After getting off the car, Xiang Mingzhang and Shen Ruozhen walked into the business club and made an appointment with the company representative of Ningli Pharmaceutical at noon.
This project is basically completed and is ready to enter the signing process. Some business content requires both parties to finalize the details.
Shen Ruozhen used to be the president's secretary, offering advice but not having to deal with contracts. Now he is the sales director, and many steps require his signature.
The company's internal documents are fine, but this kind of business contract cannot be sloppy. On the surface, he is still "Chu Shichen". If his identity is exposed in the future, his signature will affect the contract.
Therefore, Shen Ruozhen asked Xiang Mingzhang to intervene and hand over the signing work.
It had been a while since the two of them had met clients together, so they were able to get twice the result with half the effort and the talks went very smoothly.
When Shen Ruozhen returned to the company in the afternoon, he called a meeting with the legal department to adjust the contract details. After finishing his work, the table was full of drafts. He remembered what Xiang Mingzhang said in the car, that Xiang Long had to sign the agreement before he could come back.
In the following week, Xiang Mingzhang did not show up in the company as he was busy with Xiang Yue's affairs.
Although the two companies have nothing to do with each other, the boss's family affairs are always a topic of conversation among employees, and everyone speculates that old Xiang Yue may want to make a change.
Shen Ruozhen has always been a man of few words and he is as still as a mountain and focused on his work. He worked overtime three or four times and felt that his energy had returned to its original level.
It was late at night again, and the cell phone vibrated on the table. It was Xiang Mingzhang calling.
Shen Ruozhen let go of the mouse and picked up the phone to answer: "Hello?"
Xiang Mingzhang spoke too much in meetings during the day, and his voice became hoarse. "I will go to the company tomorrow and stay for a while. I will pick out the urgent documents for this week and take a look at them."
Shen Ruozhen rubbed his brows: "Anything else?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Notify Peng Xin and Meng Tao to take a few minutes to discuss their projects."
Shen Ruozhen asked again: "Where is Yisi?"
"I can't take care of it. It's okay, Yisi..." Xiang Mingzhang paused for a second, and finally realized, "I'll have you in charge."
Shen Ruozhen smiled helplessly and said, "Aren't you used to your new secretary yet?"
Xiang Mingzhang said "sorry". He had been very busy these days. He took a nap and woke up not quite clear-headed, so he called Shen Ruozhen directly.
"Did I disturb your rest?" he asked.
Shen Ruozhen said: "No, I'm in the office."
Xiang Mingzhang was probably too tired, so he just said, "Are you not off work yet?"
"It's almost done." Shen Ruozhen used the tone of a secretary again, "Mr. Xiang, hang up after you've given me your instructions. Go wash your face."
After the call ended, Shen Ruozhen stayed for another half an hour. After he was done, he turned off the lights and locked the door. The entire park was dark.
He walked out of the office building, the moonlight shone on the steps. Xiang Mingzhang stood on the first step, one hand in his pocket and the other holding a midnight snack.
Shen Ruozhen stepped down and said, "How come you have time to come back? Are you here to catch me off work?"
Xiang Mingzhang threw his coat on the car, wearing only a white shirt. He had lost weight, and the bones of his shoulders were stretched out in a straight shape. He said, "I called the wrong number. I'm here to apologize."
The long-axle Phantom did not turn off the engine. After getting in the car, Shen Ruozhen opened the takeaway box, which contained a bowl of bird's nest porridge at just the right temperature.
After he finished drinking, Xiang Mingzhang drove out of the park. As soon as he reached the first intersection, Xiang Yue's assistant called.
Xiang Mingzhang touched the screen and answered: "What's the matter?"
The assistant reported concisely that Xiang Xingzhao was critically ill.
Xiang Mingzhang had a premonition in his heart, and after hanging up, he said calmly: "I'll take you home first."
On the way, Shen Ruozhen asked, "How are Xiang Long's procedures going?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Xu Liao has already completed the process, and all he needs is a return ticket."
