Chapter 59#

The Loneliness of Third Master Ren (Part 2)

Deeply feeling the absence of someone important by his side, Third Master Ren had been having a rather difficult time these past few days.

On the first day of Ren Qiri’s departure, the heartbreaking sensation was still manageable and not enough to hinder Third Master Ren’s normal routine. He went to the company early in the morning, but by the time the afternoon passed, he felt profoundly exhausted. Consequently, he returned to the Ren family mansion early, took his medicine, and fell asleep.

When Third Master Ren awoke, the sky had turned completely dark. As Old He came to serve a meal, he chuckled and said, “Third Master, before you woke up, the Young Master called.”

Third Master Ren lifted his eyes. He heard Old He continue, “The Young Master and his companions have arrived, so he called to let us know they are safe. I asked the Young Master if he wanted to speak with you, but you were sound asleep at the time. The Young Master said he didn’t want to disturb you, so I didn’t wake you up.”

Third Master Ren slowly put down his spoon. Looking at the pale rice porridge in his bowl, he found it flavorless and had no appetite. Subconsciously, he looked at the antique wall clock by the staircase. The short hand was already pointing at the number nine—it wasn’t too late yet. Third Master Ren slowly stood up from his chair and walked toward the sofa, his pace neither hurried nor sluggish. Old He quickly followed behind, only to see Third Master Ren pick up the old-fashioned gold-plated telephone receiver.

The metal receiver seemed somewhat cold; Third Master Ren recoiled slightly upon the first touch. Having served as a butler for years, Old He was well-versed in Third Master Ren’s temperament and hurriedly stepped forward respectfully: “Third Master, let me do it.”

Old He took the receiver and skillfully dialed the old rotary phone. When the ringing tone came through, Old He turned to look at Third Master Ren with a smile—only to see his master, who resembled a Retired Emperor, knitting his brows at him. The smile on Old He’s face stiffened, and he asked with slight hesitation: “Third Master… aren’t you looking for Secretary Zhang?”

Third Master Ren’s brows furrowed even tighter, his expression as if he had been offended. Old He was struck with panic, wondering what he had done to displease his master. He saw Third Master Ren slowly take the receiver, press the redial button, lean forward slightly to rotate the numbers, and then sit down on the nearby sofa, panting as if exhausted, tilting his head to wait patiently.

“…”

Third Master Ren frowned again and redialed. The result was the same. Old He couldn’t help but ask timidly: “Third Master, are you trying to find… the Young Master?”

Hearing this, Third Master Ren turned back. Old He swallowed, weighing his words before saying, “It’s like this, Third Master. In the countryside where Auntie Fang’s brother lives, the signal is sometimes not very good. The home phone has been cut off for a few days, and it was only when the Young Master went to the nearby market that he managed to call back…”

Oh.

Third Master Ren nodded in understanding and hung up the phone.

He stood up unsteadily and walked toward the stairs. Old He asked anxiously: “Third Master, won’t you eat a little more?” He had only taken a few bites of the porridge, and he hadn’t even tasted the side dishes; how would that do?

Third Master Ren waved his hand and walked upstairs on his own.

Old He did not know what a heavy blow his words just now had dealt to Third Master Ren.

At the end of it all, a deep sigh escaped his lips—in these four days, let alone seeing him, he might not even be able to hear Qiqi’s voice…

With such thoughts, Third Master Ren collapsed onto the bed. He felt a vague sense that things were not good—truly not good.

He closed his eyes, but sleep did not come to him that night.

The next day, Third Master Ren woke up early. Because of his irregular diet yesterday, he suffered the consequences today. Feeling a dull ache in his stomach and looking pale, he washed up and changed his clothes. Old He brought breakfast into his room, where he watched the master slowly sip his porridge. When taking his medicine, his hand shook accidentally, and he spilled water on his clothes. Consequently, Third Master Ren had to slowly and sluggishly go wash up and change his clothes again…

It wasn’t just Old He who noticed; even the managers and secretaries at the company felt that something was off with the Third Master these past two days.

But if asked to pinpoint what was wrong, they couldn’t quite say.

Third Master Ren’s routine was as erratic as ever, but his complexion was becoming increasingly poor, as if he were about to fall ill at any moment.

At night, Third Master Ren lay on his back on the bed—he had missed Ren Qiri’s call again today. It wasn’t that Ren Qiri hung up, but that by the time he finally managed to get to the phone, the signal on the other end had failed again. When he picked up the receiver, only a piercing static came through.

