On the fifth day after Ji Ting left, Director Chang brought two teams over to move the laboratory equipment.
It happened to be the weekend, and Ji Yanzhi was home. Director Chang had called him beforehand, and Ji Yanzhi had said only, "Come and get it."
After arriving, Director Chang didn't see Ji Yanzhi, so he went to find Zhang Jian.
"How has he been these past few days? Is he doing all right?"
Zhang Jian looked as though he wanted to say something but held back. "Hard to say."
While protecting Teacher Ji, they had seen what the two men were like together. Back then, Director Ji's eyes always held a smile when he looked at Teacher Ji. They discussed everything they did together, and Director Ji would tease Teacher Ji from time to time.
"Now, aside from work, Director Ji barely says anything in private. He doesn't go out, either. Every day, he just goes back and forth between the company and home."
Director Chang sighed and fell silent for a few seconds. "Is he home right now?"
"In the study."
With Zhang Jian showing him the way, Director Chang arrived at the study door.
He knocked a few times. It took quite a while before a voice inside said, "Come in."
Director Chang pushed the door open and entered. Ji Yanzhi looked up at him. "Uncle Chang, have you finished moving the equipment?"
"They're still moving it."
"Mm."
Silence abruptly settled over the room. Feeling awkward, Director Chang could only find somewhere to sit down himself.
He was agonizing over whether to find something to talk about with Ji Yanzhi when the other man unexpectedly spoke first. "Where is he now?"
Director Chang visibly paused, then said, "Sorry, I don't know."
It wasn't that he couldn't say,