Daddy, Mommy Ran Away

An Ruoxi had been by Leng Haoyin’s side at the hospital for three whole days. The doctor had said he could be discharged this morning.

During these leisurely days, Leng Haoyin, with his beloved by his side, had been living in blissful ignorance. The two of them, entirely absorbed in each other, were oblivious to the chaos brewing in the outside world.

…

In the meeting room of Zuo Corporation, cold light reflected off the walls. A massive floor-to-ceiling window dominated one side, offering a panoramic view of the bustling city below. Yet, none of the shareholders seated around the table had the mood to appreciate the beauty outside. Anxiety gripped their faces as they struggled to sit still, though they dared not voice their dissatisfaction or panic openly, out of respect for Zuo Junchen.

The oval-shaped tempered glass table was lined with uniform black notebooks in front of each presenter. The atmosphere in the room was suffocating, like a heavy stone pressing on everyone’s chest, leaving them afraid to even breathe deeply, lest they trigger a butterfly effect that might backfire.

Zuo Junchen sat in a sleek black leather executive chair, dressed in a sharp black suit. Gone was his usual refined and gentlemanly demeanor; his expression now was dark enough to terrify. His face, shadowed with gloom, resembled a frozen sculpture, and his piercing gaze was locked onto the General Manager, who was nervously delivering a report.

“From 1 a.m. to now, 9:30 a.m., in just nine and a half hours, the stock price has dropped by 1.9%. Compared to three days ago, it has fallen by 15.6%. If this trend continues, by tonight at midnight, the stock price will likely drop another 2.1%…” The General Manager’s voice trembled uncontrollably as he reported these figures, each one a staggering blow. Translated into monetary terms, these numbers represented tens, even hundreds of billions of yuan. Ever since Zuo Corporation won the bid for the Golden Triangle land three days ago, the stock price had initially risen by a modest 1.3%, only to plummet thereafter. Despite the corporation’s announcement of the launch of the first phase of investment, which temporarily stabilized the stock price, the downward trend persisted. Meanwhile, the Business Investigation Division continued to hound Zuo Corporation relentlessly. If this continued, the stock price would keep falling, leading to unimaginable losses and potentially bankruptcy.

If someone were to acquire a significant portion of shares from the small shareholders during this crisis-just 20%-it could mean a change in ownership for Zuo Corporation. Either scenario spelled disaster.

In just three days, the stock price drop had already cost Zuo Corporation billions of yuan. Coupled with the 8.3 billion yuan spent on the Golden Triangle land, the corporation was now facing a liquidity crunch. If the stock price continued to fall, an economic crisis was imminent.

Upon hearing these alarming figures, the shareholders exchanged panicked glances before erupting in anger. No longer concerned about Zuo Junchen’s presence, they began shouting their grievances openly:

“President, don’t you think you owe us a reasonable explanation for why the stock price is dropping so quickly?”

“Exactly! Why is the Business Investigation Division targeting us so aggressively? If this keeps up, we’ll all be left with nothing!”

“I’m pulling out my shares! I want my money back!”

“Yes, refund us!”

Voices overlapped, and the meeting room descended into chaos, resembling a boiling pot of water.

“Bang!” The sound of a file hitting the floor silenced the room instantly. Zuo Junchen stood up, his tall figure exuding an oppressive aura. His voice was cold yet resolute, carrying the weight of undeniable authority: “What are you all shouting about? Do you think this is a marketplace?”

“Just one investment, and you’re all losing your heads. If something truly catastrophic happened, would you flip the table? I understand you’re worried about your investments, afraid they’ll vanish into thin air. But have any of you considered who ensures the hefty dividends you receive every year? If anyone wants to pull out their shares, stand up now, and I’ll grant your wish immediately.”

The shareholders exchanged uneasy glances, stunned by the commanding presence of Zuo Junchen, who had always been elegant and composed. His display of authority was unexpectedly formidable, leaving no room for underestimation. The room fell silent, so quiet that even the sound of a pin dropping could be heard.

His sharp gaze swept across each shareholder like an eagle circling in the night sky. His voice, low and icy, cut through the silence like a stream beneath a frozen surface: “Since no one is stepping forward, the matter of pulling out shares ends here. I don’t want to hear another word about it.”

