"Of course, it's absolutely possible!"
Li Yu stood up and walked behind Yang Chen, patting his shoulder and urging him to sit down. She said with a smile,
"Hear me out. I didn't ask you to invest in our company on a whim."
"Frankly, with your appraisal skills, you could easily earn over ten million yuan annually at any major antique dealership outside."
"Even if you were to go out and start your own business, something like the small find you got today could easily net you tens of millions. You wouldn't need to stoop to our level in this small establishment."
Yang Chen immediately stood up again and quickly said, "Manager Li, you've shown me great kindness and opportunity. No matter how much money others offer, I will definitely stay with you!"
Li Yu was filled with gratification and patted Yang Chen's shoulder again, telling him to sit down.
"I know your loyalty, and I don't doubt it. However, you also need to consider the future well-being of your uncle and aunt, right?"
This was true. His mother had miraculously survived, and his father had worked hard his whole life. Yang Chen naturally wanted to give them a comfortable and peaceful retirement.
All of this, of course, depended on money!
"But... Manager Li, giving me 20% of the shares is simply too much. Our company is valued at over a hundred million!"
"It's not too much... I feel 20% is even too little."
Li Yu decided to be direct with Yang Chen and spoke her mind. "On the surface, you're investing ten million. In reality, you're also investing your expertise. When you calculate it, I'm the one getting the better deal."
Having experienced the incident with Zhang Chi, Li Yu had learned a painful lesson and thoroughly understood the importance of a loyal and capable chief manager.
Her insistence on Yang Chen investing was to truly bind him to the company's interests.
While it was true she had shown Yang Chen kindness, kindness could eventually wear thin. Only mutual interests could truly last!
Yang Chen pondered for a moment, understanding Li Yu's intentions. He thought, "Until I've repaid Manager Li's kindness, I never intended to leave the company anyway. I'll agree to her offer to put her at ease."
"Then... Manager Li, I'll invest in the company."
"Wonderful!"
Li Yu excitedly stepped forward and hugged Yang Chen, saying joyfully, "From now on, we'll work together with one heart to make the company bigger and stronger. Don't you agree!"
Yang Chen felt the gentle pressure of her chest against his, catching a faint, youthful fragrance. His mind reeled, and he mumbled incoherently, "Mmmph."
"What's wrong?"
Li Yu pushed Yang Chen away curiously, noticing his flushed face and a trickle of red liquid from his nostril.
"You're bleeding from your nose! Quickly, tilt your head back!"
Li Yu grabbed some tissues to wipe the blood from Yang Chen's face and pressed his forehead back.
As soon as he tilted his head back, not only was one nostril bleeding, but from his perspective, he had a clear view of a patch of white on Li Yu's chest. The other nostril, as if on cue, also began to bleed.
"Now both nostrils are bleeding! Quickly, plug them!"
Li Yu stood on her tiptoes and flusteredly pinched Yang Chen's nose. Her movement only made Yang Chen's blood surge further.
This was dire. How could the bleeding stop at this rate!
"No... I can do it myself."
Yang Chen broke free from Li Yu's delicate hand, pinching his nose and backing away as he said, "It might be the dry weather lately. I'll just go wash my face."
"Alright... then I'll give you half a day off this afternoon to go back and rest."
"Okay... okay!"
Yang Chen fled the office as if escaping. Once he couldn't see the "rolling waves" before him, the nosebleed finally stopped, but his heart was still pounding wildly.
"In the future, when I'm with Manager Li, I must learn to control my eyes, or I'll bleed to death!"
...
After leaving the company, Yang Chen took a taxi directly to the hospital to see his mother.
Zhang Suqin, after a period of rest, had improved significantly. The paleness of her face was now tinged with a bit of color. Seeing her son, she happily pulled him over and chatted with him for a while.
Since Zhang Suqin had only recently awakened, she hadn't noticed Yang Chen's unusual behavior. However, Yang Gang noticed his son's fluent and clear responses, and he was astonished.
When Yang Chen went out to fetch hot water for his mother, Yang Gang followed him out. "Xiao... Xiao Chen, why do I feel like you're a bit different today?"
Yang Chen subconsciously touched his face. "Dad, there's nothing different."
"No... it's not that. I mean, you... you seem to have recovered!"
Yang Chen had long anticipated that his return to normalcy wouldn't be hidden from his father for long. He quickly said, "Dad, I... I've recovered a bit these past few days and suddenly remembered a lot of things from the past."
"That's... that's wonderful!"
