Four-Faced Buddha [To My Shore] - Chap 100
Chapter 100 Let’s Kiss Each Other
2024-10-13 07:38 Category: Four-Faced BuddhaTurn off the lights
You Shulang bought back the old house, and the price was even lower than when he sold it.
The house was untouched, and it is said that the new owner only wanted the school district qualification and did not live there. Now that the whole family has immigrated overseas, they want to sell the house quickly.
Yu Shulang moved in a hurry and only took some important items with him. Now, he opens the old lock with the old key and sees the old days everywhere he looks.
The umbrella standing against the wall, the couple’s slippers in the shoe cabinet, the half-empty pack of rouge on the table, the cat paw backrest that Fan Xiao liked on the sofa—You Shulang seemed like a traveler returning home from a long journey, or a corporate slave who had worked a long shift and all he wanted to do when he got home was take a hot shower to wash away all his fatigue.
After two days of cleaning and tidying up, the New Year arrived.
You Shulang took Tiantian to pay respects to Wu Yuping, and then went to sweep his mother’s grave.
The snow on the mountain path had been cleared away, the sky was clear and the clouds were light, with the unique clarity of a northern winter.
As he approached the grave, You Shulang paused slightly. His mother’s tombstone had clearly been cleaned and tidied, and a bunch of frozen flowers sat in front of it.
You Shulang placed the flowers he was carrying next to the bouquet, the delicate pink juxtaposed with the fiery red. He whispered to the woman in the photograph, “Mom, I’ve come to see you. Look who I brought? Tiantian, my little nephew…”
The mountain wind was chilly, and Tian Tian was still young, so You Shulang didn’t linger. Before descending the mountain, he glanced back at the cluster of fiery red cinnabar flowers; their vibrant color seemed to bathe the woman’s face in a rosy glow.
On New Year’s Eve, after making dumplings and watching the Spring Festival Gala, Tian Tian, who had been excited all day, finally couldn’t stay awake any longer.
“Asleep?” You Shulang was smoking on the balcony when he heard footsteps behind him.
“He fell asleep as soon as I put him on the bed; he was really tired from playing.” Lü Bowen walked to You Shulang’s side and gently brushed his shoulder against his.
You Shulang held up the cigarette pack: “Want one?”
Yu Lüwen smiled and shook his head, pointing to his throat: “It’s a bit inflamed.”
You Shulang casually tossed the cigarette pack aside, a slight smile appearing on his face: “Did you get teased?”
Lu Bowen put his hand on his shoulder, tightened his embrace, and smiled helplessly: “Yes.”
Fireworks suddenly exploded in the sky, grand and dazzling. Before the outward-spreading light had faded, a sound of wind breaking arose again, and another burst of fireworks bloomed in the sky.
The fireworks grew denser and thicker, displaying a dazzling array of reds, oranges, yellows, and greens, one after another, practically taking over that corner of the sky.
You Shulang exhaled a puff of smoke and commented through the swirling white mist, “Beautiful.”
Feeling the hand on his shoulder gradually tighten, You Shulang heard Lü Bowen’s hoarse voice: “Let’s kiss, consider it a New Year’s gift.”
You Shulang turned his head to look at him, admiring the fireworks in his pupils for a while, before stubbing out his cigarette and saying, “Okay.”
As the grandest fireworks burst forth, they illuminated two people embracing behind a fourth-floor window…
On the last day of the holiday, You Shulang received a video call request from Huang Qimin.
He thought it was a multi-person conference call, but when he opened it, he found that he was the only person in the chat box.
“Double pay for working overtime during the holidays,” You Shulang said slowly and deliberately.
“I’ll pay you three times the normal rate, just don’t yell at me later.” Huang Qimin held his cat, his eyes slightly evasive.
“I have always respected teachers and valued education.” You Shulang paused for a moment, then added, “But it depends on the situation.”
Huang Qimin, with a sense of resignation, said, “After the New Year, I will step down as chairman of Changling Pharmaceutical, and you will take over.”
