Chapter 37

During the day, the hospital was bustling and noisy, with people constantly moving through the corridors. Occasionally, medical staff would push a patient on a stretcher past in a rush, drawing the gaze of everyone around.

Rong Qi found Cheng Li sitting alone in one of the hospital corridors.

Her entire body was trembling, especially her hands, which shook uncontrollably. Her phone rested on her lap, and it was no wonder Rong Qi had thought her voice sounded so weak on the call earlier in the car.

“Cheng Li,” Rong Qi crouched down on one knee, softly calling her name, as if afraid a louder voice might startle her.

Hearing her name, Cheng Li instinctively lifted her head. However, her usually calm and gentle dark eyes were now filled with confusion. It wasn’t until her gaze slowly refocused that she seemed to register Rong Qi’s face in front of her.

“Rong Qi,” the moment Cheng Li recognized him, the fear and panic in her eyes surged uncontrollably. She suddenly grabbed his hand and, with a trembling, tear-choked voice, said, “I just saw President Ren collapse right in front of me. Just a minute before, he was still talking to me. But then he fell, just like that—he stopped breathing completely.”

Cheng Li was utterly overwhelmed by the shock.

Tears glistened at the corners of her eyes as she muttered self-reproachfully, “I knew he didn’t look well. I should’ve paid more attention. But I didn’t notice anything.”

Rong Qi turned his hand over to grasp hers firmly, holding it tightly. “It’s okay. Everything will be fine. You were the one who noticed his collapse immediately, and it was you who gave him the chance to be rescued in time.”

Cheng Li took deep breaths, as though something was lodged in her chest, suffocating her.

“Cheng Li, don’t be afraid,” Rong Qi said as he sat down beside her. He placed his palm gently against her back, soothingly rubbing it in slow, calming motions. It felt as though his hand could draw out her tension and fear bit by bit.

Only after she began to calm down did Rong Qi dare to pull her into a soft embrace. His thin lips brushed against her hair as he whispered, “Don’t blame yourself. You’ve already done your best. What happened wasn’t your fault.”

Gradually, the trembling in Cheng Li’s body subsided.

But at that moment, large tears began to fall from her eyes, one after another, landing on Rong Qi’s neck.

The warm droplets felt like molten lava, burning as though they could sear through his skin.

Rong Qi could understand her fear.

A living, breathing person, speaking to her one moment, collapsing the next, with their breath and heartbeat vanishing in an instant—it was a terrifying experience for someone who had never faced death before.

After a while, Cheng Li’s emotions seemed to stabilize.

She whispered, “I’m sorry for scaring you when I called.”

“Cheng Li,” Rong Qi released her and leaned slightly forward, his dark eyes meeting hers with unwavering certainty. “Do you know? When you called, yes, I was worried at first. But more than anything else, I felt relieved.”

Cheng Li stared at him in surprise.

Rong Qi held her gaze and said, one word at a time, “Because in that moment, I knew that in your heart, I am someone you can rely on.”

Someone you can rely on.

It wasn’t just his perception—it was her actions that had made it clear.

Those words brought Cheng Li back to what had happened earlier.

When she saw Ren Kuang collapse, she had desperately shouted for help. Fortunately, the office door hadn’t been fully closed, and people quickly came to assist. By the time the paramedics arrived, everyone worked together to get Ren Kuang onto the ambulance.

Cheng Li and Ren Kuang’s assistant, Han Xiaolin, had accompanied him to the hospital.

While Han Xiaolin called Ren Kuang’s wife, Cheng Li’s mind was in chaos.

She was terrified.

More so than anyone else, she had been the one most deeply affected.

After all, she was the one who had witnessed Ren Kuang’s collapse, the last person to speak to him before it happened.

Amid her jumbled thoughts, only one name came to mind.

Rong Qi.

In her moment of fear, confusion, and helplessness, she couldn’t help but reach for her phone and call him.

Rong Qi lowered his eyes, smoothing her hair as he said softly, “Wait here for me.”

He stood and headed toward the hospital’s convenience store nearby.

When he had arrived earlier, he had noticed the store on the second floor.

When Rong Qi returned with a bag, he pulled out a pack of tissues and handed one to Cheng Li.

Cheng Li opened her mouth to say thank you but hesitated and swallowed the words back.

After silently wiping her tears, Rong Qi had already opened a bottle of a warm drink.

“Drink some,” he said, handing it to her.

Cheng Li took the warm drink, realizing her hands were icy cold, as if she had just emerged from a freezing cavern.

“What happened?” Rong Qi asked.

Cheng Li glanced at him, realizing he didn’t seem to know about the trending news today.

