Chapter 5: Bessemer Trust
「Four days later.」
Jilin University Ninth Hospital, Inpatient Department.
Dressed in a hospital gown, Gu Heng was propped up against the headboard, engrossed in a financial news article on his phone.
"On July 17th, Bessemer Trust Company, the world’s largest multi-family office, officially established its 20th global regional office in the Zhonghai Center Building.
According to public records, Bessemer Trust Company, founded in 1907, currently manages over 200 billion US dollars in assets and serves more than 2,500 clients worldwide.
The establishment of Bessemer Trust Company’s 20th global regional office in Zhonghai means its coverage will now encompass the entire East Asia Region..."
After four days of professional care and recuperation, the color had started to return to Gu Heng’s face.
He still looked a bit pale, but at least there was a hint of healthy color now.
Overall, there was nothing seriously wrong with him. The extreme weight loss had simply caused an electrolyte imbalance, and he would make a full recovery after half a month of careful recuperation.
Of course...
His youth played a significant role in this. If someone over thirty had put their body through what Gu Heng did for a month, it could have easily been life-threatening.
’July 17th...’
’Isn’t that the day after I got Brother Tongzi?’
After carefully reading the entire article, Gu Heng slowly lowered his phone, a few suspicions starting to form in his mind.
Gu Heng hadn’t been idle during his hospital stay.
He had easily found the sender’s details through the transfer information in his China Merchants Bank mobile app.
The Bessemer Trust Company East Asia Regional Office was the party that had transferred him the 100 million yuan cash reward.
Originally, Gu Heng had never even heard of the company.
It wasn’t until he looked it up online that he realized just how formidable this company was.
Over the past four days, by piecing together various bits of information and clues, Gu Heng had gradually sorted out his thoughts.
First, he could use the money without any worries. Its origin was clear and specific, posing no financial or legal risks.
Second, he could potentially use "family wealth inheritance" as an explanation for his sudden fortune.
After all, Bessemer Trust Company was the world’s largest multi-family office, and with its headquarters in the United States, it would be impossible for anyone to verify the details.
Finally, the newly established 20th global regional office of Bessemer Trust Company in Zhonghai was likely connected to him. If he had time in the future, maybe he could go to Zhonghai and check it out.
These were the conclusions Gu Heng had drawn about the money’s origins.
Furthermore, during these four days, Gu Heng had also used various online channels to conduct a comprehensive review of Jun Cheng Law Firm and Zhen Cui Group.
He had also gained a preliminary understanding of legal services and restaurant management.
Just as Gu Heng was gazing out the window, lost in thought, a faint fragrance suddenly tickled his nose, pulling him back to the present.
"Gu Heng, good morning!"
A crisp, sweet voice sounded beside his ear.
"Momo, morning."
Gu Heng turned to see the cute little nurse by his bedside, a smile involuntarily appearing in his eyes.
Xu Mo, an intern nurse in the nursing department.
The senior nurse she was shadowing was in charge of this ward, so she helped look after it as well.
They had met a few days ago when Gu Heng was transferred from the emergency room to the inpatient department during Xu Mo’s night shift.
Xu Mo had graduated from a vocational nursing school and was the same age as Gu Heng, so they naturally had a lot to talk about.
After a few interactions, the two had become familiar with each other.
"Here..."
"I brought you an apple."
As if by magic, the girl produced a big, bright red apple—it was hard to tell if she’d pulled it from a pocket or from within her uniform—and handed it to Gu Heng.
The midday sun shone on her white nurse’s uniform, draping her in a thin veil of light. She looked at Gu Heng with a bright smile, her beautiful, fair face glowing with a healthy pink hue. Her dark brows curved like a new moon, her eyes were as clear as autumn waters, her nose was straight and delicate, and her small lips were a vivid, succulent red.
Beneath her nurse’s cap was a head of short, glossy black hair. She wasn’t tall, probably only around 162 cm, and that, combined with her slender build and pure, clean aura, gave her an incredibly petite and adorable look.
"Thanks, Momo."
Gu Heng didn’t refuse her kind gesture. He took the apple from her, feeling the warmth of her palm still lingering on it.
"Gu Heng, are you being discharged today?"
Xu Mo asked, her tone tinged with reluctance as she gazed at Gu Heng’s handsome, refined face.
"Yes."
"I already finished the discharge paperwork this morning."
Gu Heng nodded lightly.
After four days of treatment, all of Gu Heng’s vital signs had basically returned to normal. All he needed to do now was watch his diet, so there was little point in staying in the hospital any longer.
"So you’re still here because...?"
A glimmer of anticipation flashed in Xu Mo’s eyes.
"I was waiting for you."
