Zhang Chi gave Gu Chen a strange look upon hearing the words, but the latter was merely staring at his leg hanging in midair.
"Heh, business is business, you—," Zhang Chi said and gave Shen Xian a thumbs up.
"Let's get to the point." Gu Chen, who had been silent for a while, suddenly spoke up.
"Oh, right!"
Zhang Chi responded, turned around to pick up the iPad that was set aside, "You've just been transferred from another position, and it might be a bit uncomfortable to work closely with the boss at first. I've specifically made a spreadsheet for some of the routine tasks for you to start with."
Shen Xian looked puzzledly at him, only to watch Zhang Chi continue, "Don't worry too much. The boss still has three professional secretaries. Just remember the ten-word guideline: think what Gu Chen thinks, worry what Gu Chen worries about."
Shen Xian looked up at Gu Chen, realizing that he didn't intend for him to return to his original post?
He brought him over under the guise of visiting a patient, but was it actually to handle work matters?
At that moment, Zhang Chi, far from looking like someone gravely injured, exuded an energetic air that revealed how mischievous he usually was.
"Enough, not even a fracture can cure your chatter!"
Gu Chen expressed disgust as he lightly tapped Zhang Chi's heavily plastered leg with his mobile phone.
"Ouch, ouch, that hurts,"
Zhang Chi yelped and clasped his leg, "I've fractured a bone, not my mouth. I can still talk clearly. I'm just highlighting the key points for my lifesaver here. You're so hard to serve, just in case... "
With one look from Gu Chen, Zhang Chi immediately shut his mouth.
Shen Xian, watching the interaction between them, could roughly guess that their relationship was not that of a regular boss and assistant.
She bent down to pick up the iPad and glanced at it, "Can you send the file to me? I want to thoroughly review it when I get back."
"Of course, no problem!"
When Shen Xian spoke, Zhang Chi's eyes always had the filter of being indebted to his lifesaver, and he couldn't hide his happiness.
Just as they were conversing, a bustle of footsteps came from outside, and the ward door was then pushed open.
"Where is he, how is he? Gu Chen—"
The man leading the way in was a middle-aged man dressed in expensive casual attire, his hair meticulously combed, with a somewhat plump body yet showing signs of careful maintenance.
"Third Uncle."
Gu Chen, who was sitting on the edge of the bed, stood up and called out when he saw the visitor.
"Ah, my dear nephew, are you alright, are you okay? As long as you're safe, that's good!"
Gu Chen's third uncle said as he reached forward to grip Gu Chen's arm, examining him from head to toe, and only relaxing when he saw that Gu Chen was unscathed.
"I'm fine."
Gu Chen, standing there and facing an elder, appeared unusually polite and even seemed—obedient.
Yes, obedient.
It was odd how well this ordinary word suited the mature and polite Gu Chen.
Shen Xian was squeezed away by the entourage that followed, who, judging by their attire, seemed to be the bodyguards of Gu Chen's third uncle.
She stepped back quietly and stood in a corner.
"These damned bastards, if I find out who did it, I won't let them off lightly!"
Gu Chen's third uncle slammed his hand on the foot of the bed, causing the bed to shake violently.
Zhang Chi's entire body was jolted up, grimacing with pain.
"Ah, ah..."
"Oh! Xiaochi." Gu Chen's third uncle, drawn by Zhang Chi's cry, noticed for the first time the true patient lying on the bed.
"Ahaha, Third Uncle!"
Zhang Chi tried to compose his facial expression, calling out with a quivering voice.
"As soon as I got the news, I rushed back. Now that I see you're all okay, I'm relieved."
Zhang Chi's mouth twitched. Okay?
This was okay?
He's lying in bed with a cast and nothing's wrong?
Shen Xian touched his nose, taking everything in.
"The police are already investigating, Uncle Gu doesn't need to worry too much," Gu Chen said, trying to soothe him.
"Investigate, we must investigate! Daring to mess with Shen Fei, disrupting public order, it's simply outrageous, utterly insane!"
Uncle Gu still seemed very angry, and it took a good while of persuading from Zhang Chi and Gu Chen before he calmed down.
"Chen, you should get in touch with your second uncle quickly. He was so anxious when he saw the news that his heart condition acted up."
"Okay," Gu Chen compliantly agreed; in front of his elders, he was completely different from his usual self.
It was evident that Uncle Gu had a fiery temper, his anger and concern impossible to hide.
When he arrived, he was accompanied by several bodyguards, who stood around the bed in groups, which was quite bothersome to watch.
After exchanging a few more pleasantries and reminding Zhang Chi to take good care of his recovery, Uncle Gu left with his entourage.
"Hey, your Uncle Gu really values his life, huh? Never goes anywhere without his bodyguards."
After everyone had left, Zhang Chi finally relaxed and sprawled back onto the bed, but even then he didn't forget to grumble.
"Alright, you do need to rest quietly and follow the doctor's orders closely. I should be going now."
"Boss, you're leaving just like that? Won't you stay with me a bit longer?"
Zhang Chi was truly a master of changing faces!
One moment complaining comfortably, the next, he looked at Gu Chen with a pitiful face, then glanced at Shen Xian.
"I'll contact you if needed," Gu Chen said and then looking up at Shen Xian, his tone of voice suddenly shifted.
"Hahaha, as expected, out with the old, in with the new, Gu Chen, I see how it is, go on, go on!" Zhang Chi got angry and buried himself under the pillow.
"You heal up well. I might still have things I don't understand that I'll need to consult you on in the future," Shen Xian stepped forward, returning the iPad to Zhang Chi.
Zhang Chi peeked out from under the pillow with one eye, and with just that one look, Shen Xian was reminded of Bai Zhan.
"I'll come to see you often." Shen Xian's voice softened, unable to stop herself from saying that.
"It's time to go."
At the other end, Gu Chen spoke and was already heading out.
Zhang Chi gave Shen Xian a meaningful look, signaling her to quickly follow.
Once outside the hospital, Gu Chen turned to Shen Xian, who was following closely, and said, "That's it for today's schedule; you don't need to accompany me any further."
Shen Xian was puzzled. What did he mean by no longer needing to follow him?
"Okay, then I'll head back to the office now," Shen Xian thought that Gu Chen might have his own private matters, so she didn't ask further.
"Back to the office?" Gu Chen frowned.
Shen Xian looked down at the time; there was still more than an hour left until the end of the workday. "Yes, if I go back now, I can still clock out on time."
Gu Chen gave her a look that said What are you talking about?
"Company regulations, Article 132, state that staff must clock in and out on time, otherwise, their wages will be deducted," Shen Xian earnestly explained.
Gu Chen's lips curled slightly, and his long fingers fastened his suit button. "Indeed, you remember the rules well. Good, but you don't have to."
As he spoke, the car arrived right in front of them, and without lingering, Gu Chen got into the car.
I don't have to?
Shen Xian watched the car speed away, wondering if this was perhaps the kind of privilege Zhang Chi used to have as well?
Since Gu Chen said she didn't need to clock out, she decided to go with the flow and not make the trip.
Perhaps it was because she had seen the injured Zhang Chi, but Shen Xian's mood was very low. That familiar and intense feeling of guilt, which had been with her from the start, now felt increasingly obvious.
She had barely taken two steps when she suddenly changed direction; there was somewhere else she wanted to go even more.