Chapter 69: Chapter 69: Marry Me
"This guy is... Chen Feng?" Yang Chen finally recognized the pitiful fellow, never expecting it to be him.
Chen Feng at this moment was vastly different from the last time Yang Chen had seen him. His once thin face was now pale, his hair disheveled as if he had rolled through a thicket, his cheeks sunken, and there were numerous bruises on his body.
More unsettling was his dazed, manic grin. He seemed less like a person and more like a completely irrational humanoid creature.
The former young master of the Chen family had now become something neither human nor ghost, truly a plaything of fate.
However, Yang Chen didn't pity him. Actions have consequences, and Chen Feng's current state was the result of his past bullying.
Zhang Ying's gaze at Chen Feng was filled with venom. Chen Feng had ruined her life, so she had every reason to despise him.
"That's right, but he's not called Chen Feng anymore. He's just a dog I'm raising!" Zhang Ying said, then suddenly yanked the rope in her hand!
Chen Feng, who had been struggling to assault Lin Kun just moments ago, suddenly hoarsely cried out as he was dragged to the ground. Like a dog, he swiftly crawled to Zhang Ying's feet and began licking her exposed toes through her sandals.
It was only then that Yang Chen noticed the pet collar around Chen Feng's neck, the rope held tightly in Zhang Ying's hand!
Chen Feng's actions had completely lost any semblance of rationality, clearly driven mad by excessive stimulation.
"Every time I see this beast, I want to shoot him dead, but my sister won't allow it," Zhang Hu said fiercely. "Killing him would be too easy. I want to torture him. He used to play with me, so now I'll let other men play with him. Every night, the brothers and sisters who used to be bullied by him play with him, and when they're tired of playing, we'll kill him," Zhang Ying said matter-of-factly. "Mr. Yang, do you still need my pet to serve that old man?"
Yang Chen looked at the now unconscious Lin Kun without expression and said, "You handle it yourselves. As I said, as long as he doesn't die, everything else doesn't matter."
With that, Yang Chen turned and left. He had no interest in these people before him anymore. Whether it was Lin Kun or Chen Feng, their fates no longer mattered.
But things in the world always change faster than plans can keep up.
As Yang Chen was driving back to the hospital, Zhang Hu called again, delivering news that momentarily stunned himā€”Lin Kun had gone mad!
Despite multiple attempts at revenge failing, being thrown into the trash, then kidnapped and bound by mercenaries, Lin Kun had lost his last bit of dignity as a man, courtesy of someone like Chen Feng, akin to a beast. Add to that the loss of his only stake in Yulei International, Lin Kun, who already had little left, was now left despondent.
Originally born into wealth, living a carefree life for half his life, only to meet such a tragic end.
Perhaps going insane was a kind of liberation for Lin Kun.
Yang Chen instructed Zhang Hu to take Lin Kun to the Zhonghai Mental Hospital, and as for the rest, Zhang Hu understood what to do. Just as Yang Chen felt a twinge of regret for Lin Kun's descent into madness, he suddenly received a call from Mo Qianni. This beautiful superior had never given him a good look, and even now, despite saving her life, she still wore the expression of someone who was owed money, leaving Yang Chen feeling helpless.
"Hello, Miss Mo, what can I do for you?" Yang Chen spoke with a hint of fatigue.
Mo Qianni on the other end sounded a bit annoyed, "What's wrong? From your tone, it sounds like talking to me is a grievance for you?"
"Not at all, I'm honored," Yang Chen frowned, this woman always seemed to find fault for no reason.
Mo Qianni snorted on the other end, "I'm telling you, I'm treating you to dinner tonight, don't be ungrateful."
Yang Chen was suspicious, asking cautiously, "Miss Mo, are you not going to drag me to some restaurant to collect debts again?"
"Go to hell, Yang Chen! I'm graciously thanking you for saving me, so I'm treating you to a meal. Do you think I'm the kind of woman who picks fights for no reason and is heartless?"
She definitely is... Yang Chen thought inwardly, but he just agreed; after all, there was no reason to refuse, and he was quite hungry himself.
"Then come to the company's parking lot, I'll drive and we can go together," Mo Qianni said before hanging up decisively.
Hungry and impatient, Yang Chen hastened his pace and soon arrived at the underground parking lot of Yulei International. It was already after work hours, so there were hardly any cars in the parking lot.
