Chapter 56 The living room was crowded with people. From the first light of day to the highest point of the sun, the sound of conversation never stopped, and the teapot never stopped.

Shen Zhi hid in the kitchen to make a phone call. The beeping sound that had lasted for the whole morning finally got through. He complained in a low voice: "Why didn't you answer the phone all morning?... What on earth do you want to do? If you want to chase me away, there's no need to go through so much trouble. I'll just leave."

"I had a meeting this morning. It just ended. You can go to the hospital without worry. No one

will chase you away." "No, I'll leave soon. You caused this mess yourself. Solve it yourself." Shen

Zhi was about to hang up the phone. Shen Yuan on the other end was panicking. If Shen Zhi never came back, he would never be able to find him again.

"No, no, I'm on my way, wait for me."

The kitchen door was pushed open, revealing half of his face. With an awkward and flattering smile, he said, "Xiao Zhi, are you busy?" Shen

Zhi put away his mobile phone and smiled politely, "No. What's the matter?"

"Nothing, I just saw you staying here alone for a long time, so I wanted to come and see you." It seemed that Shen Zhi's silence made him a little uneasy, so he stretched out his hand again, exaggeratedly, trying to cover up, "The result of one hospital is nothing, listen to me, go and check it out more, maybe it's a misdiagnosis?" Shen Zhi nodded

, "Okay."

"If there is anything, you must tell me. Is the phone number added to the address book?"

"Yeah."

"...Well, don't be restrained, just be what you said before, and you don't have to change your words. Just call me uncle. After all, I owe you and your mother a lot." As he spoke, his voice became smaller and smaller.

Chen Zhi didn't like what he heard, and his smile faded. "That's not the case. Actually, you should too. There's no need to treat me like a responsibility or a burden."

He Xun frowned, as if hearing something truly horrific. He raised his voice a little, "How can that be? You're all alone now."

"Being alone is fine, right? Everyone comes alone and dies alone."

He Xun interrupted, "Don't say such unlucky things! Your uncle has an appointment for you at the Central Hospital for tomorrow morning at 10:00. So, prepare your bed sheets, thin quilt, and toothbrush this afternoon..." He counted off the details, offering another thoughtful instruction.

Last time, Feng Ran had been the only one to prepare all the necessary items for him, from a folding bed and wheelchair to earplugs and nail clippers. He feared he'd get bored, so he brought all the electronic devices, game consoles, and even a palm-sized children's drawing board from somewhere.

He scrubbed him from head to toe every day—even the closest couple wouldn't be able to do that. He ran around all those long days, all by himself, without a single complaint.

Now, who else could do all that?

Chen Zhi didn't understand what He Xun was saying, and he swallowed down the words "I don't want to treat him.

" After the man finished his long speech, he asked, "Have you heard from He Chuan?"

He Xun didn't expect Chen Zhi to ask this so suddenly, and his expression froze. "This kid blocked all my contact information a while ago..." Chen

Zhi said calmly, "Why don't we go to the silver shop in Jiang City and see if he can do something? He's doing well."

"Forget it, let him do whatever he wants. I can't control him." He Xun hesitated for a moment. "He has his mother anyway." Chen Zhi

fell silent.

He Xun said, "Come on, come out and sit down."

It really wasn't a good look to be stuck in this corner all the time. Chen Zhi followed him out of the kitchen, looking at everyone in the room with a cold eye. Perhaps sensing that he was about to die, the group's attitude was noticeably different from before. They acted condescendingly and comforted him, their eyes filled with pity. He Xun leaned over to make way for him.

Chen Zhi seamlessly integrated into the conversation with his relatives, like a drop of water into tea, without a single obstacle.

The relatives, seemingly oblivious to the earth-shattering events at home, engaged him in enthusiastic conversation, even including He Xun, describing everything they'd missed since Shen Zhi left. Shen Zhi alternately smiled and nodded, occasionally joining in, caring for everyone as always. Someone

sighed, "How sensible! What a shame... he left so early..."

