Chapter 84 A Comprehensive Examination

On Sunday noon, Chen Jiashu hosted a banquet at the Chinese restaurant on the top floor of the hotel, not to celebrate his birthday, but to thank his driver and assistant Zhang for risking their lives and getting injured while searching for him.

The boss's sincerity overwhelmed the two of them.

During the meal, Chen Jiashu offered to let Xiaojun bring his wife and children to Lanchuan. He promised to help his child enroll in school before the start of the new semester in September and to provide his wife with an administrative position.

Then Chen Jiashu jokingly asked Zhang, who was sitting next to Qin Qiao, to make a wish. Zhang, who was always carefree, chuckled and said, "Boss, I'd still be happy to work for you, but if you're comfortable with that, how about letting me manage the group's purchasing department? I can negotiate with suppliers while also serving as your assistant, and we can at least reduce costs by another three percent."

Chen Jiashu readily agreed to the request, but on the condition that Zhang Zhu produce a project proposal that would be approved by 80% of the senior executives.

Zhang Zhu could easily tell that Chen Jiashu's conditional promise was tantamount to agreement, only that a fair and transparent process had to be followed. He raised his glass, stood up, and said, "Boss, I will certainly live up to your expectations."

Before leaving, Chen Jiashu once again urged them to take good care of their injuries, promising that they would receive their full salary and no deductions from their annual leave during this period.

With tears in their eyes, the two escorted the boss and his wife downstairs, watching them get into the Mercedes driven by Lao Song until the car disappeared completely into the bustling traffic.

The Mercedes was parked in the open-air parking lot in front of the Fifth Municipal Hospital. Old Song quickly went around to the back seat and opened the door. Chen Jiashu and Qin Qiao got out of the car one after the other.

With people coming and going in the hospital, using a white cane was not very convenient. So Chen Jiashu hung the white cane on his wrist, raised his hand and gently grasped Qin Qiao's upper arm, and the two walked together toward the outpatient building.

The psychotherapy was very effective; even Director Wu praised him, saying he was a completely different person compared to five days ago. The two walked out of the consultation room in high spirits. Just as they stepped into the elevator, Qin Qiao suddenly had a thought. She stopped, tiptoed closer to his ear, and whispered, "Back then... why did you keep calling me 'Qiao Qiao'?"

During the period when Chen Jiashu was still in a semi-comatose state after his surgery in Beijing, he kept calling her name. She always wanted to know how he explained it to the doctors.

Chen Jiashu smiled brightly as his slender fingers gently stroked the back of her hand: "I'm just afraid I'll forget how to speak."

Okay, that reason holds water.

Taking advantage of the fact that no one was paying attention, Qin Qiao quickly kissed him on the cheek, leaving a faint lipstick mark.

He forgot he'd put on lipstick this morning. She chuckled and quickly raised her hand, wiping his face a few times with the inside of her palm to remove the smudge.

They also need to go to the oculoplastic surgery department on the sixth floor. Although they had contacted the chief physician in advance, they still need to get a number according to the hospital's procedures.

Qin Qiao took the special number from the machine and returned to Chen Jiashu's side. The two went to the waiting room to wait. Soon, the big screen called out Chen Jiashu's name.

Their original plan was to have a prosthetic eye custom-made abroad, but after reviewing a large amount of information and comparing various options, Chen Jiashu discovered that domestic technology was already on par with that of foreign countries. The two decided to listen to the expert's opinion before making a final decision.

The director carefully reviewed the several eye images and examination reports taken by Chen Jiashu in Beijing. Then he got up, walked over, put on medical gloves, bent down and gently opened Chen's eyelids to examine the basic condition of his eyes.

Back in his seat, he removed his gloves and said, "The recovery inside the eye socket is going very well, laying a very good foundation for installing a prosthetic eye. I recommend considering a Cryolite glass prosthetic eye. It's made of a special type of Cryolite glass from Germany, with an extremely smooth surface, hydrophilic and oxygen-absorbing properties, making it almost imperceptible to wear, and effectively reducing secretions..."

