Author: 颜凉雨 / Yan Liang Yu

Translator: Kinky || https://kinkytranslations.com/

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Chapter 63: Midnight Movies

6/23, Castle Hotel, Beijing time.

[Owl: Congratulations on finding the 6/23 Castle Medal!]

Zheng Luozhu breathed a sigh of relief amidst the congratulations and opened the hidden compartment of his [Stationery Box]. The last empty slot now held a [Castle Medal].

At this point, all 13 slots in the hidden compartment of the [Stationery Box] had been filled.

He was delighted, having worked hard for so many days, feeling both relieved and accomplished.

But he couldn’t show it, as Fan Peiyang’s face showed no trace of joy.

“Boss,” Zheng Luozhu had decided to remind him. “We’ve collected all the badges from 1 to 13.”

“Yeah.” Fan Peiyang responded nonchalantly, clearly aware.

But his eyes remained cold, like a desolate early winter wilderness, where all that’s lively and vibrant had been suppressed under ice and snow, leaving only endless bleakness and indifference.

Zheng Luozhu fell silent, no longer saying anything else.

“How many days till the rankings are released?” Fan Peiyang suddenly asked, his voice becoming a bit heavier.

When it came to business matters, Zheng Luozhu didn’t dare stall and promptly replied with respect, “Three days.”

Fan Peiyang slightly tilted his head, looking at a wall painting as if admiring it or pondering something.

“In three days, our score will be 9/23.” Zheng Luozhu guessed what his boss was concerned about. “We’ll easily make it into the top five on the leaderboard. Although the reward will be less than first place…”

“Get ready,” Fan Peiyang interrupted indifferently. “Refresh the records the day after tomorrow and the day after that.” His gaze was still fixed on the painting, yet his voice remained calm, as if he were discussing something ordinary.

Zheng Luozhu hesitated, unsure if he had understood correctly. “You mean…”

Fan Peiyang had turned his gaze back, looking directly at Zheng Luozhu and the three people behind him. “Before the rankings are released, I want to return to the top of the leaderboard.”

His words were clear and undeniable.

Zheng Luozhu wouldn’t have disagreed. After all, they were paid for this job. “Understood.”

But while money can buy his fighting ability, it can’t corrode his soul…

Fan Peiyang: “The person collecting the papers…”

Zheng Luozhu: “Already locked on. If you find it troublesome, we can clear the area first to ensure you can submit your paper in peace.”

Yes, not a bit of his soul had been corroded!

Beijing Time.

[Owl: Congratulations on passing the 6/23 test and handing in your papers! See you tomorrow~~]

For the first time in many days, Zheng Luozhu felt genuine joy at this congratulations. They no longer needed to repeatedly advance and retreat, manipulate levels, and could now focus on moving forward.

What lies beyond 13/23? Nobody knew.

That’s exactly why it was so exciting.

Fan Peiyang made a phone call, and within five minutes, a car arrived to pick them up at the location they popped out of.

Two black Bentleys smoothly stopped in front of them, looking low-key, yet elegant.

From the second Bentley, a well-groomed, gentle-looking man wearing glasses stepped out. His hair was meticulously combed, and his suit was immaculately wrinkle-free. Without saying anything, he first handed the car keys to Zheng Luozhu, then opened the rear door of the first car for Fan Peiyang.

Fan Peiyang had gotten in. The bespectacled man didn’t return to the second car but instead took the passenger seat in the first.

As the car window rose, Zheng Luozhu heard him report to Fan Peiyang. “President Tang’s health is stable.”

Fan Peiyang nodded as the window closed completely.

But Zheng Luozhu caught a fleeting warmth in Fan Peiyang’s eyes at the mention of “President Tang”.

Zheng Luozhu and the other three got into the second Bentley, knowing well that their luggage was properly placed in the trunk.

As the lead car drove off, Zheng Luozhu started the engine and followed steadily.

The three subordinates, having restrained themselves all night, finally relaxed. One in the passenger seat, two in the back—they were slumped like three limp noodles.

“Earning money these days is too hard…”

“Who exactly is this President Tang? Always the first to be reported…”

“Zheng Ge, do you know the inside story?”

“With the night shift’s pay, don’t worry about the day shift’s business.” Zheng Luozhu glanced at the time in the car. “It’s a six-hour drive to Beijing. We’ll arrive around eleven. What do you want for lunch? My treat.”

His subordinates were usually food-focused, yet this time they didn’t bother placing their order. They were surprised when they heard what he had said.

“So we’re going back to Beijing? No wonder he said we’d start refreshing records the day after tomorrow…”

“Looks like we’re spending another night at the first level…”

“Why does every level close to Beijing require a day’s return? Does he not have any parents, wife, or kids?”

Zheng Luozhu was tired and instinctively corrected, “His parents passed away early, and he’s still single.”

“It’s all the same anyway.”

