Does Mo Qingyun truly suit taking over the Tang Empire in place of Michelle?
Even she herself had doubted it at times.
Lawyer Yan: "These are the empire's histories. Every person destined to become a Tang must read them thoroughly."
Mo Qingyun: " I always thought you'd oppose me, I never expected you to cast a vote of approval today."
Lawyer Yan: "When you possess the character of a ruler, I have no reason to object to you."
Mo Qingyun: "I don't think I'm any more suited for this than Michelle."
Lawyer Yan: "Michelle recommended you, and she must have had her reasons. Miss Mo simply needs to prepare herself to receive the empire."
Lawyer Yan placed the documents he was holding onto the table one by one. Those thick files looked like they would take at least several months to get through.
Mo Qingyun: "To be honest, if Michelle weren't here, I truly don't know how I'd make those men believe in me in the days ahead."
Lawyer Yan: "The mere fact that you are Axe's biological sister is enough for them to learn to keep quiet."
Mo Qingyun: "Will you stay and help me too?"
Lawyer Yan: "Yes."
Mo Qingyun smiled.
Mo Qingyun: "I thought you would retire early, just like Michelle."
Lawyer Yan: "I am loyal to the Tang Empire. Assisting every Tang is my duty."
Mo Qingyun: "Thank you for believing in me."
Lawyer Yan offered a slight smile and then left the room.
He sighed. Would Mo Qingyun become an excellent Tang?
He didn't know yet. However, the reborn Mo Qingyun possessed a tenacious willpower that no one else had, but that willpower stemmed from hatred.
This was a good thing for a Tang, because to be a Tang required decisiveness and ruthlessness. This meant they wouldn't need excessive personal emotions.
Emotions becoming a Tang's weakness would allow enemies to seize opportunities, leading to fatal blows. There were countless examples of this.
Michelle had failed to cross that limit, which was why she failed. She had to leave the empire…
Perhaps Michelle saw that Mo Qingyun didn't need emotions. Her sole focus on revenge was enough to make her strong.
Lin Yi: "Lawyer Yan."
Lawyer Yan: "Miss Lin Yi."
Lin Yi: "Can we talk?"
Lawyer Yan and Lin Yi went to the garden. They rarely had much to say to each other, as Lin Yi usually only stayed where Michelle was present.
Lin Yi: "Michelle gave me a large sum of money."
Lawyer Yan: "Why?"
Lin Yi: "She said that the day she leaves the Tang Empire, I would be free. The money was her thanks for my protection over the years."
Lawyer Yan: "Then you should accept it."
Lin Yi: "I'm still hesitant, even though that money is very tempting."
Lawyer Yan: "Michelle is generous. If you feel it's not enough, you can ask her for more."
Lin Yi: "No, it's not because of that…"
Lawyer Yan: "Unless the reason for you to give up that money is more worthy of you staying with the Tang Empire."
Lin Yi: "Lawyer Yan, do you really support Mo Qingyun?"
Lawyer Yan: "I have already cast my vote of approval."
Lin Yi: "But you know the truth is not what she thinks. Michelle deceived her."
Lawyer Yan: "That's not important. What matters is that Mo Qingyun has survived tenaciously and is willing to take over the positions of her brother and sister-in-law. They both served the Tang Empire, and so will she."
Lin Yi: "But what if she really goes to seek revenge on Ou Yunchen?"
Lawyer Yan: "That is between them. It's best we don't interfere."
Lin Yi: "I mean… what if Mo Qingyun, in her pursuit of revenge, causes the Tang Empire to suffer losses?"
Lawyer Yan: "That won't happen. Colin is dead. Our empire's strength has been further weakened, and there's no one left who can contend with the Tang Empire. Moreover, Ou Yunchen's current status is not even worth a toe-tip to the Tang Empire."
Lawyer Yan patted Mo Qingyun's shoulder. He thought Lin Yi's worries were unnecessary. After all, the Tang Empire had never taken Ou Yunchen seriously from the beginning.
At this moment, Lin Yi believed more than ever that she couldn't leave the Tang Empire.
Mo Qingyun was an even more dangerous person. Who knew what terrible things a madwoman might do.
If she harmed Ou Yunchen, Lin Yi would never forgive her!
Lawyer Yan: "Do you have other concerns?"
Lin Yi: "People like me are the same wherever we go, right?"
Lawyer Yan: "Miss Lin Yi, where you come from is not important. What matters is where the master you obey wants you to go."
Lin Yi gave a bitter smile. Lawyer Yan was always so serious that every word felt bitter, dry and unpalatable, like Chinese medicine.
So, where was Lin Yi's master?
Perhaps that master had already let Lin Yi go free, just like Michelle, who no longer needed her.
