Chapter 71
A week later, the welcome banquet for He Zhen officially began.
These past two days, the moment Yu Chen finished class, he would run straight back, afraid Li Huan might notice something off. He Zhen’s work schedule was tight, and sometimes he could only get home very late, so the chances for the two of them to see each other had become much fewer.
On the day of the banquet, He Zhen specifically came home to pick up Old Master He.
The moment he entered, he saw Yu Chen in a white suit. The suit was fairly fitted, custom-made entirely to Yu Chen’s proportions, making his figure look straight and slender, with a noble sort of elegance.
A trace of warmth rose in He Zhen’s eyes as he quietly approached Yu Chen. “All ready?”
Yu Chen smiled as he replied, “Mm. Everything Grandpa needs has been prepared. I thought the air conditioning inside would definitely be pretty strong, so I brought a blanket for him.”
“Chencheng has always been very thoughtful.” Holding his cane, Old Master He smiled at He Zhen in satisfaction. “Let’s go. Time to head out.”
He Zhen nodded and carefully pushed the wheelchair out.
Li Huan saw them all the way to the car. As he helped Yu Chen straighten his bow tie, he reminded him, “Watch your words and behavior. Just stay close to Grandpa.”
Yu Chen nodded with a smile. “Don’t worry.”
Li Huan patted Yu Chen on the shoulder and sent him into the car.
Yu Chen sat with Old Master He in the spacious back seat, while He Zhen took the front passenger seat. When they were almost at the company, He Zhen turned around and joked with Old Master He, “Grandpa, I’m really happy that you’re able to come today.”
Old Master He was in a good mood. “My grandson has come to work at the company. How could I not come support you?”
He Zhen smiled lightly, his eyes falling on Yu Chen. “It’s good that Chencheng came too. I don’t have a dance partner, and I was just worrying about that.”
Yu Chen looked a little reserved and quietly observed Old Master He’s expression.
Old Master He laughed loudly. “You—you don’t go looking for a partner, and instead you just drag Chencheng in to save the day. Chencheng is a boy. How is he supposed to dance with you?”
“I can dance the female steps, or he can.” He Zhen said this very easily, with a trace of joking in his tone. “Grandpa, is that alright?”
Old Master He looked at Yu Chen with kindly eyes and a smile. “Don’t ask me. Ask Chencheng.”
He Zhen’s low voice carried a smile. “Is it alright?”
At last, Yu Chen could openly meet He Zhen’s eyes.
“It is.”
Old Master He laughed heartily. “You really do spoil him.”
When they arrived at the group headquarters, He Zhen and Yu Chen stood on either side, slowly pushing Old Master He into the venue.
When it came down to it, Old Master He had not shown his face in public for a very long time.
The directors all hurried up attentively, surrounding Old Master He and asking after his health with great concern on the surface.
Naturally, Old Master He knew every one of their true natures. Smiling amiably, he said, “My body is recovering quite well. With Xiao Zhen helping me manage the work, I’m ten thousand times more at ease.”
Director Lin’s expression was gentle. “Xiao Zhen truly is worthy of having been personally taught by you. His working style carries your exact touch.”
Hearing that form of address, Old Master He slightly raised his brows and said in a friendly tone, “Xiao Lin, during work hours you should still call Xiao Zhen President He. Mind that next time.”
Director Lin’s expression froze for a moment before he quickly pasted on a smile. “Of course.”
Having just witnessed a silent yet vicious storm, Yu Chen could not help worrying for He Zhen. These old men were all monsters who devoured people without spitting out the bones. Facing them every day, He Zhen had to be careful in everything he did.
He looked at He Zhen, his expression carrying heartache. Meanwhile, after seeing Old Master He’s attitude clearly, the other high-ranking executives in the company exchanged knowing looks and piled false smiles onto He Zhen.
Yu Chen quietly asked He Heng, “Do you have the board of directors list?”
He Heng asked, “Mm. What do you want that for?”
A thoughtful expression settled between Yu Chen’s brows. “Something important.”
In the original book, the reason He Zhen was eventually driven out of the company by his two uncles had come from one crucial turning point—a serious mistake in judgment on a major acquisition case.
That mistake had caused the group to lose hundreds of billions.
And the reason He Zhen made that mistake was because someone had led him astray, causing him to focus only on short-term gains and ultimately bring about disastrous consequences.
Yu Chen wanted to know whether that person was on the directors’ list.
Although He Heng found it strange, he still quickly sent the list to Yu Chen.
After receiving it and making the comparison, Yu Chen did not find that key figure on the list.
But that made sense too. In the book, He Zhen had served as vice president, while president and CEO had separately been his two uncles. Now that the plot had changed, it was normal for certain figures to disappear too. Besides, he had once searched this name online back in high school and found absolutely nothing. That probably meant the person really had disappeared.
