67: Chapter 67 Qinqin

"Have you looked for a job yet?"

Chen Cheng asked.

His father was dead, and the Old Madam was the type who never asked for help with personal matters and kept her mouth shut about everything.

Without someone to arrange it, it would be a miracle if someone as dull as Dai Bin could find a good job.

He thought that if Dai Bin didn't have a job, he would just arrange for him to go to Company Name. Although the company was small, arranging a position for one person was no problem. He could even train him as a confidant, maybe as a little spy or something.

Dai Bin's eyes were a bit dull as he pointed at Xie Zhiyuan, who was currently being lectured. "Senior Apprentice Brother Xie told me to go to his place."

Chen Cheng turned to look at Xie Zhiyuan and frowned; this Dai Bin had gotten mixed up with his cheap Senior Apprentice Brother.

He thought about it further; the Old Madam surely knew about her son's job situation.

The Old Madam definitely saw the personalities and characters of her disciples more clearly than he did. Since she hadn't objected, it wasn't his place to say anything.

Chen Cheng nodded and said with a smile, "That's pretty good then."

"Let's exchange contact info. If you need anything, you can call me or send a message."

"Of course, if anything happens with the teacher, you must notify me immediately."

"The teacher has helped me a lot over the years; there's no need to be polite with me."

"Ah, Brother Cheng. I understand." Dai Bin smiled back.

It was clear he was somewhat stiff and reserved in his social interactions.

Just then, Dai Bin's phone rang. He held up the phone and pointed it at Chen Cheng, signaling that he was going outside to take the call.

Chen Cheng nodded with a smile, then turned back to watch the Old Madam lecture Xie Zhiyuan with great interest.

For some reason, Scum always felt that Senior Apprentice Brother Xie was wearing a green hat.

"Xie Zhiyuan, what kind of wealth management product did you sell to Xiao Bin? Twelve percent annual return! That's over twenty times higher than a bank's current savings rate. Do you really think I've gone senile?"

"If you want to give us money, just give it directly. There's no need to be so roundabout," the Old Madam shouted angrily at Xie Zhiyuan.

Xie Zhiyuan was a bit embarrassed. He adjusted his glasses and looked at the heart rate monitor by the bed. "Teacher, please don't get excited. Your heart rate is getting too fast."

"I'm sorry, I tried to be too clever for my own good."

...

As they were speaking, Dai Bin led Zhao Hui to the doorway.

Seeing Xie Zhiyuan in the room, Zhao Hui didn't give him a pleasant look and directly coughed to interrupt Xie Zhiyuan's words.

Hearing the cough, Xie Zhiyuan turned and stood up.

"Oh, Old Zhao is here."

Zhao Hui ignored him and nodded toward Chen Cheng by the window.

The Old Madam looked at Zhao Hui, who was carrying a fruit basket and a lunch box, and gave him a disgruntled roll of her eyes.

"Why are you here too? It's just my heart... an old problem."

"Do you all have nothing better to do?"

Zhao Hui glanced at the embarrassed Xie Zhiyuan and knew the Old Madam was in a bad mood.

He shot a glare at Xie Zhiyuan and sat in the chair the other man had vacated. "Teacher Ouyang, you're lecturing people again."

"I don't know what's wrong with this Xie Zhiyuan lately; he's trying to give me money in such a roundabout way." The Old Madam looked at Xie Zhiyuan with annoyance.

Xie Zhiyuan smiled awkwardly.

Zhao Hui glanced at Xie Zhiyuan and said nonchalantly, "He probably feels he owes something to you and Dai Bin."

Chen Cheng's mouth twitched; Zhao Hui was really going for the throat.

He was just short of saying directly that Dai Qiye's death was related to Xie Zhiyuan. To the Old Madam and Dai Bin, that would be the grudge of a murdered husband and father.

Xie Zhiyuan looked at Zhao Hui in disbelief. How did he know?

Two seconds later, he lowered his head guiltily.

Zhao Hui chatted with the Old Madam for a while. She advised him to find someone else, but Zhao Hui neither refused nor agreed.

After a bit more chatting, the Old Madam started shooing people away.

She had Dai Bin see Zhao Hui and Xie Zhiyuan out, but kept Chen Cheng behind.

The Old Madam sighed, took Chen Cheng's hand, and said, "Sigh... I was originally thinking of taking you as my last disciple once you returned."

"In the end... in the end, look at you..."

"Never mind, never mind."

"Since you've already gone into business, I won't say any more."

"You're a smart child and have your own code of conduct. I only have one sentence for you—do everything with reason, evidence, and restraint."

To be honest, Chen Cheng was a bit overwhelmed by the favor.

Being a last disciple wasn't as simple as being guided on how to write a thesis; it meant inheriting all the connections, resources, and influence of the Vice Dean of the School of Economics and Management.

