Xiang Mingzhang had a strong body and recovered quickly, with only some bruises left that did not interfere with his daily activities. With the doctor's approval, he returned to the Bomanjia Apartment, packed up, and went to the company.
After the design exhibition ended, Xiang Mingzhang and Shen Ruozhen seemed to have disappeared from the face of the earth and had not been seen for nearly a week, but most people would not think of it as a "kidnapping case" and thought they were on a temporary business trip.
Xiang Mingzhang suddenly appeared in the office building, as if his superiors were making a surprise inspection, and summoned the directors and supervisors of several major departments.
It just so happened that he gathered everyone together for a meeting to discuss the accumulated matters that needed to be advanced, and then took a tour of the R&D center.
What a coincidence, I met Zhou Kesen.
Ningli Pharmaceutical's project needed to be implemented urgently. Zhou Kesen stopped Xiang Mingzhang halfway and asked directly: "Mr. Xiang, is Shichen with you?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Well, you are looking for him?"
"I've been looking for him for several days." Zhou Kesen said, "I couldn't get in touch with him. I called his mother in New Zealand, but she didn't know either. She said he was with you."
Xiang Mingzhang was calm and composed, but what he said was actually unconvincing: "He came to help me, but his cell phone just happened to be broken."
Zhou Kesen asked worriedly, "Where is he? Is he okay?"
Having been kidnapped and shot, Xiang Mingzhang couldn't really answer with the word "nothing" and said, "Well, I'll have him call you later."
Zhou Kesen felt more at ease. Just as he was about to ask a few more questions, Xiang Mingzhang left with a bag that was bulging with documents. It looked like he would not be back for several days.
In the hospital ward, Shen Ruozhen was bored of lying down, so he propped up his pillow and sat up half-way. He watched the movements outside through the glass, just to kill time.
Xiang Mingzhang hired three people for him, a bodyguard, a professional nurse to take care of his daily life, and a chef responsible for nutritious meals. When Xu Liao came over, they could have a mahjong table together.
Shen Ruozhen was stunned for a while, and the door of the ward opened. Xiang Mingzhang was wearing a cold spring wind and was too lazy to wear a tie. He wore a pair of thin-rimmed glasses on his nose to cover the remaining bruises at the corners of his eyes.
After putting down a large bag of documents and a computer bag, Xiang Mingzhang walked into the treatment room carrying a box of desserts he bought on the way and said, "I'm going to see Jing'er."
Shen Ruozhen asked enviously: "You went to the company today?"
Xiang Mingzhang pulled the small table at the end of the bed closer and reported: "I went to Xiang Yue Communication and held a meeting. There were a lot of things to do and I couldn't finish them all in a short time. I took them over and worked remotely in the hospital."
Shen Ruozhen said: "I'm much better now, you don't have to accompany me every day."
Xiang Mingzhang is very good at exaggeration: "I left for half a day and you were distracted, like a woman waiting for her husband. What if I was away for a whole day and the disease recurred?"
Shen Ruozhen argued: "Don't curse me."
Xiang Mingzhang opened the dessert box to apologize. Inside was a wreath puff that had just been baked. It was a hot circle, decorated with chocolate chips and nuts.
He fed Shen Ruozhen with a fork and said, "I wanted to buy you lychees, but I was afraid the fruit would be too cold."
Shen Ruozhen loves desserts, so he swallowed it and said, "I want more."
"Don't eat too much, just try it." Xiang Mingzhang said as he fed him another piece indulgently.
The taste of medicine in his mouth eased, and Shen Ruozhen asked, "Did you only go to Xiang Yue Communication?"
Xiang Mingzhang understood what he meant. He did not go to Lao Xiang Yue and said, "I have told my subordinates that I will formally inform the board of directors about my kidnapping."
Shen Ruozhen asked: "What are you going to say?"
So far, Uncle Qi has not revealed that Xiang Xingzhao was the mastermind behind the incident, and lied that he was the one who wanted to kidnap and extort money. Xiang Mingzhang replied: "Uncle Qi did it, and he didn't mention Xiang Xingzhao at all."
