The Secret Realm of Time, His and Her Life Through the Changes

Chapter 102 Behind Humanity Lies the Ever-Changing Clouds

Jian Zheng shook his head at Zhou Yanruo and continued, "The medical bills haven't been paid. The people at the hospital's payment counter said that 'Hongzhi Company' has deposited a check and will cover all the expenses."

Zhou Yanruo said, "Hongzhi Company is Cheng Zhi's father's company. I heard Cheng Zhi mention it; when he was born and his name was chosen, his father changed the company name for him, taking the first and last characters of '鸿鹄之志' (honghu zhi zhi, meaning 'ambition of a great swan'). It was an expectation for Cheng Zhi and a vision for the company's future. Sigh..."

After a moment of silence, Jian Zheng continued, "I ran into one of your classmates at the hospital. She looked familiar but I couldn't remember her name. She was a slightly chubby girl with a round face."

Zhou Yanruo said, "It should be Zhang Ying."

Jian Zheng said, "She must have met me before and knows that you, Wang Jie, and I are friends. She told me that tomorrow is Cheng Zhi's funeral, and all the classmates and teachers will be attending. She also said that she hasn't seen you all these days and doesn't know if you've received any notice. The classmates have agreed to meet at the school gate at 6 a.m. tomorrow and then go to the funeral home in the eastern suburbs together."

Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo exchanged a glance and said, "I haven't received any notification."

Zhou Yanruo said, "I haven't received any notification either."

Jian Zheng asked in surprise, "Neither of you received a notification? I was thinking that since I can't go tomorrow, I'd have you see him off and bring him flowers. What's going on?"

Thinking back on what had happened in front of Cuihu Villa these past few days, Wang Jie understood a bit more.

So he told Jian Zheng about the cold shoulders he and Zhou Yanruo had received when they visited Cheng Zhi's parents these past few days, and the vicious insults they had been subjected to this morning.

As Zhou Yanruo listened to these events, it felt as if she were reliving them all. She felt sad and tears involuntarily streamed down her face.

Jian Zheng listened without any resentment, but sighed and said, "Sigh... It's not their fault. Cheng Zhi fell into the water while saving me. We were together. The family is taking their anger out on you. We can only suffer in silence."

"You can't say that. Who were you trying to save when you went into the water?" Zhou Yanruo wiped away her tears and said, her neck stiff.

After a moment's thought, Wang Jie said, "Tomorrow, we still need to attend Cheng Zhi's funeral to see him off on his final journey."

“Do we have to go even if they don’t welcome us?” Zhou Yanruo asked.

Wang Jie said, "Tomorrow we'll go to the East Suburbs Funeral Home first to see the situation before deciding whether to go in or not. If they really won't let us in to attend Cheng Zhi's funeral, we'll still send him off in our own way."

Zhou Yanruo said, "Our own way? You mean even if we can't get into the scene, we'll see him off at the entrance of the funeral home."

Wang Jie said, "Well, we have to go so we won't have any regrets. Cheng Zhi won't blame us."

While Wang Jie and Zhou Yanruo were discussing, Jian Zheng sat silently, not uttering a single word.

So Wang Jie asked Jian Zheng for her opinion: "Jian Zheng, what do you think?"

Jian Zheng replied in a low voice, "You decide for yourselves, I can't go."

Before even speaking, Jian Zheng sighed, "You guys haven't been watching the news these past few days, have you?"

"What news? I didn't see it."

"The rich young master lost his life in a deep pool while trying to save the son of an official," "What's the use of being rich but not noble? The young master's life is not as valuable as the son's life," and other such reports appeared on the front page and in prominent positions of the Xichuan Daily and Xichuan Times.

Zhou Yanruo asked, "What do you mean? What was reported?"

Wang Jie said, "Is this an insinuation about you and Cheng Zhi? It's clearly aimed at your mother."

Jian Zheng said, "I already knew the general meaning from the title, but the description in the article is even more vicious, it's like killing someone by destroying their spirit."

"You mean someone did this on purpose?"

