Chapter 5: He’s Back

A few minutes after Cai Chun left, Shen Yanming’s eyes snapped open, and his gaze was as cold and clear as blades.

This wasn’t a dream.

The truth was unveiled. It was Cai Chun, not Qiao’an, who had blocked their communication all along.

He had missed the truth in his previous life. Could this second chance be fate’s way of guiding me to uncover the hidden reality?

Cai Chun!

Shen Yanming had initially intended to treat Cai Chun well, as he remembered their shared hardships of struggling together abroad during his previous life, but Cai Chun’s deception shattered that intention.

As a compromise, Shen Yanming would offer Cai Chun clemency, provided he stayed out of his affairs. Whether he thrived or perished was now in his own hands.

Shen Yanming contacted a trusted friend in Wen’erman City to handle some business.

His mind then shifted to charting a new course for his life. In his previous life, he inherited a significant 37% share in the Shen Group after his father’s death. Despite this substantial stake, he lacked controlling interest, which led to constant internal and external conflicts. Driven by the legacy of the “Shen” name, he poured his heart and soul into leading innovations and expanding the company’s reach.

After Bi Qiao’an began university, Shen Yanming’s frequent overseas business trips kept him away. He had intended to return after her graduation, but as his time abroad extended, their communication dwindled.

Cai Chun’s monthly reports, filled with both explicit and implicit suggestions, had painted a picture of Bi Qiao’an’s unwillingness to stay in touch.

Bi Qiao’an took exams, she went on holiday breaks or she toured with her friends, she was surrounded by many companions, and soon grew close to a male schoolmate…

Then one time, after securing an important Europa’s project and overwhelmed with longing for Bi Qiao’an, Shen Yanming had rushed to book the next flight home.

However, as he exited the airport, suitcase in tow and heading towards Bi Qiao’an’s dorm, he witnessed Xiao Fei confessing his feelings and their bodies held in a tender embrace.

The icy reality extinguished his boiling anticipation. He spun on his heel and left, unseen by her, and boarded the next flight back to Europa.

Reports soon followed of Bi Qiao’an’s blossoming relationship. Only when the apocalypse struck, which left him stranded in Europa with communication severed, did the updates finally cease.

This apocalypse wasn’t a sudden mass death event as depicted in most fiction. It was a slow, insidious creep. Shen Yanming clung to survival abroad for a long time, yearning to return home but trapped by circumstance.

As time wore on, his longing for Bi Qiao’an intensified. When Cai Chun perished during a civil riot, which left him utterly alone, Shen Yanming’s yearning solidified into an unwavering resolve. He would find Bi Qiao’an, no matter the cost.

Fueled by his unshakeable determination, he braved perilous journeys across multiple countries. However, upon his return, he was met with the sight of Bi Qiao’an’s lifeless form. The devastation he felt surpassed even the heartbreak of finding her happily partnered.

A tear slipped down Shen Yanming’s cheek. He vowed. In this life, I’ll never leave your side again, Qiao’an.

A gentle knock interrupted his thoughts.

Cai Chun pushed open the door and was surprised to see Shen Yanming watching something on his phone while sitting up on the bed.

Aiyo, Boss Shen is actually indulging in leisure instead of work? Unimaginable!

“Boss Shen! You collapsed during a meeting today. We rushed you to the hospital. The test results will be in around four this afternoon. I apologize for the wait. I bought you lunch— vegetable porridge, as per the doctor’s recommendation.” Cai Chun chattered rapidly as he unpacked the food containers.

“Everyone at headquarters is busy managing things. A meeting is scheduled tomorrow morning at nine with Hemei Group to finalize details for the KM project cooperation. It was close to being settled before, so barring any unforeseen events, we should be able to sign the contract.”

Shen Yanming gave a slight nod and took a spoonful of porridge. The simple taste gave unexpected joy that nearly brought him to tears.

“Secretary Cai, thank you for your hard work recently. Please contact headquarters and have someone else manage the KM project.”