Of course, not everyone enjoys keeping up with gossip.

In a low voice, Cheng Li explained, “One of our company’s co-founders, Gao Zhihe, was caught on video by the media having an affair with a celebrity. Then his wife posted about it on social media, accusing them both.”

She paused, raising her hand to rub her temples.

“The worst part is that in the chat logs his wife posted, Gao Zhihe clearly shared detailed information about our financing plans with the celebrity,” Cheng Li said bitterly. “Now the financing is on hold—there’s basically no hope left. President Ren must have been too overwhelmed by the blow, and in his agitation, he…”

Rong Qi frowned, clearly not expecting an affair to have such a devastating ripple effect.

Just then, hurried footsteps echoed in the corridor.

Cheng Li looked up to see Ren Kuang’s wife, Ge Ru, rushing toward them.

“Sister-in-law,” Cheng Li set down her drink and stood to meet her.

The moment Ge Ru saw Cheng Li, she asked in a tearful voice, “Cheng Li, what happened? Where’s my husband?”

Fearing she might become too emotional, Cheng Li quickly supported her and said softly, “President Ren is in emergency care right now. Don’t worry. We called the ambulance immediately—he’ll be okay.”

“How could this happen? Everything was fine when he left for work this morning,” muttered Ge Ru, shaking her head in disbelief.

She was a university professor, and since the campus was far away, she had only just managed to arrive.

Cheng Li forced a wry smile.

It wasn’t just this morning—only a minute ago, Ren Kuang had still been talking to her. And then, right before her eyes, he collapsed.

The unpredictability of life—these four words had never been clearer to her than they were today.

Ge Ru, though trying to stay calm, couldn’t suppress her anxiety. She muttered repeatedly, “Our daughter is only five. If something happens to him, what will we do?”

“It won’t happen,” Cheng Li said firmly. “President Ren will make it through this.”

Her confidence seemed to steady Ge Ru, even if only slightly.

Rong Qi stood not far away, silently watching. Cheng Li had managed to collect herself, turning her attention to comforting Ren’s family.

A peculiar feeling stirred in his chest.

Cheng Li wasn’t the type to dominate a situation, but she had a quiet resilience. She seemed gentle, yet was anything but weak.

She might panic and fear, but once she pulled herself together, she returned to being that calm, composed Cheng Li. It felt as though her vulnerability earlier was something only he was allowed to see.

It was a moment uniquely shared between them—like two people sheltered under the same umbrella in the rain.

The resuscitation efforts continued. Finally, after about thirty minutes, the doctor emerged. “The patient’s condition is stable for now. Fortunately, you used the AED (Automated External Defibrillator) in time, which bought us the critical moments for rescue.”

Upon hearing this, Ge Ru nearly collapsed, this time with relief.

Cheng Li finally exhaled the breath she’d been holding.

Thank goodness the office building had an AED installed. Despite her initial panic, she hadn’t lost all rationality and had someone fetch it right away. It turned out that this decision was what had pulled Ren back from the brink of death.

Beside her, Han Xiaolin clasped her hands in gratitude and said to Cheng Li, “It’s lucky you thought of using the AED at that moment. Otherwise, I don’t even want to imagine the outcome.”

When Ge Ru learned it was Cheng Li who had quickly acted to administer emergency aid, she couldn’t hold back her tears. With tears streaming down her face, she said, “Cheng Li, we owe you so much. I don’t even know how to thank you.”

“Sister-in-law,” Cheng Li said softly, “the fact that President Ren is okay is what truly matters to us all. Please don’t cry anymore—you might even be able to see him soon.”

Comforted, Ge Ru hastily wiped away her tears.

Not long after, Ren Kuang was wheeled into the ICU for observation.

After paying the hospital fees, Han Xiaolin returned and said to Cheng Li, “President Cheng, the company staff are asking about President Ren’s condition. Should I inform them now?”

Cheng Li thought for a moment and then replied in a low voice, “I’ll head back to the office shortly and share the good news with everyone in person.”

At this, Ge Ru suddenly remembered the company’s situation. As a university professor, she had never been involved in the business side of things.

“Since I’ve never managed the company and have no way to intervene, where is Danny? He’s the other co-founder. Now that President Ren is unwell, he should take charge immediately to stabilize things,” she suggested.

Cheng Li and Han Xiaolin exchanged uneasy glances.

Finally, Han Xiaolin spoke up and explained everything in detail.

When Ge Ru learned that Ren Kuang had collapsed due to the scandal involving Gao Zhihe, she couldn’t hold back her anger despite her usual composed demeanor. “How could Gao Zhihe still call himself human? Wen Si gave up such an excellent job abroad for him, and now he turns around and cheats, abandoning his family and responsibilities. And now he’s jeopardized the company, driving Ren Kuang to this point.”