Silently scanning the other people in the hall, Yu Chen fell back into thought again. He still had a strong feeling that this person would continue to harm He Zhen.
That person did not necessarily have to be a board member.
He could also be middle management at He Feng, or perhaps a business partner.
But if he were a business partner, he would have to be someone important. So why was there no information about him online?
This plotline had not been explained in detail in the original story. The focus had mainly been on the clash between He Zhen and his third uncle. That key figure had only been mentioned in passing, with the reader told merely that he was one of He Jingtai’s people.
With Old Master He’s arrival, the banquet officially began.
It was the first time Yu Chen had ever seen such a grand banquet. The magnificent, lively hall was filled with important figures in sharp suits. According to He Heng, nearly every famous entrepreneur in the country was present.
Of course, that inevitably had Old Master He’s hand in it. In order to back He Zhen, Old Master He had personally phoned his old friends to invite them, essentially emptying out his entire network of connections.
It had already been several years since Old Master He had fallen ill, so for someone who had not appeared in public for such a long time, he naturally drew immense attention.
Old Master He led He Zhen around, chatting one by one with his old friends. Yu Chen noticed that Old Master He’s friends had also all brought their own children or grandchildren, among whom were no shortage of outstanding young people with excellent looks and ability.
Although Yu Chen could not help overthinking it, he also hoped that He Zhen would communicate more with people his own age and make friends. This was, after all, a society built on relationships, and having one’s own network was a good thing.
“And this child is?” Yang Changqing looked at Yu Chen with a curious smile. “A junior you’ve taken under your wing recently?”
“This is Yu Chen, the god-grandson I’ve recognized.” Old Master He joked, “At my last birthday, Changqing didn’t come, so he still doesn’t know that I now have the happy news of one more grandson.”
The others laughed along and continued clustering around Old Master He.
When Yu Chen heard the name Changqing, he froze slightly.
In a low voice, he asked He Heng, “His surname is Yang?”
He Heng nodded. “Mm. He’s the younger brother of the chairman of Evergreen Construction.”
Yu Chen’s breathing became slightly hurried. “Then does he hold real power in the company?”
He Heng shook his head. “No. Before, he only held three percent of the company’s shares. Only after his second brother died three months ago did he inherit fifteen percent.”
Yu Chen’s brows locked tightly together as he stared hard at Yang Changqing.
This person was the key figure.
But how was he supposed to tell He Zhen that?
His eyes carried a trace of unease as he looked toward He Zhen, who was currently speaking with everyone, wrestling inwardly with indecision.
He could not very well tell He Zhen about his own identity, could he?
After chatting a bit longer alongside Old Master He and the others, Yu Chen’s thoughts quietly drifted farther and farther away, and he looked increasingly absent-minded.
“Yu Chen.” When He Zhen came back and noticed Yu Chen was spacing out, he walked over to his side. “Do you want to go dance?”
Yu Chen tilted his head and looked over the new friends He Zhen had just made. Among them, one girl was looking at He Zhen with clear expectation, her liking for him nearly overflowing.
He smiled hesitantly. “Wouldn’t it look a little strange for two guys to dance?”
“I don’t think it’s strange.” He Zhen took Yu Chen’s hand on his own initiative and brought him over to introduce him to the others their age. “His name is Yu Chen. He’s my family.”
The girl from earlier gave a friendly wave. “I heard you’re from Fudan? I’m at Fudan too, in the School of Literature.”
Yu Chen immediately grew nervous. “What a coincidence.”
He looked at He Zhen, and a trace of panic showed on his face.
He Zhen had gone to look for him at school twice before. If word of that reached this girl’s ears, then he and He Zhen would be exposed.
Seeing Yu Chen’s unease, He Zhen took him toward the dance floor. “Do you want to dance the female steps or the male steps?”
“I—” Yu Chen was filled with anxiety, cold sweat already beading on his forehead. “Boss, maybe we shouldn’t dance right now. It’s too eye-catching.”
First it had been Yang Changqing, and now a schoolmate from the same year. Yu Chen had no way of making himself calm down immediately.
He had too many concerns, and too many things hidden in his heart.
His palms were damp as he gently withdrew his hand from He Zhen’s. “Boss, if you absolutely have to dance, maybe you should invite someone else.”
The moment those words left his mouth, he regretted them.
He Zhen would probably be angry at how strange he was acting.
“I—”
He Zhen took Yu Chen’s hand again, his attitude gentle. “Then we won’t dance. I’ll take you to eat something good.”
Yu Chen kept frowning. “Aren’t you angry?”
If it had been the old He Zhen, he definitely would have sulked.
