“He’s still injured. You can’t take him away!” Xu Rong said, blocking the bed. “He’s been wrongly accused!”
“Don’t worry about that. We have a hospital inside,” the leading man replied. “As for whether he was wrongly accused, we’ll investigate thoroughly. We’ll handle this matter impartially.”
The man and the bed were carried away together.
Xu Rong stood frozen in disbelief.
“Instead of worrying about that, why not think about how long Doctor Fang can last in there?” Shang Xuci rose to his full height, pausing as he passed Xu Rong. He cast her a sidelong glance and said casually, “Aunt Xu, we still have plenty of time together.”
Tang Manwen followed behind Shang Xuci. She looked back at the distressed Xu Rong, then at Shang Xuci, who had already pulled away. Quickening her pace, she caught up to him and thanked him.
Only after having her own child did Tang Manwen truly understand the pain she had inflicted on Shang Xuci. Regret could never undo it. After all, she had fed that child bowls of poison, and one day she would stand trial alongside Xu Rong and the others.
Shang Xuci said nothing in response to her gratitude. He walked to the parking lot, then turned to her and said, “Now that you and Xu Rong have completely severed ties, I’ve arranged a new place for you. Think about how to persuade your son—and be patient.”
He had no intention of letting Xu Rong go so easily. The bait had been set; it was only a matter of time before the fish bit.
Tang Manwen nodded, watching as the car slowly disappeared from view.
…
Shang Group
Shang Ye hurried to the reception room with a folder in hand. Scowling, he asked his secretary, “Why didn’t you tell me my uncle was here before letting him in?”
Secretary Zhao looked embarrassed. “The receptionist recognized him, but before we could call to inform you, President Shang had already arrived.”
Secretary Zhao was new to Shang Ye’s team. He hadn’t previously worked at Shang Group headquarters—he had been transferred from a subsidiary after Shang Ye took over. Still unfamiliar with Shang Yan, he had only just realized the man was the president’s uncle and quickly relayed the news to Shang Ye.
Shang Ye didn’t bother getting angry. As he reached the office door, he immediately put on a smile.
“Uncle, why didn’t you let me know you were coming? I could’ve welcomed you properly.”
Shang Yan waved a hand dismissively, his expression unchanged. “I’m here to talk business. No need for formalities.”
The female secretary accompanying Shang Yan set two copies of a document in front of them.
“Congratulations on taking over my uncle’s position,” Shang Yan said. “I knew I wasn’t wrong about you.”
Shang Ye smiled. “I was only able to join the core decision-making team thanks to you, Uncle.”
“No need to thank me. Uncle’s health is declining, and you three are the only descendants of the Shang family left. Shang Yi refused to take the job and was sent abroad by Uncle. Shang Xuci is frail and blind. Who else but you can shoulder this responsibility right now?”
“Is my great-uncle in good health?”
Shang Jue’s generation had only one son, Shang Wei, but Shang Wei had two brothers—one older and one younger. Their relationship broke down early over a dispute about the family fortune, and they had remained estranged ever since. Even now, the three brothers rarely met.
Shang Yan, the eldest son of Shang Ye’s great-uncle, had been running the investment company spun off from the Shang Group. According to one of his uncle’s casual remarks, the company’s operating profits were considerable.
“Alright, enough chit-chat,” Shang Yan said, placing a document on the table. “Here’s the business proposal. You know our company is planning a major tourism project and needs investment. You haven’t made any progress within the group, so this is a great opportunity for you.”
Shang Ye fully understood the implications behind Shang Yan’s seemingly “kind” offer. Knowing his uncle was never this generous without reason, he nodded cautiously. “I’ll consider it.”
“Once you read it, you’ll see it’s a rare opportunity. I’ve also left the contract here. Take your time to review it—but don’t keep me waiting too long.”
“I’ll get back to you in a month,” Shang Ye replied.
“Alright.”
After chatting for a while longer, Shang Yan said, “Next week is your second uncle’s birthday. We’re having dinner at Jiangjin Garden. You should come too—he hasn’t seen you in a long time.”
“I’ll go,” Shang Ye said with a nod.
…
A week later.
Shang Ye kept his appointment.
When he entered the private room, he saw six or seven people seated in an elegantly decorated space.
The only familiar faces at the table were his eldest uncle, his younger brother, and his second uncle. Shang Dao, the second uncle, had a completely different personality from Shang Yan—more approachable and refined. In the past, when others argued that Shang Ye, an illegitimate son, should not join the Shang Group, Second Uncle had supported him. When Shang Ye was younger, Shang Dao even gave him New Year’s red envelopes.
As adults, they had met less and less frequently, so seeing Shang Dao now made Shang Ye a little nervous to greet him.
