"Li Yuchen, answer me when I talk to you!"
Li Yuchen looked up. His large, round eyes made him look adorable, and his resemblance to Li Chuanmo was as plain as day. Both had the same high bridge nose, phoenix eyes and dark hair.
The difference was that Li Chuanmo's irises were hazel, while Li Yuchen's were a beautiful baby blue and his dark hair hung in soft curls. They made him look very innocent, a stark contrast to his naughty and rascally behavior.
"Whatever, it's not the first time anyway", he said defiantly.
Li Chuanmo raked his hand through his short hair, a sure sign of his exasperation and increasing temper. He could feel the back of his head hurting, and he smiled thinly.
"Oh really? Let's do something different then. How about I also freeze your accounts so you can't buy any game accessories? I should also take all your games and mobile phones for at least three months. It would be the first time and will have a greater impact, or what do you think?
The change was almost instantaneous. Li Yuchen broke into a large smile, ran to Li Chuanmo's side to hold one of his arms. "I'm sorry Dad", he said blinking his eyes.
Li Chuanmo could feel his anger dissipating against his will. He sighed. He was unfortunately not immune to his son's charms. However, he refused to let it go so easily this time.
"Tell me Xiao Chen, what exactly is the problem? We returned just three months ago, but this is already the fourth letter I'm receiving from your school. Is there something you're not telling me?"
Sorrow flashed in his eyes for a moment, but he quickly lowered his head and said in an overly cheerful voice, "Apologies Dad. I'll change."
That doesn't answer my question. What is it? Is school that distasteful? I thought coming back home would be good for you, since you didn't seem to be enjoying your school in France either. Or is this about something else? Did your mother...."
"That woman is not my mother! I don't have a mother!" The acid in those words could corrode flesh and bones.
"Xiao Chen!"
Li Yuchen took a deep breath, but he couldn't muster a smile. "Please don't mention her again. Nothing is wrong, I'm just trying to adjust in school. I'm sorry again, I'll go and reflect on myself."
Li Chuanmo sighed. "Alright, you may leave. But, one more letter of complaint from your school young man, and you will be grounded indefinitely, along with the other measures we discussed.
'That wasn't what you said previously', Li Yuchen thought inwardly, but he still said, "Got it Dad, thank you." before leaving.
Li Chuanmo sighed again, rubbing the space between his eyebrows. He had been sighing more often since his divorce.
Li Yuchen was the only good thing that came out of his disastrous marriage to Xie Weiwan, and he didn't regret it. His son was the light in his dark, dreary life. He would have fallen apart the period after the divorce, but he held on because he knew his son needed him.
Throwing himself into work also helped, he mused, thinking of the headache the Board of Directors were currently giving him. What special assistant to the Chairman? He knew they were just stirring up trouble, but there was nothing he could do about it, since his father had already acquiesced.
He decided that he would discuss with his father again and try to sniff out his plans. His old man definitely had other plans, it wasn't as simple as "making sure the company runs smoothly and getting you a capable helper" like his father said.
His thoughts turned to Li Yuchen again. He reminisced about the day he was born, looking so red and wrinkly that he was alarmed. He had read articles and books about various congenital anomalies and he was scared his son had one of them, but the doctor reassured him all was well. 'He really did grow up to be so cute and lovable', he thought.
Just then, his phone beeped, alerting him of a debit transaction that had just taken place on one of the cards he had given Li Yuchen.
Seeing a notification of payment for a recently launched game accessory, the back of his head began to hurt again.
"Li Yuchen, you rascal!"
*****
"Good morning Director Pei. Sit down please. I got your email and I must say I'm happy you changed your mind. This is a very good opportunity for you, and it would have been a shame to pass it up.
I have forwarded your acceptance to the Board of Directors. You should be receiving an official email from them anytime from now. Congratulations", Qi Molin said, stretching out his hand for a handshake. He was really curious about what changed her mind, but he didn't want to probe.
Pei Yueran smiled and shook his hand. He would never know that even at this moment, the only thing that kept her from blurting out apologies and cancelling everything all together was the image of Han Yichen trying to control his tears as he spoke to her the night before.
"Thank you very much President Qi. I will do my best."
"The earliest you would be needed at the headquarters is next week, so please focus on closing your current projects and handing over to Director Ke, he will be filling in for you for now until the new director is transferred over."
"No problem, I'll do that sir. I also brought the Darwin Reliance project bid for you to sign off."
Qi Molin looked over the document and signed it, then handed it back to her. She then left.