***
Ou Yunchen watched Su Ruiyi busy herself on the treadmill and smiled helplessly.
Su Ruiyi: "Throw all of this away, yes, and all those towels too."
Look, it was as if a brand new mistress had moved in.
She thought Ou Yunchen's apartment had too many things she disliked, so she wanted to change everything. She wouldn't let anything that Mo Qingyun might have touched remain.
However, Ou Yunchen had already cleared out Mo Qingyun's belongings. He was determined to forget the little mute and live a good life, taking good care of Su Ruiyi.
As for guilt? He remembered it, dared not forget it, but could not mention it.
Escape was a choice, a choice to survive…
Su Ruiyi: "Oh, right, move the bed in the bedroom out too."
Ou Yunchen quickly rushed down to stop her.
Ou Yunchen: "Miss, that was custom-made from Country Y. That bed alone cost over three million!"
Su Ruiyi: "Even if it's profitable, I don't want it!"
Ou Yunchen: "Okay, whatever makes you happy."
The movers were almost emptying Ou Yunchen's house. If Ou Yunchen hadn't stopped them, they might not have even left him a pair of underwear.
Fine, fine. As long as Su Ruiyi was happy, she could do whatever she pleased.
Su Ruiyi: "Honey, shall we go to the furniture store this afternoon?"
Ou Yunchen: "Okay."
Su Ruiyi: "You're so sweet, honey!"
Ou Yunchen put on his headphones and continued his workout. He would rather pretend not to see anything, and even if his heart was bleeding, he would smile and finish his daily fitness routine.
However, Su Ruiyi was truly Ou Yunchen's lucky star.
Ever since they decided to be together, ATL's performance began to rebound. It was as if the projects Ou Yunchen had deliberately sabotaged had unexpectedly come back to life, and the projects he most wanted to lose money on were now making double the profit.
With a bang, Ou Yunchen's strength failed him, and he fell off the treadmill.
Su Ruiyi was terrified and rushed to help him up.
Su Ruiyi: "Are you okay? Did you get hurt? Does it hurt? Is it serious…"
Ou Yunchen: "Injuries from exercise are normal. Why are you crying?"
For some reason, Su Ruiyi had become even more prone to tears.
Su Ruiyi: "I'm worried about you! Why are you exercising for so long!"
Ou Yunchen: "If I don't recover my body to its former state quickly, how can I protect you, silly!"
Su Ruiyi: "Get up, stop training. Lie down on the sofa."
Ou Yunchen glanced behind him, then smiled. Su Ruiyi also smiled.
Where was the sofa? The entire living room, except for the treadmill Ou Yunchen was using, had been cleared out…
Ou Yunchen: "If you mind it so much, I might as well buy a new house."
Su Ruiyi: "Not at all!"
Ou Yunchen: "Oh? Then why?"
Su Ruiyi: "You can't bring in the new if you don't get rid of the old!"
Su Ruiyi helped Ou Yunchen up and found a box for them to finally sit down. Su Ruiyi massaged Ou Yunchen while asking him to test if his knee could move. She was practically becoming his personal doctor now.
Su Ruiyi: "It's a little swollen…"
Ou Yunchen: "Ouch, it hurts, it hurts…"
Su Ruiyi: "Ah? Where? I didn't use much force."
Ou Yunchen: "My foot, my toe."
Su Ruiyi quickly took off Ou Yunchen's shoe and examined it carefully, but…
Su Ruiyi: "Pah! You scoundrel!"
Ou Yunchen deliberately played a prank, kicking Su Ruiyi's face. Although it didn't hurt and only lightly touched her, it almost went into her mouth.
Ou Yunchen burst into laughter. He found it quite amusing to tease this young lady.
Su Ruiyi: "Pah, pah, pah! It stinks!"
Ou Yunchen: "My knee is out of control…"
Su Ruiyi: "Out of control, is it? I'll give you a good treatment!"
Ou Yunchen: "Ah! It's going to break!"
The entire room was empty, with only the incessant screams echoing in their ears…
And so, Ou Yunchen, limping on one leg, chased and played with Su Ruiyi in the large house.
One yelled, "Come here quickly!" while the other pouted and shouted, "Come on, you can't catch me, you'll make me mad!" Ou Yunchen: "Gotcha!"
Su Ruiyi, however, slipped and, with Ou Yunchen's grab, they both fell into the pile of countless sheets, duvet covers, and pillows removed from the bed…
At first, Ou Yunchen tickled Su Ruiyi all over, listening to her repeatedly cry, "Mercy, I won't dare again…"
But gradually, the laughter stopped. Ou Yunchen pinned Su Ruiyi down, and they slowly adjusted their breathing, looking at each other…
Su Ruiyi: "What are you doing looking at me like that…"
Ou Yunchen: "The atmosphere is getting a bit romantic…"
Su Ruiyi: "Then what do you want to do…"
Ou Yunchen: "Can I do whatever I want?"