Shang Yan then introduced him to the other guests—well-known entrepreneurs who, judging by their attitude toward his eldest uncle, had likely come to expand their business connections.
At the mention of Shang Ye’s name, they began to praise him.
“Taking over the family business at such a young age is no easy feat.”
“I’ve met Boss Shang Jue before—you and he look a lot alike, both with an extraordinary presence.”
“The young are to be feared; the young are to be feared.”
“We old men are truly aging—it’s the young who have the courage and capability to take risks.”
“Mr. Shang, please give me your guidance. Let’s stay in touch; I look forward to working with you.”
“No, no, you flatter me,” Shang Ye replied politely.
After the introductions, Shang Dao smiled and motioned for him to sit beside him. Looking him over, he said, “The last time I saw you, you were still in school. In the blink of an eye, you’ve grown tall, handsome—and now you’re the boss.”
“How’s it going? Taking over the group at such a young age must be tough, right?”
Shang Dao sighed at how quickly time passed. His warm words helped Shang Ye loosen up, and the atmosphere became more at ease.
Shang Ye accepted the wine his second uncle poured for him, took a sip, and smiled. “Not bad.”
The old man had left behind a capable team. They might not excel at growing the company, but at least they could keep it running smoothly.
Shang Ye, handsome, gentle, and polite, joined in the small talk. The old men mostly spoke about family matters, and the question they asked most often was whether he had a girlfriend.
Thinking of Jiang Yuanqing, Shang Ye’s eyes softened. He smiled and replied, “Yes.”
The others laughed and said, “Mr. Shang is so outstanding—of course he has a girlfriend. Is there any need to ask?”
“Hahaha, that’s right.”
Shang Ye laughed along, then leaned toward Shang Dao. “Second Uncle, I heard from First Uncle that your company has been doing very well in recent years.”
Shang Dao waved his hand dismissively. “I’m not cut out for business. Thanks to your First Uncle, I’ve made quite a bit over the years through your Big Brother’s company.”
He then refilled Shang Yan’s glass. “Big Brother, I want to invest in this project as well.”
Surprised, Shang Ye asked, “Second Uncle, you want to invest too?”
He didn’t know much about his First Uncle Shang Yan, but he knew Second Uncle had a sharp eye for investments; otherwise, he wouldn’t have relied on it for his livelihood for so many years.
Shang Dao raised his glass, and Shang Ye clinked his own against it.
“Of course. This is a rare opportunity.”
Shang Yan stayed silent while Shang Dao spoke at length, explaining the investment project and outlining its potential benefits.
Shang Ye’s earlier flattery had already gone to his head. Moreover, he had promised his second uncle that he would work with him after helping him secure his current position. Now the deal had shifted toward his first uncle. Under the watchful eyes of those present, Shang Ye drank several glasses of wine, feeling more and more emboldened. With a wave of his hand, he said, “Uncle, I’ll sign the contract.”
“Hahaha, good.” Shang Dao grinned and poured him another glass.
…
Xinyu Group
Two months passed, yet nothing was found about the cat. Instead, many people brought Shang Xuci lion cats that looked vaguely like Sui Sui, claiming they had found him. Each false lead left him feeling more overwhelmed and frustrated.
To numb himself, Shang Xuci relocated Xinyu back to China. This coincided with the country’s new policies that placed cutting-edge technology at the forefront, and the company quickly released a series of smart products.
The decision-makers at Xinyu were bold, seizing major projects from the Shang Group almost overnight. Before long, Xinyu became a household name in the domestic business world.
The company’s true boss remained a mystery, represented in public by President Yun Qing. People were eager to know who he was, but no one could uncover any information.
Shang Xuci, the man behind Xinyu, threw himself into work, operating almost mechanically and with no trace of emotion. The company temporarily relocated to a building across from Yinfeng Entertainment, and Shang Xuci’s constant running back and forth—never stopping for a moment—soon became a source of complaints among employees.
Fu Qian was the only one who knew why his boss worked so hard. Whenever Shang Xuci had a spare moment, Fu Qian would catch him staring at Sui Sui’s photos with a sigh.
In the early days, following tips from detectives and leads from others, Shang Xuci had gone nearly mad—rummaging through sewers, checking trash bins, and spending entire nights searching. Even now, he refused to give up, sending people to comb through every inch of City A.
His biggest fear was that the cat was no longer in City A. China was so vast that there was no telling when—or if—it would be found.
Fu Qian still had several boxes of canned cat food and dried fish in storage.
The search for Sui Sui continued. To prevent his boss from spiraling further, Fu Qian avoided mentioning the cat unless he had concrete news.
Gradually, the word cat became taboo around Shang Xuci.
