ABSML Chapter 10: Encounter

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Even if Lin Chiang didn’t give any instructions, in his current state, Chen Zhan wasn’t going anywhere.

His ankle seemed to be just a mild sprain. He was about to grab a towel to apply a cold compress when he suddenly heard footsteps outside his door.

So fast?

Chen Zhan hobbled to the entrance and cracked the door open, only to see an unexpected face.

“Mr. Yin?”

Noticing the surprise in his eyes, Yin Ronglan was silent for a moment before asking, “Who were you expecting?”

“An enemy of my class,” Chen Zhan replied matter-of-factly.

Yin Ronglan hadn’t come empty-handed—he placed the gift box he brought to the side and said, “I heard you injured your arm, so I came to check on you.”

The phrasing of "heard" was interesting. Chen Zhan raised an eyebrow. “You didn’t see it online?”

Yin Ronglan: “I don’t go online often.”

He had only found out by overhearing his subordinates talking.

Chen Zhan didn’t dwell on his wording and replied slowly, “Took advantage of a free meal, got hurt on the way back.”

From the start, Yin Ronglan found the theory that Chen Zhan had been beaten up unconvincing. He had seen Chen Zhan fight before—despite his lean frame, he had a ruthless streak. He wasn’t the type to take a silent beating.

As Chen Zhan rubbed his ankle, Yin Ronglan took over the task he had intended to do, wringing out a towel and applying it to his foot.

“Is it serious?”

Chen Zhan: “A strong will despite a weak body.”

Yin Ronglan watched as Chen Zhan calmly typed with one hand on the keyboard, unable to suppress a chuckle.

Just then, there was a knock at the door.

“Is Mr. Chen Zhan here?”

Yin Ronglan glanced at Chen Zhan, who nodded, so he went to open the door.

Outside stood a middle-aged man with a medical kit. Upon seeing Yin Ronglan, he hesitated for a moment before peering past him to spot Chen Zhan, arm in a cast, confirming he had the right person. “Mr. Lin sent me to check on you.”

Chen Zhan didn’t refuse and remained calm as the doctor examined his ankle. “It’s just a sprain, nothing serious.”

He had been in plenty of fights before and could judge his own injuries accurately.

After the doctor completed the check-up and confirmed there was no major issue, he handed over a bottle of medicinal alcohol. “Apply this regularly, and don’t press on it too hard.”

“Thanks.” Chen Zhan then asked the key question: “Since I didn’t call for you myself, does that mean Lin Chiang is covering the consultation fee?”

(T/N: this is so funny hahahhahah)

The doctor looked at him with a complicated expression. “…Yes.”

Only then did Chen Zhan feel at ease and resume his work.

As the doctor was leaving, he couldn’t help but glance back at Yin Ronglan, feeling like he had seen him somewhere before but unable to recall where.

Yin Ronglan, unfazed by the scrutiny, asked how often the medicine should be applied before calmly closing the door.

“Need help?” he offered.

Chen Zhan casually stretched his foot out.

Yin Ronglan was momentarily stunned but proceeded to apply the medicine. Afterward, he asked, “Do you need me to type for you?”

Only then did Chen Zhan realize he had misunderstood Yin Ronglan’s offer—he had been asking if he needed someone to transcribe his words.

"No need." Chen Zhan thought for a moment and tried to use a gentle tone. "I've turned over a new leaf. While you're still young, you should find a proper job as well."

Yin Ronglan couldn't shake the feeling that Chen Zhan’s expression looked strikingly like someone else’s.

Chen Zhan also felt that his mood was similar to someone else’s.

Around the same time, both of them realized who he resembled... the old man next door.

Chen Zhan’s face turned solemn. "Could it be that I’m aging prematurely?"

Yin Ronglan remained silent for a long while. "I’m older than you."

After a brief pause, Chen Zhan spoke in an emotionless tone, yet his words carried a sense of passionate determination: "Then let’s work hard together."

He had initially wanted to add something about embracing a bright future, but feeling it was out of place, he swallowed the words back down.

Just then, the doctor from earlier returned. He glanced at Yin Ronglan with a helpless smile, signaling that he had something to say in private.

They stepped toward the doorway, where the doctor briefly summarized: "Earlier, when Mr. Lin called to inquire, he learned that a friend was taking care of Chen Zhan. He promised to pay you 200,000 yuan as long as you take care of him during his recovery."

Yin Ronglan didn’t say anything. The doctor, noticing his unchanged expression, inexplicably felt a little guilty. Quickly suppressing this odd sensation, he continued, "Of course, the condition is that you must ensure Chen Zhan doesn’t go out before he fully recovers, to prevent reporters from snapping photos and spreading false rumors."

Although the doctor spoke in a low voice, in this small space with the door ajar, Chen Zhan managed to catch most of the conversation.

Yin Ronglan glanced at him, then, as if considering something, nodded.

The doctor let out a long sigh of relief, his smile becoming more genuine. "Just provide your bank account number and name. He'll transfer 100,000 upfront, with the remainder to be paid later..."

Yin Ronglan raised his hand. "No rush."

The doctor found this man rather reliable and wasted no more time before heading downstairs to drive home.

When Yin Ronglan returned to the room, Chen Zhan was still painstakingly typing away at his keyboard.

"You heard everything?"

Chen Zhan nodded absentmindedly, immersed in his work.

Yin Ronglan pulled up a chair a few steps away and sat down. "I'll have him transfer the money directly to you."

Chen Zhan’s fingers froze. He frowned. "What are you talking about? That’s your pay. Why would he send it to me?"

Pay?

Yin Ronglan subtly raised an eyebrow at the new terminology. A moment later, he couldn’t help but chuckle softly.

