"If you don't handle it well, you'll die."
Ren Ye snapped back to reality, his voice tinged with a forced calm. "To be honest, I'm scared. Meeting them... it'll only make me more afraid."
Huang Wei remained silent, only letting out a low grunt of acknowledgment. Then, with a deliberate motion, he retrieved a thick envelope from inside his coat and slid it onto the table between them. "This is the 100,000 yuan you asked for yesterday."
Ren Ye glanced at the envelope, giving a small nod. He didn't bother with thanks.
Huang Wei took a deep drag from his cigarette, letting the smoke linger in the air before speaking again. "Also, based on the pension standards of your original workplace, I've managed to secure an advance for you—more than 1.3 million yuan. The exact figure's in the account. You can use it now."
Ren Ye's lips tightened as he listened. His hand hovered briefly near the envelope before retreating. "If I live, I'll take the money myself. If I don't..." He paused, exhaling slowly. "You'll give it to my father."
The words were simple, but they carried a weight that pressed against the room. Ren Ye leaned back, as if trying to create space between himself and the tension gnawing at his mind. His tone turned cold and businesslike.
Huang Wei gave a slow nod, carefully observing him. "Actually..." he began, hesitating as he weighed his next words. "This sum, while significant and unprecedented for early approval, felt justified. I thought it was the least we could do for you, given..."
His words trailed off, his tone somewhere between self-congratulation and an attempt to offer comfort. It was clear he saw the gesture as both magnanimous and pragmatic.
Ren Ye, sensing the subtle undertone of pride, turned to him abruptly. "Is that it? Nothing else?"
"Huh?" Huang Wei blinked, thrown off by the sudden shift. "What else were you expecting?"
Ren Ye's expression hardened, his voice now devoid of any pretense of gratitude. "I have a few requests."
Huang Wei stiffened, but his hand instinctively reached for a small notebook. "Go ahead. I'll take note."
The elder man's reaction betrayed no surprise. In his mind, it was reasonable for someone walking into danger to make demands, even if they were unlikely to survive.
Ren Ye leaned forward slightly, his tone measured but sharp. "You're familiar with my situation. My parents divorced when I was young. My father raised my sister and me alone, scraping by with his income as an online writer. If I'm walking into this, I need to ensure his future is secure." His eyes locked on Huang Wei's. "Can you tie his medical coverage to your department? To put it simply, I want guarantees for his healthcare—birth, sickness, old age, and even death—on par with your unit's standards."
Huang Wei blinked, caught off guard by the straightforwardness of the request. He took a long breath, the smoke from his cigarette curling in the dim light. "I'll... discuss it with the relevant department. But this kind of request isn't exactly..."
Before he could finish, Ren Ye cut him off. "There's more."
Huang Wei raised an eyebrow but remained silent.
"My father's house is small—barely livable. Can you provide them with a new place, according to your unit's distribution standards? Seventy-year property rights, fully transferable. It's not an excessive request, is it? After all, if I'm agreeing to this, doesn't that make me part of your system?"
Lao Huang's pen trembled mid-stroke, his eyes widening as he looked at Ren Ye. Surprise flickered across his face, quickly masked by his habitual nonchalance.
Ren Ye, unfazed, continued as if he hadn't noticed. "Also, my sister's in college. Her grades are… well, let's leave that aside for now." He rubbed his palms together. "But she's ambitious, always looking to improve. So, I was thinking—can you pull some strings to secure her a scholarship?"
Lao Huang blinked, momentarily at a loss.
"Oh, and after she graduates, her job placement needs to be handled too. Your unit must need motivated civilian staff, right? My sister's got good looks, meets the image standards, and… well, let's call her a product of a scholarly family," Ren Ye added with a faint smirk.
Lao Huang's lips twitched, unsure if he was hearing right. He cleared his throat before interrupting, "I've reviewed your family's background, Ren. Your dad writes web novels—mostly adult content, right? Legally speaking, he's skirting a fine line. If you call that a scholarly family, don't you think it's a stretch?"
Ren Ye's expression didn't falter. "Call it whatever you want, but my sister's future is non-negotiable."
Lao Huang sighed, setting down his notebook. He leaned back in his chair, his demeanor shifting to something more serious. "Alright, Xiao Ren, here's what I propose. Your father's medical coverage will be processed at the standards of the West Lake Sanatorium. When his time comes, he'll qualify for a state funeral. How's that sound?"
Ren Ye nodded without hesitation. "That'll work."
"And your sister," Lao Huang continued, "let's keep her out of the civil service, yeah? I'll pitch it to the higher-ups and see if I can get her a position under my supervision. She'll have a stable career path. Deal?"
Ren Ye tilted his head, considering it briefly. "Actually, she doesn't need that high of a level—"
"One more thing," Lao Huang interjected, lighting another cigarette. "Your father's been divorced for years now. If I can, I'll arrange for a suitable stepmother to improve his love life. Sound good?"
Ren Ye didn't flinch. "Fine. We'll go with that."
"!" Lao Huang slammed his notebook shut, unable to contain his exasperation. "Do you even hear yourself? You've got some nerve, kid."
Ren Ye leaned back, his voice even and unshaken. "My life's already in your hands. What's there to hold back? If I don't think of these things now, who will?" He paused, his tone sharpening. "Three years in prison taught me one thing: whether it's the individual or the state, relationships go both ways. If you're loyal to one, it should be loyal in return."
The two men locked eyes, the tension thick enough to choke the air. Ren Ye's expression was unyielding, his calm rivaling that of a seasoned negotiator.
Lao Huang finally sighed, rubbing the bridge of his nose. "Anything beyond your personal treatment isn't entirely my call, but I'll push for it. As for the house and your father's medical insurance, give me a year. I'll make it happen."