Xiang Long would not show up until the last moment. Shen Ruozhen knew that such a "father" was probably the biggest embarrassment for Xiang Mingzhang in his life.
He once said that he was willing to accompany Xiang Mingzhang to face and solve the problem together, saying: "Wait for Mr. Xu to bring people back, and then I will help you pick them up."
Xiang Mingzhang nodded: "Okay."
After sending Shen Ruozhen home, Xiang Mingzhang changed his route to go to the hospital. After receiving the notice, other members of the Xiang family also rushed over.
Lying on the bed in the treatment room, Xiang Xingzhao seemed to be in a dream, with his eyes closed. His eye sockets were deeply sunken, and his head of white hair had lost all nutrition and was dry and disheveled.
Xiang Huan leaned over the bed, combing Xiang Xingzhao's hair, and called out, "Dad, we're here."
The doctor explained the patient's condition to the family, and the meaning was self-evident. Xiang Xingzhao seemed to have heard it, and slowly opened his eyes, his pupils faded to leaden gray, and he moved slowly around the ward.
He found Xiang Mingzhang and said with difficulty: "You promised... Don't break your promise."
Xiang Mingzhang stood not too far away and said, "You will see your son in two days."
Xiang Xingzhao's nasal cavity seemed to be blocked by a tangled mess, and it was difficult for him to breathe. He relied on injections every day to stay alive, and the spirit beneath his body was almost exhausted.
A group of children gathered around the bed, and Xiang Kun said, "Dad, what do you want?"
Xiang Xingzhao said two words: "Go home."
After completing the discharge procedures, Xiang Xingzhao returned to Jingpu mansion overnight.
The family doctor and nurse provided 24-hour care. Xiang Kun and Xiang Huan refused to leave, and the two families began to discuss Xiang Xingzhao's funeral arrangements.
Xiang Mingzhang was at a distance the whole time, and suddenly he felt a sense of emptiness as if everything was gone.
He drove away from Jingpu alone, made seven or eight phone calls along the way, and arranged all the matters at both companies and home.
Finally he called Man Zhuang. Bai Yongti was already asleep at that time. She was not annoyed by being woken up by his call and listened to him calmly.
Xiang Mingzhang didn't mention anything, and it was rare for him to complain, but he himself was not sure whether he was referring to the recent period or the past few years.
He said, "Mom, I'm a little tired."
Bai Yongti said: "Then take a rest."
Xiang Mingzhang returned to his apartment, took a shower, went to bed, did not go out, and ignored everything.
Xiang Xingzhao endured for two days in the Jingpu mansion. Every meal was brought to him and then taken away intact. He only had enough strength left to swallow a few sips of water.
In the morning, the doctor gave Xiang Xingzhao an injection of nutrient and said that he was in good spirits today.
Xiang Xingzhao raised his finger and pointed to the window. The sky was clear, and he wanted to sit up and look at the sunshine. The whole family watched, rocking the bed and putting pillows under it. Xiang Rugang also brought the child over, saying that the baby wanted to play with his great grandfather.
Xiang Xingzhao thought, as expected, a child's character can be seen from his childhood. Xiang Rugang liked to act like a spoiled child when he was young, and often said he wanted to play with his grandfather. Xiang Ruxu was introverted, and would follow behind Xiang Rugang, rarely expressing his own wishes.
Xiang Mingzhang always has a clear goal and is always more aggressive than others. He would ask, "Grandpa, can you teach me how to play chess? Do you want to see my calligraphy?"
Xiang Xingzhao recalled the young child he once was, and then saw the tall, unshakable figure at the door.
Xiang Mingzhang arrived late, wearing a simple black suit, and stood there, indifferent and alone.
His gray eyebrows relaxed, and Xiang Xingzhao smiled, as if he had regained some light, and said, "You guys go out, I want to talk to Mingzhang."
After everyone left and the door closed, the room suddenly seemed a little empty.
Xiang Mingzhang walked to the bedside, his leather shoes creaking on the carpet. He asked, "What do you want to say?"
