Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Chapter 69

Two years later.

“Awesome, Chen-ge! You can even graduate a year early with a postgraduate degree! A top student is a top student!” Hua Shao shoved flowers into his arms. “My girlfriend picked these out to celebrate your early graduation!”

In the blink of an eye, two and a half years had passed. June in Jiang City had long since entered the sweltering heat, the entire city already swept by the heatwave in May, with spring’s brief arrival quickly followed by the height of summer.

Jiang Chen had applied for early graduation in March. Today was the graduation ceremony, and his friends, who had already been working in society for two years, all came to celebrate him. Now, he couldn’t even hold all the flowers in his arms.

Jiang Jian also came with his wife, Jiang Chen’s mother by their side, tears of joy welling up in her eyes.

Since Ling Sheng left two years ago, Jiang Chen’s life had finally returned to normal. He went to school, interned, and never did anything out of line again. Before, in university, he would play basketball in his spare time, occasionally work out, and hang out with friends, often volunteering at the animal shelter. Now, he was single-mindedly focused on his studies, playing less basketball and walking dogs less often, until he submitted his application for early graduation. Only when his advisor told Jiang Jian did they realize he had applied.

For more than two years, he had never mentioned Ling Sheng, nor had he asked about him. But when they found out he had applied for early graduation, his mother knew that he hadn’t forgotten, but was using his actions to show them that he wouldn’t change.

“Peiya asked me to buy a bouquet of flowers for you.” Jiang Chen’s mother handed the flowers she was holding to him, but seeing that his arms were full, she smiled and took them back. “Never mind, I’ll hold them for you.”

Jiang Chen was clearly absent-minded about all of this, his gaze constantly scanning the surrounding crowd, as if looking for someone, but each time he would withdraw it with disappointment.

Jiang Jian knew who he was looking for, and said in a low voice, “Ling Sheng probably doesn’t know that you’re graduating early.”

Jiang Chen’s father had initially said three and a half years, and they couldn’t contact each other. Who knew that Jiang Chen would graduate a year early?

“Chen-ge, are you going to do a doctorate? If you did, you could probably graduate early too. Although I’m a terrible student, being brothers with a top student like you would be something I could put on my resume, hahaha.” Hua Shao was still joking around heartlessly.

Several of the people from the old basketball team had basically started working, and those who had time had come over, reminiscing about their youth.

Jiang Chen seemed not to have heard Jiang Jian’s words, and smiled at Hua Shao, “I’m not going to study anymore, it’s time to start a career. A man needs his own career to stand tall.”

Over there, Jiang Chen’s father was being pestered by a group of people, and Jiang Chen’s mother heard his words, her eyes flickering, but she didn’t say anything.

Back at home, Jiang Chen didn’t even go upstairs before saying plainly, “I want to move out.”

For the past two years, Jiang Chen’s father had been arranging for people to pick him up and drop him off, while also monitoring his movements. Jiang Chen didn’t say anything, doing whatever his father said, very obediently.

“Move out? Okay, aren’t you going to intern at a law firm? I see that it’s quite far from here, Mom will find you a place.” Jiang Chen’s mother said quickly.

Jiang Chen said calmly, “No need, Mom, I’ve already asked a friend to help me find a place, near the law firm, so it’s convenient to go to and from work. I got some money from the project I did with my advisor before, which should be enough for my living expenses for the next few months. You don’t have to worry.”

The implication was that he wanted to be completely independent.

At the same time, he was testing Jiang Chen’s father’s attitude.

Jiang Chen’s mother was stunned, and she looked at Jiang Chen’s father, but he just sat on the sofa without saying anything, not even looking at him. Jiang Chen’s mother could only look at Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian was helpless, knowing that he still remembered what had happened two years ago, so he said, “Find a chance to take me over to see it next time, so I can find you in the future.”

Jiang Jian had made his position clear, and Jiang Chen’s mother could only look at Jiang Chen’s father again. Jiang Chen’s father stood up and walked towards the second floor, not even glancing at Jiang Chen. “Whatever he wants.”

