Chu Shichen felt like he had fallen into the bottom of the sea. He had lost all senses, his body was paralyzed, his breathing was interrupted, he could not say anything, could not do anything, he could only stare at Xiang Mingzhang with his empty eyes wide open.
What did Xiang Mingzhang call him just now
He thought he would never hear this name again, and no one in his life would know this name.
Shen Ruozhen.
These three words were locked in the gaps between his bones, submerged in his blood, and hidden so deeply that they were covered with a thick layer of dust. Once they were dug out, the dust would blind his eyes, and a piece of his bone and blood would be missing, causing him excruciating pain.
Xiang Mingzhang refused to let him go and called out again: "Shen Ruozhen."
Chu Shichen turned into a machine that suddenly malfunctioned, with clues in his mind intertwined.
It was completely unclear when he was exposed and what wrong step he took.
Chu Shichen's feet were cold because of the air-conditioning on the floor. He couldn't stand steadily and stepped back in fear. He was a thief who pretended to be a gentleman but his identity was exposed. Should he just run away
But he couldn't escape. Fluorescent machines surrounded him on all sides. He was trapped in the maze set up by Xiang Mingzhang.
No matter how he gave the answer Xiang Mingzhang wanted, he could not admit it because he had no way to explain it.
Chu Shichen struggled from his chest: "No..."
Xiang Mingzhang was shocked, went crazy, waited and waited, endured and endured, but at the moment he was surprisingly calm. He seemed to confirm: "Aren't you?"
Coming to this century, Chu Shichen fantasized about being called by his real name, but he thought it was just a delusion.
The safe transfer that spring night was a secret. No one knew his final destination. His name and deeds were erased without a trace in the history books, and not a single word would be left for future generations.
If even he himself denies it, then what exactly is "Shen Ruozhen"
What is the first half of my life that was swept away by a storm at sea? !
Chu Shichen couldn't admit it, nor could he deny it, he just stood there like a daze among the huge machines.
Xiang Mingzhang said: "Answer me."
Chu Shichen resisted stubbornly: "I don't know what you are talking about."
"Then tell me in more detail." Xiang Mingzhang remembered it by heart. "Born in 1918, his ancestral home is Ningbo, Zhejiang. At the age of sixteen, he went abroad to study alone and graduated from the Business School of the University of Pennsylvania. After returning to China, he joined Fuhua Bank and served as assistant manager and general manager. In just two years, he took on important responsibilities for his father and became the president of Fuhua Bank for the last four years."
With every word Xiang Mingzhang said, Chu Shichen became more shocked. It was impossible. There was no way the other party would know that.
However, Xiang Mingzhang had not finished speaking: "During his tenure as president, he refused to sign the Japanese consent letter for the issuance of 'savings certificates', organized an economic self-help organization with his colleagues, donated at least 49 supplies to the frontline and refugees, and participated in the manufacture of anti-currency."
After a pause, Xiang Mingzhang changed his address: "Am I right, President Shen?"
Chu Shichen's heart trembled: "You made a mistake."
Xiang Mingzhang walked towards him: "He learned to play the pipa at the age of five, and he is very good at playing the pipa. He is well versed in the secret symbols of banks, and is proficient in English and Japanese. He likes to write regular script, and he has a Persian cat named Ling Tuan'er."
Half a meter was so short. A word came close to him. Xiang Mingzhang stopped and said, "My father Shen Zuorun and my mother Zhang Daoying gave me a pocket watch engraved with the swastika to bless you with a pure heart. Butler Yao Qi'an has a deep affection for you and probably hopes that you will be safe every day."
Hearing the names of his parents and housekeeper, Chu Shichen could no longer hold back, his vision blurred, and he burst into tears.
Xiang Mingzhang took another half step closer: "Did you suffer from insomnia when you were away on business for several times without Canaan incense? What does the gilded crystal official seal look like? When I gave you the pipa, were you moved at all?"
Chu Shichen's breathing was rapid, and tears were streaming down his cheeks uncontrollably. Xiang Mingzhang felt distressed, but at the same time, he was cruel: "Am I really wrong about all this?"
"Tell me, is it you?"
Chu Shichen's defense collapsed: "Because I'm a liar here!"
Xiang Mingzhang's veins were bulging, forming a blue scar on his forehead: "So are you going to continue lying to me? Or are you going to admit it?!"
What Chu Shichen feared finally happened. He had been living with Xiang Mingzhang day and night under someone else's identity, experiencing the ups and downs of life and developing feelings for him. But once his fate was exposed, it would be the end of him.
He tried hard to hold back his sobs, but couldn't help the humiliation in his throat: "I'm sorry..."
Xiang Mingzhang said: "I don't want you to apologize, I don't want you to feel guilty, and I don't ask you to give me any explanation."
Chu Shichen was stunned.
"Did I scare you?" Xiang Mingzhang repeated in a soothing tone, "Then I'll say it again. As long as you admit it, I will believe it."
Chu Shichen's thin lips moved, and his gasping breath became slower and slower, and under Xiang Mingzhang's rock-hard gaze, he gradually got rid of his fear.
It turned out that he was not a trapped prey, Xiang Mingzhang had already forgiven him.
Chu Shichen stretched out his left hand, and the agate ring on his index finger shone strangely in the dim green light. It was engraved with an eagle holding a laurel leaf, representing bloodiness and victory.
He grew up in an autumn when the country was suffering. The wind was bleak and the frost was severe. The hawk flew up to overturn the dawn. The first sentence of "Caged Eagle" reflects his ambition and fighting spirit.
The last sentence was his wish, "I hope that Qingshang will be restored to its original state and all the tired clouds will be gone." He quietly embedded it in the closure announcement of Fuhua Bank as his signature.
Xiang Mingzhang held the hand and said cherishingly, "Shen Qingshang."
"Yes." He admitted, "It's also Shen Ruozhen."
Xiang Mingzhang suddenly clenched Shen Ruozhen into his arms, and their chests collided with each other with a dull sound. He hugged Shen Ruozhen tightly, tightening his arms and pressing his big hands hard on Shen Ruozhen's trembling body.
Xiang Mingzhang was also afraid. He was afraid that Shen Ruozhen would be like a flickering light on a machine, which would eventually go out. He was afraid that this person would be rolled back into the old calendar and be submerged in the vast database like a scattered character.
Shen Ruozhen was in pain from the restraint but he enjoyed it. He buried his head deep in Xiang Mingzhang's neck, his tears marring his shirt collar and leaving two creases on his suit.
There is the hissing sound of electricity all around. This data center stores billions of pieces of information and records their secrets today.
Xiang Mingzhang loosened his hand, held up Shen Ruozhen's wet and cold cheek, and wiped away the traces at the corners of his eyes.
Her snow-white face turned red from crying. Shen Ruozhen raised her eyes and asked, "Will you really believe it?"
Xiang Mingzhang replied: "What you said is true, so I believe it. If it is false, I am willing to be fooled."
Shen Ruozhen held Xiang Mingzhang's wrist, rubbed it lightly with the tip of his nose, then leaned his entire face into his palm as if wearing a mask, and let the last drop of tear fall between Xiang Mingzhang's fingers.
It was warm, but Xiang Mingzhang lied: "You burned me, Shen Ruozhen."
As if apologizing, Shen Ruozhen kissed his palm lightly.
(End of this chapter)