“If Ren Kuang hadn’t been rescued in time, Wen Si wouldn’t even need to confront him—I would have gone after him myself!”

The families of Gao Zhihe and Ren Kuang had always been close, and Ge Ru had shared a particularly good relationship with Gao’s wife.

Now, Ge Ru couldn’t contain her rage toward Gao Zhihe.

She was not someone easily shaken by worldly matters. With firm resolve, she said, “No matter how this is dealt with later, for now, Gao Zhihe can no longer have any involvement in the company. Cheng Li, you will take full charge of the situation. After all, you’re Ren Kuang’s junior and the person he has always trusted the most.”

Though she had never interfered with the company, Ge Ru knew a bit about its workings. She was aware that Ren had previously proposed Cheng Li as the company’s chief architect.

“Alright,” Cheng Li agreed without hesitation. The company was already in turmoil, and this was no time to back down. She had to face the situation head-on.

Without lingering at the hospital—after all, Ge Ru and Han Xiaolin were there—she immediately hailed a taxi and headed back to the company.

As she sat in the cab, lost in thought, her phone rang. She didn’t feel like answering, but seeing that it was Meng Yuange calling, she picked up.

The moment the call connected, Meng Yuange asked, “Did something happen to your company’s President Ren?”

Cheng Li rubbed her temples, exhausted. “How are you so well-informed?”

“It’s all over the industry already. Your company is under the spotlight right now, and even the smallest incident gets noticed. I heard an ambulance showed up. What happened?”

Cheng Li sighed. “President Ren suddenly collapsed in the office.”

“Was it because of Gao Zhihe?” Meng Yuange was startled. “Is Senior Ren okay?”

Meng Yuange, also an alum of J University, had a decent relationship with Ren Kuang, having interviewed him before.

“Thankfully, he’s been resuscitated and is stable now,” Cheng Li replied.

“That’s good to hear,” Meng Yuange sighed in relief. “And you? Are you okay?”

Cheng Li forced a bitter smile. “I’m alright. Rong Qi stayed at the hospital with me for a while.”

“Rong Qi was at the hospital too? Why was he there?”

“I called him,” Cheng Li admitted, her voice softening. “Yuange, I was so scared earlier. People always talk about sudden deaths in the tech industry, and I never took it seriously. But watching Ren collapse in front of me today—I was terrified.”

Meng Yuange was momentarily stunned. It was the first time he’d heard Cheng Li openly express her fear.

“Darling, do you want me to come and keep you company? I can take leave right now,” he offered.

“There’s no need. I’m feeling better now,” Cheng Li replied.

Meng Yuange chuckled. “Of course, you’ve got Rong Qi with you.”

Cheng Li fell silent before sighing. “I already sent him away.”

“What?” Meng Yuange exclaimed. “Hold on, let me get this straight. You were scared at the hospital, so you called Rong Qi to come.”

Cheng Li listened, feeling a little uneasy. “Mm.”

“And after you used him, you sent him away.”

Cheng Li froze, instinctively protesting, “That’s a bit harsh.”

Used him?

“That’s just the impression your actions give,” Meng Yuange remarked.

His words made Cheng Li realize how her behavior might have seemed. It did appear as though she’d summoned him in her time of need, only to dismiss him once she felt better.

But then Meng Yuange laughed and said, “You two really have an interesting relationship.”

“How can you tell?” Cheng Li asked sincerely.

“Think about it. If it were some hot-headed young guy acting out of love, fine. But this is Rong Qi we’re talking about—a man who earns 20,000 yuan a minute.”

Cheng Li: “…”

*

When Rong Qi returned to his office, he immediately called in the strategic investment team.

“I asked you to prepare options for potential acquisitions. Why haven’t I seen results yet?” Rong Qi questioned impatiently.

The director of investments, Wan Zichen, hesitated before responding, “We’ve been evaluating several companies recently. The plan is to present the proposals next Monday.”

“Bring them to me now,” Rong Qi demanded.

Fortunately, Wan Zichen and his team had done thorough preliminary work, so the materials were delivered quickly.

As Rong Qi flipped through the documents, he noticed that Fanhai Zhixing wasn’t ranked first. Instead, a company called Yixing Technology topped the list.

Yixing Technology was also in the autonomous driving industry, specializing in integrated driving and parking systems. Rong Qi reviewed the data and saw that Fanhai Zhixing was ranked third.

“What’s your recommendation?” he asked directly.