Shen Ruozhen agreed: "The police have not yet reached a conclusion, so it is correct to say so. Moreover, Uncle Qi is Xiang Xingzhao's confidant, which is intriguing enough."
"That's right." Xiang Mingzhang said, "The directors will be shocked. They can't believe that Xiang Xingzhao, a loving grandfather, would harm me. So I won't mention him to the public, and I will still be a filial grandson."
Shen Ruozhen said: "Once the police convict Xiang Xingzhao, the crime is a fact, and the directors will naturally tend to favor you as the victim psychologically."
Xiang Mingzhang analyzed: "Uncle Qi can't keep his mouth shut for long. The police are not easy to fool. He said something on the yacht, and the other kidnappers admitted it in order to reduce their charges. What's more, there is an important witness like you."
They have cooperated with the police to record their statements. Shen Ruozhen asked, "What is Xiang Xingzhao's current situation?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "We have accused him. As a suspect, he is under police surveillance, which is equivalent to house arrest in Jingpu Mansion."
From the moment they escaped safely, Xiang Xingzhao was defeated. The captured Uncle Qi and the kidnappers became a threat, and he did not dare to act rashly.
More importantly, Xiang Long's life or death is uncertain, and Xiang Xingzhao is at an absolute disadvantage and can only wait for Xiang Mingzhang to give orders.
Shen Ruozhen inferred: "Don't forget your uncle and aunt. Whether out of family affection or interests, they will definitely find a way to help Xiang Xingzhao get rid of the crime during this period of time."
"It doesn't matter." Xiang Mingzhang said indifferently, "The process of conviction or acquittal is very long. Maybe he won't live to see that day."
Xiang Xingzhao did not suffer from brain dementia, but he was indeed old and frail, and this huge blow was no different from another stroke.
Shen Ruozhen sighed with emotion: "I have also seen that people's hearts are no longer the same as they used to be."
"I'm sorry to have embarrassed you." Xiang Mingzhang glanced at his watch and put away the dessert box. "Do you want to lie down for a while? I'll take you for a checkup this afternoon."
Shen Ruozhen said: "Didn't we just do it the day before yesterday?"
Xiang Mingzhang made a condition: "Do it again, and I'll let you play with your phone after you're done."
Shen Ruozhen's arms were not easy to move, and he was afraid of hurting his wounds, so Xiang Mingzhang kept the new phone he bought. He negotiated, "How long do you want to play with it?"
Xiang Mingzhang said strictly: "Call Zhou Kesen back. Three minutes is enough."
Shen Ruozhen: “…”
There was a thick stack of accumulated reports. Xiang Mingzhang told Shen Ruozhen the initial reason why his identity was exposed, which was because of an abdominal X-ray film.
After the examination, Shen Ruozhen called Zhou Kesen back. He had disappeared for six or seven days without saying a word and could not promise a return date. Any excuse he made sounded fake.
Shen Ruozhen simply confessed that he was in the hospital, but compromised by saying that it was just a minor illness. Zhou Kesen insisted on seeing him, but he refused to reveal which hospital he was in and repeatedly emphasized that recovery was in sight.
Fortunately, the wound healed quickly, and Shen Ruozhen was gradually able to get out of bed, walk, wash and dress himself. By the day the stitches were removed, he felt a sense of relief as if he had taken off the shackles.
In the evening, Xiang Mingzhang helped Shen Ruozhen take a careful bath, and after washing and drying his hair, he said, "It's different after swearing to the sea. You're more cooperative."
Shen Ruozhen said: "I try my best to keep my word."
Xiang Mingzhang picked him up horizontally, weighed him in front of the mirror, and found that he was light. He carried him back to the bed and said, "Don't draw the curtains. I'll sleep on the sofa outside. Call me if you need anything."
Shen Ruozhen lay on his side, looking even thinner, leaving a large space on the bed. He asked, "Do you want to sleep on the bed with me?"
Xiang Mingzhang's self-control was sometimes good and sometimes bad. Facing Shen Ruozhen's invitation, 99% of it was the latter. He lay down on the bed, relying on the remaining 1%, and said, "I will go out after you fall asleep."
