Chapter 22: Restless
When I got home in the evening, my mother had specially prepared a sumptuous dinner for me.
"Xiao Shi," the father raised his glass, "thanks to you for taking care of Songsong these past few months."
"He takes care of me more." Shi Yanchen was rarely humble.
At the dinner table, Shi Yanchen calmly turned the topic to a lighter one, telling some interesting stories about his time in Country D, which made the whole family laugh.
Pei Song felt a little sad when he saw this scene.
This is the first time I have seen my parents laugh so happily since the company’s accident.
After dinner, Pei Song and Shi Yanchen digested their food in the yard.
"By the way," Pei Song thought of something and turned to look at Shi Yanchen, "How long do you plan to stay in China?"
Shi Yanchen was processing emails on his tablet. When he heard the question, his fingers paused: "About three months."
"So long?" Pei Song was a little surprised. "Won't there be any problems with the laboratory?"
"No." Shi Yanchen closed the tablet. "I just need to do some market research, so I can work remotely."
Pei Song nodded thoughtfully. This reason sounds reasonable, but I always feel something is wrong.
But he didn't think much about it, after all, Shi Yanchen always had his own ideas.
The next morning, Pei Song was awakened by the sound of quarreling downstairs.
He tiptoed downstairs and heard his father's excited voice coming from the study:
"How is that possible? I personally reviewed the accounts of the purchasing department!"
"Mr. Pei, the facts are right in front of us." A strange voice said, "The audit found a large number of abnormal purchase records, inflated unit prices, and falsified quantities. These are all irrefutable evidence."
Pei Song's heart sank suddenly. He wanted to push the door open, but his hand stopped as soon as it touched the door handle.
"Songsong?" Pei Song turned around and saw his mother's pale face.
"Mom, what happened at the company again?"
His mother took his hand and walked towards the living room: "It's okay, it's just some minor problems..." As she spoke, her steps became unsteady and she staggered.
"Mom!" Pei Song quickly supported her, only then he realized that his mother's forehead was burning hot.
"I'm fine, just a little dizzy..." Mother's voice became weaker and weaker. Suddenly, she closed her eyes and fainted in Pei Song's arms.
"Mom! Mom!" Pei Song shouted in panic.
Shi Yanchen heard the noise and appeared on the stairs. Seeing the situation, he immediately said calmly: "I'll call an ambulance."
Pei Song was fidgeting in the hospital corridor.
The examination results showed that the mother fainted due to overwork and emotional fluctuations, and needed to be hospitalized for observation for a few days.
"What's going on?" Pei Song stood outside the ward and stopped his father who rushed over. "What's wrong with the company again?"
The father rubbed his brows tiredly and said, "It's nothing serious, don't worry about it."
"How can I just ignore it?" Pei Song lowered his voice, "Mom is so worried that she's sick!"
"Because of this," his father looked at him seriously, "you should not get involved. Your task now is to plan your future well and find a suitable job."
"Dad, I'm not a child anymore." Pei Song couldn't help but say, "Let me help you..."
The father sighed, his tone soft but firm: "Songsong, your family no longer has the conditions for you to be a simple and carefree rich second generation. You just came back from Country D, with such a good education and experience, I hope you can have your own career."
Although these words were said politely, Pei Song could hear the deeper meaning in his father's words.
"I..."
"If you really want to help, then plan your career development well." His father patted his shoulder, "Your mother and I can handle the current situation."
The corridor became quiet, and people in the nurses' station came and went, each busy with their own things.
Pei Song stood there with mixed feelings.
"Uncle Pei is right." Shi Yanchen said, "Pei Song's ability in Country D has been proven, and now we really need to think about it carefully."
The father looked at Shi Yanchen gratefully and said, "Xiao Shi is right, Songsong, you must remember that you are not only the son of the Pei family, but also a young man with a bright future."
After saying that, he patted Pei Song's shoulder gently, turned around and walked into the ward.
Pei Song stood there blankly until Shi Yanchen gently touched his arm: "Let's go back first."
On the way home, Pei Song kept thinking about his father's words.
He knew his father was doing this for his own good, but he couldn't help but worry about the situation at home.
"Would you like some water?" Shi Yanchen handed over a bottle of mineral water.
Pei Song shook his head and looked at the street scene passing by quickly outside the window: "Do you think something big has happened in the company?"
Shi Yanchen was silent for a while before saying, "Judging from your father's reaction, the problem may be much more serious than it appears."
"Why won't Dad tell me the truth?"
"Maybe..." Shi Yanchen paused, "It is precisely because the situation is serious that he hopes you can have your own development."
Pei Song turned his head: "What do you mean?"
"Your father loves you very much," Shi Yanchen said, "He doesn't want you to be trapped by the family's difficulties. Judging from your abilities, you can definitely develop on a bigger stage."
"This shouldn't leave me in the dark about what's going on at home..."
"Your performance in Country D proves that you can be independent." Shi Yanchen looked him straight in the eye. "Instead of being tied down by family affairs, it is better to gain experience on other platforms first. When the time is right, you will naturally be able to help the family."
Pei Song was stunned. He had never thought about his father's good intentions. He was actually afraid that he would be dragged down by the family.
"So," Shi Yanchen said, "you should listen to your father and plan your future well."
Pei Song was silent for a long time before he nodded gently: "You are right."
After returning home, Pei Song sat at the desk and turned on the computer.
The blue light of the screen shone on his tired face, and he began to organize his resume.
His work experience in Country D, his experience in operating Michelin restaurants, his identity as a food blogger on Instagram... As he wrote down his experiences one by one, he suddenly realized that he had indeed accumulated a lot of experience over the years.
"Do you need help?" Shi Yanchen stood at the door at some point.
Pei Song raised his head and forced a smile: "I can do it myself."
Shi Yanchen nodded, didn't say much, and just closed the door gently.
It was late at night, and Pei Song was still sitting in front of the computer, revising his resume over and over again.