“Wh-what? Boss Shen, are you sure?” Cai Chun’s ear buzzed as he dropped his phone. Was he mishearing?

“I am,” Shen Yanming confirmed calmly, his voice devoid of concern about the project.

“B-but Boss Shen, you ran around half a year for KM! You were working so tirelessly that you passed out and got hospitalized over it! That coveted contract is right within grasp. Handing it off now is tossing credit to someone else. Isn’t that deliberately seeking loss?” Cai Chun paced back and forth anxiously.

“Make the call. Now’s still early enough so they can dispatch someone to make it for tomorrow’s meeting. Any later would be too rushed.” Shen Yanming didn’t elaborate further and simply finished up the last spoonful of porridge.

Seeing that Shen Yanming remained resolute, Cai Chun understood any further argument would be futile. He reluctantly contacted headquarters as instructed while grumbling under his breath. Predictably, the other side readily agreed to take over responsibility for the KM project.

“Boss Shen, may I inquire about your sudden change of heart regarding the project?” Cai Chun ventured cautiously, hoping to glean some understanding.

Shen Yanming simply replied, “Health issues.”

“But you’ve always been so dedicated, even pushing yourself when you were—” Cai Chun almost blurted out, on the verge of mentioning past instances where he had witnessed Shen Yanming’s relentless work ethic. It was unfathomable for him to abandon everything after just one fainting spell.

But Shen Yanming interjected before Cai Chun could finish voicing his thoughts. “In the past, I pushed myself too hard,” he admitted, his voice devoid of emotion. “Now, I’m paying the price. My doctor has advised me to slow down—my health is at stake. Even a minor illness leaves me feeling dreadful.”

Cai Chun glanced at Shen Yanming and scrutinized his outward appearance. The man didn’t seem noticeably unwell. Nevertheless, Cai Chun knew better than to question his employer’s decisions. “KM is lost, then,” he muttered to himself, acknowledging the finality of the situation. “Well, Boss’s word is the law.”

For Shen Yanming, however, the truth ran much deeper and more personal. He couldn’t stomach the thought of signing the contract and meeting that repugnant heiress from Hemei Group again.

Avoiding any potential interaction with her seemed like a wise move, perhaps even a safeguard against the disastrous relationship they had shared in his previous life.

He was determined to return home and remain by Bi Qiao’an’s side, so he instructed Cai Chun, “Secretary Cai, book me a return ticket home for tomorrow.”

“Right away, Boss Shen. There’s an 11:30 am flight tomorrow, arriving around 4:30 pm local time the next day. Only economy seats are available, would that be alright?”

“That’s fine,” Shen Yanming responded, his voice neutral. From the corner of his eye, he noticed Cai Chun had purchased two tickets, seemingly reserving one for himself. But that was irrelevant in the grand scheme of things.

As he settled back into bed, Shen Yanming closed his eyes while his mind revisited the horrors of his previous life. The apocalypse hadn’t arrived with a bang, there was no dramatic doomsday scenario. It crept in subtly, a slow and insidious erosion of normalcy. Nobody anticipated the bleak reality until it was too late, their lives forever changed.

His thoughts drifted to the most dire consequence of the apocalypse—food scarcity.

The vivid memories of those three years of constant hunger remained etched in his mind. Crop yields plummeted year after year, while climate changes triggered a chain reaction, causing everyday necessities to become increasingly expensive. By the end, money held no value, and people struggled to survive on meager rations during the harsh winters.

The first few years after the apocalypse, though challenging, were not immediately life-threatening. However, the future stretched into an uncertain abyss, and Shen Yanming couldn’t help but wonder about the new challenges that awaited them.

He refused to face another bleak and hopeless existence.

Seared into his memory, the haunting image of Bi Qiao’an’s gaunt figure stoked the flames of his resolve.

He needed to return home, not just to be with her, but also to prepare for the unknown future.

A bitter smile played on his lips. At least, he had some time to gather supplies, a silver lining in the storm clouds ahead. However, whether these preparations would prove adequate remained a daunting question mark.