Chapter 12#

Some scenes in life cannot be washed away by time. Often, only the moment of emotion fades away.

Those words came from Li Ling’s mouth.

Back then, the company’s operations were gradually running into problems, and the conflicts among the shareholders were escalating. But at that time, no one thought of linking these matters to Wang Zheng—or rather, subconsciously, I had excluded Wang Zheng from this vortex.

I still remember how Li Ling was teasing her daughter then, having shed the girl’s shyness, gaining an indescribable charm, along with a faint melancholy in her brows and eyes. Li Ling was a very lovely girl, her life filled with dreams and ideals. Even after she became a wife, that touch of frankness and innocence could still be seen in her eyes.

So it was easy to overlook the wounds hidden beneath her tightly buttoned clothing.

Her daughter’s nickname was Doudou, just like my little boy—she couldn’t wait to break out of her mother’s womb before she was full term. At that time, Li Ling held her in her arms, ordered the coffee she never drank, and said to me—

President, I’m sorry.

Tears fell onto Doudou’s short, waving arms. Her shoulders never stopped trembling.

President… really, really sorry…

It was a newly opened cake shop. Before Li Ling resigned, she kept pestering me to come here with her for afternoon tea. She even said that since I was there to pick up the bill, she wanted to order every single cake in the shop, grabbing one with her left hand and another with her right.

I… I really have no choice. Doudou’s dad lost his job, and he has such strong pride. He… I don’t want him to miss this opportunity…

I don’t know if it was because the air conditioner was turned too low, but I felt that even the blood flowing through my body was ice-cold.

President… I know you won’t forgive me, but… but I still have to tell you, I… I’m sorry, really sorry…

When I walked out of the cake shop, Li Ling’s cries still echoed in my ears. I took out my phone, my fingertips trembling, until the voice on the other end of the line finally came through.

My lips moved, but I only managed to make a sound before he hung up.

“Wang Zheng, why…?”

The only reply was a barely audible sneer.

I have always remembered it, from when I was very young.

Every Spring Festival, both the collateral and main branches of the Wang and Ren families would come to the Ren residence to pay New Year’s visits. That was also the liveliest time in the mansion—the whole house packed with people, boys running around recklessly without restraint, girls hiding shyly behind their mothers, staring wide-eyed at everything.

That year, my father had just passed away.

Seeing the red decorations everywhere, my mother’s eyes would turn red too. Then she would hole up in her room, crying hysterically.

I sat upright, somewhat dazed, beside Old Madam Ren. On big occasions, Old Madam Ren would be more lenient. Seeing that group of children running all over the place, she wouldn’t even frown, but instead chuckle, saying how lively and festive it was to ward off bad luck.

Actually, I felt that Old Madam Ren’s leniency was never really applied to me. Even when my father was still alive, if I ever went wild with those kids, Old Madam Ren would slam her cane hard, point at my mother, and sneer—“Look at him, look at him!

Xiaoyang, this is the wild child you and your wife raised!”

My brain wasn’t particularly sharp, but I was considerate enough.

Later, whenever the uncles and aunts from the branch families saw me, they would praise me to my father—“Xiaoyang, this son of yours is like a little adult, so well-behaved and polite.”

My mother would then give a sweet smile, and my father would ruffle my hair, seemingly letting out a soft sigh.

I knew my father loved me very much.

It’s just a pity that I’ve already forgotten what he looked like. His photos, during my mother’s fits of madness, were all torn to shreds, almost swallowed by her.

That year, no one praised me, no one mentioned my father.

It was taboo during the New Year holiday.

All day, I stuck close to Old Madam Ren, not daring to let my eyes wander. Now there was no one to shield me from her cane and sharp looks.

So I didn’t notice when that group of kids suddenly swarmed near me. By the time I came to my senses, a few of them had accidentally bumped into the low table, and the slightly hot tea spilled onto my new little suit.

The adults in the room fell silent. The parents of those children rushed over, grabbing them and about to hit them.

Suddenly, a pleasant child’s voice piped up from among them, “I told them to come play here.”

It was a very exquisite child.

Even Old Madam Ren’s tightly furrowed brow relaxed slightly when she saw him. She smiled and said, “Kids just playing around, don’t take it seriously. Zhengzheng is really responsible, he has the makings of someone who’ll do great things.”

Everyone chimed in agreement. I was led away to change clothes. No one asked if I was burned.

Actually, I felt pretty aggrieved inside.

A child followed me from behind and stuffed a few candies into my hand.

I have always remembered the way he smiled.

He said—“Big brother, have some candy. My name is Wang Zheng.”

During that time, he grew close to me. We attended classes together, played together, and slept in the same bed.

I also remember during a college reunion, when we talked about childhood memories, Wang Zheng let out a cold laugh and took a sip of his drink. I don’t know what they said, but suddenly the whole group burst into loud laughter.

Among them was a boy who really didn’t like me. Later, in front of many people, he said—“Senior was really unlucky. His parents forced him to get along well with you since he was a kid. He clearly has no real ability, and senior had to play along.”

There was a study in the main residence. The collection wasn’t huge, but it did have a few rare books.

It had been some days since I left the hospital, and with nothing else to do, I would hole up there. When I first took over the Ren Corporation, I added a black grand piano to this study, giving the otherwise somewhat monotonous room a touch of musical atmosphere. Though I wasn’t really good at playing—I’d only learned a bit, just slightly better than a complete novice.

Li Ling used to say—“President, you’re just jealous. I heard that Third Master Ren had another piano recital. The manager went, but you said you had a meeting. Just buy the piano and let it sit there. Don’t bother with it. Let’s go eat at a street stall.”

