Just like that, the two people in matching outfits deliberately maintained their distance, strolling along the rain-washed street.
The city's reflections seemed to mirror their hearts' affairs, rippling with every gentle breeze.
Ou Yunchen deliberately slowed his pace. Perhaps this was a form of romance, some finding solace in unspoken declarations.
A car sped past, splashing the accumulated rainwater towards them!
Ou Yunchen quickly pulled Mo Qingyun closer, embracing her tightly and shielding her from the water with his own back.
"Thump, thump, thump..."
Whose heartbeat was this, rapidly conveying affection?
Ou Yunchen lowered his head. Their eyes met, reflecting each other's faces. Water droplets from his hair landed on Mo Qingyun's cheek, yet she felt her face burning hot enough to evaporate the moisture.
Mo Qingyun flusteredly avoided his intense gaze. She fumbled in her bag for a packet of tissues, then gently raised her hand, intending to wipe the raindrops from Ou Yunchen's neck...
But then, Ou Yunchen unexpectedly gestured with sign language, "I like you."
Mo Qingyun froze. She replayed the gesture in her mind, her heart pounding with every beat!
And when Ou Yunchen slowly took her hand and placed it on his chest, Mo Qingyun felt his strong heartbeat. His increasingly rapid pulse seemed to be a vow – he truly liked this girl.
Mo Qingyun quickly withdrew her hand. Nervously, she searched for a pen and paper, but the more flustered she became, the more her pen seemed to defy her, rendering her unable to write a single word.
"Don't you like me?" Ou Yunchen asked, surprised by Mo Qingyun's reaction, which was not what he had anticipated.
The little mute girl quickly shook her head. In her haste, she drew repeatedly and forcefully on the paper.
Finally, she gave up. She opened her mouth, trying to make a sound, but nothing came out.
Mo Qingyun vigorously tapped her throat, pointing to her mouth, indicating she was mute, just a mute...
Ou Yunchen said, "I can learn sign language for you, as long as you like me."
This statement shattered Mo Qingyun's emotional defenses instantly!
For someone whole to be willing to learn a language she could adapt to, out of love for her – wasn't this the most moving confession?
Perhaps touched by the swiftness of it all, Mo Qingyun finally gathered her courage and used sign language to convey, "I like you."
At this moment, Ou Yunchen's stern expression softened. Having received the same answer, he finally broke into a smile.
Once again, he held the girl in front of him tightly.
And Mo Qingyun no longer concealed her inner joy. The moment she embraced Ou Yunchen, she felt that the evening sky was tinted peach.
***
Meanwhile, at Su Ruiyi's insistence, Wang Ziran reluctantly accompanied her to Athena.
However, the moment they entered, they were stopped.
Waiter: "Sir and Madam, this is a ladies' club. Gentlemen are not allowed."
Su Ruiyi: "We're looking for someone."
Waiter: "And whom are you looking for?"
Wang Ziran: "Ou..."
Su Ruiyi slapped her hand over Wang Ziran's mouth.
Su Ruiyi: "We're looking for your boss, Sister Hong."
The waiter studied the girl before him closely. He was certain she wasn't a VIP member of the club.
Then he looked at the young man beside her, whom he seemed to recognize. Likely a rich second-generation, and these two looked like they were not to be trifled with.
Waiter: "I'm sorry, our boss isn't in today."
Su Ruiyi: "I saw Sister Hong's car outside. Go tell her, my name is Su Ruiyi, and she'll let me in."
Waiter: "Then please wait here for a moment. I'll go inform her."
Watching Su Ruiyi and Wang Ziran sit obediently in the waiting area, the waiter hurried to Sister Hong's office.
The club hadn't even officially opened for the night, and already these two troublemakers had shown up. A ladies' club wasn't a place just anyone could enter!
The waiter knocked on Sister Hong's door.
Waiter: "Sister Hong, two young people are here and insisting on entering the ladies' club."
Sister Hong: "Register them. If they meet the criteria, they can apply for membership."
Waiter: "No, one of them is a man, and he said he wants to see you."
Sister Hong: "See me? No appointment."
Waiter: "I already told them the boss isn't in, but the girl said her name is Su Ruiyi."
Sister Hong's eyes widened. She quickly put down her coffee, tidied her desk, and then instructed the waiter to bring the two of them in.
After Su Ruiyi and Wang Ziran entered the office, Sister Hong specifically instructed the bartender outside to mix two non-alcoholic cocktails.
Sister Hong: "Xiao Yi, why have you suddenly come to Auntie's place? Oh? Isn't this Young Master Wang?"
Su Ruiyi and Wang Ziran exchanged a look. They only wanted to confirm one thing and weren't interested in much else.
Su Ruiyi: "Auntie, is Ou Yunchen working here as a bartender?"
