CFRFGC Chapter 36

⌈I bullied a kid.⌋

The news about Madam Shen coming to catch the “illegitimate son” had nearly spread throughout the capital.

Many people were present that day.

Moreover, it wasn’t a closed-off booth; there were plenty of people leaning against the fence, eating melon seeds and watching the drama unfold.

Although those who were further away might not have been clear about the truth of the matter.

However, with Ji Min’s capabilities, he could easily uncover the real news.

It was just that this real news was somewhat hard to believe.

So much so that Ji Min couldn’t help but confirm it twice.

Outside the spacious and open cloakroom, Butler Chen nodded earnestly: “That’s right; this is something Madam Shen personally admitted that day.”

Ji Min turned his head, continuing to tie his tie in front of the mirror.

His long, strong fingers twisted the cobalt-blue tie into a knot, but then, somewhat impatiently, he pulled it off and tossed it into the cabinet beside him.

“She let her biological son stay in the servant’s quarters?”

“She had her second son find someone to run over the youngest son’s dog.”

“And even signed a so-called sponsorship agreement with her own son?”

By the end, Ji Min nearly laughed out loud.

Butler Chen shrugged and candidly said, “I also find it hard to believe.”

Ji Min shook his head, picked up the tie again, and tied it properly.

He rarely performed useless actions.

Due to his physical limitations, he aimed for simplicity.

The fact that he had tied the same tie twice today already indicated his inner turmoil.

As usual, Ji Min took care of his attire.

Yet, his slightly slowed movements revealed that he was lost in thought.

He suddenly recalled the flame in Lu Ran’s eyes.

In that small servant’s room, the boy had mockingly asked him: “If you want to sleep with me, do you think my father would pack me up and send me to your bed?”

At the sponsorship conference, the boy stood on stage, calmly stating that he was an orphan.

And then there was that day outside the elevator.

Lu Ran turned back to look at him with piercing eyes: “If I truly accepted my fate, how would I live?”

Ji Min initially thought this was the maneuvering of a temporarily disadvantaged, yet scheming usurper.

However, he hadn’t expected that this might… just be a counterattack forced to the edge of a cliff.

Ji Min had little empathy.

He rarely delved deeply into the feelings and thoughts of others.

But at this moment, he couldn’t help but wonder.

What was the emotion of that child standing on stage seeking sponsorship when he saw his mother in the audience?

As a member of the Shen family by blood.

What was it like for him to see all his relatives living in the bright, spacious second and third floors while he was cooped up in that tiny servant’s room, which didn’t even have a wardrobe?

No wonder…

Even after receiving sponsorship, Lu Ran still chose to work at a nearby cafe.

Because he knew very well that he had no so-called backing.

He had to keep moving forward.

Thinking about the “study abroad” sponsorship he had proposed, Ji Min suddenly closed his eyes.

He reached up to pinch the bridge of his nose.

When he opened his eyes again, his dark gaze returned to its usual calmness.

Since he had spent too much time in the cloakroom, the butler waiting outside gently reminded him: “Sir, breakfast is ready.”

“Got it,” Ji Min replied.

He maneuvered his wheelchair out of the cloakroom and entered the elevator to the second floor.

As usual, he had some breakfast before heading to the company.

There was a lot of work waiting for Ji Min.

In theory, he didn’t have the time or energy to spare for thinking about others’ affairs.

That child had nothing to do with him.

Lu Ran’s background surprised Ji Min.

But that was just another piece of gossip circulating in the high society of the capital.

Yet there were occasional moments…

When Ji Min would find himself lost in thought for a second during his work.

In his mind, the image of the boy walking into the cold wind with lowered eyes would suddenly surface.

Every time this happened, a rare emotion would emerge, like a small stone being thrown into the calm lake of Ji Min’s heart.

During lunchtime.

Ji Min worked overtime as usual.

When he left the office, employees outside had already gathered in small groups to eat.

At the moment he stepped out, the surrounding staff, as always, discreetly watched him.

Ji Min didn’t pay attention to those looks laced with pity.

Nor did he head straight to the elevator like he usually did.

His wheelchair stopped midway.

Ji Min turned to look at the familiar paper bag on the desk beside him.

The two people at the workstation were still chatting idly.

“This cafe’s latte tastes pretty good.”

“I love their cheesecake; I order it every day.”

The person opposite teased.

“Is that really about the cake? Or are you more interested in the cute barista?”

“What’s wrong with that? Those puppy dog eyes are adorable.”

The volume of their conversation dwindled under Ji Min’s gaze.

Finally, the two stopped talking.

They exchanged awkward smiles and looked at Ji Min: “President… would you like something to eat?”

Some words danced on Ji Min’s tongue but then faded away.

In the end, he simply said, “No, thanks.”

Ji Min entered the elevator.

This time, the elevator was empty.

In the reflective walls of the elevator, there was only his wheelchair and him.

There was no sight of that thin, frail boy, who had carried nearly ten large paper bags.

No one was frantically retreating to the corner of the elevator with paper bags in hand to avoid him.

No one pretended to be brave and shoved their paper bags against his wheelchair.

Ji Min sat quietly in his wheelchair.

He watched as the floor numbers jumped down one by one.

Along the way, no one pressed the elevator button.

There was no one fumbling with a bunch of paper bags, struggling to squeeze into the elevator with his phone.

Nothing at all.

This scene was merely something Ji Min hoped to see for a fleeting moment.

“Ding.”

The elevator reached the first floor.

As the elevator doors opened, Ji Min remembered his thoughts the last time he shared an elevator ride.

Scheming thoughts.

A fool who couldn’t be saved.

In that instant, Ji Min suddenly understood.

