When Ou Yunchen took Su Ruiyi to the hospital, Su Ruiyi's pale hand reached out to grasp Ou Yunchen.
Ou Yunchen: "It will be alright..."
Su Ruiyi: "I'm sorry..."
Ou Yunchen: "Don't say that. You need surgery."
Su Ruiyi: "I harmed her..."
Ou Yunchen: "It's not your fault. It's me who couldn't save her..."
Ou Yunchen squeezed Su Ruiyi's cold hand, then pushed her into the operating room with the doctor. She had lost too much blood and there was no time to delay.
By the time the Su family's servants rushed to the hospital, Su Ruiyi's surgery was already halfway through.
Butler: "What happened? How did Miss get shot!!!"
Ou Yunchen lowered his head, silent. He could only pray in his heart that Su Ruiyi would be alright...
Servant: "Oh, look at the news! Someone died after falling from the Peninsula Hotel..."
Ou Yunchen instinctively covered his ears. He really didn't want to recall the moment Mo Qingyun fell.
Butler: "Mr. Ou, Miss also went to the Peninsula Hotel. What happened? Say something!!!"
Ou Yunchen: "I'm sorry. I harmed Su Ruiyi..."
Butler: "What do you mean?"
Ou Yunchen: "I offended someone. That person must have taken Su Ruiyi hostage... I could only save one person... I could only save one person... I could only save one person..."
Ou Yunchen repeated this sentence, self-reproach intensifying within him. He was incapable of saving Mo Qingyun. If Su Ruiyi were to meet a similar fate, he wouldn't want to live either...
At this, the servants became even more enraged, cursing Ou Yunchen for being unable to protect their young lady, saying he was to blame!
The butler roared, "Enough!!! We're in a hospital!!! All of you go back!!"
Servants: "But..."
Butler: "Go back and prepare things for Miss's hospitalization!"
Servants: "Miss she..."
Butler: "Miss will be alright!!!"
The servants were yelled at and left, but before they did, they made threats, warning that if anything happened to their young lady, they would never forgive Ou Yunchen!
The butler glanced at Ou Yunchen, who seemed on the verge of a breakdown, then at the still-closed operating room door. He paced anxiously before finally sitting down on the chairs on the other side of the corridor.
***
"Colin is dead?"
A few days later, Maggie received this news. Not only was she not shocked, but she put on a performance of utter grief.
Maggie: "Oh no... my Colin..."
Maggie: "Who killed him? I'll tear them to shreds!"
Her subordinate whispered something in Maggie's ear, and Maggie's exaggerated performance immediately ended.
Suddenly, Maggie slammed her fist on the table, consumed by rage!
Maggie: "I knew this bastard would ruin my plan!!! That idiotic pervert!!!"
Subordinate: "Miss Maggie, there are rumors that Axe has passed away. Perhaps it's time for us to harvest the Tang Empire."
Maggie: "Axe is dead? Hahaha!!! Colin died at the perfect time. His foolishness actually served a purpose. I'll see how Michelle fights me without Axe's protection!"
Within the Tang Empire, the news of the most powerful adopted son's death spread like a plague.
Even without confirmation from Michelle, those who had long wished to destabilize the empire had already colluded with Maggie, preparing for a grand endeavor.
***
Lin Yi: "You must find Ou Yunchen. The new family council is about to begin."
Michelle, now sitting in the Tang Empire, didn't even have time to mourn. This news had still leaked out.
Michelle: "Can't they let me have some peace even after I've been appointed the new Tang?"
Lin Yi: "Unless you want to be a figurehead Tang. But no figurehead Tang in the history of the Tang Empire has ever lived past their second year in power."
Michelle: "I don't want to see that person. He has no right to impersonate Axe!!! Letting him live was the most I could do for Axe!"
Lawyer Yan: "Lin Yi is right. To stabilize the men in the Tang Empire, you can only find the former 'O'. Only he can make those people believe Axe is still alive..."
Michelle: "I said, I don't need him!!!"
Lawyer Yan: "The Tang Empire is also Axe's life's work, Miss Michelle. Please consider carefully before making a decision."
Michelle: "Are you going to lecture me now too?"
Lawyer Yan: "I am loyal to every Tang, including you."
Michelle: "Then don't force me to make decisions I don't want to make."
Lawyer Yan: "We are helping you make the right decision."
Michelle: "Get out! All of you, get out!!!"
Lin Yi looked at Lawyer Yan, and Lawyer Yan looked at the distraught Michelle...
Perhaps they shouldn't have asked this poor woman to make a decision at this time, but the Tang Empire would not stand still because of someone's death...
It was as if Old Tang always played with his adopted sons' emotions. Those who sat in the position of Tang were never to be swayed by emotion.
Assassins needed no emotion, and neither did Tang.
