Chapter 46 – Close Your Eyes

The on-site inspection was scheduled for Wednesday.

On Tuesday afternoon, Li Tang’s right eyelid twitched uncontrollably, jumping whether his eyes were open or closed, even when he pressed his hand against it.

Seeing this, Li Zichu worriedly said, “It seems like you’re having bad luck these past few days. You really have to be careful.”

While expressing concern, Li Zichu kept a safe distance from Li Tang, refusing to even share an elevator with him.

“You go down first. I’ll take the next one,” Li Zichu said from outside the elevator. “If something happens to you, at least there’s still me to hold the company together.”

Li Tang was speechless yet impressed. In his heart, he thought that over the years, it wasn’t just him who had changed, but also Li Zichu, this fellow who feared death more than anything else.

Later, during a meeting, Qi Sixian noticed Li Tang rubbing his eye continuously and asked if his eyelid was twitching. Li Tang confirmed it, and she promptly tore off a small piece of tape and had Li Tang stick it over his eyelid.

It did indeed help, and Li Tang expressed his gratitude. Qi Sixian waved it off, saying, “No big deal.”

Then she leaned in and whispered, “Mr. Li must be having quite the run of romantic luck lately.”

Li Tang asked, “How do you know?”

“The left eye twitches for wealth, the right eye for romance,” Qi Sixian said with a knowing look. “Looks like we can bring the boss lady along for the next gathering.”

Li Tang chuckled. “I’m afraid that won’t be possible.”

Li Tang had only heard that the left eye twitching meant wealth while the right eye meant misfortune. The idea of romance hadn’t crossed his mind in years.

Even when Qi Sixian added that the romance didn’t necessarily mean a new relationship, but could also indicate a rekindling of old flames.

Li Tang paused, then laughed. “Maybe I’ve never been in love.”

“How could that be?” Qi Sixian said. “With your looks, Mr. Li, you must have seen your fair share of people.”

“If you think so, you’re mistaken,” Li Tang replied.

Qi Sixian was determined to dig deeper. “Even if you haven’t had many relationships, you must have had a first love?”

Li Tang closed his notebook and held it in his hands. “After so many years, who remembers?”

That night, Li Tang didn’t sleep well.

Worried about the effects of sleeping pills on his daytime state, he resisted taking them. He woke up twice in the middle of the night and couldn’t fall back asleep.

Putting on his glasses, he reached for his phone to check the time. It was three ten in the morning.

He had new unread messages on WeChat.

They were from Li Zichu, who informed him that Huo Xichen suddenly had a stomachache that evening and was diagnosed with acute appendicitis upon reaching the hospital. Surgery was arranged for the day, and Li Zichu sent the message to ask for leave, as he needed to accompany the patient and wouldn’t be able to make the business trip to Xucheng.

Li Tang immediately called Li Zichu, who assured him that everything was fine, except that they had no family or friends in the capital, and he couldn’t leave Huo Xichen’s side.

Li Tang knew Li Zichu well enough to understand that even if the one lying in the hospital were himself, Li Zichu would spare no effort to care for him.

The class monitor’s spirit of dedication remained unchanged.

So there was nothing more to say; Li Tang granted the leave on the spot.

Just before hanging up, Li Tang heard Huo Xichen’s wails in the background. As he was about to inquire about the employee’s family member’s condition, he suddenly heard Li Zichu bellow, “Shut up or I’ll drag you to the maternity ward and see if you’re ashamed!”

Li Tang: “…”

Scratch that last compliment.

Hanging up the call, Li Tang sighed.

With the main members of the inspection team absent due to a leave, as a company leader, he had to face challenges head-on and prioritize the company’s interests.

It seemed that a trip to Xucheng was inevitable after all.

So that was why his right eyelid was twitching.

In the morning, the four-person inspection team gathered at the capital’s airport.

Apart from the manager of the risk control department, Qi Sixian from the marketing department accompanied them. Instead of Deputy Manager Li Zichu, who had to cover for his role, Yang Baichuan from the same department took his place.

