Xu Tang stayed in the hospital for a week. During that week, Zong Xuan stayed by his side every step of the way, only returning home twice in between. Each time, he only took a proper shower before immediately returning to the hospital.
Xu Tang’s attitude toward him remained indifferent, making him somewhat unsure whether Xu Tang truly still liked him, or whether it had already become the kind of admiration one had for a senior or an idol. But no matter what, as long as there was something he could do for Xu Tang, he was willing to sincerely do it.
After that day, he also stopped contacting Teng Yizheng. He just felt that something between them was already wrong, and perhaps it was better not to contact each other anymore.
Because of that phone call, he suddenly understood why Xu Tang had been so resistant toward Teng Yizheng. It was not only because of his relationship with Teng Yizheng, but also because of Teng Yizheng’s attitude. Perhaps Xu Tang had noticed it long ago, he just never said anything. Meanwhile, he had thought nothing was wrong and that there was no need to be overly cautious.
During this period, He Xin came three times. Zong Xuan’s parents, his elder brother, Yue Yan, and Wen Hui also came once each. As for Fang Tan, he came almost every day to chat with Xu Tang for a while.
The topics they discussed were all related to music. Zong Xuan couldn’t understand them and couldn’t join the conversation, so he could only sit quietly and listen.
What made him even more aggrieved was that Xu Tang would not even spare him a glance.
He was truly feeling especially wronged.
The night before Xu Tang was discharged, Zong Xuan discussed with Xu Zhou where Xu Tang should stay after leaving the hospital.
Returning to Xu Tang’s parents’ home was naturally a good option, but it would be inconvenient for Zong Xuan to move in as well. Besides, if reporters waited outside their home, it would cause trouble for Xu’s family.
Therefore, Zong Xuan suggested that Xu Tang return to the villa.
Firstly, he could take care of him there. Secondly, they wouldn’t have to worry about reporters waiting outside—the reporters could wait as long as they wanted.
Thirdly, there was an auntie at their place who cooked meals, and the food was also to Xu Tang’s taste, so there was no need to worry about meals or have Xu’s family send food over.
Fourthly, Xu’s family could come visit them anytime they wanted. Nothing would be delayed.
Xu Zhou hesitated for a moment before asking Xu Tang for his opinion.
After thinking about it, Xu Tang felt that returning to the villa was indeed the best choice. It was more convenient and would avoid causing trouble for his family.
The security at his own residence was also not as strict as the villa’s, so for safety’s sake, he agreed.
After returning to the villa, Xu Tang still lived on the third floor, while Zong Xuan stayed on the second floor.
The difference was that Zong Xuan would occasionally go upstairs to ask Xu Tang if he needed anything, even though Xu Tang never actually needed anything.
Zong Xuan had also tried to help Xu Tang take a bath, but Xu Tang refused.
His right hand had a fracture and was in a cast, so it was indeed inconvenient, but he could still do things slowly by himself. There was no way he would let Zong Xuan help him bathe…
At Zong Xuan’s request, the auntie also prepared different meals every day to help Xu Tang recover.
After his dizziness and nausea disappeared, Xu Tang’s appetite returned to normal. He was just slower with his movements.
For foods that required peeling shells, Zong Xuan would prepare them and feed him. For dishes that were difficult to pick up, he would cut them into smaller pieces so Xu Tang could scoop them up with a spoon.
Because Xu Tang’s car accident had caused quite a stir, Zong Xuan’s production crew also saw the news.
Therefore, they did not say anything about Zong Xuan leaving the set without permission. Their original plan had been to finish filming Zong Xuan’s scenes before taking a break, then return after the Spring Festival for some additional filming.
Now that they were taking the holiday two days earlier, it was not a big issue. They would simply start work two days earlier afterward.
Zong Xuan also said there was no problem, and the matter was settled.
That afternoon, Xu Tang sat on the sofa reading a book.
Zong Xuan brewed some black tea and prepared some pastries Xu Wan had brought over, making afternoon tea for Xu Tang.
“During the Spring Festival, my parents invited your parents to our house to celebrate together. Brother and Second Sister will also go. Come back with me too.” Zong Xuan said.
