The ball ended, and everyone was preparing to leave.
Emmanuel, who had been about to stand up, stumbled and fell.
Su Ruiyi: "Do you need me to call a waiter?"
Emmanuel gave a bitter smile. His condition was worse than just from drinking; he seemed to have been dealt a heavy blow.
Emmanuel: "Sit down and talk with me."
Su Ruiyi: "No, I need to go. It's very late."
Emmanuel grabbed Su Ruiyi, who was turning to leave, and surprisingly, he started to cry.
Emmanuel: "Just humor someone who's about to die."
Su Ruiyi looked helplessly at this man, who seemed to come from a prominent family, yet in his drunken state, he was as disheveled as any drunkard in a dive bar.
Ultimately, Su Ruiyi relented. She sat down on the floor next to Emmanuel, watching the busy waiters.
Emmanuel: "Look, how grand the ball began, how dazzling, how highly anticipated. And in the end, how desolate it is."
Su Ruiyi: "We have a saying where I come from: 'All good things must come to an end.' Have you heard it?"
Emmanuel: "Yes, just like my life. No matter how good my family background, I will die, and lose everything I possess."
Su Ruiyi: "Not just your life, mine too. Everyone's life in this world will eventually end."
Emmanuel: "Are you afraid of death?"
Su Ruiyi: "I'm afraid of dying unprepared. If I create as much value as possible in my limited life, then even if I die, I will accept it calmly."
Emmanuel's mouth fell open. He tilted his head, looking at the girl in front of him. He had assumed a girl her age would be terrified of death, or that pampered socialites would recoil from such a topic.
Su Ruiyi: "That's why I say, stop feeling sorry for yourself! You're not dead yet, so stop drinking to 'fortify' yourself!"
"Didn't you say you were getting an artificial heart to extend your life? Then you should stand up and be grateful for the advanced technology that's giving you more time!"
Emmanuel suddenly laughed. There was no artificial heart anymore. Just moments ago, he'd been told that someone had discovered the astronomically expensive heart was being transported here, and then it was lost...
Su Ruiyi: "What are you laughing at? Don't you think I'm right?"
Emmanuel: "I was prepared to wait for death to come. But money gave me hope to live..."
"Just as I was ready to welcome a new beginning, God played another joke on me. But thankfully, I met you. Whether I live or wait for death, it seems to have some meaning."
Su Ruiyi: "I don't understand what nonsensical things you're talking about."
Su Ruiyi rolled her eyes. She didn't want to discuss life philosophies with a drunkard. Who knew if he'd even remember his rambling when he woke up the next day.
Emmanuel suddenly stood up and extended his hand to Su Ruiyi.
Su Ruiyi: "What for?"
Emmanuel: "Thank you for accompanying me. I'd like to be your friend, can I?"
Su Ruiyi: "Friend? Can you take me back to the hotel first? My feet are all cut up by these high heels!"
Emmanuel bent down and unceremoniously removed Su Ruiyi's high heels, then tossed them away.
Su Ruiyi: "Are you crazy!"
Emmanuel: "From now on, I'll protect you. Whether it's your shoes or anything else that hurts you, I'll deal with it!"
Su Ruiyi: "You threw away my shoes! How am I supposed to walk!"
Emmanuel blew a loud whistle, attracting the attention of the surrounding waiters.
Emmanuel shouted: "Whoever helps me lift this princess who has traveled from afar on a chair, I'll give them a thousand euros!"
The waiters actually complied. Not only did they have Su Ruiyi sit on a chair, but four men, each holding one leg of a stool, lifted her up, much to Su Ruiyi's terrified squeals.
Emmanuel: "Do you know how the sons of banking families are educated?"
Su Ruiyi: "I don't want to know. Get me down quickly!"
Emmanuel: "Money is a reflection of value, but any amount of money that makes a woman happy is worth it!"
Su Ruiyi: "Is that really how you're educated?"
Emmanuel: "No, I added the latter part myself."