Chapter 49

After three rounds of drinks, the negotiations were preliminarily concluded, but the details still needed to be finalized during the day tomorrow.

Tang Yuchuan was fed a lot of wine. His stomach felt like boiling magma, burning and stinging. Every breath he took felt like rubbing against hard stones. The sour and bitter taste climbed up his throat, making him clench his fists, trying to suppress the surging discomfort.

When the meeting was over, Miao Zhan noticed and frowned, "Mr. Tang, I really don't understand. You transferred all your shares in Jingchuan, but why are you still staying in Jingchuan and taking on such an unpleasant position? It doesn't pay much, and you still have to run all these social events."

Tang Yuchuan smiled slightly, his tone gentle: "Jingchuan is my hard work after all, so it doesn't matter where I am. Although there are many things that I can do without, there will always be someone else to do them. But I always think that I should do as much as I can for it. You should go back first, the president's affairs."

Miao Zhan was silent for a moment, and tightened his grip on the briefcase. He actually wanted to continue being Tang Yuchuan's secretary, but his position was different now, and the company hadn't arranged a permanent assistant for Tang Yuchuan, and Tang Yuchuan hadn't made any requests.

Staying with Tang Yuchuan means giving up the salary from the president's office and possible future development opportunities, and he really can't bear to do so.

Tang Yuchuan probably understood what Miao Zhan meant, and he didn't want to burden Miao Zhan. Just as they arrived at the hotel entrance, he waved his hand and said, "Go back first. Everything is fine here. You don't have to feel any psychological burden."

Miao Zhan nodded, feeling mixed emotions, but he did not leave immediately as Tang Yuchuan said. Instead, he stayed where he was, which was very different from his usual state. He was as reserved as a student who had done something wrong.

Tang Yuchuan patted Miao Zhan's shoulder, as if to comfort him, and whispered softly, "It's just work. It's normal to go wherever there are good opportunities. Once I sell my shares, it can be considered cash, which is also good. There's really no need to worry about me!"

Miao Zhan felt a pang of anxiety as he watched Tang Yuchuan's face grow even paler. He was clearly not feeling well himself, yet he was still trying to comfort him and tell him not to worry.

At that moment, Miao Zhan suddenly felt that his choices, his hesitations, and his struggles were insignificant. He felt that he should not continue to talk about his inner conflicts and struggles here, but should let Tang Yuchuan go back and rest.

Tang Yuchuan placed his hand gently on his shoulder and smiled slightly. That smile was gentle but contained a controlled strength, as if to say, "Alright. Go home and rest early. I can get up later tomorrow, but you still have to get up at 8am."

"Mr. Tang..." He lowered his head, his voice unconsciously lowered, "Then I'll go back first."

Miao Zhan turned and left, but his steps seemed heavy. His heart felt like it was weighed down by an invisible stone, growing heavier as he walked. Tang Yuchuan's words kept echoing in his mind: "It's just work... There's no need to worry about me."

He knew it was just work, but Tang Yuchuan always incorporated care into everything he did, both at work and outside of it. Over the years, he paid him a higher salary, helped his mother find specialists for her illness, and even listened quietly when he was confused and helpless.

These are not things that can be summarized as a simple job.

Now, Tang Yuchuan is no longer the CEO, but has been replaced by a sinecure. He is facing difficulties and all kinds of dirty water thrown at him online. He has no relatives around him...even he has not been left behind.

He thought that if he had been more resolute to stay by Tang Yuchuan's side, perhaps he could have helped him bear some of the burden and shared the pressure. But the reality was that he chose stability and a better future, staying in the President's Office and away from the cusp of Tang Yuchuan's presence.

Tang Yuchuan walked out of the hotel, each step as steady as a mark carved into the floor. A heavy stone weighed down his stomach, a burning and sour feeling swirling in his chest, but he didn't stop, nor did his expression change in the slightest.

The corridor light was cold and even, reflecting on his shoulders. His hands drooped naturally, his fingertips exerting a slight pressure, as if silently supporting his body. Every breath was stinging, but he controlled his rhythm, not letting the pain tear away his composure.

He walked slowly down the corridor, his steps steady and firm, as if his body and the pain had reached a tacit understanding. The decorative painting on the wall came into view, and his gaze was calm, without pausing or complaining, simply moving step by step towards the room.

Pain knocked softly in his stomach with every step he took, but he didn't frown or make a sound.

He told himself, hold on, hold on a little longer! The room was just ahead. As long as he held on a little longer, he would be able to be locked in a space of his own, temporarily isolated from the outside world.

Just when he thought he had finally reached the door of his room, a person suddenly rushed out from the corner of the corridor - a nimble figure, delicate eyebrows and eyes, slightly fair skin, three-dimensional and soft facial features, and a glint of tension and panic in his eyes.

