"Have you heard about AtL?"
Mo Qingyun listened to her colleagues chat while working. Some said AtL was doomed, others speculated it would be acquired. Rumors were rife!
Colleague: "Xiao Yun, take this to President Xie."
Mo Qingyun nodded and headed towards Xie Youlin's office.
This time, however, she didn't dare to knock and enter. Mo Qingyun obediently stood at the door, knocked, and only dared to enter after hearing a "come in" from inside.
Xie Youlin quickly grabbed something to cover the USB drive plugged into his laptop.
Xie Youlin: "Xiao Yun, why are you delivering documents?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "My colleagues are busy."
Xie Youlin: "Have you been watching the news lately?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "No."
Xie Youlin: "Then, has Ou Yunchen said anything?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "No."
Xie Youlin had expected to hear from Mo Qingyun how Ou Yunchen had become a stray dog, but it seemed Mo Qingyun wouldn't say anything.
Xie Youlin: "Then, how about we have dinner together tonight?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "I have plans with Ou Yunchen tonight."
Xie Youlin's expression turned grim again. He couldn't understand why Mo Qingyun was so stubborn!
Mo Qingyun signed: "If there's nothing else, I'll get back to work."
Xie Youlin: "Xiao Yun, Ou Yunchen's AtL will go bankrupt soon!"
Mo Qingyun signed: "Not everyone is like you, willing to watch him go bankrupt. Even if he does, I won't leave him!"
Xie Youlin: "You'd still be with him if he becomes penniless?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "Yes."
Xie Youlin: "You wouldn't be with me even if he died, would you?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "I'll die with him!"
Xie Youlin: "Xiao Yun!!!"
Mo Qingyun shook off Xie Youlin's hand, glared at him, and left.
Mo Qingyun's cold attitude only further provoked Xie Youlin. He was doing all this just to make her see that Ou Yunchen wasn't worth relying on! Why couldn't this mute girl understand!
In the evening, Ou Yunchen didn't come to pick Mo Qingyun up from work.
— Mo Qingyun's WeChat —
Mo Qingyun: "Where are you?"
Ou Yunchen: "At the entrance of AtL."
Mo Qingyun: "What are you doing there?" 138 Reading Network
Ou Yunchen: "Taking one last look at the place I once strived."
Mo Qingyun: "Wait for me there, don't leave!"
— End of Mo Qingyun's WeChat —
When Mo Qingyun arrived at the entrance of AtL, not a single light was on in the building, and even the main entrance was securely sealed.
Mo Qingyun stood in the distance, watching Ou Yunchen sitting by the flowerbed, head bowed, smoking a cigarette. Her heart ached.
Mo Qingyun approached Ou Yunchen. He looked at her, haggard, but still managed a smile and took her hand.
Ou Yunchen: "You're here. I'm sorry, I sold my car, so I couldn't pick you up."
Ever since AtL got into trouble, Mo Qingyun had been by his side. Although he never mentioned his predicament, Mo Qingyun saw everything.
For instance, his car was gone, he hadn't returned to that high-end apartment, and sometimes he hadn't changed his clothes for days.
Mo Qingyun signed: "Are you okay?"
Ou Yunchen: "I'm fine. I'll sell AtL's property tomorrow, which will clear a portion of the loan."
Mo Qingyun hugged Ou Yunchen, stroking his head. Her eyes stung. How had things turned out this way!
Ou Yunchen: "I'm sorry for making you suffer with me."
Mo Qingyun cupped Ou Yunchen's face and noticed a bruise under his hair, and also abrasions on his hands.
Mo Qingyun signed: "What happened!"
Ou Yunchen still acted as if it were no big deal.
Mo Qingyun signed: "Tell me!"
Ou Yunchen: "I borrowed some money to pay the employees, and couldn't pay it back."
Mo Qingyun signed: "I have money! Why didn't you ask me! Why not borrow from Sister Hong!"
Ou Yunchen sniffled and smiled awkwardly. "I didn't want you to worry!"
Mo Qingyun was both anxious and angry. This fool shouldered everything himself! If he had spoken up about the company's difficulties, everyone would have helped him! Why was he so stubborn!
Ou Yunchen: "Alright, I didn't want to talk about it. You insisted I tell you, and then you got angry."
