Chapter 27: Unless I Am Dead

"Sun Tao, you are a clever man; you should know what ought to be said and what should not."

"Furthermore, I will be honest with you: I have already divorced Liu Zhuyin."

"No matter what she does, I will not remarry her."

Sun Tao grew anxious. "Mr. Gu, you... you are really giving up on the young lady?"

It was not that I had given up on her. It was that she had given up on me. But by now, it no longer mattered who had given up on whom.

"Yes."

"I will help you resolve the matter regarding Ning Yuanzhou."

"Be more careful with your words in the future."

After hanging up, I pondered for a moment before making another call—to an influential elder in the capital. Finding someone was a trivial matter for him.

"Very well, Xiaochen. Rest assured, leave this to me."

About half an hour later, the call came back. The person had been found. I immediately called Sun Tao, then went to see Ning Yuanzhou. Had it not been for Sun Tao, I would have found the very act of meeting him repulsive. I knew Ning Yuanzhou would try every possible means to feign disappearance, but I never expected he would be capable of hiding so effectively. To avoid being found by Liu Zhuyin, he had taken a small boat and was drifting out at sea.

"Mr. Ning, you really are quite resourceful."

He naturally caught the sarcasm in my tone.

"Gu Yichen? I never expected you to be the one to find me."

"What do you want? Don't tell me you intend to..."

Panic flashed across his face. Out here on the open sea, if I truly wanted him to disappear permanently, I had the means to do so.

I chuckled. "I thought you were quite bold, but it turns out... you’re nothing but a coward."

"Rest assured, I’m afraid of dirtying my hands on you."

His expression turned uncertain. "Then what are you..."

"It’s simple. I’m sending you back."

"And to put your mind at ease: there is absolutely no possibility of anything between Liu Zhuyin and me."

He didn’t believe me and sneered.

"Is that so? Then why come looking for me?"

"If it were truly impossible, you should have let me finish playing out this act!"

He had misunderstood me, thinking I was holding him hostage to curry favor with her.

"If you wish to act, save it for the future."

"Because of you, Sun Tao was fired. I found you simply to give him a chance to redeem himself."

"Don't get any ideas!"

He remained skeptical, but I didn't care whether he believed me or not—there were plenty of ways to force him back.

"Two choices."

"I will have Sun Tao take you back shortly. You will tell Liu Zhuyin that it was Sun Tao who spared no effort in finding you, and you will convince her to reinstate him."

"Or, you can continue your little play, but I will make you disappear in this vast ocean. Do not doubt me; if I could find you, I have the means to make you vanish."

Ning Yuanzhou fell silent, carefully weighing my words. But he had no choice.

"What you said just now—is it true?"

"Is there really no possibility between you and Liu Zhuyin?"

"Are you truly willing... to concede her to me?"

"And not just playing some game to force her back, or to force me to leave her?"

I sneered.

"You aren't worth the effort of my lying to you."

"As for how far you and Liu Zhuyin go, that is your own business."

"But between her and me, there is absolutely no possibility!"

With that, the boat reached the shore. Sun Tao was waiting there. I patted his shoulder.

"He’s been found. Go back and explain things properly."

"The Liu Corporation’s success today is partly due to your efforts."

"Besides, Liu Zhuyin is a capable leader. It is only where Ning Yuanzhou is concerned that she is a fool."

"But you should understand what it means for a clever person to lose their wits over another man."

Sun Tao should be able to grasp the implication. I waved my hand and left.

There would be no more ripples from the remaining events. And so it proved. When Liu Zhuyin saw Ning Yuanzhou return, she wept with joy.

"A-Zhou, why... why did you leave without a word? Do you have any idea how worried I was!"

Although Ning Yuanzhou had accelerated the pace of his act, the final scene remained unchanged.

"I just... I just didn't want to disturb you and Mr. Gu."

"A-Yin, I truly want you to have no conflict with him."

"I genuinely want to wish you... happiness for the rest of your life."

"But I’ve ended up causing you trouble anyway."

Sun Tao stood to the side, listening, wishing he could punch that pathetic face. Yet, he held back.

"By the way, it was Mr. Sun who found me."

"I heard you fired him, A-Yin... how could you be so impulsive?"

"He has been by your side for so many years."

Only then did Liu Zhuyin notice that Sun Tao had brought Ning Yuanzhou back. Her face still held a trace of anger.

"Sun Tao, I will let it slide this time."

"If there is a next time, I will never forgive you!"

Yet, thanks to Ning Yuanzhou’s words, he regained his position. Sun Tao sighed inwardly, unable to feel any joy.

"Understood, Miss."

He gave Ning Yuanzhou a long, hard look before departing.

However, he still did not want this man to affect the marriage between me and Liu Zhuyin. He told Madam Liu exactly what had transpired. Madam Liu was incandescent with rage.

"That boy Xiaochen, is he... has he lost his mind?"

"I exhausted every means to help them reconcile, and he turns around and hands you a favor on a silver platter."

"And that foolish girl A-Yin, has she been kicked in the head by a donkey?"

She stormed over to find Liu Zhuyin and Ning Yuanzhou. Seeing her daughter fussing over Ning Yuanzhou as if he were a precious treasure, she was so angry she could barely breathe. But she held her temper in check.

"Yuanzhou disappeared for a day and a night; you must be feeling unwell."

"Let’s send him to the hospital for a check-up."

Liu Zhuyin snapped back to reality. "Yes, yes, of course. Let’s go to the hospital and have you thoroughly examined."

She was stopped by Madam Liu.

"Just have someone take Yuanzhou; he isn’t a child, he doesn’t need you to accompany him."

"I have something important to discuss with you, so you stay here."

Liu Zhuyin frowned. "How can that be? I..."

"Yuanzhou, you go on by yourself. I have important matters to discuss with Zhuyin."

"You understand, don't you?"

Madam Liu ignored Liu Zhuyin, staring at Ning Yuanzhou with a smile that carried a chilling edge. He dared not display his usual "green tea" act in front of Madam Liu.

"Yes, I can go by myself, that’s fine."

"A-Yin, your mother has things to discuss with you. You two talk."

As Ning Yuanzhou left, Liu Zhuyin watched him get into the car with anxiety, and only when the vehicle disappeared from sight did she turn back. Her tone was icy and irritable as she questioned her mother.

"Mom, what are you doing!"

"What could possibly be so urgent that it couldn't wait until tomorrow?"

She could not fathom why so many people looked down on Ning Yuanzhou. True! He had abandoned her years ago. But he was still her friend, and her savior. Was it wrong for her to be kind to him?

"Liu Zhuyin, I think you’ve truly lost your mind!"

"You are acting like an absolute fool over a man like this!"

Madam Liu was so incensed she didn't know what to say, pointing a finger at her and berating her.

"I’m telling you, the reason I came here today is to make one thing clear."

"I don't care what you think, and I care even less about what Xiaochen thinks."

"Divorce?"

"Impossible! Not unless I’m dead!"