As Li Chen and his team busily worked on planning the future of Chen Techs, the office space began to transform. Zhang Mei’s artistic flair added life to the once-dull surroundings, as she meticulously arranged vibrant paintings and potted plants. The atmosphere of the office shifted, becoming not only a workspace but a place where creativity flowed.

Zhang Mei glanced at Li Chen, her eyes filled with admiration, and couldn’t help but ask, "Li Chen, just how much do you have saved up to fund all this? It’s like you can buy anything you want."

Li Chen smiled, a hint of secrecy in his eyes, and replied, "Let’s just say I’ve got enough to bring our dreams to life."

Xu Zhonhao chimed in, joining their light-hearted conversation. "You know, a real man never reveals his bank balance, Li Chen. Don’t worry; your secret’s safe with us." He winked at Li Chen, causing everyone to chuckle.

Tang Ziyi, intrigued by their banter, leaned in and asked, "So, what’s the plan now, Brother Chen?"

Li Chen’s face turned thoughtful. "Tang Ziyi, Xu Zhonhao, I want you to put together a list of everything we need to start working on the game. High-end hardware, software, you name it. Zhang Mei and I will focus on transforming this office space into our tech haven."

Xu Zhonhao, ever the resourceful one, couldn’t help but boast, "I have a contact who sells the most cutting-edge computers and the most powerful mainframes worldwide."

Li Chen raised an eyebrow, teasing him. "Xu Zhonhao, it seems you have a contact for everything, don’t you?"

Xu Zhonhao grinned and replied, "You know it. I’ve got connections in all the right places."

Zhang Mei, always inquisitive, asked Xu Zhonhao, "Are all these connections legal, or should we expect the police to show up at our door someday?"

Xu Zhonhao feigned shock and placed his hand over his heart. "I would never do anything illegal. Jail is a scary place, and I intend to stay as far away from it as possible."

Their playful banter filled the office with warmth and laughter, a testament to the growing camaraderie among the team. Li Chen felt grateful for their presence and unwavering support.

As the day went on, Li Chen directed his team, delegating tasks and planning the future. Tang Ziyi, who had a clear vision for their game, shared his timeline. "If we can get the proper hardware and software, it might take around three months to develop the game. But, for quality assurance, we’ll need to test it for a few days before it’s ready for public use."

Xu Zhonhao, ever the optimist, chimed in. "Actually, Tang Ziyi, I believe we can cut that time significantly. With the right resources and dedicated work, we could have it ready in just one month."

Tang Ziyi chuckled and shook his head. "One month might be a bit ambitious, but we’ll see. Xu Zhonhao, you might just surprise us all."

Li Chen interjected, making sure to ease the pressure. "No matter the timeline, let’s remember that quality comes first. We want to deliver the best possible gaming experience to our users."

Zhang Mei’s eyes sparkled with enthusiasm, and she added, "Li Chen, I have to visit my mother now. You promised to drive me there."

Li Chen nodded. "Of course, I’ll keep my promise."

Xu Zhonhao and Tang Ziyi offered to stay behind and continue working on the office setup. Xu Zhonhao couldn’t resist one last playful wink at Li Chen before leaving, leaving him slightly flustered.

Li Chen confirmed their plans for the next day. "Let’s meet at the park tomorrow"

Tang Ziyi was intrigued and inquired, "What do you do at the park?"

Xu Zhonhao grinned and answered, "We work out and stay fit. If you think you can handle it, you’re welcome to join us."

Tang Ziyi was eager to prove himself and exclaimed, "I can handle it, no doubt about that."

Li Chen smiled and concluded, "Great! Let’s meet at the park tomorrow, then." As he gazed at the enthusiastic faces of his team, he felt a sense of pride and camaraderie that warmed his heart. Their journey was just beginning, and Li Chen couldn’t wait to see where it would lead them.

Li Chen and Zhang Mei arrived at Haven Hospital where her mother was admitted. Li Chen, knowing the importance of this visit, accompanied Zhang Mei to provide support. However, he remained in the hallway, allowing her some privacy with her mother. It was a difficult time for Zhang Mei, and Li Chen respected her need for a one-on-one moment with her family.

After a while, Zhang Mei called out to him, saying, "You can come in, my mother won’t mind."

Li Chen replied, "It’s alright; I’ll wait here." He didn’t want to intrude on their personal conversation.

As soon as Zhang Mei walked into her mother’s room, Li Chen’s new phone rang. It surprised him, as he had been very selective in sharing his new number. He answered cautiously, "Hello?"

