Chapter 13 - 1#

I struggled to open my eyes, blinking painfully under the harsh light. There was a click beside me, and then I heard that voice, now near, now far: “The young master’s eyes are fine for now, but he must be sure to rest more and not overwork himself.”

Uncle Jing walked over personally, bending at the waist before the physician who was past fifty, speaking with deference: “Sorry to trouble you, Doctor Xu.”

I sat up from the bed in a daze. Doctor Xu seemed to say something to Uncle Jing, but my mind was too foggy to catch it. I only heard Doctor Xu’s hearty laugh: “…This is a personal request from Third Master. Speaking of which, I’ve lived a long life, but I’ve never seen anyone like Third Master…”

When Doctor Xu saw me sitting up, he leaned down and patted my shoulder. I shook my head to clear it, then quickly said, “Thank you, Doctor. Sorry for all the trouble these past days.” When you get old, even lying down for a while makes you confused.

Doctor Xu chuckled. He had a white beard, a bit like the mascot of a certain fast-food chain, and looked very kind.

I still had some impression of this Doctor Xu. In my previous life, I’d only seen him a few times. He was very famous both domestically and internationally—rumored to have published many medical studies and won several awards. Doctor Xu’s medical skills were superb, and his demeanor was inscrutable. I truly realized this only a few years after I took over the Ren Corporation.

After Third Master Ren had that inexplicable accident and moved to Canada to recover, he cut off contact with almost everyone. Third Master Ren had only come to prominence a few years before Old Madam Ren passed away. At the height of his power, even when I was far away in America, I couldn’t avoid hearing about his exploits. They were like legends—he made the financial times’ front page, sold better than entertainment magazines, and even set annual sales records. People flocked to him for that face and his billions in assets. He was truly the rage of the moment, praised by everyone.

Tsk, tsk. It was like a cult.

Third Master Ren enjoyed his glory days for a while. But once Old Madam Ren passed away, the hot potato that was the Ren Corporation landed squarely in my hands. Then Third Master Ren had that inexplicable accident, and by the time I came to my senses after the kidnapping incident, he had already retreated to Canada.

Mr. Xu Zhimo wrote a poem that, when I listened to it, really made me melancholy.

Ah, ha—so Third Master Ren had the potential to be a great poet too.

The next time I saw him was in my third year as the CEO of the Ren Corporation.

It was at my son’s first birthday party.

When my son was born, he was premature and spent most of the first half-year in the hospital. We never got to hold a full-moon banquet, and I felt guilty about it, so I decided to combine the celebrations. We invited a lot of people back then—celebrities, socialites, the usual crowd. The hotel decorations and banquet program were all personally supervised by Shu Yuan; nothing was overlooked.

Shu Yuan studied art. She married me right after graduation. She was naturally beautiful, with a certain grace in every movement. Her voice was gentle, and she seemed soft and delicate.

I held my son, who wasn’t much bigger than a kitten, and looked at his rosy little face. I turned my head and saw Shu Yuan’s meticulously made-up face. At that moment, I truly thought—actually, living like this for the rest of my life wouldn’t be so bad.

For a lifetime: a wife, a son.

When my son grew up, there would be grandchildren to dote on. Or maybe I’d take my old lady on a cruise around the world, and when I couldn’t travel anymore, I’d find a quiet place to retire.

That would be fine too.

Actually, compared to holding a grand banquet at a hotel, I would have preferred to sit around a table with Old He and his whole family. Sister Fang had been planning to cook a big pot of chicken soup and red eggs, but Shu Yuan liked lively events. She had gone through the hardship of pregnancy and childbirth, and after our son was born, he had a string of minor and major illnesses. Thinking back, I had really neglected her during that time, so now I naturally had to go along with her wishes.

I don’t have a high tolerance for alcohol. After a few drinks, I could barely hold my son, so I had to hand him over to Shu Yuan. But Shu Yuan was still young after all; she frowned slightly and immediately passed him to the nanny. Last time, our son had peed on her, and she didn’t have much patience anyway. She rarely held him or soothed him, usually leaving everything to the nanny.

It pained me to see.

Maybe it was because my head was heavy at the time. The uncles and friends surrounding me fell silent, but I was still pretending to be hearty, saying “Cheers,” and gulping down a big mouthful of wine in a daze. Out of the corner of my eye, I saw a path slowly opening ahead. Following everyone’s gaze, I looked—

And I choked.

I coughed violently. Fortunately, Secretary He reacted quickly and handed me a handkerchief. I took it awkwardly and covered my mouth.

Time is always ruthless, but it had shown rare leniency toward him.

Except for his legs, which had still been able to move three years ago, his complexion actually looked pretty good. The person pushing his wheelchair was a stranger; I didn’t see Uncle Jing.