I was wronged. I truly enjoy listening to piano music, but that doesn’t mean I have to like the music that jerk plays.

It’s like a death knell—my heart is fragile.

But in this life, I haven’t heard much piano music. At least, since I moved back to the main residence, I’ve never once heard a single note from the third floor. Speaking of which, a big house does have its advantages. Apart from going to the company, Third Master Ren in this life still mostly stayed hidden away in his boudoir. Even his three meals were arranged by Uncle Jing and sent to his room.

Mm—I was very satisfied with that.

But today, the moment I opened the study door, I saw behind the layers of bookshelves a luxurious white Steinway piano.

Old Madam Ren once said—“This piano was personally custom-ordered by the old master for San’er. It’s San’er’s treasure.”

There was also a high-end sound system in the study, with a small shelf added to one side. On it were several complete piano performance series. I even spotted the Balzac collection I had returned the other day.

I felt like I was really getting old. Suddenly I wanted to sing—“My heart blossoms…”

A recliner had also been added to the study. I held a copy of Little Women in my hand, my ears filled with the soul-stirring sounds of a little waltz. In my previous life, I had always planned to add more things to the study, but day after day of busy work left me no time for such leisurely pleasures, and I ended up forgetting about it.

I never expected that in this life, I would enjoy such benefits in my old age. Seems like Third Master Ren, when in charge, knew how to enjoy life even more than I did…

Cough, I’m not jealous.

Maybe it’s the laziness I’ve developed these days, but I’ve become particularly prone to drowsiness. As soon as I lie down, my eyelids feel heavy, and my head gets dizzy.

In a daze, I seemed to see a figure. Probably someone coming in to clean. I shifted my body and turned my head.

Something seemed to brush against my ear, a very soft sensation.

A coolness touched the corner of my eye, but I was too lazy to react. It was probably too comfortable, like a dream. In the breeze, a sigh came through.

—Qiri.

—Qiri…

Don’t be angry with Third Uncle.

Don’t be angry with Third Uncle, okay…?

The breath exhaled was also icy cold.

His breath was at my nape. His ink-black hair, like silk, cut into my skin like sharp knives.

Those obsidian-like eyes were completely unfocused.

He slowly bent down and lifted my hands.

But I couldn’t move. Everything before me was like my past dreams, yet more real.

He grabbed my hands and slowly placed them around his own neck.

—Qiri.

—Qiri, you just… just use some force…

—Third Uncle knows. Knows you’re tired.

—It’s okay…

—Third Uncle will help you, Qiri.

The droplets falling from his eyes were also ice-cold.

He slowly, slowly, guided my hands to apply pressure.

Haah—!!

Suddenly, I opened my eyes, breathing heavily. I grabbed the armrest and sat up hastily from the recliner.

“Qiri?”

Startled, I couldn’t help but roar: “No! No! Don’t come near me—!!”

“What’s wrong with you!” Someone walked over, sat down beside me, and reached out a hand to place it on my forehead. I took a deep breath, my hands trembling violently. Looking up, I saw Wang Zheng frowning, still wearing the dark blue uniform of No.1 Middle School.

The little waltz quietly lingered in my ears.

Wang Zheng said softly, “Had a nightmare? You’re drenched in sweat from sleeping.” I shook my head, only then realizing that cold sweat had soaked my clothes. My heart was pounding wildly, and my hands still seemed to feel that icy cold, along with the pulse of blood vessels.

It was a dream. Just a dream.

Not real.

I exhaled, then noticed the blanket that had fallen to the floor. I forced a smile and said, “You’re out of school?” I glanced at the clock on the wall and couldn’t help but freeze—I had actually slept for such a long time.

Wang Zheng humphed, squeezed onto the recliner next to me, and said in a tone full of complaint, “If school hadn’t ended, I’d be bored to death. When are you going to stop loafing around? You sure are comfortable.” In this life, Wang Zheng is a bit different from my memory. His tone of voice hasn’t changed much, and he still has a big temper, but he occasionally lowers his voice, furrows his brows, and mutters something.

Just like when my little boy was acting spoiled.

My chest felt lighter.

Maybe I’m especially popular with kids. In the past, Guaizai, Doudou, and Old He’s children all loved to stick to me. Having lived a second time, the same thing happened with Wang Zheng. These days, Wang Zheng has been watching me like a hawk, sticking to me like glue. Whenever I had nothing to do and chatted with a few servants, Wang Zheng would rush over in a huff and sneer—“Don’t you want to keep your jobs? Chatting during work hours and disturbing the young master’s rest?”

I said—This is tyranny, this is chauvinism, this is… sigh, just like his son’s temperament.

The national study holiday was long over, so Wang Zheng naturally had to go to school. Only then did I relax a little. Originally, I was supposed to report to school too, but fortunately, the lofty Third Master Ren finally acted like a model uncle, instructing me to rest a while longer. So I didn’t have to start the miserable life of waking up early and working late, just like in my previous life, so soon.

I looked at the blanket on the floor. My heart seemed to warm, and the chill that had surged up earlier receded slightly.

I smiled and shook my head. As I bent down to pick up the blanket, Wang Zheng suddenly grabbed hold of me.

“What… what’s wrong?”

Wang Zheng didn’t answer. He stared at my eyes, making my whole body feel creeped out. I gave an embarrassed smile and tried to pull my hand free, but Wang Zheng held on tightly, suddenly leaning forward.

I—

Wang Zheng’s hand reached over me and plucked something from my hair.

“This is…”

Wang Zheng looked at the small piece of silk thread in his hand, twirling it between his fingers with some amusement. His gaze slowly turned cold.

The glow of the setting sun streamed in, and his eyes seemed to be tinged with a blood-red hue.