"Is there even a question? Someone spent a lot of money on it."

Zhou Yanruo was momentarily confused. "Isn't your mother the mayor? Who would dare to cause trouble for her?"

Jian Zheng said, "My mother was the leader of the group that was in charge of regulating lake and field aquaculture and clearing out aquaculture farmers."

Wang Jie said, "Those people are taking advantage of this accident to make a big fuss, create momentum, and manipulate public opinion. But how could Uncle Cheng cooperate with them? After all, it concerns Cheng Zhi..."

"He was more than just a cooperator; he was one of the leaders."

Zhou Yanruo was completely confused. "Isn't your mother friends with Uncle Cheng? How could this be?"

"Human nature is ever-changing," Jian Zhengbiao remarked.

He continued, "At first, my mom told me to get less involved, but I didn't understand and we had a big argument. Now I'm starting to realize that someone is using this incident to stir up trouble, expand its impact, divert public attention, and try to disrupt the normal work of the Cuihu environmental cleanup team."

Jian Zheng added, "These are all things my mother told me."

Wang Jie said, "So your aunt kept reminding you not to get involved anymore?"

Zhou Yanruo said from the side, "No wonder you've been saying that Shanshan hasn't been around for the past few days. It turns out there was such a big scheme behind it all."

Jian Zheng said helplessly, "Well, I had no choice. I didn't want this to affect my mother's work, and I didn't want anyone to make a big deal out of it. With all the interests of all parties involved, no matter who wins in the end, it's disrespectful to the deceased."

Wang Jie said, "There will definitely be reporters at the East Suburbs Funeral Home tomorrow. Don't go. If someone takes pictures of you, who knows what they'll write about it?"

“I came here to discuss this with you. Aren’t you the ‘wise strategist’?” Jian Zheng said. “Actually, it’s a difficult decision. If I don’t go, people will say I’m ungrateful. If I do go, people will say I’m hypocritical.”

Zhou Yanruo glared at him and said, "Just follow your heart. If you want to go, go. If you have concerns, don't go. Who can do anything to you?"

After thinking for a moment, Wang Jie said, "You'd better not go. Don't let yourself be taken advantage of and affect Auntie's work."

"I'll listen to you. You have a clear understanding of the issues, and I trust you."

As soon as Jian Zheng finished speaking, almost simultaneously, his pager and Wang Jie's pager went off at the same time.

The two exchanged a glance, then looked down to examine themselves.

The message was sent to the two of them by Zhang Qianqun: "Same place tonight, beer and skewers."

Wang Jie looked up at Jian Zheng and said, "Zhang Qian invited us to have some barbecue. Has he been busy lately? I hope the lab work is going smoothly."

Having been classmates for four years in college, Wang Jie knew Zhang Qian well. He was introverted and had little money, and he wouldn't take the initiative to organize a dinner unless there was a reason.

Jian Zheng was also surprised. "I haven't seen Zhang Qian for almost a month. The last time I saw him was with beer and skewers, with two of Professor Zhou's students. Later, his senior also came. Oh, right, that was the time you left early."

After Jian Zheng finished speaking, he glanced at Zhou Yanruo, as if to remind Wang Jie that he had left early to go back to school to see the injured Zhou Yanruo.

Wang Jie said, "Hmm, I remember now. After I left early, you said his senior, Yin, had arrived."

Jian Zheng asked, "Are you going?"

Wang Jie shook her head. "I'm not going. I'm not in the mood. You brought your phone with you, right? Send him a message and let's make it up another time."

Following Wang Jie's instructions, Jian Zheng sent a message to Zhang Qian.

A short while later, Wang Jie's pager went off again.

Wang Jie took out his pager and said, "Zhang Qian replied to the message. Why didn't your pager go off? Did you stop sending group messages?"

“You know we’re here together, right?” Jian Zheng said.

Wang Jie stared at the message on the pager, then his expression changed.

Jian Zheng asked, "What's wrong?"

Wang Jie stood up and walked up to Zhou Yanruo, saying in a deep voice, "Xue Jiang is gone..."