Xiang Xingzhao looked at him: "When did you start to hate me?"
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Why don't you think about when you should have been punished."
Xiang Xingzhao didn't remember when he had the idea, nor did he remember what means he used. He thought about it in vain and said, "I forgot."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Those who do evil will forget, but those who suffer will remember it for the rest of their lives."
Xiang Xingzhao said: "Your mother must hate me very much."
Xiang Mingzhang glanced at the hanging corner of the quilt: "That's right, she will feel better if you die."
"Then you can tell her that I'm dying." Xiang Xingzhao said, "But I didn't expect that the one who would punish me would be you."
Xiang Mingzhang thought it was ridiculous: "What else? Do you think that I am loyal, filial, benevolent, and righteous, and I am willing to be your good grandson just because I have called you grandpa for more than 30 years?"
Xiang Xingzhao clenched his fist and squeezed out a little strength: "I treat you well."
"I know you love me, and everyone knows it." Xiang Mingzhang said, "I am the only one in my life who has a different name from you, and you are the only one who supervises my studies. When I turned 18, I took Xiang Yue's shares and title, and you didn't object to me starting my own business, which led to the Xiang Yue Communications we have today."
Xiang Xingzhao was angry: "It's good that you understand."
Xiang Mingzhang finished his words: "Of course I know, and most importantly, you once made a will for me to be your successor."
Xiang Xingzhao leaned back on the pillow and shook his head: "It's me... I was wrong."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "After all, I respect you, love you, and look like you. It's a pity that you didn't realize that it was all fake. Sooner or later, I will betray you."
Xiang Xingzhao gnashed his teeth and said, "I raised a wolf myself."
"Then what are you?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "I always remember the way you looked when you had a stroke, falling to the ground, twitching and groaning, just like an old dog that had licked poison."
Xiang Xingzhao would never forget that scene until his death. He glared at Xiang Mingzhang angrily: "Asshole..."
Xiang Mingzhang said sarcastically: "Chairman Xiang, the head of the family, what an arrogant person, holding my trouser legs tightly, begging me to save you incoherently."
Xiang Xingzhao panted, "I saved his life. Are you disappointed? Do you think I'm confused and lucky I won't be exposed?"
"Do you think I care?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "If I were so easily brought down, you wouldn't have to act like a clown for more than two years, and you wouldn't have to plan one accident after another to harm me."
Xiang Xingzhao sneered: "Am I waiting for you, an ungrateful wolf, to harm me?"
"Grandpa." Xiang Mingzhang asked, "Do you really want to kill me?"
Xiang Xingzhao said angrily: "I have been deceived by you for more than 20 years... You controlled your father, not only wanting money, but also wanting me to die. You are simply a beast!"
Xiang Mingzhang stepped to the bed and said, "You used despicable means to threaten and rape my mother again and again. You are a beast!"
"Deceived? You are blind. You can't see that I have endured for more than 20 years." Xiang Mingzhang pointed at the ceiling. "This mansion has been a nightmare for me and my mother. I don't know how many times I dreamed of a fire burning this place down, and taking it with you, an old beast!"
Xiang Xingzhao was short of breath and gasped heavily. Xiang Mingzhang asked, "Why, are you going to die? The person you are waiting for hasn't arrived yet."
Xiang Xingzhao moved his lips: "Xiang Long..."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "You clearly know how despicable you are, otherwise you wouldn't feel guilty towards Xiang Long, that coward, and you would wait for him to come back with all your might to make sure he is safe. But your son is a human being, what about my mother?"
Xiang Xingzhao suddenly felt a strong sense of uneasiness and roared, "You promised to let Xiang Long come back... Where is Xiang Long?!"
Xiang Mingzhang answered the question irrelevantly: "My aunt asked a master to look at Feng Shui, and my uncle bought the most expensive cemetery in the city for you. I heard that being buried there can ensure that you will continue to enjoy glory in your next life. But I don't plan to do that. I want to scatter your ashes into the sea. After so many years, you must be tired of hearing the calls of the hibiscus birds. Listen to the calls of the seagulls."