“What is there to be angry about?” He Zhen selected all kinds of desserts and snacks for him and brought him to the quiet terrace on the second floor. “How do you like the atmosphere here?”
Holding a little cake in both hands, Yu Chen nodded heavily, still weighed down by thoughts. “It’s pretty good.”
He Zhen led him over to sit, then lifted a hand and gently tidied the loose hair at Yu Chen’s temples. “I know what you’re worried about. This is my fault. I’ve never openly told people about us.”
“It’s not your fault. You don’t really have a choice either.” Yu Chen’s brows were deeply furrowed, as though carrying a heavy burden. “We’ll just take it slowly.”
“Chencheng, there’s something I want to tell you honestly.” Guilt showed in He Zhen’s expression. “I originally promised I’d take you around America. But at that time there were some urgent matters at the company. I’ve already booked the flights and hotels. It’d be a waste to cancel them. How about I help Uncle apply for a visa, and he can take you instead?”
“Ah—” Yu Chen set down the dessert, his hands clasping tightly together. “You’re not going with me anymore?”
His eyes drooped, and his mood clearly darkened even more.
“I’m sorry. That matter truly can’t be postponed.” He Zhen stood up and lightly crouched in front of Yu Chen’s knees. “How about this—if I can finish things earlier, I’ll come find you. Alright?”
A faint disappointment showed in Yu Chen’s eyes. “Then… alright.”
“This time counts as mine. I promise you, I absolutely won’t make this mistake again in the future. Once winter break comes, how about I take you traveling around countries all over the world?”
“Travel around different countries?” The corners of Yu Chen’s lips lifted. “Will you even have time?”
“I definitely will. I swear.” He Zhen spoke earnestly as he held Yu Chen’s face. “When you come back, I’ll prepare a surprise for you.”
Yu Chen was very easy to coax, and little by little his mood improved.
But the matter of Yang Changqing still weighed on his heart and made it hard for him to breathe.
After thinking it over again and again, he decided to tell He Zhen the truth.
“Boss, that Yang Changqing… he seems like a bad person.”
“He?” He Zhen asked in return. “Why do you say that?”
Yu Chen casually made up a reason. “Just now, when he went to answer a call, I accidentally overheard him saying that if he lured you into their trap, they’d make a lot of money.”
This time, He Zhen seriously considered Yu Chen’s words.
He had never had any dealings with Yang Changqing. Why would Yang Changqing suddenly want to set him up?
Could it be that he was secretly colluding with people from the board?
“Boss.” Looking uncertainly at him, Yu Chen muttered in grievance, “What are you thinking about? Are you suspecting I heard wrong? I think that whether I heard wrong or not, you’d still be right to stay on guard against him.”
“You’re right.” He Zhen pinched Yu Chen’s ear lightly. “You’re so smart. How could you have heard wrong? I’ll quietly look into him first, then decide what to do.”
“Mm-hmm!” Seeing the matter resolved so smoothly, the stone weighing on Yu Chen’s heart finally dropped. His appetite returned, and he carefully picked out a few desserts he liked and began tasting them seriously.
Thought still lingered in He Zhen’s expression as he gently scraped Yu Chen’s nose.
His dark gaze passed through the glass window and landed on the guests in the second-floor lounge area.
His expression shifted several times, trying to sort out the relationship between Yang Changqing and the board. A difficult-to-read hesitation hung in his eyes.
“Boss, have a bite of cherry cake.”
Yu Chen fed He Zhen a bite, then swallowed the rest himself.
Watching Yu Chen’s smiling face, He Zhen’s voice turned gentle. “Eat more slowly.”
Yu Chen nodded repeatedly. “Okay.”
A few days later, Yu Chen finished his final exams and came to the international airport with Li Huan and his luggage packed.
Li Huan was very much looking forward to this trip. In his earlier years, he had traveled all over the place following Old Master He in and out of various battles, but he had never once had the chance to truly enjoy any of those countries.
Hearing from Yu Chen that the itinerary He Zhen had arranged was rich and interesting, Li Huan happily declared that he was benefiting from He Zhen’s generosity and boarded the plane with Yu Chen in high spirits.
Because an emergency meeting came up and He Zhen could not personally see Yu Chen off, he had sent He Heng to make the detailed arrangements and come back to report to him.
When he learned that Yu Chen’s flight had already taken off, he was in the middle of listening to a departmental report, but his thoughts could no longer be kept in order.
His fingertips slowly tightened around the document. Forcing his spirits up, a kind of desperate resolve emerged in the otherwise expressionless look on his face.
Next time, he wanted Yu Chen to dance with him openly and without hiding.
That whole day, he did not eat a single grain of rice.
When He Heng asked him about it, he only said that he was not feeling well and that his stomach hurt.