Mo Qingyun signed: "Yes, if you tell me, we can figure something out together! Do you even consider me your girlfriend!"
Ou Yunchen: "Of course, I just don't want my girlfriend to suffer with me..."
Mo Qingyun grabbed Ou Yunchen's hand and pulled him away quickly.
Ou Yunchen: "Where are we going?"
Mo Qingyun signed: "With me!"
Ou Yunchen was thus dragged all the way to Sister Hong's Athena.
Sister Hong was very surprised to see the two of them.
Mo Qingyun signed: "Translate for me!"
Sister Hong: "What is she saying?"
Ou Yunchen: "She says hello."
Mo Qingyun slapped Ou Yunchen, clearly annoyed, and gestured for him to be serious.
Mo Qingyun signed: "Sister Hong, Ou Yunchen is really in trouble. Could you lend him some money for working capital?"
Ou Yunchen watched, but couldn't say it like that...
Mo Qingyun, seeing Ou Yunchen refuse to translate, anxiously gestured again.
Ou Yunchen smiled at her and shook his head, as if begging her to spare him some dignity...
Mo Qingyun suddenly burst into tears.
Sister Hong: "Alright, alright, what are you doing with sign language? What do you need me for?"
Mo Qingyun pushed Ou Yunchen out of the door, then locked it. No matter how much Ou Yunchen knocked outside, she refused to open it.
Sister Hong: "What are you doing?"
Mo Qingyun knelt before Sister Hong with a thud, startling her!
Sister Hong: "Oh dear, what are you doing! Speak properly, don't be like this!"
Mo Qingyun took out a pen and paper and wrote down her request for a loan.
Sister Hong: "You want to borrow money for Ou Yunchen?"
Mo Qingyun nodded, then wrote that she would repay it together.
Sister Hong looked at Mo Qingyun's tear-reddened eyes. It was impossible not to feel for her, seeing her refusal to leave until she got the money. After all, this child had been with her for several years, and she had long considered her family.
Sister Hong: "Get up first. Did Ou Yunchen say how much he owes?"
Mo Qingyun shook her head, then tremblingly wrote, "Please, help him!"
Sister Hong: "I understand. Get up now."
Sister Hong sighed and helped Mo Qingyun up, then let Ou Yunchen in. She then made an excuse about not wanting Mo Qingyun to overhear and sent her away first.
When only Ou Yunchen and Sister Hong were left in the office, Ou Yunchen seemed to revert to his former arrogant self.
He stretched out on the sofa, crossed his legs, and drank the ice-cold cola he had just requested from the bar.
Seeing Ou Yunchen like this, Sister Hong knew it was another one of his schemes!
Poor that gullible little mute girl!
Sister Hong: "You, be careful not to play too much and lose control!"
Ou Yunchen: "What is she saying?"
Sister Hong: "She knelt before me and asked me to lend you money."
Ou Yunchen: "Did you agree?"
Sister Hong: "Otherwise? Should I stand by and watch her cry pitifully on her knees and refuse to get up if I didn't agree?"
Ou Yunchen: "Just lend me a bit, enough to get by."
Sister Hong: "I'm not worried about you not having money even if AtL goes bankrupt!"
Ou Yunchen took the check from Sister Hong's hand. It was a casual ten million, only half of his best performance when he worked as a bartender.
Ou Yunchen flicked the check and slowly put it into his jacket pocket.
Ou Yunchen: "My godmother still loves me the most!"
Sister Hong: "Mo Qingyun is a simple girl. If you're going to use her, at least have some limits!"
Ou Yunchen: "I have no choice. Xie Youlin is relentless. I have to resort to any means necessary."
Sister Hong tapped Ou Yunchen on the forehead and listened as he gulped down the entire glass of ice-cold cola.
Ou Yunchen: "Honestly, pretending to be a poor bum these past few days has been torture. I couldn't even go home; I was practically sleeping under a bridge!"
Sister Hong sniffed. Indeed, there was a sour smell.
Sister Hong: "You this..."
Ou Yunchen: "It's closer to reality."
Sister Hong: "Go now. I don't want customers to see you looking so down and out!"
Ou Yunchen cupped Sister Hong's face and kissed her twice fiercely. Finally, with a "Thank you, godmother," he resumed his dejected and despairing demeanor.
Sister Hong: "A true master of disguise!"