He knew his parents were helping him, so he felt he needed to seize this opportunity.
“When did this happen? Why didn’t I know?” Xu Tang asked.
“It was decided this morning. My mom called me at noon.” Zong Xuan replied.
Xu Tang didn’t know how Zong Xuan’s parents had persuaded his own parents, but with the connection between their elder brothers, it was actually quite normal for the two families to spend the New Year together.
“Fine.”
Since his parents were going, there was no point in him returning home alone. And it was even more impossible for him to stay at the villa during the holiday.
Zong Xuan smiled. “Tell me what you want to eat. Make a list and let the family prepare it.”
“Anything is fine.”
He didn’t have anything special he wanted to eat. During the New Year, what mattered was simply that the whole family gathered together happily.
“Then I’ll ask the kitchen to prepare more of the pastries you like.” Zong Xuan said.
Over these past few days, he had noticed that Xu Tang quite liked pastries. Except for red bean paste and some overly sweet fruit fillings, Xu Tang could eat a little of almost everything.
Xu Tang didn’t say anything and simply let him do as he pleased.
Since Xu Tang didn’t want to talk, Zong Xuan sat quietly beside him.
When he stood up to get his phone, he suddenly noticed an envelope by Xu Tang’s feet.
It was not a real letter envelope, but something like a gift that came with a book.
However, it reminded Zong Xuan of something that had been quite important to him every year.
Except this year…
It no longer seemed that important.
Taking his phone, Zong Xuan called the property management office and asked whether there were any packages or letters for their home.
Their community did not allow delivery workers to enter. Anything delivered was kept at the property office, and then the staff would deliver it to each household.
Because residents were not always home, they had to call the property office whenever they wanted their packages delivered.
At this time of year, deliveries had already stopped. Anything that should have arrived should already be there. Anything that had not arrived would have to wait until after the holiday.
The property office checked and quickly replied that there were no packages or letters for their home.
Zong Xuan was not disappointed. It was almost what he had expected.
Every year before the Spring Festival, they would receive a letter from Teng Yizheng.
It was not a love letter, nor casual chatting about daily life. Instead, it was a summary of Zong Xuan’s career development over the past year, along with expectations and suggestions for his work in the coming year.
The letter was not very long, but there were indeed many useful and accurate points inside.
So from the initial novelty to later anticipation, it had gradually become a gift he received every Spring Festival.
But this year there was none.
Perhaps it was related to the unpleasant incident from a few days ago.
However, there was nothing to be disappointed about.
After all, this year he had learned the most important thing—
To cherish Xu Tang.
Compared with that, whether his career achievements were good or lacking was no longer important.
Later that evening, Zong Xuan received a message from his high school class monitor, telling him the time for their gathering the day after tomorrow.
Among their high school classmates, those who were still in the capital would hold a reunion every year during the New Year.
Among them were people who had successful careers, people living ordinary lives, people still struggling for their careers, and people who had become full-time housewives…
Every year, they gathered not for any particular reason, but simply to maintain their friendships and enjoy a lively reunion.
Zong Xuan had always gotten along very well with his high school classmates. Moreover, none of them were the type to gossip or constantly ask him questions.
So as long as he had no other arrangements that day, he would always attend.
However, since Xu Tang’s hand was injured and he needed to take care of his meals, he replied to the class monitor that he would go after lunch and told everyone not to wait for him.
The class monitor readily agreed. As long as he came, the timing did not matter.
Therefore, while eating lunch that day, Zong Xuan told Xu Tang that he would be going out later for a class reunion.
Xu Tang nodded.
Other than eating, he currently did not have any particular need for Zong Xuan’s care.
Zong Xuan arranged tea, pastries, fruit, snacks, and wet tissues on the coffee table.
He placed blankets, books, a computer, and Xu Tang’s phone on the sofa, making sure Xu Tang could reach anything he wanted while resting there.
Only after making sure everything was prepared did he leave the house with peace of mind.
The reunion was held at an old-established restaurant.
When Zong Xuan arrived, everyone had already almost finished eating.
