Chapter 57: Is there nothing you can do if you ask Zheng Bingyi?
In the morning, after washing up and heading into the living room, Huo Niansheng said, “You don’t really call me by my name.”
Chen Wengang was taken aback for a moment. “Huh, what about it?”
“‘Huh’,” Huo Niansheng complained. “‘Young Master Huo’ this, ‘Young Master Huo’ that. I don’t know if you’re being sarcastic or what you mean by it. I think you’re deliberately mocking me and keeping your distance. I didn’t hold it against you before, but times have changed.”
“It’s not like I haven’t called you by your name…” Chen Wengang was hugged from behind, pressing down on the frivolous hand making mischief inside his clothes. “Don’t…”
…
“Remember this lesson for the future.” Huo Niansheng pressed a bit of warmth into the back of his neck. “If I don’t like what I hear, there will be a punishment.”
With no room service available at home, Huo Niansheng opened the refrigerator. “What do you want to eat?”
Chen Wengang stood beside him, looking inside. He guessed the domestic staff had stocked it. “Do you know how to cook?”
Huo Niansheng took out a carton of eggs. “What about you?”
Chen Wengang shook his head. There was a large buffer zone between “knowing how” and “not knowing how.” Even if he had some culinary skills, it was only enough to be edible. His best dish was the dog food he prepared for Harley; food meant for human consumption was a different story.
With a face like his—one that looked as if it didn’t belong to the mundane world of mortals—it seemed only natural that he wouldn’t know how to cook. However, Chen Wengang didn’t think so. A passion for cooking seemed more like a privileged hobby for those who loved life. He didn’t know if he counted as one of those people. Most likely not.
Huo Niansheng lifted him up and sat him on the kitchen island. “Then let’s see how we can avoid starving to death.”
Chen Wengang laughed and hopped back down, watching him lay out the ingredients one by one on the counter. Sitting up there made him feel as if he were also a dish waiting to be thrown into the pot.
In the end, Huo Niansheng toasted a couple of buns and layered them with a mishmash of ingredients, making two richly filled sandwiches.
One bite in—the bread was crispy on the outside and soft on the inside. Lettuce, egg, salmon, hot dog sausage, pickles, and yellow mustard were all mixed together. Chen Wengang was easy to feed; he wasn’t picky about anything. To him, this was already a perfect morning.
As he ate, he messaged his eldest uncle, Chen Zeng, setting up a time to meet. He planned to resolve the issue with his younger cousin, Chen Xiangling.
Huo Niansheng casually turned on the TV news.
The morning news anchor was reporting on global economic trends.
Huo Niansheng poured two glasses of orange juice, sliding one across the table until it reached Chen Wengang’s hand. His tone was teasing about his dedication to work: “Contacted your boss yet? Do you have the day off today?”
Chen Wengang nodded. His gaze shifted from the TV screen to Huo Niansheng’s face. He seemed to want to say something but was weighing his words.
Huo Niansheng asked, “What is it?”
“I’m considering something.”
“Oh? What is it?”
“What do you think… if I resigned from the Zheng Group?”
“I thought it was something serious, to warrant you being so cautious,” Huo Niansheng said. “Of course, you can do whatever you want.”
He looked Chen Wengang up and down with unbridled appraisal and smiled. “Even if you do nothing at all and just stay by my side every day… I might actually be happier.”
Coming from his mouth, it sounded like an entirely mundane matter. Chen Wengang smiled, but it felt as if a heavy stone had been lifted from his heart. His attitude made him feel a sense of relief.
Because the reality was not that simple; it wasn’t just a question of whether to resign from a position.
His life had reached a crossroads.
Thinking about it, once he left the Zheng Group, he would simply be Zheng Bingyi’s adopted son in name only. He wouldn’t inherit any property, he wouldn’t work at the Zheng Group, and he would no longer have any solid backing behind him. Furthermore, he couldn’t possibly continue living in someone else’s house until he was thirty or forty; eventually, he would have to move out and live on his own.
At that point, he would just be an incredibly ordinary person living in an alleyway of the old city district, working for a public welfare organization.
If his eldest uncle and aunt found out, they would certainly become hysterical and try everything in their power to stop him from reaching that outcome.
With this thought in mind, Chen Wengang made his decision: he needed to seize the time to resolve the issues he could first.
The agreed-upon time to meet his eldest uncle was the following Friday. Chen Wengang had work that day, so he could slip out during his lunch break to see him.
The atmosphere happened to be quite good that day. Early in the morning, while chatting with Zheng Maoxun, Chen Wengang revealed a bit of his intention to resign.