A slight pain and dampness came from his fingers as they were being squeezed. Qin Qiao glanced at Chen Jiashu, whose jaw was taut and face was pale. These cold words, the doctor's "best solution," felt like a series of humiliating cuts, a brutal trampling of his pride.

No matter how long you've mentally prepared yourself.

Her heart clenched before she even realized it, and she immediately grasped his cold, trembling hand, as if that would transfer some of her strength to him. But in reality, she was far less resilient than Jia Shu, spending countless nights hiding in the bathroom to secretly wipe away her tears.

But at this moment, she had to be his strongest support. Qin Qiao tightened his fingertips, and after a long time, his fingers finally stopped trembling.

After the director finished speaking, Chen Jiashu even managed a slight smile and said in a hoarse voice, "Let's do it your way."

The mold will be taken and customized around next Wednesday.

On the way back, Chen Jiashu remained silent. Qin Qiao understood that he needed absolute quiet at that moment, so she did not disturb him.

They stopped by Chen Cheng's company on their way. Qin Qiao had contacted Chen Cheng the day before yesterday to ask if he still had any original samples of the smartwatch. When Chen Cheng heard that Chen Jiashu was back, he was not only happy for them, but also offered to give Chen Jiashu another one.

Qin Qiao didn't intend to take it for free; it was simply that she couldn't find a watch on the market that perfectly suited Chen Jiashu. Unable to resist Chen Cheng's insistence on giving her the watch, she didn't insist on paying him, and could only temporarily owe him a favor.

They tried on watches in Chen Cheng's office. Chen Jiashu stroked the edge of the watch, and a clear female voice announced the current time. He looked up and smiled at Chen Cheng opposite him, "Chen Cheng, have you figured out the market positioning for this project yet?"

Chen Cheng noticed the change in Chen Jiashu the moment he entered. The man before him had become much thinner, and his brows betrayed a palpable weakness; he must have suffered greatly during his disappearance. Chen Cheng felt a pang of sorrow, but then he thought that Jiashu's eyesight was failing, and his safe return was already a stroke of good fortune amidst misfortune.

Just then, Chen Jiashu turned his head, and a cold light suddenly reflected from his glasses, which fell into Chen Cheng's eyes.

He was momentarily stunned by the light before regaining his senses and replying, "The target market is the high-end smart wearable market."

Chen Jiashu nodded slightly: "Then your competitors are Apple Watch, Samsung, Garmin... the market competition is quite fierce."

“A good track. So, from which dimension do you plan to start your differentiated advantage?” Qin Qiao interjected: “But relying solely on accessibility features, although they have great social value, it may be difficult to support the scale and expectations of the high-end market commercially if used as the core selling point.”

This blind spot in their understanding was precisely Chen Cheng's area of ​​expertise. He immediately launched into a spirited explanation: from its ease of use in "ten seconds" to its integration into everyday scenarios... as if he were launching a mini product launch in front of them.

Chen Jiashu unconsciously stroked the watch face with his fingertips, listening intently the entire time. When Qin Qiao was focused, she would occasionally drift off, her gaze involuntarily sweeping over Chen Jiashu's calm profile.

Chen Cheng and Chen Jiashu are indeed very similar. Whenever they talk about their areas of expertise, their confidence, their confident tone, and their way of punctuating are exactly the same.

Qin Qiao suddenly remembered how jealous Chen Jiashu used to be, and couldn't help but lower her head, silently curving her lips.

When they left, Chen Cheng escorted them to the elevator.

The elevator doors opened, and the three people who were chatting and laughing all looked in the direction of the sound. They saw Tian Jiayue standing inside the elevator car, holding a black leather bag in both hands.

"Brother, sister-in-law!"

Tian Jiayue spoke first and quickly walked up to them.

Chen Jiashu pushed up his sunglasses and said in a serious tone, "I don't think I arranged for you to come for a 'field investigation'?"

