Zhao Yishu and the other women watched helplessly as the man, who was referred to as the young master of Fangxin Media, smugly led his group of followers away with utmost respect.
As soon as they entered the elevator, Zhou Feilong, unwilling to accept it, said, "Young Master, we have so many people, why don't you—"
"Shut up, watch out for surveillance."
A silence fell upon the group. After they exited the building, Chen Yufei finally took a breath, but his forehead was beaded with even more sweat than the others.
"Young Master, you—"
"Don't ask. All I can tell you is that this matter is closed. I can't afford to offend that man. If you don't want to lose your limbs, feel free to go challenge him, but only if you're willing to get out of my company first."
After dropping these words, Chen Yufei quickly got into his Escalade and sped away, leaving Zhou Feilong and the others bewildered under the scorching sun.
"This Young Master spoke so vaguely; I wonder what that man's background really is."
"Forget it. Even someone like the Young Master was so respectful to him, what about us—"
"You're right. I feel like the sun is a bit too strong today, and life feels a bit surreal. The fact that we're still alive feels like a stroke of luck."
The group swallowed hard and quickly disappeared under the blazing sun.
...
After this incident, Zhao Wei would undoubtedly have a lot to discuss with his daughter, Zhao Yishu. What was initially meant to be a private conversation between father and daughter, Zhao Yishu insisted on having Ren Yuanhao present. As a result, their private talk felt more like an introduction to a potential father-in-law.
"Tell me, what's the story behind Mom's urn? And what happened with you back then?"
Zhao Yishu sat beside Ren Yuanhao, the ice around her heart having almost completely melted under the warm sun.
"I was framed by the only son of a certain company who was constantly pursuing your mother. Of course, you probably won't believe me now, especially since I haven't fulfilled my fatherly responsibilities all these years." Zhao Wei's hands never let go of the urn, as if he were a child holding his most cherished toy.
"Why didn't you explain yourself to me back then? Did you also think I was someone so brainless?"
Zhao Yishu could see the surging tenderness in her father's eyes. She could see his trembling hands gently caressing the urn, and even saw him occasionally sporting a childlike smile on his face.
"Yishu, you moved to four different places since you started middle school. In reality, I was always nearby. I just wanted to be close to you. Later, as you began to look more and more like your mother, I started to lose my mind, becoming like a schizophrenic. Every day, I’d look at your mother's urn and then secretly watch you. Can you imagine what that feeling was like?"
Zhao Wei's face gradually contorted. "I became addicted to gambling then. I found that the more money I lost, the more miserable my life became, as if it brought me closer to your mother. Later, there was the loan shark situation, and I disappeared for a full five years. However, the mistakes I made had to be repaid by me. I thought I was no longer afraid of death, but when they said they would cripple my legs, I was terrified like a complete piece of trash. So, because of my cowardice and incompetence, I had no choice but to come to you~" Da Feng Novel Network
For some reason, the three fell silent. Ren Yuanhao wanted to get up to give them some privacy, but Zhao Yishu also stood up. Ren Yuanhao could only lean close to her ear and whisper a few words before Zhao Yishu slowly sat down.
Ren Yuanhao left the room. After all, it had been nearly twenty years since they had last spoken or seen each other. Father and daughter surely had countless words to exchange.
Without disturbing anyone, he took the elevator to the top floor.
Coincidentally, besides the faint sunlight and the gentle breeze, the chairman was also on the top floor.
Seeing Ren Yuanhao arrive, the chairman did not rush to chat with him, but instead looked up at the sky.
"Chairman, what are you looking at?"
"Looking at the sky, the clouds. People our age see these things and it reminds us of our lifespan. Sunrise and sunset, the cycle of day and night, we can only count the days we have left. We can't be like children, desperately wanting to grow taller and bigger. The purity of youth fades with age, and we become more confused. It's only when we reach a certain age that we might return to simplicity and truly grasp the meaning of life."
Ren Yuanhao asked as if to himself, "Then, what is the meaning of life?"
"From my age and perspective, the meaning of life is simply a small, contained space. Within this space, it includes who you want to spend your life with, and who you want to protect. Worldly desires always make people complicated, making it harder to understand what one should truly hold onto throughout a mundane life."
After speaking, the chairman said no more and left on his own.
"A contained space? What is my contained space?"
Ren Yuanhao lit a cigarette, stayed alone for a while, and then returned to his office. He accompanied Zhao Yishu, who had resolved her inner conflict, and after taking photos, his task was perfectly completed.
At this moment, Zhao Yishu and Ren Yuanhao were sitting in a Starbucks. The soothing music flowed like a gentle stream, the light was not dazzling, and the entire coffee shop exuded a comfortable ambiance, devoid of any pressure.
"Thank you. You helped us so much today."
Zhao Yishu cupped her coffee with both hands, a faint smile gracing her face, adding to her allure.
"It's my duty to serve beautiful women."
Ren Yuanhao returned her smile. Zhao Yishu suddenly felt a sense of desolation, like a scene from a historical drama where Wang Zhaojun embarks on her journey to the Western Regions, while her beloved remains in Chang'an, never to see each other again for the rest of their lives.
"I can't believe I'm sitting in a coffee shop, face-to-face with a man I've only known for less than half a day."
Zhao Yishu mused, unconsciously patting her face, as if afraid it was all a dream.
"There are so many unimaginable things in life. That's why living is meaningful and becomes so colorful. If you smile brightly today, strive to smile even brighter tomorrow. That way, when you encounter difficulties, you'll have the strength to overcome them."
"Hearing you say that, it seems like all happiness is just a buffer and energy source for sadness."
"In a way, yes. Happiness can be created, but you often cannot predict suffering."
Zhao Yishu chuckled softly again, "I guess you studied philosophy in college? You speak so eloquently."
"No, no, no, not at all. I'm just an accountant, I studied finance, but I wasn't good with my abacus, and my computer was full of games. When it was time to submit assignments back in school, guess what happened."
"What happened?" The sharp edge in Zhao Yishu's eyes disappeared, replaced by feminine softness.
"I zipped up my game save files and submitted them. The teacher ended up playing Dark Souls online with me all night~"