Chapter 56

Chapter 56

Late at night, in the interrogation room of the police station.

"The night President Nan had the accident, I was at my workstation working on a project when the power suddenly went out. A security guard came in and told us that the power outage was due to municipal road repairs and that we had to wait at our desks for the power to come back on."

"During that time, did you notice if any other colleagues left their workstations?"

"It was too dark. Even if someone did, you couldn't tell who it was. But it seemed like no one left, because it was hard to move around in the dark with the power out—that was probably a common understanding among everyone."

The police had summoned all employees who were working overtime that night to the station for statements. The testimonies they gave were mostly similar.

Before long, a tall, slender woman came in. She sat down, keeping her head low, her fingers nervously twisting in her lap.

The officer gave her a doubtful glance, cleared his throat, and asked, "Where were you at the time of the incident?"

"In… the restroom."

"According to our investigation, the restroom on your floor is the closest to the scene of the incident. The security guard reported hearing a scream. Do you know who that scream came from?"

The woman's gaze drifted vacantly, her fingers twisting even more anxiously. "It was me."

"What was the reason?"

"I saw a cockroach in the restroom… I got scared and screamed. After I left the restroom, I saw that the railing was broken, and President Nan had already fallen…" Her voice grew softer and lower as she spoke.

The two officers making the report exchanged a glance. Then one of them said, "Zhong Lin, you joined Huanhai Electronics a week ago, but you took leave on your first day of employment to attend a funeral in your hometown. The incident occurred on the day you returned to the company. According to other employees, almost no one had ever seen the victim in person, and your work is only submitted to your immediate supervisor. How did you recognize at a glance that the person who fell was your company’s president?"

The woman named Zhong Lin shrank her shoulders, paused for a few seconds, and slowly replied, "Because… I knew that President Nan had a leg condition. Also, President Nan had helped me before. It was almost a termination for taking leave on the first day of work, but President Nan gave me another chance. We had met once."

"So, you're saying he showed you kindness," the officer asked.

Zhong Lin swallowed hard, her head dropping even lower, and let out a barely audible, "Yes…"

…

After finishing her statement, Zhong Lin kept her head down and left the interrogation room. As she looked up, she saw many other employees still waiting in the area outside, their faces indignant. They were saying that the police must find out the truth, and if there was indeed a perpetrator, they would never be easily lenient.

Perhaps out of guilt, she slipped out of the police station without saying a word to anyone.

She crossed a dark, quiet path, and seeing no one around, quickly got into a black car.

A man in a suit sat beside her. As soon as Zhong Lin entered, he asked casually, "All done? What did you say?"

"Just… what you asked me to say…"

The man gave a light chuckle. "You seem really guilty. You haven't dared to look at me since you got in."

Zhong Lin clenched her fingers, an overwhelming wave of guilt threatening to drown her.

"I’ve only met President Nan once, but he reached out and helped me when I was at my lowest. Giving a false statement is not only illegal, but it also betrays the kindness he showed me. I feel like I’m not even human anymore…"

Guilt, pain, countless emotions surged up all at once. Zhong Lin could no longer hold back. She bent over, covering her eyes, and wept uncontrollably.

That day, when she came out of the restroom, she saw Nan Liujing standing by the railing on the phone. She had wanted to go over and greet him, to thank him, but instead she witnessed the entire process of his fall.

The man beside her let out a contemptuous snort. He picked up a briefcase from his feet and opened it, revealing neatly stacked bundles of Renminbi.

He tossed the briefcase to Zhong Lin’s feet, his tone dripping with mockery. "How much can you make in a month staying at that company? Your mother is still lying in the hospital, desperately needing money to survive. Let me tell you, the savior who can save your mother is not Nan Liujing—it’s me, who gave you five hundred thousand. The one you should be kowtowing to in gratitude is me."

"If you really have a conscience, keep your mouth shut. Don’t let the great benefactor who saved your mother become a prisoner. Understand?"