As soon as he entered, he received a warm welcome from his classmates.
This time, Teng Yizheng had also come. He sat there watching Zong Xuan.
The class monitor smiled and said, “Knowing that you and Yizheng have a good relationship, I specially saved the seat next to him for you.”
For the past two years, Teng Yizheng had been studying abroad and had not attended the reunions. This time, he came back, and his classmates were naturally happy to see someone they had not met for a long time.
“Don’t say it like that. It sounds as if I have such a bad relationship with all of you.” Zong Xuan smiled and patted the shoulder of the classmate sitting beside the monitor. “Come on, let me take your seat first. I’ll have two drinks with our class monitor.”
Their class monitor was quite popular. Everyone who came was willing to drink with him, partly as a gesture of appreciation for the effort he put into organizing the reunion. Therefore, Zong Xuan’s action did not seem out of place at all.
However, Teng Yizheng’s expression did not look very good. Even his smile appeared somewhat stiff.
But everyone’s attention was focused on Zong Xuan, so no one noticed him much.
After having two drinks with the class monitor, Zong Xuan started chatting with the people beside him. It seemed natural that he simply stayed there, while the classmate who had given up his seat moved to Zong Xuan’s previous spot and chatted with the people nearby about the recent economy.
For a while, no one found anything unusual.
After drinking for a while, Zong Xuan stood up to go to the restroom.
When he came out, he saw Teng Yizheng waiting at the entrance.
“Zong Xuan…” Teng Yizheng looked at him. It seemed he had many things he wanted to say, but he did not know where to begin.
Zong Xuan, however, went straight to the point.
“This is good. Don’t send me letters anymore in the future.”
“Letters?” Teng Yizheng looked at him in confusion.
“Hmm? You don’t know?” Zong Xuan was also puzzled. Logically speaking, Teng Yizheng should not have such a reaction.
Teng Yizheng’s mind worked quickly. He was not thinking about whether he had forgotten writing any letters to Zong Xuan.
Instead, he was considering whether this “letter” was beneficial or harmful to him.
If it was beneficial, he did not mind admitting it. After all, judging from Zong Xuan’s meaning, Zong Xuan believed the letters were written by him.
But if there was no benefit, it would be better to distance himself from it.
Since Zong Xuan was telling him not to write anymore, then it probably was not something that made Zong Xuan happy.
So there was no need for him to admit it.
“What letter?” Teng Yizheng asked.
Zong Xuan truly had not expected that he had mistaken the person.
The handwriting clearly resembled Teng Yizheng’s, and the signature was the letter “T”. Not only was it the first sound of Teng’s surname, but Teng Yizheng’s English name also started with T.
“Nothing. Forget it if it wasn’t you.”
Zong Xuan gave a polite smile, but his thoughts were already in chaos.
“Zong Xuan, I know I was wrong that day. Can’t you forgive me for the sake of how many years we’ve known each other?” Teng Yizheng’s tone carried a hint of pleading.
“Yizheng, we’ve already said everything that needed to be said.” Zong Xuan looked at him. “I hope you can live a good life with Lin Ying, and I will live my life well with Tangtang. I have never said a single bad thing about Lin Ying in front of you. But you spoke to Tangtang like that when you thought I couldn’t hear you. I haven’t completely cut ties with you only because of our past friendship.”
Zong Xuan felt that some things should be brought into the open now. It was better than waiting until Teng Yizheng made a mistake that could no longer be undone before trying to discuss it.
“Yizheng, I know starting a business is not easy. But there is only so much I can help you with. You shouldn’t use our relationship as a bargaining chip and tell outsiders that you would cooperate with the Zong family to attract investment. That is deception. A company built like that is destined not to go far.”
Originally, Zong Xuan did not want to completely tear things apart with Teng Yizheng.
But he realized that perhaps he truly had never understood Teng Yizheng as a person.
So it was better to make everything clear, to avoid creating unnecessary trouble later.
“Zong Xuan, can’t you help me contact your brother and give me a chance to discuss investment with him?” Teng Yizheng looked at him pleadingly.
