Chapter 96

Chapter 96

Chen Mo thus embarked on his long-awaited vacation.

Xi Siyan imposed almost unbearably strict requirements on his diet and daily routine, which had to be strictly followed. Chen Mo was mostly compliant, for he knew that the one truly unable to escape the scene of the seven-story abandoned building was Xi Siyan himself.

He once said that seeing certain things from the past did not mean that person was him.

But Chen Mo knew that he had deeply immersed himself in it.

He would hold onto Chen Mo tightly even in his sleep at night.

He would instinctively tense up when Chen Mo approached certain edges.

He would turn around to look for Chen Mo every moment he couldn't see him.

Xi Siyan's headaches mysteriously disappeared after New Year's Day.

It was unclear whether it was a coincidence, coinciding with the aftermath of the explosion fading away, or due to some other stimuli, making it impossible to trace.

This year marked the first year of their reunion after five years apart. It wasn't until the pallor faded from Chen Mo's face, and the days transitioned from winter to early spring, and the lunar calendar ushered in the new year, that Chen Mo finally returned to work.

On the first day of the new year, at eight in the morning, he encountered many colleagues in the elevator.

"Mr. Chen, how was your New Year?"

Chen Mo smiled and nodded. "Pretty good."

"I think so too," said a colleague from the R&D department, chiming in. "Boss, you look great."

Chen Mo subconsciously touched his face. "Really?"

Faced with the affirmative response, Chen Mo thought to himself, indeed, with the way Xi Siyan took care of him, looking bad would be a miracle.

Six meals a day, each different, along with medication, focusing on restoring nutrition and improving his chronic loss of appetite.

Coupled with their relationship being semi-public on both sides, he stayed at Xi Siyan's place during the holidays, and later Xi Siyan accompanied him to visit his maternal grandmother's family.

Both families had grandmothers with extensive health preservation experience, far surpassing Chen Mo's superficial efforts, which were more self-deceptive than anything else.

Under the supervision of all parties, Xi Siyan enforced strict adherence, slowing down Chen Mo's relentless five-year lifestyle.

Good rest and good nutrition led the doctor to declare that he could return to normal life and diet. Otherwise, Xi Siyan wouldn't have allowed him to come back to work right away.

The elevator was crowded, and as more people got on, Chen Mo gradually moved to the back.

There were many whispers ahead, and if one listened carefully, they would realize the topic was related to Chen Mo.

"Has Mr. Chen from the R&D department not returned to work yet? Old K only mentioned taking leave before the holiday, why?"

"I heard some rumors; it seems he had surgery."

"Surgery? There was a fire at home before, and you say Mr. Chen is quite young but has faced many misfortunes."

"You're telling me. A friend of mine works at CM Company; he's been there for less than half a year. Before the holiday, he said the entire company was on edge, and the boss was in an explosive mood." At this point, he started chuckling. "Do you think it might be related to our Mr. Chen?"

"How is it related to Mr. Chen?"

"Haven't you heard? There were rumors about their relationship. And while Mr. Chen was recuperating, someone went to him for work coordination, and halfway through, his nanny came to dismiss them, saying that President Xi had set specific times. This means they're living together."

Those who had initially been in the elevator with Chen Mo all looked awkward.

Someone couldn't bear it anymore and quietly nudged the speaker. The speaker turned around, and everyone's faces turned red, feeling lost.

Just as the elevator arrived.

Chen Mo stepped out and saw several people waiting outside, seemingly wanting to apologize.

He smiled first. "Not leaving? It's almost time to clock in."

"Mr. Chen," someone said, "I'm sorry, we were just spreading rumors, nothing more..."

"It's not really spreading rumors," Chen Mo interrupted without further explanation, maintaining his smile. "A new year, let's work hard together."

Chen Mo walked away.

Behind him.

"Heavens, he didn't deny it!"

"Shut up. It's already a tacit understanding, just kept low-key. You guys shouldn't talk about it in public; it's embarrassing. Hurry up, let's go."

...

Chen Mo had just arrived at his office when Old K entered.

"How's the recovery going?" Old K leaned on his desk, scrutinizing him. "Your partner takes care of you like a hawk. When I heard about your gastric bleeding, I almost committed seppuku to atone. I thought maybe he had mistreated you over the past five years. When you worked on my university project, weren't you still underage? Would Xi Siyan skin me alive if he found out?"

Chen Mo put down his bag, pulled out a chair, and sat down, looking up. "Being under sixteen counts as child labor. Besides, he's not as bored as you are. It's early morning, and you're not working but chatting here."

"I just can't help but marvel."

Old K looked around Chen Mo's office and then gazed out through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

He said, "Who would have thought we'd bring New Edge to where it is today? Do you remember our first office? The electrical wiring was always problematic."

Chen Mo was suspicious. "Do you have something to say?"

"Alright, yes." Old K immediately leaned closer and spoke quickly. "Our phase two core technology has been nominated for the highest international artificial intelligence science and technology award! This is a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity, so no matter what, convince President Xi to go abroad with me!"

Chen Mo frowned. "When?"

"Next week."

"Next week?" Chen Mo thought for a moment. "Before Friday is fine, but not after."

Old K sighed in relief; there was no conflict in timing.

But he still asked, "Do you have something on Friday?"

"Yes, it's Suicheng No.1 Middle School's fiftieth anniversary. I need to go back."

Old K nodded. "Oh, your place of romance with President Xi. You should go back and see it."

On that Friday, the weather was pleasant.

Suicheng No.1 Middle School seemed unchanged. Spring wasn't as noisy as summer or as cold as winter; the temperature was just right, and the cherry blossoms were beautiful, while the magnolias were fragrant.