Staring at the bundles of bright hundred-yuan bills, Zhong Lin’s inner turmoil waged a fierce battle, and finally, she nodded.

There was nothing in the world more important than her mother’s life.

Just before she got out of the car, she heard the man say to her, "Don’t be so naive. That’s just how the world works. If you’re not ruthless to others, they’ll be ruthless to you."

Zhong Lin clutched the briefcase full of money and watched the car drive away. After a long while, she looked up at the night sky.

It was pitch black. The moon was hidden behind dark clouds, and not a single star was visible.

*

Drip, drip—

Awakened by the sound of dripping water, Shen Gali slowly opened his eyes and looked out the window. It was raining again.

He had been sitting with his head bowed since he arrived at the hospital, and now his neck and shoulders were sore and stiff. But he didn’t want to get up and stretch. He still felt exhausted.

He rubbed his shoulders halfheartedly, giving his shoulders a useless rub, when suddenly a tall figure appeared in the entrance of the long corridor.

The figure drew closer, then silently sat down beside Shen Gali, bringing the damp, chilly smell of rain.

It wasn’t hard to guess who would come to the hospital at this hour without saying a word. It could only be Shen Lanqing.

"brother, are you okay?" Shen Lanqing couldn’t help but ask softly.

His voice had a special quality—like fingers plucking at falling beads, clear and gentle, with a hint of sweetness.

Shen Gali answered bluntly, "Not good."

Shen Lanqing sighed, looking back at the quiet figure of Brother Jing through the window. "What do the doctors say? When will Brother Jing wake up?"

Shen Gali closed his eyes weakly. "I don’t know."

His words were followed by a long silence.

Shen Gali broke the silence again.

He asked a strange question out of nowhere. "Is there something Nan Feiyao has on you?"

Shen Lanqing was confused. "No, nothing."

"Strange. Then why are you marrying him?" It sounded like a question, or maybe just a mutter to himself.

But when Shen Lanqing heard these words, his eyes widened abruptly. He couldn’t help but grab his brother’s hand, his voice trembling. "Do you mean… you don’t want me to marry Nan Feiyao?"

Shen Gali thought about the question very seriously.

He couldn’t really say whether he wanted it or not. He didn’t care much about Shen Lanqing’s personal affairs, but hearing the news of their marriage felt strange.

It gave him the same feeling as hearing that Uncle Li was going to marry Nan Feiyao.

Although that was indeed how the original plot went, ever since he appeared, the story had gone off the rails like a rocket. Even as slow as he was, he could sense Shen Lanqing’s feelings for him. To be fair, this kid wasn’t bad.

"Yeah, Nan Feiyao is very annoying. I don’t like him," Shen Gali said.

He thought that by saying this, Shen Lanqing, with his black-and-white personality, would immediately swear, "I will never marry Nan Feiyao. If I break that vow, may all the authors of the stories I follow go on permanent hiatus."

But Shen Lanqing didn’t. He looked down, lost in thought for a long time, before finally speaking in a low voice. "I have no way out anymore. I have to get married."

But he silently added to himself: But you have to believe me, the reason I'm getting married is not what you think. I'm not crazy, I'm still very clear-headed.

Shen Gali didn't want to waste his breath on him either. Let go of your savior complex and respect others' fate.

The two sat in silence for a long time, until Nan Feiyao called Shen Lanqing, and only then did Shen Lanqing get up to take his leave.

Shen Gali dozed off again. He, who usually could sleep like a log, opened his eyes again after only a short while.

Even though he was so exhausted his head was pounding, he couldn't sleep soundly. This feeling was very painful.

He suddenly thought that in the past, whenever he felt pain, as long as he cried a little, Nan Liujing would surely come flying in from afar, admit his mistakes, and give him anything he wanted.

If he cried this time, would he wake up?

Deciding to give it a try, Shen Gali tried to work himself into a sad mood.

But when it came to crying, the image of Yu Jinzhu's disaster of a face kept popping into his head.

The mood wasn't right; he couldn't cry.