The question seemed to imply blame, leaving Tian Jiayue completely bewildered.

Tian Jiayue had only invited him to meals. Chen Cheng wanted to explain, but before he could speak, Qin Qiao smiled and said to Chen Jiashu, "I casually mentioned yesterday that I would come to pick up the watch today, and Jiayue probably remembered it. She's always so thoughtful. As her older brother, you can't scare her like that."

Upon hearing this, Chen Jiashu broke down first, letting out a low chuckle that made them all unable to hold back any longer and burst into laughter as well.

*

Against the backdrop of the setting sun, the silhouettes of the three figures were somewhat blurred. Old Song pushed open the door, and the aroma of food from inside the house instantly wafted out.

The children hadn't seen them for several days, and they clung to them affectionately as soon as they entered. Qin Qiao was carrying a cake, which immediately attracted Xi Xi, who loved sweets the most. The little girl grabbed her hand and wouldn't let go, following her all the way into the restaurant.

Chen Jiashu held one child in each hand, intending for them to lead him, but the layers of darkness before him made him hesitate to take a step.

Unlike when my vision was weak, this is the most instinctive fear of nothingness.

When you're alone, it doesn't matter if you bump into something or fall down, but in front of children... you still need to be careful. Chen Jiashu took a deep breath, picked up his white cane from the entryway cabinet again, and unfolded it with a soft "click".

"Zhaoye, Danie, Daddy will go with you."

The restaurant was warmly lit, and a table full of home-style dishes steamed, blurring each other's faces and softening the surrounding light.

During the meal, Qin Qiao's phone rang, so she went outside to answer it.

Zhao Ye swallowed his rice, tilted his head, and asked Chen Jiashu, who was engrossed in eating, "Dad, why don't you take off your glasses?"

Danie and Xixi also found it strange. Danie saw the white gauze inside and asked softly, "Is Uncle's eye injured?"

Upon hearing that she was injured, Xi Xi immediately showed a frightened expression.

Chen Jiashu picked up a wet wipe and wiped the grease from the corner of his mouth, a gentle smile curving his lips: "Dad accidentally bumped his eye a few days ago, and the doctor bandaged it up with gauze... The doctor also told Dad that wearing glasses is like wearing a band-aid, it can protect the eyes."

The children understood. Zhao Ye wanted to ask his father if he was in pain, but just as he was about to speak, Qin Qiao walked in and said with a smile, "Children, today is Dad's birthday. Let's all wish Dad a happy birthday, okay?"

So everyone said in unison:

"Happy birthday!"

The children's voices were clear, melodious, and incredibly sincere, like warm, soft beads that gently rolled into Chen Jiashu's heart. A tender smile slowly spread from the corners of his lips, filled with emotion, happiness, and an indescribable sense of satisfaction, brimming across his entire face.

He stood up, supporting himself on the edge of the table, a single tear silently sliding down his cheek.

"Thank you, children."

*

In addition to eye drops, Chen Jiashu needs to take five kinds of medicine every day. Old Song always prepares the pills in advance, putting them in a round pillbox about the size of a medium-sized bottle cap for easy access.

Qin Qiao and Chen Jiashu came out of the shower, their hair still damp. Chen Jiashu sat down on the edge of the bed and fumbled for the medicine box on the bedside table.

Qin Qiao handed him a glass of warm water, which he took and silently swallowed the eight pills in three separate doses.

There were two kinds of eye drops on the table. He skillfully found one of the bottles, tilted his head back, and accurately dripped the liquid into his open eyes. He had repeated this action for more than ten years, and it had long become muscle memory.

"Qiaoqiao..." Chen Jiashu put down the medicine bottle and asked softly, "What color are your eyes now?"

“Light pink,” Qin Qiao replied.

Chen Jiashu gave a soft "hmm" and extended his hand. Qin Qiao offered her hand, which he took into his palm.

The warmth of his palm soothed her fingers, and his thumb slowly circled the back of her hand: "Just thinking about it... is quite scary. I'm afraid it might frighten them."