Gu Heng replied with a smile, "I figured I should at least say goodbye before I left. It wouldn’t be right not to, after all the ’feeding’ Nurse Xu has done these past few days."
Hearing his reply, a smile bloomed on Xu Mo’s face. Like her name, it was as fresh as jasmine after the rain.
"Hehe..."
Xu Mo hummed. "I guess you have some conscience after all."
"Well, now that I’ve seen you, I should get going."
"I have someone coming to pick me up, and it’s about time."
Gu Heng threw back the covers and got out of bed. His 183 cm height was in stark contrast to Xu Mo’s 162 cm, making her seem even more petite standing next to him.
"I’ll walk you out!"
Xu Mo immediately raised her small hand.
"Okay."
Gu Heng nodded with a smile.
As they were talking, another nurse walked in from outside the ward.
She was around thirty years old. Her name was Liu Dan, and she was the nurse in charge of this ward, as well as Xu Mo’s "supervising instructor" at the hospital.
As Liu Dan entered, her gaze inevitably fell upon Xu Mo and Gu Heng.
When she saw the bright red apple in Gu Heng’s hand, she flared up with anger and called out to Xu Mo, "Momo, come over here and help me change the dressing for Bed 1."
"Coming!"
Xu Mo responded instinctively, then whispered to Gu Heng, "I’ll be right back, wait for me!"
With that, Xu Mo scurried over to Bed 1.
Gu Heng watched her go, his eyes tracing the delicate curves of her back outlined by her uniform. The hem of her knee-length skirt swayed in a gentle arc as she trotted, revealing slender ankles wrapped in creamy white calf socks. The corners of his lips curled up slightly.
Then, he pulled the privacy curtain shut, took off his hospital gown, and changed into his own clothes.
...
Near the doorway, Liu Dan kept glancing back over her shoulder.
When she saw Gu Heng pull the curtain closed, she shot a look at Xu Mo and said in a low voice, "You gave that kid your fruit for lunch again, didn’t you?"
Xu Mo, who was preparing some gauze, paused for a moment at Liu Dan’s words, then nodded guiltily.
"Sigh..."
"You silly girl!"
Liu Dan sighed, her tone a mixture of frustration and disappointment. "You never even buy fruit for yourself, yet you’re so generous with others!"
"Sister Dan, Gu Heng needs the extra nutrition right now."
"He’s been through so much, you know? Abandoned by his parents at a young age, trying to make it on his own... his financial situation probably isn’t very good."
Xu Mo wheedled, "It’s just some fruit. It’s fine if I go without for a few days. Aren’t we angels in white supposed to have a spirit of helping others?"
"Oh?"
"Bringing up values now, are we?"
"If you’re so dedicated to helping others, how come I haven’t seen you giving fruit to patients in the other beds?"
Liu Dan’s dark brows arched as she looked at Xu Mo with a gaze that seemed to see right through her. "The way I see it, you’ve just fallen for his pretty face."
"N-No, I haven’t!"
The moment Liu Dan said this, a blush instantly spread across Xu Mo’s little face, and her gaze began to wander.
"I’ll admit, the kid has some capital when it comes to looks. He’s definitely the type that you young girls fall for easily."
Liu Dan shook her head and spoke with the wisdom of experience, "Momo, listen to your big sister. When you get to my age, you’ll understand that a man’s looks are useless. You can’t eat good looks. He needs to have money, skills, and capability."
Xu Mo kept her little head down, busying herself in silence.
Seeing her like this, Liu Dan knew her words weren’t sinking in at all.
With their well-practiced coordination, the two quickly finished changing the dressing for the patient in Bed 1. By then, Gu Heng had also changed his clothes and was walking over from Bed 3 with his personal belongings.
"Sister Dan, Gu Heng is being discharged. I’ll just walk him out and be right back!"
Upon seeing Gu Heng, Xu Mo’s expression immediately brightened with its former cheerfulness.
Liu Dan looked at Xu Mo’s expression, then back at Gu Heng’s handsome face, and suddenly said with a smile, "Xiaogu, congratulations on your discharge. Once you’re home, don’t do anything so extreme again. You have to take things one step at a time."
"Thank you for the reminder, Sister Dan. I won’t do it again."
Gu Heng replied with a smile.
Liu Dan nodded slightly, then turned to Xu Mo. "Momo, as it happens, my husband is coming to drop something off for me. Since you’re walking Xiaogu out, let’s all go down together."
"Oh, oh..."
"Okay."
Xu Mo had been hoping to spend a little more time alone with Gu Heng, but after what Liu Dan said, she couldn’t very well refuse.
And so, the three of them took the elevator down to the ground floor and headed out of the hospital...