The man was thin but well-proportioned, and his movements were quick and agile. Tang Yuchuan took a moment to recognize that it was the painter Li Li. Recently, several of his works were auctioned at high prices. He was very popular in the circle recently and had made further progress.

Although they had never had any contact with each other, they had met at many events.

But at this moment, his face was flushed and his eyes were flustered. He was completely different from the calm and confident artist he usually was.

"Mr. Tang... Mr. Tang, save me! Save me..." Li Li obviously recognized Tang Yuchuan, and hid in Tang Yuchuan's Queen as if he had grabbed a life-saving straw.

Tang Yuchuan was stunned for a moment, and before he could fully react, he heard hurried footsteps coming from the other end of the corridor.

The man who arrived was a man who looked to be in his fifties. He was slightly overweight, his suit neatly pressed but slightly tight, his tie hanging loosely across his chest, and his shirt collar slightly stained with sweat. His brows were impatience and calculation, his breathing rapid but deliberately suppressed, like a hound ready to pounce at any moment.

Li Li's eyes flashed with panic, and he instinctively clutched Tang Yuchuan's sleeve, his knuckles turning white from the force. He subconsciously shrank back, like a trapped animal, his chest heaving with rapid breathing.

He has seen too many unspoken rules and too many moments of forced compromise... Some people were locked in private rooms, some were forced into a dark room after being drunk until they lost consciousness, and some pretended to be ignorant and turned their heads away, but received a generous "cooperation fee" the next day.

Li Li was even nearly forced to surrender several times...

He originally thought that he could not escape tonight, but when he looked up and saw Tang Yuchuan, a trace of unreal hope suddenly surged in his heart.

Tang Yuchuan is different.

Even though the news about him was all over the Internet some time ago, and articles and videos about his trial were everywhere,

But Li Li knew clearly that those were all groundless rumors. He had never heard of Tang Yuchuan forcing anyone, let alone seeing him do anything so vile. On the contrary, no matter how much people in this circle talked about him privately, those who actually met him knew that he had a strong sense of propriety.

Even at this moment, Li Li's intuition told him that this person was safe.

He may be the only one in Philosophy who will not push himself into the abyss.

So he held Tang Yuchuan tightly, and the panic in his eyes gradually turned into an almost desperate plea, a look of someone desperately trying to grab the last piece of driftwood.

Before Tang Yuchuan could fully react, the middle-aged man rushed in front of him and reached out to grab Li Li.

"Mr. Tang, please stay out of this." The man's voice was hoarse and breathy, his eyes sinister and threatening, and he said, "You know what your situation is right now, don't you? Don't ask for trouble."

Tang Yuchuan subconsciously took a step forward and stood in front of Li Li.

The burning pain in his stomach made his palms sweat slightly, but his expression remained calm, and his tone was slow but clear: "Even if my words are useless now, Li Li is still Mr. Ma's favorite. You'd better think carefully before you touch him."

The middle-aged man was stunned for a moment, then sneered: "Boss Ma's people? Haha - do you think this is something Boss Ma doesn't know? It was Boss Ma who agreed!"

As he spoke, the greasiness and contempt in his tone lingered like a thick film of oil, enveloping the air in the corridor. "Tang Yuchuan, I'm already giving you face by calling you President Tang. Don't be ungrateful! Given your current situation... who do you think you can protect?"

Before he finished speaking, he suddenly stretched out his hand and pretended to push Tang Yuchuan away.

The pain in Tang Yuchuan's stomach instantly intensified, as if someone was twisting a knife inside. Cold sweat oozed from his forehead, but he still held on to the wall, trying to steady himself.

He didn't move away, his eyes calm and resolute. "See if I can protect you. If it's something we both agree on, I won't interfere. You're forcing me like this now, it's illegal."

The other party sneered, as if Tang Yuchuan arguing with him about the law was ridiculous. He also had little patience left, knowing that arguing would not make Tang Yuchuan give up. His face darkened, and he suddenly reached out to grab Li Li.

Li Li's body had long been eroded by the drugs, his limbs were weak, his reactions were slow, and he almost fell down.

Tang Yuchuan moved sideways to block the man's movement with his shoulder, but this collision made the pain in his chest worse. A sour and hot feeling surged in his throat, but he held back and didn't cough.

In the midst of this chaos, Tang Yuchuan took out the room card with his fingertips and stuffed it into Li Li's hand, whispering hurriedly: "Open the door, go in."

Li Li did as he was told almost instinctively, trembling as he placed the room card against the door lock sensor. When the green light came on, he pushed the door open with all his might.

Seeing this, the middle-aged man's face changed and he quickly reached out to rush in.

"Close the door!" Tang Yuchuan shouted in a low voice.

Li Li turned around and saw Tang Yuchuan still standing at the door, blocking the middle-aged man like a barrier. A moment of hesitation flashed in his eyes, but then he gritted his teeth and slammed the door shut with his last bit of strength.