Qin Qiao sat down beside him, took out her hand and cupped his face, gently turning his face towards her: "Their father is a very brave man. When the children grow up, they will definitely be proud of you."

“I’m proud of myself…” Chen Jiashu chuckled and nodded slightly. “I’m not a perfect father, but I will try my best to make them feel that, apart from being blind, this father is pretty good in every other way.”

"Qiaoqiao... I lied to them again." Chen Jiashu crawled into bed, but didn't lie down immediately. Instead, he leaned against the headboard.

Qin Qiao followed him in, nestled beside him, pulled the blanket up, and placed her hand in his palm: "You know what? During those years abroad, people asked me why Tom, Suli... and all their friends had fathers, but we only had Uncel. I told them: 'Your father is a captain, leading a huge fleet on a great voyage around the world. The journey is very, very long, but he thinks of you every single moment…'"

She tilted her head and rested it on his shoulder, her gaze following the light to his handsome profile: "Sometimes, the deepest love is not about telling them all the truth, but about helping them filter out the cruelty they are not yet able to bear... Just like before, I always complained that you arranged everything for me, and felt that you were overprotective."

Chen Jiashu's eyelashes trembled.

A warm droplet splashed on the back of his hand. Chen Jiashu suddenly raised his hand, lowered his eyes, and his dark pupils seemed to be burned: "Qiao Qiao..."

His slender fingers touched her smooth skin and the tear stains on the corners of her upturned lips, sending a shiver down his spine.

The "girl" continued, "The reason I can single-mindedly pursue the light, venture out into the world, and build the professional world I want without any worries is simply because, during my most difficult and darkest period, it was you, Jiashu, who supported me step by step..."

A slight tremor in her voice was caught by his keen hearing: "What you're doing to the children now is the same as what you did to me back then. You're protecting them in that absolutely safe 'ideal world,' not to keep them locked up forever, but to give them the confidence to face the world in the future."

“And if we’re talking about ‘lying’…” she chuckled softly, “the story I made up is much longer and more complicated than yours.”

Chen Jiashu turned slightly to the side and pulled her into his arms, his hand gently stroking her slender back: "That night... I'm sorry. I shouldn't have doubted us... Qiaoqiao, thank you for still being willing to forgive me."

Qin Qiao straightened up in the man's arms, gazing intently at his gentle face, his handsome eyebrows, his high nose. Although his eyes had changed, in her heart, he would always be that boy with eyes as clear as lacquer, whose gentle smile was like an autumn pond overflowing with starlight. He had never changed.

"Thank you for forgiving me too," she said.

They looked at each other, smiles on their lips. Chen Jiashu's eyes were red-rimmed, glistening with tears; while Qin Qiao's shoulders trembled slightly, tears silently rolling down her cheeks.

*

During a break in the latter half of Wednesday's board meeting, a deliberately affected cough came from the back row.

Some people looked in the direction of the voice and saw Director Ma looking excited: "There's something I'm eager to share with everyone."

Qin Qiao was sitting in the same row as this director, three seats apart. Upon hearing this, she calmly closed the document in her hand, turned her body slightly to the side, and looked over with a leisurely air.

Sun Gang, sitting opposite her, took out his phone and glanced down at it, his brows revealing an undisguised indifference towards such "little gossip."

Zhu Ao, sitting in the main seat, finished reading the document in his hand, raised his head, and rested his chin on his interlaced fingers, looking eager to hear more.

Director Ma was very satisfied with the effect he had created, and deliberately kept everyone in suspense, adding a touch of liveliness to the somewhat serious meeting: "Last Thursday, I went to Dongxin Sanatorium to visit an old friend. Guess who else I saw?"

Several directors, whose interest had been piqued by him, began to whisper among themselves.

"I saw Chairman Chen! Our Chairman Chen Jiashu!"