Born and raised in the north, Qi Sixian had never been to Xucheng, giving her a sense of novelty akin to unlocking a new map.

She operated a short video account with a decent number of followers. She filmed videos while queuing for boarding, during takeoff, and even while drinking a beverage on the plane.

“This is the orange juice I ordered. Why does it feel diluted, a bit thin…” She turned the camera around. “This is our boss. Originally, we were going by high-speed rail, but when I said I wanted to fly, he had the general affairs department change the plans. This is what makes a great boss in China… Hey boss, why are your dark circles so severe?”

As she spoke, Qi Sixian put away her filming equipment and rummaged through her bag, pulling out some concealer to offer to Li Tang in the row behind her. “It’s not a big brand, but Mr. Li, please make do with it.”

Li Tang had never worn makeup and said he didn’t need it, but Qi Sixian insisted on helping him apply it herself. However, a flight attendant reminded her not to leave her seat due to the turbulence, so Qi Sixian handed the concealer to Yang Baichuan beside Li Tang. “You apply it for Mr. Li.”

Yang Baichuan was taken aback. “I don’t know how to use this.”

“Haven’t you seen your girlfriend use it?”

“…I don’t have a girlfriend yet.”

In the end, Li Tang took it upon himself to take the concealer, thinking that even if he hadn’t eaten pork, he had seen pigs run. He figured he could figure it out. After all, he was going to meet people, so he should at least pay attention to his appearance.

The concealer came with a small mirror inside. Li Tang held the tiny brush, dipped it into the concealer, and applied it under his eyes while looking in the mirror.

After a while, he sensed something and turned his face, noticing that Yang Baichuan was watching him. Their eyes met, and Yang Baichuan quickly looked away.

Then his face gradually turned red.

Li Tang didn’t notice the change and turned back to focus on the mirror, asking Yang Baichuan if he had something to say.

“Yes, yes,” Yang Baichuan stuttered. “About that medicine, did you take your medicine?”

At first, it sounded like an insult, but after hearing that Yang Baichuan was acting on Manager Li’s behalf as a reminder for the General Manager to take his medication, Li Tang understood.

In such matters, Li Zichu was always impressively meticulous.

Afraid that his subordinate wouldn’t be able to give a satisfactory report, Li Tang immediately took out his medicine bottle and asked the flight attendant for a cup of warm water.

Just as he was about to pop the pill into his mouth, he hesitated and looked at Yang Baichuan. “Should I take a picture for proof?”

Yang Baichuan looked panicked. “Take a picture of what?”

“Evidence, so you can report back to your deputy manager.”

“Oh, oh, alright.”

Pulling out his phone from his pocket, he aimed the lens at Li Tang and snapped a photo.

When Li Tang turned back, Yang Baichuan couldn’t resist pressing the shutter button again.

Three hours later, they arrived at the Xucheng airport.

The airport was small; after disembarking, they took just a few steps to reach the outdoors.

Pei Hao, the leader of ROJA, personally picked them up in a seven-seater business van, joking, “If we had known you’d be coming to Xucheng in a few days, we should have stayed longer in the capital and traveled together.”

Qi Sixian asked, “Aren’t you supposed to be an innovative enterprise? How can you be so leisurely?”

“Strictly speaking, I’m idle, while everyone else is busy,” Pei Hao said, turning to look at Li Tang. “Please don’t misunderstand, Mr. Li. Don’t hold my laziness against us when considering investment.”

Li Tang said, “An inspection isn’t a game. Besides, given your research capabilities, future investments will only continue to flow in.”

“But what can we do?” Pei Hao said. “We’ve set our sights on you. If I let you slip away, I’d become a sinner for all time.”

Li Tang laughed. “That serious, huh?”

“Yes,” Pei Hao made a gesture of zipping his lips shut. “From now on, I have to watch my words and actions. I can’t afford to lower the company’s evaluation score anymore.”

Then, he chatted with Qi Sixian the entire way.

