The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo returned to the park entrance and sat in the car waiting for Jian Zheng.

Both of them had a bad feeling after witnessing this scene.

Zhou Yanruo asked, "What kind of person is Zhang Qian? Could it be that he committed suicide, as those people just said?"

Shang Yibo sighed softly and said, "In my memory, Zhang Qian was a very timid and cowardly honest person with a low self-esteem. But deep down he was kind. In college, he would always help us get meals and save seats in the library. These seem like small things, but it's not easy to keep doing them for years. Even a rich kid like Jian Zheng, who came from a wealthy family, started to look at him differently later on."

Zhou Yanruo disagreed, "Aren't you just bullying him? And you still have the nerve to say he's honest?"

Shang Yibo explained, "It's really not like that. People like Zhang Qian, who worked hard to get into university from a small town, are afraid of being looked down upon or not fitting in. So, it's better to have someone to do something for them than to be ignored. You probably don't understand; your privileged background makes it impossible for you to empathize with someone like Zhang Qian."

"How much empathy can you really offer? Don't you consider your family background to be good?"

"What if it were from Wang Jie's perspective?"

When Zhou Yanruo heard Shang Yibo mention Wang Jie, she was overwhelmed with mixed feelings. A strange emotion welled up inside her, and she said softly, "I forgot, you have this other identity."

Shang Yibo wanted to slap himself. He was usually so quiet, but how come he started talking non-stop in front of Zhou Yanruo? And he was so unrestrained and thoughtless.

At that moment, someone knocked twice on the passenger side window.

Zhou Yanru rolled down the car window, and Shang Yibo turned to look. A young man in a dark formal suit and a matching tie greeted him politely, "Teacher Shang Yibo, Jian Zheng has arrived. He invites you over."

Shang Yibo had some impression of this man. Although he couldn't recall his name, he remembered that he was one of the two assistants, a man and a woman, who had been waiting here when he came to this park with Jian Zheng to see Zhang Qian last time.

Shang Yibo glanced at the rearview mirror and saw a Mercedes-Benz van parked behind their car.

Jian Zheng likes to do these superficial things; he's the kind of person who, even when he falls from grace, still maintains his airs.

Knowing his bad habits, there was no need to argue with him about them; getting down to business was more important. So, he said, "Yanruo, let's go over there."

Zhou Yanruo hummed in agreement and got out of the car.

The two arrived at the Mercedes-Benz van, and the automatic door opened with a "whoosh".

The man in the suit gestured for Shang Yibo to get into the car.

The seats in the van have been adjusted, with the front seats rotated 180 degrees to face the rear seats.

When Zhou Yanruo got on the bus and saw Jian Zheng's appearance, she couldn't help but laugh out loud.

Jian Zheng retorted angrily, "You're still laughing? This is the masterpiece of your big star."

His current appearance is not even accurately described by the phrase "bruised and swollen"; it would be more accurate to say that it has reached the point of being "horrible to look at".

As Shang Yibo sat down, he retorted, "You asked for it."

Jian Zheng: "I'm a magnanimous person, so I won't hold it against you."

"Try arguing with me. If you recover completely, I'll give you another treatment according to the prescription. If you still think it's not enough, I'll add more to the treatment right now."

Zhou Yanruo: "That's enough, you guys. How old are you? Still fighting like this."

Jian Zheng: "Zhou Yanruo, you're being unfair. Shang Yibo is taking advantage of his youth to treat us old folks like this."

Shang Yibo: "Shut up."

The group exchanged a few banter, which eased the tension of the earlier awkward situation.

Jian Zheng's expression turned serious. He turned on his phone and handed it to Shang Yibo.

Shang Yibo and Zhou Yanruo leaned closer to look and saw that the phone screen displayed Zhang Qian's and Jian Zheng's WeChat messages. There were several messages: "Jian Zheng, this is what I want to say to you and Wang Jie. I don't have his WeChat, so you can pass it on."

“I’ve done a lot of things that I think are right, and of course, I’ve also done things that I can’t even face myself. As for right and wrong, I judge them by my own standards. I don’t care what others think, especially after today. I won’t care what anyone says. You see, in the end, I can be tough for once. But the only ones I’ve cared about from beginning to end are you and Wang Jie. It’s because I care so much that I haven’t had an easy life these past few years.”

"When I was with you guys, I never had my own opinions. I always listened to you. I knew very well then that even if I had opinions, you wouldn't listen. Since it was the same as not saying anything, why bother? I got used to being controlled by you, and you got used to me being an honest and obedient follower. But I didn't care because most of the time, you took care of me and did what was best for me. Those four years of university life became the happiest time of my life so far."

"Forget it, I'd better not get sentimental anymore. Someone like me shouldn't have any emotions. Getting back to the point, I have a few things to explain. After thinking it over, the only people who can help me with this are you and Wang Jie. It's pathetic, isn't it? I've hurt you, and now I have to ask you to clean up my mess."

"I will leave all my personal assets to my family. I control five companies, the most valuable of which is Yuehai Technology. I will transfer all my shares in these companies to Professor Zhou's descendants. Jian Zheng, you will definitely be able to contact Professor Zhou's descendants. I am not entirely at ease entrusting this matter to you, but with Wang Jie overseeing it, it will be successful. The share transfer may not be smooth, after all, there are other shareholders eyeing it. When I was alive, they dared not, but after I am gone, it is hard to say. That's just how human nature is. My parents and relatives are all farmers, they don't understand company shares, let alone manage and operate a company well. These companies are my life's work, and there are many subordinates who have followed me. I cannot be irresponsible to them."

"As for you, Jian Zheng, I will not and cannot hand you over. You want to use these things to achieve your revenge, but I cannot hand you 'bullets' or fuel your obsession. Twenty years have passed, and it's time for you to let go. This is not helping you, but harming you. 'I am doing this for your own good.' As I wrote this sentence, I laughed at myself. I am actually gratified that one day I have the right to say such things to you."

"Consider these arrangements my will. Don't worry, I'll write one myself and keep it by my side."

"Finally, I want to say sorry to you, Wang Jie, and Professor Zhou's descendants, but please don't forgive me, just let me go to hell!"