But Shen Ruozhen opened his eyes, not too sleepy: "Then if I can't sleep, you don't have to go out."
Xiang Mingzhang pulled the quilt to Shen Ruozhen's chest. The hospital gown was too loose, and the fresh scar on his chest after the gauze was removed could be seen.
He reached out to touch it and said, "It will leave a scar in the future."
Shen Ruozhen felt his chest getting hot from being touched: "Anyway, I don't often expose myself in front of people, except you."
As soon as he finished speaking, Xiang Mingzhang withdrew his hand, and Shen Ruozhen added: "Do you think it's ugly?"
The palm moved to Shen Ruozhen's waist. Xiang Mingzhang laid him flat on the bed, lifted the hem of his hospital gown, and slowly pushed it up, revealing his entire chest.
The scar was not smoothed out yet, Shen Ruozhen felt a little uncomfortable: "What are you doing?"
Xiang Mingzhang said nothing, lowered his head and covered Shen Ruozhen's chest. That place had been extremely painful, numb, and had become a scar. He thought it would become dead, insensitive flesh, but it turned out to be itchy and sore.
Shen Ruozhen raised his hand and grabbed the railing beside the bed, then let go and stroked the back of Xiang Mingzhang's head in defeat.
When Xiang Mingzhang leaned forward and laid on top of him, Shen Ruozhen said, "You're really keeping me awake."
Taking advantage of the quiet night and the closed door, Xiang Mingzhang said excessively: "You can't sleep after soothing your scar, so what would you do if it was something more serious?"
Shen Ruozhen was afraid that he had made a mistake: "What's the important thing?"
Xiang Mingzhang put his forehead against his: "It doesn't matter if you are a man, what do you think?"
Shen Ruozhen blinked two or three times and said blankly: "I want to use my cell phone."
Xiang Mingzhang almost laughed out loud: "Do you want to search online? Do you need me to tell you the keywords?"
As they were arguing, the cell phone rang. Both of them were startled. Xiang Mingzhang took the phone from the bedside table. It was Mrs. Chu calling.
Although he reported that he was safe after the accident, Mrs. Chu couldn't help but become suspicious because she couldn't contact Shen Ruozhen in the few days after the operation.
Xiang Mingzhang pressed the answer button and put the phone to Shen Ruozhen's ear.
"Hello, Xiaochen?" Mrs. Chu said, "Mr. Zhou said you haven't been to the company and couldn't find you. What's going on?"
Shen Ruozhen said: "I have contacted Uncle Sen, everything is fine."
Mrs. Chu was skeptical: "Are you hiding something from me? I couldn't get through to you on the phone a few days ago, and you didn't reply to WeChat. What's wrong with you?"
"It's really okay." Shen Ruozhen changed the subject, "Mom, how are you doing in New Zealand?"
Mrs. Chu was not easy to fool, so she said, "Hang up, I'll call you and show you."
Shen Ruozhen had no choice but to confess that he was injured and hospitalized. When Mrs. Chu heard this, she immediately started crying and asked him about his life and demanded to come back.
At least the matter is over. It's not a good idea to keep hiding it. Xiang Mingzhang picked up the phone and said, "Aunt, don't worry. I'll book the tickets for you. I'll take care of Ruo... Shichen here."
Mrs. Chu didn't notice that he was stuck: "Okay, thank you Mingzhang."
Xiang Mingzhang said apologetically: "It was me who caused him trouble."
After hanging up the phone, Xiang Mingzhang was a little dazed. When he said "Shichen" to Mrs. Chu just now, he felt doubly embarrassed.
Shen Ruozhen was implicated by him, and so was "Chu Shichen".
In that yacht explosion, Chu Shichen died innocently, but Xiang Mingzhang does not think he has no responsibility.
In addition to making the culprit pay the price, Xiang Mingzhang wanted to give the Chu family some compensation.
At this time, Shen Ruozhen said: "When you are discharged from the hospital, I will take you to Yuansi Cemetery."
Xiang Mingzhang asked: "Who is there?"
Shen Ruozhen knew what he was thinking and said, "Chu Shichen."
(End of this chapter)