Half of the people present were unaware of Chen Jiashu's kidnapping, assuming he was abroad on a business trip. Besides, given Chen Jiashu's health, being hospitalized every few days wasn't unusual.

But why did they go to a sanatorium? The board members in the back row exchanged glances.

Lu Dong was taken aback: Jia Shu had been rescued? And was in a sanatorium… What was going on? His gaze also turned to Qin Qiao. Out of the corner of his eye, he noticed that Zhu Ao had sat up straight, his hands lightly gripping the edge of the document.

Director Ma's tone suddenly changed abruptly: "But... what I actually saw kept me... awake all night." His voice was heavy: "It turns out... it wasn't an overseas inspection trip at all; our Chairman Chen had a serious health problem. I didn't want to believe it at the time. I stood in front of him and called out 'Chairman Chen' to him many times and loudly... but he didn't respond at all."

“Words are no proof,” he said, pulling his phone out of his pocket. “Out of extreme concern and the desire to keep a record, I took a video.”

Director Ma flipped to the video, pressed play, and gently pushed the phone to the center of the long table.

The board members craned their necks to look at the screen.

In the video, Chen Jiashu, wearing sunglasses, is looking down and reading Braille, while Director Ma calls out anxiously, "Chairman Chen," from beside him.

The man indeed showed no reaction.

The video ended, and the conference room was so quiet you could hear a pin drop. After a few seconds of silence, the board members erupted in uproar.

A business leader who not only has eye problems but now also hearing loss—blind and deaf—how can he lead a company? It's an absolute joke if word gets out!

The crowd exchanged bewildered glances, and then countless gazes transformed into invisible blades, each directed at Zhu Ao and Qin Qiao.

Director Ma sat back down, and Director Xu leaned close to his ear and asked, "Is this really true?"

Director Ma nodded.

Lu Dong clasped his hands together and pressed them against his forehead. The impact of the video was too strong. At this moment, everyone's anger stemmed from being deceived, but deeper, it was also from the fear of their interests being about to be harmed. If this matter were to spread, the chain reaction would be unimaginable.

“Director Ma,” Sun Gang’s cold voice rang out, “Chairman Chen’s health condition is a matter of personal privacy and is protected by law. Playing a video depicting his illness in public without his authorization is not only inappropriate, but also constitutes an infringement on a citizen’s personal information.” (1)

"Mr. Sun, that's quite a accusation!" Director Ma retorted, not to be outdone. "I filmed the video out of concern for the chairman and the group; this is called preserving evidence!"

The two men clashed, one citing legal provisions, the other waving the banner of responsibility. Those supporting Chen Jiashu strongly endorsed Sun Gang; the directors, feeling deceived, accused the other of misleading the public. The tension escalated, and Director Ma slammed his fist on the table, standing up as if a fight was imminent.

"Please hear me out," Zhu Ao finally stood up, his gaze sweeping across the room. "Regarding Chairman Chen's situation, General Manager Sun, General Manager Qin, and several core directors are aware of it. Chairman Chen had been overworked and his old ailment had relapsed. Doctors have mandated that he receive treatment and rest. This 'overseas inspection trip' is to avoid unfounded speculation; it's a decision we made together, solely to ensure his speedy recovery and return to lead us."

Zhu Ao paused.

He then calmly explained to everyone present that the reason he hadn't reported every detail to them was because stability was paramount, and he couldn't allow anyone, including competitors, to take advantage of any vulnerabilities. He further stated that he had acted with a clear conscience regarding the group, Chairman Chen's health, and the interests of every director.

However, Zhu Ao also acknowledged that his prioritization of emotions had caused the board members to feel great distrust and unease. Therefore, he decided to hire the most authoritative third-party medical experts in China to conduct a comprehensive health assessment of Chairman Chen Jiashu in accordance with regulations and laws.

Director Ma's phone screen had already been turned off.

Qin Qiao stared intently at the black screen, her hand gripping the pen so tightly that her nails dug deep into her palm.

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Author's note: (1) The legal provisions cited have been slightly modified.