Qi Sixian worked in public relations and reception, where being articulate was both a personal strength and a job requirement. She skillfully steered the conversation from the local customs and scenery of Xucheng to the weather and transportation, seamlessly transitioning to the distribution of high-tech industries in the area. Unbeknownst to Pei Hao, she had already gained a clear understanding of ROJA’s founding process, current personnel structure, main research projects, and more.

By discussing these topics during the journey, they saved considerable time and energy that would have been spent on further communication on-site.

In his heart, Li Tang praised Qi Sixian’s professional competence and resolved to give her a raise upon their return. At the same time, he felt a faint sense of envy.

In the popular parlance of today, Qi Sixian was the epitome of an extrovert—outgoing, cheerful, skilled at socializing, with clear logic in her speech and a purpose behind every word. Unlike him, who felt like a duck forced onto the stage, an introvert pretending to be an extrovert, needing to review his outline several times before each meeting to avoid going off track.

He had always been like this since school, often straying from the topic in his essays and answering humanities questions haphazardly. Li Zichu and others had even tutored him.

Perhaps it was stepping onto the land of Xucheng, but Li Tang suddenly realized he was reminiscing. He hurriedly took a deep breath and pulled his thoughts back.

Turning to look out the window, he saw that the sky was about to rain, with leaden gray clouds slowly drifting overhead.

To this day, he couldn’t figure out why it was always raining in Xucheng.

The airport was far from the industrial park where ROJA was located. As they passed through the downtown shopping mall, just as they were wrapping up a topic, Qi Sixian gazed at the bustling street and remarked, “It seems like every city has a place like this.”

Pei Hao asked what kind of place, and Qi Sixian explained, “A place where everyone loves to go when there’s nothing to do on weekends, during holidays, and especially on dates.”

Pei Hao laughed. “Xucheng can’t compare to the capital. There are only a few places here worth visiting.”

As he spoke, he glanced into the rearview mirror. “Mr. Li must be pretty familiar with this place, right?”

Li Tang was dozing off, but the question made his eyelashes flutter, and he opened his eyes.

Through the rearview mirror, they locked eyes for a moment. Li Tang couldn’t hold back his curiosity any longer. “Last time, I didn’t get a chance to ask. Have President Pei and I met before? Please forgive my forgetfulness, but I really have no recollection.”

Pei Hao smiled. “I have a common face. It’s normal for you not to remember me.”

“When we arrive at our company and you see some people, you might just remember.”

ROJA was located in a newly built high-tech industrial park on the northern outskirts of Xucheng. As soon as they got out of the car, Li Tang felt a sense of familiarity with the surroundings. Turning his head, he saw the old factory across the street and remembered—Fuxin Fertilizer Factory.

Less than a hundred meters from the Fuxin Fertilizer Factory was a metal staircase leading underground.

Down below was an underground boxing gym.

Realizing he was about to get lost in memories again, Li Tang withdrew his gaze and followed Pei Hao up the steps in front of the company, heading inside.

Despite its auspicious name, ROJA’s interior decor was cool and simple, in an industrial style.

Pei Hao led them on a tour of the sales department, which had only two employees, and the production department, where everyone was on vacation. He joked, “We’re just waiting for the investment to start the production experiments.”

The research and development department occupied the largest area, divided into hardware and software sections. According to Pei Hao, they had already established a more efficient and user-friendly medical database. Once testing was completed and it was promoted for use, it would undoubtedly generate stable profits.

As for the hardware section, much of the work was carried out at another experimental base. The precision control technology for medical robots relied on algorithmic support, and it was still in the development process.

It was here that Li Tang encountered an old acquaintance.

Due to their infrequent interactions, Li Tang stared at the man for a long time, unable to recall his name.

Finally, the other person introduced himself. “Sun Yuxiang. We used to attend winter camp together. Do you remember?”

Only then did Li Tang remember.

And he also recalled the misty White Stone Mountain, the small clinic at the mountain’s peak, and the room at the end of the hotel corridor.

Li Tang pursed his lips and managed a smile. “So you’re also one of the partners.”

“After graduating from university, I worked for a few years. Then I reconnected with… and we started a business together.”