“But think about it. If I had such a big company in Beijing, I also wouldn’t trust it to others. I’d have to check on it now and then.”

“Right, otherwise where would the money come from to pay our salaries?”

“……” Zheng Luozhu still couldn’t figure out how he ended up with these three subordinates, whose talents seemed to be entirely in physical strength, with brains like overgrown weed gardens.

However, he let them interpret things their way; after all, it was an unclear matter.

Besides, whether Fan Peiyang returned to Beijing for someone or for his company didn’t concern them. As he had just said, they were paid for the night shift, handling the “Owl” related tasks. He might be Fan Peiyang’s night secretary, but Fan Peiyang’s real life was the responsibility of the daytime secretary, who had just come to pick them up.

What was that elegant, bespectacled secretary’s name again?

Oh right, Shan Yunsong.

……

“Go straight to the hospital.”

As soon as the car entered Beijing, Fan Peiyang issued a straightforward instruction. Shan Yunsong didn’t say any unnecessary words and just responded with, “Okay, President Fan.”

Fan Peiyang continued to rest with his eyes closed.

Shan Yunsong gave the driver a look, and the driver, now reassured, changed the route from returning to the company to going to the hospital.

It was approaching noon in Beijing, so the traffic wasn’t too bad. The car could move along, though not very fast.

Shan Yunsong, looking out the window, was calm inside. Even when his mind was busy, he rarely felt restless or impatient.

This was a habit formed over many years as a secretary.

Shan Yunsong had two bosses, one named Tang Lin, the other Fan Peiyang. He had been with them since they started their business. Initially, he found it odd that the one with a cold-sounding name was warm like the sun, while the one with a gentle-sounding name could freeze someone with a glance*.

*Clarity: The [Lin] (凛) in Tang Lin means cold, while the [Yang] (阳) in Peiyang refers to the sun.

This question remained unresolved to this day.

Over a decade, the company had grown from a handful of people to being listed on the A-share market. Yet, Shan Yunsong found himself missing the old days.

Back then, Tang Lin was healthy—not like now, sneaking out of the hospital to catch a midnight movie.

Back then, Fan Peiyang was diligently working, unlike now, often missing for days on end.

Shan Yunsong didn’t know who those four people were or what Fan Peiyang was doing with them out of town. He thought about it but never asked; his salary included silence.

When the car arrived at the hospital, Fan Peiyang got out and noticeably quickened his pace. Shan Yunsong followed, and they soon reached the hospital room.

In the single room, Tang Lin was reading a book. The sunshine was good, casting a soft glow on him.

Every time Shan Yunsong saw Tang Lin, even in a wheelchair, it was hard to believe he only had three years left to live.

This was the most optimistic conclusion after Fan Peiyang sought the best doctors worldwide.

Tang Lin had a brain tumor in a tricky location that couldn’t be operated on. It was pressing on his nerves daily.

Initially, Tang Lin just had regular numbness in his legs, but now he couldn’t walk.

The tumor could rupture at any time. Even with conservative treatment, considering its current growth rate, he had at most three years left—this was the verdict fate had handed to Tang Lin.

Through the glass, Fan Peiyang watched silently for a minute before entering. Shan Yunsong stayed outside.

He didn’t eavesdrop intentionally, but the hospital doors weren’t soundproof, and bits of conversation drifted out occasionally.

“The company is so busy. Why do you keep coming to the hospital? I’m still lively.”

That was Tang Lin, full of life.

“Jump and show me.”

A light retort from Fan Peiyang was enough to silence someone.

Sometimes Shan Yunsong thought Fan Peiyang wasn’t visiting the hospital to care for Tang Lin, but almost as if it were a form of revenge.

Sure enough, Tang Lin’s voice lowered, muttering something indistinct.

Shan Yunsong actually wanted to tell Tang Lin that the company was indeed busy, but it had nothing to do with President Fan. As for what President Fan was busy with, nobody knew.

The room fell silent for a while, likely because President Fan was peeling an apple.

Tang Lin loved apples and always meticulously peeled them, taking pride in his skill at keeping the peel unbroken.

Shan Yunsong remembered clearly how Fan Peiyang used to scoff at this, seeing it as a waste of time on trivial matters. After all, no matter how skillfully one peeled an apple, it wouldn’t profit the company.

Tang Lin, rendered speechless by this logic, grew even more fond of eating apples, especially deliberately peeling them in front of Fan Peiyang.

Fan Peiyang had no choice but to pretend he didn’t see.

Back then, if someone had told Shan Yunsong that one day President Fan would personally peel apples and even practice diligently in his office to keep the peel unbroken, he would have thought they were crazy.

Yet, nothing is impossible in this world.

“You just went last week, and you’re going again tonight?” Fan Peiyang’s slightly rising tone indicated his displeasure.

This might intimidate the company staff, but it was like a gentle breeze to Tang Lin.