Lao Xiang and Xiang Shenglong hadn't changed much.

Xiang Shenglong still carried his set square, looking stern but actually meticulous.

Director Lai stood on the stage, looking younger with his wig, his voice loud and earnest.

"This is a special gathering, a day of blessings for our school..."

Below the stage, Chen Mo turned to look at the person beside him, dressed in a suit and polished shoes, with suspicion. "We're all outstanding graduates, why do you get to sit in the VIP section?"

Xi Siyan looked over and raised an eyebrow. "No choice, the Xi family donated, and my identity is that of a shareholder."

Someone from the row behind them leaned over their chairs and said to Xi Siyan, "We promised to stick together for life, whoever betrays first is a dog. We're up here singing like Peking Opera, while you're down here clapping comfortably. Xi Dog, you've really changed!"

Xi Siyan turned to look at Qi Lin, who had returned, with disdain. "Get lost."

"Brother Mo," Qi Lin immediately turned to him. "Why don't you control him? Are you feeling balanced?"

Chen Mo was dressed casually that day.

His linen shirt was loose, clean, and snow-white, his hair casually styled, making him stand out among the more mature graduates sitting around him.

Chen Mo turned to reply to Qi Lin. "Didn't you hear? He's a shareholder of the school. I'm a model student, scared."

Qi Lin made a gagging gesture, complaining, "I find that the longer you two stay together, the darker your guts become, both black."

"What are you talking about?" At this moment, Lao Gou arrived carrying a large bag of drinks.

He held the bag directly in front of Chen Mo, indicating for him to take one. "Bought by Lao Xiang. Today, many people from our class came back. I didn't realize there were so many of us in Sui City."

Chen Mo took a green drink.

"Some came from far away. Qi Lin, for example."

Qi Lin leaned back, stating, "I'm not here just for the anniversary. I just suddenly realized it's been years since I came back, and since Lao Xi is back in the country, I figured I'd join in the fun."

Xi Siyan frowned at him. "Stop using me as an excuse. What's really going on? Did someone play you again?"

"Damn." Qi Lin muttered under his breath, then looked up. "Nothing, just don't want to play anymore. And you, can't you keep it to yourself? It's exhausting! Chen Mo, are your eyesight failing? Why did you get back together... Ah! Xi Siyan, don't you know that gentlemen use words, not violence!"

Xi Siyan retracted his hand after throwing a drink at him, coldly. "Keep it down. People might think you've gone crazy from heartbreak."

Qi Lin was hit repeatedly and almost spat blood.

Then he saw Chen Mo's newly opened drink being taken away by Xi Siyan.

Xi Siyan: "Don't drink that, it has additives."

Then he handed Chen Mo a bottle of mineral water.

Chen Mo, under Qi Lin's gaze as if he were a freak, took the water and drank from it.

Qi Lin shook his head. "Brother Mo, do you remember when you were the school bully? You look so tamed now, letting Xi Dog be your dad. It's breaking my worldview."

"Is that so?" Chen Mo nodded. "Are you seeing everything through the lens of heartbreak? Don't worry, I understand."

Qi Lin: "..."

He shut up, he deserved it!

Director Lai's speech was nearing its end.

Over the past few years, they hadn't kept in touch much, but they hadn't completely lost contact either.

Director Lai directly looked in Chen Mo's direction, holding the microphone. "Next is the speech by outstanding graduates. The first person on stage, whom you may not be unfamiliar with, has achieved remarkable success in recent years, deeply involved in the field of intelligent technology. He graduated from the XX class, currently pursuing a master's and doctorate at Q University, and is one of the founders of New Tech, Chen Mo!"

This introduction didn't cause much of a reaction among the high school students burdened with heavy coursework.

Those who reacted were mostly invited guests from various fields and school leaders.

It wasn't until Chen Mo stepped onto the stage that the students started cheering and screaming.

Lao Gou had already returned to his seat, next to Qi Lin.

Looking at the stage, he exclaimed, "Chen Mo has myopia? Why is he wearing glasses? Didn't he take them off before coming on stage?"

The silver-framed glasses added a touch of mature restraint to his otherwise youthful appearance today.

He naturally walked up to the podium and placed the speech on top.

When he began speaking, however, he didn’t look at the notes.

The gentle breeze of the school carried his voice clearly.

"Before coming here today, I prepared an official speech that I found on Baidu. But someone read it and said it was probably written by a Chinese teacher using their feet, long and stinky."

Laughter erupted.

"In the end, I decided to follow that advice and talk about my own impressions of No. 1 High School..."

As the person on stage spoke animatedly,

the excitement below grew louder.

Back then, they had gathered together, laughing and saying, "Brother Mo is still Brother Mo. When he went up to read a self-criticism back then, the whispers below were just like today."

"You should have seen the scene after the college entrance exam. Crowds of people shouted his name in the hallway of the teaching building. Everyone thought he would definitely be the top scorer in the city. Later, when the results came out, Lao Xiang criticized him harshly, and he got upset whenever anyone mentioned it."

"You must have been abroad already, Xi Siyan. What a pity, right? Do you regret not participating in the college entrance exam?"

Xi Siyan sat with one leg crossed over the other.

His eyes remained fixed on the person above.

Hearing those words, he said, "Yes, it’s a pity."

But what he regretted wasn’t missing the exam.

It was missing that person that year.

Radiant as Chen Mo, a gem that even dust could not obscure.

As long as he stood there, no matter the fate, countless reunions would inevitably lead to countless heartbeats for those who fell in love with him.