He recalled the palace drama starring his mother that he had watched over the past couple of days. The imperial concubines would use every means to win the emperor's favor, and tears were the best weapon. For a few crocodile tears, they would pinch their thighs black and blue, and finally get what they wanted.

Is that how it works?

Shen Gali copied the concubines, pinching his thigh hard—

TV shows are total lies.

No problem, if he couldn't cry, he could learn from those young idols.

He went to the nurse's station and asked for a bottle of eye drops. He put a few drops in his eyes, and as the liquid slid down, he pressed his face against the glass and looked into the ward, and called out weakly:

"Nan Liujing, wake up quickly..."

"Beep, beep—" The instruments in the room suddenly let out a beep. The next second, several nurses and a doctor rushed in and pushed the door open.

"The patient is awake!" a nurse shouted excitedly.

Shen Gali was dumbfounded.

These past few days, he had asked countless times "When will Nan Liujing wake up," but he never expected that Nan Liujing would wake up thanks to two drops of eye drops.

Shen Gali followed them in. He had wanted to start complaining: "Look at that bald guy, he scolded me."

But Nan Liujing was leaning against the headboard, his hand pressed to his forehead: "Who are you?"

"We are doctors."

Nan Liujing looked at Shen Gali: "And who are you?"

Shen Gali: ...

"I'm your dad."

Nan Liujing frowned. He seemed to be in great pain from his wound, his lips pale. He looked at Shen Gali suspiciously: "Dad... Dad, why did you come to pick me up so late?"

Everyone fell silent collectively.

Doctor: "After the patient stabilizes, take him for a CT scan. I suspect amnesia."

Shen Gali was stunned for a moment, then slowly turned to the doctor: "Is the amnesia caused by the fall?"

"There are many possibilities, but this is likely the main cause of the amnesia."

"I've seen it on TV shows: if someone with amnesia hits their head the same way again, they can regain their memory." Shen Gali offered an idea staler than last night's leftovers.

Doctor: "...If he hits it again, he'll probably be wheeled straight to the morgue."

Upon hearing the news that Nan Liujing was awake, at four in the morning, Uncle Li and Nan Feng and the others came rushing to the hospital in a bustle. Yu Huaisu's face was tight, her mouth was turned down so hard it looked like it might hit the floor, but after seeing he didn't even recognize his own family, a smile returned to her face.

"Liu Jing, how are you? Does the wound still hurt?" Nan Feng asked anxiously.

Nan Liujing: "Who are you?"

Uncle Li: "Young master, it's me, Uncle Li! Do you still recognize me?"

Nan Liujing: "Who are you?"

No matter who asked, his answer was always the same:

"Who are you."

The worst part was, he not only had amnesia but also regressed mentally, with his mental age dropping to that of a six-year-old. Amid everyone's panic and anxiety, he said calmly: "I want to eat glutinous rice balls."

Nan Feng worried so much that he aged ten years overnight. He ordered everyone not to disclose Nan Liujing's current condition, block all news and keep reporters from hanging around, and have Nan Liujing secretly transferred to another hospital.

Yu Huaisu was overjoyed. As soon as she got home, she dragged Nan Feiyao aside and mimicked Nan Liujing: "Who are you? Who are you? Oh my, it's killing me with laughter. Now this is great. He's not only a cripple but also an idiot. Feiyao, just wait to take over your father's position. The biggest obstacle, Heaven took care of that for us."

"Oh, and that Shen Gali too. Not only does he have to be a caregiver for a disabled person, but now he's also become a kindergarten teacher. Six years old! Feiyao, what can a six-year-old do? What serious business can he do besides eating, drinking, and having fun?"

Nan Feiyao, however, seemed somewhat distracted. Just then, seeing his mother happy, he changed the subject:

"Mom, there's something I want to tell you."

"Say it, go ahead. Right now, Mom is so happy she could fly to the sky. Even if you tell me the company lost several hundred million, I wouldn't be angry."

Nan Feiyao thought for a long time, then told the truth.

Yu Huaisu, who had been grinning from ear to ear just moments ago, was stunned after hearing this news.