This was consent.

Jiang Chen immediately took out his phone and went outside to make a call.

Jiang Chen’s mother looked at Jiang Chen’s back, feeling very uncomfortable in her heart. In the past two years, Jiang Chen had become much more distant from the family than before. She knew he was angry in his heart, but as a parent, she couldn’t help but wonder, was it worth making such a scene with his family for the sake of a man?

Jiang Jian walked over and gently placed his hand on Jiang Chen’s mother’s shoulder, saying, “Mom, Xiao Chen is just a little angry, he’ll understand.”

Jiang Jian had said this many times, and as a grown man, he really couldn’t say any other comforting words.

Jiang Chen’s mother looked at Jiang Chen’s back and said softly, “Does it have to be like this?”

Jiang Jian hesitated for a moment before saying, “He’s not just angry at Dad, he’s more angry at himself.”

Jiang Chen had always been a very idealistic person, but his life had been too smooth before, and he hadn’t encountered too many bumps or setbacks. His family had also protected him very well. Before, he wanted to study law, also with a heart to uphold justice, but in Ling Sheng’s case, the person who used power to oppress Ling Sheng was his father, and his mother and brother had also become accomplices. And the victim was still the person he liked, and even, to some extent, he was the main culprit, but he was powerless to do anything about it. In the end, Ling Sheng chose to leave to resolve everything.

So, it was a big blow to him. For the past two years, he had not asked Ling Sheng a single question, and had put all his energy into his studies, which was also a way of punishing himself.

At this moment, Jiang Chen came back after finishing his phone call, and a rare, unconcealable excitement and joy was revealed on his face.

He ran straight upstairs, and after about half an hour, he came down with two suitcases. Jiang Jian was a little stunned, and Jiang Chen’s mother quickly said, “Chen-Chen, there’s no need to be so hasty.”

Jiang Chen looked not only anxious, but also had a hint of expectation mixed with a little resentment on his face. He was immersed in his own thoughts, and when he heard Jiang Chen’s mother’s words, he raised his head and gave a somewhat blank “ah” sound before saying, “The apartment has already been rented, and the firm needs me to go over tomorrow, so I’ll just go and stay there today.”

Jiang Chen’s mother didn’t know that Jiang Chen would just grab his suitcases and leave as soon as he said he was moving out. She was a little flustered and quickly said, “Mom hasn’t even seen it yet. What’s the environment like? Are the blankets clean? Has the place been cleaned? There’s no need to be so hasty. Let the driver take you over tomorrow, and I’ll have the maid go over and help you clean up and add some things for the next few days…”

“No need, Mom, my friends have already taken care of it for me.” Jiang Chen refused directly.

Jiang Chen’s mother looked at his eager to leave, unable to stop feeling sad. Jiang Chen wouldn’t have been like this before. Although he easily had conflicts with his father, he was still very considerate to her.

But looking at him like this, Jiang Chen’s mother didn’t dare to have another conflict with him for a while, so she could only say, “Then let the driver take you there, and I’ll go with you to take a look. I’ll just take a look at where you’re living.”

“No need, Mom, maybe next time.” Jiang Chen pushed the suitcases and was about to walk out.

Seeing this, Jiang Chen’s mother could only nudge Jiang Jian.

Jiang Jian was helpless, and stepped forward to grab one of his suitcases. “I’ll take you.”

Jiang Chen originally wanted to refuse, but seeing Jiang Jian’s warning look, and remembering that Jiang Jian had helped him contact Fang Xing before, and later told him that Zhou Jiayan had helped Ling Sheng, he still loosened his stiff hand. “Thank you, brother.”

After getting in the car, Jiang Jian looked at the way Jiang Chen’s phone kept receiving messages and asked casually, “Have you contacted Ling Sheng?”

The finger Jiang Chen was using to send messages paused, and after a second, he said, “No.”