Chen Zhan seriously studied his expression. To be honest, he didn’t see what was so amusing about his words—this man’s emotional fluctuations were rather peculiar.

While Chen Zhan was preparing to live a reclusive life indoors, Lin Chiang was frequently shuttling between his company and home in pursuit of signing contracts. The only silver lining was that, for the time being, the drama surrounding Chen Zhan had momentarily settled down.

The next day, Lin Chiang caught a minor cold. His personal doctor made a house call. Having served the Lin family for over a decade, he was one of the few elders Lin Chiang respected.

"Your health is more important than business," the doctor advised.

Lin Chiang pressed his fingers against his temples. "The people below me are incompetent. They can’t handle anything thoroughly." He paused before opening his eyes. "Good thing you happened to run into that scoundrel of a friend. Otherwise, I’d have had to waste time finding a caretaker for him."

While preparing the medicine, the doctor casually remarked, "Making money is tough. You should learn to save where you can."

Lin Chiang was momentarily stunned before realizing the doctor was referring to his decision to avoid hiring a professional caregiver. He sighed, feeling a headache coming on. "Once Chen Zhan recovers, I’ll talk to him again to prevent similar situations in the future." After some thought, he added, "I’ll also take the chance to see what kind of saint that friend of his is."

His words were meant to mock Chen Zhan. After all, despite his notorious past, he still had a friend willing to visit him.

The doctor smiled slightly. "Just remember to settle the caregiver’s fee."

While the CEO was working through illness without earning a penny more, Chen Zhan was writing through his own sickness and earning a wave of sympathy. Comments flooded in online: "Still annoying, but since he’s keeping up with his updates, I’ll send a tip." Statements like this were everywhere.

After checking his savings, Chen Zhan admitted that he had indeed turned misfortune into fortune.

Yin Ronglan visited roughly every two to three days. Most of the time, he just came to chat briefly, finding little to help with. Chen Zhan was highly self-sufficient—aside from typing more slowly due to his injury, he seemed unaffected. His living space remained neat and orderly.

"A sturdy tree withstands the storm," Yin Ronglan murmured, offering his assessment.

Even without further explanation, it was clear that this was a compliment.

Chen Zhan stopped blinking for a few seconds before frowning. He wasn’t used to receiving such high praise face-to-face.

"How many more days until you can remove the cast?" Yin Ronglan asked, shifting the topic as if his previous words had been nothing more than a casual remark.

Chen Zhan glanced at the calendar and made a scissors gesture.

"I happen to be free in two days," Yin Ronglan thought for a moment before suggesting, "I’ll drive you to the hospital."

Chen Zhan turned his gaze toward the window, then casually asked, "A borrowed car?"

Through their interactions, Yin Ronglan had already figured out Chen Zhan’s personality—he always maintained a certain level of caution. Smiling, he replied, "My own car is in the shop for repairs, so I have to borrow one."

Chen Zhan had always been skeptical of Yin Ronglan’s background. He never seemed short on money, but he also didn’t act like a wealthy businessman. One time, Chen Zhan even found an excuse to sneak a look at Yin Ronglan’s clothing labels and searched online, confirming they weren’t luxury brands.

Nothing quite added up, so Chen Zhan simply treated him based on the persona Yin Ronglan presented.

He didn’t refuse the offer for a ride to the hospital. Instead, he looked at Yin Ronglan and said, "Then I owe you one. Once I’m better, I’ll treat you to a meal."

Two days passed in the blink of an eye. The doctor confirmed that Chen Zhan’s recovery was excellent and removed the cast, cautioning him to avoid strenuous activities for now.

Neither Yin Ronglan nor Chen Zhan were particularly attached to their phones, so they mostly talked during the drive back. It wasn’t until they were nearing the neighborhood that Chen Zhan finally glanced at his phone, shaking his head. "Lin Chiang is still trending."

Due to the "assault incident," every move the man made was under public scrutiny.

Chen Zhan even saw some bizarre rumors online suggesting that both parties had reached a private settlement. Lin Chiang had already sent legal notices to the media outlets spreading false information, but the buzz had lasted for two weeks.

Perhaps it was fate, but when Chen Zhan looked up again, he saw a familiar figure standing at the entrance of the residential complex.

Even though the person was wearing a mask and standing at a distance, Chen Zhan recognized Lin Chiang instantly.

Some people simply had an aura that made them stand out in a crowd.

Yin Ronglan, however, acted as if he hadn’t noticed anything, focusing on his role as a driver and skillfully parking the car.

As Chen Zhan got out, he couldn’t help but admire Yin Ronglan’s parking skills—he had managed to squeeze into such a tight, awkward space.

Lin Chiang also noticed them. The moment he saw Chen Zhan, his brows instinctively furrowed in annoyance. However, before the expression could last even a second, his gaze shifted to Yin Ronglan, who was walking over, and his expression instantly became unreadable.

At his level, Lin Chiang naturally knew who Yin Ronglan was. It wasn’t difficult for someone from a humble background to achieve success, but becoming a true rising star in the elite circles was nearly impossible.

Yin Ronglan was a legend in this world.

"This..."

Before he could even ask what was going on, Chen Zhan, afraid Lin Chiang would try to get out of paying, reminded him, "Isn’t this the caretaker you hired for me? Don’t forget to pay him."

A moment of silence followed as Lin Chiang ran through various possible explanations in his mind.

His already complicated expression grew even more indecipherable.

Hiring someone like him as a caretaker... what had he done to deserve such fortune?!

Author’s Note:

Lin Chiang: I still don’t understand what role I play in your love story.

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