Throughout the day, emotions would intermittently break through the surface, interrupting his work and forcing him to continually reflect on what exactly Lu Ran’s feelings were.

Perhaps it was… a sense of guilt stemming from arrogance.

Along with a hint of annoyance.

And embarrassment.

The idea of studying abroad seemed like a kind-hearted sponsorship.

Yet he had told that boy: you don’t deserve to stay in the Shen family; you don’t deserve to compete for or possess the things you desire.

But the ridiculous part was…

No one was more deserving than him.

Those things were rightfully Lu Ran’s.

There was no need to fight or compete.

They should have been given to him lovingly, cradled with care.

Yet now they were being pointed at, with someone saying, “You don’t deserve it.”

After Lu Ran had refused, Ji Min, out of politeness, didn’t say anything.

But certain subtle judgments still seeped through his demeanor.

Ji Min didn’t know if Lu Ran felt it.

Thinking back to the last time they met when the boy silently walked out of the Ji building…

He probably did sense it.

In the following days.

The employees of Ji Corporation felt as if red rain was falling from the sky.

They were as gloomy as a vampire, preferring to stay in the office as much as possible.

The boss, who only left the office for significant matters, was actually out—

Shopping?!

Good heavens!

Was the chairman possessed?!

The first time Ji Min went out, everyone around was incredibly tense.

By the second and third times he ventured out, a group of employees began asking Ji Min’s assistant for information.

They wanted to know if there were any major moves happening in the company.

Were they going to lay off employees?

As a result, several departments across multiple floors saw a significant boost in work efficiency.

Everyone was afraid that the axe might fall on them if they weren’t careful.

As Ji Min continued to go out more…

The employees gradually desensitized.

They returned to normal, even losing the cautious attitude they usually had towards Ji Min.

To be fair, their boss was quite handsome.

Although his serious expression could be intimidating, he could still be considered a striking presence.

Some even found themselves with nothing to do and summarized Ji Min’s patterns of movement.

He usually appeared around mealtimes.

His range was limited to the office and the area around the elevator.

He would take a few rounds in the elevator.

For now, he seemed mild and harmless.

But when he stepped out of the elevator, his expression wasn’t exactly pleasant.

Ji Min didn’t care what others thought.

It was as if he merely added some walking time before and after meals.

But Butler Chen noticed something and smiled, asking, “It seems you’ve been quite free lately, sir?”

Ji Min responded calmly.

He didn’t give Butler Chen a chance to tease him and directly said, “I’m looking for an opportunity to make up for my mistakes.”

It was due to stubborn arrogance that he felt annoyance and embarrassment.

The sooner he made amends, the sooner he could put an end to it.

He wanted to snuff out that growing sense of guilt before it kept surfacing during his work, reminding him—

That he had bullied a child.

Butler Chen smiled and said, “Then why don’t you try a more efficient way, sir? For example, order takeout yourself?”

Ji Min: “…”

He pressed his thin lips together.

The elderly butler, with a warm smile in his gentle eyes, seemed to understand.

“Oh… so it’s because you’re embarrassed,” he said.

Ji Min: “…”

He remotely maneuvered his wheelchair and turned back to the office.

That evening, Ji Min followed Butler Chen’s suggestion.

In the past, he always relied on his assistant to order meals.

This time, Ji Min didn’t notify anyone. He downloaded a food delivery app on his phone and placed an order himself.

He rarely ate out.

As he ordered, he felt unfamiliar with the operation of the delivery app.

After placing the order, he set his phone aside.

The emotions that had been bubbling up inside him lately began to fade a bit.

Ji Min knew Butler Chen was right.

If he had dealt with it from the very beginning, the disruption to his emotions wouldn’t have been so significant.

He reviewed two documents.

Recently, some issues arose with the ongoing project. Immersed in his overtime work, Ji Min gradually forgot about the takeout.

He made a phone call to arrange a meeting with a project supervisor.

Maneuvering his wheelchair out of the office, he headed straight for the elevator.

Just as Ji Min was about to press the elevator button…

The elevator doors suddenly opened.

A paper bag with a familiar logo unexpectedly came into view.

The bags were haphazardly piled up.

Seeing them made his heart skip a beat.

Ji Min looked up.

The faint drumming in his chest immediately calmed down.

“Sorry, sorry!”

A strange male voice came from the elevator.

The male voice was rough, lacking the clarity of youth.

The delivery person, wearing the same uniform, was a heavy-set adult man, effortlessly carrying a dozen paper bags in his arms.

Ji Min paused for a moment before shifting his wheelchair back slightly.

“Sorry, I didn’t bump into you, did I, sir?”

Xiao Wang scratched his head and asked.

Ji Min shook his head.

As he watched the delivery worker start to walk away, something clicked in his mind.

He said, “There’s a delivery for me.”

Deep inside, the seed of guilt that had just been snuffed out began to poke its head out again.

It seemed to be thriving under some kind of sunlight, clawing and shouting for attention.

Ji Min thought to himself that ordering takeout was pointless.

The next day at noon, Ji Min paid attention again.

The delivery person was the same one he had seen the night before.

That evening, Ji Min ordered takeout once more.

This time, he stayed in the office.

When the door was knocked, Ji Min hesitated for a moment, staring at the office door.

A few seconds later, he casually called out, “Come in.”

Again, the paper bags entered first.

But the figure behind the bags was still not the person he wanted to see.

As he took the delivery, Ji Min hesitated for a moment before directly asking, “Did the delivery person who came before resign?”

Xiao Wang looked surprised at his question.

But he still answered truthfully, “No.”

Ji Min paused.

Xiao Wang quickly understood and added, “Oh. I don’t know what’s going on, but he said that from now on, all orders from Ji Corporation will be handled by me.”

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