Sister Hong paused. She stared at Su Ruiyi's determined expression, then looked at Wang Ziran beside her, and suddenly chuckled.
Sister Hong: "Ou Yunchen? He's the executive officer of ATL. How could he have ever worked here?"
Wang Ziran: "You're lying! I clearly saw him at the opening party that day, talking to your waitstaff!"
Sister Hong: "Young Master Wang, you were also at my opening party that day. Does that make you one of my bartenders as well?"
Wang Ziran: "I have proof. I personally heard one of your members tell me that Ou Yunchen works here! And he's a top bartender!"
Sister Hong: "Xiao Yi, Young Master Wang, my bartenders don't have the capability to be executive officers of an investment company. Moreover, I don't understand what kind of work you're referring to. You might have misheard or misidentified him."
Su Ruiyi: "Then, Auntie, could you show us the bartenders' information?"
Sister Hong: "Of course, here you go."
Sister Hong handed Su Ruiyi the roster of all the bartenders. Ou Yunchen's name was conspicuously absent.
Sister Hong: "See? I wasn't lying to you, was I?"
Wang Ziran: "Impossible! Did Jin Youli lie to me? There's no reason for her to lie!"
Wang Ziran: "I don't believe it. I need to go out and ask for clarification!"
Sister Hong quickly stopped Wang Ziran: "Young Master Wang, if you need to investigate someone, I will certainly cooperate.
"Given that your father is the chairman, I wouldn't dare offend you!
"But I run a bar. Athena's success today relies on providing guests with sufficient privacy and a sense of security...
"If you were to rashly go outside, and a person other than a bartender or waiter appeared in our ladies' club, my guests are all wealthy and influential. Athena would be out of business then."
Wang Ziran: "Then can I go and ask those bartenders?"
Sister Hong: "Alright, I'll let you go to their lounge. It's not time for business yet, so they should all be there."
Sister Hong made a phone call, and a waiter came in and led Wang Ziran out. Su Ruiyi did not follow.
After Wang Ziran left, Su Ruiyi asked Sister Hong again, "Ou Yunchen really doesn't work here?"
Sister Hong understood that Su Ruiyi was asking if he provided that kind of service.
Sister Hong's answer was even more resolute, two words spoken with unwavering conviction!
A while later, Wang Ziran returned to the office, looking dejected.
Su Ruiyi: "What did they say?"
Wang Ziran: "They all said they don't know Ou Yunchen, let alone be colleagues with him..."
Su Ruiyi: "Then you really must have misheard. I also think it's impossible for Ou Yunchen to have worked here."
Wang Ziran: "What bad luck!!! That woman Jin Youli dared to lie to me? I'll never let her off the hook!"
Su Ruiyi: "Alright, let's leave quickly. Auntie, sorry for bothering you."
Sister Hong: "It's alright. It's good to get things cleared up. I won't see you out."
Back in the car, Wang Ziran grew angrier the more he thought about it. But he couldn't fathom why Jin Youli would lie!
Did Ou Yunchen have some sort of grudge against her? Why would she fabricate false information? Or perhaps, Sister Hong was lying?
But if that were the case, then all the bartenders and waitstaff in the entire Athena had unanimously stated there was no man named Ou Yunchen here. That couldn't possibly be false, right?
Su Ruiyi: "Wang Ziran, I must say, you're so old, can't you think before you act?"
Wang Ziran: "I..."
Su Ruiyi: "Without verifying, you can just believe whatever someone tells you?"
Wang Ziran: "I was just afraid that you would be deceived by that Ou Yunchen fellow too. What if he's a fraud!"
Su Ruiyi: "I think you're just jealous of him! Deliberately thinking the worst of him!"
Wang Ziran: "I..."
Just then, Ou Yunchen's car pulled up to the entrance of Athena. As he stepped out, the sharp-eyed Su Ruiyi spotted him.
Ou Yunchen opened the car door for Mo Qingyun in the passenger seat. From the moment he helped Mo Qingyun out, their hands had not let go.
Only after Ou Yunchen, hand in hand with Mo Qingyun, entered Athena and disappeared from Su Ruiyi's sight did she snap back to reality and look at the utterly disheartened Wang Ziran.
Wang Ziran: "Xiao Yi? What are you looking at? I just apologized to you, did you hear me?"
Su Ruiyi: "Oh, I heard you..."
Just as Wang Ziran was about to turn his head in the direction Su Ruiyi was looking, Su Ruiyi forcefully twisted his head with both hands, stopping him.
Su Ruiyi: "Oh, what's there to look at? I'm starving! We promised barbecue, hot pot, and spicy skewers!"
Wang Ziran: "You got it! I'll take you right now! Just watch!"
Su Ruiyi: "Let's go!"