"Such a big matter, you should have informed him, just in case something happens later..."
Xie Shi'an seized the opportunity to grab her wrist, rendering her unable to move.
"Give me back the contract first, and then I'll tell you why I did this."
Jian Changnian was still somewhat reluctant.
Xie Shi'an grabbed her wrist and pulled it again.
"Hurry up, Coach Yan will be back soon."
Only then did she hand the contract over to the person.
Xie Shi'an explained the whole story in just a few words.
"I really can't think of any other way. I can't play ball, and the prize money won't be paid until after the team competition. This company is the only one that can let me sign a contract first, and then shoot the commercial after I'm discharged from the hospital. Plus, the money will be in my account tomorrow, so..."
Jian Changnian sat on the edge of the bed, quietly watching her, his gaze suddenly filled with a deeper meaning that she couldn't understand.
Is it worth it?
Back when they were in the Binhai Provincial Team, she could tell that Xie Shi'an and Qiao Yuchu were inseparable, but it was mostly Xie Shi'an who was clinging to her, taking care of her feelings and respecting her ideas. He would even break some of his own routines for Qiao Yuchu's sake.
Even on the night she was hospitalized with acute appendicitis, when she was delirious with fever, she kept calling out Qiao Yuchu's name.
Now he has to risk his career to help her.
Qiao Yuchu certainly treated Xie Shi'an very well, but not in the way that she was devoted and open-hearted.
She held back a little, but Xie Shi'an gave her everything he could.
Jian Changnian seemed to have grasped some of the basics, but couldn't quite figure it out, which is why she asked that question just now.
Xie Shi'an remained silent for a moment before slowly uttering two words.
"worth."
Jian Changnian got up and walked outside.
She couldn't explain it either. The competition was tomorrow, and she had come all night to see her. After seeing her and hearing so much from her, she didn't want to stay a moment longer.
The contradictions left the boy's mind in a complete mess.
Xie Shi'an reached out and pulled the person back.
"you……"
Jian Changnian turned around and glanced at her.
"Don't worry, I'll pretend I don't know anything and won't tell Coach Yan."
Xie Shi'an released her hand and moved aside.
"That's not what I meant. It's so late, are you still going home?"
My muddled mood cleared up a little.
Jian Changnian finally managed a slight smile.
"The competition is tomorrow. You're working so hard even while lying in bed. I need to work even harder to earn some prize money for Sister Yu Chu. After all, she helped a lot when Grandma was hospitalized."
When Yan Xinyuan returned with the late-night snack, he happened to run into her in the corridor: "Hey, Chang Nian, have something to eat before you go."
Jian Changnian waved and ran downstairs.
"I'm not eating anymore, thank you Coach Yan, I need to go back to training."
She rode her bicycle all the way from the training base, then rode back in a flurry, and leaned her bicycle against the gatekeeper's booth.
"Thank you, Uncle."
After saying that, he plunged into the training room.
For the teenagers, this night was particularly difficult. Jian Changnian was sweating profusely in the training room, Xie Shian tossed and turned in bed, and Qiao Yuchu relied on alcohol to numb herself.
For Cheng Zhen, this night was not just unbearable; it was a turning point that completely changed the trajectory of his life.
After he got off the plane, he posted a selfie on his WeChat Moments. Zhou Mu saw the photo while biting his pen and doing practice problems, and casually made a phone call to him.
"You're back?"
The boy dragged his suitcase, laughing heartily.
"Yeah, you didn't see how awesome I was during the competition. I left them dozens of meters behind!"
"Relax, relax, we have exams coming up, so we can't go out and play so far away anymore."
Zhou Mu thought about it again.
"I have a day off tomorrow, and since you're back, can I come over to visit you?"
"Okay, then come to my house tomorrow. My mom will definitely cook lots of delicious food to welcome me home. I can come and freeload a meal."
Zhou Mu hesitated for a moment, still feeling a little embarrassed.
"This...isn't this a bit inappropriate?"
"Oh, what's wrong with that? Sister Yu Chu and Shi An often come to my house for meals. My mom loves it when the house is lively and bustling!"
"Okay, then...see you tomorrow."
"See you tomorrow."
After hanging up the phone, Zhou Mu opened a drawer in his desk and took out a sketchbook. Every page of the sketchbook depicted the same boy.
There are images of him playing basketball, running, swimming, and standing on the highest podium.
The last page only needs coloring to be finished.
I didn't expect him to come back so soon.
Zhou Mu smiled, humming a tune, and picked up her paintbrush again, planning to finish the book tonight and give it to him tomorrow as a congratulatory gift for winning the championship.
