Chapter 4
After a whole day of meetings, Tong Yehui ran into Du Cheng at the door of the conference room. Du Cheng had something to say, and Tong Yehui could tell, but he did not voice it nor did he inquire further. He sidestepped Du Cheng and returned to his office. On the desk, he found the keys that Deng Hui had prepared for him already placed there. He took the keys and went downstairs to leave work.
After entering the room, Tong Yehui deliberately glanced at Du Cheng, who was seated in the position of the vice president. When their eyes met, Du Cheng's gaze was calm and steady, showing no difference from usual. To a certain extent, they were similar individuals, both clearly understanding the choices and sacrifices of life. Tong Yehui then turned his attention back to the agenda of the meeting
Suddenly, Du Cheng said, "I don't want to see her." Then, in a daze, he revealed a vague and weak smile. He stood up and walked outside, saying, "She used to call me Fifth Brother. In the past few years, I didn't think about it, but as time goes by, I remember it more clearly. In fact, she wasn't that bad. How come back then..."
Tong Yehui strides with great confidence, yet Xiao Wu, now known as General Manager Du, has not been left behind. Du Cheng's ambition may not match that of Tong Yehui, but he is steady and composed. The wealthier and more distinguished a person becomes, the more their character is revealed. When one lacks nothing, their integrity naturally emerges; this is what is meant by achieving wealth and establishing character. Tong Yehui requires a trustworthy companion by his side. The two have journeyed together, one focusing on external affairs and the other on internal matters, cooperating harmoniously, never abandoning one another. As they stand in their current positions and look back, the reckless youth who once fought in the night market is no longer visible. They have both undergone a transformation, becoming entirely different individuals.
Indeed, he encountered a traffic jam on the way, and by the time he arrived at the company building, it was already past the scheduled meeting time. In a hurry, he rushed upstairs, and his assistant, Deng Hui, who was very perceptive, stood at the elevator entrance to greet him. Upon seeing his attire, which was as wrinkled as dried vegetables, he could not help but reveal a look of surprise on his face.
Regretfully, Sheng was always watching television. After Tong Yehui finished cleaning, he came out and sat there accompanying her in silence, creating an atmosphere of awkwardness in the room
Upon entering the door, Tong Yehui walked directly to the lounge inside, where Deng Hui was already preparing his clothes. Upon entering the room, he stood by the bed and began to undress. When he reached his pants, he suddenly remembered and took out two keys from his pocket, handing them to Deng Hui: "Make me a new set."
The two individuals about to enter were stopped at the door. As Deng Hui was pushing the door, he turned his body and greeted the newcomer, saying: "General Manager Du"
Tong Yehui looked at the empty small bed for a while, and finally turned around and walked into the bathroom. After a short while, he took a shower, and when he came out, he had no pajamas to wear, so he simply went into the room wearing only his underwear and lay down on the single bed. When his head touched the pillow, he finally let out a sigh.
Tong Yehui got up and checked the time; it was already past 8 o'clock. He was generally very clear-headed at all times. Once he was awake, he immediately remembered that there was an important meeting this morning. He got up and peeked into the room, noticing that Han Sheng was still sleeping soundly. He then quietly walked to the door, casually picked up two keys from the shoe cabinet, and opened the door to go out. The door lock made a "click" sound behind him, causing the person in bed to twitch their eyelids a few times, but ultimately, they did not open their eyes.
At nine thirty in the evening, Han Sheng finally got up. She ran back and forth to the balcony several times to retrieve the bed sheets and quilts that had been sun-dried during the day. As he watched her move back and forth, Tong Yehui's eyes unconsciously followed her. He remembered that the old Han Sheng also liked to take the bedding out to dry for no reason. She said that the quilts smelled of sunshine after being dried, making them warm and comfortable to sleep on. However, at that time, Han Sheng would not ignore him; instead, she would make sure he knew about even the smallest things she did, making him feel that she was very virtuous. He found her behavior quite annoying back then. Yet, in order to maintain a facade of harmony, he had to wear a smile and indulge her. Even now, thinking back, he still felt annoyed, but this annoyance was no longer the same as before. Initially, it was a complete aversion to that person, but now it was a reluctance to reminisce. However, Han Sheng always made him unconsciously recall certain things.
Tong Yehui woke up to find that it was already bright outside. The children were the most energetic, making a loud commotion early in the morning.
At a glance, Deng Hui recognized it as a house key, but its style was so old that it did not seem like something that could have come from Tong Yehui's hands. He felt a bit puzzled, yet he did not show it. He simply acknowledged it and put it into his pocket. Just then, Du Cheng also came in. Deng Hui knew that the two of them must have something to discuss, so he greeted them and went out.
