Ou Yunchen's head throbbed. He stood there, frozen. Ever since Mo Qingyun fell from the building, Ou Yunchen had burdened all his guilt onto those still alive.
He thought he had harmed these two poor girls, but he never expected…
The butler opened the door and poked his head out. Seeing Ou Yunchen standing there, he quickly went back inside to inform Su Ruiyi.
Ou Yunchen was woodenly led into the house by the butler. Looking at this Miss Su again, he only felt her to be despicable, a liar who spun falsehoods!!!
Su Ruiyi: "You're back? I missed you so much."
Ou Yunchen: "Why did you lie to me?"
Su Ruiyi: "I didn't! I missed you three thousand times every day!!! Believe me, ask them."
Butler: "Yes, Miss always talked about you, Mr. Ou."
Su Ruiyi: "See? I didn't lie."
Ou Yunchen: "Su Ruiyi!!!"
Ou Yunchen roared, frightening everyone in the room.
Su Ruiyi: "You, what's wrong?"
Ou Yunchen: "Are there any truths in your words?"
Su Ruiyi: "I didn't lie…"
Butler: "Miss really missed…"
Ou Yunchen: "Get out, all of you, get out!!!"
Su Ruiyi: "What exactly is wrong with you…"
Ou Yunchen pushed everyone out of the room, then locked the door tightly. The moment he turned his head, his eyes were red.
Ou Yunchen: "How did Mo Qingyun die?"
Su Ruiyi: "She fell…"
Ou Yunchen: "You killed her!!!"
Su Ruiyi: "I didn't…"
Ou Yunchen: "You're still arguing it has nothing to do with you!!! You lured her to the Peninsula Hotel!!!"
Su Ruiyi fell silent. She knew nothing she said would matter anymore.
Ou Yunchen: "Why did you team up with Colin? I explicitly warned you to stay away from him!"
Su Ruiyi: "Colin said he would help me…"
Ou Yunchen: "Help you what? Help you kill an innocent girl?"
Su Ruiyi: "No, I didn't know it would turn out like that…"
Ou Yunchen: "How could you be so vicious? Because you didn't like Mo Qingyun, you wanted to kill her so you could have me all to yourself, right?"
Su Ruiyi: "I was jealous of Mo Qingyun! You always favored her! Even when you were with me, you went to see her. I just hated her, is that wrong!"
Ou Yunchen: "You killed her and you say you did nothing wrong! I really shouldn't have saved you; I should have let you die on that rooftop too!"
With that, Ou Yunchen turned away. He couldn't stand to be with Su Ruiyi for another second. He wanted to escape this girl he detested as quickly as possible!
Su Ruiyi finally panicked. Ignoring her still-recovering leg, she jumped out of bed and begged Ou Yunchen not to leave.
She knelt at Ou Yunchen's feet, clinging tightly to his legs. All her dignity was gone. She kept apologizing, begging Ou Yunchen not to go.
Su Ruiyi: "I know I was wrong, I'll change. I won't do it again. Please, don't leave me. I have no family left, don't go…"
Ou Yunchen: "Get lost!!!"
Su Ruiyi: "Hit me, curse me, I was truly wrong. I didn't know Colin would kill Mo Qingyun. Jealousy truly consumed my reason…"
Ou Yunchen: "Get off!!!"
Ou Yunchen forcefully tried to pry Su Ruiyi's hands away, but she refused to let go. Even if Ou Yunchen’s hands broke her skin, she wouldn't let him leave.
Meanwhile, the butler and maids outside heard the shouting from inside. They knocked on the door, yelling for it to be opened, drawing the attention of everyone in the corridor.
Ou Yunchen: "Su Ruiyi, I've repaid everything I owe you. From now on, we are strangers. Don't disturb my life again!"
Su Ruiyi: "I don't want to, I really know I was wrong…"
Finally, Ou Yunchen made up his mind. He forcefully pushed Su Ruiyi away, then quickly opened the door and left with resolute finality.
The butler watched his young lady crying her eyes out on the floor. He cursed Ou Yunchen mercilessly, but Su Ruiyi continued to cry out that she truly knew she was wrong.
Maid: "Butler, what about these things…"
The butler glanced at the items they had picked up in the corridor.
Butler: "Throw them away! Throw away everything Mr. Ou bought!"
Su Ruiyi: "No, don't throw them away!!!"
Su Ruiyi, dragging her injured leg, limped over to the maid and clutched all the items Ou Yunchen had bought.
Su Ruiyi: "These are gifts from my husband, you can't throw them away…"
Butler: "Miss!!!"
But Su Ruiyi seemed to have gone mad, or foolish, no longer listening to anything.
***
From then on, Ou Yunchen's disposition changed drastically. All the employees at AtL were in an uproar.
Lawyer Ma: "Why are you losing your temper in meetings again?"
Ou Yunchen: "Can't they even do this simple task properly?"
Lawyer Ma: "You always made the decisions."