You Shulang picked up his hot tea, took a sip, and said casually, “Teacher, drink more tea and less alcohol during the New Year. Is your wife here?”
“I’m telling the truth.”
You Shulang slowly lowered his brows.
“As you know, my health is deteriorating. This obesity has been with me for life and is now affecting various organs,” Huang Qimin sighed. “Now I can only hold conference calls with you from home, and as you know, this seriously affects work efficiency and progress.”
“I’ll keep an eye on things for you,” You Shulang said, putting away his nonchalant attitude. “You make the big decisions, and I’ll handle the small ones.”
Huang Qimin shook his head, the loose flesh on his face trembling: “I’ve struggled my whole life, worked hard my whole life, but I’ve accomplished nothing in my half-life. Your teacher’s wife fell ill a couple of days ago.” Seeing You Shulang’s tension, he quickly comforted him, “She was diagnosed, it’s benign, but it was tough at the time. I suddenly realized that your teacher’s wife and I are already in a precarious state of life, and we’re both in poor health. How many more days can we enjoy life? I’ve devoted all my energy and effort to Changling, and I haven’t spent much time with your teacher’s wife. So we’ve decided that from now on, we’ll enjoy the rest of our lives.”
He placed the old cat in his arms in front of the screen: “As for me, I’ve started a systematic weight loss program, while your teacher’s wife sings, dances, writes, and paints. Once I’ve successfully lost weight, we’ll go out for a walk and enjoy the beautiful scenery.” He waved his hand helplessly at the camera, “Over the years, when I’ve been going to other places for seminars and project presentations, I haven’t had a single chance to properly appreciate the scenery around me. It’s truly a pity.”
“Therefore, I have decided to step down from the position of chairman this year and hand over the leadership of Changling’s future development to you. As for me, I will just be a casual shareholder and enjoy the dividends.”
You Shulang thought for a moment and said slowly, “Since you have made the decision to retire, I support you. However, it is really inappropriate for me to take over. I have no qualifications and am currently a graduate student. You can choose a better candidate.”
Huang Qimin pressed Lao Mao’s head down, leaving only his eyes visible on the screen: “You may lack qualifications, but you have the ability and the affection for Changling. A company’s chairman doesn’t necessarily need to possess professional skills in a related field. Having a clear direction, reasonable measures, and the ability to integrate talent and resources are the most important things.”
“And another thing…” He pushed the old cat forward again, covering his face even more, “And another thing, you are now the second largest shareholder of Changling. If you don’t take this position, who will?”
You Shulang reached out to push the cat away, but then reluctantly pulled his hand back: “Teacher, I don’t understand what you mean.”
“You remember that bet you made with Fan Xiao? You had to optimize the honeysuckle drink’s production process within three months, or he would sue me and Changling Pharmaceutical.”
“Remember.”
“That was…we conspired together to scam you.”
“Liar…to me?”
“Fan Xiao felt that you were not in a good state at the time and wanted to use this to inspire your will to live.” Huang Qimin scratched his thinning hair. “I’m not making excuses for myself. I was definitely worried about you at the time, but I also wanted to take the opportunity to get him to invest more.”
Huang Qimin glanced at You Shulang’s increasingly gloomy face and said cautiously, “Who would have thought that he would invest so much at once, and convert it all into shares registered in your name? Now every dividend you receive is in the company’s account, and you can withdraw it at any time.”
“I haven’t told you yet because it was Fan Xiao’s idea. He told me to tell you in three years, saying that by then you might…” The obese old man blushed, “…and forget about him, and accept this compensation.”
You Shulang remained silent until the old cat impatiently ran away. The teacher and student then stared at each other without any obstruction. You Shulang then said in a deep voice, “Teacher, if it were you, do you think this kind of compensation would be useful? Would it be useful? Because you always put interests above feelings.”
You Shulang lightly touched his phone and hung up.
