"I just don't know if you have any shame...."
"I can also go find your parents, surely they aren't as cruel as you, to not even want their own grandson..."
Chen Jin's face darkened as he pondered for a moment, and said, "I can give you money, but you can't keep the child...."
Liu Yin bit her lip, conflicted for a moment, and as she looked at the man before her exuding cold air, she finally said with both pain and reluctance, "Deal.... But I want five million..."
"You really dare to ask for that much...." Chen Jin said sarcastically, "At most five hundred thousand, not a penny more."
"You should think carefully, if you're not satisfied, then you won't even get the five hundred thousand, you know my methods."
Liu Yin hesitated, her head lowered, and after a long time, she said slowly, "I, I... will go back and think about it...."
Chen Jin only felt as if his heart had been clouded with lard; such a lowly woman had managed to bewitch him, resulting in the loss of his wife and home.
But the unfortunate events were far from over. When Chen Jin went to the company the next day, he was immediately informed that his position had been terminated and would be replaced by the deputy general manager.
He only found out through his connections that the upper echelons had been dissatisfied with his recent work, but that should not have led to an outright termination of his position. However, for some unknown reason, they had changed their previous decision regarding him.
In the end, it was a boss from the headquarters who had a good relationship with Chen Jin that indirectly informed him, "The upper levels place great importance on a harmonious family relationship, and your recent situation is having a very bad impact on the company's image...."
"Logically speaking, this is your personal affair, and it shouldn't have even come to the attention of headquarters.... Have you offended someone?"
About that, Chen Jin really couldn't say. At his current status, there were certainly many who envied him. During his days of success, he had undoubtedly offended quite a few people, intentionally or not.
Even now, within the company, there were those eager to drag him down, with the deputy general manager at the forefront.
But by this point, given Chen Jin's mental fortitude, he wouldn't create a scene anymore and lose face even further.
Chen Jin carried his meager office belongings and dejectedly walked out of the company building, only to run into Liu Yin who had come looking for him.
This time, Chen Jin just glanced at her and said directly, "Now you can forget about even fifty thousand, I've been fired by the company..."
Liu Yin stared in surprise, stammering, "How, how is that... possible?"
"Could it be a mistake from the top?"
Chen Jin snorted and ignored the woman.
His once lofty ambitions had crashed to the ground in such a short time, shattered to pieces. Even with his deep composure, he was struggling to cope, his mindset somewhat shattered.
Now, he just wanted to make sense of why things had deteriorated to this point today. As for Liu Yin... he couldn't care less about her anymore, let her cause whatever trouble she wanted.
Liu Yin stood there dazed, taking a long time to regain her composure.
In her heart, Chen Jin was exceptionally outstanding, the kind of elite man she yearned for.
That's why she had gone to such lengths to climb upon the pedestal he stood on.
It was only today that she discovered that this man she regarded as almost divine was just like any other ordinary man.
Suddenly, the alluring aura of mystery that surrounded him seemed to peel away layer by layer right in front of her eyes, losing all its charm.
Liu Yin left in a daze, realizing that she too needed to think carefully about which path to take from here on.
Afterward, it was as if Chen Jin was shrouded in misfortune, facing continuous setbacks in his career.
His impeccable resume, which had borne no stains in Shanghai's industry, now seemed cursed, with no company willing to hire him, and as for the smaller ones...
Chen Jin, who had always had smooth sailing right out of school, had never even contemplated the possibility of working at a smaller company.
Chen Jin's once stable and gentle mentality was gradually destroyed by a series of blows.
By the time he had fully prepared himself psychologically to stoop low and accept offers from companies that previously sent office invitations, he was politely rejected again.
The financial industry in Shanghai was actually quite small, and Chen Jin's prior attitude had already spread through the entire circle, now even small companies didn't want to hire him.
Which boss would want to hire a Buddha whose temperament was larger than their own?
------------------
When Mrs. Chen happily returned home from her vacation abroad, she was greeted by her son, listless and despondent, and her husband with a worried frown.
Takeout boxes were piled up like a mountain at home, and the floors and rooms were a mess, with no one taking care of them.
She could even smell a musty odor.
If not for the familiar decor, Mrs. Chen would have thought she had entered the wrong home.
"What happened to you all, what happened?"
Mrs. Chen opened her mouth wide, asking in surprise, "Son, why are you home?"
Chen Jin drew on his cigarette with a heavy heart, not uttering a word in response to Mrs. Chen's questions.
Father Chen, however, looked up at Mrs. Chen and swung his hand to give her a slap, "Where have you been fooling around, not coming home for such a long time?"
Father Chen's rough movements awoke the fear that had been sealed deep within Mrs. Chen.
How could he start hitting her again?
When they were young, Father Chen showed a tendency for violence, but as their son gradually became sensible and demonstrated intelligence superior to others, Father Chen had restrained himself.
If it weren't for the slap just now, Mrs. Chen would have almost forgotten that bone-deep fear.
Observing what was happening before his eyes, Chen Jin just silently watched through the curling smoke, his mouth opening and closing several times, then he turned away, and in the end, he still didn't speak.
He was agitated, with violent emotions that had no outlet.
It was only after just now, seeing Father Chen and Mrs. Chen's actions, that a twisted satisfaction began to rampage in his heart.
He knew his emotions were not right; he should have stopped it...
The children of fortune and favored sons, once they fall into the mire, easily enter a mental deadlock from which it's hard to escape, which is why history has so many geniuses who fell midway.
Chen Jin's current state was somewhat similar to this.
"I,I... My girlfriends had asked me out several times, so I went traveling with them," Mrs. Chen, covering her face and with her eyes full of disappointment towards her son, explained in a soft voice: "I told you about it before and I went only after you agreed."
"What, now you dare to talk back?" Father Chen raised his hand as if he was going to hit her again, but Chen Jin still raised his hand to block him, "What's the point of hitting Mom..."
"Right, where's Doudou?"
Chen Jin suddenly asked, "Doudou isn't with you?"
This was ridiculous, it was only at this moment, after several months had passed, that the three members of the Chen family realized that their son/grandson was missing.
"Isn't it... wasn't he supposed to be with the Su family for a temporary stay?"
Chen Jin yelled out in irritation, "It was supposed to be for just a few days, not to leave Doudou with the Su family indefinitely..."
"Worthless woman, I asked you to take proper care of the grandson, I even thought you had taken him out to have fun with you..." Father Chen continued to speak, and the itching in his iron-like palm began again, but after glancing at his son, he managed to hold back.
"How many times do I have to tell you, Doudou's surname is Chen, now go next door immediately and bring Doudou back."