Chapter 62#

Extra: Unexpected

On any calm afternoon, in front of the main entrance of the Ren’s Twin Towers in the city center, a scene like this would always unfold.

The two rows of employees standing straight at the door would bow in perfect unison the moment that man stepped out of the car. The sun in Country S is scorching; as soon as he stepped out, his attendants would quickly open an umbrella, and in the blink of an eye, over a dozen bodyguards would surround him, escorting him safely and securely into the building as if guarding an emperor.

Such a display, akin to an imperial inspection, might seem a bit exaggerated to outsiders, but this Third Master Ren is truly someone out of the ordinary.

A year ago, Third Master Ren fell severely ill. Afterward, he handed over the position of President of the Ren Corporation to his own nephew. On the surface, it was said to be for the sake of recuperating, but since the young Master Ren took office, the Third Master has come to the company almost every single day.

You might ask, what does an old man come here for every day? In truth, he harbors no sinister intentions.

“Third Master.”

The general secretary, having just gently closed the door, turned back to look at the man sitting sedately on the sofa and whispered, “…The President is still discussing matters with Executive Jiang of Changlong. It seems it won’t be ending so soon. The President asked me to tell you that if you are tired, you should first…” The secretary’s voice grew softer and softer, becoming almost trembling by the end.

Third Master Ren leaned halfway against the sofa, his eyes lowered slightly, quietly rubbing the jade ring on his ring finger with his slender, jade-like fingers, revealing neither joy nor anger.

The experienced attendant beside him smiled slightly at the secretary and said, “The Third Master means for you to wait a little longer; there is no rush.”

Wait… a little longer? He had already been waiting for nearly four hours.

The poor secretary, Lin, who had just been promoted, wore a slightly stiff smile on his face as he picked up the half-cool porcelain cup on the table to refill it with hot tea and fetch some orange preserves…

Third Master Ren came here every day, sitting there all day like a deity, never feeling tired, but he was certainly wearing out all the secretaries of the new President.

“Third Master.” The attendant glanced at his watch again, his mind racing, before leaning down to whisper a reminder: “It is almost time to get off work. The meeting inside has been going on for too long.”

The man in the light-colored silk robe seemed to have his patience worn thin. He turned his eyes slowly, his well-maintained face reflected in the mirror outside the meeting room, his thin lips pursed.

If it were official business, this would be unavoidable. But this Executive Jiang from Changlong… Third Master Ren subconsciously rubbed the back of his hand. His ears seemed sharp enough to hear the clear laughter coming from the other side of the wall—though it was obviously impossible for sound from inside to penetrate the soundproof wall.

Third Master Ren frowned and gripped the armrest of the chair as if to stand up, but immediately changed his mind. He sat back down, placed his hands back where they were, picked up the hot tea, and took a dull, tasteless sip. His tightly locked brow seemed to be struggling to restrain something.

Third Master Ren understood himself: he was a man with flaws in his character.

Whatever he got his hands on, he would always hold onto tightly. Ever since he was young, nothing that caught his eye had ever slipped through his fingers. He had never been as calm and steady as he appeared on the surface; his methods were often extreme. If he hadn’t lived through one lifetime and miraculously started over again…

Third Master Ren let out a silent sigh.

He seemed to be reminded of that time he fell ill a year ago.

It had come so suddenly, without any warning. He had collapsed during a meeting and had spent several chaotic days before finally regaining consciousness.

When Third Master Ren opened his eyes in a daze, the first thing he saw was, naturally, the young man he held closest to his heart. However, Ren Qiri clearly didn’t look much better than he did—his eyes were bloodshot, his chin was covered in thin, scruffy stubble, his shirt was wrinkled, and when he realized the Third Master was awake, his hands trembled violently as he beat his own head, as if trying to hide his tears, hoarsely calling out, “Third Uncle…”

Afterward, Third Master Ren learned from Old He that Ren Qiri had been reminded of the death of the Old Master Ren—that man had also been in his forties when he suddenly fell into a coma and then simply passed away.

“Third Master, people always say that wealthy families have no affection, but both A-Fang and I say that’s not true. All those years the Young Master was away, we saw how you felt about him. Now the tables have turned… Sigh.”

The honest butler smiled as he tucked a blanket around the young man dozing by the hospital bed and shook his head. “Third Master, if I may be so bold, there are so many people out there waiting for this day. The days you collapsed, the Young Master went to soothe the company staff during the day and spent his nights in the hospital… Sigh, I wonder which of you uncle and nephew owes the other more.”

During the days he was in a coma, the Ren Corporation had been hit by all sorts of unfavorable rumors. His health had been failing for decades, and many people had been eyeing his position, waiting for this very moment. Having finally waited for it, they naturally didn’t let the opportunity pass. When Third Master Ren woke up, Ren Qiri had hidden it from him, running back and forth between the company and the hospital every day.

However, Ren Qiri had indeed been worried to an extreme.

Ren Qiri could never have imagined what Third Master Ren represented.

Third Master Ren lay half-propped up in the hospital bed, gently stroking the young man’s hair. In just half a month, Ren Qiri had lost a significant amount of weight, and now he was slumped over the bedside in exhaustion, one hand still resting in Third Master Ren’s palm.

“Third Master, everything has been taken care of.”

Third Master Ren nodded slightly. Ren Qiri seemed to be having some sort of dream, his brows knitted together.

“As for the other matters, Third Master, how would you like us to—”

Third Master Ren waved his hand impatiently.

The person standing in the shadows understood immediately.

Ren Qiri opened his eyes in a daze, looked around, and murmured softly, “I think I heard something just now…”

Third Master Ren shook his head slightly, his fingertips brushing gently over the young man’s eyes before moving slowly to the side. Ren Qiri understood his Third Uncle’s meaning. After looking around with a hint of awkwardness, he gingerly climbed onto the large, luxurious hospital bed.

His nose was filled with the familiar scent of sandalwood, mixed with a faint medicinal odor. Ren Qiri tilted his head slightly, and that cold hand rested on his shoulder, patting him gently as if soothing a child to sleep.

The sound of the heartbeat in his ears was real.

“You…” Ren Qiri’s eyes reddened, and he said as if sleep-talking, “You must not have anything happen to you.”

Third Master Ren nodded silently.

“I can help… I know I don’t have much talent… but I can help you. With the company, no matter what it is… you cannot have anything happen to you, I…”

Third Master Ren lowered his eyes, his forehead resting gently against Ren Qiri’s, his fingers tightly interlaced with his.

He had made his Qiqi cry.

He felt very guilty.

“Third Master, the Young Master and his guests are coming out.”

Third Master Ren, who had been resting with his eyes closed, opened them. He heard the young man’s uniquely warm and gentle voice.

“Alright, I will leave the other matters to you, Executive Jiang. I wish us a pleasant cooperation.”

“I told you not to call me Executive. You can call me Endrew, or… Jingwen? Fine—I know, this is business. Now that it is after work hours, can you have a meal with me as a friend this time?”

“I…”

Ren Qiri turned his head and, as expected, caught sight of Third Master Ren. The man walking out from behind the door gave the person in front of him a smile.

Third Master Ren recognized this person.

People of Third Master Ren’s standing usually don’t remember many people, especially the younger generation; the sheer variety of people always made him feel dizzy. But this Jiang Jingwen, the grandson of the Changlong Jiang family head, had left an impression on him from the very first time they met.

Jiang Jingwen was of mixed heritage, with exquisite features, pale blue eyes, and, compared to other young people, a hint of audacious beauty.

Such a face, and that person who had already left… there were many similarities, weren’t there?