Back then, he was wearing soft, light-colored satin. His hair reached almost to his waist, neatly combed. The air seemed to carry the faint scent of sandalwood, an ancient and solemn atmosphere.

It was a bit uncomfortable.

In just a moment, several people rushed to greet him. Among them were shareholders of the Ren Corporation or business tycoons—people who had been navigating the commercial world for decades. Yet they all addressed him with a respectful “Third Master.”

Time can dilute many things.

Third Master Ren had been in seclusion for three years—not long, not short. The glory of those days might have faded from memory, but everyone in the industry still remembered: with just a look, Third Master Ren could make people feel an almost fearful reverence from head to toe.

That gaze—too deep, too heavy. It seemed to contain too many things.

It appeared indifferent, yet carried extreme ruthlessness.

That was something I understood only years later.

Third Master Ren’s appearance was gentle and harmless, but no one had a stronger possessive streak. If anyone coveted what he held in his palm, there was no need for an outburst. He had his ways, slowly grinding people down until they were destroyed.

Like me.

He probably thought that if I hadn’t come between him and Wang Zheng, they wouldn’t have been entangled for ten years. Actually, I don’t think that’s entirely true. Wang Zheng was too proud, and Third Master Ren too cold—both were top-tier figures. In the end, I had to wade into this muddy water, like a clown, covered in dust.

But people always like to shift blame.

Wang Zheng had just accidentally slept with me once. Was there any need for him to torment me like that, to push me to the brink?

Cough, cough—

Ah, never mind that. Long forgotten.

Out of politeness, even if I was unwilling a thousand times over, I had to bring my wife and son to toast the elder.

Back then, Third Master Ren’s expression was quite gentle. His face was pale, and he didn’t look well. Even the hand holding the wine glass trembled slightly.

Third Master Ren rarely spoke, especially in crowded settings. His lips, pale to the point of appearing purple, were tightly pressed together.

I remember he only said this one sentence: 『Con-grat-u-la-tions.』

Medical science had advanced considerably in those years, so Third Master Ren didn’t struggle as much when speaking as he had before. The pauses weren’t as long, and his words sounded quite连贯, though still not very clear. But this “congratulations” seemed to carry some weight; he used a lot of breath. After speaking, he coughed softly, looking almost frail. Yet he still tilted his head back and downed the aged red wine in one gulp.

Third Master Ren had a set of longevity locks made for my son. It was a fine piece of white jade, exquisitely crafted, clearly the result of much thought. Shu Yuan couldn’t help but hold it in her hands for a closer look, her previously wary expression softening. She called him “Third Uncle” quite smoothly. Shu Yuan was young and inexperienced; her thoughts were mostly written on her face. Fortunately, Third Master Ren didn’t seem to mind. He looked pleased and nodded with a smile at Shu Yuan.

Third Master Ren didn’t even have to fake that kind, grandfatherly expression—it seemed carved into his bones. Back when he could still command wind and rain at Ren Corporation, he had done many earth-shattering things. The one I remember best was the fire sale acquisition of the Chang family’s hotel in Hong Kong.

The grandest of the Chang family’s properties, the Changtian Hotel, had the Ren Corporation as its biggest beneficiary during construction. I had just started college back then and was interning at the company with Wang Zheng. Wang Zheng had actually landed an important position and was busy running around, hardly ever seen. As for me, I was given a sinecure in name, but actually I had an idle job with flexible hours and even a private break room. Speaking of which, that position was personally approved by Third Master Ren, who specially instructed all departments not to send any important documents to my desk.

Looking back, Third Master Ren had been cautious from the start. I wandered around the company every day, but I wasn’t very free. My desk was separated from the general manager’s office only by a large pane of bulletproof glass. From the outside, it looked dark; from the inside, you could see everything clearly.

Third Master Ren guarded against me as warily as if I were a thief.

Thanks to that, I witnessed that not-so-small farce firsthand and even got dragged into it.

I remember not long before that, I had seen Old Man Chang at a party. The old gentleman had been quite hale and hearty, speaking with a strong voice. Just days earlier, he and Old Madam Ren had been discussing matching his gentle, refined youngest daughter with Third Master Ren. But then, in the blink of an eye, Old Man Chang’s face was deathly pale. He couldn’t walk without support. His previously jet-black hair seemed to have turned white overnight. Short distances left him panting, as if he had aged a dozen years in an instant.

Old Man Chang was also a figure who had fought alongside the late Master Ren, someone who had dominated the scene for decades. Yet now, he was almost kneeling, begging for an audience with Third Master Ren. He brought his daughter and charged straight to the thirty-first floor, outside the general manager’s office. I only vaguely knew the outline of what was happening. From a distance, I heard the old man’s cry—“Let me see Third Master! Let me see Third Master!”

