Chapter 21: Exposure

The single room was just ahead. Wen Ganan walked over and, through the glass of the hospital door, saw a young boy lying on the bed.

As she blinked, feeling rather surprised, Cheng He’s voice suddenly sounded.

"Ganan?"

Wen Ganan looked up to see Cheng He approaching quickly. A flash of panic crossed his expression, though he masked it almost immediately.

He offered a faint smile. "What are you doing here?"

"Visiting a patient." Wen Ganan’s mind went blank for a moment, and she replied without thinking. "What about you? Is this...?"

She gestured toward Cheng He and then toward the boy inside the room.

"Oh, it’s my aunt’s child. He’s being discharged today, so I came to check on him."

So that was it.

"Would you like to come in and see him?" Cheng He offered.

Wen Ganan glanced inside; the boy was already asleep, and she felt it wouldn't be appropriate to disturb him, so she politely declined.

"Maybe next time. I didn't bring anything with me, so it wouldn't be right."

In truth, Wen Ganan wasn't ready to have deep contact with his family just yet, and fortunately, Cheng He did not press the issue.

After exchanging a few casual words, Wen Ganan hurried to take her leave. For some reason, someone as articulate as her always seemed to lose the ability to speak whenever she was around Cheng He.

It was strange.

As if by telepathy, the moment Wen Ganan left the hospital and got into her car, Tan Fang called to ask how things were going with Cheng He—whether they had met, talked, or been in touch.

Wen Ganan rubbed her forehead. "Yes, yes, yes. We saw each other yesterday, had a meal together, and just ran into each other again. Are you happy now?"

"Happy, very happy."

Even through the phone, Wen Ganan could imagine Tan Fang’s ear-to-ear grin.

Wen Ganan shook her head. "I'm hanging up now."

"Alright, take care of yourself, and make sure you eat your meals on time. Don't just work yourself to death."

Wen Ganan agreed to everything, waiting until her mother finished her nagging before hanging up. At twenty, she might have been impatient or even annoyed by such fussing, but now that she was nearing thirty, seeing the white hairs and wrinkles appearing on her parents' temples and at the corners of their eyes, she had begun to understand so much more.

For dinner, Wen Ganan and her colleagues had hotpot at the apartment. As promised, she opened the wine Cheng He had given her. It was indeed excellent, and everyone praised it repeatedly. They ended the lovely weekend with an encouraging toast.

***

Back in her room, Wen Ganan began picking out a return gift for Cheng He.

On Monday morning, Wen Ganan and her team held a morning meeting at the apartment before setting off for the Quantum branch.

It had been arranged the previous week; Wen Ganan went directly to find Lin Li, who led them to the R&D floor. Wen Ganan was surprised to realize it was the same floor where she had bumped into Liang Yuxiu that night.

Chen Ling, who was primarily responsible for creative planning, had come along as well. Wen Ganan chatted with her as they looked around, checking in with Lin Li periodically. However, Lin Li only allowed them to walk through the outer areas; the inner laboratories involved internal company secrets and were off-limits.

Wen Ganan understood. Even so, the outer areas took up their entire morning.

After finishing their observation and notes, Lin Li arranged for them to use a small conference room as a temporary office.

At noon, they prepared to return to the apartment to pack some clothes, as they needed to visit Quantum’s suburban factory in the afternoon. Since they wouldn't make it back in time, they planned to stay overnight there.

As they stepped out of the conference room with their things, Liang Yuxiu happened to be coming down from the floor above. He stopped when he saw them.

Before Wen Ganan could react, she heard him ask, "Lin Li said you’re heading to the suburban factory this afternoon?"

"Oh, yes," Wen Ganan replied, a beat slow.

"I happen to be going there myself this afternoon. Let’s go together." Liang Yuxiu’s tone wasn't one of consultation, but rather an announcement.

Wen Ganan almost instinctively refused. "There’s no need. We need to stop by our apartment first; we shouldn't delay your schedule, Mr. Liang."

"It won't be a delay. I’ll arrange a car. See you downstairs at your apartment at 1:30."

It was as if he couldn't understand the word "no."

Wen Ganan watched, stunned, as he walked away.

In the large conference room at the other end of the hallway, Cheng He had just finished a morning of meetings and stepped out to catch his breath.

He and Wen Ganan locked eyes at the same moment.

Just as Wen Ganan was about to greet him, a young, high-pitched voice rang out from behind her.

"Daddy!"

The moment the sound was heard, everyone turned toward it.

A boy of about seven or eight years old ran out of the elevator. Without looking at anyone else, he charged straight toward Cheng He, threw himself at him, and wrapped his arms tightly around his legs.

Cheng He’s assistant followed close behind, looking apologetic. "I’m sorry, Director Cheng..."

Cheng He didn't have time to listen; his first instinct was to look at Wen Ganan, his eyes filled with obvious panic and tension.

***

Wen Ganan hadn't expected this either. For a moment, she thought she had misheard, but seeing Cheng He’s reaction, she knew she hadn't.

She recognized the boy—he was the same one from the hospital room yesterday.

Yet, Cheng He had clearly said this was his aunt’s child. Why was he calling him "Daddy" now?

Wen Ganan’s expression shifted repeatedly. She decided that this wasn't the place to resolve such matters or speak about such things, so she masked her reaction and left with Chen Ling and the others.

Even after the elevator doors closed, Cheng He’s gaze remained fixed on the spot where she had been standing.

Wen Ganan didn't know how to face him. She realized now that Cheng He had lied to her.

It wasn't that she couldn't accept a blind date partner who was divorced with a child, but the fact that Cheng He had chosen to deceive her made her feel disrespected.

The revelation was so sudden that she was still dazed by the time she stepped out of the Quantum building. Her companions noticed her off-putting expression but didn't dare to ask.

Upstairs, Cheng He pulled Cheng Zifeng away and shot his assistant a cold, sharp glare. "Who told you to bring him to the company?"

The assistant was sweating profusely. "It was Mr. Liang."

Cheng He’s face darkened. "Mr. Liang?"

"Yes. You were in meetings all morning, and Zifeng wasn't feeling well at school. I couldn't reach anyone else at your home, so Zifeng called your office landline himself. Mr. Liang answered, so he ordered me to go pick him up."

Cheng He’s expression became complex.

A thought flickered in his mind, and a deep, calculating look surfaced in his eyes.

"Fine. I have meetings all afternoon. Help me check what’s wrong with Zifeng—take him to the hospital if you have to. If he’s fine, contact the nanny to pick him up. Thank you."

Cheng He transferred money to his assistant and then headed straight for Liang Yuxiu. He needed to get to the bottom of this.

Liang Yuxiu clearly knew the truth. He had always kept the existence of his son hidden from others; for him to have the assistant bring the child to the office today, it was hard not to suspect it was intentional.

What was he trying to do? Or rather, what was his goal?

Even if Cheng He were slow-witted, he should have realized by now that Liang Yuxiu’s ongoing hostility toward Wen Ganan might not be as simple as just malice.

Upon learning that Liang Yuxiu was in his office, Cheng He pushed the door open to find him standing by the window.

He held his temper in check, his tone sharp. "Mr. Liang, what is the meaning of this?"