At noon, the sun hung in the clear sky, without a single cloud to obscure it.
Brilliant sunlight spilled over the gilded "Ingot" building, reflecting a dazzling golden glow. Even the surrounding air seemed washed in warm gold, making the enormous gold ingot shine all the more brightly.
In the reception room at the Fortune Commerce Association headquarters, Bai Ye and the others were still waiting for Gao Shanhe to wake up.
In the past, he would probably have kicked the door open and hauled the man out of bed by now.
But he could not do that now. Gao Shanhe's body was severely depleted; a reckless disturbance might kill him on the spot.
Fortunately, they did not have to wait long. After lunch, Steward Qian hurried over, his face brimming with unmistakable delight. "Third Young Master, honored guests, the chairman is awake!"
Gao Bancheng sprang to his feet, urgency filling his eyes. "Uncle Qian, hurry! Take me to see my father!"
Steward Qian took a deep breath to suppress his excitement and nodded. "Please follow me."
Following Steward Qian through several corridors, they finally arrived at the chairman's private recuperation room.
The closed, carved wooden door slowly swung open, and a thick wave of fragrance surged out. Elegant floral notes, sweet fruit scents, and rich woody aromas mingled with several expensive perfumes, rushing up their noses and straight into their heads, leaving them dizzy.
Before that assault on their noses had faded, another assault struck their eyes.
On the pristine white hospital bed, Gao Shanhe was little more than skin and bones, withered and gaunt, with an IV line still inserted into his arm.
Seven heavily made-up women stood around the bed, each wearing a different color: red, orange, yellow, green, cyan, blue, and purple. Not one matched another,