Zheng Maoxun still found it hard to accept: “I still don’t get it. Is your current position not satisfying enough for you?”
He paced around the office somewhat irritably, his thigh slamming into the corner of his desk with a clang, making him grimace in pain.
When he turned back around, Chen Wengang was looking at him calmly.
Zheng Maoxun sucked in a sharp breath and sat down across from him: “Forget it, I was talking bullshit, just ignore me.”
Chen Wengang smiled at him gently: “It’s fine, you’ve still made progress. Just try to be a bit more tactful next time you speak.”
Zheng Maoxun felt like tearing his hair out again, grabbing his head with both hands in frustration: “I just don’t understand, why do you have to be so stubborn?”
“I’m not leaving immediately. Actually, I haven’t completely made up my mind yet,” Chen Wengang said.
Silence descended upon the office for a moment. The spot where Zheng Maoxun bumped his thigh was still throbbing. “Then why the rush?”
“I’m not rushing. It’s just that last time you were unhappy about being kept in the dark, so this time I’m telling you in advance. I consider you someone I can discuss things with.” Chen Wengang added, “I hope to have your understanding. Can you accept me putting it that way?”
“You didn’t discuss this with Zheng Yucheng?”
“Why would I discuss it with him? Only you, and at most I might let Baoqiu know.”
“…I see.” Zheng Maoxun suddenly felt somewhat flattered. “Then what do you plan to do in the future? Are you really going to become a social worker?”
“Let me finish my studies first. By then, my job might not even qualify me to speak face-to-face with the Second Young Master Zheng.”
“Chen Wengang, what kind of person do you fucking take me for?!” Zheng Maoxun suddenly felt the urge to strangle him again.
“I’m just joking with you. You’re not that kind of person. Even if I resign, our relationship won’t change.”
“Hey, I have to ask. Lately, have you been a bit… Who taught you to talk like that?”
Chen Wengang smiled, suppressing a laugh. After smoothing his ruffled feathers a bit more, he left the office.
At noon, his eldest uncle Chen Zeng arrived and messaged Chen Wengang. The uncle and nephew booked a private room in a small restaurant.
Chen Zeng’s face was etched with worry. He was indeed mired in trouble recently.
Previously, his boss had partnered with someone to open a new company and instigated Chen Zeng into becoming a nominal legal representative. He also encouraged him to invest his savings into the company, making him a nominal shareholder. However, it turned out to be a shell company. Only a few months had passed, and the partner had absconded with the funds.
Chen Zeng’s dream of getting rich had barely begun before he was informed that the company’s debts could not be paid. As the legal representative, he would undoubtedly bear the brunt of any lawsuits, and he might also be liable for compensation up to the amount of his capital contribution. Otherwise, he wouldn’t have gone back on his word and asked his daughter for her salary.
But Chen Wengang simply laid his cards on the table.
“That’s how it is. She has now taken a leave of absence from school. At least for this year, the school definitely won’t assign her any work.”
Chen Zeng was initially stunned. Then, visibly, the veins on his forehead bulged: “That unfilial daughter, where did she get the nerve?”
He slammed his hand on the table, making his wine glass jump, and threw a fit. Through it all, Chen Wengang watched calmly as a bystander.
Only after his uncle had vented his anger did Chen Wengang speak: “You don’t need to be this angry, and you don’t need to scold her. From the very beginning, I was the one who encouraged her. I apologize for going about it the wrong way, but she absolutely must attend university.”
The reproach in Chen Zeng’s tone lessened slightly: “Wengang, you’re too rebellious. How could you do something like this?”
Chen Wengang lowered his eyes: “I might as well tell you the truth. When my father was alive, he favored Lingling and wanted her to study hard. A while ago, I even dreamed of him… If I can’t fulfill this, it will be a lifelong regret for me. You and Auntie have to take responsibility for Guangzong and Yaozu’s studies, and your burden is heavy. Since I took on her matter, I will see it through to the end. From now on, I will pay for her tuition and living expenses.”
He said these words seemingly with great sorrow, a hint of a melancholic smile resting on his face.
When the waitress came in to refill their tea, she glanced at him several times.
Chen Wengang thanked her, and she left the room with flushed cheeks.
Chen Zeng coughed twice: “In short… it’s not right to let you pay to support her. At the end of the day, it’s my fault as a father for failing.”
Chen Wengang poured wine for him: “Not at all, how could you say that.”
