Deliberately Approaching
Chapter 185: Donating in the Name of the Deceased Wife

Chapter 185: Chapter 185: Donating in the Name of the Deceased Wife

The principal’s office was ahead, and an old man and a young man went straight to the reception area, sitting face to face.

"Uncle Shen, I refused your call yesterday because at that moment... there was a situation on my end that urgently needed to be resolved, so I couldn’t attend to it. I hope you won’t take it to heart."

At that moment, there was no one else in the room, and the door was closed. Li Zishen then spoke frankly.

"Has the matter been resolved?"

As he spoke, Shen Zhiyuan had just finished making tea, so he slowly handed it to Li Zishen.

His focus wasn’t on the apology, but on whether the issue had been resolved, which made Li Zishen feel a father-like care once again.

"Yes, it’s resolved."

"That’s good, drink some water to soothe your throat."

In fact, Shen Zhiyuan had long anticipated Li Zishen’s decision to refuse the school anniversary celebration.

Since his father, Li Zhenshan, had died, visits from the Li family, whether Madam Lai or other relatives, had been scarce at Jin City University.

Many people believed that if Li Zhenshan hadn’t gone to make the donation that day, the car accident wouldn’t have happened.

Starting from the first year following Yi Xiaodan’s death, he had donated to Jin City University in the name of his wife, and had not missed a year for ten straight years.

The wife he mentioned was Yi Xiaodan.

The deceased wife became the title and symbol of identity for Yi Xiaodan at Li Zhenshan’s donation ceremonies.

To remember her, Li Zhenshan even went so far as to rename the Li Group to the Yishen Group, a move that was once widely regarded as extraordinary.

As his legal wife, however, Madam Lai Yuan Min did not enjoy this honor, and thus was mocked by the socialites of Jin City for many years.

"Li Zhenshan must have been forced to marry Yuan Min."

"Yuan Min must have seized the opportunity when it arose; otherwise, not even giving her a wedding ceremony, that’s too shameful."

"You don’t know, do you? She was pregnant when she entered the Lai family, and the old man agreed to the marriage reluctantly just because he valued the first son and grandson."

"Exactly, if it weren’t for Yi Xiaodan’s thin fortune, how could have it benefited her?"

...

Such criticisms persisted until Li Zhenshan’s deadly car accident.

That day was his last donation.

After the ceremony, he spoke strangely to Shen Zhiyuan, who was then the vice principal.

"Ten years, a full ten years, Zhiyuan. Do you think Xiaodan felt alone, felt desperate when she died since I wasn’t there beside her?"

"It happened so suddenly, it’s not your fault."

"No, it’s not that. You don’t know about that day. If it weren’t for my damn temper, Xiaodan wouldn’t have left in tears and it wouldn’t have happened. Such an innocent person she was, how could she lie? She couldn’t possibly lie; it was my fault."

"What happened before Xiaodan’s accident... was there something else?" Shen Zhiyuan asked in surprise.

"It’s too late to say anything now."

"But the person is already caught and has been sentenced, it’s like avenging Xiaodan."

"25 years, just 25 years." Li Zhenshan shook his head, his eyes moist, "But at that time... Xiaodan was not even 20. She said once she turned 20, we could get married. That night, she was wearing the engagement ring I gave her, it was particularly beautiful."

Shen Zhiyuan knew about the ring.

The sapphire on it was the largest he had ever seen, set on a finely crafted base which was also engraved.

But it had been ten years since then, bringing it up at this time made him suspect that Li Zhenshan had been triggered by something.

"Zhenshan, are you... okay?"

"I’m very well, extremely well. It’s been ten years, and it has never been this good before, goodbye."

"Zhenshan, Zhenshan!"

...

Half an hour later, Li Zhenshan drove past Jinyuan Bridge, crashing straight into the right guardrail, and the news of his demise was announced the next morning.

Therefore, when Li Zishen donated twenty million to Jin City University for Tang Xiaowan’s transfer, Shen Zhiyuan, as the principal and as an elder, felt not only gratitude but also shock.

Like father, like son, decisiveness runs in the blood!

Shen Zhiyuan first thought of this.

On Li Zishen, he seemed to see again the shadow of Li Zhenshan, crazed by love in his youth.

The difference lay in how the two handled matters.

Li Zishen, mature beyond his years, preferred quiet and would avoid social events not related to business if he could, whereas his father Li Zhenshan was hotheaded, impatient, and loved making friends.

Memories vividly in his mind, Shen Zhiyuan watched Li Zishen with moist eyes.

"Zhenshan."

"Uncle Shen, you..."

"Oh, it’s nothing. I’m getting old, and sometimes it’s easy to..."

"Are you thinking of my father?"

"Yes, back then, your father used to get scholarships every year. I often joked that if I couldn’t find a job after graduating, I would go work for him."

"I remember you two had different majors; it was my father who forcibly moved into your dorm."

"Yes, back then so many people... even suspected something inappropriate in my relationship with your father, two grown men always together, at least until your father’s affair with Xiao Dan became public and cleared my name. Speaking of which, the two of them were also..."

Li Zishen listened intently, but Shen Zhiyuan abruptly stopped.

"What else?"

"It’s nothing, all in the past now, better left unmentioned. Let’s have some tea."

Ah, I’m really getting senile!

Yuan Min is now the lady of the Leng Family, Zishen’s mother, how could I bring up Xiao Dan,

I hope the boy isn’t taking it to heart.

"Back then, was it hard to find a job?" Li Zishen asked, smiling to lighten the mood.

"It’s survival of the fittest, no matter the era."

"Uncle Shen, I’d like to seek your advice on something. Starting with this year’s graduates, I’m thinking of offering... 1000 internship positions annually, not only in Jin City but also allowing eligibles to choose to go abroad or other regions. If you agree, I can have Chen Xin come over this afternoon to discuss the details."

This proposal was truly a timely help.

Even though Jinda University was a prestigious school, arranging internships for seniors was always a headache.

"Zishen, thank you."

"My father once told me, Jinda is his blessed land, it holds his lover and his best friends. Back then, I was too young to understand, but now I do; ’lover’ meant Yi Xiaodan and ’best friends’ referred to you."

"So, you knew about your father and Xiao Dan..."

"I knew a bit. Uncle Shen, it’s getting late, I’ll not disturb you further. So, this afternoon... shall I send Chen Xin over to discuss the internship?"

Shen Zhiyuan nodded, "Alright."

...

Leaving the complex, as soon as Li Zishen got into his car, he dialed Tang Xiaowan’s number.

"What, you’re attending the school anniversary?"

"Can’t I?" Li Zishen raised an eyebrow.

"It’s your freedom, none of my business, just keep your distance from me."

"Why?"

"I’m afraid of misunderstandings."

"Weren’t there already misunderstandings? Remember? To solidify your status as my girlfriend, I even sent Red Roses specifically on the day you skipped class to register property."

Tang Xiaowan: "..."

"You really are a cunning fox, it turns out you timed it perfectly that day, making me..."

Suddenly, a scream came.

"Wan, Wan, are you alright?"