The secretary had already called security. I watched as those bear-like security guards blocked the father and daughter at the elevator entrance. Old Man Chang insisted on forcing his way in, but ended up being pushed to the ground. I remembered that when I was a child, Old Man Chang had patted my head and praised me for being smart. A surge of hot-bloodedness overwhelmed me. I rushed over to help the old man up. But the old man suddenly flared up. He slapped my hand away, and the cane in his hand swung fiercely. The tearful young daughter beside him also started cursing. I forget the details, but it involved words like “lackey” and “dog slave.”

Sigh. It’s hard to be a good person. Believe me, that’s the truth.

I was beaten and chased, looking pathetic. The secretary was frozen in place. When the security guards came to pull us apart, it only added to the chaos. Eventually, I was the one pushed to the ground. The back of my head hit hard, and my forehead bumped into something—it hurt terribly. Just as I was dizzy and reeling, Uncle Jing finally arrived with Third Master Ren to mediate.

I was blocked by several security guards and couldn’t see clearly. I only vaguely saw Old Man Chang, looking as if he had seen Jesus, rushing forward with his daughter to prostrate themselves. I had fallen too hard and couldn’t hear anything. I only knew that Third Master Ren had a faint smile on his lips. Then, suddenly, a scream arose beside me—“Ah! Blood! He’s bleeding! Quick! Call for a doctor!”

That part I remember clearly.

In the chaos, someone helped me up. My hand pressed against the stinging spot on my forehead. Just before I lost consciousness, I saw Third Master Ren’s gloomy expression suddenly change, as if he had witnessed something horrifying. His eyes went wide, and all the color drained from his face in an instant, like he’d seen a ghost.

Later, Old Man Chang breathed his last in the hospital. I heard his eyes refused to close even in death. In his hand, he clutched tightly a thin piece of paper. Where the character “Chang” had originally been inscribed, it had been replaced with “Yun,” written in light, flowing, and bold ink.

I’ve digressed.

Anyway, that night, Third Master Ren was in high spirits. He drank every toast offered to him, observing all formalities. Later, he drank quite a lot, but his complexion grew strangely darker.

Downing glass after glass of strong liquor, the person behind him couldn’t dissuade him. I saw his eyes wandering badly. Then, I saw another group of uncles bringing their children forward to pay respects. I quickly stepped forward with a smile and took a few drinks for him.

—President Ren, you’re nervous! You’re afraid we’ll get Third Master drunk? Haha! President Ren, you don’t know! Third Master can hold his liquor like nobody else—no one can match him!

—President Ren is being filial! No, no, President Ren, you can’t escape either. Drink!

The smell of alcohol filled the air. The word “filial” from left and right made my head spin. Several people refilled my glass, urging me with laughter to down it in one go.

How could I fend off these old foxes? I felt my stomach churning with nothing but the smell of alcohol, slightly sour. Just as I was about to raise my glass, someone stopped my hand. The gesture was subtle, but it made everyone fall silent.

Third Master Ren’s lips slowly curved upward. He tilted his head back, the movement fluid and seamless. The hand holding his glass didn’t waver.

A few people tactfully laughed and joked. I smiled wryly, trying subtly to shake off Third Master Ren’s hand that was holding me back. But that slender, delicate hand was clamped tight around my elbow, ice-cold.

Third Master Ren’s gaze was dark and intense. His face was deathly pale.

His lips moved. Judging by the shape alone, I couldn’t tell what he was saying. It looked a bit like “zheng” or…

At the time, I just found it inexplicable. Looking back now—

Tell me, how could there be such a coincidence in this world? Wang Zheng, who tormented his subordinates all year round, suddenly said he had a headache and didn’t come? Third Master Ren, who had disappeared for three years, suddenly showed up in public?

Besides, Wang Zheng hadn’t taken much leave in the previous two years. If he did, he’d vanish for half a month without a trace. But this year, he had been quiet, almost setting a record for perfect attendance.

So the two of them were having a lovers’ quarrel.

Too bad I couldn’t see through their relationship at the time. I ended up with some improper thoughts, and later, I made a fool of myself that everyone in Asia knew about.

I’d seen plenty of people get drunk and act crazy, but I never expected Third Uncle, when truly drunk, to be a bit clingy. Even when he entered the break room, he held on tightly. If I tried to pull away even slightly, he would look up, and I’d immediately deflate.

Fortunately, Doctor Xu arrived.

