After Jian Suiying returned to her car and closed the door, she couldn't go on.
After the meeting, he immediately sought out President Yang. The two continued analyzing the case materials, strategizing how to proceed with the lawsuit.
After dinner with Mr. Yang that evening, he drove home.
As he approached the entrance to his residential complex, he looked up at the twenty-story building. Only a handful of apartments were lit.
The thought of returning to that empty, cold place filled with memories of him and Li Yu made him want to turn back immediately.
He didn't want to go back alone.
After much deliberation, he finally turned the steering wheel and drove toward Xiao Zhu's house.
Jian Suiying felt his emotions suddenly erupt, channeling all his fury into the finger pressing the doorbell. The incessant ringing sounded like a death knell, piercing his ears even through the door.
Open up! Open up! Damn it, nothing's going right! Everything's against me!!
Jian Suiying roared inwardly. Just as he stepped back to kick the door, hurried footsteps echoed from inside. "Coming! Coming! Who is it?"
The door before him swung open, and a wave of warmth flooded out, the soft glow from inside stinging his eyes
.
A slender, handsome boy stared at him with wide eyes full of terror and concern.
Jian Suiying scanned from his dripping hair to his bare feet, a surge of restless rage swirling violently in his chest.
He squeezed his eyes shut tightly, forcing down the rising fury. Stepping inside, he croaked, "Go make me a pot of tea."
Xiao Zhu sniffed back tears as he closed the door, then ran barefoot to the kitchen to brew the tea.
Jian Suiying collapsed onto the sofa, drained of all energy. He couldn't be bothered to lift a finger.
A moment later, Xiao Zhu returned carrying a teapot, sitting down cautiously beside him without a word.
Jian Suiying opened his bloodshot eyes, glanced at him, and reached out to touch his ear. "I scared you." Xiao Zhu stiffly nodded, then shook his head.
"Come here." Jian Suiying held out his hand.
Xiao Zhu moved closer and was pulled onto Jian Suiying's lap.
Jian Suiying held him tightly. He needed to hold something warm and alive, something that reminded him he wasn't alone, that he hadn't been abandoned by everything.
He buried his face in Xiao Zhu's clothes, breathing slowly. Hesitantly, Xiao Zhu reached out and embraced him.
"I really screwed up this time... Why? Because I thought too highly of myself... I thought I was so awesome
...I thought I could have anything I wanted... Who would've thought... Who would've thought no one takes me seriously? You didn't expect it, did you?
. I never imagined it... that no one... no one gives a damn about me, Jian Suiying!"
Bai Xinyu, Jian Suilin, Li Yu... Nobody gave him the time of day. In their eyes, he was nothing—absolutely nothing!
had been witnessed by countless others. Yet this defeated, vulnerable version—perhaps only he had seen it. This made him feel
with pain, yet also overwhelmed with gratitude.
He had never dared to expect anything from Jian Suiying. He gave, he took—he had no right to demand more. Jian Suiying
could one day hold him like this and weep silently, he felt it was enough.
The situation was even bleaker than he'd imagined.
Soon, all shareholders and employees learned of the land seizure. Panic spread through the company. During the meeting, Jian Suiying clearly sensed that "instability."
He could clearly sense that "instability" in the company.
While handling business affairs, he received a text message—brief and to the point—from Li Yu: Jian Suiying, you haven't been home in four days.
After sending it, he felt his hands trembling.
you agree to my terms, Jian Suilin can't touch you." Jian Suiying scoffed.
If he could still believe a single punctuation mark from Li Yu, he might as well go back to the drawing board.
His fax machine beeped. He pressed the receive button, and soon, page after page of documents began streaming out.
He picked them up to find they were from Jian Suilin, all related to that debt.
This was pressure being applied.
The last sheet bore only a few terse words: Bro, let's talk.
"Talk my ass," Jian Suiying cursed inwardly.
After a while, both the cell phone and fax machine fell silent. He thought the whole world had quieted down, but then his landline ringing again.
He received his third call today from someone wanting to "talk"—this time, it was his father.
Also, don't doubt my love for Senior Jian—he's my favorite, truly. Heaven bestows great responsibilities upon strong.
He must first XXXXXXXXXXXXXX