Tong Yehui sat quietly on the sofa, watching Han Sheng as he moved back and forth. He silently observed Han Sheng slowly finish a bowl of noodles, then go to the kitchen to wash the dishes, return, and lie back down on the chair, fixated on the television, never casting a glance in his direction. He neither spoke nor moved, his face remaining as calm as a still pond. Watching Han Sheng lying there as the chair began to rock slowly, he picked up the bowl and chopsticks in front of him and started to eat, one bite at a time
Deng Hui had been following Tong Ye Hui for quite some time and was well aware of his temperament. He hurried a few steps ahead to open the door for him. Just as the two were about to enter, a door across the way also opened, and a tall man walked out. Upon seeing Tong Ye Hui, he displayed a look of surprise and approached to ask, "Ye Hui, what have you been up to? Why are you dressed like this?"
Tong Yehui silently placed the packed meal on the coffee table, sat down, and looked at Han Sheng beside him, feeling a bit reflective about life. He was still very young and not someone who often reminisced, but Han Sheng occupied a significant portion of his life. Every turning point in his life was related to her. He realized that he felt pity for Han Sheng, as she could unexpectedly touch something deep within him.
Tong Yehui bent down to take off his shoes, and after a while, he spoke in a low voice: "Xiao Wu, Han Sheng has returned. I went to pick her up yesterday."
Tong Yehui set the table and turned to call Hansheng again, but at that moment, Hansheng clumsily bent down to put on her slippers, then stood up and walked into the kitchen. After a short while, she came out holding a bowl of noodles, the same tomato and egg noodles as yesterday. She carefully cradled the bowl of noodles in her hands and sat back down in the rocking chair, taking small bites as she began to eat.
Han Sheng sat in the rocking chair, the chair swaying back and forth in a rhythmic manner. She was wearing her high school uniform, a white sailor shirt and shorts, which had yellowed over the years. The clothes were several sizes too big, swaying loosely on her body. Tong Yehui momentarily lost his train of thought; this iconic outfit could transport one's memories back a decade, yet he could no longer find the shadow of the past in the current Han Sheng. She had lost weight; she used to have a round face, her features always appearing somewhat blurred. Now, she had slimmed down, her nose and eyes more pronounced, looking much more delicate. From the moment they met, she remained silent, her movements slow and sluggish. ... The once plump Han Sheng, the silly Han Sheng who would call out to him "Tong Yehui" in a loud voice, the Han Sheng who had annoyed him... was gone. The once plump Han Sheng, the silly Han Sheng who would call out to him "Tong Yehui" in a loud voice, the Han Sheng who had annoyed him... was gone.
Having tidied himself up, Tong Yehui walked robustly towards the conference room. The meeting of the day was the semi-annual summary meeting for the entire group company. Preparations for this meeting had actually been underway for a long time. The managers and heads of various subsidiaries had been summoned back for this day, where decisions would be made regarding promotions, demotions, and transfers. He was well-dressed, with a neat appearance and an elegant demeanor, looking impressive in every way. As he moved, he exuded an air of perfection. Deng Hui led the way in front of him, pushing open the heavy doors of the conference room, and the various elites inside instantly rose to their feet.
Tong Yehui sat alone until late at night. He had been sitting for a long time, and there was not a single sound from the room. Eventually, he stood up and turned off the television, which had been running non-stop. He then paused for a moment in the center of the living room, turned around, and glanced into the two bedrooms. The room where Hansheng was sleeping was completely silent, and he could vaguely see that the person on the bed was in the same position as yesterday. In the adjacent room, the single bed with a plain board was neatly made with a mattress and pillow, and a towel blanket was placed at the head of the bed. He turned around and glanced into the two bedrooms again; the room where Hansheng was sleeping remained silent, and he could vaguely see that the person on the bed was still in the same position as yesterday. In the adjacent room, the single bed with a plain board was neatly made with a mattress and pillow, and a towel blanket was placed at the head of the bed.
Tong Yehui had eaten his fill, yet there remained a large pile in front of him. He tidied everything up and took it all into the kitchen to pack it into a garbage bag. While disposing of the leftovers, he noticed the breakfast he had bought that morning lying intact in the trash can. He was momentarily taken aback, then expressionless, he finished packing the garbage bag, took it outside the door, and returned to continue washing the dishes, cleaning the kitchen thoroughly.
In the current situation, Tong Yehui also feels troubled. He knows that Han Sheng must hate him, but he does not understand what she wants or what she intends to do. As for acts of violence or revenge, based on his understanding of Han Sheng, she neither has the intellect nor the courage for such things. A person, no matter how much they change, cannot suddenly become intelligent in defiance of the laws of nature. Han Sheng's current foolish and timid demeanor has also begun to irritate him.
