Song Yuandong in front, Ou Yunchen behind, they walked into the empty corridor and leaned by the window, gazing at the white, empty street outside.
Song Yuandong: "After Miao Miao returned to the country, I arranged for him to work under me. Do you know what he asked me on his first day?"
Ou Yunchen smiled without speaking. He knew, but was unsure if he should answer.
Song Yuandong: "I don't think he's a meddlesome child, and he's been abroad for so long, he couldn't possibly know about the education center. So I guessed he was being used. Am I right, Mr. Ou?"
Ou Yunchen: "I was presumptuous. I apologize for my inappropriate behavior."
Song Yuandong: "But he spoke so highly of you, saying you were the person he admired most in his life, besides his father."
Ou Yunchen: "You flatter me. I have no talent other than doing business."
Song Yuandong: "I think you have plenty of talent. You're young, but you have great ambition."
Ou Yunchen: "Sister Song, you see it too. I have no background. If I want to stay in this circle for a long time, I have to build connections, right?"
Song Yuandong: "I don't want to disappoint my son, nor do I want him to feel he made the wrong friends. I hope you won't overstep your bounds. Some things are not for you to get involved in."
Ou Yunchen: "I understand. With Sister Song saying so, I know where I stand."
"If I had previously asked Ruan Miaomiao to investigate why the education center was removed from the list, causing trouble upstairs, I can drop it."
"It's just that Xie Youlin and I have a personal feud, and I don't want to embarrass everyone due to my delayed action."
Song Yuandong: "So you are determined to target the Xie family?"
Ou Yunchen: "I don't know if Ruan Miaomiao mentioned another characteristic of mine: I am very loyal. Therefore, I always get revenge for my grievances."
Song Yuandong initially showed an angry expression, then a look of helplessness. Perhaps, as Ou Yunchen guessed, this woman had a side to her that said one thing but meant another!
Song Yuandong: "I don't think I have anything else to say to you."
Ou Yunchen watched Song Yuandong return to the banquet hall. A moment later, accompanied by Ruan Miaomiao, the mother and son left.
The banquet continued until past ten in the evening. The hall gradually emptied, leaving only a slightly tipsy Ou Yunchen smoking alone.
Ou Yunchen moved a stool, propped his feet up, and sat back in another chair, occasionally exhaling smoke rings.
Someone quietly approached Ou Yunchen from behind.
With a whoosh, secondhand smoke blew into his face, making him cough.
Ou Yunchen's eyes snapped open. It was Su Ruiyi.
He smiled at her, then closed his eyes again to enjoy this rare moment of peace.
Su Ruiyi: "You're so bad, you did that on purpose!"
Ou Yunchen: "If a man isn't bad, women don't love him."
Su Ruiyi: "Get lost!"
Ou Yunchen retracted his legs, held the cigarette in his mouth, and then used his free hand to pull the stool closer, gesturing for Su Ruiyi to sit.
Ou Yunchen took a final deep drag, extinguished the cigarette butt with his foot, then took Su Ruiyi's hand and brought her face close, examining her carefully.
Su Ruiyi: "What are you doing..."
It was then that Ou Yunchen exhaled the smoke from his mouth.
Su Ruiyi: "Cough, cough, cough, are you done yet!"
Ou Yunchen: "This is what's truly on purpose."
Su Ruiyi playfully slapped Ou Yunchen's chest and waved her hands in the air, trying to chase away the offensive smoke.
Ou Yunchen clasped Su Ruiyi's hand. Since she wanted to hit him, he let her feel his heartbeat.
Ou Yunchen: "Today is probably the most successful moment I've felt in a long time. They all... they all came for me."
"I finally don't have to grovel and flatter those rich people, nor do I have to kneel like a dog and beg them to notice me..."
Su Ruiyi: "You've had too much to drink. No one treated you like that."
Ou Yunchen: "You wouldn't understand. This is how I lived before. I was just a tool to please others."
Su Ruiyi glared at Ou Yunchen, yet she also felt a pang of sympathy. She knew how hard it was for him to maintain relationships under Mrs. Su's constant pressure.
Perhaps this was a good thing for Ou Yunchen now. He could finally break free and achieve something significant!
Ou Yunchen: "You know, I used to win people over with this..."
Ou Yunchen threw a punch forcefully, narrowly missing Su Ruiyi's nose, but he controlled it perfectly, not harming the woman before him at all.
Ou Yunchen: "Now I have to rely on this..."
He retracted his fist and tapped his head, then smiled wryly, and smiled again until he lost his strength.
Su Ruiyi: "Ou Yunchen..."
Suddenly, Ou Yunchen stopped smiling. He looked up, his melancholic eyes leaving Su Ruiyi with nowhere to hide.
As their eyes met, Ou Yunchen leaned towards Su Ruiyi's lips, but instead, he pressed her head gently, forehead to forehead.
Ou Yunchen: "Thank you."
Su Ruiyi: "You're being silly, thank me for what..."
Ou Yunchen: "For everything you've done for me. Without you today, I wouldn't have secured so many projects that I once thought were impossible..."
Su Ruiyi: "Oh, is this how you thank me?"
Ou Yunchen: "If I were a good man, I would definitely marry you."
Su Ruiyi: "You're crazy, I don't want you to marry me!"
Although Su Ruiyi cursed him verbally, in her heart, she had already decided that she wanted to marry Ou Yunchen.
Her performance today had also earned Ou Yunchen's recognition. She could lead Ou Yunchen to new peaks in his career.
A hand brushed across Su Ruiyi's face, the thumb gently caressing her soft lips.
There was a subtle feeling, so close yet so cautious, burying all fantasies deep within their hearts.
Ou Yunchen: "Tell me, what would be the best way to repay you?"
Su Ruiyi: "Kiss me."
Ou Yunchen: "Really?"
Su Ruiyi: "Hurry!"
Su Ruiyi tilted her head back, her eyes closed. But Ou Yunchen felt that if he kissed her, something would surely happen.
Su Ruiyi suddenly opened her eyes, looking at Ou Yunchen's hesitant lips, almost touching but not quite. She grabbed his shirt and pulled him in for a forceful kiss.
It was just a brush of lips, and then both were startled by a shriek and quickly separated.
Mrs. Su: "What are you doing!!!"
Ou Yunchen was pushed and stumbled back onto the chair, while Su Ruiyi quickly turned away, unable to look at him.
Mrs. Su: "Su Ruiyi, get over here at once!"
Su Ruiyi immediately ran to Mrs. Su's side. Mrs. Su smacked Su Ruiyi hard on the back, urging her to leave quickly.
Ou Yunchen, slumped in his chair, waved at Mrs. Su.
Just as Mrs. Su was glaring fiercely at Ou Yunchen, the handsome man did something even more striking: he blew a kiss to Mrs. Su...