Chapter 63: Kick a Man When He’s Down
The first thing she saw when she opened her eyes was Ling Anxun’s exhausted, pale face.
"Dad..."
Her voice was dry and faint.
Seeing her like this, Ling Anxun’s heart clenched with pain.
He quickly leaned closer, placing his fingers on her forehead to check if her temperature was normal.
"Hey, Dad’s right here. Don’t be scared. Does anywhere feel uncomfortable? Do you want me to call a doctor to take a look?"
"No... I’m just sleepy. I’ll be fine after some rest."
At the mere mention of the word "doctor," Shanshan shook her head emphatically.
The sight of her was both heart-wrenching and endearing, making it hard not to smile.
The tense lines on Ling Anxun’s brow softened slightly.
"Okay, no doctor. But if you feel anything is wrong, even if it’s the middle of the night, you have to call for me, you hear?"
"Mhm! I hear you!"
Her voice gradually grew clearer, and her tone became more cheerful.
That flicker of vitality warmed his heart.
She tried to turn over and get out of bed.
Just as she propped herself up on her arms, Ling Anxun quickly pressed down on her shoulders.
"Lie down for a bit longer, don’t rush. You didn’t sleep well last night, and your body hasn’t recovered yet."
"Dad, I’m fine now!"
she said urgently, a trace of stubbornness in her voice.
"Shanshan, I want to talk to you."
He sat up straighter, his gaze fixed intently on her face.
"I need you to listen carefully, okay?"
"Okay!"
She obediently sat up cross-legged, cupping her face with her small hands, her eyes fixed on him without blinking.
"I don’t know why you went to Grandpa’s hospital room last night. I’m not going to press you or force you to tell me. But I just want you to know one thing."
He paused, his breathing growing a little heavy.
Then he gently took her small hand in his.
"Whatever it is, you can’t tell anyone, no matter who asks. Not relatives, not friends... not a single person. Can you promise me that?"
Shanshan bit her lip, a heavy weight settling in her heart.
She looked up, her gaze landing on the gentle eyes of her father, Ling Anxun.
’Dad is so good to me. He never scolds me.’
’He eats with me and tells me stories every day.’
’But now, I’m hiding a huge secret from him.’
’Is this really right?’
’But what would happen if I told him?’
She didn’t dare to imagine.
A voice in her head seemed to be warning her over and over:
’Keep it secret. Don’t say a word, no matter what.’
Finally, she nodded.
"Dad, I promise, I won’t say a single word to anyone."
The corners of Ling Anxun’s mouth lifted slightly as he ruffled her messy hair.
He had already made up his mind.
’It doesn’t matter where you came from, or who you are.’
’From now on, you are my daughter.’
’I will protect you with my life.’
By the time Shanshan finished washing up, it was almost seven o’clock.
When Ding Qin entered with her daughter-in-law, the atmosphere in the room had eased slightly.
A few relatives and family servants who had kept vigil through the night were dozing in their chairs.
Empty cups were piled like a small mountain on the coffee table.
A medicine box lay open, and syringes and gauze had been used and replaced several times.
Fortunately, Ling Zhenkang hadn’t been unconscious for long.
The doctor had just come out after finishing his rounds, saying the old master’s blood pressure was stable and that it had been a false alarm.
Hearing this, the entire family finally breathed a sigh of relief.
"Dad, things are tense out there right now, and the situation is uncertain. If you feel like you can’t hold on, don’t force yourself."
Ling Anxun’s gaze fell on his father’s face.
That once dignified and resolute face now looked worn and old.
Seeing his father like this, his heart ached with sorrow.
He knew his father had never been one to back down his entire life.
But this was no time to be stubborn.
So, he stopped beating around the bush and said directly,
"If you step down voluntarily now, it might actually make others lower their guard and stop targeting you. Your prestige and connections can’t be erased by a single order. Taking a backseat isn’t necessarily a bad thing."
Ling Zhenkang slowly turned his neck to look at his son, his expression complex.
Then, he raised his hand and gestured for him to continue.
Ling Anxun took a step closer, his voice a little lower.
"I’ve already made the arrangements over there; they can receive you at any time. All it takes is your word, and it’ll be done immediately. Those people outside, they’re fighting for power, not for you personally. The more you let go, the less they’ll dare to make any rash moves."
The hospital room was silent for a few seconds.
Finally, Ling Zhenkang nodded.
"Yes, what you’ve said is reasonable."
He closed his eyes and took a deep breath.
When he opened them again, some of the sharpness had returned to his gaze.
"This body of mine... I really can’t force it anymore. If I keep pushing myself, I won’t just collapse; I’ll drag all of you down with me."
"However, I have a condition."
"Name it!"
Ling Anxun’s eyes lit up, the words practically tumbling out of his mouth.
Ling Zhenkang stared at him and said, word by word,
"You need to report back to your unit as soon as possible."
Upon hearing this, Ling Anxun instinctively glanced down at his leg.
"Anxun, even though your leg isn’t fully healed, you’ve been able to walk and stand steadily for a while now."
Seeing his hesitation, Ling Zhenkang’s brows furrowed slightly, his tone laced with a hint of expectation.
"I’m not asking you to rush to the front lines immediately. Just go back to the unit and check in. Show your face, let the higher-ups know you’re still in your position—that you haven’t quit, and more importantly, that you haven’t fallen."
"While I was in power, some people didn’t dare to make a move. The moment I step down, they’ll surely try to climb up by stepping on me."
Ling Zhenkang’s voice was low.
"Rats desert a sinking ship, and everyone wants to kick a man when he’s down. That’s just how the world has always been. Our Ling family has been here for so many years, making enemies and forging alliances. But once you’re out of power, you’re forgotten."
His older brother, Ling Antao, stood up, walked to the window, and spoke slowly with his hands behind his back.
"I agree with Dad. The situation in the unit is unstable right now, and morale is low. If you rush back to your original post, it’ll be easy for people to use it against you. You should take a desk job for a while, as a transition. Wait until your leg is completely healed before returning to your old post. That way, no one can gossip, and it won’t put Dad in a difficult position."
Ling Zhenkang continued,
"Everyone used to think you would be my successor. But after your accident, life in the unit became difficult for your brother and me."
"Those people who smile to our faces have already started scheming behind our backs. Promotions, reassignments, project adjustments... everything is a signal aimed at our family. From now on, you are the pillar of this family."
"As long as you’re still in that circle, our family will still have a voice that people listen to."
He looked directly into Ling Anxun’s eyes, his every word heavy with meaning.
"Even if you’re only there in name for now, it’s about taking a stance. That stance is our strength."
Ling Anxun was silent for a few seconds, his gaze lowered as if weighing the pros and cons.
Finally, he looked up, his eyes resolute.
"Dad, Brother, I understand. I’ll do it."
He was more afraid of his father collapsing than of facing the cold shoulder back at the unit.
"Good!"
Ling Zhenkang’s laughter boomed, a long-absent sparkle returning to his eyes.
Just as he began to laugh, several of his daughters-in-law and granddaughters-in-law came in carrying food containers.
"Dad, you can’t get too excited right now. Getting emotional is bad for your health."
Yin Yaming hurried forward and set down a food container.
With her background in traditional Chinese medicine, she was always the most particular about health and wellness.
"If your blood pressure rises and your heart rate becomes unstable, it will hinder your recovery. You need to cooperate with the treatment and take things steady."
Ling Zhenkang gave a sheepish smile.
"Oh, come on, aren’t I perfectly fine? I woke up so quickly, I’ll be up and about in no time! Look, I can lift my arms, move my legs, and my voice is strong. How do I look like a patient?"