With that, he stormed out, slamming the door behind him.

–

In the President’s Office of Zuo Corporation.

Zuo Junchen yanked off his tie in frustration, slumping angrily into his executive chair. With a wave of his hand, the documents on his desk scattered onto the floor. “Damn it! Those old vultures-when they’re collecting dividends, they smile like foxes. Now, just because the stock price is dropping, they’re clamoring to pull out their shares.”

Lighting a cigarette, the white smoke curled around his face. “Over the bridge and then tearing it down, huh? Do they think I’m easy to bully, a soft target? Let’s see how I deal with them one by one.”

His assistant, Sun Mou, stood quietly by his side, fully aware of his boss’s fury. He dared not breathe too loudly, let alone offer any advice.

Standing on the 90th floor, Zuo Junchen gazed down at the cityscape below. The bustling streets, the endless stream of cars, and the fast-paced rhythm of life felt like a heavy marble slab pressing on his chest, making it hard to breathe. His tall, commanding figure resembled a mountain standing firm against the storm, overlooking the entire city. The crystal chandelier’s light cast a slanted glow on his back, leaving a long shadow on the polished marble floor. Even the shadow alone hinted at the majestic presence of its owner. Yet, the faint sway of the shadow’s curve betrayed a touch of loneliness.

The white smoke obscured his face, but the piercing gaze cutting through the haze was sharp as a blade, carrying an intimidating chill. His lips curled into a subtle, almost imperceptible smile as his mind began sketching the familiar face that had haunted him. The longer time passed, the clearer her image became-so clear that he could count the number of her eyelashes, so clear that he knew the exact angle of her smile that was most captivating: forty-five degrees.

Another face popped into his mind-a playful one. She didn’t have large, watery eyes, just a pair of small ones that turned into lines when she squinted. When she smiled, they transformed into two crescent moons, and her cherry-red lips bloomed like radiant cherry blossoms.

–

Just then, Zuo Junchen’s phone rang. Glancing at the name on the screen, his previously stern expression softened instantly. “Mom.”

“Chen Er, I heard the stock price over there is dropping badly. What’s going on?” The voice of a middle-aged woman came through, urgent yet tinged with concern and a hint of reproach.

“Mom, it’s nothing. I’ll handle it,” he replied calmly, his soothing tone carrying a reassuring weight.

“Good. Find a way to stop the stock price from falling further, or the stocks here in Milan will follow suit.”

“Chen Er, you’ve always been my pride. You’re all I have in this life. You must make me proud and not let them look down on us.”

“Got it, Mom. You can trust me,” he said, his voice bright and confident, masking the storm raging inside him.

“Mom, I promise. And as for the Leng Family’s assets, I’ll take them one by one.”

“Good. Then I can rest easy. Take care of yourself over there, Chen Er. I’m hanging up now.”

…

“Sun Mou, get me the financial reports for the past three years immediately. Also, start the process for a loan from Huo Bank.” He was already planning his next move, preparing for both outcomes. Even if the stock price couldn’t recover, he had a strategy to rise again.

“Yes, President.” Sun Mou hurried out to prepare, not daring to ask further questions.

…

The sun was already high in the sky when An Ruoxi finally woke up and began packing. The doctor had said they could leave the hospital today.

As she was tidying up the trousers Leng Haoyin had worn the day he was admitted, a pink notebook fell out of the pocket. An Ruoxi froze in shock-it was her diary. How had it ended up in his pants pocket?

“Ruoxi, that…” Leng Haoyin emerged from the bathroom, having just enjoyed a hot shower. He was drying his hair with a towel when his voice abruptly stopped upon seeing the diary.

An Ruoxi turned around, raising an eyebrow as she looked at him with amused curiosity. “Care to explain, Mr. Leng, why my little notebook is in your pocket?”

A flicker of unease crossed Leng Haoyin’s face, but he answered honestly, “You left it in the car last time. I picked it up for you but forgot to return it, so I’ve been carrying it with me.”

“Did you open it?” Her heart raced nervously.