Chapter 319 – Called Dad
Jiang Ye’s visit this time wasn’t just for a meal. After dinner, he headed straight to the study with Wei Chen; it seemed there was something they needed to discuss.
As Wei Chen and Jiang Ye’s collaboration unfolded over the past two years, their joint projects increased significantly. This time, in the study, they delved into some business matters. Both had remarkable business acumen and shared similar interests, so their discussions were naturally fruitful.
“I just returned from Shanghai yesterday,” Jiang Ye mentioned after concluding their business discussions. “I met Chen Shihuai and Chen Yunsheng at a banquet.”
The Chen Shihuai and Chen Yunsheng at this banquet were vastly different from their past selves.
Previously, whether it was at Shanghai’s banquet or any other event, Chen Shihuai and Chen Yunsheng used to be the center of attention, the focal points. However, the Chen Shihuai and Chen Yunsheng at the recent banquet attended by Jiang Ye were meek and humble, attempting to forge connections, seeking assistance from those they once belittled and looked down upon, hoping for a helping hand to revive their fortunes.
However, the world operated as such: adding icing on the cake was easy, but extending help in times of need was much more challenging. Moreover, considering the way the Chen family had behaved previously, there were few willing to extend a helping hand to them in their time of need.
Wei Chen raised an eyebrow, not showing much interest in these two individuals. Deep down, he had an inkling of what fate awaited these two.
Two months prior, the Chen Corp. in Shanghai had ceased to exist as the Chen Corp. Chen Shihuai and Chen Yunsheng, unable to resist Wei Chen’s pressure in their bid for a fresh start, had sold off all of Chen Corp.’s shares at a low price. At that moment, the Chen Corp. had been renamed as ‘Dawn’ and was no longer under the umbrella of the Chen family’s enterprises.
To this day, the people in Shanghai were unaware of the true manipulator behind Dawn. They only knew that this individual controlled over sixty percent of Dawn’s shares, wielding absolute power within the company.
While the people in Shanghai were oblivious, Jiang Ye knew the truth. The one with significant control over Dawn was Wei Chen. However, the sixty-three percent of shares weren’t under Wei Chen’s name; most likely, they belonged to Chen Li.
Moreover, Jiang Ye speculated that Chen Li probably remained unaware of this situation. He had unwittingly become the largest shareholder in a company, and with a mere flip of his hand, he could bring about significant turmoil within that enterprise.
Nevertheless, even though Jiang Ye knew, he was certain that Wei Chen hadn’t informed Chen Li. Naturally, Wei Chen wouldn’t spill the beans to Chen Li. This was Wei Chen’s way of compensating for Chen Li. Considering how the Chen family mistreated Chen Li for so many years, Jiang Ye didn’t find Wei Chen’s actions too excessive.
The conversation between the two didn’t linger on the Chen father and son but shifted to the Chen family in Beijing.
While this blow might not have struck at the fundamental roots of the Chen family, it had severed several of their pathways, resulting in substantial losses.
Furthermore, the ongoing large-scale operation targeting dr*g traffickers had forced the Chen family to tone down their activities. However, it was certain that the Chen family wouldn’t take this lying down. With Wei Chen and him teaming up to cut off their routes, how could they simply let it pass?
Jiang Ye and Wei Chen were not individuals who easily slackened. They didn’t let the success of the Changfeng Group’s Transportation Department make them complacent; instead, they remained vigilant. They understood that once the Chen family caught their breath, they would retaliate.
“Wei Chen, be careful,” Jiang Ye voiced his concern, wearing a slightly worried expression.
With Jiang Ye having connections to the Sheng family, the Chen family might not immediately target him. However, Wei Chen wasn’t guaranteed the same safety. Even though he was currently Old Master Qu’s grandson by name, this relationship wasn’t the most direct. While the Chen family might not strike at Wei Chen directly, the same could not be said for the Wei family in Shanghai.
It wasn’t just because the Wei family was Wei Chen’s family, but also because the Wei family controlled a port—a few shipping routes that the Chen family had coveted for a long time.
Wei Chen understood what Jiang Ye was concerned about. He patted Jiang Ye’s shoulder reassuringly, “I know, let them come.”
If this were right after his rebirth, Wei Chen wouldn’t have had the confidence to say such words. But now, things were different. He had matured, and despite the Chen family’s formidable influence, Wei Chen was no longer afraid.
Wei Chen’s face remained impassive, but Jiang Ye caught a glint in his eyes—a gleam not of sorrow but of complete confidence. Jiang Ye couldn’t help but smile and pat Wei Chen’s shoulder. “Hmm, just say the word when you need help.”
Wei Chen nodded. “Of course.”
In their years of collaboration, these two young men had transformed from mutually beneficial partners to close, brotherly friends.
When Wei Chen and Jiang Ye finished their conversation, it was already late. Jiang Ye bid farewell, holding Lan Xiping’s hand, and headed home.
Qiuqiu had fallen asleep in Chen Li’s arms. With many people in the house today, Qiuqiu was particularly excited, sleeping half an hour later than usual and now sleeping soundly, mouth slightly ajar.
Chen Yunlan went to his room to rest. Wei Chen and Chen Li, carrying Qiuqiu, placed him in the crib before heading to the bathroom together.