A sudden sense of oppressive heaviness enveloped the room, and Du Cheng's posture seemed to have stiffened. The sound of Tong Yehui's belt buckle clinking was particularly crisp.
Tong Yehui woke up in this noisy atmosphere filled with the smell of fireworks. Yesterday, he had dozed off in a daze while sitting in the living room of Han Sheng's home. He had woken up in the middle of the night, feeling stiff, but due to exhaustion, he did not think much of it and ultimately curled up on the sofa to sleep for the rest of the night
Mr. Du is the same Xiao Wu from back in the day, but now very few people call him that anymore. He nodded slightly at Deng Hui as a greeting. Deng Hui entered the room, while Tong Yehui, who remained outside, looked at Du Cheng and opened his mouth, pausing for a moment before finally turning around and entering the office. Du Cheng knew he had something to say and followed him inside.
The tranquil and stagnant air flowed through this space, a stalemate that even the lively voices from the television could not break. Han Sheng stared at the television in silence, showing no reaction to the presence of an extra person in the house. Tong Yehui watched her for a while before speaking: "Han Sheng, it's getting late, let's have dinner." After saying this, he got up to the kitchen to fetch bowls and plates for the meal.
Tong Yehui did not want to waste time with him, and quickly walked towards his office, not looking back as he instructed: "Prepare a set of clothes for me, I need to take a shower, and inform them that the meeting will start in 20 minutes."
Du Cheng entered and found a place to sit down, asking Tong Yehui: "What were you up to last night, looking like this?"
Tong Yehui was immersed in an indescribable emotion, and his mood suddenly turned quite poor. He was unwilling to look at Han Sheng any longer, while Han Sheng had not glanced at him even once from beginning to end. After arranging the two beds in the room, she went to the bathroom to take a shower, and upon coming out, she directly returned to her mother's original bedroom to sleep. When she entered, she did not close the door, as if there was truly only her in this room from beginning to end.
Over the years, Tong Yehui has been making continuous progress; the wealthier he becomes, the broader his horizons, and the greater his ambitions. He has never stopped moving forward. The identity of a nouveau riche does not satisfy him. During the peak of the real estate industry, he suddenly shifted his focus to the biopharmaceutical sector, establishing a tangible presence there. His business acumen is unique, and he has become increasingly seasoned, having tidied up the recklessness of his youth. In this material world, rife with desires, he has thrived without a solid network foundation, instead using his wealth to build a protective umbrella for himself. Initial results have begun to show in the biopharmaceutical field. When things stabilized slightly, he turned his attention to energy and environmental protection. Last year, he took the lead in investing in wind power generation in Inner Mongolia, and this year he secured a project worth over 8 billion. Now, he possesses both money and projects, and has evidently become a significant figure in the business circle of City B, and a very young one at that.
A little over ten minutes later, the front door of the house was opened again. Tong Yehui quietly walked in, carrying a bag of breakfast. He placed the items on the coffee table and turned to see Hansheng still in the same sleeping position as before. Having done nothing else, he silently retraced his steps and gently closed the front door.
On the bustling streets of City B, Tong Yehui hailed a taxi to the company. During the ride, he called his assistant to instruct someone to retrieve the car he had left by the roadside yesterday. He also asked him to notify that if he arrived late to the company, the morning meeting would be postponed. Only after everything was arranged did he feel at ease.
Han Sheng curled up with her knees hugged, and saw Tong Yehui suddenly opening the door with a key, a look of surprise on his face. However, the expression of surprise was only frozen on her face for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, she turned her gaze back to the television in front of her, where a lively scene was unfolding with sounds of clashing and banging.
After leaving the company, Tong Yehui drove to the restaurant and packed a substantial amount of food. Without delay, he drove to Han Sheng's place. By the time he entered, it was already dark outside. All the windows in the room were wide open, allowing the air to circulate and bringing in waves of warm wind. On the balcony, layers of fabric were fluttering, including curtains, bed sheets, and several comforters. The room was filled with the scent of laundry detergent.
Du Cheng's last few words were left outside the door. Tong Yehui's hand, resting on his waistband, remained still for a long time. After Du Cheng had been gone for quite a while, he finally kicked off his pants and turned to enter the bathroom
They are now different from what they were in the past. Five years ago, they left their original business circle and began investing in the real estate industry with a substantial amount of idle capital. At that time, the real estate sector was in its golden period. They used their money to bribe for land acquisition, hoarding a large amount of land to sell after a period of time. Within one or two years, they accumulated astronomical wealth and established deep connections.