Yang Gang's eyes welled up with tears, and he excitedly hugged Yang Chen.
"Ancestors bless us, Buddha bless us! Little Chen has finally recovered! Our old Yang family finally has hope!"
Yang Chen recalled his father's hardships over the years and hugged Yang Gang tightly, his voice choked with emotion. "Dad, you've worked so hard these past few years!"
"Silly boy, you're my son, and I'm your father. This is all as it should be. There's nothing to say about hardship."
The father and son sat on a bench in the corridor, reminiscing.
"Xiao Chen, it's good that you've recovered. Now I have someone to discuss things with. Your mother's condition is stable, and although Director Ma is paying attention to her here at the hospital, the expenses are quite high..."
"Dad, you want Mom to be discharged?"
Yang Chen quickly comforted him. "Dad, please don't worry about the finances. Manager Li just promoted me to the chief manager of the store today, and my salary has doubled!"
Yang Chen deliberately downplayed the situation, fearing that revealing his 20% ownership of the auction house would shock his father too much.
"Really?"
"Of course, it's true. If you don't believe me, you can call Manager Li."
"I believe... of course, I believe you. How could I not believe you, listen to what you're saying."
Yang Gang, filled with joy, did not forget to admonish him, "Xiao Chen, Manager Li has been very kind to us father and son. You must not let her down. You have to work hard!"
"Dad, I know. You taught me since I was young that a drop of kindness should be repaid with a gushing spring. I will definitely assist Manager Li well."
"I'm relieved then... However, even though your salary has increased, your mother's illness is still... still, let's arrange for her discharge."
Yang Chen understood his meaning. His father was ultimately worried that his mother's prolonged hospital stay would be a financial burden.
"Dad, after I consult with Director Ma, if he agrees to her discharge, we can then handle the discharge procedures for Mom. What do you think?"
"Hmm... that's fine, but... sigh!"
"Dad, what's wrong?"
"If your mother is truly discharged, we'll have to move to a larger rental. The current place is too small... this is another expense, and I'm afraid it will be a hardship for you!"
"Sigh, I thought you were sighing about something else. I've already found a place."
"You've found a place?"
"Yes, I'll take you to see it now."
...
"Xiao Chen, is this really where you rented?"
Yang Gang stood in the opulent hall of the villa, his face filled with disbelief.
Yang Chen held up the keys with a chuckle. "Dad, I have the keys. How could it be fake? We'll be living here from now on. You can rest assured."
"No... no!"
Yang Gang shook his head vigorously, anxiously saying, "This place is so high-class, the monthly rent must be exorbitant. You... quickly return the house. We'll just find a slightly larger two-bedroom apartment to rent!"
"Dad, there's no need to return it. This house is free."
"You're talking nonsense, son. How could such a high-class villa not have rent?"
"Dad, I'm not lying. This... this is the employee dormitory Manager Li provided."
Yang Chen didn't dare to say that he had obtained the villa by treating Chu Luan. After all, his sudden recovery was already strange enough. Another miraculous event like saving lives would be too unbelievable, and he wouldn't be able to explain anything.
"Don't be silly. If you were an ordinary employee, you wouldn't have such good employee accommodation. However, this entire place is Manager Li's own property. She heard that my mother is about to be discharged and specially arranged for us to live here."
"Is that really true?"
"Of course. If you don't believe me... you can call Manager Li."
Yang Chen knew his father's recent disposition and was confident that he wouldn't dare to call Li Yu.
Indeed, Yang Gang didn't take out his phone, but he still said with suspicion, "When I see Manager Li next, I'll ask her in person. If I find out you're lying to me, I won't forgive you!"
"How would I dare to lie to you."
Yang Chen thought to himself, "You wouldn't even dare to call her, you certainly won't ask her in person."
"Dad, we have a place to live now. Let's call a moving truck to bring all our things from the rental. We'll move in tonight."
"Call a truck? No need to call a truck."
Yang Gang waved his hand. "I just checked the bus stop. There's a direct bus from here to our rental. From now on, every day when I visit your mother at the hospital, I'll just bring some things over. We can't waste that money!"
"..."
Yang Chen was speechless. This kind of ant-like moving would take ages. He said helplessly, "Dad, then you can move slowly. I'm staying here tonight."
"Of course, you're staying here. The rental period hasn't ended yet, so I'll continue to stay there. We can't waste that money."
"You're amazing, old man!"
Yang Chen sincerely admired his father's shrewd calculation and gave him a thumbs-up. "I'm truly impressed!"