As Sun Yuxiang spoke, he caught the eye signals from someone behind Li Tang and deliberately changed the subject halfway through.

Li Tang turned around and met Pei Hao’s smiling face.

Pei Hao shrugged as if uninvolved. “I don’t understand the technical aspects. You guys chat.”

The medical database was the project Li Yuanshan cared about most, so Li Tang carefully inquired about it, confirming ROJA’s operational capabilities in this area. With that task accomplished, he could leave the rest to the risk control and research departments to delve into further.

With the mystery of why Pei Hao knew him now solved, the tension in Li Tang’s mind relaxed. Fatigue from lack of sleep washed over him, and Li Tang excused himself to the reception room.

The receptionist and administrative assistant brought him a cup of tea, which he sipped lightly before leaning back against the sofa and slowly closing his eyes.

During this brief nap, Li Tang had a dream.

The scene in the dream felt familiar—the shrill whistle, the roaring cheers, the boxing ring illuminated by beams of light, the boxers grappling with each other.

However, no matter how loud the applause, it couldn’t drown out the sound of fists hitting flesh, nor could it overcome the rapid heartbeat caused by tension.

Someone on the stage couldn’t withstand the heavy blows and collapsed. Just as Li Tang was about to step forward to see who it was, the scene flashed, plunging him into a world of dense darkness. Ahead, a blurry white silhouette appeared—a man removing his shirt to reveal a muscular back, marred by bruises and contusions.

In the final flash, he saw a pale, bloodless profile, with defined jawlines and deep-set eyes. His ears were beautifully shaped, thin earlobes illuminated by a faint glow, but he frowned as if enduring pain.

Li Tang saw fresh blood slowly seeping from his left ear, trickling down his jawline and winding its way toward the depths of his neck.

When he woke up, the first thing he noticed was the shaking of the ground.

Immediately following was the swaying. The chandelier above his head was swaying, and even the cup of tea on the table in front of him was rattling and moving due to the tremors, making clacking sounds as it collided.

Another earthquake.

Xucheng was situated on a seismic belt, and small tremors occurred frequently, with the local residents long accustomed to them.

But it was Li Tang’s second experience, and he couldn’t help feeling panic-stricken.

He remembered that behind the seat he was sitting in was a whole row of display shelves, filled with ROJA’s achievements in research and development and trophies won in various science and technology competitions. Worried about being hit by falling objects, Li Tang tried to stand up but stumbled back down due to a sudden jolt.

The dream he just had left his limbs weak. Li Tang took a deep breath and was about to stand up again when a figure suddenly appeared before his eyes. Next, Li Tang’s body was covered.

More accurately, he was pressed into someone’s embrace.

The person had large, warm hands that clasped the back of Li Tang’s head, forcefully pushing him into his chest. Then, he bent over, becoming a protective umbrella, completely enveloping Li Tang.

For at least half a minute, Li Tang’s mind went blank.

It was as if he was in a perfect vacuum. He couldn’t perceive the shaking earth or hear the noise outside. Time and air stood still.

Except for the slightly heavy breathing of the person above him, and the rapid heartbeat transmitted through his chest.

Why was his heart beating so fast?

Was it because of nervousness?

Nervous about what? Afraid something would happen to me in your company, and I’d cause trouble for you afterward?

Li Tang finally remembered where he had seen Pei Hao.

Seven years ago, in the underground boxing arena, Pei Hao would sometimes look at him with a teasing gaze in the resting room while waiting for someone, provocatively asking, “I bet he’ll lose today. What do you think?”

It turned out Pei Hao was also a boxer there.

Thus, the answer to who was holding him became clear.

Although Li Tang had been certain from the moment they touched.

Judging by his warmth, his scent, and the strong arms that embraced him.

His voice hadn’t changed either.

Li Tang clearly remembered that this voice had once whispered intimately to him and had once become a knife, stabbing into his heart.

“I know you didn’t want to see me.”

The voice came from above, trembling confusingly. “Close your eyes. I’ll take you out.”

“This way, you won’t have to see me.”