"Once, Zhou Cheng was bullied by some people at school, cornered in the alley outside our orphanage, and five or six people were about to beat him up. Don’t be fooled by his appearance, looking chubby and always strutting around in front of us; in front of strangers, he was actually quite cowardly. When a few people hit him, he didn’t even dare to fight back. My brother saw it, jumped directly over the wall, and chased those people away. He even pointed at them and threatened: ’Don’t let me see you again, or I’ll beat you every time I see you!’"
Chen Siyan said and even made gestures, imitating how Yang Chen looked back then.
Wei Xueqing watched Chen Siyan’s mimicry, which did not look fierce at all, and couldn’t help but chuckle.
Chen Siyan also laughed, "You don’t know how brave my brother was back then; a lot of girls in our place had a crush on him!"
"Did anyone pursue him?" Wei Xueqing quickly asked, intrigued by the question.
"Yes! Of course!" Chen Siyan exclaimed excitedly, "Many girls wrote love letters to my brother back then!"
"Did he... accept any of them?" Wei Xueqing asked somewhat tensely, without knowing why.
"No!" Chen Siyan widened her eyes and said, "My brother was a good student and wouldn’t want to date that early!"
Wei Xueqing couldn’t help but chuckle.
"But there was indeed someone he was interested in..."
Wei Xueqing’s expression stiffened.
"Forget it! Let’s not talk about this, let’s continue with Zhou Cheng." Chen Siyan waved her hand, "After Zhou Cheng was rescued by my brother, he probably told his family about it. He is their darling, so five or six family members all came to thank my brother, bought him instant noodles and drinks, but he didn’t accept any of them. You know, for us kids back then, especially for children like us living in less fortunate conditions, these things meant so much. To me, they were almost equal in value to the shares you gave to my brother."
Wei Xueqing’s lips twitched slightly. If someone heard Chen Siyan’s words, they would definitely think she was crazy! Comparing instant noodles to shares in the Shangdong Group and equating them! If people found out, they’d surely think Chen Siyan had lost it.
"My brother said, whether it was Zhou Cheng or anyone else, as long as someone was bullied in front of him, he would take care of it. He did it not for any other reason but to protect the people in the orphanage from being bullied." Chen Siyan looked at Wei Xueqing, "You know, my brother wasn’t on good terms with Zhou Cheng, so he couldn’t have saved him on purpose. Also, though he really wanted those things, he didn’t take them."
Wei Xueqing nodded slowly, "I understand, thank you, Yanyan, I get what you mean."
Chen Siyan chuckled, "Actually, I’m not good with words, as long as you don’t laugh at me. But that’s the idea, if my brother said he would protect someone, once he promised it, he’d fulfill it without coveting anything else."
"Hmm!" Wei Xueqing felt much better and stood up, "I’ll go buy something for your brother, you go in and keep him company."
"Okay!" Chen Siyan stood up.
Suddenly, Chen Siyan remembered what Yang Chen had told her earlier and quickly asked, "Sister Xueqing, do you know where my sister-in-law went?"
Wei Xueqing paused, but quickly realized who Chen Siyan was referring to.
The sister-in-law in Chen Siyan’s words was Ye Xin.
Wei Xueqing shook her head, "I don’t know, I haven’t seen her since yesterday. Try calling her."
"Oh! Okay." Chen Siyan nodded, took out her phone, and called Ye Xin.
However, the call couldn’t be connected.
Chen Siyan frowned, starting to get a little worried.
Since yesterday, after Yang Chen was pushed into the intensive care unit, Ye Xin was the first to rush in to see him.
When she came in, Ye Xin had already gone out.
She didn’t know what Ye Xin had said to Yang Chen, nor where Ye Xin went to see.
The more she thought about it, the more worried she became, and she quickly went back to the ward, "Bro! My sister-in-law wouldn’t think you’re going to die and do something impulsive, would she?"
Yang Chen frowned and scolded, "Don’t talk nonsense!"
Chen Siyan stuck out her tongue, realizing she had said the wrong thing.
Yang Chen said sternly, "Your sister-in-law has strong mental strength, she won’t do anything impulsive. Did you call her?"
"I did, but couldn’t get through."
Yang Chen frowned, "Then call again in the evening, maybe her phone’s out of charge."
Li Muyang stood in front of Old Zhuo, his head lowered.
Old Zhuo brewed tea for himself and drank it, not even glancing at Li Muyang.
Li Muyang’s face was full of fatigue, his eyes bloodshot.
Even Xiaowang couldn’t bear it and said to Old Zhuo, "Sir! Our Major has been standing here all day, you should say something!"
"Xiaowang!" Li Muyang scolded.
Xiaowang turned his head, refusing to look at Li Muyang. He was very worried about Li Muyang. Since returning in the evening, Li Muyang had been standing at the gate of Elder Zhuo’s yard, waiting. It was already noon, and Li Muyang hadn’t rested, drunk water, or eaten!
"Say something? Say what? Come on, Li Muyang, you tell me, what should I say to you?" Old Zhuo glared at Li Muyang.
Li Muyang lowered his head and said hoarsely, "You don’t need to say anything; it’s all my fault, it’s all my responsibility."
He was filled with guilt and regret.
Regretful that he hadn’t taken better care of Yang Chen, allowing him to go rescue someone while injured and ending up .
"Oh! So you know you were wrong. But knowing you were wrong, what can you get back? Can it bring back a Captain? Can it return Yang Chen’s life?" Old Zhuo said angrily.
"No!" Li Muyang lowered his head.
Old Zhuo took another sip of tea in anger, but it couldn’t suppress his wrath.
"Bring me a box of those cigarettes from Flame Country that were given out last time, I feel like smoking!" Old Zhuo said in a deep voice.
Li Muyang frowned and quickly said, "Uncle Zhuo, you’ve quit smoking for over ten years, why start again?"
"Feeling irritable! Give it to me!" Old Zhuo said sternly.
Left with no choice, Li Muyang pulled a pack of cigarettes from his pocket and handed it to Old Zhuo.
Xiaowang quickly brought a lighter and lit a cigarette for Old Zhuo.
Old Zhuo inhaled deeply, blowing out a thick cloud of smoke, reminiscing the taste of it, and slowly said, "Back in the war, we could only roll leaves to smoke, the taste was so harsh... You young people wouldn’t be able to handle it now."
"Yes!" Li Muyang said, head lowered.
"Li Muyang, let me tell you something." Old Zhuo pointed at Li Muyang unceremoniously, "My son, Zhuo Jingyu, is my only son, my hope, my expectations, my pride, my everything... it’s all on him. But he sacrificed himself! So, if among those he trained, there could be a hero, that would be my pride! And I also believe, Yang Chen carried on my son Zhuo Jingyu’s will, making him half my heir! And you, you just went and got him killed, what do you want me to say?"
"You don’t need to say anything." Li Muyang’s voice was hoarse, with a tinge of choke.