Chapter 37: The Truth

I was caught off guard when Bai Beichuan began to reveal the truth, so I quickly cut him off.

"No wonder Mr. Ning was able to resolve this matter!"
"To think Mr. Ning’s friend is CEO Bai—that is truly impressive."

After saying this, I couldn't help but shoot a look at Bai Beichuan, signaling him not to spill the beans.

"Uh... haha, yes, Mr. Ning and I... we do have some history."

The tone was strained, but Ning Yuanzhou, oblivious, only felt more smug. Watching this, Liu Zhuyin felt a flicker of annoyance toward Ning Yuanzhou for the first time. She had always idolized him. In the past, Ning Yuanzhou was indeed a prominent figure. The title of "Young Master of the Ning Family" brought him fame at a young age, and combined with his handsome face and a certain shrewdness, he was known by all.

But today, Liu Zhuyin finally realized that her perception of him was clouded by a childhood filter. She had always viewed him as that brilliant, unreachable prodigy from her youth. Once that filter faded, she saw the reality: he was ignorant and ridiculous—childish, arrogant, and lacking any of the composure of a mature man. By contrast, my silence seemed all the more profound.

"You two go ahead and talk."

Unaware of her thoughts, I turned and walked away. Ning Yuanzhou tried to engage Bai Beichuan in a heated conversation, but Bai Beichuan responded only with perfunctory remarks, showing no interest.

"Ms. Liu, there is no need to thank me for yesterday," Bai Beichuan said with a polite smile before taking his leave.

Ning Yuanzhou chuckled triumphantly. "Don't listen to him. He and I are friends; it didn't take much effort for him to help me. You mustn't feel like you owe me a great debt. Just remember one thing: everything I do is for your own good..."

Ning Yuanzhou smiled affectionately, his gaze lingering. Such words had always worked on Liu Zhuyin, but today, she let out a long sigh.

"Ah Zhou, this matter... you weren't the one who helped me."

Ning Yuanzhou froze. "Not me? Ah Yin, what kind of joke is that? Didn't you hear just now? Even CEO Bai admitted it."

Liu Zhuyin felt helpless, but she had to clarify. "Bai Beichuan is a close friend of Yichen. I saw him go to see CEO Bai in person yesterday. He only confirmed it just now to save you from losing face. So... I'm sorry, but the one I need to thank isn't you. It's... Yichen."

Boom!

The words hit Ning Yuanzhou’s heart like a heavy hammer. "W-what did you say?" he hissed, his knuckles white as he clenched his fists. If what Liu Zhuyin said was true, then he had been acting like a court jester, jumping around and making a fool of himself. No wonder he had sensed my strange expression, and why Liu Zhuyin and Bai Beichuan had seemed so odd. No wonder he had found it strange that someone as proud as Bai Beichuan would be so willing to help a down-and-out man like him.

It had nothing to do with him! It was me—I had stopped Bai Beichuan from revealing the truth just to humiliate him. He hadn't forgotten that I had cut Bai Beichuan off earlier. That unspoken part was the truth.

Liu Zhuyin remained silent, not knowing what else to say. Ning Yuanzhou noticed the trace of disappointment in her eyes, and his heart turned cold. He returned to the hospital in a dejected state, yet the resentment in his eyes only grew more intense.

That evening, Liu Zhuyin called me to explain the situation, trying to excuse Ning Yuanzhou. "Actually... he did call Bai Beichuan as well. He just assumed it was his influence that solved it when he heard it was CEO Bai. So, please don't take his provocation today to heart."

Her words left me baffled. "Why would I lower myself to his level? Liu Zhuyin, I’ve already told you: we are divorced. Stop calling me."

Every time I answered her calls, I hoped she was telling me to go finalize the divorce papers, but it was never the case. If this continued, I really wouldn't want to answer her calls at all.

After this minor interruption, I returned to my work. The foreign investment project was about to launch, and Luo Mingzhu was constantly dropping by. It wasn't just for work; she would show up whenever she was bored. Since it was technically her property, she came and went as she pleased, even keeping a spare key.

"Big sister, why do you keep running over here?" I asked. She was curled up on the sofa, watching a mindless drama and eating potato chips—hardly the image of a wealthy heiress. She was more like a child who hadn't grown up.

"Oh, go do your work and leave me alone," she said, too engrossed in the show to spare me a second.

By late afternoon, I had finished organizing the tender proposal and stretched, letting out a sigh. The girl actually knew how to be useful; she immediately poured me some tea and came over to massage my shoulders.

"Wow! You’re the best, Brother Chen! No wonder they call you the 'King of Hell' in the industry—you’re truly incredible!"

I nearly choked on my tea. "What did you call me?"

Luo Mingzhu looked at me with an innocent expression. "It’s not a nickname I came up with; it's what everyone else says... you didn't know?"

I certainly did not!

"It’s because you single-handedly dragged the crumbling Liu Group back from the brink and carved out a bloody path for yourself. That’s how you got the name. But I’ve seen it for myself today—our company’s departments have been working overtime, and combined, they aren't as fast as you alone! Maybe I should fire them all and just hire you!"

Her words were sweet, and I couldn't help but smile helplessly. "Alright, enough with the flattery. Get your people to properly review this proposal; there are some details I haven't fully polished."

Luo Mingzhu took the documents with both hands, holding them high. "Your proposal is definitely the best! They don't deserve to change a single thing. It’s perfect as it is!"

I was speechless and glared at her. "Alright, you have what you came for, now get out and stop bothering me."

I tried to dismiss her, but she refused to leave, clinging to me instead. "Brother Chen, I heard your cooking is amazing. Could you show me your skills today?"

I was furious. "I’ve been working all day, and you still want me to cook for you? My lady, do you really think I’m a pack mule?"

Luo Mingzhu begged persistently. "I know, I know. To make it up to you, I’ll pay for the groceries! I’ll do the manual labor! I’ll be your sous-chef!"

She dragged me toward the supermarket, and I truly couldn't say no to her. It seemed I was helpless against Liu Zhuyin, and now even this brat was able to bully me. My life was truly a lost cause.

She linked her arm through mine, laughing and chatting all the way. Little did we know, not far behind us, a sneaky figure was filming us with a phone.

"Gu Yichen! With these, let’s see how you handle this!"

The figure raised the brim of his hat, revealing the smug, canine face of Ning Yuanzhou.