After being stunned for a long time, her slender eyebrows suddenly shot up wildly. She, who said she wouldn't be angry no matter what, erupted in a roar comparable to a tornado:

"On such a good day, you come to ruin my mood! Do you know that doing this will get you sent to prison!"

She clutched her chest and calmed down: "Who else knows about this?"

"Lanqing and his mother are the parties involved, they definitely know. Besides them, no one else knows."

Yu Huaisu poked Nan Feiyao's forehead hard, frustrated that he was a disappointment: "You'll be the death of me! Listen to me, I'll handle this. Don't you dare breathe a word to anyone. I'm not worried about Lanqing, after all, we'll soon be family. I'm worried about that Shen Gali. He looks harmless on the surface, but he's more cunning than anyone. As long as he serves as CEO, I can't sleep well at night. Find a way to oust him fast."

With a roll of her eyes, a plan came to mind. Yu Huaisu, who had been so angry she nearly blew her top just now, now burst into unrestrained laughter. Only Nan Feiyao trembled in fear as his mother swung between crying and laughing.

Shen Gali looked at the Nan Liujing in front of him and felt like a stranger to him.

*

After the doctor examined him and ran a CT scan, he informed them that it was temporary amnesia caused by a blood clot in the brain, and his mental age had dropped to that of a six-year-old. He also reassured the family not to worry too much; once the clot dissolves, his memory will slowly recover. However, they couldn't say exactly how long it would take.

The more Uncle Li thought about it, the sadder he became. The fifty-something man cried like a child: "The young master has survived a great disaster and will surely have good fortune. Let's pray the young master recovers his memory soon, and that things take a turn for the better."

At this moment, Shen Gali and Nan Liujing had been locked in a staring contest for half an hour.

For some reason, the more Shen Gali looked at him, the more annoyed he felt.

He remembered his former arrogant and domineering demeanor, always saying "you should" and "you must," ordering people around like that. But today, he had become an idiot, with the intelligence of a six-year-old.

Nan Liujing stared at Shen Gali for a long time, a faint, unnatural blush creeping across his face. He averted his gaze and said, "Why do you keep looking at me? Do you like me?"

Shen Gali averted his gaze in revulsion.

Uncle Li choked back his tears and said, "Young master, this is your wife. You're already married and very much in love."

Nan Liujing's sword-like eyebrows knitted in a frown: "Impossible. I don't like this type."

Shen Gali: "What a coincidence, I don't like your type either. There's a good boy, sign the divorce papers, and split half the assets with me."

Nan Liujing extended a hand, looking off to the side: "Although I don't like your type, you're still kind of cute. Fine, I'll allow you to hold my hand."

This line sounded familiar, as if a certain seven-year-old school kid had said the same thing before.

Seeing that Shen Gali didn't move, Nan Liujing grabbed his hand, clumsily interlocking their fingers, and said to Uncle Li, "From today, he's my wife. Uncle Li, what do couples usually do together?"

"There are many things couples can do: eat together, live together, bathe together, share a bed. Some couples even have a baby."

Nan Liujing propped his chin in his hand, pondered seriously for a long time, then, just like before, swept his hand with a flourish: "The first few sound boring. Skip straight to the last one. How do we do that? Teach me."

Uncle Li didn't know what to say. Faced with such an innocent child, his ten-gigabyte collection of adult material wasn't exactly appropriate to bring up.

Shen Gali silently watched the childish Nan Liujing and sighed.

On the fourth day of the break, Nan Liujing's physical wounds had mostly healed. The doctor said that since there were medical equipment and a private doctor at home, he could be taken home to recuperate and just come to the hospital for regular check-ups.

But he also shared some bad news: "The so-called recovery period is just about probabilities. There's no absolute in medicine. It's just that the probability of him recovering quickly is high. But it's also possible... that he might never recover. So the family needs to be mentally prepared."

Nan Feng nearly choked to death, and Shen Gali felt the same.

