Chapter 26 Chen Xi's Call

Leaving the coffee shop, Chen Ang squeezed the envelope in his pocket, not in a hurry to open it. He looked up toward the trendy street on the left, where the wind-swept display sign reading "Shi Tian Yu Feng" was exceptionally eye-catching.

The mochi cream puffs at this shop were once Director Xu Qingwan's favorite dessert.

It was not yet ten in the morning, and there weren't many pedestrians on the street. Chen Ang subconsciously walked toward the shop that held memories of the past.

Looking around, the entire street was decorated in an antique style. The few pedestrians were all tourists, either taking photos or tasting street food.

Chen Ang arrived at the corner near the shop entrance and sat down. He had just ordered a serving of mochi cream puffs when his attention was drawn to three young girls at the next table.

They appeared to be university students, having just finished checking in. They were huddled together, scrolling through their phones. Only the one with a ponytail was still looking down, drinking milk tea and not participating in the discussion.

One of her friends leaned in to whisper something to her. The voice was very low, but the word "Uncle" drifted into Chen Ang's ears.

He really was at the "uncle" age level. Revealing a trace of self-deprecation, he looked over. Seeing them huddled together laughing, it was as if he saw his own youth.

Director Xu Qingwan used to laugh just as freely back in university.

The two of them had also been outside this shop; she would affectionately hug his arm and shout, "Brother-in-law, aren't you coming with me?" Before he could even retort, she would already be bent over laughing.

How long ago was that? It was so long ago that he could no longer remember the exact angle her eyes would crinkle when she laughed.

Shaking his head, he realized he had been thinking of her a lot lately.

"Excuse me, could you help us take a photo?" Chen Ang looked up. The girl with the ponytail had been pushed to his table by her friends, clutching her phone, her face slightly flushed.

Before he could react, the girl thrust her phone into his hands, and then the girls squeezed together in front of a wall covered in neon lights to pose.

Chen Ang helplessly pressed the shutter and then returned the phone.

"This is so ugly!" one girl wailed. "Uncle, do you even know how to take pictures?"

Chen Ang didn't speak, because he really didn't know how. If he hadn't been caught off guard, he definitely wouldn't have bothered.

"Again, again." The girl with the high ponytail decided to direct it herself. "Stand back, squat lower... Hey... don't block the light."

As she spoke, she reached out to grab the phone from Chen Ang's hand. It slipped, and both phones bounced off the edge of the coffee table and smashed onto the tiled floor.

Chen Ang picked them up; his own screen was shattered into a spiderweb, while the other phone only had a thin crack.

"Ah... I'm sorry, I'll pay for it." The girl with the ponytail spoke before anyone else, her face turning bright red. "I don't have enough cash... How about I add you on WeChat, and I'll transfer it to you directly?"

Chen Ang glanced at his crack-filled screen, didn't say much, and directly scanned her QR code.

"My name is Ming Xuan." She lowered her head to edit the contact note. "Uncle, what's your name?"

"Chen Ang."

"Okay. Uncle, once you get the screen fixed, remember to tell me the price." No sooner had she said this than her friends dragged her out of the shop, her ponytail swinging high.

Having been accosted, he had no interest in sitting there any longer. Chen Ang paid the bill, picked up his cracked phone, and opened WeChat. A message from Shen Pianran popped up just then:

"Things in Jiangning are just about done. I'm heading back to the law firm now. I'll help you book a divorce lawyer this afternoon. What time are you free?"

"Mm, I actually have something to discuss with you as well. I'm coming over now; let's talk in person." After replying, he put his phone away.

He got into his car, tossed Yu Fei's envelope onto the passenger seat, started the engine, and drove toward the parking lot exit.

Just as he exited the parking lot, a call came in. Surprisingly, it was a call from Chen Xi.

"Big Brother." Chen Xi's voice carried static. "Why did you transfer so much money to me? I haven't been at school lately."

"Where did you go?"

"I can't say." She paused. "It's just that kind of place... where you can't use a cell phone."

Chen Ang didn't press her. He certainly knew that some things shouldn't be asked about. Relieved that his little sister hadn't met with an accident, he felt at ease.

People doing research at the Harbin Institute of Technology are either studying rockets and missiles or satellites and space stations.

When it involves state secrets of this level, whoever gets involved is doomed.

"I have the ability now. Just take the money I transfer to you. If it's not enough, tell me."

While on the call, Chen Ang opened WeChat and transferred another 10,000 yuan.

"Big Brother, I don't need it right now. Research projects cover room and board, and I can't even spend all of my scholarship." She paused. "Is something wrong?"

"Nothing's wrong. The past two years were tight while supporting you, but now that I have more money, you don't have to scrimp. Girls especially shouldn't be short on money."

Chen Xi was silent for a few seconds. When she spoke again, her tone was steady and devoid of extra emotion: "Big Brother, don't worry. I can hold things down with Mom and Dad. Once my graduate studies are settled, I'll come home."

"Good. Work hard, use your intelligence, and study seriously. Things at home aren't like they were before; we'll be able to return to our old life very soon."

As Chen Ang said this, his eyes involuntarily lit up. With his little sister's words, he felt much more at ease.

In his plan, his little sister's importance and his net worth were complementary.

Even with 2 billion in hand, he was more worried about thieves coveting it. If this huge sum were targeted by others, he feared a situation even worse than seven years ago might occur.

Therefore, if his little sister were escorted back by a military vehicle, he would have nothing to fear.

"Money can be solved, but what about those people? What do you plan to do?" Chen Xi's voice clearly carried a trace of hidden resentment.

"Mm... don't worry about it. I'll have it all handled soon." Chen Ang only then realized that his little sister actually understood everything clearly.

"Big Brother, tell me the truth." Chen Xi's attitude was very firm.

Chen Ang's hand paused on the car window, and he said in a deep voice: "No matter who they are, I will make them lose everything. Trust your Big Brother."

"I trust you." Chen Xi didn't press further.

"Big Brother has a lot of money now, so you need to focus even more on your studies. I will need you in the future, and our family needs you too. Some things don't need to be said too clearly; you're so smart, you should know."

Chen Ang thought for a moment and decided to reveal some of the situation to Chen Xi. She had been in a confidential unit for years and knew better than anyone what confidentiality meant.

"Mm. I know, Big Brother. You also need to take care of your safety." Chen Xi didn't say anything more.

After hanging up, Chen Ang sat for a while holding his phone. Then, he dialed his mother's number.

"Mom, have you eaten?"

"Yes, we have. Your dad made braised fish today." Qu Suping's voice was as gentle as ever.

Chen Ang was silent for a second, then asked: "How have they been these past few days?"

His mother's voice lowered. "They came again the day before yesterday. Your dad said, 'So these are my own siblings,' and didn't say anything else after that. Then he sat on the balcony for the whole afternoon, shelling peanuts all over the floor."

Chen Ang didn't speak, but in his heart, he knew that his dad had finally let go of some things.

Seeing that Chen Ang was silent, Qu Suping sighed softly on the other end of the line and then said: "We need to let your dad know that the money you earned didn't just blow in with the wind."

"I know, Mom." Chen Ang was very glad that his mother was clear-headed.

After hanging up, he released the handbrake and started the car. The X5 headed toward the Financial Building in the city center.

Outside the window, a sprinkler truck was driving slowly along Binjiang Road, the water mist casting a faint rainbow in the sunlight.