It seemed as if all the magnolia trees in the city had blossomed overnight, with continuous patches of pure white. A black commercial vehicle drove past, drove into the park of "Xiangyue Communications", and slowly stopped in front of the office building.
The driver said, "Mr. Xiang, we have arrived at the company."
Xiang Mingzhang opened his eyes and pressed his knuckles against his brow to suppress his tiredness - today the city's information technology department held a roundtable meeting, which lasted for most of the day, and he only had a short rest on the way.
Moreover, meetings of this nature should be kept simple, and bringing an assistant would be ostentatious. Xiang Mingzhang went alone and returned alone, and got out of the car personally carrying the heavy document files and laptop.
Xiang Mingzhang returned to the office, and within two minutes, his secretary quietly brought him a cup of coffee. He lowered his head and flipped through the meeting materials, and asked, "Are the sales and pre-sales managers in the company?"
The secretary replied: “All are there.”
Xiang Mingzhang glanced at his watch and said, "Notice that there will be a meeting in fifteen minutes. Go to the R&D center and call the head engineer over as well."
The secretary reminded him, "Mr. Xiang, we are running out of time. We have to leave for Yaxi Bay and sign a contract with Yisi tonight."
Xiang Mingzhang finally raised his head. Equity acquisition was not a trivial matter, but he had actually forgotten about it. He could probably only blame the contract partner for being too annoying.
"Yisi Technology" was once glorious in the industry. Since the death of its founder Chu Zhe four years ago, there have been constant factional disputes within the company, resulting in the departure of several senior executives, the loss of customers, and a sharp decline in performance and reputation.
Chu Zhe left his shares to his two children. His daughter was still in school and could not accomplish anything. His son Chu Shichen was a second-generation rich man with a brainless mind. He was addicted to eating, drinking, gambling, and smoking. He had been a bad boy since he was young.
Chu Shichen is the eldest son of the Chu family, but he behaves like a grandson. The company's revenue has been declining year after year, but he doesn't want to turn over a new leaf. Instead, he cries, makes a scene, and even threatens to hang himself, trying to coax Mrs. Chu to sell her shares so that he can start a business with her friends.
Xiang Mingzhang evaluated Yi Si's value and thought that this "skinny camel" could still be saved, so he took the opportunity to extend an olive branch. The Xiang family and the Chu family have been friends for many years. Although their relationship has gradually faded after Chu's father passed away, they still have feelings for each other. Xiang Mingzhang offered a very generous price and the two sides reached a deal.
From the early contact to the later negotiations, the Chu family authorized lawyers to handle the matter. When it came to the final step of signing the contract, Chu Shichen suddenly went crazy and wanted to hold a signing party on the yacht.
Xiang Mingzhang had neither the time to float on the sea all night nor the interest to enjoy the entertainment provided by Chu Shichen, so he did not take the invitation seriously.
He thought about it and told his secretary to call Peng Xin over.
Peng Xin is the director of the sales department, a capable subordinate of Xiang Mingzhang, experienced and good at socializing. When he entered the office, Peng Xin asked, "Mr. Xiang, are you looking for me?"
Xiang Mingzhang said, "I'm signing a contract with Yisi tonight, you go in my place."
Peng Xin had just finished a project and lost seven kilograms. He urgently needed a break to recharge. He had booked a flight to Santorini tonight. He licked his lips and said without objection, "Okay, no problem for me. Do you need to communicate with Yisi in advance?"
"No need." Xiang Mingzhang said lightly, "The responsible team has already been negotiated, you just need to keep it under control."
Peng Xin nodded. He had heard that Chu Shichen was a playboy, so he guessed that the party would not be so pure and healthy. Since the vacation had been postponed, he would just treat it as an appetizer tonight.
Xiang Mingzhang saw through it and said, "You don't need to take a holiday if you delay your work."
"Don't worry, I'll jump into the sea if you delay my work." Peng Xin said with a smile, "Xiang Yue will soon become the major shareholder of Yisi, it's really worth having a party to celebrate."
In the evening, the company sent a car to take Peng Xin and his group of five to Yaxi Bay.
As soon as spring arrives, the whole city heats up rapidly, the riverside and the coast become more and more lively day by day, and the luxury yachts that have been moored at private docks for the winter are ready to move.
Chu Shichen's yacht was prepared a week in advance. Boxes of fresh ingredients and high-end foreign wines were airlifted in. The crew, private chefs, and waiters were in place one after another. As night fell, the performing band also arrived, and there were more than a dozen models and internet celebrities to add to the fun.
Going out to sea on a spring night is particularly intoxicating.
Xiang Mingzhang, who was originally going to attend the party, stayed in the company for a meeting. The roundtable meeting during the day was to discuss the issue of "disaster recovery system". There were new requirements and new directions, and major companies and manufacturers were required to convey them in a timely manner.
It was almost dawn when he got home. Xiang Mingzhang usually lived alone in a serviced apartment located in a prime location. There were luxury stores downstairs and the skyscraper of the Golden Center next to it. It was always surrounded by jewels and bright lights, as if this would not make him feel lonely.