There was an awkward moment of no response, when the door suddenly opened and Shen Yuan rushed in, perfectly resolving the situation: "Where's Shen Zhi? Shen Zhi—" Shen

Zhi turned to look at him, but he shut up, his gaze averted. He walked to the coffee table, grabbed Shen Zhi's cup, and gulped it down.

"You haven't checked into the hospital yet?" he said, setting it down.

"Tomorrow," his uncle answered for him.

Shen Yuan wasn't impressed: "I have another meeting tomorrow..."

"Today's appointments are sold out," Shen Zhi said.

"Okay."

That night, Shen Zhi slept restlessly. Shen Yuan was next door to him, and the relatives gradually left, some to hotels, others on late-night drives back home for work the next day.

Half asleep, half awake, Feng Ran's face was always before him. He reached out to grab it, but suddenly woke up and grabbed into darkness.

He couldn't sleep, so he got up from the bed, but saw light at the door of Shen Yuan.

He walked over barefoot, and Shen Yuan was talking on the phone.

"Being cheated? Aren't they lovers, and you cheated him?... It's normal to get paid for doing things. Do you think he is easy to mess with?... No need to ask, how is it possible..." Shen

Zhi didn't understand why, and always felt that something was wrong, but

couldn't put his finger on it. He frowned and waited for a long time, until the voice from Shen Yuan's end became lower and was covered by the sound of the keyboard, and no word could be heard.

Unconsciously, the sound of birds singing could be heard outside, and the rustling sound in the room was the sound of people getting dressed - Shen Yuan had not slept all night.

Shen Zhi slowly stretched his stiff legs and went back to his room.

There was something wrong with the look in his colleague's eyes when he looked at Feng Ran.

He was used to this strange look, but...

"Brother, you and our President Chen are really not a match?" The intern sister asked for the nth time. She was interning in finance and was close to Feng Ran. She had a carefree personality and the two of them often ate together and quickly became familiar with each other.

"Really not."

"But but... they all said..."

"No buts." He gently flicked the ponytail at the back of the girl's head, "Get back to work after dinner, you're gossiping all day long."

The girl rolled her eyes and looked at the lighter he was playing with: "Then where do you think it came from? It was on Mr. Chen's desk a few days ago - with packaging."

Feng Ran was speechless for a moment, but was quickly caught. The girl screamed: "It was really given by him! I just said it casually!"

Feng Ran "hushed" several times and said: "What's the fuss? I asked him to help buy it."

"Mr. Chen also does purchasing on behalf of others? Does he have this service now?"

"Yes, there are a dozen lighters in his drawer, just take them."

"Brother, they all say that you two are in that kind of relationship, and that you got in through the back door," she said firmly, "but I don't think so."

Feng Ran felt guilty but was deeply moved: "Thank you, you have a keen eye for talent at such a young age, you will definitely achieve great things in the future."

The girl's tone changed: "I think you were the one who was taken away..."

"No!" Feng Ran was startled and interrupted, "Where did you hear that? Stop spreading rumors."

"I'm just kidding," she poked her finger. "But a lot of people have been talking about you behind your back lately. You weren't at the meeting the other day, and Mr. Chen suddenly started finding fault and scolded everyone, but he praised Manager Lin for half an hour. In the end, he even reorganized the departments. Um, I want to ask you quietly, are you planning to leave soon? I heard there are a few spots available to go to headquarters." "

I don't think I'm planning to." Feng Ran thought for a moment, and it seemed Chen Shuze didn't have any plans either. "Do you want to go?"

"No, I just want to stay in Jiang City. Just make me a full-time employee after my internship." The girl shook her head repeatedly, half-jokingly saying, "Mr. Chen is so handsome, who would be willing to leave?"

After chatting and laughing for the meal, Feng Ran went downstairs as usual, hiding against the wall to smoke.

During this time, Chen Shuze had been carrying out drastic changes, and many people had left the company one after another, some voluntarily and some forced. The previous finance manager also resigned, taking several of his trusted subordinates with him. The good team was suddenly scattered, and all the work fell on Feng Ran's head.

Chen Shuze privately told Feng Ran that whoever makes trouble for him is the enemy of the company and must be eliminated. He must act decisively, otherwise no one will be willing to follow him.