"Driver, Huizhou Bay Villa District." Cheng Zhen got into the taxi and called his father again, but no one answered. He then thought that the airport was closer to his company, so he decided to pick him up and go home together.
"No, Master, let's go to Taikang Industrial Park first."
"Okay, sure."
The driver responded, stepped on the gas, turned the steering wheel to the left, and switched to another auxiliary road.
As the car drove towards Taikang Industrial Park, Mr. Cheng prepared to say his final goodbye to this world.
He closed the doors and windows of his office tightly, drew the heavy curtains, and lit the charcoal brazier with a lighter and old newspapers.
Blue smoke gradually rose up.
Mr. Cheng sat in his office chair, carefully writing a letter to Cheng Zhen:
Son, I'm sorry. When you were born, I was starting my own business and was busy with work, so I rarely held you. When you got a little older, I had to go out and socialize to expand the company. I always thought that once the company was more stable and our family's financial situation was better, I would be a hands-off boss and come home to be with you and Mom.
And just like that, more than ten years have passed in the blink of an eye. When Dad came to his senses, you had already grown up. Only today did I realize that I had missed a precious childhood period that was very precious to both you and me. But thankfully, you did not disappoint Dad. Although Dad could not go to your competition, he watched the whole competition with Mom on TV. Dad will always be proud and honored to have a son like you.
If you read this letter in the future, you might blame your father for leaving you and your mother. But I really had no other choice. Since last year, the company's profits have been declining continuously, and we are losing money. Your father started borrowing money from the bank. At first, we were able to get loans, but later the company still did not improve at all. Gradually, the bank stopped lending us money. In order to make up for the losses and pay the employees' salaries, your father... borrowed money from loan sharks.
I finally gritted my teeth and paid off the principal, but there was still a lot of interest. So, the interest compounded, and the amount reached a number that my father never dared to dream of.
I also thought about reporting them, but my dad is just an ordinary private entrepreneur with no connections.
The day after I reported them to the relevant authorities, they came to my door, beat me up, and left, threatening me that if I didn't pay back the money, they would come to my village to "visit" my grandmother.
When you were little, you watched Ultraman fight monsters and said that your dad was your superhero. But, I'm sorry, son, I've let you down. I'm not omnipotent. I feel pain and fear. I'm afraid they'll come after you and ruin your future. I'm also afraid they'll hurt your mom and grandma. So, the last thing I can do for you is to leave this world completely. Once I'm gone, there will be no reason for me to threaten you anymore.
I also hope that my death will draw the attention of the relevant departments.
Therefore, you must keep this suicide note safe.
Blue smoke swirled, gradually blurring the view.
Something warm flowed down my nose.
Mr. Cheng signed the last line, put down his pen, turned off the desk lamp, and with a smile on his lips, gently leaned over the table.
Goodbye, son, Dad will always love you.
The car gradually drove towards the industrial park, which became increasingly remote, and even the streetlights were dim and gray.
The driver also said, "Young man, this place has been abandoned for a long time. What are you doing here so late at night?"
He glanced at the street scene outside the car window. They were almost at the park's main entrance, but it was pitch black inside. Not a single light was on in the entire park, and the silence exuded desolation. When he came here before, the park was brightly lit all night.
Cheng Zhen's heart skipped a beat.
"That's impossible. My dad works here. The workers must all be on holiday."
The driver chuckled and brought the car to a stop.
"Are you talking about that sporting goods factory? It went bankrupt before the new year, and they couldn't even pay their workers' wages. It caused quite a stir, and the police even came."
Cheng Zhen's expression changed. He threw down the money, pushed open the door, and ran straight into the park. When he passed the guard post, he glanced inside and found it empty, with a thick layer of dust on the glass.
The further he ran inside, the more uneasy he felt, until he saw the seal on the office building entrance, and the boy's eyes suddenly welled up with tears.
He threw down his suitcase, quickly tore open the seal, pushed open the glass door, and barged inside.
Various shocking banners and slogans were scattered throughout the lobby and corridors.
"Heartless boss, give me back my hard-earned money!"
"Paying back debts is a matter of course."
"Those who withhold migrant workers' wages shall die a horrible death."
...
The elevator has stopped.
Cheng Zhen scrambled upstairs.
During this process, he seemed to have some bad premonitions, and tears welled up without warning.
My father's office is on the fifth floor.
With the curtains drawn, nothing could be seen from the outside, but Cheng Zhen knew there was someone inside.
The door was locked from the inside. He used all his strength to ram it again and again, and on the umpteenth attempt, he rolled inside along with the broken glass.
In the smoke-filled room, he saw a figure leaning over the desk. Cheng Zhen got up and stumbled over.