Leaving the meeting room, Lawyer Yan and Lin Yi made the decision for Michelle. They unanimously agreed that the Tang Empire should not be ruined by this woman.
***
Su Ruiyi had lost a lot of blood, but fortunately, Mrs. Su was watching over her from heaven and allowed her to wake up safely.
However, after waking up, Su Ruiyi no longer wanted to tell Ou Yunchen that she had colluded with Colin to trick Mo Qingyun into going to the Peninsula Hotel.
Because, in the past few days, Su Ruiyi had experienced unprecedented care and tenderness.
Out of a sense of guilt he felt towards Su Ruiyi, Ou Yunchen showered her with a level of gentleness she had never known, fulfilling her every wish.
Su Ruiyi: "Ah? Pomelo? I hate pomelos the most. They're so troublesome to eat, difficult to peel, and terribly bitter..."
Ou Yunchen: "Open it first and take a look."
Su Ruiyi: "What's so great about pomelo... Wow!!!"
Ou Yunchen had peeled a whole pink pomelo, with not a bit of the white pith remaining on any segment. It would be absolutely free of bitterness when eaten.
Ou Yunchen: "If you want to eat it in the future, I'll peel it for you. I'll never let you find it bitter in your mouth."
Su Ruiyi: "Thanks, husband!"
Ou Yunchen smiled. Now, as long as Su Ruiyi was happy, he would unconditionally be good to her!
So good that he repeatedly used such actions to numb himself and quell the guilt in his heart...
Ou Yunchen: "Is there anything else you particularly want to eat?"
Su Ruiyi: "Hmm... Pink!!! I want to eat all pink fruits!"
Ou Yunchen: "Isn't this pink pomelo enough?"
Su Ruiyi: "Not enough! I just like pink!"
Ou Yunchen: "Alright, alright. I'll look for them and buy all the pink fruits in the world for you to eat."
Su Ruiyi hugged Ou Yunchen's arm. She felt incredibly happy at this moment!
But she would occasionally remember the mute girl who fell from the building. Just thinking of her face made her tremble uncontrollably.
But how long could this stolen happiness last?
"Mr. Ou."
Suddenly, someone called out Ou Yunchen's name at the hospital room door.
Ou Yunchen and Su Ruiyi both looked towards the entrance. A man in a suit was standing there, greeting the person inside.
Ou Yunchen recognized him at a glance.
Ou Yunchen: "Lawyer Yan?"
Lawyer Yan: "Mr. Ou, long time no see."
Ou Yunchen immediately became uneasy. This was a senior lawyer who had been by Old Tang's side since the beginning. His sudden appearance must mean something was about to happen.
Ou Yunchen reassured Su Ruiyi that this was an old friend and he needed to go out to chat for a while, telling her not to worry.
However, Su Ruiyi sensitively noticed Ou Yunchen's fist clenching when he saw the man.
Ou Yunchen left the room, and the two of them went to the hospital's back garden.
Ou Yunchen: "Lawyer Yan, how did you find me?"
Lawyer Yan: "There is no one in this world the Tang Empire cannot find. It's merely a matter of wanting to or not wanting to."
Ou Yunchen: "Heh, that's true..."
Lawyer Yan: "It seems Mr. Ou has completely abandoned his identity as an adopted son and is now living as an ordinary person."
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, I no longer wish for revenge. Moreover, I should be the one seeking revenge."
Lawyer Yan: "Adopted sons never distinguish between right and wrong. There is only the distinction between completion and incompletion."
Ou Yunchen: "Lawyer Yan, just tell me, what is it you need me for?"
Lawyer Yan: "Axe is dead."
Ou Yunchen turned back, his eyes wide with shock as he looked at Lawyer Yan. Although he knew Axe was not long for this world, hearing the words still brought an uncontrollable wave of sadness.
Ou Yunchen: "When?"
Lawyer Yan: "A week ago, shortly after Colin died."
Ou Yunchen: "Has there been an obituary?"
Lawyer Yan: "Axe did not wish for news of his passing to be released during a time of turmoil in the Tang Empire."
Ou Yunchen: "I understand..."
Lawyer Yan: "Furthermore, I hope you will return to the Tang Empire to continue assisting Tang."
Ou Yunchen: "Continue being my adopted son? Doing those dirty deeds for Tang?"
Lawyer Yan: "The Tang Empire needs your help."
Ou Yunchen: "I am no longer an adopted son. My name is not 'O'. I have a name now. Everything concerning the Tang Empire is irrelevant to me."
Lawyer Yan: "Born a person of Tang, dead a ghost of the Tang Empire. Once an adopted son, always an adopted son. You cannot escape it."
Ou Yunchen: "All the adopted sons are dead!"
Lawyer Yan: "You know there are survivors."
Ou Yunchen: "Then please let us go, alright?"
Lawyer Yan: "Mr. Ou, we spared your life. It's time to repay the debt."