Their bath took longer than usual, accompanied not only by the sound of running water but also by unrestrained gasps. It wasn’t until over an hour later that these sounds ceased.
Wei Chen dried Chen Li’s body with a towel before carrying him back to bed. Chen Li, feeling a bit tired, lay down, wanting to sleep, but Wei Chen pulled him up. “Li Li, your hair isn’t dry yet.”
Chen Li acknowledged and laid his head on Wei Chen’s lap, indicating that he wanted Wei Chen to blow-dry his hair.
Wei Chen took the hairdryer and gently combed through Chen Li’s damp hair, drying it tenderly. By the time his hair was dry, Chen Li had already fallen asleep, worn out by their earlier vigorous activity and unable to resist fatigue.
Wei Chen looked at Chen Li with tender affection in his eyes. He gently lifted Chen Li and placed him back on the bed. Chen Li, undisturbed by Wei Chen’s actions, continued sleeping peacefully, subconsciously pulling Wei Chen’s waist closer and nuzzling affectionately.
Wei Chen softly caressed Chen Li’s soft hair but didn’t immediately fall asleep. He fetched a document that had been placed on the bedside table.
It was a transfer of equity document, transferring sixty-three percent of shares previously held by the Shanghai’s Chen Family to the Dawn Group. The transferor was Wei Chen, and the recipient of these shares was Chen Li.
Just as Jiang Ye had speculated, Wei Chen indeed transferred all of the Chen family’s shares to Chen Li.
Chen Li was owed by the Chen family, and he would slowly reclaim what was rightfully his. And this was merely the beginning.
Wei Chen’s demeanor turned stern, his dark eyes chillingly cold. He wasn’t going to let the Chen family off the hook so easily. He wanted them to experience the creeping numbness and helplessness amidst despair and encroaching darkness.
All of this was what they owed Chen Li!
Whether Chen Li sensed the icy aura emanating from Wei Chen or not, he snuggled closer to him, murmuring softly, “Achen.”
Instantly, the coldness in Wei Chen’s eyes dissipated, replaced by tender warmth. His fingers delicately traced Chen Li’s delicate face, then he set aside the equity transfer document, lay down, and pulled Chen Li into his embrace.
In the middle of the night, Qiuqiu woke up hungry. Chen Li hadn’t opened his eyes yet when he heard a gentle voice, “You sleep, I’ll go prepare milk for Qiuqiu.”
Chen Li nodded sleepily and dozed off again.
Qiuqiu didn’t cry but let out a few cries of hunger before playing with toys in the crib, chewing on the rabbit-shaped teether. When Wei Chen approached, Qiuqiu grinned, teeth clenched on the toy, and uttered, “Da… da…”
Wei Chen’s hand froze mid-air, his eyes reflecting disbelief. Softly, he urged, “Qiuqiu, say it again!”
This time, when Qiuqiu called “dad,” it wasn’t a fluke; it was genuine. The pronunciation was remarkably clear. “Dad.”
Even though Wei Chen had mentally prepared himself, he was overwhelmed by the sensation when Qiuqiu called him “dad.” Trembling with excitement, he joyfully lifted Qiuqiu, planting several kisses on his face.
Qiuqiu sensed Wei Chen’s happiness and called “dad” a few more times.
After Wei Chen regained his composure, he woke up Chen Li. He knew that Li Li had been waiting for this moment too.
When Chen Li woke up, he was a bit dazed. However, when the clear and distinct word “dad” from Qiuqiu reached his ears, all his sleepiness vanished in an instant. Excitedly, he lifted Qiuqiu, jumping around on the soft bed for quite some time.
“Qiuqiu can say ‘dad’! That’s amazing!” Chen Li laughed, his eyes narrowing into joyful slits. His son could really say “dad”!
After watching for a while, Wei Chen remembered that Qiuqiu was hungry. He went to prepare milk for Qiuqiu. When he returned, Chen Li hadn’t calmed down yet. He was still hugging Qiuqiu, silly and giggling, repeatedly coaxing Qiuqiu to call “dad.”
It might have been Wei Chen’s imagination, but when Qiuqiu looked at him, it seemed as if the child saw a savior, extending a hand toward him.
“Li Li, Qiuqiu’s hungry,” Wei Chen approached, not taking Qiuqiu from Chen Li’s arms but passing the bottle instead.
“Oh.” Chen Li took the bottle and placed it near Qiuqiu’s mouth. Qiuqiu immediately latched onto the teat, sucking vigorously. As Qiuqiu quieted down, Chen Li remained ecstatic, still reveling in the joy of being called “dad.” He looked at Wei Chen excitedly. “Achen, Qiuqiu called me dad!”
Wei Chen nodded, his eyes gentle and filled with joy. “I heard.”
Later, as Qiuqiu fell asleep while drinking milk, his long eyelashes fluttering, looking adorable, he continued sucking on the bottle until he finished it. Chen Li gently placed Qiuqiu in the crib and then both he and Wei Chen returned to the bed, without any sleepwear. With an assertive grip, Chen Li wrapped his arms around Wei Chen’s waist, lifting his head to bite on Wei Chen’s chin.
“Achen, does it hurt?”