Ou Yunchen: "How many decisions have I made for them, how many messes have I cleaned up! Do I keep them around just to annoy me?"
Lawyer Ma: "What are you doing? You can criticize, but there are limits. These young people are already trying their best!"
Ou Yunchen: "If you can do it, do it. If not, get out!"
Lawyer Ma slammed the door and left in anger. She couldn't work with this unreasonable Ou Yunchen anymore.
As a result, AtL's employee turnover rate was extraordinarily high during that period. If not for the support of some loyal old employees, AtL would have already earned a terrible reputation.
But this wasn't the worst of it. Ou Yunchen not only deliberately ruined the company he had built from scratch, but he also destroyed his own body.
Death was too easy. He would die eventually; he just had to sacrifice his soul first.
So, when Ou Yunchen didn't want to go to work, he would go to entertainment venues. He spent all his money on those women, letting alcohol numb him day and night…
But even with such indulgence, he still felt a profound emptiness. He then remembered the wealthy women who had once spared no expense to have him.
So, why not? He could satisfy their every desire. Just a phone call, and he would be there.
Wealthy Woman: "Oh, my little darling, where have you been these past few days?"
Ou Yunchen: "Baby, I was captured by a big bad wolf. You have to come and save me."
Wealthy Woman: "Hahaha, alright. So, I've saved you now. Are you coming home with me?"
Ou Yunchen: "Let's go. As long as you need me, I'll appear by your side."
The wealthy woman happily hugged Ou Yunchen. They had both drunk a lot, and they stumbled out.
But just as Ou Yunchen got into the wealthy woman's car, Su Ruiyi appeared.
Su Ruiyi: "Ou Yunchen!!!"
Su Ruiyi blocked the car that was about to start with her body. She came here every day to wait for Ou Yunchen.
Or rather, from the time she was in a wheelchair, then used a cane, and now that she could finally walk freely again, she still came every day to persuade Ou Yunchen to leave with her. She knew she was wrong, but she couldn't bear to watch Ou Yunchen fall into ruin.
Wealthy Woman: "Who is that?"
Driver: "Madam, I'm not sure."
Ou Yunchen: "Don't delay us."
As he spoke, the two in the back seat, fueled by alcohol, became heated. But Su Ruiyi ran to the car door, knocking on the window and banging on the door, disrupting the enjoyment of the two inside.
Ou Yunchen: "My dear, wait for me just a moment."
Only after kissing the wealthy woman passionately did Ou Yunchen get out of the car. He then coldly told Su Ruiyi to get as far away from him as possible.
Su Ruiyi: "Why are you destroying yourself like this! That old woman could be your mother!"
Ou Yunchen: "I like it. She gives me money, so I do these things."
Su Ruiyi: "Money? Are you short of money now? I'll give it to you. Is this enough?"
Su Ruiyi pulled out a wad of cash from her bag and threw it at Ou Yunchen. He caught it with a whistle.
Ou Yunchen: "Enough. How many times do you want it? Tell me, I'll definitely satisfy you."
Su Ruiyi: "Ou Yunchen, can you be normal! This is not how you should be!!!"
Ou Yunchen: "This is me. I'm just a bartender at the club. I used to be pretentious, now I finally know this kind of happiness."
Su Ruiyi shook Ou Yunchen furiously, but the smell of alcohol emanating from him was almost suffocating.
Su Ruiyi: "Wake up, wake up! You should be punishing me, not yourself!"
Ou Yunchen suddenly pushed Su Ruiyi away and yelled at her to mind her own business, intending to return to the car.
Su Ruiyi: "I don't want to see you like this. Not only because I need to atone for my sins, but more importantly, I still love you!"
Ou Yunchen, who was about to open the car door, stopped. He hated Su Ruiyi, hated her for her jealousy. If not for her, Mo Qingyun wouldn't have died.
But he also hated his own incompetence, and even more, he hated his misguided revenge. Compared to wickedness, he, Ou Yunchen, was no good either!
He had no right to punish anyone. He was the one who had used Mo Qingyun…
Ou Yunchen: "Don't bother with me anymore. This is how I'll be from now on."
With that, Ou Yunchen resumed his dissolute demeanor and returned to the car…
The wealthy woman's car drove away, and Su Ruiyi chased after it, her voice hoarse as she screamed Ou Yunchen's name, only to be met with the car accelerating and disappearing.
Butler: "Miss, Miss!!!"
The butler, out of breath, finally caught up. He couldn't bear to watch Su Ruiyi follow Ou Yunchen into ruin.
Su Ruiyi: "He still refuses to forgive me…"
Butler: "Just forget it. Mr. Ou has changed. He won't go back to his old self."
Su Ruiyi: "No, he's just temporarily lost. I will bring him back."
Butler: "Miss, why must you do this?"
Su Ruiyi: "I owe that mute girl. I will treat Ou Yunchen twice as well. Even if he doesn't want me, I will be good to him. Even if he stays like this forever, I won't give up on him."
The butler sighed, watching the car disappear into the distance, and gently urged his young lady to go home.