The voice on the other end identified itself. "Li Chen, how are you doing?"

Li Chen furrowed his brow. "Who am I talking to?"

The person on the other end confirmed, "My name is Sun Fang. You might not know me, but I’m calling because I would like to have a face-to-face chat."

Li Chen’s mind raced, trying to make sense of this unexpected call from a member of the Sun family. "Sun Fang, from the Sun family."

Sun Fang affirmed his identity. "Yes."

Li Chen, wary but curious, asked, "What brings you to call me? What’s the purpose of this meeting?"

Sun Fang responded, "I believe it’s better to discuss this in person."

Li Chen considered the request with caution. "Where and when would you like to meet?"

Sun Fang replied, "Any place that you’re comfortable with. This is important."

Li Chen agreed, albeit with lingering uncertainty. "Very well. Let’s meet in two hours at the café by the mall."

Sun Fang inquired, "Caffeine’s Café?"

Li Chen confirmed, "Yes, that’s the one."

Sun Fang expressed his gratitude. "I’ll be there. Thank you."

Li Chen hung up the phone, his mind spinning with questions. He couldn’t help but wonder what had triggered this unexpected contact from Sun Fang.

Li Chen spent the next hour in deep contemplation. The unexpected call from Sun Fang, a member of the Sun family, had thrown him into a state of introspection. He realized that he was, in essence, a nobody, and being summoned by the son of the second richest family in the city was a thought that didn’t sit well with him.

Zhang Mei noticed his distracted state and decided to snap her fingers in front of him, saying, "Hey, come back to Earth, Mr. Li."

Li Chen shook his head, returning to the present moment, and replied, "Sorry, I have something on my mind."

Zhang Mei teased him gently, "I can tell. I’ve been standing in front of you for about ten minutes, and you didn’t even see me."

Li Chen offered an apologetic smile, saying, "Sorry about that. How is your mother doing?"

Zhang Mei informed him, "The money you lent me for the hospital bills was very helpful."

Li Chen nodded and said, "I’m glad I could help."

Zhang Mei continued, "My mother would like to meet you."

Li Chen was taken aback for a moment, his mind still preoccupied with the upcoming meeting with Sun Fang. Sensing his hesitation, Zhang Mei explained, "I told her about how you saved me from Cao Heping, loaned me the money, and offered me a place to stay."

Li Chen responded with a simple, "Oh, okay."

With that, Zhang Mei led Li Chen into her mother’s room. As he entered, he saw an elderly woman who, despite the toll that cancer had taken on her, still retained a certain timeless beauty. Her features, even in her weakened state, revealed a familial resemblance to Zhang Mei, and it was evident that the mother and daughter shared more than just physical traits.

Madame Zhang opened her eyes, and there was a clear expression of shock on her face. Zhang Mei noticed her mother’s reaction and asked, "Mom, what’s wrong?"

Madame Zhang replied, "Sorry, is this the young man you were telling me about?"

Zhang Mei confirmed, "Yes, Mom."

Madame Zhang attempted to extend her hand to touch Li Chen, but she was too weak to do so. Li Chen, understanding her intention, gently moved closer. Madame Zhang then expressed her gratitude, saying, "Thank you for saving my daughter. I might not have much time left; the doctors gave me three months. Knowing that my daughter has found a loyal friend brings me happiness."

Zhang Mei, her voice shaking, implored, "Mom, please don’t talk about death all the time, okay?"

Madame Zhang turned her attention back to Li Chen and said, "Young man, you look like an old friend of mine."

Li Chen responded, "Oh, really?"

Madame Zhang continued, "Yes, but he passed away long ago. Anyway, please take care of my daughter. Don’t let her desire for revenge consume her and lead her astray."

Zhang Mei was taken aback that her mother knew the secret she had been guarding. She asked, "Mom, how did you know?"

Madame Zhang replied with a mother’s wisdom, "I am your mother, Meimei. I know you all too well."

Madame Zhang spoke weakly, "You two, go now. I need to rest."

Zhang Mei carefully tucked her mother in and reassured her, "We’ll come and see you soon."

Madame Zhang nodded and said, "Yeah, yeah. Go along now. Thank you again, young man."

Li Chen smiled and replied, "Don’t mention it." As he left the room with Zhang Mei, he couldn’t shake the feeling of curiosity about the old friend that Madame Zhang had mentioned. Deep down, he longed to learn more about his father’s family and friends, even though both of his parents were gone.

What Li Chen knew was that he looked like both of his parents, he had seen their pictures and he hoped that maybe one day he would meet his other family members.