One day, Fu Qian brought coffee to his desk. Seeing Shang Xuci put down the documents in his hand, he said, “Boss, someone at the Shang Group says Shang Ye has agreed to cooperate with Shang Yan’s team. They’ve invested heavily in a luxury tourism project—food, drink, entertainment, the works.”
“Got it,” Shang Xuci replied expressionlessly, rubbing his temple.
Things were moving faster than he had anticipated.
In his previous life, Grandfather had stepped down to recuperate, officially handing the group over to him and Shang Ye to compete for leadership. Because of health issues, Shang Xuci missed that chance, and Shang Ye became a director. But due to his inexperience and lack of ability, the group soon fell into crisis, and Grandfather asked Shang Xuci to step in and resolve it.
Later, that same tourism project nearly destroyed Shang Group. On top of that, the scandals involving Shang Wei and Xu Rong pushed the company into an even deeper crisis. In the end, it was Shang Xuci who saved the day and, through his own ability, reclaimed the company.
Yet, no matter how things ended, he still found himself making life difficult for others.
Shang Xuci lowered his gaze, his slender, pale fingers tapping lightly against the table, determined not to interfere this time.
He no longer needed the Shang Group in this lifetime.
…
Elsewhere, Xu Rong called Shang Wei, trying to pressure him into intervening in the relationship between Jiang Yuanqing and Shang Ye. She had never expected them to end up together—let alone that Jiang Yuanqing would break off her engagement with Shang Xuci.
The old man was so furious that he was immediately hospitalized. Upon his release, he convened a family meeting, demanding that Shang Ye, Jiang Yuanqing, Shang Xuci, Shang Wei, and Xu Rong all return to the ancestral home.
In the end, only Shang Xuci didn’t go.
Shang Jue, concerned about his reputation, firmly stated that Shang Ye and Jiang Yuanqing would not be together. Shang Ye, brimming with confidence, refused to yield.
Shang Jue scowled at his son and daughter-in-law. “Do you think I’m stubborn too?”
Shang Wei had always been a playboy. In his eyes, Jiang Yuanqing’s beauty and obedience made her hard for any man to resist, so he implicitly sided with Shang Ye.
Xu Rong, watching Shang Jue’s expression, instinctively spoke in his favor. On the way back from the ancestral home, the couple suddenly began arguing over the matter.
Even so, Xu Rong endured it. Now that she had her own backer, she refused to lose her temper and continued to maintain the outward image of a good wife and mother.
Since sending Shang Yi abroad, she had only seen him once—at the airport. Shang Wei hadn’t been home recently, claiming to be on a business trip. Xu Rong knew he had a new partner, but she pretended not to know.
Her greatest concern now was Shang Xuci. He had sent Fang Xiuyuan to prison right in front of her, and now he held something over her.
Xu Rong couldn’t figure him out, and she worried that Fang Xiuyuan might betray her while in prison. After some thought, she arranged a meeting with Du Guan.
A fierce glint flashed in Du Guan’s eyes, and he made a swift decision.
The people around Shang Yi all had their own agendas, while Jian Xun—far away in another city—was living an entirely different kind of life.
In just three days, he had already adapted to work.
During bathroom breaks, he would chat with Xu Tutu.
This time, it was Xu Tutu who sent him a message.
Xu Tutu: [Sui Sui, are you getting used to the job?]
Jian Xun: [Yeah, I really enjoy it.]
Xu Tutu: [That’s good.]
He had worried that Jian Xun wouldn’t be able to adapt. After all, life in China was competitive and high-pressure.
Jian Xun: [Hey, after your morning shift, Brother Tutu, is there anything you’d like to eat? I’ll make it for you.]
Xu Tutu: [Fish, please! I like it steamed, braised, or both.]
Jian Xun: [Sure! Cats love fish the most.]
Back at his workstation, Jian Xun touched the fragrant fish and wiped away his drool.
It smelled so good.
After getting off work, Jian Xun, wallet in hand, went straight to the supermarket, headed for the seafood section, and picked out his favorite fish.
On the way home, he ran into Xu Tutu, snapped a photo, and made the first post of his life on WeChat Moments—
Slacking off at work, slacking off after work too ^＿^
The separation is giving me anxiety 😭😭😭😭😭 poor our ML!!! He miss his cat he’s going crazy!!! But we also can’t blame our MC!!! God why the world so cruel that he’s cursed and can’t go back to being full cat just yet???!! 😭 When will this torture separation end??!!
But THANK YOU SOOOO MUCH FOR THE HARDWORKS IN TRANSLATING THIS NOVEL TO THIS FAR ALREADY!!! 🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇🙇 XENDLESSEVERLASTINGEXTREMEGRATEFULNESS ❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜❤️💜