Su Ruiyi suddenly blushed, nodding shyly.
Just as they were about to kiss…
The butler: "Miss!"
Ou Yunchen quickly got off Su Ruiyi, and Su Ruiyi immediately sat up.
The butler: "Ah, Miss, you're here. I'm here to report that the movers have removed all the furniture. Is there anything else you need us to do?"
Su Ruiyi: "No, nothing else. You've done a great job."
The butler: "Ah, this area hasn't been tidied up yet. Excuse me, Mr. Ou, please move aside."
With a strong pull, the butler yanked away the sheets that were under Ou Yunchen's backside, almost flipping him over.
Now, Ou Yunchen was a little afraid of the Su family's butler. Perhaps because he had often hurt Su Ruiyi's feelings in the past, he felt a bit timid whenever he saw the butler.
The butler picked up all the sheets, duvet covers, and other miscellaneous items from the floor and then closed the door and left.
Now, there was no romantic atmosphere left at all…
Ou Yunchen: "That…"
Su Ruiyi: "I…"
Ou Yunchen: "I'm going to take a shower first."
Su Ruiyi: "Okay, okay…"
However, when Ou Yunchen opened the bathroom door, he suddenly remembered something. He turned around…
They both spoke at the same time.
Ou Yunchen: "There are no bath towels…"
Su Ruiyi: "Do you want me to help you wash up?"
Awkwardness filled the air!
Ou Yunchen: "What?"
Su Ruiyi slowly turned around. She was shameless for saying something like that!
But just as Su Ruiyi was about to flee, Ou Yunchen grabbed her and pushed her into the bathroom.
***
Back on track, Ou Yunchen set higher life goals for himself. He suddenly felt that the time he had wasted should be compensated with more money.
So, he didn't waste any of the lucky star's magic. In just half a year, he brought ATL's performance back up to the Hurun new rankings.
At the celebration banquet, Ou Yunchen, with Su Ruiyi in his arm, thanked all the employees who had worked hard for ATL.
Of course, bonuses were also part of the package. The most outstanding project teams even received millions in benefits.
Lawyer Ma: "Alright, alright, don't get too excited just yet. We have one more thing to announce."
Lawyer Ma looked back at Ou Yunchen, who nodded with a smile.
Lawyer Ma: "To reward everyone, our CEO Ou is personally funding a trip to Hawaii for all the PM teams, their team members, and their families!!!"
The venue erupted in excitement. ATL's success was inseparable from every PM, and even more so from the diligent efforts of their team members. Therefore, this small trip was considered a company team-building event.
Su Ruiyi nudged Ou Yunchen.
Su Ruiyi: "This is the surprise you mentioned?"
Ou Yunchen: "Yes, don't you want to go with me?"
Su Ruiyi: "Going on a trip with so many people?"
Ou Yunchen: "How fun is that?"
Su Ruiyi: "To travel with me, I have to bring so many people along?"
Ou Yunchen: "Company expense, how great is that!"
Su Ruiyi was amused and exasperated. This was indeed what she had dreamed of, but what she wanted was a sweet world for just her and Ou Yunchen, not…
***
Employees and their families?!
Ou Yunchen had really chartered a plane. The worst was yet to come…
The butler: "Miss."
The maids: "Miss."
Su Ruiyi slapped her forehead and glared back at Ou Yunchen, who, wearing sunglasses, could only see the upward curve of his lips.
Su Ruiyi: "What's going on with them?"
Ou Yunchen: "They're all family, so they're coming along."
Su Ruiyi: "You brought the entire Su family's staff!"
Ou Yunchen: "Just filling up the seats. Since we chartered a plane, we invited them all along."
Su Ruiyi: "I knew you guys were acting suspiciously lately, packing bags. So you were preparing to travel together!"
The butler: "We wanted to give Miss a surprise."
Su Ruiyi: "This isn't a surprise, it's a shock!"
The butler: "It was Mr. Ou's idea…"
Su Ruiyi: "Ou Yunchen!!!"
Ou Yunchen immediately put his arm around Su Ruiyi's neck, laughing and waving his hands.
Ou Yunchen: "We're going on a trip, let's be happy. Oh, we're taking pictures, come on, let's go together."
Su Ruiyi saw a group of people gathered at the boarding gate from afar, with a red banner.
Su Ruiyi: "Wishing ATL's first Hawaii team-building event success?!"
Ou Yunchen: "Not bad, not bad."
Su Ruiyi: "Hey! Ou Yunchen, are you getting old? Which CEO does this? You're getting so cheesy!"