By then, Doctor Xu was already advanced in age and had brought two others with him. I remember that as soon as he entered, he nodded at me, then said with gentle reproach to Third Master Ren: 『…Third Master, you’re really putting me in a difficult spot. You just had surgery. You need to rest properly. There’s no need to rush like this.』

He had someone bring a blood pressure monitor. Third Master Ren wasn’t cooperative. Even half-reclining in the lounge chair, his hands almost covering my arms. Doctor Xu looked at me, sighed softly, and said another sentence—『Third Master, you’re really drunk. You can’t see clearly anymore…』

My arm suddenly hurt, so I called out, “Third Uncle.”

He froze.

For a long moment, he seemed to wake with a start and let go. Before I could see his expression clearly, he turned his head away, his hand covering his mouth, trembling violently, letting out a low groan.

I rubbed my aching elbow. At the time, I just thought his temper was even stranger than before. Now, thinking about it—

He might have mistaken me for Wang Zheng.

After a while, Doctor Xu politely asked me to leave. The look in his eyes was strange. The nurse beside him gave me a business card with the name “Xu Changsheng” on it.

Later, when I saw Third Master Ren again, his complexion had greatly improved. He still had that slightly indifferent gaze. The moment his lips curled up, I could still hear the barely perceptible sighs around us.

Even later, Third Master Ren no longer needed a wheelchair. He just leaned slightly on a cane. That look in his eyes seemed like he was forever standing at the highest point, looking down at the crowd with a hint of pity, a hint of disdain.

If the Third Master Ren before the accident could still be considered gentle and mild, then after these years, anyone with a bit of discernment inside or outside the industry probably knew that when it came to the word “ruthless,” if Third Master Ren didn’t claim it, no one else deserved it.

——————

Actually, before my father’s accident, I had never seen this person called Third Master Ren.

But I do remember that when I was a child, Old Madam Ren often talked about “San’er.” Sometimes at the dinner table, sometimes when uncles and elders came to visit. The most common time I heard her mention San’er was when she argued with my father.

I don’t remember it very clearly, but I knew that my father and Old Madam Ren had a tense relationship. I don’t know if it was because of my mother.

The worst argument happened when Old Madam Ren was so angry that she swept all the calligraphy brushes and inkstones off the desk. The noise was so loud that the entire house could hear it.

—Fine! None of you can give me peace of mind!—I, this old woman, can’t control you anymore! Can’t control you anymore!

My mother and I were in the room. She was sitting next to me, her long curly hair covering her profile. I was coloring on a piece of drawing paper. I’ve forgotten what I was drawing. My mother patted my shoulder and said, 『Go ahead, take it to show your father and grandmother.』

My mother’s voice was sweet, soft, and gentle. It felt like a breeze brushing past.

The door wasn’t closed. When I crept closer, Old Madam Ren was already slumped on the sofa, her shoulders shaking as if she were crying. The room was a mess. My father stood with his back to me. After a moment, he went to help her up. Old Madam Ren shook him off fiercely. She lifted her head, and her hand trembled as she pointed at my father.

—Get out of my sight! I’ll call San’er back right now! The two of you… the two of you! I’ll have San’er come back and see how you bully your mother! I’ll have him come back and send this old woman off!

I don’t remember what my father looked like. I only know he seemed troubled. In my memory, whenever Old Madam Ren mentioned San’er, my father’s face would darken.

My mother whispered to me that it was because San’er would take away father’s things.

My father must have said something, because Old Madam Ren suddenly shot up from the sofa and slapped him hard across the face. I was so startled that the drawing paper and crayons fell from my hands.

Old Madam Ren and my father both looked at me.

I quickly bent down to pick up the paper and crayons. My mother had bought them for me.

Old Madam Ren stomped over, grabbed my elbow, and asked directly—“Does Grandma love you or not?”

She was stepping on my drawing paper. Her grip was strong. I was terrified. Old Madam Ren’s face was harsh, but her tone was very soft.

—Ri’er, be good. Your father isn’t filial to Grandma. Grandma will call your Third Uncle back. Is that okay, Ri’er?

—Ri’er, do you remember? San’er doted on you the most. When you were little, your father couldn’t even soothe you. It was your Third Uncle who coaxed you every day.

My father came over and pulled me.

—Mom! What are you saying to the child? This is adult business!

—Why can’t I ask? What right do you have to stop me? I should have let Ri’er know long ago! Let’s see if he still recognizes you as his father! What’s the matter, Xiaoyang? Afraid the truth will come out?

—Mom! Don’t talk nonsense in front of Qiqi! He’s still young!

Old Madam Ren stared at me. It felt like the old witch in a fairy tale book. She wouldn’t let my father come to take me. Her fingernails seemed to dig into my flesh. The pain made tears spill from my eyes. I looked at the crayons on the floor and finally burst into loud sobs.

I remember I said, “I don’t want Third Uncle. Third Uncle is a bad person. He’ll take Daddy’s things.”