A perfectly capable elite professional had turned into a simple child, with a chance of never recovering. Shen Gali had no desire to be a full-time babysitter for a toddler.

Somehow, news had leaked. It was circulating online that Nan Liujing's brain injury had made him foolish and unable to recognize anyone. Despite Nan Feng's repeated efforts to suppress it, it couldn't stop the bottomless pit of greed in people's hearts. He suspected that someone from the hospital had sold the information at a high price; otherwise, why would a crowd of reporters suddenly show up at the hospital entrance on the day of Nan Liujing's discharge?

Taking advantage of the reporters' distraction, they quickly put a mask and sunglasses on Nan Liujing, trying to slip out through the back door without being noticed.

But the back door was also swarming with reporters. Even though Nan Liujing was fully camouflaged, Nan Feng and Shen Gali by his side were both regulars on the trending topics. Even if they couldn't recognize Nan Liujing, they could certainly recognize the two of them.

The reporters swarmed in, surrounding the group.

"Chairman Nan, we've heard that your son, Mr. Nan Liujing, suffered a brain injury and suffered memory loss. Is this true?"

"Mr. Shen, we've heard that your husband, Mr. Nan Liujing, has a brain injury and now has the intelligence of a six-year-old. Is that true?"

One reporter even shoved a voice recorder up to Nan Liujing's mouth, holding up two fingers: "Little friend, do you know what number this is?"

A usually unflappable Nan Feng panicked, instinctively stepping in front of Nan Liujing.

They couldn't stay here any longer, and they couldn't answer any questions. In his current state, Nan Liujing might blurt out "Daddy, I'm scared!" in a panic, and then his mental state would be completely exposed.

Shen Gali was hemmed in by reporters. With everyone talking at once, he couldn't make out what they were asking. All he saw were countless mouths opening and closing, and the glaring flashes of cameras even in broad daylight.

"Mr. Shen, why aren't you saying anything? Does your silence mean confirmation? Has Mr. Nan Liujing really suffered a brain injury?"

Shen Gali knew that if he told the truth, his family would become a reporter gathering spot for a long time to come. Every time they went out, they'd be met with flashing lights. The thought of that was nauseating.

"No. It's false." He said succinctly.

"If it's false, why did you hesitate?" The reporters pressed aggressively, determined to dig up everything today.

The socially anxious Shen Gali was still scared, especially facing so many people, all of them questioning him.

In the past, Nan Liujing would have stepped in, using his assertive attitude to shut the reporters down in a few words, making them too ashamed to come forward again. But now, Nan Liujing had become the one who needed protection. His pillar of support had crumbled.

The flashes kept going. The accompanying bodyguards stepped forward to block the reporters, but the opposition was overwhelming. How could a few bodyguards resolve this?

They knew they wouldn't get anything useful out of Nan Feng, so they all targeted Shen Gali.

"Enough." Suddenly, a cold shout silenced the entire scene.

The reporters turned to look and saw that it was Nan Liujing who had spoken.

Nan Feng rushed to cover Nan Liujing's mouth, terrified that he would say something childish and confirm the rumors of his idiocy.

But Nan Liujing pushed away Nan Feng's hand. His narrow eyes were dark and deep, fixed on the impudent reporters.

He pulled Shen Gali behind him to protect him and confronted the reporters: "I didn't say anything, and you kept talking nonstop, saying I'm an idiot and crazy. And you're bullying my wife. Why are you bullying my wife? Do you want to get a cease and desist from my lawyer?"

The reporters exchanged skeptical glances. They couldn't tell from his words whether his intelligence was impaired or not. He sounded like the old Nan Liujing, but something seemed off.

Just then, the driver finally brought the car around. The bodyguards cleared the way and quickly pushed Nan Liujing into the car. They sped off.

In the car, Nan Feng's face lit up with joy: "Liu Jing, have you recovered—"

Before he could finish, Nan Liujing interrupted him, pouting angrily like a pufferfish:

"Why did they say I'm stupid? I'm not stupid at all. That uncle just now held up the number two, and I recognized it. And they bullied my wife. I'm very angry. I'm going to study hard, become a great lawyer, and send them all to jail!"