The dull thud of the door hitting the door frame was particularly clear in the corridor.

The air froze at this moment. Tang Yuchuan stood with his back to the door, his stomach aching as if it were being cut by a knife, but he still stood straight, cold sweat slowly sliding down his temples.

The air in the corridor suddenly became tense.

The middle-aged man was blocked outside the door and completely lost his patience. He grabbed Tang Yuchuan's arm, his movements rough and angry: "Stop pretending to be so noble! You have no right to control this matter!"

Tang Yuchuan was already weak, and when he was pulled suddenly, the pain in his stomach almost tore his chest apart. His brows tightened, but he didn't make a sound. He just used his other hand to support himself on the wall to steady his body.

Seeing that he didn't say anything, the man became even more annoyed and reached out to push his shoulder.

The two of them tugged at each other in the corridor, their bodies colliding with the wall with a muffled thud. Tang Yuchuan felt a burning pain with every breath he took, and a faint wheeze like the sound of asthma emanated from his throat, but he held on, not letting the other person get close to the door.

"Do you really think you are still the same as before? Aren't you also surrounded by scandals? Yes, you didn't do it! Even if you didn't do it, aren't you still surrounded by scandals? This is the truth of society!" The middle-aged man gritted his teeth, his eyes filled with ridicule and malice.

Tang Yuchuan didn't refute, but just blocked her way. At that moment, his face was pale and his lips were blue.

As they struggled, the two men approached the stairs in the corridor.

Tang Yuchuan's back was pressed against the cold wall, his shoulders still held tightly by the man. His breathing was rapid, and waves of pain surged in his stomach. Cold sweat soaked his temples, but he still tried to keep his voice steady and maintain a stalemate with the other party.

The other party became more and more impatient, with anxious anger in his voice: "Why are you meddling in other people's business?"

As the words fell, the hand suddenly increased its strength and pushed hard towards Tang Yuchuan's shoulder.

That push was not very harsh, but it happened to push him to a dangerous point.

The burning pain in his stomach and the pressure in his chest all transformed into a feeling of falling out of control at that moment. Tang Yuchuan's body swayed, and his whole body suddenly tilted, like a broken string, falling towards the stairs without support.

His arms instinctively tried to grab the railing, but he only grabbed air.

His center of gravity suddenly shifted, and he fell down out of control.

"Bang——" The dull sound of impact echoed in the empty corridor.

He fell heavily to the bottom of the stairs, his chest as if clamped tightly by a pair of pliers, his breathing rapid and intermittent. The asthma came on quickly, and a suppressed gasp came from his throat, and each breath seemed to be blocked mid-breath.

He instinctively reached into his pocket and his fingers touched the asthma inhaler he carried with him. But at that moment, the middle-aged man walked down quickly and snatched the medicine device away.

"Does it hurt? It hurts, doesn't it?" the man sneered. He snatched the asthma medicine from her and held it in his hand, looking down at her condescendingly. "Tell me, aren't you asking for this?"

He looked down at Tang Yuchuan, who had fallen down at the bottom of the stairs, a playful sneer on his face. He shook the inhaler in his hand, as if to show it to Tang Yuchuan, then flicked his wrist and threw the medicine out with a "click".

The medicine rolled down the stairs, making a few slight thuds, and finally stopped in the farthest corner.

"Do you want it? Go get it yourself." His voice was full of pride. "Mr. Tang, I didn't expect you to end up like this. You should pay the price for meddling in other people's business."

He shook his sleeves, as if he no longer had any interest in watching Tang Yuchuan struggle. He looked up at the closed door and snorted coldly, "No one I want can escape."

After saying that, he took a step, walked to the door of the room, raised his hand suddenly and slammed the door hard.

"Li Li! I advise you to be smart and open the door yourself, so I don't have to do it!"

The dull sound of impact came into Tang Yuchuan's ears one after another, and each sound seemed to knock on his heart.

He tried to prop himself up and reach for the medicine.

His fingers crawled slowly on the cold ground, his knuckles scraping against each other, making a subtle sound. But his body was too heavy, his chest felt like it was being clamped tight by an iron ring, and every breath he took was short and sharp, with no air coming in at all.

Tang Yuchuan quickly realized that there was no way he could crawl over. The medicine didn't seem far away from him, but he couldn't move and knew he couldn't reach it.

He tilted his head, looking towards the room. Only one thought remained in his mind: Don't open the door. Li Li, don't open the door.

The pressure in my chest grew stronger, and the voices in my ears gradually faded away, as if through water. In my final consciousness, Zou Ping's face emerged.

I don’t know how she is doing in France now.

Their last moment was on the phone, she was busy and crying.

Perhaps it would be better to break up sooner rather than later. I hope she has already forgotten me and won't be sad about his death.

His thoughts slowly dispersed at this moment, and his eyes completely lost focus.