This treatment could be said to be closer than that of a biological son.

"Teacher, I've taken it to heart."

Even though he had missed out, Chen Cheng didn't feel any regret.

If I get it, it's my luck; if I lose it, it's my fate.

Besides, with a heaven-defying connection like the master system, he really didn't need to scramble for connections or play social politics.

The Old Madam smiled. "Come, stand up. Let me get a good look at you."

Following orders, Chen Cheng obediently stood up.

The Old Madam waved her hand. "Turn around."

Chen Cheng didn't understand why, but he did as he was told.

"Over 1.8 meters?" Teacher Ouyang frowned slightly. "Did you get taller again? Why do I remember you weren't this tall when you graduated?"

"1.88 meters," Chen Cheng smiled. "I haven't grown, Teacher; I was this tall at graduation. I've just gotten a bit bulkier. Foreigners all like working out, so I just followed along and trained a bit."

"Exercise is good, exercise is good. Health is the capital of revolution, after all."

"Do you have a partner yet?"

"Huh?" Chen Cheng was a bit stunned by this sudden question.

"I'm just showing some concern for you," the Old Madam said with a hidden smile, sizing up Chen Cheng.

Chen Cheng frowned inwardly, wondering whether to answer yes or no.

Anna was considered his girlfriend whom he'd introduced in public, but Scum had never even thought about marrying her.

As for Dada, she was purely a teammate.

Yu Chuhui? At most, a one-night stand.

And then there was Shen Jing. Although they were close, she was his sister-in-law, damn it.

What? Fan Shengmei?

That was a relationship based on money.

Chen Cheng said without blushing or his heart skipping a beat, "Not yet."

The Old Madam's eyes lit up instantly, but she quickly masked her gaze and teased, "You heard what I advised Zhao Hui just now. You're not getting any younger; it's time to start dating."

"Don't get so busy with work that you neglect the big events of life."

"I know, Teacher." Chen Cheng replied sheepishly, feeling helpless that even as a member of the Tomato Orphanage, he couldn't escape the fate of being urged to marry.

"Anyway, hurry up," the Old Madam urged. "When you meet someone suitable, make your move quickly. Don't be too picky."

"Okay, Teacher." Chen Cheng agreed readily with a sincere attitude.

In his heart, however, he was thinking about when to pay a visit to Xie Zhiyuan's home.

"Alright, it's almost ten o'clock. You should head back too."

Chen Cheng glanced down at his watch. "Okay, then please get some good rest, Teacher. I'll head back first and come see you another day."

"Another day?" The Old Madam's brow furrowed, and she laughed and scolded him, "Just get going."

Chen Cheng backed out of the ward cheerfully.

Then he walked back in, his smile gone, and said seriously, "Teacher, how about letting Xiao Bin put his investments with me? And have him come to my company too?"

Given Xie Zhiyuan's way of doing things, letting Dai Bin follow him...

Wouldn't it be a matter of 'sooner or later, something will go wrong'?

He didn't know Dai Bin's ending, but he was very clear about Xie Zhiyuan's.

He couldn't bear the thought of the Old Madam having to scramble for her son's sake in the future, so he could only suggest a way to protect Dai Bin in advance.

The Old Madam was stunned for a moment, then thought about it and waved her hand. "Forget it. Since he's already gone to Xie Zhiyuan's, let him go."

"Everyone has their own path to walk."

"Everyone..."

Chen Cheng muttered the phrase to himself and clicked his tongue. The Old Madam's heart was truly made of iron.

"Alright, then I'll head back first." Chen Cheng nodded to the Old Madam with a smile, said no more, and turned to leave the ward.

Ouyang watched the door close with a smile on her lips, then took out her phone and made a call.

"Hello, Wen Ying."

"Sister, how are you? Should I come over after all?"

"No need, City Name isn't close either. I'm fine here. I just finished dealing with a few students. If you came, I'd be too lazy to host you," the Old Madam said, waving her hand.

Between close sisters, they really could say anything.

The wealthy lady on the other end of the line naturally didn't mind Old Madam Ouyang's words about being 'too lazy to host you' and replied with a smile:

"Alright, since you can joke like that, Sister, it seems there's indeed nothing serious."

"Don't worry about me; Xiao Bin is keeping watch at the hospital."

"By the way, how many years before your Qin Qin returns to the country?" Ouyang asked instead.

"Last time she said probably another year or two," the lady replied after a thought.

"Qin Qin started an internship at Meilin Hospital and wants to make the most of it. That hospital is top-tier globally, so we can't really push her to come back and cut her career short."

"Why did you suddenly think to ask about Qin Qin, Sister?"

"I have a student who recently returned to the country..."

"Sister, do you mean...?" the lady cut in.

...