Everyone: ...

It was a good thing they had gotten away quickly. They hadn't given him the chance to say that out loud.

Nan Feng calculated. It actually made sense that Nan Liujing would say that. Even though his intelligence was at the level of a six-year-old, he had been more mature and sensible than his peers at that age, and his grades had been top-notch. They could only be thankful that this was Nan Liujing's version of a six-year-old's intelligence.

Shen Gali was exhausted. He leaned weakly against the car seat, staring blankly at the receding street scenery outside the window.

"Wife," Nan Liujing called out from beside him. "What's wrong? Why aren't you happy?"

Shen Gali had no strength to answer. He slowly closed his eyes.

Nan Feng patted his son's hand and said earnestly, "Your wife has been running around for you these past few days and has been very tired. He's exhausted now. Don't keep bothering him. Get well soon so you don't have to worry him anymore."

Nan Liujing silently looked at Shen Gali. After a long moment, he took Shen Gali's hand and clumsily massaged his arm, whispering, "Wife, I'll massage your arm for you. You go to sleep. I won't disturb you."

Driver Yang joked, "Even if Chairman Nan forgets his own father, he'll never forget to dote on his wife."

Nan Feng glared—

To avoid the reporters, Nan Feng arranged for them to temporarily stay at a villa in the northern part of the city. It was sparsely populated with nice scenery, and the house was smaller, making it easier for Nan Liujing to get around.

That evening, Shen Gali planned to sleep in a separate room from Nan Liujing as usual. But when he looked up, he saw Nan Liujing sitting in his wheelchair like a resentful ghost, staring at him with a pitiful expression that looked like it was about to cry.

"Aren't we married? That uncle said couples should share a bed. Why are you sleeping separately from me?"

Shen Gali was just angry. Can Uncle Li just shut his mouth?

But seeing Nan Liujing's current state, he knew that if he didn't give in to his demands, he’d throw a fit and not let him get any sleep.

In bed, Nan Liujing propped himself up on his elbows, looking down at Shen Gali's face with a childishly adorable smile. "Wife, are you still tired? How about I give you a shoulder rub?"

Shen Gali was so groggy his head felt foggy. He said bluntly, "I'm tired. Because you got stupid, I've had to take over your work. But I don't understand anything, and every time I look at the files, I wanna cry."

Nan Liujing was stunned, heartbroken, and dejected.

Because he had become stupid, his wife was suffering so much. It hurt him so much!

"Then, babe, tomorrow you can teach me. I'll get smart fast so you don't have to work for me anymore, okay?"

Shen Gali didn't answer for a long time.

Nan Liujing lowered his head to look closely and realized Shen Gali had already fallen asleep.

He leaned forward, put a hand on Shen Gali's chest, and hugged him tight.

Although he didn't remember how he used to get along with his wife, and he was sure his wife wasn't his usual type, for some reason, when he woke up and saw his wife, he thought he was really cute. He felt an urge to hold him tightly and tell him that he loved him.

Besides, his wife smelled nice. That smell made him drowsy.

Nan Liujing buried his face in Shen Gali's neck and fell into a deep sleep.

*

The next day.

Shen Gali's plan to score two more days of doing nothing failed.

Nan Liujing kept bugging him to teach—elementary school stuff.

Although teaching elementary knowledge wasn't hard, it was incredibly annoying.

For example, when he helped Nan Liujing with second-grade three-digit addition and subtraction.

"You have one hundred and twenty apples. Xiao Ming takes fifty. How many do you have left?"

Nan Liujing: "Who is Xiao Ming?"

Shen Gali:...

"Is Xiao Ming even close to me? Why would he take my apples? Did I agree?"

Shen Gali: "Suppose you agreed, and he takes fifty apples. How many do you have left?"

Nan Liujing frowned: "I don't think I would agree. What's mine is mine, I don't let anyone else touch it."

