Song Tinghuan was ready to sign the contract.
The other nine people all held their breath in anticipation.
Just before signing, Song Tinghuan suddenly said: “Tomorrow is Saturday. I don’t have to go to work, right?”
Shen Heng nearly forgot to breathe.
“That’s right. We all have weekends off. No work on Saturdays or Sundays.”
Song Tinghuan’s eyes curved into a smile.
“Good, then I’ll sign it!”
The contract was made in duplicate.
One copy went to Song Tinghuan, and one copy went to Shen Heng.
The moment he got the signed contract, the weight hanging over Shen Heng’s heart finally lifted.
“Thank you for your family’s hospitality. It’s already very late, so I won’t disturb you any longer.”
Song Tinghuan walked Shen Heng to the door and saw him off.
When she turned around, everyone looked quite happy.
Except for Song Kai and Xu Wen.
Xu Wen signed: Your father and I still can’t bear to let you go.
Song Tinghuan walked over and hugged Xu Wen tightly while wrapping her other arm around Song Kai.
“It’s not like I’m going far away. Besides, I’ll come back on Saturdays and Sundays. If you miss me, just send me a message. I’ll ask my boss for leave and come visit you.”
Xu Wen waved her hand.
Don’t keep asking for leave. We can all tell that your boss is a very good person. Since you’ve agreed to work for him, you should do your job seriously.
Song Tinghuan’s heart felt both tender and full, warm with emotion.
Family was both her support and her guiding light.
“Okay, I will.”
After getting the employment contract, Shen Heng wanted to head back immediately and share the good news with his brother.
But just as he reached downstairs, a life-threatening call from Father Shen, Shen Yuannian, came in.
“Are you at your brother’s place again?”
Shen Yuannian started with a barrage of criticism.
Shen Heng protested: “You both saw my brother’s condition. What’s wrong with me staying with him for a while?”
“He’s a grown man. Can’t he handle a little emotional distress on his own? Does he really need you keeping him company?”
“I—”
“Enough. Stop talking nonsense and get to the company. Your mother and I are both waiting for you here.”
After delivering the ultimatum, Shen Yuannian hung up.
Xiao Han said: “Young President Shen, then I’ll get off work now.”
Shen Heng waved his hand.
“Mm, go home. I made you work two extra hours tonight. Submit the overtime request later so payroll can calculate your overtime pay.”
Changqing Group was excellent in every aspect.
It treated its employees exceptionally well.
The only people it treated poorly were the bosses.
Xiao Han was already on her way home, while Shen Heng still had to drive himself back to the company and work overtime miserably.
It felt exactly like when his parents had supervised him finishing homework the night before school started.
Because of the overtime situation, he completely forgot to tell Shen Yuqing that Song Tinghuan would be returning to work.
The next day, Shen Yuqing came downstairs.
The entire villa felt empty.
Aside from him, there was not a single living creature inside.
The caregiver came in the mornings and evenings, but since he could now handle many tasks himself, the caregiver visited less frequently as well.
For all three meals, he simply ordered takeout.
Compared to Song Tinghuan’s freshly cooked meals from a proper kitchen, the difference was enormous.
Another day passed.
There was still no news whatsoever.
It seemed that Song Tinghuan had been deeply disappointed in him and had no intention of returning.
Shen Yuqing sat in the villa’s living room facing the front door for two entire days.
During those two days, apart from the security guard who delivered takeout to the door, not a single person came to visit.
His phone did not receive a single new message either.
The people from his past had long since stopped contacting him.
His former fiancée had broken off their engagement.
His best friend had cut ties with him.
His only remaining younger brother was probably overwhelmed with work.
Abandoned by everyone, Shen Yuqing sat quietly until night fell before wheeling himself to the elevator and returning to his room on the second floor.
Everything returned to silence.
Actually, that was how things should have been all along.
In the past, it had seemed as though many people stood by his side.
Yet those people had all been able to leave him so easily.
From beginning to end, he had only ever had himself.
Until the first ray of sunlight on a workday streamed down—
The doorbell rang.
Shen Yuqing woke from his sleep, unable to tell for a moment whether he was dreaming or awake.
That bright and lively voice came from outside the door, bursting with unstoppable vitality:
“President Shen, good morning!”