After taking a bath, Xiang Mingzhang was half-naked with water drops sliding down his distinct muscle lines. He was used to drinking a glass of ice water, which would make his body cling to the bed when it cooled down, and he could sleep more soundly.
Probably because there was no signal on the sea, he did not receive the news that Peng Xin had completed the signing before taking a break.
Until midnight, the phone suddenly vibrated wildly.
Xiang Mingzhang woke up quickly. It was not a small matter to disturb him at this time. He answered the phone and asked directly, "What's the matter?"
The secretary's anxious voice came from the phone: "Mr. Xiang, something happened. Chu Shichen's yacht exploded at sea!"
Xiang Mingzhang suddenly woke up like thunder, and his heart sank: "How are Xiang Yue's people?"
The secretary said: "The specific situation is still unclear. Yisi is in a mess. I finally contacted the person in charge. I only know that the rescued people have been sent to the hospital. I am rushing over!"
Xiang Mingzhang got out of bed, made a quick decision, and said, "Don't negotiate with Yisi for now. Make sure Peng Xin and the others are safe first."
After hanging up the phone, Xiang Mingzhang immediately changed his clothes and went out.
The hospital entrance was blocked by traffic, but the search and rescue work had not stopped. Ambulances kept bringing in waves of injured people, and the emergency center was in a state of chaos.
Xiang Mingzhang was wearing a knee-length windbreaker, the hem of which moved with his steps. His short hair was slightly messy, but his expression was calm from beginning to end.
He checked the medical records at the front desk, and fortunately, Peng Xin and four other people were all rescued and admitted to the hospital for treatment.
One of the staff members is in the intensive care unit and has just finished rescue. Two staff members are in a coma but are temporarily out of danger. The other two are not seriously injured.
On the eighth floor of the ward, Peng Xin was lying on the bed receiving an IV drip. He was still in shock and shuddered when he heard the door open. The salary Xiang Yue gave him was enough to make him devoted to him, and he didn't ask for any humanistic care, so he was surprised to see Xiang Mingzhang coming over in the middle of the night.
"Ah..." Peng Xin said, "Mr. Xiang, why did you come here in person?"
Xiang Mingzhang looked at the others in turn. The critically ill patient was in a state of uncertainty about his life or death, so he was naturally not in a good mood. He said, "Do you think I can still sleep?"
Peng Xin looked embarrassed. It was his first time to go out to sea on a luxury yacht and he almost lost his life... Everyone was having a great time when the rear of the yacht suddenly caught fire. The fire grew bigger and bigger and got out of control. There were not enough lifeboats and everyone was in chaos. Fortunately, they had almost escaped when the explosion happened.
Peng Xin sighed, "Before I left, I said I would jump into the sea if I delayed my work. What a lousy mouth I am."
Xiang Mingzhang said, "You went there for me. Take a good rest. Without your iron tongue, the sales department would be half silent."
"Since you think so highly of me, it's worth it for me to jump into the sea." Peng Xin stood up with great effort and took out the briefcase from under the pillow. "No matter what, I have fulfilled my mission tonight. The acquisition contract is all in here."
Xiang Mingzhang took it with one hand and pressed Peng Xin's shoulder with the other.
At this time, the secretary came in a hurry. He did not expect Xiang Mingzhang to come to the hospital. He explained: "Mr. Xiang, Yisi's people are all on the ninth floor. Their person in charge came to me to understand the situation, which delayed me a little."
Xiang Mingzhang stared at the other person and asked, "Have you finished talking?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Contact the family members of the employees and do a good job of comforting them. Ask the lawyer and the head of the security department to come and discuss the compensation plan. Check the hospital conditions and doctor qualifications. Have professional nurses in place as soon as possible."
The secretary agreed repeatedly: "Okay, I'll remember it."
"You don't have to do it." Xiang Mingzhang added, "Tell the assistant to take over, you can go home."
The secretary said anxiously: "Mr. Xiang, let me handle it!"
"Oh, by the way." Xiang Mingzhang asked, "I have been chatting with Yisi for so long, so how is things going upstairs?"
The secretary looked embarrassed and replied, "The doctor said that Chu Shichen might not make it."
Since learning about the incident, Xiang Mingzhang was first concerned about the safety of his subordinates, and secondly about the acquisition contract. As for Chu Shichen's life or death, he didn't care at all.
However, the two families have a relationship, so a visit is necessary out of courtesy. Anyway, if someone dies, one cannot avoid attending the funeral.
Xiang Mingzhang went upstairs. The corridor outside the ward was crowded with people, including Yisi's senior management and some relatives and elders of the Chu family. The legal team was waiting in the rest area.
Everyone had just woken up from their sleep and were feeling a bit sleepy. Xiang Mingzhang's appearance stirred everyone's nerves and they all looked over at him.
Xiang Mingzhang walked to the outside of the ward without looking around and knocked on the door.