“This month has many big releases. What can I do? If you eat a red apple today, does that mean you give up on the yellow apple tomorrow?”

“……”

Fan Peiyang was helpless inside the room.

Shan Yunsong outside didn’t know what to say either.

He, like President Fan, couldn’t understand Tang Lin’s obsession with midnight movies and apples. Apples were harmless enough, but midnight movies weren’t a good habit for a patient needing regular rest.

Yet Tang Lin loved them. If he wanted to see a film, he had to catch the first midnight showing, even if it meant sacrificing sleep. It had always been like this, even when the company was extremely busy, and it remained the same now.

Tang Lin: “I know my condition. Yes, going to the cinema in a wheelchair may look sad, but this is my only hobby. I’ve cut down on it, filtering out the ones I can miss. But you have to let me keep this hobby. I don’t have many days left…”

Fan Peiyang: “Go.”

Tang Lin: “You could’ve agreed earlier instead of making me plead.”

Fan Peiyang: “I’ll go with you.”

Tang Lin: “Huh?”

Fan Peiyang: “I’ll accompany you to watch.”

Tang Lin: “Is it raining red outside…”

Fan Peiyang: “I take it back.”

Tang Lin: “Don’t. We’ve known each other for so long, and this is the first time you’ve agreed to join me for a midnight showing. If you back out, we’re no longer friends!”

……

Beijing Time, Cinema.

Fan Peiyang had booked the entire theater, so in the vast screening room, it was just him and Tang Lin.

The lights were out, and the film’s opening credits had already started on the big screen.

“Hoot, hoot—”

Fan Peiyang gently withdrew his hand while resting on the wheelchair, quietly waiting for the two minutes to pass and the feeling of weightlessness to come.

Tang Lin continued to stare intently ahead; his eyes fixed on the screen. The light from the screen cast a soft, beautiful glow on his face.

……

Beijing Time, Hospital.

Shan Yunsong was dozing on a bench in the hallway when he heard footsteps and reflexively opened his eyes.

As expected, it was the boss.

“Good morning, President Fan.” Shan Yunsong immediately got up.

Fan Peiyang walked to the door of the hospital room, observing Tang Lin inside, who was intently peeling a large apple for himself. He frowned slightly. “Didn’t he sleep?”

“He slept for over two hours after coming back,” Shan Yunsong reported truthfully. “President Tang always sleeps less after watching a midnight movie.”

Fan Peiyang nodded. “Go wait for me in the car.”

Shan Yunsong immediately recognized his boss didn’t want him to eavesdrop and smartly left to find his boss’ car downstairs.

After accompanying Tang Lin to a midnight movie and then bringing him back, staying up till now was essentially like working a night shift—Shan Yunsong also urgently needed to catch up on sleep.

As Shan Yunsong went downstairs, Fan Peiyang entered the hospital room.

“Why are you here again?” Tang Lin was more surprised than yesterday. “Aren’t you supposed to go out of town today?”

Fan Peiyang sat down, took the apple from his hand, and continued peeling it as if it were his mission in this hospital room. “I have a flight this afternoon.”

“You shouldn’t push yourself too hard,” Tang Lin said sincerely. Now it was only Fan Peiyang who was holding things together in the company, and he looked even thinner than Tang Lin, who was terminally ill.

“By the way,” Fan Peiyang, still lowering his head as if mentioning it casually, said, “Next time I come back, I’ll accompany you to a midnight showing.”

“Really?” Tang Lin was both surprised and regretful. “Why didn’t you say so earlier? If I had known, I wouldn’t have asked Xiao Shan to go with me yesterday. He had a face of utter boredom throughout the movie.”

Fan Peiyang replied indifferently, “I just thought of it.”

“This will be your first time agreeing to join me for a midnight showing.” Tang Lin planned the prospect seriously. “I have to pick a really good movie worth the ticket price. I can’t choose a bad one; it might leave you with a psychological scar…”

Fan Peiyang nodded in agreement. “Yes, make sure to choose carefully.”

……

At nine in the morning, Fan Peiyang returned to the company. After holding a brief meeting with the senior executives and listening to their reports, he closed the door of his office and sat down quietly in his chair.

Why had he never thought of accompanying Tang Lin to a midnight showing before entering the “Owl”?

Fan Peiyang thought that perhaps back then he always felt there would be plenty of opportunities in the future.

Many things, just like that, in the ‘future’, turned into regrets.

Fan Peiyang took out the movie ticket stub from last night from his pocket, opened the only drawer with a fingerprint lock, and gently placed the ticket stub inside.

The drawer wasn’t large, but the bottom was already covered with ticket stubs, all from midnight showings.

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The author has something to say:

Actually, I don’t like watching midnight showings, as I always feel they disrupt my sleep schedule. So, every time I get dragged to one, I complain a lot. But writing this chapter, I suddenly feel grateful. Even though I complained, I didn’t miss out. We should cherish the friends who invite us to midnight showings~~

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