Chapter 9: Itou Makoto Stays Behind

"According to incomplete statistics, Empress Ruyan has had 13,905 husbands, 6,425 childhood sweethearts, is the 'white moonlight' to millions, has abandoned 12,854 newlywed husbands, and has had 5,620 abortions.

Among them, 8,563 of the abandoned husbands committed suicide, 2,633 committed self-harm, and the rest came to their senses and disappeared from Liu Ruyan's world.

As for Liu Ruyan, she has felt 100% regret, ending up dying alone 7,655 times, becoming disabled 3,666 times, suffering from cancer 1,500 times, and committing suicide directly in the remaining instances. It’s just too brutal!"

At noon, in a beverage shop downstairs from the company, Zhang Wei, who had transformed into Ji Bochang, was rambling on about the glorious battle record of Empress Ruyan. It had to be said, this Liu Ruyan was quite the character.

Lin Mo, sitting next to Zhang Wei and sipping a cold drink, nodded and said, "The ceiling of the 'scumbag girl' world, but I have to admit, she is truly beautiful. If I had the chance, I’d rather marry her and then be abandoned by her. But I don't know why, I always feel like she looks a bit familiar!"

Listening to the two of them rambling on with their evaluations, Yuan Meng spoke up with a look of disdain: "You're just lusting after her body, you're despicable. No, wait, both of you are despicable!"

Lin Mo:.

Zhang Wei:???

Wait, what does this have to do with us? I never said I wanted to be abandoned!

Just as the two were about to explain, Yuan Meng narrowed her eyes and quickly spoke up, loudly: "Hey, you two tell me, does our President Liu look like the Liu Ruyan in your impressions?"

Hearing this, Zhang Wei spoke first: "She does, she really does. She satisfies every imagination I have of Liu Ruyan; she is simply the 'Holy Body' of Liu Ruyan!"

"Exactly, and she's rich, has a great figure, and that 'bitchy' look—what man could resist that?" Lin Mo didn't hold back either, speaking boldly.

That's right, Liu Ruyan had one more characteristic: whether active or passive, even if she was the cold, queen-like Empress Ruyan, just hearing the name gave people a "bitchy" vibe.

*Clap, clap, clap.*

"Well said. From today until your internship ends, your lunch is on me!" Yuan Meng said while clapping, looking very happy.

Just as Lin Mo was wondering what kind of madness had taken hold of Yuan Meng, a fragrant breeze hit him the next second. It smelled good—a faint floral scent, not pungent at all.

Immediately following, an elegant, mature woman's voice came through: "Bitchy? Do I have that?"

Lin Mo and Zhang Wei turned their heads in unison. Standing behind them was none other than President Liu, Liu Ruyan, who had just arrived at the company that noon.

"Cough, cough, President... President Liu, I..." Lin Mo choked on his cold drink and quickly stood up, preparing to apologize.

Gossiping about someone behind their back and getting caught red-handed was awkward enough, let alone when the person being gossiped about was the big boss of his own company.

At that moment, he was digging his toes into the floor, wishing he could dig out a three-bedroom apartment to hide in.

As for Zhang Wei, he was as humble now as he had been mouthy a moment ago. The smile on his face was uglier than crying, and he felt his future was looking bleak.

"I recognize you two—Ji Bochang and Ito Makoto, right?" Liu Ruyan casually tucked her hair behind her ear, looking at the two with a smile that wasn't quite a smile.

Her voice was elegant and mature, her tone extremely gentle, and her beauty was peerless. Even the way she looked at them was full of smiles, but at this moment, the only two words in the minds of Lin Mo and Zhang Wei were identical.

'We're doomed!'

"President Liu, I'm sorry, we..." Lin Mo started to explain; after all, being stared at by such a great beauty was incredibly stressful.

Before he could finish, Liu Ruyan raised her hand and glanced at the watch on her wrist: "Work starts soon in the afternoon, doesn't it?"

"Ah? Right! We'll go back to work right now!"

"Yes, yes, yes!"

Lin Mo and Zhang Wei spoke up quickly. Since the boss had given them a way out, they had to take it.

"Ji Bochang can go, Ito Makoto stays!"

Zhang Wei:.

Lin Mo:.

He inexplicably felt like a hostess in a KTV being told by the boss to keep Wang Gang behind.

The two looked at each other. Lin Mo saw that Zhang Wei was about to abandon his comrade, and Zhang Wei saw the plea for help in Lin Mo's eyes.

But at a time like this, better a dead friend than a dead self!

Zhang Wei decisively grabbed his phone and ran off. Seeing this, Lin Mo cursed him internally. The two of them had been the ones running their mouths, but he was the one left to take the heat.

As soon as Zhang Wei left, Liu Ruyan sat down next to Lin Mo.

"Sit, don't be nervous. I don't eat people!" Liu Ruyan laughed.

"Ah, oh..."

Lin Mo sat down quickly, nervous as could be.

"Give me your hand!" Liu Ruyan sat down, pushed Zhang Wei's cold drink aside, and took the drink in front of Lin Mo into her hand as she spoke.

"Hand?" Lin Mo asked, confused.

"Yes, hand!" Liu Ruyan nodded.

Clueless, Lin Mo reached out his hand, but the next second it was grabbed by Liu Ruyan. She leaned her body slightly toward him and raised her phone.

"Come on, smile!"

Lin Mo felt his face rapidly flushing with blood.

With a 'click,' a photo of the two of them holding the same cup of milk tea and leaning against each other was taken, looking just like a couple.

"Hey? You guys!"

Yuan Meng, standing to the side, was also a bit stunned by Liu Ruyan's actions.

After taking the photo, Liu Ruyan calmly let go of Lin Mo's hand. After operating her phone for a moment, she looked at Yuan Meng opposite her and said

"Look at you, if you have a conflict with Uncle Yuan, just talk it out. Is it really necessary to be stubborn and run over here to be a small clerk?"

"What's wrong with being a small clerk? I think it's quite happy. I eat and drink every day, and I don't have to listen to my family nagging. Besides, I'm not cut out for business. As for the family affairs, isn't my brother there for that? Why should I worry? I'm not like you, with such a heavy career ambition!" Yuan Meng rolled her eyes and said indifferently.

Hearing this, it was clear that the two knew each other, and their relationship was far from ordinary.

"Whatever, anyway, at worst you can just go home and inherit the family fortune; you won't starve. How about it? Let's find a place to eat tonight?" Liu Ruyan smiled.

Hearing this, Yuan Meng didn't appreciate it at all: "No time. We have to play a duo-queue to rank up tonight. You go eat by yourself. And you, little black dog, stop following me around like a braised prawn—look at how red you are!"

Lin Mo, suddenly called out, finally came back to his senses, his face turning even redder.

"Ah? I'm not, I'm not!"

Seeing Lin Mo's pathetic state, Yuan Meng gritted her teeth in anger, while Liu Ruyan covered her mouth and chuckled, in a very good mood.

Just then, Liu Ruyan's phone rang. Her lips curled up slightly as she pressed the answer button. The next second, a voice familiar to Lin Mo came through.

"You Liu woman, you're just an old cucumber painted with green lacquer! Let go of my brother! What did you do to him? Answer me! (Super loud!)"

Liu Ruyan replied unhurriedly: "Our brother's milk tea is truly sweet!"

Then, a marmot-like scream came from the other end of the phone.

"Ah!" [Image]

Lin Mo: →_→

Yuan Meng: ←_←

(End of chapter)