At night, he turned the bedroom air conditioner to the coldest setting, despite the fact that the weather was not even especially hot yet.
This went on for three straight days. Aside from drinking water, he did not eat a single bite of food.
During the morning meeting, seeing how exhausted and weak He Zhen looked, He Heng measured his temperature and quickly took him to the hospital.
An hour later, Old Master He hurried into the ward.
When he heard the doctor’s report, he grew very anxious. Although the doctor said He Zhen only had gastritis, most likely caused by irregular eating and emotional stress, Old Master He still could not feel at ease and immediately invited a traditional Chinese doctor over to regulate He Zhen’s body.
He Zhen’s face was pale as he leaned quietly against the bed.
After the doctor finished speaking, he turned his numb gaze toward Old Master He. “Grandpa, there are a few things I want to say to you.”
Old Master He quickly dismissed everyone else. Rolling his wheelchair closer to the bedside, he asked, “Xiao Zhen, what is it that makes you this formal?”
Supporting his tired body, He Zhen got down from the bed and, before Old Master He’s startled eyes, slowly knelt.
Old Master He’s expression froze in an instant.
“Xiao Zhen, what are you—”
In He Zhen’s weak brows and eyes flowed a faint helplessness and sadness. “Grandpa, ever since I was little, I’ve never asked you for anything. Recently, I ran into something and wanted to ask for your help.”
Old Master He was shocked, and the puzzlement in his face grew heavier and heavier. “What is it? Don’t tell me you sold the company?”
In Old Master He’s impression, unless He Zhen had managed to bankrupt the entire group, there was no matter on earth that would make him kneel and beg.
He Zhen shook his head, his lips pale. “I’ve fallen in love with someone. After I confessed, he rejected me and has kept avoiding me ever since. These past two days, I truly haven’t known how to handle the relationship between us. He even said that if I kept pestering him, he’d never speak to me again.”
The more he heard, the more confused Old Master He became. “A matter of love? Get up first and tell me which family’s daughter it is.”
Because of his fever, a layer of cold sweat had seeped from He Zhen’s face. “Grandpa, can you help me? I really do like him very much.”
Old Master He was so exasperated he almost laughed. To him, getting sick over love was the height of childishness.
“Xiao Zhen, get up first. The floor is cold.” Old Master He reached out to help him. “My grandson really has no future at all, getting himself sick because he couldn’t win over a girl.”
“But, I can understand that too.”
Old Master He knew that He Zhen was still young and at the age where he longed for love. Losing his reason because of it was, in a way, normal.
He Zhen did not get up. He continued kneeling, propped on the floor.
“Grandpa, the person I like is Yu Chen. In this life, other than him, I won’t ever like anyone else. A few days ago, I confessed to him. He was frightened and has been avoiding me ever since.”
Holding onto the edge of the bed, He Zhen coughed lightly. “I can’t clearly explain when exactly I started liking him. Maybe since high school, or maybe even earlier.”
A faint obsession stained He Zhen’s eyes. “Grandpa, tell me—when I treat him this well, why can’t he be with me? I was thinking that if you personally stepped in and put pressure on him and Uncle Li Huan, would he listen to you and be willing to be with me—”
A sharp slap rang out.
He Zhen staggered slightly, and a streak of blood spilled from the corner of his mouth.
Hearing the sound from inside, He Heng stood outside the door, his brows tightly drawn.
So He Zhen really had confessed?
Inside the ward, Old Master He was consumed with fury, the palm that still hurt trembling slightly. “I think you’ve lost your mind. You actually want me to exploit someone’s gratitude?”
He Zhen forced his weak body to remain upright and bowed his head to accept the punishment. “Grandpa, you can say anything you want about me, just don’t hurt your health.”
At this moment, Old Master He felt nothing but crushing disappointment. “Yu Chen doesn’t like you! It’s one thing for you to stubbornly cling to him, but you even want me to pressure Li Huan and force his son into becoming gay too! How did I raise you from childhood? Using power to make someone else’s son be with you—don’t you feel your behavior is shameless?”
Old Master He was so enraged that he grabbed his cane and swung it hard at He Zhen’s back.
He Zhen let out a muffled groan, and dense beads of sweat instantly appeared across his forehead.
“Is this really love for Yu Chen? If you force Yu Chen to be with you, don’t you think Yu Chen is innocent? Don’t you think he’s pitiful?”
Old Master He’s eyes had turned red with anger. Holding back the ache in his heart, he brought the cane down hard on He Zhen again.
He Zhen looked somewhat disheveled, his bangs fallen across his forehead.
Warm sweat slid into his eyes, and inwardly he was glad.
His goal had been achieved.
At the very least, in this matter, Yu Chen had become the victim.