A few more glasses were downed. Chen Zeng rubbed his face, revealing the exhaustion and confusion of a middle-aged man. “But the situation at home right now… let alone paying for her cram school, I might not even have the money for Guangzong and Yaozu’s tuition next semester. Wengang, if they really sue, I’ll be the subject of enforcement. Do you know what that means? I won’t even be able to take a plane or train!”
“As a shareholder, how much money did you invest?”
“Eight… nine hundred thousand.”
Whether it was eight or nine hundred thousand, he didn’t elaborate, but it was close enough. Chen Wengang knew this was likely his entire life savings. He wasn’t surprised; human nature is greedy. “I can recommend a few good lawyers for you.”
“Lawyers? What lawyers?”
“To respond to the lawsuit, of course. Let’s see how far we can take this.”
Chen Zeng treated him a bit like a lifeline: “Wengang, you know a lot of people. Is there really no good solution?”
Chen Wengang simply said, “We’ll definitely think of a solution, but you should also prepare yourself for an outcome that might not be so optimistic.”
Chen Zeng was slightly annoyed by his cold-heartedness—how could there be no solution? Could it be that even begging Zheng Bingyi wouldn’t help?
After they finished eating, Chen Wengang said he had to go back to work.
Chen Zeng followed him closely, trailing him all the way to the downstairs of the Zheng Group headquarters.
Chen Wengang had to raise his voice slightly to bid him farewell: “Uncle, please head back.”
Chen Zeng stood at the entrance, his back slightly hunched, his complexion dark and ruddy. “Then I’ll get going. Wengang, keep this matter in mind and help your uncle ask around. We’re old now; we don’t know as much as you young people. We have to rely on you in the future.”
Just then, a young man stepped out of the revolving doors—dressed sharply in a suit and leather shoes, handsome and tall.
Following closely behind him was a chic urban woman, dressed exquisitely and charmingly. The four of them met, and everyone paused.
Chen Wengang nodded and stepped aside to clear the path: “Miss He.”
Chen Zeng felt the awkwardness and chill in the air.
The look that the exquisite woman gave him was full of unspeakable mockery, and she shot Chen Wengang a disdainful glance in passing.
However, Chen Zeng found the young man to be very familiar. His name was on the tip of his tongue, but before he could recall it, the young man reacted first. With some hesitation, he greeted the nephew beside him: “Wengang, is this gentleman your uncle?”
Simultaneously, Chen Zeng finally realized the man’s identity.
His back hunched a bit more, his face broke into a wide smile, and he extended his hand: “You must be Yucheng, right? Our Wengang normally relies on your care.”
A cold, indifferent sneer escaped He Wanxin’s red lips.
Zheng Yucheng snapped back to reality, shifting his briefcase to one side to shake Chen Zeng’s hand: “Not at all. You are Wengang’s relative, which makes you practically my relative too. I should be thanking you for taking care of him. Did you come here for business today, or did you come specifically to see him?”
Chen Wengang glanced at Zheng Yucheng: “Are you and Miss He heading out?”
Zheng Yucheng said stiffly, “She has her own car. I’m going to meet a client. We’re not going the same way.”
Having said this, he saw Chen Zeng standing at the edge of the steps. His expression softened slightly, and he smiled with gentlemanly grace: “Where are you heading, Uncle? My driver has already arrived. If you didn’t drive, I can give you a ride.”
Chen Zeng naturally didn’t refuse.
Before leaving, He Wanxin shot him a glare. Chen Wengang had already gone upstairs.
The driver hit the gas and drove away. Clutching a business card, Chen Zeng got out of the car by the roadside and waved at the rear end of Zheng Yucheng’s vehicle.
Zheng Yucheng stared blankly out the window for a while until the driver brought him back to reality. He lowered his head to search for Lawyer Cao’s contact information.
Just as he was about to unlock his phone, a call from Huo Niansheng suddenly popped up on the screen, nearly startling him. Annoyed, Zheng Yucheng frowned and answered it, but Huo Niansheng’s voice was very friendly: “Do you plan on attending the wine tasting event tonight?”
Zheng Yucheng replied tepidly, “I’m not sure yet if I’ll have time tonight.”
Huo Niansheng said, “Is that so? Then you’d better make up your mind quickly. I was planning to bring Wengang along for fun, but he might feel awkward running into you. If you come, I won’t bring him.”
Two deep furrows appeared between Zheng Yucheng’s brows: “Huo Niansheng, if you want to see me, you can just say so directly. I understand. I’ll be there.”
Huo Niansheng’s voice was brisk and cheerful: “Be there or be square. Come have a drink, I happen to have something I want to talk to you about.”