After a pause, Xiang Mingzhang said, "How about Yaxi Bay?"
When Xiang Xingzhao heard "Yaxiwan", he was stunned. Xiang Mingzhang leaned over and lowered his voice: "Chu Shichen is dead. Should the real murderer pay with his life?"
Xiang Xingzhao stared blankly, as if he had returned to a state of dementia: "Chu Shichen..."
Xiang Mingzhang repeated: "Alan is not wrong, Chu Shichen has been dead for a long time."
Xiang Xingzhao clutched the quilt with both hands, and a whimpering sound like crying came from his throat. His face was flushed, and there was a sickly redness in his haggard look.
Xiang Mingzhang straightened his back, glanced at his watch, and said, "Xiang Long should be on his way. I forgot to tell you that he wanted to come back a long time ago, but he was addicted to drugs. For the sake of this family, I have to clean him up."
Feeling pain in his arm, Xiang Xingzhao grabbed Xiang Mingzhang. The veins bulged on his aging skin and flesh like old tree roots protruding from the ground.
Xiang Mingzhang continued, "Your son spent several years in a drug rehabilitation center and was locked up in a nursing home. He broke down and went crazy. He knelt down and did all kinds of shameful things."
Xiang Xingzhao burst into tears: "Please, please..."
Xiang Mingzhang remembered that Bai Yongti had begged like this countless times. He said, "No need to beg me. If your son is willing to sign the agreement, please hurry up."
Xiang Xingzhao was so weak that he was a little dazed. Hearing the sound of an engine outside the house, he held on even tighter.
"How long can you hold on?" Xiang Mingzhang said, "But it doesn't matter whether it's sooner or later. When he comes, there's little difference between crying in front of the bed and crying in front of the window. They're both for the living to hear."
Xiang Xingzhao's eyes were dull, his mouth was open, the sounds escaping from his throat became increasingly fainter, and his pupils were unfocused during those long seconds.
Xiang Mingzhang finally said: "I decided on the yacht that if I leave alive, I will make sure you die with regrets."
There was a commotion outside the house, and the sound of footsteps accompanied by screams approached the door like a tide.
I don’t know who shouted, Xiang Long is back.
The moment the door opened, Xiang Xingzhao's taut fingers suddenly relaxed, stayed in the air for a moment, and then slid down Xiang Mingzhang's sleeves.
The instrument beside the bed beeped and a bright red horizontal line passed across the screen.
Xiang Xingzhao's heart stopped and his eyes were wide open.
Everyone rushed to the bed, and shouting and crying suddenly rang out in the room. Xiang Mingzhang turned around and saw Xiang Long, who was standing behind everyone, standing like a fool.
The face was even older than Xiang Kun, with very long hair, a turned-up jacket collar covering his chin, and eyes full of fear and confusion.
Xiang Mingzhang walked past Xiang Long with a cold expression as if he was passing a stranger. He walked to the cabinet where the birthday gift he had given to Xiang Xingzhao was placed.
Yu Songchun, Xiang Mingzhang reached out and touched it. He had done what he wanted to do and got what he wanted.
"Wealth and honor, and having children and grandchildren." He used the congratulatory message of the day to celebrate his victory and bid farewell to Xiang Xingzhao, "Grandpa, rest in peace."
Xiang Mingzhang left amid the high and low cries and walked out of the villa gate without looking back.
The sun was warm outside, but Xiang Mingzhang was like a lost wolf, walking alone on the vast snowy field with a heart filled with cold wind.
Suddenly he lowered his eyes and saw Shen Ruozhen standing quietly at the bottom of the stairs, looking at him, waiting for him.
Xiang Mingzhang walked down step by step and whispered, "He is dead."
Shen Ruozhen calmed Xiang Mingzhang's trembling nerves with just one sentence, saying: "The grudges are over, and it all ends here."
(End of this chapter)