Uncle Li chimed in, trying to coax him: "Then don't give them to Xiao Ming. What if it's your wife taking fifty apples?"

They thought Nan Liujing would finally figure it out, but he frowned again:

"Zero left."

Uncle Li's eyes went wide as dinner plates: "How can one hundred twenty minus fifty be zero?!"

Nan Liujing argued, totally logical: "I really like my wife. Why would I only give her fifty apples? I'd definitely give her all of them. Everything I have belongs to my wife."

The two of them:...

They didn't want to teach anymore. Might as well give up.

But Shen Gali found this version of Nan Liujing a bit endearing.

He said he wouldn't just give his wife fifty apples; he'd give her all of them.

"Then if I have one hundred twenty apples and give you fifty, how many do I have left?" Shen Gali changed the wording.

This time, Nan Liujing answered instantly: "Seventy."

After saying that, he turned to Uncle Li and boasted: "My wife is so good to me. She only has one hundred twenty apples but gives me fifty. Oh, and Uncle Li, you can't have any of these apples because they're from my wife. I can't share her love with anyone else. Go buy your own apples."

Uncle Li, feeling totally betrayed, gritted his teeth on the spot.

And Nan Liujing was like a broken record asking "why", questioning every piece of knowledge.

Why is the map of the country shaped like a rooster and not like my wife?

Why can't the chickens and rabbits in the same cage problem include my wife?

Why does 'abandon' mean 'give up' and not 'my wife'?

Not only did Shen Gali lose weight, but Uncle Li also looked visibly worn out.

Nan Liujing had only one belief: I love my wife very much. I only want to learn stuff about my wife.

Bai Wei came back to the country. Seeing Nan Liujing like this, she looked disgusted and asked Shen Gali, "How about trading him in for a new one?"

Shen Gali was about to say, "Then swap him quickly," but when he saw Nan Liujing's aggrieved expression, he changed his mind: "Forget it. Switching is too much hassle. Let's just leave it as is."

The seven-day holiday ended quickly. Tomorrow was the day to return to the company.

Shen Gali lay in bed, feeling emo as hell. Today was another day he didn't wanna go to work.

Nan Liujing clung to him like a koala, asking, "Wife, will you teach me to read prose tomorrow? I like Kawabata Yasunari's writing, and I want to watch the crabapple flowers stay awake with you."

He closed his eyes, lashes fluttering slightly. The soft tips of his hair brushed against the corners of his eyes as he recalled the prose poem he’d studied that day.

"Have Uncle Li teach you tomorrow. I have to go to work."

"Why do you have to go to work? I want to go too. I want to come with you."

Shen Gali didn't know how to answer him. He felt it'd be way too much trouble to explain.

After asking "why" a million times, Nan Liujing finally gave in to sleep and fell into a deep sleep.

The next day, Shen Gali, afraid that Nan Liujing would pester him again, got up early while Nan Liujing was still asleep to wash up and sneak out.

But Nan Liujing seemed to have some kind of motion sensor. As soon as Shen Gali sat up, he opened his eyes too.

He pounced and hugged him.

"Wife, don't go to work. I don't want you to have to work so hard."

Shen Gali gritted his teeth: And who exactly made me have to work so hard?

But a crying kid doesn't always get what he wants. No matter how much Nan Liujing begged or threw a fit, Shen Gali refused to take him.

Bringing him to the office like this would be a total disaster.

Shen Gali changed his shoes at the entrance, opened the door, and walked out.

Once in the courtyard, he hadn't taken two steps before he heard the sound of wheels rolling.

Turning around, he saw Nan Liujing gazing at him not far away, his eyes full of pleading like a melancholy fawn. He didn't utter a word, but Shen Gali seemed to hear countless silent questions of "Why didn’t you take me?" echoing in the air.

"If you keep this up, I'll really get angry." Shen Gali glanced at the time—if he didn't leave soon, he'd be late—so he had no choice but to bark at him.

Nan Liujing fidgeted with his fingers and mumbled, sounding a bit hurt, "Okay."