Feng Ran felt that a major change in personnel right after he arrived might not be a good thing.

But he was too lazy to say it. Chen Shuze obviously would not listen at all.

Now there are only a few "remnants of the previous dynasty" left, staring at each other every day, some lying down, some not lying down, some planning their next job, and some not convinced, making some noise in secret, which can't get Chen Shuze in the head, but is very torturous. If

they can't deal with Chen Shuze, can they deal with Feng Ran? It's

bad enough that the work is not going well, but there are also rumors, which make Feng Ran exhausted physically and mentally.

Not long after, a pair of leather shoes came over from a distance. Feng Ran didn't need to look up to know who the owner was.

"New? Pretty."

"Huh? Oh, this one," Feng Ran said. "It's one that got sold out of He Chuan's shop. I think it's okay, so I don't have to melt it down."

Chen Shuze nodded and said, "You have really good taste. I didn't expect small accessories could be so beautiful. I'll go see them someday."

He was talking about rings. Feng Ran wore two, one on his index and ring fingers. One was wider and had a hollow carving, and the other was winding like a snake, wrapped around the finger. Both had a distressed texture and excellent craftsmanship.

"They're just little trinkets. He Chuan is the best at making them."

"How much?"

Chen Shuze would never ask him out just for small talk, but Feng Ran had no choice but to bite the bullet and continue. "A few hundred yuan. With rings, craftsmanship is one part, but the material is also important. These two are sterling silver, and the other materials are different."

Chen Shuze got back to the point and said, "By the way, Feng Ran, you'll have to work harder recently. Try not to pile up work at the end of the month. You'll have other things to do then. You're the only one around me now. I can't rely on others."

Feng Ran agreed with a nod.

Chen Shuze continued to discuss work matters, and Feng Ran took notes. Suddenly, he remembered the intern's words.

"How long do you plan to keep those remnants of the previous dynasty?"

Chen Shuze raised an eyebrow, unable to resist a laugh. "So that's how you all talk."

Feng Ran realized he'd actually said those words, and with a dry laugh, he said, "Just pretend you didn't hear."

Chen Shuze replied, "Capable people who can help the company must be retained." "

Old fox," Feng Ran commented secretly.

There was a capable person who had always been at odds with Chen Shuze. The two men were secretly competing, neither willing to yield. Some urged him to resign, perhaps to a new position at headquarters or a promotion elsewhere, but he seemed determined to compete with Chen Shuze.

Feng Ran knew him: Lu Yi. His father was one of the company's founding shareholders. If Chen Shuze hadn't suddenly arrived, the position would have been his. There's

no room for two tigers in one mountain. Chen Shuze's apparent softness towards him was obvious to everyone, the calm before the storm. Feng Ran hadn't been working with him long when he developed a premonition of trouble. He was extremely careful with every document he handled and his signature.

But the storm finally arrived.

On a hot summer day, Chen Shuze summoned several people to a meeting, while Feng Ran rested in the adjacent room.

Just as he was drowsy, someone suddenly pushed open the conference room door, and a commotion erupted, startling Feng Ran awake. The people slowly emerging from the room looked at him with uneasy eyes. The

last to emerge was Chen Shuze. He stood at the doorway and said, "Feng Ran."

Feng Ran pushed himself up and walked in. All around him was silent as a cicada, and a burning sensation

lingered on his back, the sight of gazes. A stack of documents lay on the long table in the conference room. Feng Ran flipped through them, his mind clear.

It was a project contract from a while ago, reviewed by Feng Ran and signed by a man named Lu. Now that the accounts were in tatters, the fate of the signatories and their cronies was clear.

Feng Ran was merely a shield; the real perpetrators had already laid a tight net in the shadows.

He didn't care whether Chen Shuze closed the door or not, and said, "Mr. Chen, is this chess piece of mine still working for you?"

Chen Shuze closed the door and turned around. When he walked towards him, he was actually smiling, his face was full of joy, and his tone was gentle: "You just came, and you are only responsible for the review of this matter. It doesn't matter if you make some mistakes. I blocked it for you this time. Just pay attention in the future."