Stealing The Wind But Not The Moon [Completed]

44. Shen Ruozhen's Defenseless.

Chu Zhichen suppressed the surprise brewing within him and promptly dialed Xiang Kun's assistant's number. But before he could utter a word, Xiang Ruxu's voice replaced Xiang Kun's on the other end. It appeared that the younger members of the Xiang family had hurriedly made their way to the hospital.

Xiang Ruxu restrained his voice and demanded, "Secretary Chu, there is no one around me. Tell me the truth, where is my elder brother?"

Chu Zhichen responded, "Mr. Xiang has already boarded the plane."

"Don't lie to me," Xiang Ruxu retorted. "I know you were also scheduled to go to Beijing. Then why didn't you board the plane with him?"

Chu Zhichen pondered for a moment and replied, "Xiang Gong, you should understand the significance of this project for the company. We cannot afford any delays."

Xiang Ruxu angrily exclaimed, "Our grandfather is ill now!!! I don't want to put you in an awkward position, but get Mingzhang on the phone!"

Chu Zhichen glanced at the sofa and noticed Xiang Mingzhang engaged in conversation with Meng Tao. Despite the circumstances, Xiang Mingzhang dutifully fulfilled his obligations.

Chu Zhichen then replied, "I apologize, but Mr. Xiang is currently unavailable."

Upon ending the call, Chu Zhichen couldn't shake off a sense of unease.

During Xiang Xingzhao's birthday, Xiang Mingzhang had not personally selected a gift. Instead, he had delegated the task to his secretary.

At the birthday banquet, Xiang Mingzhang lost his temper, causing Xiang Xingzhao to weep inconsolably. And now, with Xiang Xingzhao suddenly hospitalized, Xiang Mingzhang had chosen to proceed with his business trip without hesitation.

Xiang Xingzhao's dementia made his preferences fleeting and trivial. It mattered little what gift was given, so Xiang Mingzhang's efforts were mere pretense. The birthday banquet incident struck a nerve, causing Xiang Mingzhang to lose control. The project held tremendous importance, thus making it difficult for Xiang Mingzhang to simply let go.

But there were only so many excuses that could be made. If excuses were constantly conjured up, it signaled a lack thereof.

Yet, Chu Zhichen had witnessed firsthand in the Xiang family mansion how obedient Xiang Mingzhang was towards Xiang Xingzhao, the one person whom the old man heavily relied on.

Could it all be an act?

When the time came for boarding the plane, Xiang Mingzhang waved to him and said, "Let's go."

Chu Zhichen couldn't decipher a plausible explanation. Family matters and personal privacy were not concerns that outsiders should meddle in. Thus, he followed suit and switched his phone to airplane mode.

The first-class cabin was a comfortable environment, and Xiang Mingzhang had brought along two collections of poetry. Reading dense literature wasn't ideal for the nighttime flight, so this type of literature with brief passages per line was most suitable.

He asked Chu Zhichen, "There's another one here. Would you like to read it?"

However, there was no response from the seat next to him.

Curiously, Xiang Mingzhang turned his head to see Chu Zhichen sitting upright, his countenance displaying a yearning gaze as his bright eyes slowly surveyed the entire cabin.

This was Chu Zhichen's first time aboard a modern airplane, and the experience felt remarkably fresh. The structure and amenities within the fuselage were impressive, and the noise level remained low. It was regrettable that the porthole presented nothing but pitch darkness, obscuring the vast expanse of clouds outside.