Wan Zichen replied, “We’ve had initial discussions with several companies. Yixing Technology stands out in terms of professionalism and technical expertise. Their company structure is intact, and after a simple reorganization, they could be seamlessly integrated into our ‘Navigator Project.’”

The “Navigator Project” was Qiyu Technology’s internal name for its car-making initiative. They were aggressively acquiring small and medium-sized startups to build a fully self-developed R&D pipeline.

“And Fanhai Zhixing?” Rong Qi asked suddenly.

Wan Zichen was surprised he’d ask specifically but answered truthfully. “Fanhai’s technology is solid, and they’re currently collaborating with Jiangchi Automobile. Jiangchi’s upcoming E3 model reportedly uses their autonomous driving system. However, Fanhai isn’t very interested in being acquired. While their technology is refined, it’s too narrowly focused—they’re entirely concentrated on parking systems, likely due to their strategic direction.”

“That’s why we’ve prioritized Yixing as our top acquisition target,” Wan Zichen continued. “Also, Fanhai seems to be facing challenges recently. They’ve had a scandal today, and their financing plans were leaked. It’s likely their funding will be cut off. I don’t think this is the right time to make a move on Fanhai.”

Rong Qi lowered his gaze, remaining silent for a long moment.

Wan Zichen, sensing his deliberation, couldn’t resist asking, “President Rong, what’s your decision?”

“Proceed with your plan and initiate acquisition negotiations with Yixing Technology as soon as possible,” Rong Qi instructed.

He kept the proposal for further review and dismissed Wan Zichen.

When Wan Zichen stepped out, he saw Rong Qi still staring intently at the documents.

After a while, Rong Qi took out his phone and made a call.

“Mr. Rong,” the other party answered promptly.

In a low voice, Rong Qi asked, “How much cash can I raise from my personal accounts right now?”

The person on the other end was Rong Qi’s personal financial advisor and highly professional. They quickly replied, “Give me two days. I estimate we can gather about 30 million.”

Rong Qi frowned. “Not enough,” he muttered.

“How much liquidity do you need?” the advisor asked immediately.

Rong Qi thought for a moment. Fanhai’s current funding valuation was at 460 million, and they were likely to release 20% of their equity, meaning the investment amount should be around 92 million.

“About 100 million,” he replied.

The advisor pondered for a moment before suggesting, “You have a property in the UK that someone inquired about recently. If you sell it, you could get around 10 million pounds. However, my earlier advice was to hold onto it as it still has significant appreciation potential. But if you’re in urgent need of cash…”

The advisor trailed off deliberately, giving Rong Qi room to consider.

Without hesitation, Rong Qi said, “Sell it. I need the funds.”

Although Rong Qi’s net worth was estimated in the billions, most of it was tied to Qiyu’s equity. As the company’s largest shareholder, he would never casually sell his shares, as it could disrupt the market and signal a lack of confidence in the company’s future.

“Understood,” the advisor responded.

“How long will it take to close the deal?” Rong Qi asked.

“For high-end properties like this, it typically takes at least a month,” the advisor replied after some thought.

Rong Qi gave a small acknowledgment.

In his mind, he quickly reviewed his plan: he could have Jiang Zhe’s Junyue Capital intervene. Once the funds were in place, they could be transferred to Jiang Zhe.

After ending the call, Rong Qi’s phone buzzed with a message from Cheng Li.

Cheng Li: [Do you think my behavior today was a bit of a jerk move?]

A jerk?

The term amused Rong Qi.

Rong Qi: [How so?]

Cheng Li: [I called you over to keep me company, then immediately sent you away.]

Rong Qi finally understood what she meant. He let out a quiet chuckle.

Rong Qi: [True.]
Rong Qi: [A bit.]

The two consecutive messages made Cheng Li’s mind buzz.

Ah.

So Rong Qi really thought the same.

Cheng Li reflected for a moment. If she had known, she should’ve bought him some nice food at the hospital earlier. After all, the way to a man’s forgiveness might be through his stomach.

But before she could dwell on it, Rong Qi sent another message.

Rong Qi: [So, I have one condition.]

Cheng Li: [Name it.]

This time, as she stared at Rong Qi’s name and the “typing…” indicator flashing back and forth, Cheng Li couldn’t help feeling nervous.

Finally, after two notification pings, a voice message appeared.

She clicked on it cautiously, worried about hearing some sort of judgmental statement.

Rong Qi’s voice came through: [From now on, if you’re going to do something this over-the-top, make sure you only do it to me.]

Author’s Note:
Rong Qi: The first man to sell a house to fund his wife’s entrepreneurial dreams! You’ve got this!