Chapter 101: Helplessness

"Ye Chen!" Dahei suddenly called out from behind. Ye Chen was taken aback, turning to look at him. "Hmm? What's up? Need to ask me something?"

"Exactly!" Dahei nodded. "Let's find a place to talk."

"Alright." Ye Chen nodded. He knew Dahei had a story. He had planned to wait until Dahei was in a stable mood before having a proper conversation, but Dahei had come to him first. So, they settled in a restaurant, ordered two cooked dishes and a case of beer. Ye Chen smiled, "Brother Dahei, you must have something to say if you came looking for me."

"Yes!" Dahei was serious, his demeanor tinged with a grim aura. Ye Chen poured him a glass of beer and said, "Let's drink first. This damn weather is so hot. Here..."

They downed an ice-cold beer each in one go.

"Speak your mind. What do you want to tell me?" Ye Chen exhaled the alcohol fumes.

"What I want to say is that staying by your side is only temporary!" Dahei’s sharp eyes fixed on Ye Chen. "I follow the Crown Prince because he once saved my life. I don’t like being involved in the underworld, nor do I enjoy killing or harming innocent people."

"But you did so many things by the Crown Prince’s side. Can you guarantee that none of them went against your conscience?" Ye Chen asked coldly.

"True." Dahei nodded. "Every task I did for him, I never put my heart into it. Just like today — if I had been serious, you might not have been able to stand against me."

"That’s true." Ye Chen nodded, then chuckled. "Since you don’t want to stay by my side, why follow me?"

"First, I realized you’re different from the Crown Prince." Dahei looked at Ye Chen. "You’re someone who would sacrifice himself for his brothers. Second, you paid half a million to redeem me. I want to know how you saw through me, and what did you mean by that one sentence?"

Ye Chen glanced at Dahei and smiled. "Your fists betrayed you. An ordinary man wouldn’t have such thick calluses. Besides, I sensed a strong killing intent in you. I think you’re a fighter, and you’ve got quite a few murders on your record."

Smash—

Dahei gripped his beer glass tightly, his eyes flashing sharply as the glass shattered. Ye Chen looked at him in surprise and laughed, "Don’t worry, I won’t tell anyone."

"Don’t think you can use that to coerce me into being your lackey!" Dahei said in a low voice.

"Heh, I’m not that kind of person. If you want to leave, you can go anytime. I won’t stop you." Ye Chen downed his drink, tossed two hundred yuan on the table, and stood up to leave. Dahei watched his departing figure with a complex and confused expression.

...

Returning home at noon to rest, the blazing sun nearly blinded Ye Chen. Just as he reached the community entrance, he saw a black Ferrari parked inside—Li Ruo’s car. Ye Chen was stunned. Why was she here? Could it be... she didn’t need to ‘transform’ during the day anymore? To Ye Chen, daytime Li Ruo was like a rose meant to be admired from afar, untouchable. Nighttime Li Ruo, however, was like a lily blooming quietly in a secluded valley.

Ye Chen shivered, just about to get out and leave when the Ferrari door flew open like a bird’s wings. Li Ruo stepped out, dressed in a cool summer outfit—a white camisole revealing her fair shoulders and a nearly exposed ample bust, barely covered by the thin strap. Her slender jade-like legs were clad in crystal sandals, looking refreshingly cool. Oversized pink sunglasses concealed her sparkling eyes.

"Ye Chen!" Li Ruo softly called out.

"Ah!" Ye Chen froze, unsure whether to respond as an employee or as a so-called ex-boyfriend with memories. He stood there dumbfounded, looking a bit naïve. Li Ruo laughed lightly at his silly expression, opened a purple parasol, and walked slowly toward him. Ye Chen hurriedly asked, "President Li, you... you’re here to—"

"Oh, I’m here today to discuss the matter of Villa No.1," Li Ruo said as she approached.

"Then... let’s go upstairs and talk!" Ye Chen quickly gestured.

They walked up to the second floor, entered Ye Chen’s home. Li Ruo saw the familiar scene, recalling the day Ye Chen had seen through her completely. Her face flushed deep red like a ripe apple. She quickly went inside and sat on the sofa. The air conditioner was off, making the living room a bit warm. Ye Chen habitually took off his shirt upon entering, exposing his back and abdomen, marked with striking scars that caught Li Ruo’s attention. From behind, Ye Chen’s back looked like a chaotic map of hills.

Ye Chen took a chilled beer from the fridge and handed it to Li Ruo with a smile. "There’s nothing else here but beer. Want some?"

"Yes," Li Ruo nodded, a bit expressionless, hard to describe.

"President Li, why did you come to see me this time?" Ye Chen asked curiously.

"I came to discuss the proposal you made. I’ve finished reviewing it." Li Ruo nodded, removed her glasses, and looked at Ye Chen seriously. "Ye Chen, before we talk about this proposal, I think you need to know the difficulties Tianya Group is currently facing..."

Ye Chen was stunned. From Li Ruo’s eyes, he could tell she was serious, and he sensed what was coming would be quite delicate. He took a deep breath, looked at her seriously. "President Li... I think it’s better if I don’t know all this."

Ye Chen was earnest; no one knew when they might have to leave this city or when enemies might suddenly come knocking. He didn’t want to get entangled in more troubles. Once caught up, it would only complicate matters.

Li Ruo was taken aback. "Why not?"

"Some things, I’m afraid, are beyond my control." Ye Chen shook his head.

"But how can you know unless you try?" Li Ruo frowned.

"President Li, you have your difficulties; I have mine. I’ve already submitted the proposal. The rest is up to you to handle. Why drag me into it?" Ye Chen looked at her puzzled.

"I... I’m alone now. I don’t know who to turn to!" Li Ruo suddenly teared up. Tears trickled down as she looked at Ye Chen. "My father is hospitalized again, unconscious. The hospital has issued a critical notice. I don’t want the company he built with his own hands to be destroyed like this."

Li Ruo’s tears were Ye Chen’s most lethal weapon. In no time, he found himself surrendering.

"Please... don’t cry." Ye Chen panicked, quickly handing her some tissues. Li Ruo glanced at him, took the tissues, and wiped her tears. "I’m all alone now. Even my father, who used to help me, is in the hospital. How am I supposed to manage?"

"Well..." Ye Chen looked awkward.

"Can you bear to let me shoulder the heavy burden of Tianya Group alone?" Li Ruo’s large eyes looked at Ye Chen with grievance. "Besides, you’re still my boyfriend now!"

"Uh..." Ye Chen was stunned. How did daytime Li Ruo bring up nighttime matters? He widened his eyes and curiously asked, "Are you the daytime you or the nighttime you?"

"What difference does it make?" Li Ruo smiled faintly.

"Well..." Ye Chen swallowed nervously. Li Ruo leaned in closer, and Ye Chen’s eyes involuntarily flicked over her ample curves. His heart fluttered uncontrollably, restless and distracted. He quickly nodded. "I thought... I thought you forgot about the night when it’s daytime."

"Not at all!" Li Ruo smiled lightly. "It’s just that at the company, I have to put on a cold expression. Running such a big company requires authority. Without authority, my orders won’t be carried out."

"I see!" Ye Chen nodded. "Living like that must be exhausting."

"Yes." Li Ruo nodded. "Sometimes, I really wish I could just drop everything and travel alone, going wherever the wind takes me. But reality doesn’t allow that. Sometimes, I even envy the employees in my company..."

"Maybe everyone has their own fate," Ye Chen smiled faintly. "Some envy you, but they don’t see the pain behind your hard work. You envy others because you don’t see their struggles."

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