Shen Gali sighed and walked toward Driver Yang.

But after just two steps, he heard the wheels scraping on the pavement again.

He stopped and turned around abruptly.

Nan Liujing was hiding behind a low, thin branch, his face tense and his gaze nervously fixed elsewhere, as if by not looking at Shen Gali, Shen Gali wouldn't see him.

But the branch was too sparse, barely covering half of his sturdy figure, clearly trying to hide in plain sight.

Shen Gali cursed himself for feeling so damn sympathetic at that moment. Nan Liujing spent his days eating well, never had to work, and the guy could probably take on ten people with his build—what was so pitiful about him?

Maybe it was because in that innocent little head of his, Shen Gali was the only person in his world.

Shen Gali gave in and walked back a few steps, and Nan Liujing, scared Shen Gali would get mad, tried to squirm deeper into the bush.

Shen Gali looked around, picked a pinkish-white camellia, and handed it to him: "I'll give you a task. This camellia is a part of me—like my proxy. Take good care of it. When I come back, if I see it intact, I'll reward you."

Kids will be kids—childish tricks could still make him overjoyed.

Nan Liujing's face lit up instantly. He took the camellia with both hands and held it protectively. A breeze ruffled his messy hair, showing off his bright eyes.

He smiled, nodded, and said, "Don't worry, dear, I'll take good care of it."

Shen Gali finally left with peace of mind. Nan Liujing watched his departing figure, his smile gradually fading, and he absentmindedly twirled the flower stem in his fingers.

"Dear, come back soon."

*

News that Nan Liujing had lost it spread like wildfire through every corner of the company.

The interview he gave at the hospital had been posted online. People replayed his words on loop, looking for any hint to see if the rumors of him going crazy were true.

Huanhai was a juicy prize that everyone had their eyes on. It was nearly impossible to expect the younger generation to step down voluntarily—unless an accident happened.

The shareholders didn't say it out loud, but human hearts are complex. Every single one of them wanted to push their own kid up the ladder. So their biggest concern was whether Nan Liujing was truly unable to continue working.

At the first meeting of the new work period, the executives sat in their usual spots, looking calm on the outside but full of undercurrents inside.

They speculated whether Chairman Nan Feng would personally attend the meeting due to what had happened, but instead of Nan Feng, someone unexpected showed up.

Shen Gali was flipping through the day's meeting agenda when the door was suddenly pushed open, followed by the sharp clack of high heels on the floor.

He instinctively looked up.

Tsk.

The executives all stood up, respectfully calling out, "Good morning, chairman's wife."

So Yu Huaisu had come to rule from behind the scenes.

Her red lips curled in a smile, her makeup delicate and elegant. She wore a light green suit that was both decent and graceful, the gentle color complementing her smile.

Yu Huaisu glanced at Shen Gali, then stood next to him. Yu Jinzhu, Nan Feiyao, and the others behind her instinctively stepped back and made way.

She sat down in Nan Feiyao's original seat, greeting the execs like old friends:

"Sorry I'm late. Lately the chairman's blood pressure has been acting up, and Liujing's injury has made him restless. I was afraid he'd get more upset, so I came in his place. I hope you all understand."

One executive couldn't wait to flatter her: "Madam Chairman, they used to call you the Iron Lady before you retired. As CFO, you managed the company's finances flawlessly. After you left, us old-timers were really bummed. We've been waiting day and night for you to come back."

Shen Gali thought: Lick, just lick away.

"Save the fluff. I'm here to help find any gaps in the company's recent work. It's getting late—let's start the meeting." Yu Huaisu wasn't buying the flattery. She'd be over the moon if Shen Gali ever kissed up to her like that.

Even though she'd just said to start, she threw in halfway through, "Before we officially start, there's something I need to clarify, and by the way, give the media a proper explanation for all their doubts lately."

Her eyes were smiling, but there was a cold glint in them, and she slowly turned her gaze to Shen Gali.

At that moment, everyone's eyes followed hers, all landing on Shen Gali.