Mo Qianni's red Audi A4 stood out conspicuously in a small corner, and its owner was watching her watch, waiting for him.
Mo Qianni had changed into casual attire, a black chiffon dress that perfectly accentuated her slender waist and shapely hips, with a pair of crystal-colored high heels below her white, jade-like, long and slender legs. Her black, smooth, long hair cascaded down, complementing her whole ensemble. Despite the subtle makeup, her beautiful face still exuded an intellectual charm, fitting the traditional beauty of the East.
If it weren't for knowing about this woman's ruthlessness, Yang Chen might have fallen for her mature charm like any other man.
"Get in," Mo Qianni didn't waste any time with pleasantries; seeing Yang Chen approach, she immediately opened the car door and sat in the driver's seat.
After Yang Chen got into the car, Mo Qianni turned on the stereo, with an aux mode connected to a sleek silver iPod. The melodic tune of Chen Shuhua's old song "Waking from a Dream" gently drifted through the car cabin.
Mo Qianni didn't initiate any conversation with Yang Chen, focusing solely on driving.
As the car merged onto the highway, Yang Chen couldn't help but notice, somewhat surprised, that Mo Qianni's iPod was filled with classic old songs, including works from renowned Western bands like The Rolling Stones and The Beatles.
"It seems you're quite nostalgic," Yang Chen couldn't help but remark, feeling a sense of nostalgia himself. It was unexpected to discover this side of the young urban woman.
Mo Qianni shot Yang Chen a glance, "New things are always easily forgotten; only those that aren't forgotten are worth reminiscing about..." She paused for a moment before adding, "But telling someone as crude as you is probably pointless."
"I understand," Yang Chen said earnestly. "A couple of years ago, I thought Jessica Alba from Hollywood was stunningly beautiful and sexy enough, but after she got pregnant, I realized Marilyn Monroe, who had died many years ago, had more charm."
Mo Qianni nearly spat blood on the steering wheel. If she didn't need to press the gas, she would've kicked this shameless guy out of the car!
The rest of the journey was unusually quiet, with only the soothing rhythm of British rock playing in the car.
When the car finally stopped, Mo Qianni spoke up, "We're here. Get out."
Yang Chen glanced outside the window, wondering if he had misread the situation. He pointed to the neon sign ahead and asked, "Are you sure we're eating here?"
"Is there a problem?" Mo Qianni asked with a displeased expression.
Yang Chen shook his head, "I'm just surprised why you'd choose to eat here. I thought you'd take me to some upscale and elegant restaurant for Western or French cuisine, given your status."
"I like eating at food stalls and roadside snacks, so unfortunately, you guessed wrong," Mo Qianni glared at Yang Chen. "Get out!"
Let it be a food stall then, Yang Chen didn't mind at all, as long as someone else was footing the bill since he hadn't brought his wallet.
Along the riverbank in the outskirts of Zhonghai, the food stalls thrived like a winding dragon, stretching endlessly. Various tents of all sizes were supported by bamboo or metal poles.
The colorful neon lights illuminated the food stalls brightly, while streams of people flowed continuously along the street. To Yang Chen's surprise, most of them were white-collar workers from the downtown area of Zhonghai. Some wore suits, while others, feeling the heat, draped their suit jackets and ties over their arms, chatting and laughing as they walked along the street.
The breeze from the river at this time provided some relief from the heat, making the air in this area much more pleasant. However, the smell of seafood and fresh produce gave this place a rustic atmosphere, perhaps something the city dwellers needed.
Despite the lively atmosphere, Mo Qianni, dressed in a black chiffon dress, remained a stunning sight among the crowd. When she wasn't glaring accusingly at someone, Mo Qianni truly was a captivating beauty, with a graceful and elegant demeanor that turned heads.
Walking with such a woman easily attracted jealous looks from many men.
"Do you come here often?" Yang Chen, unaware of such places in Zhonghai, looked around curiously and asked.
Mo Qianni nodded, "Not in a while."
"With so many stalls, which one do we choose?" Yang Chen noticed the multitude of food stalls around them, all seeming somewhat similar but likely varying in the quality of their dishes. Mo Qianni glanced at him and replied, "Just follow me."
Yang Chen stopped questioning further. He noticed that Mo Qianni seemed unusually quiet since they arrived, not the typical silence but rather lost in thought, immersed in some sort of reminiscence.