“Yizheng, you should understand. From the beginning, I already told you that your project does not have much competitiveness. The possibility of the Zong family investing is very small. That is why I never mentioned it in the first place.”
“And your actions are already known by my eldest brother. Do you think that under these circumstances, he would still trust you and invest in you?”
Zong Xuan said seriously, “Starting a business sometimes requires a little cleverness, but deception is not the same as intelligence. If you had worked honestly from the beginning, perhaps you would already have succeeded by now.”
“Do you understand anything?!” Teng Yizheng could no longer maintain his elegant appearance.
“You grew up wealthy. You have always had everything you wanted. How could you possibly understand the feelings of people like us who have to struggle upward and fight for a better life?”
“Why did I work so hard studying? Why did I marry Lin Ying? I put in so much effort. Why should I still have to lower myself and beg like a grandson just for some investment?”
“Fine. My father-in-law looks down on me, and now even you look down on me. Do wealthy people like you naturally look down on those of us who were born without financial advantages but still work hard?”
Zong Xuan frowned.
He had never imagined that, in Teng Yizheng’s heart, their relationship had been divided by money.
“Yizheng, I have never looked down on you. But now, I really do look down on you.”
“When you married Lin Ying, what did you tell me? You said you liked her. You said your personalities matched. You said Lin Ying was kind and innocent, and that she was your ideal type.”
“But now what you mean is that you married her for the Lin family’s money?”
“Just how poor are you, exactly?”
Zong Xuan’s voice was filled with coldness.
Teng Yizheng’s parents were ordinary working-class people. They were not wealthy, but they had never deprived him of food or necessities. His family situation was no different from that of most children.
Zong Xuan simply could not understand where such deep resentment came from.
“My parents can’t help me with anything. I can only fight for myself.”
“The business world is originally about deceiving each other. Once I make money, who will care about the lies I told before?”
“I originally thought Lin Ying’s father would at least help me. But what happened? He gave me his daughter, yet he still looks down on me!”
“I wasn’t born to be looked down upon. So I must create a successful career and slap him in the face!”
Teng Yizheng looked almost crazed.
Zong Xuan looked at him.
“No one is looking down on you. You are the one who looked down on yourself first, so you feel as if everyone else looks down on you.”
“You need to understand that success, no matter what field it is in, belongs to the minority. Failure is the result most people face.”
“So what you need to learn is not how to succeed, but how to accept failure.”
This was actually something very common.
Everyone longed for success, and success was also the mainstream message promoted by society.
But failure was what everyone should truly learn from, because it was something the majority of people would eventually have to face.
Working toward success and achieving it was naturally the best outcome.
But if someone could not succeed and also could not accept failure, they could easily develop psychological problems and even lead to more serious consequences.
The current Teng Yizheng was exactly that kind of person.
His self-esteem was too strong, or rather, his vanity was too great. Yet he was unable to create his own place in the field he wanted to enter.
As a result, he developed countless grievances, pushed all responsibility onto others, and never reflected on himself.
Until now, he had lost himself.
He had lost his elegance.
He had become a slave to what he called “success.”
“Don’t lecture me!”
“Heh, you used to say you liked me. What about now? You won’t even help me with such a small favor.”
“Your so-called liking is really cheap.”
Teng Yizheng sneered.
After being bitten back like that, Zong Xuan became so angry that he laughed.
“Fine. I’ve said everything I needed to say. Whether you listen or not is your choice.”
“You don’t need to return the money either. I’ll just consider it money thrown into the water that at least made a sound.”
After saying that, Zong Xuan turned and left.
“Did Xu Tang tell you something? Is that why your attitude toward me changed?!” Teng Yizheng shouted angrily.
Zong Xuan did not turn around to look at him.
He only gave a soft laugh.
“Tangtang never interferes with my affairs. But I actually hope that from now on, he will.”
Watching Zong Xuan leave, Teng Yizheng’s expression became gloomy.
He did not know how he and Zong Xuan had ended up at this point.
But he could not lose Zong Xuan as his support.
Otherwise, he would be unable to move forward even a single step now.