinese classical "Thirteen Confucian Classics." What stood out was who had sent them.
After finishing her banter with Lin Su, Chen Qing leaned in and began analyzing the list with Simon.
She skipped the beginning and focused on the names that followed.
She explained how certain people had connected with them, their current positions, their future potential, who they should maintain good relations with, and who they should keep at a distance. After going through the first few pages, she jumped to the end, which detailed the gifts they had refused in recent days, offering another round of insightful analysis.
By the time she finished, Chen Qing was thirsty. She picked up Lin Su's cup from the bedside table and took a few sips of water. Just as she was about to continue, she noticed the odd expression on Simon's face. Being highly perceptive, she cautiously asked, "Boss, is there a problem?"
Simon didn't answer directly. Instead, he said, "If you study Chinese history, you'll find that even today, there are many families with a clear lineage stretching back a thousand years. Do you know why?"
Chen Qing blinked. She was quite clever, and Simon's words gave her a hint of what he was getting at, though her thoughts weren't entirely clear yet.
Simon didn't wait for her to respond. He continued, "The rise and fall of ancient Chinese dynasties were quite frequent. Yet, many families managed to survive these turbulent times for hundreds or even thousands of years. The key lies in two words: distance. Often, these families not only avoided tying themselves too closely to those in power but deliberately kept their distance. However, because these families were deeply rooted, no matter who came to power, they would always seek to establish good relations with them."
Chen Qing now fully understood, and even Lin Su looked enlightened, casting a teasing glance at Chen Qing, who had been quite active lately.
Simon glanced at the two women's expressions and added, "Of course, maintaining distance requires a certain foundation. I once read something like this: 'The flight of a fly is only a few feet, but if it clings to the tail of a steed, it can travel a thousand miles.' From another perspective, if you're too small, you can only cling to the tail of a steed. Only if you're a steed yourself can you run side by side with another steed. And to avoid unnecessary collisions, it's best to keep a certain distance while running side by side."
Chen Qing was never one to dismiss others' advice. On the contrary, she was excellent at absorbing knowledge and making it her own. After listening to Simon, her eyes sparkled with understanding, and she immediately pointed pitifully at the gift list in Simon's hands. "But, boss, what about this? What do we do now?"
Seeing that Chen Qing had grasped his point and trusting that she would execute it well in the future, Simon smiled. "This is just normal social etiquette. Even if there are issues, they're not our problem. What we need to do is maintain distance. Besides, someone has already given us a hint, haven't they?"
As he spoke, Simon flipped back to the beginning of the list and circled a few names.
Chen Qing quickly understood. What the Westeros system needed to do was simple: align with those in certain positions and avoid meddling in the rest. Given the current strength of the Westeros system, they were all 'steeds.' To play it safe, there was no need to take sides.
She nodded again, but then her tone turned regretful. "But, boss, I've already done quite a few things. What should I do now?"
Simon smiled. "Most of what you've done is at a relatively low level, and the connections are shallow. You just need to be more careful in the future. Besides, we are steeds, and it's fine to have a few flies clinging to our tails. Just don't try to carry another steed on your back—that could crush you."
Chen Qing agreed and turned her attention back to the gift list in Simon's hands. This time, she focused on the gifts and the people behind them, all of whom were relatively insignificant 'flies.'
However, after just a short while, there was a knock at the door. Lin's mother entered and, seeing Chen Qing so close to Simon, frowned slightly. "Xiao Chen, it's late. You should go rest."
Chen Qing, who was usually a night owl, only then realized how late it was. Reluctantly, she stood up, bid everyone goodnight, and left.
Lin's mother took her grandson from her daughter and said to Simon, "I'll take care of the baby tonight. Simon, you two should get some rest too. Don't... don't stay up too late. There's still a lot to do tomorrow."
Simon thanked her, and after Lin's mother left, he turned to Lin Su, who was blushing at her mother's implication. He smiled and leaned in to kiss her, then asked, "Does your mom have a problem with me?"
Lin Su wrapped her arms around Simon's neck as he laid her down. She gave him a light slap on the back and said with a reproachful look, "You tell me. How many times have you visited the baby during your time in the U.S.?"
"Three times."
Lin Su gave him another light slap, her expression clearly saying, "And you have the nerve to say that."
Simon kissed her neck and added, "If you'd like, you can stay here longer with the baby."
Lin Su hummed in agreement, knowing that Simon was worried about her feeling lonely and that he truly didn't have much time to spend with her. She then remembered something and said, "There's one more thing I need you to decide. Should we register the baby for a household registration here in China?"