On the sofa in the outer room, Mrs. Chu's eyes were red and swollen from crying, and her long hair was scattered on her chest. Her daughter Chu Shihui supported her, with a much more indifferent expression.
A middle-aged man came over, about fifty years old, well-maintained, he was Li Zangqiu, the CEO who actually managed the power of Yisi after Chu Zhe's death. Another young man accompanied Chu Shihui, he was Li Zangqiu's only son Li Heng.
Although Xiang Mingzhang was only 33 years old, Li Zangqiu spoke first: "Mr. Xiang is here, please come in. I'm sorry to disturb you so late at night."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "I'll come and see if I can help you."
Mrs. Chu realized it later, her eyes blurred with tears: "Ming Zhang..."
Xiang Mingzhang comforted her: "Aunt, you have to take care of yourself."
Mrs. Chu shook her head: "I just want Xiaochen to wake up..." Before she finished speaking, she burst into tears and fell into Chu Shihui's arms.
Li Zangqiu whispered, "It's too late to save him. The doctor said the hope of waking up is slim. Let the family be mentally prepared."
Chu Shihui was a little upset: "Mom, did you hear me? What's the point of crying?"
Mrs. Chu yelled, "What preparations are you making? Xiaochen will wake up soon, what should I do?!"
Li Zangqiu saw this and took charge of the situation. He turned around and said to his son, "Li Heng, go do it."
This is to prepare for the funeral.
As soon as Li Heng left, people outside poured into the ward, waiting to see him off for the last time. Mrs. Chu completely broke down and cried endlessly.
Xiang Mingzhang was trapped in the ward and couldn't leave for a while. After watching everyone's pretended grief for a long time, he turned to the treatment room inside.
There was a whole window of glass separating the bed, making it easy to observe, but the blinds lowered a few inches blocked Chu Shichen's face.
Mrs. Chu cried until she was exhausted, covering her mouth as her howling turned into sobbing. She glanced at Xiang Mingzhang facing the treatment room alone, and walked up to him and said, "Mingzhang, if you want to see him, you can go in."
Xiang Mingzhang had no intention of doing so, and instead thought it was unlucky: "I'm afraid of disturbing him."
Mrs. Chu choked up and said, "It doesn't matter. This may be the last time we see each other. Let's go and see Xiaochen off."
Xiang Mingzhang had no choice but to agree: "...Okay then."
Entering the treatment room, Xiang Mingzhang closed the door to block out the noise, put his hands in his windbreaker pockets, and slowly walked towards the bed.
In fact, his impression of Chu Shichen was very vague, and he only had a few encounters with him. At the earliest time, Chu Shichen was in his teens and had not yet fully grown up, but he could see that he had good facial features.
The last time I saw him was at Chu Zhe's funeral four years ago. Chu Shichen had dyed his hair purple and red, which was very colorful. He stood out among the guests in black clothes, like a dragon fruit growing on the black soil. If you look closely, Chu Shichen's face looks a little dull and empty, which is totally unlike the state of a young man.
As for clothing, Chu Shichen had always been so fashionable that it frightened people. If he died, there would be no suitable clothes to wear as his burial clothes.
In short, after so many years of decadent and licentious lifestyle, poor aesthetic taste, and ignorant temperament, her naturally good looks have been ruined beyond the limit of being able to be looked at.
I have been soaking in the sea for who knows how long tonight... Xiang Mingzhang was really reluctant to look the other person in the eye.
But when he walked to the bed, he stopped as soon as he raised his eyes.
"Chu Shichen" lay on the hospital bed, his face clean, his black hair covered his forehead like a handful of dark clouds, hiding his pair of well-shaped eyebrows. His eyes were closed, his long eyelashes drooped, his skin was pale as if washed by cold water, it looked cool and moist, only the shallow eye sockets were red from the stimulation of the sea water.
The collar of the hospital gown was slightly open, and there was a scratch on the side of Chu Shichen's neck, covered with gauze. His left hand was pressed on his chest, as if he was praying by pressing his heart.
It was a beautiful hand, with an antique signet ring on the index finger, silver with blue agate and an intaglio depicting an eagle holding a laurel leaf.
This person looks so familiar, yet it seems like I have never met him before.
Xiang Mingzhang was stunned for a moment, and when he came to his senses, the bed was still so quiet that he could not even hear the other person's breathing. He wondered if he could hold on until dawn.
When a person is about to die, he should say goodbye.
Listening to the faint crying outside and thinking about the experiences of the Chu family in recent years, Xiang Mingzhang thought of a pair of very appropriate elegiac couplets. Using them as a eulogy for Chu Shichen would be considered a compliment to him.
"Why should I blame others? It's pitiful for my gray-haired parents to adopt a smart son who turned out to be unlucky." Xiang Mingzhang said coldly, "Death has existed since ancient times. I sigh that the sky is only a moment high. It's even more sad for you to fall."
Dawn is approaching.
That handsome face moved slightly, and slowly opened his eyes.
The author has something to say:
Hello everyone! The elegiac couplet comes from "Yinglian Conghua"
(End of this chapter)