*Duang!*
Yang Gang flicked Yang Chen's forehead with his fingers and chuckled, scolding, "You're making fun of your old man. You're staying here tonight, so hurry up and clean the bedroom."
...
That night, Yang Chen stayed at the villa.
In his sleep, a beam of moonlight streamed through the floor-to-ceiling window and fell upon him. Within the moonlight, a cold aura, like a river of starlight, flowed into his body. In his dream, the voice that had appeared before resurfaced, reciting obscure and difficult scriptures:
"Now I transmit to you the Innate Dao Method, which can aid your cultivation... The transmission of internal energy is very precise in its meridians. If one does not understand the meridians and forces oneself to use it, it will be detrimental rather than beneficial. Those who study medicine must understand the meridians, let alone practice internal energy! If one does not understand the meridians, it is like practicing archery without a bow and arrows; their failure is certain..."
After the scripture recitation concluded, the voice spoke again:
"Ancient artifacts of considerable value condense the essence and spirit of the craftsman, as well as the faith of the viewer. In the end of the Dao era, these are also pathways. With the decline of the Dao, Xuan is one of them. By utilizing it, cultivation can be divided into Qi Refining. The path of cultivation is divided into: Qi Refining, Foundation Establishment, Golden Core, Nascent Soul, Soul Departure, Primordial Spirit, Void Refining, Body Integration, Grand Ascension, and Tribulation Crossing – ten realms. Each realm is further divided into ten minor stages. Once the peak is reached, one can achieve longevity, step into the void, and enter the Divine Realm. At that point, turning gold into stone and raising the dead will be trivial matters!
The path of cultivation should be as precarious as walking on thin ice. Do not forget your original intention, and remember it!"
Innate Dao Method?
Cultivation?
Yang Chen's eyes snapped open, and he sat up in bed. Sunlight streamed through the window, already indicating the fading glow of the afternoon sun.
"So that's how it is!"
"Yesterday, when I touched that Yongle celadon, the gaseous feeling I sensed was indeed the power of faith. This can help me cultivate and greatly advance my realm, allowing me to enter a state of half-step Qi Refining.
It's no wonder I can discern the authenticity of antiques at a glance. It turns out that the Innate Dao Method is a specialized technique adapted for use in the end of the Dao era!"
"But what is this 'end of the Dao era' that the immortal mentioned in my dream?"
Yang Chen pondered deeply, but found no answer. He recalled the scripture of the Innate Dao Method again. Every word was difficult and obscure, yet strangely, he remembered it all and could understand it.
"This is truly strange... but these are the methods of deities. They are beyond my current understanding, so I won't force myself to figure it out."
"According to the scripture, it's a combination of medicine and martial arts. As my cultivation advances, my medical skills will also improve... Then, when my cultivation reaches a certain level, won't I be able to completely cure my mother's brain tumor and even grant them longevity!"
The thought filled Yang Chen with excitement. He immediately prepared to sit cross-legged and attempt to cultivate the Innate Dao Method.
*Ding, ding...*
His phone suddenly rang. It was Li Yu calling.
"Oh no, I slept for an entire day and night. I didn't go to work today. I hope Manager Li won't blame me!"
Yang Chen quickly answered the phone.
"Manager Li, I overslept today... You can deduct a day's pay."
"You're the chief manager now, and you don't need to clock in every day unless absolutely necessary. Who would deduct your pay?"
Li Yu said, both annoyed and amused, "However, you need to return to the company immediately. Miss Chu has been waiting for quite some time!"
*Slap!*
Yang Chen slapped his forehead. Tonight was Chu Luan's seventieth birthday. How could he have forgotten!
"I'll be back at the company right away."
...
Ten minutes later, Yang Chen hailed a taxi and rushed back to the company. As soon as he entered, he saw Chu Xiang, dressed in an evening gown, chatting and laughing with Li Yu in the lobby.
"Miss Chu, I apologize..."
"That's enough. No need for pleasantries. The banquet for Grandpa is about to begin. Hurry up and come with me."
Saying this, Chu Xiang directly linked arms with Yang Chen and walked towards the exit. Yang Chen could only turn back and call out,
"Manager Li, then... I'm going."
"Mm-hmm, go ahead..."
Before Li Yu could finish speaking, Chu Xiang had already pulled Yang Chen out the door and out of sight. Only the revolving door continued to spin.
For some reason, as Li Yu watched the revolving door, an image of Chu Xiang linking arms with Yang Chen flashed through her mind. A pang of heartache struck her, leaving her feeling utterly displeased.