Unmatched Chapter 20

Chapter 20 The Storm

Xie Qi drove. Outside the city, the autumn wind whipped fiercely, and the rain poured down.

In the passenger seat, Zhao Shuyi quietly stared at the sky, which was shrouded in a gray, heavy mist, his gaze unfocused.

Some things, only when they truly happen, do the people involved realize how they feel.

Zhao Shuyi thought he wouldn’t grieve over separation and death, but Xie Qi called his name several times without rousing him from his soul-lost stupor.

Perhaps it had nothing to do with power struggles, only that today’s rain was too cold.

It had been a long time since Zhao Shuyi paid attention to the spring breeze or the autumn rain; nature had its own colors, and he simply hadn’t known how to appreciate them. But today, he inexplicably felt that every drop of rain was falling just for him, understanding his desire not to cry.

Upon arrival, the car stopped outside Zhao Fengli’s villa.

The roadsides were already packed with cars, leaving almost no space. From time to time, Chaoyang Group executives in black suits stepped out under umbrellas, hurrying inside.

Before their car even turned off the engine, Zhao Shuyi pushed open the door and plunged into the rain. Xie Qi’s umbrella didn’t follow fast enough, and he quickly strode after him.

It was already dark, and the fierce wind howled mournfully. Rain slanted down, the plants in the garden swayed, and withered flowers and fallen leaves scattered across the ground, trampled into mud by passing leather shoes.

No one was there to greet them. Group executives, lawyers, doctors, the Old Butler… everyone was waiting outside Zhao Fengli’s room.

Zhao Shuyi pushed past shoulders blocking his way and entered the house. The first thing he saw was Zhao Huaicheng’s back standing by the bed, and Qin Zhi standing silently on the other side.

All the lights in the villa were on, and there were many people, but the silence was absolute.

Zhao Shuyi rushed to the bedside and murmured, “Grandfather.” The dying Old Master on the bed opened his eyes in a moment of lucidity, his gaze moving inch by inch to Zhao Shuyi’s face. “Shuyi is here?” His tone was relieved, as if he had held on until now, refusing to breathe his last, just to see him one final time.

Zhao Shuyi’s eyes reddened, and he was choked with emotion. In front of his grandfather, he never needed to say much. Even with his body frail and stiff, Zhao Fengli still possessed the commanding presence of his prime. He gripped Zhao Shuyi’s hand and whispered, “Shuyi, Grandfather is leaving. No one will look after you anymore… Can you manage?”

“I can, please don’t worry.”

“Really? But I can’t stop worrying…”

“You still have me, Dad.” Zhao Huaicheng leaned down. “I will take care of Shuyi. Please don’t worry, and don’t be concerned about matters after your death.”

The Old Master’s gaze shifted to his Second Son. His aged lips trembled for a moment, his voice barely a whisper. “Huaicheng, I am going down to see your mother and your elder brother. These past years, they have enjoyed peace, while the two of us have suffered… Your mother always said you weren’t as clever as your elder brother, but in my view, you are much cleverer than him, and you have worked much harder!”

Zhao Huaicheng was speechless, unsure if this was praise or sarcasm.

The Old Master had been strict and strong his entire life, and even on his deathbed, he didn’t speak soft words, instead offering them a final admonition: “Actually, there’s no need to be too tired, and no need to be too clever, right? Work is never finished, and difficulties never disappear. Our Chaoyang is on the right path. As long as we are willing to take steps and move forward resolutely, nothing can stop us… Even if we walk slowly, don’t panic, don’t be afraid, and certainly don’t envy others. Don’t forget your original goal…”

“…Yes, I remember, Dad.”

Inside and outside the room, everyone bowed their heads.

Zhao Fengli said, “Shuyi, have you remembered it too?”

Zhao Shuyi replied, “I have.”

Zhao Fengli held Zhao Shuyi’s hand with one hand and Zhao Huaicheng’s with the other, placing them together. Then he suddenly said, “Shuyi, actually, when you were little, your Second Uncle was very good to you. You were too young then to remember. Once, you had a persistent high fever. Your parents were both busy working outside, and only your Second Uncle was home. That day… that day it was also raining heavily, and he couldn’t hail a cab on the street. He wrapped you in a raincoat, carried you himself, getting soaked to the bone, and ran all the way to the hospital…”

Zhao Shuyi listened blankly, suspecting the Old Master was rambling. He had been cared for by nannies and a family doctor since childhood; why would his Second Uncle need to personally brave the rain to take him to the hospital?

Zhao Huaicheng’s eyes, however, welled up, and he said bitterly, “Dad, you are confused. It wasn’t me and Shuyi; it was me who was sick when I was little, and Big Brother took me to the hospital…”

The Old Master didn’t look confused at all; he was clearly deliberate. “You still remember that?”

Zhao Huaicheng nodded tearfully. “I remember. That year, our family company was just starting to improve. You and Mom were busy, and Big Brother took care of me alone. I dare not forget his kindness to me.”

“Hmph, I think you’ve forgotten it all, only remembering the unpleasant things…”

The heavy rain hammered against the glass, and tree shadows flickered outside the window.

Zhao Fengli fell silent for a few minutes after saying that, and the hearts of everyone present were suspended high, all thinking he had passed. But he suddenly turned his head, his pair of cloudy old eyes scanning the crowd, and asked abruptly, “Xie Qi… is Xie Qi here?”

“Yes, he is.” Zhao Shuyi looked back.

Xie Qi quickly stepped forward, kneeling by the bedside in the same posture as Zhao Shuyi, and asked, “Grandfather, do you have anything you want to say to me?”

Zhao Fengli stared at him. “Little Qi, you promised me you would be very good to Shuyi. Does that still count?”