Jiang Jian saw the security guard open the gate ahead, and he slowly slid the car out, saying, “I won’t tell Dad. In fact, hasn’t Dad already fulfilled his promise?”

Agreeing to let Jiang Chen live outside was equivalent to giving him freedom, which also meant that he would no longer interfere in his affairs with Ling Sheng.

Jiang Chen finished sending the message again before raising his head. They had already left the residential area and started on the road. The sun outside was hot, but it wasn’t rush hour yet, there were very few cars on the road, and the road was very smooth. He slowly opened his mouth. “I haven’t contacted him, he’s not coming back to the country for another week.”

Jiang Chen actually knew a little bit. When Jiang Chen’s father found out that Jiang Chen had applied for early graduation, he had also actively paid attention to Ling Sheng’s news, but he couldn’t figure out what Jiang Chen’s father meant, so he didn’t dare to rashly tell Jiang Chen, for fear that Jiang Chen’s father had other intentions. Now it seemed that Jiang Chen’s father’s knot with Ling Sheng had also been untied. After all, in the beginning, Ling Sheng was only a victim.

Moreover, Jiang Chen was afraid that he would not change.

After all, they were father and son. In the beginning, Jiang Chen’s father was simply extremely angry. At the same time, things were piling up, and he had a great prejudice against Ling Sheng. Time could indeed dilute everything, dilute everything, and also allow a person enough time to understand another person.

“Doesn’t that count as contacting him?” Jiang Jian said with a smile.

Jiang Chen was certainly happy, but he was more apprehensive. He tried to shorten the meeting time, tried to be faster, faster, and faster. At that time, he didn’t have so many other thoughts, but now that he was about to meet, he suddenly had a sense of emptiness. After all, he hadn’t seen him for more than two years. What kind of life was he living? What kind of people had he met? What kind of changes had he made? He didn’t know.

Since he could know Ling Sheng’s news, it meant that his father had let go. Then Ling Sheng must know his news. Did he know that he had graduated early? Since he could return to the country, he should know the news. Then why didn’t he come to his graduation ceremony? Didn’t he want to see him?

Did he… still like him?

Jiang Chen knew that all promises were fulfilled only if the feelings were still there.

If the feelings were gone, even if Ling Sheng agreed to be with him, it would be meaningless.

He eagerly wanted to see him, but he was also afraid of seeing an unknown future.

“Jiahe established the Sunflower Charity Fund half a year ago, and they plan to set up their first point in the country in Jiang City, and have some business dealings with our law firm.” Jiang Chen told what he knew, “Their vice president was transferred back from the United States, his surname is Ling.”

A week later, Ling Sheng, who had just returned to the country and hadn’t even adjusted to the time difference, directly held two days of meetings in a row, and came out of the conference room dizzy and dizzy. He leaned back in his office chair and closed his eyes to rest, only feeling that his temples were throbbing with pain.

He hadn’t slept well for the past two days because of the time difference, and he had held two days of meetings in a row, and he felt like all his strength had been drained.

“President Ling, the three lawyers from the Shanhe Law Firm have arrived. Would you like to see them now?”

This was the last appointment for this afternoon. After seeing them, he didn’t plan to go back to sleep. There was still one most important thing he hadn’t done.

Ling Sheng pressed his temples and said to the secretary, “See them, go get me another cup of coffee.”

The secretary left, and after a while, the office door was pushed open. Ling Sheng picked up the frameless glasses on the table and put them on, revealing a professional smile. He raised his eyes to look over, and in an instant, his smile froze on his lips.

“President Ling, hello, I’m Zhao Youwei.”

“President Ling, hello, I’m Qian Sen.”

The last tall and handsome young man was wearing a crisp white shirt and black dress pants, his hair was combed back meticulously, fixed with hair gel, revealing a full and smooth forehead. His face was more three-dimensional than it had been two years ago, and a pair of deep eyes were staring at him, revealing a professional smile:

“President Ling, hello, I’m Jiang Chen.”