Simon didn't hesitate. "Sure."
"It's mainly about the name," Lin Su said, cautiously glancing at Simon. "Which name do you think we should register?"
"No matter which name we register, he's still my son," Simon said with a smile. "Which one do you want to register?"
Hearing the first part of Simon's response, Lin Su relaxed and smiled. "My dad wants to register him as 'Westeros Qian Shu.' That is, a six-character name when translated into Chinese. He thinks 'Little Simon' sounds a bit odd and doesn't feel like his grandson. If we use the Lin surname, you know, it wouldn't reflect your side."
Simon knew there was more, so he hummed in acknowledgment.
Lin Su continued, "My mom wants to register him as 'Lin Qian Shu.'"
Simon laughed. "Your mom really has a problem with me, huh?"
"Yeah, and it's all your fault," Lin Su said with a reproachful look. Then she added, "But if we really registered him that way, my mom would probably have an even bigger problem."
Simon understood. If they named him 'Lin Qian Shu,' Lin's mother might feel that Simon, as the father, didn't acknowledge his son, hence the need to use the mother's surname.
Lin Su smiled. "So, I was thinking of registering two names. For his Chinese ID, it would be 'Westeros Qian Shu,' and for school or other purposes, we could use 'Lin Qian Shu.' That way, it wouldn't stand out too much. Of course, on his U.S. passport, it would be 'Little Simon Westeros.'"
"Let's do that," Simon said decisively. Then he stood up and lifted Lin Su into his arms. "Let's go take a bath."
Having not been intimate for a long time and now being a mother, Lin Su felt unusually shy. She let Simon carry her to the bathroom and said, "Simon, I really like the name Qian Shu."
"I know."
"Grandpa likes it too. He's been reading up on it lately and said you put a lot of thought into it."
"Mm."
"Someone even sent a red coral as a gift for the full moon celebration. It's two meters tall, with the baby's name, 'Lin Qian Shu,' engraved on the base. It really looks like a thriving tree. Coral symbolizes wealth and good fortune in China. Dad loves it, but he also thinks the name 'Westeros Qian Shu' should have been engraved instead."
As they entered the bathroom, Simon set Lin Su down on the edge of the large bathtub and warned her with a smile, "Enough. From now on, your time belongs to me. Forget about your son, or I'll go give him a spanking for daring to compete with his dad for attention."
Lin Su giggled.
The full moon celebration was even grander than Simon's visit during the Spring Festival earlier in the year. Guests came not only from the province but also from Beijing. The gathering at Simon's table was so high-profile that even Lin's father, who had earned his place at the table due to his status, felt uneasy.
Another issue was the sheer number of people who came to offer gifts.
Many didn't even expect to sit at the table. Most simply presented their gifts or cash, registered their names, and left quickly. While they could refuse gifts sent in advance, turning people away on such a joyous occasion would have been awkward for both sides.
They had no choice but to accept the gifts for now.
Afterward, when they tallied everything, the little one had essentially become a millionaire overnight. Even the Lin family, who had seen their share of wealth, couldn't help but be astonished.
They decided to return most of the gifts.
The cash was easier to handle.
They would accept only 100 yuan and return the rest, acknowledging the gesture without overcommitting. Of course, 100 yuan wasn't a small amount in those days, and some of the Lin family's less well-off relatives might not have even given that much. Those cases were handled separately.
The gifts were more complicated and required careful consideration.
They decided to keep gifts from those with whom they had close relationships and where the gift's value matched the level of friendship. If the relationship wasn't close but the gift was extravagant, they would return it. Fortunately, most of the gift-givers had anticipated this, so the number of returned gifts was relatively small.
The valuable red coral that Lin Su had mentioned was kept.
Although the relationship with the giver wasn't particularly close, the symbolism was too good to pass up.
Simon later gave the go-ahead to send a message to the owner of a Zhejiang-based private car company who had been persistently seeking his favor in recent years: they would discuss further after China joined the WTO.
After the full moon celebration, Simon stayed in Hangzhou for another day to finalize two more matters.
The first was regarding Hangzhou Xiaoshan Airport, and the second was the Suzhou-Hangzhou Expressway.
These two projects, which had initially come to Simon through George Soros, weren't coincidental. During his visit, someone had approached Simon in person, with Lin's father's introduction, to discuss the projects. Simon agreed to invest, splitting the costs equally with Soros. The total investment for both projects was less than $300 million.
In private, Simon told Lin Su that building bridges and roads was a way to accumulate blessings for their little one.
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