Third Master Ren felt extreme frustration. As if venting his anger, he slammed the receiver down, leaving Old He startled by his side.

Naturally, he couldn’t swallow even a grain of rice for dinner.

Now, Third Master Ren stroked the empty space beside him and sighed silently. He turned on his side and slowly buried his head in Ren Qiri’s pillow. Third Master Ren was not a person who feared loneliness; although he truly preferred silence over noise, that did not mean he did not require the companionship of others by his side.

In this lonely night, Third Master Ren slowly sat upright in bed.

He pursed his lips, contemplated for a moment, and then pressed the call button to summon Old He.

Third Master Ren gave detailed instructions. Old He, having been dragged out from under his covers, opened his eyes wide as he listened; he thought he must have misheard, but when he looked up and met Third Master Ren’s gaze directly, he was stunned.

The expression on the Third Master’s face was clearly not a joke.

Clinging to a sliver of hope, he cautiously advised: “Third Master, the Young Master will be back in two days. You don’t have to… I mean, it’s the countryside. You know there are no hotels there, and you might find it difficult to eat or sleep…”

Third Master Ren closed his eyes and waved his hand.

Old He understood then that the Third Master had made up his mind to go and retrieve the person himself.

He lowered his head silently and turned to go handle the arrangements.

In the early hours of the next day, Third Master Ren got into the car and headed toward Johor Bahru. Since it was an international trip, they stopped several times along the way. Finally arriving in Johor Bahru, the driver followed the route Old He had provided to head into the countryside. The journey was truly jolting; the asphalt road was riddled with potholes, and with the constant heavy rain, the road was barely visible.

Third Master Ren sat inside the car, leaning against the seat, his face so pale it looked almost ghastly.

Finally, just as Third Master Ren was about to faint, they arrived.

This luxury sedan caught the attention of many villagers. They stopped a short distance away from a wooden house on stilts, and they would have to walk along a small path to reach Auntie Fang’s old home.

It was still raining at that moment. The driver grabbed an umbrella and hurried out to open the door for Third Master Ren.

Because of the constant jolting and bumping along the way, Third Master Ren’s vision was no longer clear. Covering his mouth to suppress the urge to vomit, he stepped out of the car with the driver’s support.

At this very moment, Third Master Ren heard shouts.

He slowly straightened up.

“Third Uncle—! Third Uncle!”

It was… He rubbed his temples and focused his gaze on the stilted house ahead.

It seemed someone was waving at him—a person holding an umbrella walked down the steps outside the house and ran toward him quickly.

“Third Uncle—! You’ve arrived!”

He had heard the voice from afar.

It was Qiqi.

Third Master Ren immediately smiled. He slowly spread his arms and took a step forward, intending to embrace the young man…

However, his vision suddenly blurred.

Ren Qiri had only found out that morning that his Third Uncle had followed him here. His first reaction was a startled cry, followed by a flurry of activity from the people at Auntie Fang’s ancestral home. This old countryside house belonged to the family of Auntie Fang’s brother; they were simple, hospitable folk. Once they learned that Third Master Ren was coming, there was naturally a lot of commotion.

Ren Qiri felt a bit apologetic and told them not to fuss, but who would listen? After all, he was a guest—and a highly distinguished one at that. They wouldn’t even let Ren Qiri help, telling him to wait outside the house.

Therefore, Ren Qiri calculated the time and, carrying Auntie Fang’s young son, waited for Third Master Ren’s arrival. Perhaps because of the rain, the journey was much slower than expected, and Ren Qiri couldn’t help but worry—Third Master Ren’s health had improved over the years, but he was always much more delicate than the average person. Such a long car ride would inevitably take a toll on him.

Near dusk, he finally saw a familiar vehicle parked by the side of the road.

Ren Qiri watched intently, and when the driver opened the rear door, he did indeed see a figure slowly emerge.

Third Uncle!

For some reason, he felt a surge of excitement. He waved and shouted toward that direction, then grabbed two umbrellas and ran quickly down the steps.

“Third Uncle—”

He ran barefoot along the path, splashing water as he stepped through the puddles.

Third Master Ren looked over, a smile on his face, his arms seemingly open. However, the next second—

Ren Qiri watched as his Third Uncle stumbled a step forward, his eyes rolled back, and he collapsed.