After walking for seven or eight minutes under Mo Qianni's guidance, Yang Chen arrived at a moderately busy stall named "Chuanxiang Food Stall," indicating Sichuan-style cuisine without needing to ask.
A slightly overweight woman with graying hair saw Mo Qianni and approached with a joyful expression, "Nizi, it's been so long! I've missed you, my dear!"
Mo Qianni returned a genuine, gentle smile, embracing the woman warmly without minding the possibility of oil stains on her clothes.
"Xiang Sao, I've been busy with work lately, so I brought a friend to have dinner today and happened to have some time to come and see you," Mo Qianni smiled, holding Xiang Sao's hand.
Xiang Sao glanced at Yang Chen behind Mo Qianni, a strange smile appearing on her face, as if she understood everything. "This must be your little girl's boyfriend, huh? What's with the pretense of inviting a friend for dinner? And you didn't even tell Xiang Sao about getting yourself a boyfriend!"
Mo Qianni blushed, hastily shaking her head. "No, Xiang Sao, he's not. He's a good friend's husband, and also my colleague. I just invited him for a meal because he helped me out today."
"I see..." Xiang Sao smiled with a hint of regret. "Nizi's friend, don't be polite. Sit down quickly. It's your first time here, and Auntie will make delicious food for you, free of charge!"
Yang Chen thanked her, and after finding a small table with Mo Qianni, Xiang Sao served them tea before busying herself in the kitchen.
"You seem to be quite close to the proprietress. Is she your relative?" Yang Chen asked curiously.
Mo Qianni took a sip of tea, wiped the delicate beads of sweat from her forehead, and replied, "Xiang Sao is my fellow townsfolk. When I first arrived in Zhonghai a few years ago, I didn't know anyone, and she helped me a lot. She's a good person."
"So, you're from Sichuan Province," Yang Chen said somewhat surprised. "Earlier at the hospital, you mentioned knowing Ruo Xi for several years. Does that mean you came to Zhonghai when you were thirteen or fourteen?"
"Is that so strange?" Mo Qianni retorted.
Yang Chen shook his head. "I'm just impressed. You were a thirteen or fourteen-year-old girl who came to such a big city alone, and yet you've achieved your current position over the years. But why would your parents let you come here alone?"
Mo Qianni's gaze dimmed slightly as she spoke softly, "My hometown is in the mountains, very poor, relying on a few acres of terraced fields to make a living year-round. My father fell ill and died when I was thirteen, and I didn't even know what illness he had. My mother struggled to raise me alone, so she remarried another man in the village."
Yang Chen fell silent, unable to find the right words. He hadn't expected such a dark past behind Mo Qianni's glamorous facade.
"You didn't agree to your mother's remarriage, so you left your hometown alone?" After a moment of silence, Yang Chen finally asked.
"No," Mo Qianni turned her head away, wiping her eyes with her hand. "Anyway, I had reasons to leave there. Besides, there was no junior high, no high school, let alone college. I didn't want to waste my life there."
Yang Chen noticed that Mo Qianni's eyes were reddening, so he knew she didn't want to dwell on these memories. He changed the subject, "You brought me here for dinner, but I assume it's not just to catch up with your fellow townsfolk."
Mo Qianni shot Yang Chen a glance, "The food Xiang Sao makes is really good. I brought you here not only to see her but also to thank you for saving me today."
"Saving someone in need is everyone's duty. Besides, you're both my wife and my boss. I couldn't just stand by and do nothing," Yang Chen admitted.
"It's your business to save, and it's my business to thank you. As for Ruo Xi, she's suffered enough to end up marrying you. There's no need for me to treat you to dinner like this," Mo Qianni said matter-of-factly.
"Hey, stop it. What do you mean 'end up marrying me'?" Yang Chen complained, "Is it so terrible to marry me? Look at how I risked my life to save her. What a noble husband!"
Mo Qianni retorted, "Saving her is what you should do, but whether you're worthy of her is another matter. Besides playing games, acting like a hooligan, and being a scoundrel, what else do you do in your spare time? You lack ambition, you lack professionalism, and you lack basic qualities. It's a disgrace that you're a Harvard graduate with proficiency in so many foreign languages. The most shameful thing in this world is not being incapable, but having the ability yet refusing to act!"
Yang Chen was taken aback by her words, feeling a bit embarrassed. No wonder she could lead the PR department; she was quite eloquent!
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