Xie Qi didn’t hesitate at all. “It counts. I will take good care of him. Please don’t worry.”

“Good, good.” Zhao Fengli let out a difficult gasp from his throat, and his eyelids drooped heavily. “Actually, Shuyi, Shuyi…”

Before he could finish, he took his last breath.

When a person dies, the lamp goes out.

What went out was the guiding light for the Chaoyang Group.

A wave of suppressed weeping broke out in the room, started by an unknown person.

Zhao Shuyi knelt on the floor blankly until Xie Qi pulled him into his arms. Only then did he slowly lower his head, leaning hard against Xie Qi’s shoulder, and wept silently.

The funeral arrangements had long been settled. Zhao Fengli had personally chosen the burial site, requiring no effort from others.

In accordance with his last wishes, the funeral was kept simple. He forbade them from engaging in superficial formalities, insisting they should quickly focus their energy on work. Even in death, the Old Master was still most concerned about the company.

—The will was announced on the spot, immediately after Zhao Fengli passed away.

In front of the entire Zhao Family, Xie Qi, and all the senior executives of the Chaoyang Group, the lawyer produced the document signed by Zhao Fengli and read out the clauses one by one, as instructed by him during his lifetime.

Most of the content was insignificant; the distribution of shares was the most critical part.

The most crucial content was at the very end. The lawyer’s mouth opened and closed, and Zhao Shuyi felt dizzy, forcing himself to stay alert for more than twenty minutes.

Everyone stood silently in the living room, holding their breath in anticipation. Finally, the lawyer reached the key section:

The 8% stake in the Chaoyang Group held under Zhao Fengli’s name was, according to his personal wishes, divided into two unequal portions for his descendants to inherit.

A portion of 2% was inherited by Zhao Huaicheng.

A portion of 6% was inherited by Zhao Shuyi.

The lawyer paused here, and the scene fell into dead silence.

Zhao Huaicheng slowly raised his bowed head, revealing a look of surprise.

Zhao Shuyi was stunned for a moment. A few simple arithmetic problems flashed through his mind—additions and subtractions, all very small numbers—but he couldn’t quite calculate it clearly.

It was Xie Qi who reacted first, leaning into his ear to prompt him: “It’s even.”

“…”

Even?

Zhao Shuyi suddenly jolted.

Zhao Huaicheng originally held 4.5%. Adding the 2% from the will, he now held 6.5%.

Zhao Shuyi had previously inherited 0.5% from his father. Adding the 6% from today’s will, he also held 6.5%.

The people in the living room woke up from their initial shock, their expressions varied.

Zhao Shuyi didn’t hear what the lawyer said afterward. He appeared calm on the surface, but his heart was anything but. His gaze quietly shifted, sweeping over Qin Zhi.

—Everyone seemed to find this result acceptable, especially since it was highly favorable to the Board of Directors.

In the past, when voting on major projects, ordinary directors held twenty votes, and Chairman Zhao Fengli held one vote. No matter how much they argued, Zhao Fengli held the final veto power.

Now, Zhao Shuyi and Zhao Huaicheng held equal power, each controlling one vote. Neither could be autocratic; they would have to win more support than the other, giving the “majority” on the Board of Directors more influence.

Zhao Shuyi withdrew his gaze, remaining silent. By the time the lawyer finished detailing the entire contents of the will, it was late into the night. The guests dispersed, and the Zhao Family remained. Zhao Shuyi stayed up to keep vigil by the body with his mother and Second Uncle.

Xie Qi stayed with him the entire time. Around midnight, he asked if Zhao Shuyi was hungry. Zhao Shuyi had no appetite and told Xie Qi to find something to eat himself and not to overexert himself.

In this situation, how could Xie Qi leave? He could only continue to accompany him.

Zhao Shuyi didn’t know much about funeral customs. Although all the necessary arrangements had been made, there were still scattered small matters, such as where to paste red paper, where to sprinkle ash, how to burn paper money… These needed to be handled by his Second Uncle.

Qin Zhi was extremely superstitious. At some point, she had gone to the temple again to acquire an item blessed by a monk. It looked like a jade carved pendant, its purpose unknown, and she was about to stuff it into the Old Master’s burial clothes.

Zhao Shuyi impatiently stopped her. “Take that away. Don’t start with that nonsense.”

The Old Butler and the nannies were present, and Qin Zhi felt embarrassed, defending herself in a low voice, “You young people don’t understand these things…”

“We don’t need to understand them.” Zhao Shuyi’s attitude was firm. He thought speechlessly, Ms. Qin had studied abroad when she was young and was a proper intellectual; how had she become so bizarre as she aged?

How much guilt and malice did she harbor in her heart that twenty years of praying to gods and worshipping Buddha couldn’t dispel?

Zhao Shuyi couldn’t help but speculate about her with the deepest malice; tonight, he was especially unsettled.

—No one but Zhao Shuyi himself knew what the result of today’s will announcement truly meant.

The Old Master had calculated everything, believing he had balanced the two factions, but he had inadvertently pushed Zhao Shuyi into a fiery pit where he would constantly have to live in fear.

Zhao Shuyi used the excuse of letting them rest to send Qin Zhi and the Old Butler away, keeping only Xie Qi by his side.

The rain fell all night outside the window, the boundless darkness merging with the sky. Zhao Shuyi sat like a statue, lost in thought.

Xie Qi noticed he was troubled and asked with concern, “Are you dissatisfied with this outcome?”

“…”

Zhao Shuyi helplessly lifted the corner of his mouth, revealing an expression he had never shown before, saying almost helplessly, “Xie Qi, my mother still holds 0.5% of the shares.”

Xie Qi was puzzled. “Are you saying…?”

“She will definitely abandon me and transfer them to my Second Uncle.”