"Da Sheng, isn't it working hours at your company? Calling all these people down will delay work, won't it?" Madam Xie asked, looking at the grand spectacle with some hesitation.

Comrade Lao Sun also criticized him, "You're a private enterprise, so how can you act like some government department? You haven't learned anything useful, just how to be bureaucratic? That's not acceptable."

Facing the older couple's criticism, Sun Dasheng could only smile and nod in agreement. "We'll definitely do things differently next time."

Then he turned and glared fiercely at Sun Dacheng.

Sun Dacheng shrank back. Hearing his uncle and aunt's words, how could he not realize he had caused trouble with his good intentions?

"Alright, the welcoming ceremony is over! Everyone, back to work," Sun Dasheng announced loudly. "The time we've wasted will still count as work hours. If any of you don't finish your tasks today because of this, managers are forbidden from docking your performance pay."

"OH! LONG LIVE THE CHAIRMAN!"

Only then did the employees below break into genuine smiles. Although they understood the previous directive, they had all been quite unenthusiastic. They had been forced to participate in this kind of pointless ceremony more than a few times and thoroughly disliked it.

After the company tour, it was already evening. Sun Dasheng finally completed his task of sending his parents home. This was even more exhausting than dealing with several women at once.

In the following days, the old couple didn't ask their son to accompany them, instead beginning to enjoy a world of their own. After touring Dahu City, their next stop was Yunnan. The scenery was picturesque, but the travel agencies were a complete rip-off.

「Airport」

"Mom, Dad, just listen to your son. You won't go wrong if you don't join any tour group. Even with the most expensive ones, you'll just get ripped off once you're there. I've found you the best local private guide. Her fee is high, but she'll be serving only the two of you. I wish you both a wonderful vacation."

After watching his parents pass through the boarding gate, Sun Dasheng silently turned and left.

Back in the car, he dialed a number. "Hello, it's me. Send me the address. I'm on my way."

"Yes, I'm done with my parents' arrangements."

"Good. Go and comfort her for now."

He hung up the phone and said to the driver, "Da Yong, let's go to Tongji Hospital."

"Yes, President Sun." Da Yong turned the wheel and took a left at the intersection.

「Tongji Hospital, Inpatient Department」

Looking at the emaciated Xiang Yunsheng, had all their past resentment and grudges truly vanished like smoke?

"Da Sheng, I never thought you'd be the only one to see me off in the end." Was this some kind of joke from the heavens, Xiang Yunsheng wondered, or just a profound irony? All those who had called him brother at the company had vanished, only to be replaced by an employee he himself had once fired.

"What's the situation?" Sun Dasheng asked, directing his question to Xiang Zixuan, who stood beside the bed. He had no desire to speak with her father. After a series of devastating blows, she seemed to have matured a great deal. The naive expression had vanished from her face, along with the lively spark in her eyes. All that remained was a quiet calm.

"Thank you for coming to visit my father, Uncle Sun." Xiang Zixuan calmly took the fruit basket from his hand, set it down, and then explained in a low voice, "The doctor said he only has a few days left. It's late-stage lung cancer."

Her voice was so detached, it was as if she were speaking of a stranger's father, not her own.

"I see. Take care of yourself." Sun Dasheng patted her shoulder and left. When a person dies, their debts are cleared. Besides, their relationship wasn't strong enough to warrant him staying any longer.

After leaving the hospital, he settled back into the car. He asked Da Yong, "Do you think people are fragile? Gone in an instant."

Da Yong smacked his lips as if he wanted to say something, but his professional discretion held him back. In the end, he just said, "I suppose so."

"Let's go," Sun Dasheng ordered.

The car had just started moving when his phone rang. Sun Dasheng picked it up; the caller ID showed *Xiang Zixuan*. They had just seen each other. Why was she calling? He answered, a hint of confusion in his voice.

"Hello?"

The line was silent, except for the sound of a few suppressed sobs.

Sun Dasheng understood immediately.

After hanging up, he said to Da Yong, "Stop the car. I have to go back in."

"You got it!" Da Yong replied, asking no questions.

Back in the hospital room, Xiang Zixuan's demeanor was completely different. The moment she saw Sun Dasheng enter, she threw herself into his arms and wailed, "Uncle Sun, my dad... he's gone! I don't have a father anymore!"

Sun Dasheng patted her back comfortingly. Noticing the empty bed, he knew the hospital staff must have already taken the body to the morgue. Xiang Yunsheng, oh Xiang Yunsheng... you lived a good life for the most part, only to leave your children to suffer in the end. What a guy. Can't even let people rest after he's dead.

A large patch of his shoulder was soaked with her tears. "Alright, that's enough," he said gently. "I'll take you home. You need to be strong. You still have to handle your father's final affairs."

His words made her stop crying. That's right. There was no one's shoulder to lean on anymore. From now on, she could only rely on her own strength.

"I understand, Uncle Sun. Thank you for coming."

"Don't mention it. Let me take you home."

"Okay."

「Imperial Garden Residential Complex」

「Building 3, Room 1501」

By the time they arrived, the hallway outside the apartment was piled high with belongings. People were bustling in and out, continuously tossing more things into the hall.

"Don't! Those are my father's things!" Xiang Zixuan cried, lunging for an item. Her eyes blazing with rage, she demanded, "Who are you people? What are you doing in my home? Who gave you the nerve to throw our things out?"

Just then, a portly, middle-aged man spoke with a smug smile. "Now, young lady, don't blame us for being heartless. We tried to contact you, but we couldn't get through. This was our only option.

"We've already purchased this apartment. You can't expect us to just stand by and not move in, can you? Don't worry about your things. We don't want any of it. Just find a truck and haul it all away."

"How... how is that possible?" Xiang Zixuan sank to the floor, her eyes wide with disbelief. She couldn't believe it. How could she have such a heartless mother? Was she really going to take away the last sanctuary left for her father and his children?

Just as she was overwhelmed by heartbreak and despair, a pair of warm hands gently lifted her up and pulled her into a comforting embrace. A gentle voice whispered in her ear, "It's alright. You still have Uncle Sun. I'll have someone sort all this out. Don't worry about a place to live, I'll find one for you, and all your belongings will be returned, safe and sound."

"Uncle Sun!" Xiang Zixuan cried, clinging to him desperately. "From now on, you are Zi Xuan's father!"

He had become her only lifeline.

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